Lucius nodded. “Exactly. If only a few escort Ravenmane, then we still have more than a dozen trained soldiers to stop the hatchlings.”
Dudley raised his arms in an exasperated gesture and shook his head. “You’re talking about a suicide mission! And as captain of the Drachengarde, I won’t allow my men to be killed in those blasted caves in Ghadarya. Our best course of action is to regroup in Aldron and mobilize our forces to defend Aldron,” Dudley said.
Darius, who was listening quietly to the discussion, now stood up from the ground and faced his superior.
“Captain, with all due respect, the Drachengarde were formed to take on impossible odds with regard to the dragons. I believe if we have a chance to deal a critical blow to Kraegyn and Memnon’s plans, we should do it—if only for King Silas' sake.”
Dudley crossed his arms then stroked his beard thoughtfully. Avani used the moment of hesitation to press her advantage on the issue. "Captain Dudley, perhaps it would be best if you and your men head to the Maguna Mountains while we elves take Ravenmane back to the city,” she declared.
Lucius’ heart sank at the statement. He had hoped that Avani would stand by his side and together they'd see the end of this entire war. Before he could voice any opposition, she continued.
“By leaving now I can inform Silas about everything we know and oversee the Numan army's defense of Aldron. If Sangre arrives before the dragons, we will have a fighting chance. If they don't, your efforts in Ghadarya can still turn the battle in our favor. Nevertheless, I intend to go back and protect the city. I owe it to King Silas and the people of Aldron for their sacrifice in helping Numa,” she said.
Dudley sighed. “So this is what it comes to then? You would force my hand by abandoning us to the wolves?”
Avani smiled, acknowledging the sarcasm in his voice. “If you want to look at it negatively, then yes, I suppose that's what I'm doing. But I wouldn't be taking this course of action if I didn't have full confidence in you, your men, and of course, the Ellyllei,” she said, glancing at Lucius.
Lucius decided to speak up at this juncture, but chose his words carefully so he would not overstep his bounds. Even though he was the Ellyllei, he had to follow military protocol when addressing two superior commanders.
“Princess Avani, I don't think it's a good idea to split our forces. The elves are formidable archers and in a fight against dragons ranged combat is definitely an advantage. Won't you please reconsider your decision?” Lucius asked, looking intently into her eyes.
Avani returned his gaze and he could see the uncompromising will behind those fierce green eyes. Though a shadow of doubt passed over them. He sensed an internal battle between her royal duty and her personal feelings toward him. But her struggle was temporary.
“I'm sorry, Lucius. But I feel that my presence on the battlefield in Aldron will galvanize the elves. Besides, you and the Drachengarde are better equipped to fight the dragons. You have the Requiem Sword, remember. It will doubtless be invaluable in your fight against them,” she said with a sad smile on her face.
Lucius nodded. “I understand, my lady.”
Dudley clasped his hands together and glanced at each of them. “Well, I guess we're going to Ghadarya.”
Chapter 7
A strong wind ripped through the ramparts of Arkadeus as Memnon stood on a high stone platform connected to the main keep. He looked out to the horizon in the east and saw storm clouds rolling through the Maguna Mountains miles away. In the distance, he saw shadowy shape accelerating faster towards the fortress. In a few moments the outline of Kraegyn was clear, and the dragon swooped down, landing with a thunderous boom atop on the platform. The Black Dragon let out a shuddering breath then looked him with those devilish blue eyes that pierced the darkness.
“Good evening, Lord Kraegyn,” Memnon greeted him. “Where have you come from?”
“From Ghadarya, sorcerer.” Kraegyn replied.
Memnon nodded. “The breeding goes well then?”
“Yes. The dragon mother’s have laid more than a dozen eggs and a couple have even hatched. Within the month, the hatchlings will be ready for an assault.”
“Excellent. And your kin, will they be staying in the Maguna Mountains until then?”
“No. They will roost here in Arkadeus like the days of old. Expect them within a few days time.”
