Draek roared and flew higher into the sky to try to get above Sullivan and Kurok as they tried to untangle themselves in midair.
Kurok and Sullivan looked up at Draek but did not attack. Instead they hovered over the water.
What are they doing? Hayden asked.
Getting orders from their riders. Draek said with disgust.
As if on cue Sullivan and Kurok dove toward the remaining ships, ignoring Draek completely.
They are trying to make another pass over the ships. Draek explained.
We have to stop them, Draek get down there! Hayden shouted in his mind.
Draek dropped out of the sky and quickly followed behind Sullivan and Kurok. Draek pumped is wings harder and harder, desperately trying to gain on the two dragons.
Draek was able to get almost ten feet behind them when they let out their fires on the ships. Sullivan set fire to the ships on the right while Kurok burned the ones on the left.
As Draek passed by the burning ships Hayden could hear the screams of pain and panic rising up from the smoke.
Sullivan and Kurok rose from the water surface and continued their flight down the river with Draek closing in on them.
Almost got them. Draek roared as he got even closer to the end of Sullivan’s tail.
Hayden looked back behind them at the wreckage of the ships that were now burning. Almost half of their ships had some sort of fire on them.
Draek we have to go back and help them. Hayden said as he kept looking back behind them. The blue dragons were doing their best to help but it was obvious that they were exhausted and were not able to overcome the flames.
No, I almost have them. Draek snapped his jaws just a few feet away of the tip of Sullivan’s tail.
“Draek” Hayden shouted with his mind and his voice. Draek looked over his back and saw the destruction that had been left behind by Sullivan and Kurok. He turned back to Sullivan and with one last snap of his jaws he turned around and made his way back to the ships.
Hayden hated letting them get away with what they had done but I was more important to help their friends then it was to avenge them. Hayden looked back at the fleeting dragons and watched them fly off.
What’s wrong with Sullivan’s tail? Hayden asked because something did not look right as he was flying off.
I shortened it. Draek said grumpily as they landed on the Misty Maiden, one of the few ships that had already put out their fires.
Draek had hardly touched down on the deck when Rimney came over and yanked Hayden out of the saddle by the collar of his shirt.
“What the heck do you think you are doing?” Rimney yelled.
Before Hayden could answer Rimney yanked out her dagger and pressed it to his neck.
“Do you think this is a game or something? Do you think you can do whatever you want with no consequences? You got a lot of us killed today and because of you we have lost at least a third of our ships.” Rimney growled at him.
Draek lowered his head so that one giant silver eye was level with Rimney’s face. Enough. Draek said to both Hayden and Farius so the blue dragon could tell his rider.
“We should leave you and your dragon here and just go back to our lives.” Rimney shouted. She pushed Hayden down onto the deck and put her dagger back in its sheath.
You can’t do that. Draek said to Farius and Hayden. Farius continued to translate to Rimney what Draek was saying.
“Don’t tell me what to do dragon. This is my ship and I am the captain here.” Rimney said as she pointed at Draek’s eye.
“You are the captain here Rimney but Draek is right. You can’t go back.” Hayden said.
Rimney scowled at Hayden and put her hand on her dagger again.
“Pull your dagger out and I will make sure you have to use it.” Hayden shot back as he put his hand on his new silver sword. Rimney removed her hand but she left the scowl on her face.
“We need to save as many ships as we can right but you need to understand that you can never go back to your old lives. They are over.” Hayden said. He looked up at Draek and waited for his dragon to nod in agreement.
“You have openly attacked the Metallic Nation and you have attacked two of their riders. They will not let that go unnoticed. They will come to fight you if you run away so you might as well take the fight to them.” Hayden yelled.
The ships around them continued to burn while their deckhands did their best to fight the fires. Embers and ash began to fall around Hayden and the other like snow lazily floating to the deck.
Hayden climbed into Draek’s saddle and got ready to go help the other ships fight the fires.
“I am sorry for what happened here today, it was our faults. We wanted to get Giles and Sebastian so bad that we caused all of this without even realizing it until it was too late. It’s something we will answer for one day but right now we need to save as many ships as we can.” Hayden grabbed onto Draek’s saddle and they flew to the nearest ship that was on fire.
Hayden jumped onto the ship to help the deckhands while Draek scooped up water in his wings and splashed the ship. Draek’s efforts were filling the air with smoke and hissing sounds.
Back on the Misty Maiden the deckhand’s attention was focused on Rimney as she watched Hayden and Draek work.
“What should we do, Captain” One of her pirates asked.
“We help put out the other ships and try to save as many of our people as we can.” Rimney replied.
“And then?” He asked again.
“Tomorrow we fight the Metallic Nation and we will win for those who died today.” Rimney replied. “And after words we will make sure Hayden pays for his mistake.”
Chapter 31
Shane and Cass were the only ones standing at the edge of the burnt tree line as the sun began to rise in front of them. The damage of the battle that had taken place the day before was all around them.
The forest was destroyed all around them, darkened trees without leaves stood over the blackened ground that sent up ash with every step Cass and Shane took. The field that had been green and full of life just a few days ago was now scarred with black gaping wounds.
