War of Dragons

by Andy Holland

  Hopefully enough, Arthur commented, standing next to her on top of the city wall. Stay close to me when we're flying. Remember, when the battle starts, we need to stay well behind the troops, near the commanders.

  You do indeed, Prince Gerald agreed, overhearing their conversation. If I have to stay out of danger, then you definitely do. He turned to the army laid out in front of them. Magnificent though, I agree, seeing so many Red Dragons.

  And Golden Dragons, Mark added.

  And Golden Dragons, Daisy agreed with a giggle, as their number was so small compared to the Red Dragon Army. Where will you be today, Mark?

  All over the place, I suspect, although I'll try and keep an eye out for you as much as possible. I must admit, I have a funny feeling about today. I agree with Noah, of course, that this is ill-advised, but I do feel like this could work, despite the odds.

  It will work, Prince Gerald insisted. The Blues won't stand a chance.

  We'll see, Mark replied as he readied himself to take off. Just be prepared to retreat quickly if necessary. And don't take any chances.

  Of course. Goodbye, Mark, Daisy replied.

  Goodbye, and good luck, Mark replied. He took off vertically, climbing with incredible speed. From high above the smouldering ruins of Obud, he watched as the hundreds of thousands of Red Dragons began to take off; row upon row taking to the air and adopting neat lines beneath him.

  Impressive, aren't they? Noah said, appearing above him with another Golden Dragon. What do you think, Joseph?

  Very impressive, I agree. I wonder if they'll look as good when they fly back. If they fly back.

  Hello, Joseph, Mark said in greeting. I haven't seen you for a while. Been out scouting?

  I have, and I've seen the Blue Army up ahead. There's a lot of them—about as many as these lot—which should mean these Reds would win, but I don't know, something wasn't quite right about that army.

  How do you mean? Mark asked.

  I couldn't say exactly, but I hope these fancy Lords and Princes are willing to turn around if they need to. It's frustrating; although we know that there are other Golden Dragons on the other side of the border, keeping tabs on the movements of the Blues, we haven't managed to get in touch with any of them since the battle in Furnace. The Blues know that we're here and they're making life difficult for us scouts. They always do that, but they're trying extra hard today. It makes me a little suspicious. I wouldn't trust these Blue Dragons at all; they're a crafty bunch. Right, Noah, I had better go ahead again. See you later in the day.

  See you later, Joseph. Good flying.

  Mark and Noah watched Joseph fly off into the distance and then turned their attention back to the Red Dragon Army, which was still in the process of taking off. About half of them had taken to the air now and were slowly rising from the ground. The ones still on the ground were now more spread out, and were taking to the air more quickly.

  So, what do you think, Noah? Even numbers, if Joseph is right. That should be an advantage to the Reds, shouldn't it?

  It should. The Reds long necks and longer legs give them much greater reach and they're not that much slower than the Blues, so with even numbers you'd expect the Reds to win normally. But with these sorts of numbers I'm not sure how much of an advantage they have. With two armies of this magnitude facing each other there's only one thing that is certain, and that's death. Lots of it. We can only hope that your friends come back alive. If I was you, I'd be concentrating your efforts on talking them into turning around while they can.

  I've tried, Mark replied. They're too stubborn. I think they'll only turn back if it looks bad.

  That would be too late, Noah told him. They're slow, even for Red Dragons. If the battle turns and they have to flee, the Blues will catch them.

  I'll stay with them if that happens, Mark promised. I'll make sure they get back.

  Good luck with that, Noah replied. Right, I had better go and join these commanders. See you later, Mark.

  ***

  Fly! John screamed to Wami. Fly as fast you can!

  The roars of the angry True Dragon were deafening, carrying for miles around. As soon as John had let go of the fruit he had pulled out of the dive and turned back towards Wami, but had kept his eyes fixed on the creature behind him. He was surprised to see how nimbly it had leapt to its feet, searching for the culprit. It spotted John and roared again in fury before taking to the air. It climbed much faster than John had thought possible for something so huge. Fortunately, John had a good head start and was much higher already, but the True Dragon was not going to make this easy.

  You don't have to tell me that twice, Wami replied nervously from up ahead. Just worry about yourself. You're the one he wants to kill.

