Empress's Endgame (Book 5 and final of the Death Incanate Saga)

by Jr H. Lee Morgan

  “Very well.” Tohka said and with a mixture of a thought combined with a deft twist, her whip went slack.

  Brooke watched as Jormon approached and pointed to the woman. Brown and green light shot from his fingertip as his lips began a complex chant. The woman was bound again beneath his might and onlookers watched her face melt back into its natural setting, the chant being the draconian spell he was taught by the Rex of the Vlaran Mountains. She did not glow as her face morphed from regally fair to common round. Her small nose returned to pert and dozens of freckles popped along her cheeks as blonde hair turned a vibrant red. No longer did she have the look of a native Vlaran, but a drab version of the empire’s more common stock. She also noticed he was wary of her and smirked, knowing the man feared her a bit more and was satisfied.

  Princess Amy said aloud for her men to hear. “Look upon my would be twin sister. My blood does indeed run through her veins, I sense it, but you all witnessed her face revert without the blue illumination of healing magics. There can be no doubt foul play is afoot by an enemy who planned to take our kingdom by exploiting me before I was even born. There can be no doubt the empire will stoop to the most underhanded methods to grind us under the empress’s heel. Just looking at this woman you can see she has no Vlaran ancestry, especially to the crown, nor does she bear the bloodline’s mark that runs through our veins.” Princess Amy blinked her eyes five times in rapid succession to reveal how both eyes suddenly changed into the purple outline of a crow. Few had ever witnessed the royal mark passed down through the blood of kings and queens. The imposter had blinked rapidly before, but her tainted blood could not reveal the purple crow. Princess Amy blinked after a moment and her vibrant blue eyes returned to their natural luster. “Carry the impostor and spies off to the dungeons for inteogation, but as for the four men, send them to the rehabilitation and retraining center. They need to be given the chance to shake off the shackles of slavery still clouding their minds.”

  “Wise.” The king approved and gave his consent. “Lady Brooke?”

  “Oh!” she said mildly and looked down at the two staffs. “Here.” She passed them off to Jormon and just as soon as the green field of hers disappeared, brown surrounded it and would be dealt with later. Brooke glanced away when Gaz turned his head and they watched the four still glassy eyed men still shackled in irons being escorted out of the castle grounds while the two sorcerers and redheaded witch was taken to the palace dungeons, Jormon and a dozen mages following close.

  “Now might I ask where Cage has run off to? I expected him and all of you here three hours earlier than this.” King Tate spoke. “You all seem somewhat preoccupied. Has something happened?”

  “He should have been back by now.” Meeka revealed with a hint of concern to mostly her sister-mates, who nodded they agreed and looked around at the sky in hopes of spotting him.

  “What has happened?” The king asked, releasing a death grip on his sword.

  Brooke was the only one to directly gaze right back into his eyes. “Several hour ago he and Daku went off to investigate a disturbance in the wind as we were flying. I do not understand exactly what happed to tell the truth, but it is the cause of our delay. The wind that carried our friends since last night just stopped for some odd reason. I didn’t feel anything... The two of them just disappeared in the dark and none can follow them when he doesn’t wish to be seen.”

  “He wished for we to arrive at this den as soon as possible.” Poli lowered her head to speak as part of the group. Her hot, hickory smoke breath washing over them, but few cowered or became defensive. “The wind that carried us changed. It is what slowed us and odd vibrations the like I have rarely felt are what I believe drew the two mighty ones away.”

  “You say rarely.” Princess Amy caught. “Do you mind sharing what that means?”

  “It is why my mate has gone to speak with Rex Semek.” Poli revealed slowly. “Sudden wind shifts or alterations in it that vibrate portend battle in our kind. My blood warmed when I felt it.”

  “And warlocks and griffins cannot help themselves to hop right into the fray. Just can’t manage to leave a brawl without seeing if they can join.” Meeka sighed. “Poli, why did you not tell us. I was worried for nothing.”