Memnon frowned. He hoped the dragons would not roost in his fortress. Three of the dragons were already lumbering about in the chambers below and more than once they had feasted on his soldiers when the opportunity struck them. Normally, he wouldn’t care about such a lack of regard for life, but they were at war. He needed every able-bodied Draknoir alive to crush the opposition. In addition, he actually enjoyed the time Kraegyn had spent away from Arkadeus. The Black Dragon was an overbearing guest who never ceased making demands to Memnon and his subordinates. He wondered how powerful the Black Dragon would be when faced with the power of the Gauntlet of Iniquity.
Over time Memnon felt the weapon's power increasing within him. Dark energy coursed through his body, strengthening him like nothing he had ever felt before. He flexed his hand open then closed it, feeling the metal gauntlet pulsate as he did so.
The gauntlet brought you back from the Abode of Shadows, Kraegyn. With a swipe of my hand, it could snuff you out like a candle, Memnon thought wickedly.
But now was not the time to entertain such dark fantasies. He needed the dragons to cooperate with him. Once Aldron and the rest of Azuleah were put in their place, perhaps then the Draknoir might be rid of Kraegyn’s yoke.
“Arkadeus is your home as much as it is ours,” Memnon said, sweeping a hand around him. “We would not have accomplished this much without your wisdom and power, Lord Kraegyn.”
Kraegyn eyed him suspiciously for a moment, but the dragon's pride and vanity accepted the flattery without complaint. “Indeed, Lord Memnon. Now what news of our enemies to the south?”
“Our spies tell us they are mobilizing, albeit much slower than we are. They’re still reeling from the setbacks of our winter campaign. “
“You mean the failed excursion of Brandewulf and those elf rogues?”
Memnon heard the veiled accusation in Kraegyn's statement. After all, it was his idea to trust Brandewulf to supplant the monarchy in Aldron and gain a political victory. The failed plot had disrupted his timetable, but not upset their standing in this war. Still, the mention of Brandewulf caused him to reflect on another recent setback—Ravenmane. His former assassin had betrayed him and his warriors had yet to track her down.
“It matters not whether Brandewulf succeeded or failed. Aldon has lost their king and the young Dermont is ill-equipped to lead a unified offensive against us. Even if he could, the dragon tribes will have wiped out his army before any attack would reach Arkadeus,” Memnon said.
Kraegyn nodded slowly, but he sensed the dragon's displeasure, nonetheless.
“But if it satisfies you, I will soon be tying a loose end concerning the assassin, Ravenmane, who has turned against us.”
“Turned against us? This is news to me,” Kraegyn said with a growl.
Memnon explained Ravenmane's personal vendetta against him and her subsequent escape from the fortress. He also mentioned the elf who posed as her slave and tried unsuccessfully to kill him. He relished the image of his Draknoir tearing that elf apart along with Ravenmane.
“The Draknoir will soon overtake them in the forests of Ithileo and she will be yet another casualty of war,” Memnon said confidently.
“You fool!” Kraegyn roared. “This woman was a spy and knows our plans. She will reveal everything to Dermont and... the Ellyllei,”
Memnon glared at the dragon. “You think I’m unaware of that? I told you she will be dealt with as will her elf companion.”
Kraegyn flapped his wings in anger and a sudden gust of wind whipped Memnon’s black robes all around. Instinctively, the sorcerer clenched his gauntlet fist and prepared for an attack
. But Kraegyn only let out a low growl and puffed smoke through his nostrils.
“Don’t bother with your warriors. I will take care of the girl and the elf myself,” Kraegyn said.
Before Memnon could reply, the dragon launched himself off of the platform and dove headlong toward the ground below. In an instant, the creature’s dark wings spread out and lifted him high into the air. Kraegyn swooped around the fortress and flew away towards the southern forest.
Memnon scoffed. “When the time comes, I will be looking forward to being rid of you, Kraegyn.”
The mist hung in the air of the Ithileo forest before sunlight streamed through the thick canopy of the trees. With the dawn came a sad realization for Lucius. Today he would say farewell to Avani and set out for one of the bleakest places in Azuleah. While most of the Drachengarde were still asleep, the Numan elves saddled their horses waiting for their princess to give the order to move out. Ravenmane, left under the watchful eye of Darius, sat atop a chestnut mare with her hands tied to the pommel. Like the previous day, she seemed resigned to her predicament and did not speak unless spoken to.
