"I'm going to pluck that witch's eyes from her head so she can watch while I chop the rest of her into little pieces." The young woman snarled savagely, a fire burning deep in her eyes.
Damion chuckled. "That's my girl." He gently led her back to her bedroll. "We'll set off again at first light. We need to get some rest. You're going to need your strength when we finally catch up with Leia and her abductors. "
The next morning, Raven had them back up, fed, and ready to go before the sun even broke over the horizon. As soon as it had grown light enough for them to safely travel, the young woman leapt into her saddle. "Let's move." She growled, her expression grim.
The others turned to look at Damion, their eyes questioning.
"You heard the lady," He told them, climbing up onto Storm's broad back. "Let's get moving. We don't want to be late. There a witch out there that's waiting for my wife arrive to kill her. Let's not keep her waiting."
Chapter 20
"I've spotted them!" Snowfeather hooted frantically, swooping down from the sky. "There's a woman and child on horseback about a mile from here!"
"Snowfeather has spotted them!" Damion roared to the others, spurring Storm into a run. He led them through the dangerous countryside at breakneck speeds, desperate to close the distance between themselves and Leia's abductors. They finally rounded a curve in the trail and found themselves on the banks of a shallow river.
On the opposite side of the river, her mouth open in surprise, sat a young hooded woman on horseback with a small child struggling furiously in her arms.
With a roar of rage, Damion yanked the Dragon Sword from its sheath and spurred Storm forward, intent on destroying the woman who had turned his entire world upside down.
The woman screamed something unintelligible, then waved one hand in a sweeping gesture.
The invisible force that suddenly struck the companions swept them all from their horses, sending them crashing hard to the ground.
Damion landed in the center of the river with a great splash. He resurfaced, coughing and choking, cursing his own stupidity. He had been so enveloped in his battle lust that he had allowed himself to be caught completely off guard.
The witch waved her hand once more, but this time the huge warrior was ready for her. Drawing in his magic, he allowed the invisible force to rush passed him harmlessly, then started forward, his eyes full of murder.
The witch's burning eyes grew wide with fear, and she screamed once more, then she wheeled her horse around and drove her heels into its ribs, dashing off up the trail as fast as the beast could carry her.
Damion roared in fury, then started after her on foot, but found his way blocked by a huge bald warrior dressed in a thick bull hide armor.
The man stood nearly as tall as Damion, with a heavily muscled torso, and huge arms. He carried a heavy long sword in one hand, and a long, wicked looking dagger in the other. His face was expressionless as he stared at Damion. "So, you must be the Dragon Lord."
"And you must be the witch's puppet." Damion growled viciously.
"You have been quite the thorn in my mistress's side." The man continued in an emotionless tone, seeming unconcerned by the enormous warrior before him. "She has been extremely vexed with you and your companions."
"Glad to hear our efforts haven't been in vain." He started forward, his eyes full of the promise of death.
"I have to admit that you have surprised us with your tenacity." The bald man told him in a conversational tone, even as he launched forward with a vast overhand blow of his long sword. "I would have never expected you to be able to overcome the combined powers of my mistress and the elder spirits. The stories about you don't do you justice."
"Your mistress should have studied me a little closer then." Damion told him, easily dancing clear of the blow. "If she had, she would know that there isn't anything I wouldn't do for my daughter."
"We've noticed." The man leapt forward once again, slashing at Damion with his heavy long sword. "We were especially impressed when you survived the shadow warriors sent to deal with you. Not many mortals could have walked away from an encounter with the spirits of the netherworld."
"I've been in tougher fights." Damion said as he parried the attacks. He ducked under a wild swipe from the Oroni's dagger, then lunged forward, lashing out with the Dragon Sword, slashing the bald man across the chest. The fabled blade easily sliced through the thick bull hide armor, leaving a nasty gash in its wake.
"Impressive!" The bald man complimented him, showing no indication that the injury caused him any discomfort. "I can't remember the last time a foe managed to strike a blow against me."
"You talk too much." Damion growled, blocking another blow. He suddenly lashed out with a bone crushing kick that caught the Oroni full in the gut.
The bald man doubled over, his breath whooshing from his lungs, and then stumbled back several steps, waving his long sword in a wide arc to keep Damion at bay.
"Quit playing with him, Damion," Sly bellowed irritably, struggling to get back to his feet. "The witch is getting away!"
Damion glanced back at the others, who had all managed to make it back to their feet and were rushing to gather their horses. He turned back to the Oroni warrior, who was still gasping for breath desperately, then launched himself forward, the Dragon Sword held low.
The Oroni's eyes grew wide, and he somehow managed to stumble clear of the deadly thrust that had been aimed at his heart. He swung a vast overhand blow with his heavy long sword, which was easily deflected by the huge warrior, then followed up the blow with a lightening quick thrust of his wicked looking dagger.