  John looked back again briefly and saw the angry face of the True Dragon behind him, flapping its wings furiously to try and catch up with John. The Putrid Fruit had smashed on its nose, spilling all over the monster's head. It had wiped most of the fruit off with its claws, but stains from the juice coated its dark scales and small lumps of fruit were scattered all over its head and neck. The smell must have been terrible. I think I got a good hit, he told Wami.

  Great, Wami replied flatly. I'll ask them to put that on your tombstone. Just fly!

  John flapped as fast as he could, keeping his eyes on Wami, rather than looking for landmarks to help him navigate. Wami was much higher and a long way ahead of him, about as far ahead as he could be and still be able to communicate with John. John heard the True Dragon roar again and was alarmed to see that it had gained ground on him, slowly closing the gap between them.

  It's catching up! he called out to Wami in alarm. How can it fly this fast?

  Because it's really angry, Wami replied. John, I hate to tell you this, but I think it's going to get very hot in a minute. I think it's almost close enough to give you a bit of a toasting. My grandfather told me that thing has fire that you wouldn't believe.

  Looks like I'm about to find out! John replied, glancing back at the gaping jaws of the approaching True Dragon. Just as the True Dragon unleashed the full power of its flames, John changed direction and dived towards the ground, picking up speed and moving away from his pursuer. He felt the warmth of the fire as it narrowly missed him and heard the angry roar of the beast as it realised that John had evaded his attack. It dived after John, continuing to roar angrily. John banked to the right, changing direction dramatically and dodged it again.

  Nice move, John! Wami called in encouragement. It's faster than you but it can't turn as quickly. Watch out, here it comes again….

  ***

  "Officers," General Zygar began, addressing the assembled generals, colonels, division commanders, wing commanders and flight commanders. Perak knew that Zygar would have liked to have addressed the whole army, but the numbers gathered were too large. As it was, he had an audience of thousands. "A momentous day lies ahead of us. Never before have so many of our dragons been gathered together for battle and never before have we been so strong. This will be the beginning of the end for the Red Dragons. And yet, in their arrogance, they actually believe that they are going to win. Almost all of their forces are gathered to the north-west and are preparing to attack us. But this isn't just down to their stupidity and arrogance. Through the foresight and cunning of General Perak they have been duped into believing that our number is just a fraction of what it truly is. They will save us the trouble of attacking them in their cities and will fly here to their doom. Then you will crush them! This will be a massacre and none of them shall survive. Today, you will destroy the Reds' army and there will be nothing to stop us seizing not just their capital, but all the lands to the west as well. Go! Go and destroy the Reds!"

  "Have you heard Zygar address the men before?" Pan asked Perak.

  "Not for a long time," Perak replied. "But this is a special occasion."

  "Nice of him to mention you, don't you think?"

  Perak shrugged. "Credit given where credit due.
Hiding most of our troops in the forest was an unpopular idea, just as was my suggestion to give up Obud, but this has drawn out the Red Dragons. Their army numbers one fifth of our number and they will have no city advantage today. It will be a battle of attrition, but with the numbers we have, there can only be one outcome."

  "Such fools," Pan agreed. "Amazing to think they've survived this long."

  "Indeed, and then we'll deal with the Browns. They'll regret the day they decided to ally with the Reds. They may have taken some of our land, but they'll lose it even more quickly. "

  "I look forwards to seeing the back of them even more than the Reds," Pan agreed. "I was brought up not far from their border. Arrogant little creatures. They attacked us many times, but always fled quickly when our dragons took to the air. They only do well when they surprise us, taking the coward's route rather than facing us in open battle."

  "Yes, well, their day will come to an end soon as well. Come, we will take to the air. I have orders to remain an observer today, so that's what I will do. The men will be emerging from the surrounding forest soon and will form the largest army that has ever assembled. I mean to watch them transform and take to the skies."

  ***

  Doesn't this thing ever give up? Wami asked as John evaded yet another furious attack. You've been dodging it for ages.

  John had lost track of how many near misses he had had and glanced back to see the True Dragon still hotly pursuing him. We're relying on it not to give up, remember? he replied, hoping his own strength and stamina would hold up long enough.

  How's it going down there? Wami asked, glancing back to look at John. Getting tired yet?

  You'll know when I'm getting tired, John replied grimly. I'll be dead and it'll be after you instead. Just keep me going in the right direction.

  Alright, Wami agreed. I'm guessing on the direction. I had expected to have seen some Blues by now though. Hang on, John, up ahead! I think I see them. Yes, that’s got to be them!

