Sean held the gift reverently and the warring emotions made him slip in concentration and his scales came out and started glittering as the very first rays of sunlight bathed itself against his scales. He closed his clawed fingers around the pendant and said “Thank you so much.” The father of his mate simply grunted.
Moril approached and said “Alright you two. I’ve finished becoming leader off all the dragons now calling this place home. All except you two are not loyal to the other dragons’ liking and they won’t let the two of you leave again without swearing. Do so now.”
They nodded and Ollai went first. She made no sound as she spoke the phrase. When Moril nodded, the ruby scaled female vowed her fealty. The bands on the chief’s arms glowed for a moment along with Ollai’s eyes. Afterwards Sean simply repeated his mate’s oath and everyone watched as his eyes glowed too for a brief flash. He then put on the large necklace, managing to barely put it on around his horns before settling it around his neck. Moril walked away towards Xamii and all her reptilian mates along with their human companions.
Others came up to speak with the new couple, coming only so close, but most were genuinely accepting and a few others forced their expressions to prove it was just as hard not to be half as uncomfortable as Sean did.
“Remember! The words you spoke into the crystal coins I gave you will keep them from oversaturation and blowing up in your face. So if your dragon partner helps fill it, you won’t need to worry. I can tell all you girls did it correctly.” Each new witch sighed in relief, including Meeka as she personally wanted to make her bracers all hers and do each spell on her own. She and Brooke didn’t get a crystal coin, but Tohka and every other woman got a blank one. The men staying got one too, but those were already set up and ready to protect them and the children. Cage continued talking to each person in front, all the women and the few men coming already were standing or sitting on their dragon’s head. “Now just make a link to your energy and allow it to take as much as you can handle. Lower it if you begin to feel lightheaded. We won’t be doing much other than fly and look at the land below us. Try not to forget why we are leaving for a couple weeks.” Cage said and looked at all the women and their new huge partners. “As for you dragons!” he roared in Draconian since some still found it easier to speak their native tongue. “When we get airborne and settled, begin teaching your new partners a few wards to implant in their crystals. I’ll leave it up to you how to go about it, but start with the safe landing wards, in the event they fall. It will ease their worries. Perhaps give a little mana to their crystals so that if it does happen, their wards will be effective. As I’ve done for everyone’s gems, including your personal ones that accepted me, my touch has strengthened any defensive type spells such as barriers and sight prevention. You already know the password which will link all gems to create a network. In an emergency just one person needs to yell it so all the gems feel the vibrations in the air and activate. Do what you can to see your new friends are comfortable with heights and teach them magic however you wish.” He raised his hand and returned back to Raliea’s common tongue. “Healers will fly in the heart of our formation, casters middle and soldiers, you will secure the perimeter. Everyone else, take whatever position you’ll feel most comfortable with. We’ve all gone over the plan several times and any contingencies should there be complications. Moril, Xamii and I will lead the flight and not leave the island’s protection till we are all together.”
Without any further need to linger, Cage shot up on a blast of air blown from rings around his legs. Some took flight regularly by leaning back and physically leaping while others took the easy way and teleported several miles above the ground. Sean flew up with his dad, wanting to be close, fully armored up in glittering red scales. At his side flew Ollai with a bright smile.
In less than three minutes the host of over a hundred and eighty dragons swirled around the original island, their wings sounding like a never relenting rolling thunderstorm. Cage ran through the air at a comfortable pace that would have other’s gasping for air in a few minutes, but combined with magic he managed to effortlessly maintain a dragon’s airspeed. His gaze watched closely as few remained in their partner’s head, usually finding it safer and more reliable to rest just behind the prominent wing muscles. Sean stuck close to his dad, too afraid to be far, but from the look on his face spoke at how he too enjoyed flying, manipulating the air around him to keep afloat. His new elliptical eyes kept focusing on his dad, still finding it a comfort to be near such controlled power. Armored soldier dragons with swords at the ready took formation around the sides, above and below the bulk of the swirling mass. Much space was needed to support these flying giants and only the sky could accommodate them so easily. Beside the warlock flew Xamii and on standing solidly on her left jawbone spike was Moril so she was near her friend’s ear-hole. To his right flew Ulon and Poli with their alluring passengers. When everyone was prepped and ready, Cage signaled Xamii.