  This remark had many eyebrows furrow. Brooke and Tohka likewise relaxed. The princess felt the need to ask “Don’t you fear for your husband’s safety if he’s… Father?” she laid a hand on his arm when he rubbed the bridge of his nose and seemed to get a headache. She knew what it meant as she was bonded to Rex Semek’s mate and her own power increased from a second class witch to first.

  “I’m alright.” He promised and straightened. “But it looks like we’ll need to increase the timetable of our plans before we can ready for your marriage. Rex Semek just said the start of the war has officially been declared to all dragon kind on Raliea and wants me to inform you ladies he just received word from the skirmish, that the attack was a one sided victory… And he has had to leave to take command of his colony and protect it.” His dark blue eyes focused on the three women in front of him who had no doubt there was any other outcome. “It was indeed a battle and both Cage’s and Daku’s presence saved the patrol my partner had actively moving. Apparently Cage singlehandedly killed ten dragons, Daku took out three and the patrols took four more out with minor injury.”

  “Ten, Father? Ten dragons?” Princess Amy asked breathlessly.

  The soldiers murmured at such a report and the warlock’s might.

  Just then Ulon crawled out of the ground and came over silently.

  “It is what I said did I not?” The king sighed. “If not for his and Daku’s intervention, the attacked patrol wouldn’t have survived or lasted much longer. And I know Rex Semek doesn’t exaggerate. I’ve met him several times over the years, just as you have. If he says ten, I believe him. It seems what I was given about warlocks weren’t embellished. They can compete with dragons.”

  “And us.” Brooke quipped to bring smiles to her mates. “Has your partner said what our lover is currently doing? Does he want us to wait, go home, meet somewhere…”

  Cage grinned as he flipped between the claws of a dragon’s swipe while balling his fists, bringing them overhead while arching his back. Power rose from his core and traveled up his chest, through the shoulders and into the balls of his fists as he folded his middle and brought his black fists down light hammers, right on the leftmost horn and snapped the ten foot thick piece of ivory at the base and the transfer of power dislodged the dragon’s spinal cord from the brain. Before it could even attempt to recover, he drew Ghosts Bane from his back and the power it absorbed was released it a slicing wave that parted wards better than any magic-breaker weapon. The sharp arc of black energy beheaded the lightning blue dragon sent by Heedi Rova.

  It was the second wave to suddenly arrive near their position, and could be seen as clear enemies as they all had a unique thread of clear white energy emanating from their foreheads caused by the loyalty to their Rex. Those with gold were under Rex Nattan’s command, Rex Gralla’s colony all had a bit of her fiery orange and so on. Even Moril’s dragons had her earthy brown color. The only ones who were unaligned were Ulon and Poli, but they were told by the Rare Ones to be this way. It wasn’t much of a color, but it distinguished friend from foe.

  The first wave he stumbled upon in the night weren’t ready to face an elite warlock or white griffin, and thought the smaller Vlaran patrol easy targets to get in and out without being seen, but they all fell without losing an ally.

  This second wave that appeared were much more in number and knew which were the real threats. These were soldier dragons of experience and their greatest priority were Cage and Daku, but even then, these soldiers could not slow either down or stop them from wrecking havoc. Magic against Daku was useless and holding on was harder as he proved he could alter his size nearly instantly if he used enough of his practically limitless power. Sometimes Daku acted as a distraction so Cage co
uld get in close, or Cage was the bait and Daku’s razor sharp beak would tear out chunks or mighty hands pull heads from necks.

  The hardest part was keeping a target from teleporting. Soldier dragons were indeed more effective under the stars, many being black of scale with black painted armor. These were night troops. The first wave had consisted of seventeen swift attackers, but ten minutes later thirty two more heavily armed warriors showed up and only two of the original four patrolling dragons still fought, the other two had fallen lifeless to the clouds and sea beneath.

  Constant mind-linking with Daku was invaluable as it was an extra set of eyes that required no reason to speak or warn the enemy of their combination attack. He didn’t have much to fear in the ways of magic and Cage’s wards in battle hadn’t rippled once. Cage was doing a back flip off the flat of a wide sword that could be used as a huge springboard and thought “Two above, one below!”