  Are you sure? John asked. He was desperate to end this chase as his strength was fading. Once he was close enough to their army he would transform into a Blue Dragon and hope that it wouldn't be able to keep track of which one he was.

  Definitely, Wami replied. There are a lot of them! Just a little further. Most of them are on the ground still.

  John looked back. His pursuer hadn't slowed at all and if anything, looked even angrier than before. John flew up upwards, hoping that the True Dragon would struggle with this and he could gain some distance. He looked back again after climbing a few hundred meters and saw that the True Dragon had kept pace with him and if anything, had gained a little ground. But Wami was right; they were nearing the Blue Dragon Army and they had been seen. Up ahead, thousands of dragons began to take to the air, rising up to meet them.

  Here they come, John! Just a little further….

  ***

  Stay high, sir, Eric warned Perak as they circled high above their troops. That thing shouldn't notice us here.

  Below them the True Dragon was approaching their camp and many of their men were still on the ground. The rest were flying towards it, looking tiny in comparison to the monstrosity bearing down on them. Alarm bells were ringing out across the camp.

  It's so fast, Pan said in awe. Can we defeat it?

  Those fools won't, Perak replied darkly, his eyes fixed on the approaching monster. The best they can do is slow it. Colonel, find me that fool Kessick. Now is his moment of glory. And have someone bring me a lance.

  You don't mean to attack that thing, surely? Pan asked in amazement as Eric left them. Down below, the True Dragon reached the first of the troops, passing through their dragons as if they were not there and leaving hundreds of corpses in its wake killed by its teeth and claws.

  That thing may destroy this whole army unchecked, Perak replied. Look, our dragons can't even scratch it!

  Blue Dragons swarmed around it, slashing with their claws, but it barely seemed to notice them, not even slowing as it moved towards where the bulk of the army were situated. It spied a division on the ground, not yet transformed, and swooped down to bathe them in fire. Their screams were cut short and they disappeared in the cloud of fire.

  Where is that damn Kessick? Perak snapped.

  It just wiped out an entire division! Pan cried in shock. That's ten thousand dragons!

  I know, dammit, Perak retorted. They shouldn't have still been on the ground. Don't they understand what those bells are for? Where is that fool Kessick?

  The True Dragon was flying amok, chasing after large groups of Blue Dragons and rather surprisingly, catching up with them and dispatching them with ease. It appeared to be focussing on large groups, trying to kill as many as possible.

  It's too fast! Pan cried out. Our troops can't outfly it!

  They could make it a little harder for it though, Perak replied irritably. They need to scatter when it approaches.

  Scattering went against their training though and they stuck to their units, which made it easy for the True Dragon to slaughter them in large numbers. The braver among them attacked in response, desperately striking at it as it flew through the army, but doing little other than slowing it as it swatted them away like flies. The dead were beginning to pile up on the ground beneath them with no end in sight to the slaughter. It was an unstoppable killing machine; even dragons that were caught by the flapping wings were stunned and dropped from the sky to their deaths. But it was the creature's fire which caused the most deaths; each time the sky lit up with flames they could hear the screams of thousands of Blue Dragons that were being incinerated.

  There's Kessick! Pan shouted triumphantly. He's going to attack!

  Kessick led a large group of Blue Dragons towards their tormentor, carrying heavy metal lances in their claws. The lances were twice as long as they were and some of them looked like they were struggling to hold them.

  Damn fool, Perak replied. He'll just get himself killed. Where's that wretched division commander? Oh, Eric, there you are. Why hasn't Kessick come to find me?

  Eric flew up to join them, carrying two long, dark lances in his claws. He asked me to tell you to catch him up, sir. He's going to attack it now. Here's your weapon, sir.

  Good. I see you have two; is the other for you?

  Of course, sir, but I didn't bring one for Wing Commander Pan.

  Perak glanced at him before replying dismissively, Pan prefers to sit this one out. Eric, follow me. Quickly, before Kessick and his men are all dead.

  Kessick and his men were about to launch their first attack. Being a small group, the True Dragon ignored them, focussing on the larger groups of Blue Dragons. This allowed Kessick and his dragons to fly at their target unchecked and he led the way.

  Ready your lances! he roared. We may just get one attempt, so make it count!

  The fool! Perak snapped. That'll never work!