During the night the elves had ventured out onto the field and retrieved their dead but the Metallic Nation had done no such thing. Bodies lay thrown about the field with birds feasting on their flesh.
Shane and Cass had donned their full armor again and they both had their helmets and visors down to cover their faces. It protected them from the ash that filled the air and it unnerved those who looked upon them.
They awaited the rider they knew was going to come. Lirand would come just after day break and demand their answer. Shane had suggested that their dragons be present when they meet in case a fight broke out.
Where is he, I am tired of waiting. Rilora said as she pushed a blackened tree over with one giant copper talon. Shaylin was close behind her but she remained silent and waited patiently just as her rider did.
“I am not sure.” Shane replied out loud. He scanned the sky but saw no sign of a dragon.
I am getting impatient. Rilora complained. Shane gave a nervous laugh.
“You are always ready for a fight, aren’t you?” Shane asked. Rilora blew a puff of smoke out of her nose and glared at Shane.
“Look there.” Cass said somberly and drew Shane’s attention back across the field.
A lone silver dragon jumped into the air across the field and flew into the air. Shane had no doubt that is was Lirand.
Shane had left his shield attached to Rilora’s saddle; a shield would do little good to fend off a dragon.
Shaylin and Rilora stood right behind their riders as Shynari got closer to their burnt forest.
As Shynari landed clouds of ash forced the riders to cover their faces.
When they were able to see again Lirand had already gotten off of his saddle and was walking to them.
“Well I take it that’s your answer then.” Lirand said as he surveyed the two riders
dressed for battle. Lirand was wearing the silver armor nearly identical to what Hayden wore except he carried the standard rider’s helmet; a smooth dome that covered down to his shoulders.
“We cannot return with you.” Cass said strongly, her voice never wavering.
“I wish you would reconsider.” Lirand said sadly.
Lirand turned and climbed back into his saddle.
“You know what must happen now right? You know what’s coming?” Lirand asked as he looked at the forest that stood behind them.
“We know.” Shane said.
“Hmm.” Lirand said as Shynari rose up and prepared to take off. “And what about Hayden, is he still not able to meet with me?” Lirand asked.
“No, he is not.” Cass answered. Lirand looked around as if Hayden was hidden behind a burnt tree, just out of sight.
“Hmm.” Lirand said sadly and looked into the two Metallic Rider’s helmets. Shynari took off into the air, throwing more ash around. Cass and Shane watched as the silver dragon flew back the same way she had come. They did not move until Shynari had landed on the far side of the field.
“So that’s that.” Cass said.
Shane climbed onto Rilora and got ready to fly. “That’s that.” Rilora took off and made her way to Out Post. There they had Kirin waiting for them.
“Well?” Kirin asked as soon as both Cass and Shane had landed.
“They are coming.” Shane said somberly. “No word from Hayden yet?” He asked.
“Nothing yet.” Kirin admitted. “I haven’t received any information since he left the coast and headed out over the Burden Sea.” Kirin looked back in the direction that Hayden had left as if he would be seen flying over the horizon.
“We need to prepare as if he isn’t coming at all.” Cass said. “I think it best that we have all the elves take position in the tree tops with as many bows and arrows as we can find. They won’t send ground troops today, today will be only dragons.” Shaylin nodded at Cass in agreement.
“I will send word out.” Kirin looked to her green dragon Nignra in silence for a few seconds. “The dragon riders are spreading the order throughout the ranks.”
Cass nodded her appreciation. “One other thing.”
“What is it?” Kirin asked skeptically.
“I think it would be best if the three of us did not join the other dragons.” Cass said. Kirin waited for Cass to explain before she asked any questions. “There is only two real ways for us to attack them. One is to lay a trap out and attempt to ambush them, taking away their advantages.” Cass explained.
“The second is for us to draw them away from our main force of dragons and while they are engaged with the smaller group we would send the second group to destroy their camp and then rejoin the battle.” As Cass spoke Shane nodded along. Both plans were great but he liked the second one the best.
While they would be destroying their camp and killing their troops their dragons would try to break away to help but that would just pin them between both forces.
“Why is attacking them straight on not an option?” Kirin asked.
“Because we are too few and their dragons are bigger and stronger than ours, they would defeat us before we could really get a chance to do anything.” Cass said confidently.
Kirin looked offended but before she could make her feelings known Cass began talking again.
“You are the queen of the elves. I understand you think highly of your people but this is war and lives are at stake. You are outnumbered by an enemy that is bigger and faster than you. Don’t forget that metallic dragons train for wars just like this. Fighting enemies just like you.” Kirin lowered her head and for a few seconds she was her old self and not the queen.
“You’re right.” She said.
Shane was amazed at how Cass was acting. Just a few days ago she had been scarred and anxious with the thought of war hanging over head. Now she was the leader that Shane knew she could be.
“Now we need to hurry, get your armor on and let’s get into the air.”
They come. Rilora said and Shane’s stomach clenched into knots. He slowly turned around to see a few black dots rising into the air at the edge of the horizon.
