Offspring (The Sword of the Dragon)

by Appleton, Scott

  Gabel sobbed, then choked and cleared his throat, shaking his head. He lay back, growling. “Oh, Razes! I will make you pay for the evil you have done. You will beg for mercy at the end and regret the day that you slaughtered the innocent and brought ruin to my land. I will make you pay with your life for this evil.” Weakened, he lay back and fell into a fitful sleep.

  Oganna left the tent, tiptoeing so as not to disturb him. “He is asleep,” she said before Vectra could ask.

  “That I guessed.” The megatrath carved a circle in the stone floor with her claw.

  Oganna reached down, and Neneila slithered around her arm. She held the viper in front of her face and lightly stroked its head. The viper closed its eyes. She looked past the viper into Vectra’s enormous face. “Did you hear him ranting about the massacre?”

  “Yes. Whoever this Razes character is, he must be bad news to incur such bitterness.”

  Oganna began to pace the floor. “If Gabel is right, Razes is responsible for butchering the inhabitants of this region. I suspect he is also the villain behind the attacks on the Hemmed Land. Gabel mentioned winged men fighting for Razes.” She stood still and nodded in the tent’s direction. “At least Gabel bears no hostility toward us; in fact he seems to feel indebted because we are caring for him. If Razes is enemy to us both, then we share a mutual problem. Perhaps when he is feeling stronger, Gabel will be able to tell us more.”

  Vectra cocked her head and listened to the monotonous sound of rain pummeling Ar’lenon. Oganna kicked a pebble on the floor and watched it roll over the stones. “The rain is not letting up, is it?”

  The megatrath sighed. “Two days of constant downpour. I’m beginning to wonder if Yimshi will ever come out again. Surely this will delay your father as well.”

  Twisting her head around, Vectra barked an order to one of her guards and gazed up one of the stairways that led into the spire of Ar’lenon. “If I was certain that those steps could hold my weight, I would go to that observation platform you told me about and stand watch. If Razes pummeled this city before, he might come back to search for survivors … and he might bring friends.”

  “Setting a watch up there wouldn’t do much good.” Oganna set Neneila around her shoulders. “The climb is too long, and it would take a long time for you to come back down and warn us if you spotted trouble. Besides, if Razes came here, he would have to come by way of the ramp and knock on the doors to find us.”

  “Then I will post guards outside the citadel doors on the ramp. At least then we will have warning of trouble.”

  Oganna thought for a moment. “That would be a risk. Anyone standing out there will present an inviting target.”

  “Nevertheless I am willing to take the risk. Besides, if anyone did attack, they would have to do so first from a distance, and our scaled hides are too thick for a mere arrow to pierce.” Having thus decided, Vectra posted two megatraths on the ramp and set up a rotating schedule to change the guard frequently. “Do not worry, Princess.” She curled up on the floor. “My guards are more than capable of this task. They will not be caught by surprise.

  Deep down Oganna hoped the megatrath was right. It would be a shame to lose two megatraths before a fight even began. Then again, maybe Razes would not return to Netroth. Even if he did, one hundred megatraths garrisoned within Ar’lenon posed a formidable force. She should stop worrying and just pray her father arrived before Razes.

  The next morning Gabel’s face displayed more color. Oganna brought him oatmeal for breakfast, and he dug into the bowl with a vengeance. “Thank you so much for everything you have done for me.” He grinned at her, and she laughed.

  “It feels good to see you doing so well.”

  Vectra’s enormous head poked through the tent flap. “How is he this morning?” Her question had been directed to Oganna. Then the creature’s dark eyes focused on the giant. “Oh, I see you are awake and feeling better now. Good!” She backed out of sight, and the flap fell back in place.

  Gabel’s eyes almost popped out of their sockets. “What was that?”

  Oganna could not help it—she laughed at his reaction. “That was a megatrath. Her name is Vectra, and she came with me to find out what is causing the viper raids along my land’s northern border.”

  He chuckled. “You keep interesting company, Princess.”