Lucius and Siegfried were assigned to the final watch of the night and were awake to see the Numans' departure. After a brief talk with Ormond, Avani strode over to Lucius wishing to speak privately. Siegfried nodded, and they walked off to a secluded area on the edge of the camp.
“I know you didn’t want me to leave, Lucius,” Avani said, averting her eyes.
"No, I didn’t. I hoped that we could see this through together," he said. "But I’ve also had time to think. You have many responsibilities as princess of Numa. I have no right to ask you to stay behind."
She looked up at him and nodded. “The life of a princess rarely affords me the luxury of freedom,” she said, forcing a smile.
“So I’ve heard,” Lucius replied, offering a sad smile in return. Silence passed between them before he spoke again. “Avani, when this is all over and we’ve stopped Kraegyn and Memnon—where does that leave you and I? Will we still be hiding our true affections from everyone? Will you be free to love a man like me?”
She looked away from him for a moment, staring into the forest at some unseen object. When she turned back, the corners of her eyes were glistening. “I don’t know Lucius. My heart longs for a time of peace where you and I can... pursue what normal people do.”
“We’re hardly normal, remember?” He said with a wry smile, hoping to lift her spirits.
“No, I suppose not. But I’d like to think we could be. There are so many uncertainties right now. Perhaps we should let things be for now,” Avani said.
Lucius' heart sank at the statement. Although her response was vague, he knew what she meant. Pursuing a serious dimension to their relationship right now would distract them and possibly endanger the success of their missions.
“I understand,” Lucius said finally. “Although I don’t like it, Avani.”
Avani nodded and looked away again. Lucius put his hand on her chin and pulled her attention back to him. They stared into each other’s eyes for an eternity, but it was merely seconds. He bent down and kissed her, long and passionately.
“Take care of yourself, my princess,” Lucius said, embracing her close.
“You as well, my love,” she said.
When they returned to the camp, Avani mounted her horse and bid farewell to Siegfried and the Drachengarde who were awake to see them go. Lucius watched sadly as the Numan elves trotted away into the forest and disappeared amongst the trees. He longed to join them, but knew this is where he needed to be.
After a quick breakfast, Lucius and Siegfried gathered around the embers of the campfire as Dudley held a briefing with the remaining Drachengarde. There were a total of eleven warriors. Hardly a fighting force that could tackle an army, but enough to cause significant damage to Kraegyn’s plans in Ghadarya.
Lucius didn't possess the experience that Dudley, Darius, and the other members had on the battlefield. He felt much more confident taking on the dragons when he initially left Evingrad. But now when the deed was close at hand, he had a terrible fear of how he could actually kill a dragon. Thankfully, the Drachengarde brought specialized weapons for the task that set his mind at ease. Aside from the steel longswords sharpened meticulously for piercing dragon flesh, the group utilized some interesting weapons and tools designed for slaying the beasts. Darius unpacked three instruments and laid them on the ground as Dudley outlined their plan.
Lucius looked at each of the weapons and recalled their purpose and use when he trained with Dudley in Broughlin's chambers. The first of the three weapons was a large net with small hooks embedded in the places where the mesh intersected. The dragoneer net, as Dudley called it, was primarily for stopping dragons who decided to fly away from battle. It served as a useful trap in enclosed areas like a forest where flying dragons couldn't see it amid the foliage. The hooks dug into the dragon's flesh, immobilizing the creature long enough for the Drachengarde to kill it.
The next weapon on the ground was a glaive—a long spear with a slight bend at the tip. Drachengarde warriors used the glaive for tearing through the membrane of a dragons wing or pinning them to a hard surface. Darius admitted the glaive was not the most practical weapon because the wielder had to be in close range to cause damage. And that could prove deadly for most warriors.
“Being that close to a dragon's mouth is generally not a good way to stay alive,” Darius told him in Broughlin's chambers.