Together they broke the whirlwind spiral and flew to the southwest in the early morning light. Cage ran so that he could fully embrace his new skills since flying on his board was effortless. A challenge is what he lived for. His robe was currently under Stealth Mode and clung tightly to his body so the air pressure from air-running at over two hundred miles an hour didn’t blow the clothes right off or to shreds. The crisp air felt good in the run too. It didn’t take too long to fly beyond the barrier where many saw some of the new inhabitants pushing rock and sand to fix what he did by making the reef be a natural protection again. The sections were far apart and only time would heal and expand, but the new colonists were making a stony outcrop where a reef would have its best chance to take root and thrive once again. Only time would see it happen.
A gentle cross breeze from the south made flying much easier and natural updrafts allowed all the dragons to take it easy and let nature fly them to their path. Cage kept his senses expanded further than any dragon in his group, though the soldiers weren’t relaxing either. His sharp hearing picked up those nearest, teaching their younger human companions. He kept smiling, unable to stop as he listened to the different methods. Ollai, as a student of both Twilight and her own former colony excelled in teaching her new mate more of magical principals. Poli taught Meeka and Tohka much of healing, while they held the glass pain orb they vehemently promised to master as all they’d be doing was sitting down and learning. Many healers followed Poli’s example, but Ulon and all the soldiers from Fire Mountain were practical, teaching about defensive spells to protect themselves so they can attack with minimal risks. Some taught of the crystals and made their newly made witch understand how to draw upon the stored mana while doing simple levitation spells. So far all attempts were shaky at best or ineffective at worst. Those that passed out were easily roused by their partner giving some of their energy and infusing it into their bodies.
If only I had such a teacher at the beginning. Cage mused. I would have made so much additional progress.
“And have killed yourself.” Daku interjected the private mental musing. “Caution, I think, has saved our lives and ignorance has certainly been our ally.”
Cage chuckled. “Can’t argue with that logic. But you’ve never passed out from overdoing magic. It really sucks and the headache’s are worse than you biting ice-cream for the first time. I know I’m a warlock and even if someone tried sending me mana, it would just slip on by unless I intentionally took it in, but it makes me think at how everyone around me has it so good. I mean, come on Daku, I’ve even heard your thoughts when you wish you could have given me some of your overwhelming mana when I was overextended.”
“True,” The griffin mentally agreed since it would be their only means of communication for quite some time. “but even you agree you’re too self sufficient to want another to do what you know you can accomplish. It is good to have aid, but you are like me. We kings take our responsibilities seriously and delegate only when necessary. It is our true meaning
in life as well as to each other. Besides, you no longer require another’s mana as you make a tremendous amount already.”
“You know, Daku, I’m glad we’ve got this connection. No one other than a Rex seems to know what it’s really like.”
“To understand is our foundation and might is our responsibility to use wisely.”
“Spoken like an old fart.”
“Oh, don’t you go comparing farts!” Daku gave a mental chuckle. “Yours have certainly made me flap my wings to clear the air. Your females aren’t bothered by it, but they do not have a sense of smell like mine.”
Cage couldn’t hold back a laugh as he kept running and wiped tears from his eyes. Some looked at him oddly, but he tapped his head and they understood the reason. “Hey, I’m doing better. Since my power has fully made me eat less, I rarely let them rip. I’m not saying they smell like roses, but at least my mates don’t whack me with their tails when they catch the fouled air that comes from our ass.”
“Hitting close to the nest aren’t you?” Daku bantered.