  Daku, currently as large as a seven hundred year old dragon, locked his wings to his side and spun thanks to the warning. The two swooped down, but not before Daku grew, opened his hard wings and used such force, one dragon’s falling neck bent at too great an angle, even for the inherent suppleness. He then rotated his catlike body and slapped a fist into the snout of the dragon coming up from below as fire spewing from his maw passed harmlessly over the griffin’s coat. The punch merely caused a moment of disorientation, plenty enough for Daku to grab him by the neck and think “Coming up! Airborne special!”

  Cage flipped while creating an invisible triple woven ring around his left arm and stiffened his fingers while thrusting his arm out just as his Familiar deftly flipped the dragon through the air. Some watched as the warlock used the unarmed spear thrust, in a way never witnessed before in combat as he thrust his arm while firing the triple ring along the extended limb that spiraled up and around the fingertips to concentrate. Five minor explosions blew off the tips, starting with the middle finger which touched an opposing barrier. With the equivalent of a pound of C4 concentrated to the size of a pinhead, the shield wavered. His ring finger destroyed the shield as its explosive head detonated while the index finger’s bomb blew a cavity wide enough for his body before the pinky tore apart scale and his thumb drilled a tunnel his human body flew into. All happened almost instantly. The compounded explosions in addition to extreme momentum crafted an opening through scales as witnesses stared as his entire body disappeared in the wide chest cavity before a detonation blew the enemy apart from the inside out. Cage’s skintight barrier was soaked entirely, but a stretch and spin slung off the gore while the meaty remains fell to gravity’s embrace.

  “Who’s next!?” Cage laughed, having the time of his life.

  Challenging roars came from an unexpected place as the Vlaran Mountain colony’s soldiers suddenly appeared numbering fifty, all armored in wicked plates, holding mighty swords and crafting powerful spells. The remaining twenty enemy realized they were outnumbered and outclassed and did the only sensible act.

  All teleported back to safety.

  “Help, Cage!” Daku mentally shouted as he dove after the only remaining dragon who were part of the original patrol.

  The warlock teleported right below just as Daku’s hands dug into the plate armor along the scout’s spine and powerful straps held the limp being secure like a harness. Daku’s mighty wings stretched out to slow their combined weights. She was unconscious and bleeding heavily from a stump where her tail once grew, along with a gaping hold gushing blood from the side of her neck. Cage sent a rush of his power and her neck brightly glowed blue along with her stump. Already he could tell she lost too much blood as her heart raced to pump more into her brain. Cage yelled up “Medic! She needs an immediate transfusion!”

  The commander of this squad gave a roar and six dragons appeared at his side, thereabouts, considering their enormous mass. Four used magic to hold her in place, allowing Daku to let go. As he released and shot over with a deep gash running down his left arm, the two healers suddenly pulled out a foot wide needle while another produced an orb of some material containing several hundred gallons of hot dragon’s blood. A claw lifted a section of scales at the scout’s chest, near the neck, and jabbed the needle instantly into the primary artery as it was attached to a tube coming from the blood container. As soon as it hit the artery the transfusion began flowing in a rush.

  As this was happening Cage healed Daku’s arm and a cut in his fist from punching a nose spike.

  “Others?” The commander gruffly asked as he flew down.

  Cage and Daku shook their heads slowly in a way that no translation was needed. The former said in draconian “Their spirits left their bodies, but tell their families they didn’t go down without taking them bastards down with them.”

  The dragon growled. “How many?”

  “After she” Cage pointed to the female being tended to. “sent word to Semek, a second group showed up and I killed four more. Daku got another five. The original four I helped out took down several more before falling. It was a good battle, but the second team of attackers were much more seasoned in combat. What do you have for me?”

  “Gratitude. My Rex also sends word this attack now proves the Division Mountain colony is in league with Shakka Brightscales and her mentally unstable two-legs. An attack in this area after you and your flight was transporting prisoners is no coincidence. I give gratitude, you saved my hatchling.” He glanced at the still unresponsive female. “She will be cared for. I secure the area. Your mates, as I’m told, are already in Kote with the rest of your colony.”