Finally, Lucius scrutinized the last item on the ground. It was a metal sphere with spikes along the surface, very similar to the head of spiked mace. He wasn't familiar with the weapon and neither Dudley nor Darius had mentioned it during his training.
“Gentlemen, we are about to embark on one of our most dangerous missions. And, as Darius has reminded me on more than one occasion, this mission will truly prove our usefulness to Aldron. We must arrive in Ghadarya before the month is over to rid Aldron of the threat of these hatchlings. Unfortunately, we don’t know how many of the nasty buggers there are or how many mothers will be dealing with. There's only eleven of us, but we have weapons that will give us an edge against the dragons,” Dudley said. He turned to Darius and nodded.
"Right," Darius said. "Most of you are familiar with the dragoneer net and the glaives. Their utility is rather straightforward. Each will come in handy in the labyrinthine caves of Ghadarya. But these are a new addition," he said, holding up one of the spiked metal balls. "Broughlin, calls these fire strikers. They are made of thin steel and easily melt in extreme temperatures. Inside the outer shell is a generous amount of explosive powder. They are highly combustible and must be handled with care."
"The general idea is that when the dragons open their mouths to breathe flame, you tossed a fire striker inside. The spikes will cling to the soft flesh in their mouths and when the flame melts the metal—boom!" Dudley said, mimicking an explosion with his hands.
The explanation elicited several nods and chuckles from the Drachengarde.
“We’ve only brought around twenty of these gems, lads. Save them for the den mothers or any males we encounter. Swords and other weapons should suffice for the hatchlings,” Dudley said. “We'll discuss more strategy as we get closer to the Maguna Mountains. Darius and I have discussed the best route to Ghadarya, and we are agreed that traveling across the Kroshen Wastes will be the quickest path. Darius knows the landscape well, and though it is harsh, we can endure it. The Dulan River is not far so fill every water skin you have. Last thing we need is to die of thirst in the desert before we reach Ghadarya. Pack the tents and saddle the horses, we leave within the hour,” Dudley ordered, then waved a hand to dismiss them.
Lucius' mind was racing as he returned to his tent and began packing his things. The mention of the Kroshen Wastes was cause for much excitement. They would be traveling the same lands where his father was last seen. He knew running into his father in the vast desert wasteland was improbable, but he could
n’t rule out the possibility. As he began rolling his leather tent, Siegfried walked over and crouched beside him.
“I imagine you’re excited at the prospect of traveling through Kroshen?” Siegfried asked, a lopsided smile on his face.
Lucius nodded. “I am, but I can't endanger our mission to pursue my own interests. Dudley is already anxious about the dragons. I doubt he would entertain any notion of me going off to find my father.”
“That may be. But I am learning that one should not confuse divine opportunities with mere coincidences. This might be one of those,” Siegfried advised.
“True. I had the very same feeling. If we encounter any natives in Kroshen, I’ll ask about Simeon Nostra. But I won't follow any leads unless they prove to be credible,” he said.
Siegfried put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed gently. “That’s a good plan, Lucius. As always, I’ll back you up if you need me.”
Before Lucius could reply, they both heard a screeching call overhead. Lucius craned his neck and saw a peregrine falcon perched on the upper boughs of an elm tree along the perimeter of the camp. The bird ruffled its feathers and turned its head to watch them. It released several thrills and short cries before launching itself into the air and flying off.
“Siegfried, I think that was Archibald!”
"How can you be sure? Peregrine falcons are quite common in this part of Azuleah," Siegfreid said.
"I can’t be completely certain. But I’m sure it was him. Why else would he screech at us like that?"
"Who says he was screeching at us? He could’ve simply seen a mouse that looked delectable. Or perhaps he was letting out a warning call to other birds nearby.”
"That’s it! A warning call. Alistair must have sent him to warn us. Maybe there are Draknoir scouts close to the camp,” he said, raising his voice.
Several Drachengarde members nearby looked at them curiously. Siegfried flashed a smile at the onlookers then turned to Lucius, speaking in a hushed tone. “Try not to yell 'Draknoir scouts' around the others, Lucius.”
Keep of Dragons (The Azuleah Trilogy Book 3) Page 8