They fought back and forth like that the entire time till around noon when land jutted from the sea. When it did Cage ran backwards to view all remained in formation. Some still teaching lessons while others simply got to know more of each other. He formulated a spell to each individual simultaneously. “We are in range of Emroc. Those who need to relieve themselves may touch down for a few minutes. Those still good to go will remain up here. Those that will stay with me, begin checking our magic perimeter. We cannot be seen just in the event our friends in the empire have spies in the area. We’ll continue in fifteen minutes.”
After those few minutes passed, the huge formation re-gathered and set out. The only difference being they faced a headwind coming from the west. It slowed progress, but not enough to not see all below and know they can teleport wherever their natural eyes fell upon.
Two hours before dark Xamii began to glide over so Moril could shout over the wind. “Cage, it is time to make camp for the night! Xamii says she has found a large grassy field! Near a large lake twenty miles from Hideaway!”
“Lead on then!” He wiped his sweaty brow.
The sunny scaled reptile gave a gentle nod and angled to a place she found suitable. Everyone followed, but before setting down, soldiers scouted the nearby area and sky to determine no humans lived in the vicinity.
Each dragon came in and landed. Those that did, moved aside and allowed another to do so as well. Soon the area was packed, but not uncomfortably on the grass. Still, many of the women were so exhausted they fell asleep as soon as they reclined on a fur. Many dragons chuckled at this, but their eyes spoke of deep contentment and a satisfied longing very much needed. Not only did they bind their human, during the flight, nearly all had found an inseparable ally and friend.
Clouds began to roll in just as the sun made its final daily farewell and before any realized, it was already too late, a storm released a heavy downpour. But before the Utala could make a ruckus in making shelter, great living sails spread out. Wings acted as the perfect shelter and many wanted to do something, but all the dragons welcomed the cold rain on their extremely warm bodies. Besides, the rain kept their scales clean and shiny. Tired families made fires to rest beneath the wings and to eat by. Some dragons even partook of offered meat that their partner cooked. The miniscule morels were more for flavor than anything to the oversized lizards, but the companionship is all that mattered.
Everyone though settled in for the rainy night.
Poli and Ulon framed Cage and his family beneath their intimately laying wings. Sean lay near Ulon and Ollai slumbered beside Poli, for rather obvious reasons. Tohka and Meeka slept deeply while tangled together with Brooke who’s smile was content to hold her two favorite beauties. Both were beat from all Poli put them through and constantly holding the pain glass ball took a heavy toll.
Cage though got up silently and popped vertebrae in his neck from being too stiff. He said in a whisper “Brooke, I’m going to check on the camp. Be back in a little bit.” She nodded and gave a rather seductive wink before he walked away.
Rain soaked his head between gaps in the dragon shelters, but his robe repelled the water to keep him dry. Lightning flashed off and on for hours, without any signs of loosening its grip anytime soon.
Many of the women were too tied to stay awake and after eating, even more found sleep’s call irresistible. A dozen male dragon were aflame in their sleep and for some reason their human partner seemed immune to being roasted alive as Cage’s eyes clearly saw two warrior women on opposite sides of the clearing snuggled close as male’s sleeping flames coated them from proximity.
In his rounds he came upon an unexpected sight. “Shania, what did you and your sisters do with your hair?”
The only awake woman of the elders smiled in a youthful, grandmotherly way. It was quite strange to see just how much the old woman had transformed. And not just her, Shania’s sister-mates were equally breathtaking. Shania brushed her fingers through her own hair. “I was taught how to put it back to gray. I’m still an elder at heart though I’m young again. I think it looks good like this. I earned my gray hair and being young of body has taken some of that pride away. But I must admit I like my breasts full and perky again rather than flat. I truly missed how my loves like watching my breasts bounce… So, do you like my hair?
“You and your loves are all beautiful and I do not think your hair is gray. Your youth has made your hair healthy and glossy rather than dry and lifeless so I would say white would be better as a description. So, Shania, what else have you found interesting about becoming young again?”