  “I prefer to think of it as making interesting friends. My father and I are very grateful to have the megatraths as allies. They are fierce fighters. I fought them once, and I hope I will never have to do so again.”

  The man looked thoughtful as he stared at the tent flap. “How many of those creatures have you brought with you?”

  “It would be more accurate to say that they brought me. But why do you ask?”

  “Because if my enemy returns, he will try to kill you, too.”

  “Gabel, who is this enemy of yours? Tell me all you know so that I can make a fair judgment on what happened here.”

  “There is a lot to tell,” he began wearily. He clenched his fist and looked into her eyes. “Where is my sword?”

  In answer, she pointed to where it lay by his side. The weapon was longer than she was tall. “It is a wonderful piece,” she said.

  He clutched it to his chest, then relaxed his grip and lay it across his knees.

  “This sword has belonged to every king of Burloi since my great, great-grandfather built this city and established the monarchy. From generation to generation it has passed from father to son as a symbol of our strength to deter those who would destroy us.” He paused and lovingly eyed the blood-stained blade “But that was before Razes’s rebellion—”

  “You mentioned him the other day, though only in passing. Who is this Razes?” She pulled away one of his bandages, saw that the wound was healing well, and smothered it with fresh salve.

  Gabel eyed his injury as well. “You have the hands of a healer, little lady. I wish there was some way I could reward you.”

  “You can.” She sat back. “You can tell me what happened here.”

  “Oganna. That is your name?” After she nodded he continued. “Razes is another giant, though younger than myself. When he was a youth I incorporated him into the Ar’lenon guard. But he was very ambitious and, desiring power, he led an uprising to dethrone me. It failed and I, in an attempt to show mercy, sent him into exile instead of to the guillotine as he deserved.”

  He gritted his teeth, then spat on the stones. “He and his followers fled Burloi and disappeared into the east, we thought for good. That was a little more than two years ago. Then, just a year and a half after his disappearance, Razes returned from the east. He was not the same youth that had left us. He had acquired a terrible weapon that gave him seemingly unlimited power. With a word he was able to demolish a building and with another he could control the weather.

  “My people have long known that there are evil beings that practice magic, but we had never been face to face with such blatant proof of their abilities. Razes declared that he had become an agent of wizardry in our land and that this entitled him to whatever he desired. ‘Those who resist will die,’ he declared.

  “The population split over loyalty to me and fear of the sorcery. Almost half of them sided with Razes because they believed that it would be useless to resist him. Burloi erupted in civil war. I fought tooth and nail for every part of my land, but he repeatedly defeated me.” Gabel spread his arms and gazed up as if seeing through the tent fabric to the stone ceiling. “Here in Ar’lenon, I and my counselors made our last stand.

  “In his wrath, Razes destroyed Netroth. Then he and his wizard apprentice, a human, ascended the great ramp. I fought them. However, Razes’s companion also wielded magic. I was outmatched and defeated. They threw me off the ramp and the last thing I remember is seeing my remaining counselors struggling against them. If they survived, I would know it, for they would never have abandoned me even if they thought that I was a lifeless corpse.” Striking the ground with his fist, he
said, “Those who use magic should be cast into fire!”

  Oganna folded her hands in her lap. “There are powers for good and powers for evil. For example, some would call the things I can do magic.” She held up her hand, and it pulsated white and blue light. “But all good things come from God. That is what my father taught me.”

  “You—you are a sorceress.”

  “I am not. I am the blood descendant of a dragon, and as such I have their seemingly magical abilities. It is my inheritance, and it is a blessing.”

  “Inheritance?”

  “Yes, a parting gift from my mother. She died shortly after giving birth to me. In order for me to live she had to give up the life energy in her blood. But she followed the Creator’s will.” She stood to her feet and parted a fold of her garment to reveal the crystalline blade of Avenger. “I made this using the power in my blood.” Gabel looked skeptical, so she proceeded to draw the weapon and array herself in silver.

  He drew in his breath. “Whew! What I wouldn’t give to have a weapon that could do that.” Chuckling, he glanced down at his sword. “Actually, there is a legend among my people that our northern brethren once had swords that could render them invisible and that there was no sorcery involved. So, I suppose, it is possible that—as you say—God can give his creatures special abilities.”

