Legon Restoration

by Taylor, Nicholas

  She reached out to her guard, "We need to end this before they are able to destroy the crystal."

  Members of her guard converged on the buildings, raining down flames and death. Special units from the Pawdin army jumped off of dragons, running into the building to secure it. Iselin stayed in command until one of the ground units came on the roof, telling her that they had secured the building.

  Her mind reached out to Sasha and Edling who were close by on a dragon’s back. "Sasha, you two are up, the building is secure," she said.

  The emerald dragon, Cynta, landed on the building and Sasha and Edling dismounted.

  * * * * *

  Sasha stepped down on the roof of the building and turned to her husband. She didn't need their mental connection to see that he was uncomfortable. The area they were in was far from being free of battle.

  "Are you OK?" she asked.

  "Not really," he responded honestly. "How can you be?" he asked.

  In reply she broadened her connection with him allowing him to feel her connection with Legon. "The more connected with my brother I am, the less fear I feel." She felt Legon's mind reach out to Edling and he seemed to calm.

  "How does he do that?" Edling wondered as they walked to a door on the roof.

  Iselin spoke into their minds. "Legon is inherently a violent person, combat doesn't scare him and that's why you feel better," then in a bit more of a rushed tone, "Hurry please, we need to know if the crystal is still working."

  Sasha rushed inside and down a set of stairs littered with bodies. She focused on the Mahann trying to keep any unpleasant emotions from her mind. They entered a vast room.

  Elves were moving around the room and around a giant square crystal that sat above a circular shaft. Edling seemed to forget his fear and jogged up to the crystal, placing his hand on it.

  He frowned, "It's functioning but it won’t respond to me. That's no surprise, ours will only respond to Elves."

  Sasha ran her hand along its smooth side, "That's fine, we aren't interested in the data it holds, just its makeup." She pointed into the shaft, gold bars running into water with blackened filth in it. "It looks like they killed the algae."

  Legon's mind came into hers, "Algae?"

  Edling responded, "Yes, magic comes from life, we use plant life to power everything. While the Iumenta cannot grow plants at will like we can, any Venefica can affect plant life. The Iumenta grow algae to sustain their crystal’s power supply. They dip gold into the water the algae is in to conduct the plant’s life force to the crystal."

  "Ah, that's why their crystals don't charge as fast as ours, algae doesn't produce much power," Legon said.

  "Correct," Sasha said. "I suspect they killed the algae just to slow us down."

  "Why would we care about that?" Legon asked.

  Sasha rolled her eyes. "I don't know, so maybe we couldn't develop a spell that would wipe out the algae powering dragon domes…maybe…" she said like he was a moron then added, "I would like to send some samples to Seeon and have you look at them, you are a biologic after all."

  She leaned in looking at the crystal in amazement, "Dear, are you seeing how it’s constructed?"

  "Yes, it's so perfect, almost like it was produced by a master," Edling said.

  She looked at him, "Of course!"

  "Of course what?"

  "Think about what you just said! Iumenta can't grow crystals like us. That means there has to be a handful of master builders and I bet they all use the same techniques."

  Edling's face lit up, "So their crystals will likely have the same weaknesses!"

  Sasha reached out to Emma. "Emma, we are going to need all of the samples we've collected since the war started and we need the rest of the team here, have them jumped in from the Capital," she said peering back at the crystal.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Salmont

  "I wondered what it would be like going home, returning to the land of my birth. When I arrived however, I found that while home had not changed, I had."

  -Excerpts from The Diary of the Adopted Sister

  Emma relished the cold bite of the morning air. This was one of the things that she missed the most about her homeland. Next to her stood Sasha, and with them were Keither and Sara, along with Legon and Sasha's guard. Sara's friend’s home town had been destroyed, so now they stood in a small mountain co-op. The season was changing, the aspen were turning gold and leaves scattered the ground.

  Before them was a tree with the whitest bark, Legon's claws dug into the ground around it. Flowers the shade of Penny's favorite colors bloomed, their petals catching the breeze and floating around the tree.