“Get on your dragons now!” Shane yelled as he jumped onto Rilora’s back and prepared for battle.
The sun was rising as the ships continued to slice through the water. The dragons had rested during the night so that they would be at full strength during the morning.
Hayden and Rimney had slept in the cabin together during the night but neither of them had spoken. Putting out the fires had exhausted Hayden so when his head had hit the bed he was already asleep.
They had lost six ships and nearly a hundred deckhands to the flames; one of the men who had died was a dragon rider so as he had passed his dragon had turned to stone in midair and crashed into the sixth ship, causing it to sink.
They were able to save most of the deck hands from the sea or the flames but losing six ships, a dragon and almost a hundred seasoned fighters was a mighty blow.
Hayden had been woken up by Draek when he had said the blue dragons were rising out of the water. Hayden had put on his armor, which still had black spots on it from the smoke the day before.
They were sailing into the direction of the rising sun when Rimney finally walked up to Hayden and spoke.
“We should make it to the battle field soon.” Rimney stated, with almost no emotion in her voice.
“Good.” Hayden replied, not knowing quite what to say.
Rimney turned to make her way back to the cabin.
“Wait.” Hayden said. Rimney stopped walking and turned to face Hayden but she remained silent.
“I am sorry.” Hayden said.
“I know you are.” Rimney replied and walked off. Hayden still felt bad about what had happened but he had no idea what he could do to make it better.
Hayden was about to say more to Rimney when a shout rang out from crewmember on the lead ship.
“Dragons, dragons.” The voice rang out. Rimney ran to front of the ship where Hayden was already looking into the sky for the dragons.
After a few seconds of searching, Hayden saw two dragons flying over the river at a slow speed. Draek climbed onto the deck of the ship and growled. Hayden turned to find Draek dripping water behind him.
It’s them, isn’t it? Hayden asked. Draek’s eyes were far better than his were.
It is. Draek confirmed.
Hayden watched as the two dragons lazily flew high above the river. It appeared they were unaware of the ships that were following them.
Do they see us? Hayden asked, unsure as to why they hadn’t flown away yet.
They do but they are trying to bait us into chasing them again, then they will try to redo what they did yesterday. Draek’s teeth shined in the morning sunlight as he roared at the two dragons.
“What are they doing?” Rimney asked. She never took her eyes off the two dragons as she spoke.
Hayden told her what Draek had told him they were doing.
“Makes sense to me, it’s what I would do.” Rimney replied. Hayden tried to ignore the sting of her words but it wasn’t working.
“I hope I don’t have to explain why it would be a horrible idea to follow them.” Rimney said.
Hayden didn’t respond but Draek nudged Rimney with his nose. She turned around to complain but one look from Draek’s big silver eye silenced her complaints.
Sullivan and Kurok flew lower and lower until Hayden could make out Sebastian and Giles leaning over their saddles and looking down at them.
“They won’t attack us unless we go after them.” Hayden said. “How close are we to the battle field?” Hayden asked Rimney.
“We should be able to see it soon.” Rimney replied. “Hmmm, what are they doing now?” She asked.
Draek’s head shot up as they watched the two riders point out over the forest that surrounded the river. Soon the two dragons took off over the trees as if Draek
was chasing them.
Draek what are they doing? Hayden asked.
I am not sure; I think they see something out over the woods. Draek replied. Draek was itching to get into the air but before he did he looked down at Rimney to see what she said.
Rimney sighed and threw her arms up in the air. “Go but don’t chase them, just see what they are after.” Hayden quickly climbed onto Draek’s back; they had put all their dragon’s saddles on early in the morning. Hayden tightened the straps and made sure all his weapons and gear were safely secured.
Draek jumped off the ship and shot into the air with Hayden hanging on. As Draek reached the top of the tree line he roared out in frustration.
Sullivan and Kurok were racing across the tree tops with their riders pushing them as fast as they would go. They were trying to sneak up on three unsuspecting dragons as quickly as they could without being seen.
Draek put all his might into chasing after them, despite Rimney’s orders. Hayden urged Draek to go faster because the three dragons that Giles and Sebastian were flying after were a copper, gold and green dragon; hovering over Out Post.
Chapter 32
Shane turned around in his saddle at the feint sound of a dragon roar coming from behind him. He squinted his eyes as his heart raced with hope that an army of blue dragons would be behind him but instead he saw three silver dragons racing at him.
“Riders trying to flank us!” Shane shouted so that Cass and Kirin could hear. Cass and Shaylin turned in the air to face the new threat.
“They are closer than the others; we need to deal with them first before the rest of their dragons are upon us.” Cass shouted. Shaylin took off towards the incoming dragons with a roar.
Rilora and Nignra quickly followed behind them. Shane grabbed his bow and notched and arrow as they got closer to the dragons. Shane noticed that two of the dragons seemed to be further ahead of the other dragon.
We need to take out the two dragons up front first. Shane said to Rilora. Rilora broke away from Shaylin and flew higher into the sky so she could have the advantage. As they neared the first two riders Shane pulled back his bow and started raining down arrows.
The Clash of Land and Sea_The Dragon Riders of Arvain Page 30