  “And I honestly believe that, because the power was bestowed by God, he could take it away from me at any moment He chose.” Oganna slid the Avenger back into its sheath and returned to her normal state. “We will talk more later, Gabel. Your wounds have not finished healing, so for now I want you to rest.”

  He leaned forward and lightly kissed her forehead. “For a normal-sized human, you are quite interesting. I have enjoyed our discussion.”

  As she left the tent, Oganna glanced over her shoulder and shook her head with a laugh. “I can’t help but wonder. How tall are you?”

  “Last I measured”—he laid his head back—“ten feet, two inches. Scurry along now, little lady. As you said, I should rest.”

  Oganna went to the fireplace. The viper untangled itself from a broken chair, slithered up her outstretched arm, and rested about her neck. “Psst! Mistress, when can we leave this place? In case you haven’t noticed, the megatraths’ body odors are increasingly stronger.”

  Vectra lumbered over and nodded at the tent. “How is King Gabel doing?”

  “He is doing a lot better. His wounds are healing well. He shouldn’t need bed rest for much longer.”

  “Good, he seems like a nice man, and I would like to get to know him better.” Vectra jerked up her head, and she stretched her neck toward the ceiling. “Did you hear that?”

  “Hear what?”

  Vectra lumbered to the citadel doors, threw them open, and walked out on the ramp. The rain had stopped. “Do you hear it now, Oganna?”

  “Hear what?” But the viper spoke into her ear, and she bit her lip. “The vipers are coming.”

  Vectra shook her head and stamped her feet in impatience. “No, no! Quit listening to that little creature for a moment, and you will hear something else.” She swiveled her head toward the north.

  Over the valley’s rim poured a dark flood of giant men. Their tramping resounded through Netroth’s vacated streets, a terrifying unison of clanging armor, rattling shields, and stamping feet.

  “I don’t think—” Oganna was about to say that the enemy had not spotted them when a screech from behind made her duck just as an arrow shot over her head. She spun to find a winged man swooping through the moist air. “Never mind. They’ve found us. Come on! Vectra, you must warn the others.”

  Oganna parted the fold of her garment and slid the boomerang into her hand. A dozen Art’en dove from the dark clouds, joining the first. She threw the boomerang into their midst, watching its trajectory as it severed several heads before returning to her palm.

  In the distance line upon line of armed giants descended into Netroth from the north. Like a wave they rolled into the city, onto its streets.

  Another winged man, a shield and sword in its hands, swooped around Ar’lenon Citadel, its brown wings fanned out. It landed on the ramp and sprang at her.

  “The Art’en will reign again,” it hissed. “Die, human!” But it had landed between her and Vectra. The megatrath’s clawed foot crushed the man’s wings to his sides and raised him off the stone ramp. The Art’en struggled in the mighty grip.

  “Not on my watch!” Vectra hissed back. Her mouth opened and clamped down on his midsection. Then she cast the Art’en off the ramp so that he fell into the city.

  Oganna turned toward the sky and raised her sword as two others spiraled to the ramp and rained blows upon her. They each bore a shield and a sword. She parried their blows and struck back in rapid succession until one of them slipped around behind her. She raised her boomerang to block his attack, but Vectra rolled into him. The megatrath’s six legs worked methodically, tearing the Art’en into bloody pieces before she scorched that which remained with fire.

  The other creature proved agile and a capable fighter. He dropped his weapons and avoided every thrust Oganna attempted. Then he kicked her jaw with his foot and smote her face with his wings so that she fell.

  “At last I have you.” It grabbed for her neck.

  In an instant, Vectra stood over her and smashed her fist into the creature’s chest. “I don’t think so.” She skidded around and pulled him back by the wings, then held him suspended in the air.

  Oganna ran back to the citadel doors and shouted to the two megatraths standing guard. “Hurry, that army is getting nearer, and they far outnumber us. We must get these doors closed.” She turned and looked for Vectra.