  All of the Elves had their heads bowed in prayer. Emma looked to Sara and whispered, "Do you understand the tree?"

  Sara looked at her, eyes shining and shook her head no.

  Emma explained, "The tree planned above her will have her name, and when she lived, etched into the tree forever. It will never grow taller and always keep its shape. The flower petals grow quickly so that they can fall and drift in the breeze, but this tree will only bloom on the day of your friend’s death. Every Elf that passes this tree will impart some of their strength to it keeping it alive for millennia. A mark will be on the tree indicating that she was human."

  "Does her being human matter?" Sara asked almost sounding hurt.

  Emma nodded, "Yes, for a human to be buried in this manner is a great honor, not many humans have that honor. All Elves that pass this grave will know that your friend was unusually special."

  "But they didn't know her," Sara wondered aloud.

  Sasha's voice soft and gentle interrupted them. "But we know you, come with me," Sasha said taking Sara's hand.

  Iselin took Keither's and Opes took Emma's.

  Emma walked inline as Elves came and pressed their palms to the tree. Sara looked confused as they stood next to Sasha and she closed her eyes and touched the tree. Then Sara gave a slight sob. It was Emma's turn. Her mind joined with Opes' as he touched the tree. She felt life run from her own body to the plant, with it a prayer in her heart weaving itself with the energy and love of others before her.

  Emma stood off to the side as people walked up to the tree. She felt something bump against her leg and looked down to see Sasha's ruby familiar, Princess. She picked the cat up scratching its ears. "Hey girl, how are you?" she asked as the cat rubbed its face against her neck.

  "We are about to leave," Cynta's voice came from behind her.

  Emma turned around, looking up before she remembered that Cynta was in her Elf form. "It’s been awhile since I've seen you in that form," Emma apologized.

  Cynta's brown eyes warmed as she smiled, "It's OK, when you're as short as I am you get used to people having to look down on you." She winked.

  Emma approached Sara and Keither, who spoke. "Are you leaving?" he asked.

  Emma nodded, "Sara, once again, I’m sorry for your loss. Are you going to be in Salez long?"

  "We will be for some time, yes," Keither said. "I don't think the Pawdin Empire is going to be pressing as hard on this front until the northwest has fallen," he added.

  "I wouldn't know," Emma said honestly.

  She looked around her, "This place is so far in the mountains, it reminds me of home."

  Keither nodded, "We are close to Salmont; well, close if you're on a dragon. It would take you a couple of weeks with the terrain around here, but on dragon back I would guess you're not more than an hour or two away."

  "About an hour and a half," Cynta said, "We have cleared most of the air space in this area. Emma, are you ready?"

  Emma waved goodbye and joined Cynta. "Are we going directly to Salez?" Emma asked.

  Cynta shook her head, "No, there is a battle being fought too close to here, we will head northeast, if you can believe it."

  Emma raised her eyebrows.

  "To the south west of here it looks like the Iumenta had a hidden jump crystal; well, we think they d
id, but at any rate they were going to drop in ground units. Pawdin forces headed them off, it's a small fight but one that we will avoid until we are able to confirm if there is a jump crystal or not," Cynta explained.

  Emma met up with Sasha who was waving goodbye to Legon and Iselin's retreating forms. Emma watched them flying off. "Are they going to go join the fight?" Emma asked.

  Sasha frowned. "Of course they are, Cynta are you ready?"

  Emma turned to see Cynta in her dragon form. She climbed on to Cynta's back and felt herself stick in place.

  Cynta crouched to the ground, stretching her wings skyward. She leapt, climbing in the air. Emma closed her eyes to the rushing wind. She didn't mind flying anymore, and in a way it was almost relaxing to her now. When she was in the air nothing could bother her. She opened her eyes, looking back at the co-op they'd been in as it shrunk away.

  They angled north east moving at a steady pace. She watched Sasha's eyes scan the horizon, her gaze rested in the distance and a frown appeared on her face.

  "Cynta, to the north, is that smoke?" Sasha asked.

  "Yes, it appears so," Cynta responded.