  “It was a good fight.” Cage grinned. “Oh here is a spell I devised while fighting.” He held up his hand and a black sphere appeared. “I was going to give it to Semek, but you’ll do.”

  “What is it?” The commander rumbled as his soldiers spread out to secure the area.

  “Three I didn’t manage to kill, but I did manage to put a spell on the underside of their scales. If any of those three appear anywhere within two hundred miles, it’ll lead you right to them. And the spell on them won’t activate or be discovered until it comes within anyone carrying this specific spell. Allow me to touch this to your gem. Yours won’t allow me to give or take mana, but this spell can be given and received only of free will.”

  The commander sensed the structure of the dark ball to find there was no deception. “Three is more than none. I accept offer and will see them in battle personally.” He lowered his head and didn’t feel any pressure as it was touched.

  “Daku, let’s go for a swim.” The warlock proposed as he stepped off his black board and onto the top of his familiar’s head while wiping a heavily sweaty brow.

  “Read my mind.” And together they lazily glided through the clouds as the battle had taken place high above them. Before long the seemingly black Jamma Ocean lay spread out beneath. Before they plunged into the cool water they watched as a soldier extracted one of the fallen comrades from the water and would be honored in their tradition to become ash to feed the plants which will support those higher on the food chain. The souls though merely flew away to join their ancestors and lost friends as their battle in life was over.

  Then came the relaxing time of swimming and cleaning Ghosts Bane. During it he let his family know what happened and they said to not come to Kote till sunrise for some kind of a surprise. He didn’t ask as his mind wandered back to the blast of a battle. Even now his adrenaline pumped. To relieve it both he and his Familiar wrestled on equal terms in the water.

  Afterwards they floated on their backs and eventually enjoyed the slow rise of the sun, taking in the splendid view with silence. The rise and fall of the water wasn’t too violent.

  “I’m going to find me a fat rat.” Daku rumbled along with the roar of his belly.

  Water erupted a moment later and Cage held his breath to not get splashed, but then resurfaced and rose from the water’s embrace, his robe repelling water and not remaining heavy for long. It was now a common spell to
him, being able to stand on a thin cushion of air to walk on any horizontal surface, usually water. He watched his closest friend shrink down to a large housecat and realized currents had been slowly pushing them to shore. Cage merely walked rather than skated over the water, wanting to take his sweet time. It was the first deadly fight with such fearsome opponents and the rush was sweet ambrosia to the warlock. It was fast, gut wrenching and pushed him to a new means of combat.

  Sharp eyes watched the glistening white streak dive into untamed forest and disappear. Daku’s hunger was heightened by the recent battle, one he hadn’t felt in centuries. Few times in his life he had to alter his size so instantly. It didn’t hurt exactly, but it wasn’t as pleasurable as a smooth transition. He swooped in and perched in a branch deep in the dark lands as dawn had yet to fully lift its veil. His head turned in jerking moments while large eyes pierced the dark land sprawled beneath. Predatory hearing had his head jerking so his ear holes could pick up prey.

  Scurrying at first showed a young squirrel that didn’t seem appetizing and was dismissed to live another day. Scraping of a boar grunted many yards away, near a slow moving river. Birds began to sing while insects began to go quiet to avoid other predators. But soon Daku’s favorite meal pushed through undergrowth and his hearing and sharp movements focused distance till his forward set eyes locked on and judged distance.

  Willing to offer all prey a chance, Daku honorably released a shrill roar. All noises died instantly, recognizing the ultimate living predator’s call. His white form streaked and landed right in front of the fat rat he sought. It made a pitiful squeak and tried fleeing. Daku shrunk to give it a chance to fight back, but its panic was its undoing as the swiftness and hunger of a griffin would not be denied.

  The rat squirmed all the way down into Daku’s stomach where his hunger was sated for yet another day.

  The griffin soon made his way back to the beach to find his companion in life lounging contently in the sand while watching the beauty of nature and being humbled by its deceptive ferocity. Up high above was the faint shimmer of another dragon, but they weren’t bothered in the least.