  Kessick and his men struck at the True Dragon side on, their lances thrown or driven into points all along the side of the creature. A couple stuck in between the creature's scales, but if it was hurt it didn't show it. It swiped at the passing Blues with one claw, knocking several from the sky, and followed up with a half-hearted stream of fire, but quickly turned back to its task of murdering the rest of the Blues.

  Retrieve your weapons! Kessick commanded as he glided to the ground. We'll attack again!

  Not like that you won't! Perak called as he descended. Colonel, your attack was utterly pointless. There is only one spot where you can hurt it and none of you are aiming for it.

  Perak, Kessick replied coldly, having landed where his lance was embedded in the earth. So nice of you to join us. I hope you're enjoying the show. Please excuse me, I have a monster to kill.

  Colonel, have you forgotten who you are addressing? Perak asked coldly, circling above him. General Perak. I outrank you. Do as you're ordered. Your attack was pointless and did nothing other than throw away more troops, which is all you appear to be good at. Fo
rtunately they were your troops, so were probably worthless, but you will not repeat that error, or I will have you executed. Immediately! Is that understood?

  Kessick visibly simmered—something difficult for such an expressionless reptilian face. Yes, General. Understood. How would you like to attack it? he asked witheringly. From the safety of the clouds?

  No, and not from the relative safety of a hundred metres away either as you did. Throwing these lances is pointless. It will have to be driven in with our full weight behind it. In the right place, not just anywhere.

  Please, you don't really believe those old books, do you? Striking behind the ears? The throat is the most vulnerable part, just as with any other dragon.

  Really, then why were your idiotic troops aiming at the sides of its body? But fine, you may attack the throat if you wish. That would require attacking from underneath, of course. I doubt you're really capable of that, are you?

  Kessick couldn't resist this challenge. I think you'll find I'm more than capable. Go back to your clouds and watch.

  I'll be a little nearer, I think you'll find, Perak replied. Go, make your attack. On your own though—you don't need to throw any more troops away. If you want to end your life, do it on your own.

  The True Dragon was still wreaking havoc and was now flying back towards them. Kessick took off and sped towards it, adjusting his grip on the lance to prepare for his attack. Perak ascended, but stayed above Kessick, keeping pace with him.

  Follow my lead, Colonel Eric, Perak instructed his protégé. If I'm not successful, perhaps you will be.

  Kessick was higher than the approaching True Dragon, and flew faster and faster, picking up speed. As he neared he dropped, gaining even more speed. If the True Dragon had seen him it wasn't paying attention, intent on catching a group of a few hundred Blue Dragons that were desperately trying to escape. Discipline had completely broken down, with troops scattering in its path, which did have the effect of reducing the rate at which it killed its victims. But it was so focused on venting its fury on those it pursued that it ignored the lone dragon hurtling towards it. It turned to the right, snapping at a large group, catching several in its jaws and crushing the life out of them. Kessick approached rapidly from below and on the right, and at the last moment he ascended, spinning in the air gracefully to position himself for the strike. His lance struck home, catching the True Dragon in the centre of the throat and embedding itself in the hard scales. Perak, who was approaching from above saw the look on Kessick's face, who realised that he had made a terrible error. His lance had struck deep in the monster's neck, but no blood came from the wound as the scales were just too thick. The beast felt the blow and reacted immediately, dropping its head to snap at Kessick. Kessick had almost come to a standstill in the air, having lost all momentum and consequently the ability to dodge an attack, and the beast caught his right back leg in its teeth and began to vigorously shake its mighty head. This was the moment Perak was waiting for and as the monster looked downwards the soft scales behind its ears were exposed. Perak had already begun his dive before Kessick had landed his own blow, and Perak struck as the monster ripped Kessick's leg from his body. As with Kessick, Perak held on firmly to the lance, using his momentum to drive the heavy black weapon deep into the monster, but this time the result was quite different. Immediately the True Dragon roared in pain, snapping its head upwards to try and locate the source of its tormentor. Unlike Kessick, Perak was dropping as he made his attack and picked up speed quickly, flying past unscathed before screaming in triumph, knowing he had struck a fatal blow. The monster filled the air behind him with flames, trying to strike back, but it had already lost and was beginning to fall. It hit the ground hard, still alive, but with a steady stream of blood flowing from its head. Perak had triumphed!