  Sasha's eyes went out of focus, "There are no reports of combat in that area, let’s check it out."

  Cynta paused for a moment before saying, "Yes Un Prose."

  As they flew Emma could see that there was smoke in the distance, columns of it rose in a tightly packed area.

  "What do you think it is?" Emma asked.

  "I can't see yet, there are too many trees in the way, but that’s to much smoke to be a caravan and the only things in this area are small mountain co-ops. They may have a barn on fire or something," Sasha said.

  Emma felt uneasy. She didn't like getting closer to the front of the war, but at the same time she figured Sasha was correct.

  "It's a co-op," Cynta said.

  As they came over head, Emma gasped. Below them were the burning remains of a co-op. All of the buildings were on fire and in pieces.

  "Where are the people with buckets of water?" Emma shouted.

  "They are dead," Sasha said in an icy voice. "Cynta, get us in closer to the ground, I want to know what did this."

  They descended. Emma could see bodies, none looked like they had been cut with a sword and she couldn't see arrows.

  "A dragon did this," Sasha said.

  Cynta responded, "Yes, one, maybe two."

  "This just happened, Cynta go high," Sasha ordered.

  Emma clung to one of Cynta's spikes as they soared higher and higher. Sasha whispered a spell, helping her eye sight.

  "Can you see anything?" Emma asked.

  Sasha shared her vision with Emma and she saw smoke all over the horizon. Then there was a flash of red and flame. Emma could make out the shape of an Iumenta dragon incinerating some town or co-op.

  "Un Prose?" Cynta said.

  "Take it out!" Sasha ordered and then looked north to a column of smoke that even Emma could see "that must be Salkay...which means-"

  "Salmont!" Emma yelled.

  Sasha growled. "Cynta, kill the filth then meet us in Salmont, and call my brother," Sasha said and Emma could feel seething anger in her thoughts. Sasha turned to Emma; her face etched in rage and grabbed her shoulder, taking her with her as she jumped off of Cynta's back.

  Emma couldn't help but scream as she fell. Next to her, Princess was a ball of crimson fire that burst into the shape of a puma. Sasha pushed Emma towards Princess, telling her to hold on. Emma wrapped her arms around the cat’s neck, feeling herself stick to its back as they started to slow. When they were almost to the ground Emma closed her eyes.

  She didn't feel Princess touch down but she felt branches brush against her. She opened her eyes to a blur of trees as Princes ran up a hill, Sasha next to them. At the top of the hill Princess and Sasha jumped, glowing with red magic, sending them to the top of the next hill.

  Only occasionally would Princess touch the ground for more than a few strides as Emma felt herself being jostled around. They were moving almost as fast as a dragon she realized. She closed her eyes and buried her face in Princess’ fire fur, repeating a calming script.

  After what seemed like an eternity she heard it, heard the roars of several dragons. They came to a stop and Emma opened her eyes. They were on the hill top overlooking Salmont; the same hill where Edis had convinced her to move in with Laura and him. But the scene below was not that of her memories. Five Iumenta dragons were over the town breathing torrents of fire on fields as town folk screamed.

  "Emma, get the people to the center of town!" Sasha ordered and then Princess launched herself in the air.

  Time slowed for Emma then. She saw one of the Iumenta, a brown one, look at them. She knew that dragon; she'd seen her so many years before. Then she looked to Sasha as she drew her fenna.

  Scarlet flashed from Sasha's fenna, cracking like thunder against a brown ward.

  Emma lost sight of Sasha as she came to an abrupt stop. She let go of Princess, who charged an Iumenta soldier. Emma's eyes widened as she watched a family she'd grown up with running away from an Iumenta. The Iumenta turned just as Princess hit it.

  "TO THE CENTER OF TOWN!" Emma yelled at the family.

  Shock at her appearance registered on their faces but she ignored the look and grabbed the mother, pushing her toward the town’s center.

  The sky lit up with magic and Emma clapped her hands to her ears as ruby, orange and yellow streaked across the sky. How long can Sasha hold them? Emma continued rounding people up as Princess covered her.