Damion gave the warrior a look of pure contempt, then slapped the dagger away with such force that it drove itself deep into the Oroni's thigh, causing the huge man to bellow in pain. He tried to lash out with his long sword, but Damion merely danced clear, and lashed out once again with the Dragon Sword, catching the bald man across the forearm and severing his hand from his body.
The heavy long sword dropped to the ground with the Oroni's hand still grasping it, and the man grabbed the stump of his arm, which was pumping large amounts of blood onto the shore. He slowly dropped to his knees, gasping heavily for breath, then he slowly began to laugh, though his face still remained strangely emotionless. "It's too late." He told Damion. "My job is done. My mistress has almost reached the temples, where she'll hand the child over to the dragon god, Draco, fulfilling her pact with the elder spirits, and sealing your daughter's fate." He laughed again. "You and your companions have failed, Dragon Lord. My mistress..." He abruptly stopped mid-sentence as an arrow suddenly struck him dead center of his forehead with a loud thud. He slowly toppled forward to the ground with nearly a foot of the arrow protruding from the back of his head.
"He just didn't know when to shut his mouth, did he?" Raven snarled, lowering her bow.
Sly laughed a barking laugh, then leapt back into his saddle. "Let's move!"
Damion glanced one last time at the dead warrior, then leapt back onto Storm's broad back and spurred the great warhorse forward.
They charged up the trail as fast as their horses could carry them, ignoring the dangers of the rocky and uneven terrain, and the fleeing witch soon came into view. The hooded young woman was flogging her horse unmercifully in an effort to escape, but her exhausted horse seemed to be slowing nonetheless.
"The temples are just ahead!" Snowfeather warned Damion with a frantic hoot, swooping low over the huge warrior's head. "The path leading into the complex lies between those two stone formations!"
A dark shadow suddenly passed over them, and the enormous form of a scarlet dragon appeared overhead, swooping low in front of the fleeing witch in an effort to slow her escape.
"It's Scale!" Damarius cheered.
The companions continued to charge forward as they watched the great serpent bank sharply, preparing to dive towards the hooded woman once more, but the witch suddenly made a strange gesture, and a sizzling bolt of
energy erupted from her fingertips. It struck the massive beast full in the chest and exploded with tremendous force, sending Scale hurtling to the ground with an earth shaking crash.
A child's terrified scream suddenly echoed through the highlands, and they could see a tiny figure struggling to free itself from the witch's gasp.
"Leia!" Raven cried, desperately trying to close the gap between herself and her daughter's abductor.
"She's almost reached the path leading into the temples!" Snowfeather squawked desperately.
Damion looked ahead and saw the witch abruptly alter her course, spurring her dying horse towards a narrow gap between two massive granite formations. "Storm!" Calling upon the huge stallion's loyalty in desperation. "Faster!"
The enormous beast shuddered, then suddenly leapt forward, quickly outdistancing the other horses as they shot after their quarry.
The hooded woman reached the narrow path leading into the temple complex and charged through, Damion and Storm mere steps behind.
They raced through the narrow pathway and emerged into an enormous clearing which was completely encircled by the colossal granite formations, keeping it well hidden from the rest of the world.
The highland temples had been constructed in the center of the enormous clearing. Built from huge blocks of granite harvested from the surrounding formations, they appeared to be thousands of years old. Dozens of smaller structures surrounded three main buildings, while in the center of the complex was a large open plaza. A huge alter of fire had been erected upon a raised platform in the heart of the plaza, and stood spewing enormous flames high into the air.
The witch charged passed the smaller outbuildings, screaming unintelligibly as she continued to whip her horse forward. Dozens of hooded figures suddenly appeared, pouring out of the buildings and rushing into Damion's path in an effort to stop him.
Storm didn't even slow as he smashed through the witches, sending several of the hooded figures crashing into their comrades, while others fell beneath his churning hooves.
Damion didn't even look back, unwilling to give up the pursuit. He just hoped the others could handle the witches while he continued after Leia's abductor.
The witch emerged into the enormous plaza with Damion and Storm mere yards behind the fleeing woman. She reached the altar of flames and let out a triumphant whoop of glee, reining her horse so sharply that it reared back, nearly tossing her from the saddle. She leapt to the ground with Leia still in her arms struggling to break free, and rushed to the raised platform, her face flushed with victory.
"No!" Damion roared, launching himself from the saddle and rushing towards the raised altar.
The witch reached the flaming altar, then whirled around, a dagger made from obsidian clenched in one fist. "Not another step," She snarled at him, grabbing Leia by her hair and placing the dagger against her neck. "or I'll open your daughter's throat." A small trickle of blood dribbled down from where the sharp blade had already started to slice into the child's soft flesh.
"Daddy!" Leia screamed in terror, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Damion froze mid-step, his teeth bared in frustrated rage. "Release her!" He growled, his eyes locked on the burning eyes of the witch. "Let her go, and I'll let you live!"