She ginned her bright white smile. “Besides stronger bones that do not ache all the time and new energy to chase our great grandchildren, I would say my lust for sex is too strong. I never realized how strong it was till I became this way and the thought of Metak ravishing me…” she shivered in pleasure. “Well I’m shocked to see how much I missed my dirty mind. And babies…” Her face positively glowed as only a woman could. “When I reached my sixty ninth year, while you were in The Deep, I haven’t thought about bringing new life into the world for twenty years, but now I can think of only three things as of late. Making love to my sisters and getting filled by my Metak to have more of his babies. When this conflict is over I’m going to get pregnant again… as are my loves. Metak has already promised us this. He has always been a good father. Now we will just have to see which former chieftain makes it happen first.”
“A competition?” he raised an eyebrow.
Shania shrugged while mirth danced in her not so innocent gaze. “If you can’t rise to the challenge… I’ll understand. But I’d hate to resort to telling your three young lovers you were afraid to be beaten by an old woman.”
“Old woman my ass! You could be on your deathbed and still find a way to get up and screw someone over. Helpless, you are not. You’re a damn snake who’s fangs have been newly sharpened.” She grinned as if he had given her the greatest compliment. For her, it was since she was now the second strongest fighter, right behind Brooke and above Meeka. Her experience in life and conflict made her a deadly adversary.
“So is there a reason you are here?” Elder Shania asked.
“Simply making sure everyone is well. Need anything?” She hook her head. His parting words were “And as for the challenge, I accept. Even if I didn’t, my three women would pin me down and have their way with me. Every night they make me try to get them pregnant. Meeka especially. Besides, from her fertility cycles, she’ll be the first to ovulate, likely in the next two weeks. Last week Brooke and I couldn’t conceive when it was her time. And now that she knows when she can magically tell she can have a higher chance, she is worse than a dog with a bone.”
“Can you blame an insatiable Utala woman. We love sex and the gifts it makes. We are not a timid female society. We know what we want and take it.” They both had a chuckle as he melded into the shadows.
&n
bsp; Increased hearing led him into the forest after checking the entire field and sharing a few words to those who remained awake.
Gregory and Bern were the only two men from the former royal guard of Emroc who came along and sat soaked, high up in a sturdy tree a good half mile from the camp. Few words passed between them and of those that did were in hushed whispers. They nearly jumped out of their skin as Cage had climbed right up behind them without making even a leaf make noise till he whispered “How goes it, Boys?”
“Bastard.” Gregory mumbled while placing a hand over his heart. “Warn a man next time. You’re too quiet.”
“And without magic to sneak up on us.” Bern added to his cousin’s words. “We feel magic now and few can sneak up on us.”
Cage smirked. “Any problems up here in your blind?”
Gregory shook his head to rid some of the rain while wrapping his leather jacket closer around his neck so no further droplets ran down. “None. All is as it ought in this area. Bern and I have been to these parts many times. Being rangers is in our blood. And Emroc will always be our homeland. The storm is keeping many of the animals in their burrows, but there is just enough to tell us there aren’t any threats. Still, it is strange to know there are over a hundred dragons over there and not see anything out of the ordinary.”
“We need to take every precaution.” Cage said as he looked back at a bare grassy field with no lights from campfires. Lightning flashes were all that momentarily illuminated the area, as if nothing and no one was hidden. “With all the recent tension, we need to avoid attention at all costs. Just because the dragons and I are combining our power to not be seen in any magical way, if we do not keep natural eyes off us, reports can still be sent. There is nothing we can do about sensing magic, but if anyone is close enough to feel it, I know the two of you will find them along with all the other hunters who aren’t asleep. I’ll send you relief a little past midnight.” The pair nodded.
Empress's Endgame (Book 5 and final of the Death Incanate Saga) Page 13