  The megatrath leader gave the Art’en a rigorous shake. “So you like heights?” she screamed. “I’ll give you one to remember me by!” Before Oganna could say anything to stop her, she barreled into the citadel with her captive in hand. Without thought to the damage she was causing she punched through the stairway entrance, and the stones crumbled away, leaving a space large enough for her to pass through. There was just enough time for Oganna to grab onto Vectra’s tail and vault onto her neck.

  Vectra rushed up the stairs as if her life depended upon it. In her fury she did not heed Oganna’s protests. The ascent, which had taken Oganna a long time, lasted for what seemed like only moments. Vectra burst onto the observation platform and screamed her victory to the encroaching enemies before breaking her captive’s wings and tossing him to his death. His body crashed onto a roof and rolled onto the street.

  Art’en swarmed through the air toward the platform, screeching and clawing at the wind. They ascended and circled Oganna and the megatrath before drawing bows and arrows. A hail of arrows sped through the air. Oganna dismounted. Vectra stood in between the arrows and her. The projectiles bounced off Vectra’s scales.

  The Art’en flipped through the air. Several landed on the platform and a couple on Vectra’s back. They drew swords, stabbed at the megatrath. Vectra bellowed the louder and caught a couple of them with her forearms. A tornado of flames issued from her mouth, turning the others into living torches. After breaking those in her arms, she threw them over the platform. Their screams echoed into the city and faded.

  “Vectra!” Oganna beat her fist into the creature’s neck to get her attention. “Enough of this.” The creature hunkered down, and she remounted.

  Another Art’en swooped over Vectra’s head, and she swiped her claws at it, but missed. The creature hovered just out of her reach. “Oganna, now! Decimate them.”

  More Art’en dove from above. Oganna gritted her teeth. Vectra was right. It was time to show the enemy what they were capable of. She raised Avenger and fed it her power and rage. Electrical current enveloped its blade, knifed into the air, and struck the Art’en. They froze in the air, their feathers started to smoke, and their hair stood on end as they crashed into the roof. They grabbed at the tiles but rolled off and fell into the city.

&nb
sp; 23

  BATTLE FOR AR’LENON

  Far below, on the ramp to Ar’lenon, the stones changed color, starting with the end touching the city streets and progressing toward the citadel doors. Vectra and Oganna both looked down. “Oganna, what is that?”

  “Psst!” Neneila’s forked tongue tickled Oganna’s ear. “I was right. Those vipers that are still under the wizard’s spell are coming.”

  After one more glance, Oganna clung tighter to the megatrath’s neck and leaned forward. “Come on, Vectra. We have to get down there now!”

  Vectra lowered her head and smashed through the stone walls of the citadel. Oganna cringed as shattered stones sprayed over her face and body. The megatrath thrust the front of its body through the hole. Its rear feet held to the platform while its head and forearms angled dangerously into the gaping heart of Ar’lenon. The stairs curved some twenty feet beneath them.

  “No, Vectra, don’t!”

  But the megatrath leaped, dropping them through the massive structure. As the walls streamed by, Oganna gritted her teeth and stiffened her body around the creature’s neck. Landing with a thud that shook but did not break the massive stone steps, Vectra raced down the remaining stairs. As they careened around the structure’s interior, Oganna prayed she would not fall and held on for her life. Every jolt of Vectra’s body threatened to throw them into the heart of Ar’lenon and to certain death. They dropped beneath the spire and descended the next stairs, passed the armory, and jumped into the main chamber wherein they’d encamped.

  The megatraths rose on their thick legs and shook their hides. Vectra rumbled in her throat and flashed her bloodied claws in their faces. “Today let this city be shaken with the cries of our victory. Let this citadel ring with the battle we bring to the giants, the Art’en, and the vipers. Teach them to never again oppose a megatrath!”

  Roars of approval deafened Oganna, forcing her to cover her ears with her hands until the megatraths quieted. Hisses filled room, and she turned as vipers slipped through the arrow slits along the citadel wall nearest the ramp and swarmed inside.