  Once in the center of town Emma tried to huddle everyone together. Iumenta ground units were surrounding them. Princess was doing her best to keep the Iumenta away. Emma saw a flick of red around the towns folk moments before a yellow ball of magic hit them. The people screamed as the spell was stopped by Sasha's ward.

  Emma watched her friend glowing red as she tried to hold back the Iumenta. The brown dragon swung its tail, hitting her. Sasha's wards lit up as she was sent sailing to the ground and through a building. She skidded to a halt near Emma. Before Emma could help her up Sasha was on her feet, wiping blood from her lip.

  Emma had never seen Sasha like this. She knew the rage on her face was that of the White Dragon’s, but it frightened her.

  The brown dragon landed and spoke to everyone’s mind, "Stupid girl, risking your life for a bunch of apes!"

  "It wasn't a risk," Sasha spat her eyes firing up.

  The dragon laughed, "Powerful you might be, but arrogant! You can't beat us all, but you can die with these people."

  Emma started when Sasha giggled.

  "What do you think is so funny?" the brown asked.

  "That you think I was planning on fighting you alone. You may want to fly away now," Sasha said.

  There was the sound of all the Iumenta laughing. "And why is that?" the brown asked.

  Sasha smirked, "Because my brother is here."

  As if Sasha's words were a cue Emma saw flicks of purple, pink and emerald and a deafening roar that she knew to be Legon.

  Sasha growled, "This one is mine," and then thrust her fenna forward barking, "IGNOTIS-AURIUM!"

  Emma backed away from the flash of heat as a beam of magic launched from Sasha's fenna, crashing into the brown dragon. The people screamed again as three figures dropped from Legon along with all the dragons’ familiars. Sasha was in the air again and Mage landed next to Emma, his fox familiar the size of a lion. Cynta's green bear was attacking several Iumenta along with Princess, Cat and Bill. Three of Legon's guards were on the ground.

  Mage drew his fenna yelling, "Binnon!" A whip of golden fire lashed out, killing five Iumenta. Another of the guard drove her fenna in the ground, making rocks like spikes shoot from the ground, killing others. The last of his guard swung her blade caused a blue mist that made the Iumenta thrash on the ground as they died.

  * * * * *

  Iselin dove next to her husband as he took the lead. Below was a group of fi
ve Iumenta Ascended, Sasha was provoking them and they weren't paying the least bit of attention. On Legon's other side was Cynta and on his back was Mage along with two other of the house guard.

  Sasha said something and the dragons looked up scrambling. Legon let an ear splitting roar out and said, "There are to be no survivors today!"

  "With pleasure," Cynta said diving.

  Iselin sent Cat to assist Mage and the others on the ground and squared off with a yellow class six. It was low to the ground and Iselin sent a spell thinning the air around it, giving it a hard time climbing. She was faintly aware of Legon engaging two other sixes and then she focused completely on the fight at hand.

  She lashed out with her tail and claws, keeping the yellow along the town’s roof tops. The dragon was young and obviously unaccustomed to combat. It was unable to gain any altitude as Iselin delivered one punishing blow after another. For a moment she thought the Iumenta was building her confidence, trying to make her cocky. Its wing caught a building sending it tumbling. Iselin capitalized on the opportunity by breathing fire, blocking the yellow’s view as she moved in close.

  * * * * *

  Legon looked down at his old home town. Sasha had done well holding the Iumenta as long as she had, they didn't seem to know what to do with her. Her size made her hard to hit and focused her power. Connected as they were Legon could feel the rage inside her, truly this wasn't his sister on the ground.

  Sasha commented on Legon being there and he ordered that there should be no survivors. Mage and the others, along with Bill, detached and headed to the fight on the ground.

  In this form his emotions seemed to be more animalistic, he normally had a violent streak to him, but in this form...he wanted to rip and tear. The desire mixed with that of the White Dragon's anger that Sasha felt, giving him a feeling of rightness. Cynta was handling the one class seven, leaving Legon to play with two class sixes.