The young woman laughed at him. "It's already too late! I have fulfilled the task given to me by the elder spirits, and shall be exalted above all others for delivering this child unto the dragon god!" She threw her head back and laughed. "I have defeated you, Dragon Lord, and your daughter now belongs to Draco!" She laughed another insane laugh of glee.
Leia took advantage of the young woman's distraction and suddenly seized her arm, yanking the blade away from her neck. With a roar of fury, the child sank her teeth into the witch's arm, causing her to drop her dagger in surprise, then elbowed the surprised woman hard in the gut, causing her to double over, the breath whooshing from her lungs.
Damion watched in shocked amazement as his daughter snatched up the witch's dagger, then spun around with a snarl, driving the point of the blade directly into the woman's eye socket with a sickening crunch.
The witch stumbled back, her mouth open in surprised horror, then with a heavy sigh, she fell backwards into the pit of roaring flames.
Everything fell silent for several moments as they stared at the roaring flames, half expecting the witch to reemerge once more. After several long moments, the young girl turned to stare down at her father.
"Leia!" Damion started forward, eager to take his daughter into his arms, but he was suddenly struck with a force unlike anything he had ever felt before. He was flung across the plaza like a rag doll, and crashed down hard to the cold stone with a great clatter.
He slowly pushed himself up to his knees, dazed by the raw power that had sent him bouncing. He looked back towards the fiery altar, and was horrified to see an enormous dragon, unlike any he had ever seen before, towering high over Leia, who looked as though she had suddenly fallen into a trance. The beast was twice the size of a scarlet dragon, with iridescent scales that shimmered hypnotically in the sun.
Its eyes glowed with an unearthly light as it stared down at him, watching him with a curious detachment. "You really are an incredible specimen." It rumbled in a quiet voice that seemed to resonate throughout the highlands. "I would have never believed a mortal to be capable of the things you have achieved."
Damion slowly stumbled to his feet and started towards his daughter, fighting desperately to ignore the waves of pure power emanating from the serpent deity that threatened to overwhelm his senses.
"And still you continue to fight." The dragon god sounded amused as it watched Damion struggle against the overpowering presence of the divine being. "All for the love of your child." The massive beast gently touched a huge talon against the comatose girl's neck, gathering a single drop of blood from the shallow cut left by the witch's dagger, then raised it up to fix it with two glowing eyes. "It's amazing what one will do for their children," Draco continued, his resounding voice taking on a sentimental tone. "even the gods. I have sacrificed much for my children, and will sacrifice even more if it means they will once again take their rightful place as the most dominate creatures in the world."
"You can't have my Leia!" Damion screamed in fury, still struggling step by step, to reach his daughter's side.
"I can." The dragon god told him sternly. "Your god commands your obedience."
"You are not my god!" The huge warrior roared in defiance.
"But I am, Dragonkin." The immense serpent told him, staring down at him with an intense gaze. "You carry the blood of dragons in your veins, as does your daughter."
"You cannot take my daughter!" Damion roared again. "I will destroy this world before I let you take her from me!"
Draco bared his teeth in fury. "You would defy me?" The overwhelming force that suddenly bore down on Damion drove him to his knees. "That is a position more suitable for a mortal when he is speaking with his god."
Damion's mind reeled as he fought desperately to resist the overwhelming force that crushed down upon him. The power of the dragon god was nearly irresistible, and he found his resolve beginning to waiver.
"With this child," The serpent god continued, still towering over Leia possessively. "a new age will be born, and this world shall once again belong to my children."
Damion raised his head and looked towards his daughter, who still appeared to be in a trance, and a fiery rage erupted inside of him. Concentrating with every fiber of his being, he slowly drew in his magic, allowing it to gather and build until the magical force filled him with its power. With another roar of defiance, he drew the Dragon Sword from its sheath. Flames erupted along the length of the mystical blade, burning white hot with his fury, and slowly forced himself to his feet, his eyes locked on his daughter.
"What is this?" The dragon god seemed genuinely surprised by Damion's ability to resist its power.
The huge warrior ignored the question. "Yo
u will not take my daughter!" He roared, taking a step forward.
The dragon god's eyes suddenly narrowed, and the crushing weight seemed to double, but Damion continued to press forward step by step, his lips peeled by in a vicious snarl.
"You truly are unlike any other mortal ever born!" Draco rumbled in amazed disbelief. He shook his head regretfully. "It's too bad you will have to die." The great beast drew itself up to its full height, preparing to strike the huge warrior down, but a new voice suddenly appeared from the very air around them, causing to dragon god to pause in surprise.
"What have you done, Draco?" The air above the plaza next to Damion began to waver strangely for a moment, then the massive form of another dragon appeared, materializing out of thin air. "Do you not realize what you have done?"
Omensent: Wrath of a Dragon God Page 34