(Dragonkin) Dragon Rider

by C. E. Swain

  Chanry was dressed in the colors of the empire, and the armor he wore was made long ago, and looked similar to the armor Litlorn wore. He carried a short sword of ancient Elvin make, and his belt knife he carried as well He carried his bow with him always when he left the castle, and this time was no exception. Today he carried the sword Da'Thintahar, the sword from the dungeons of Darious his master had kept in the chest, slung over his back. It would become a sight the people of the realms would come to recognize. The only difference between the boy and the men he was with was his size. He looked and dressed just like them, and carried himself with confidence and pride.

  They walked across the training grounds and looked at the changes that had been made to the garrison, and as far as he could tell, the only thing that was missing were the stonewalls needed to enclose the newer buildings. Men walked to and from the barracks outside the walls of the original structure, and across the new training grounds. Two buildings had been built to feed the solders of the new army, and the smaller of the two was for the new recruits. Rows of tents lined the opposite end of the grounds, and men came and went from them constantly.

  The army was growing daily, and men arrived in the cities from all parts of the empire, but more came from the defeated kingdoms in the southeast than the rest. All of the realms were growing faster than they had in many years, but the cities were growing the fastest, and when they returned to the castle, they talked about the changes that were needed.

  "The men do not look like an army." Kyler said. "They look like they are in disarray."

  "It is because they all look different." Javen said.

  "We need to change that if the army is to look like one." Feran said." They at least need to look alike."

  "The first thing wee need to do is separate the different skills," Kyler said. "Train the different parts of the army separately, and use a standard weapon and armor for each."

  "All will wear the sash and cloak of the empire, but the armor will vary." Feran said. "A standard uniform for all men should be required as well."

  "And all men should be trained with the sword, regardless of their skill." Javen added. "Hand to hand it how wars are won."

  "That is true." Menimeth said. "And it is a very good idea. It is up to you three to train and lead the army, so use whatever you need to accomplish your task, but I want all of the men to be able to use all of the weapons of war proficiently"

  Changes were made over the next few days, and the army of the empire began to look more like an army every day. Several different types of armor and weapons were found in the storerooms below the castle, that had the dragon symbol on them, and the three captains decided which to use for each skill. Horses had been brought in from all parts of the empire, but most of them came from the outlaws that were killed in the west.

  Farlin arrived soon after the men from Alenvale, and opened an inn in Glansford. He named it the Sword and Dragon, and it was the best inn in the two cities. He became a partner of Tanier, who owned the small shop Menimeth often patronized, and taught him how to brew Blackbeer properly.

  Litlorn and Darik arrived two weeks later, with the solders from the southern realm that had fought with them in the battle of the north. The wound Litlorn had received in the battle had healed along the way, and Menimeth could not tell he had received it at all. He no longer limped, and the smile on his face showed he was glad to be back in Glansford. The friends embraced in the warrior fashion, and talked as they walked to the castle.

  The men talked until late that evening as they sat in the Sword and Dragon, and discussed the threat in the north. It would not be long before they would need to take the army west to protect the realm from Chidren, because the war for the west had begun in the north, and the empire had been weakened from it.

  The battle for Argnon was coming, and it was coming soon. Menimeth knew the enemy was only waiting until all of their preparations were complete, before their armies began the march to the castle. Menimeth hoped he would have enough solders to defeat the outlaws, and though he did not know the enemy's numbers, that would soon change.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Feran waited in the garrison assembly yard for Gareon to arrive, as the new men of the Dragon Guard received their weapons and armor. These were the last of the men to do so, and then the task would be complete. All of the men were now dressed in the colors of the empire, and looked more like an army than before.

  The Dragon Guard was coming together slowly, but they were coming together Feran thought. He commanded Fifteen hundred trained men that would fight in the coming battle, and another eight or nine hundred who still needed training. More than half of them could fight if they were needed, but they would not be used to defend the castle at Argnon. More men showed up daily, but as in the past, a lot of them were not useable as fighters. Menimeth had set up a branch for cooks, artisans, and other non-combat jobs, to support the army, and many of the people filled those positions. This allowed all of the solders of the Dragon Guard to be used as fighters, without losing their supply lines.

  Across the great road from the garrison, camped the remaining solders of the many armies who were defeated in the southeast, but still wished to fight. No more than fifty men had left the camp set up by Gareon, and all of those men chose to stay in the empire. Some of the men worked as cooks, and some as clerks, but most of them became artisans. It was the older solders that had been wounded several times throughout the years that became blacksmiths, Saddle makers, and horse trainers, as well as the other important artisans that were relied on to keep the armies of any kingdom going. The empire had few of these men available to them, and Menimeth was more than pleased to help them with shops and supplies. Glansford's empty buildings were designed for just such people, and in more than a few cases, the supplies were already in them.

  Gareon walked across the road and into the garrison, followed by one of the higher-ranking officers who had escaped the wars in the southeast. Feran met them at the gates, and they walked through the training grounds as they talked.

  "How can I help you?" Feran asked.

  "I am Commander Fracher." The man with Gareon said. "And we would speak with you about the men."

  "What men?" Feran asked, puzzled.

  "We represent the men who wish to join your Dragon Guard." Gareon said. "They asked us to speak with you about it."

  "They wish to know what to expect if they enlist." Commander Fracher added.

  "Any man who joins the Dragon Guard will be given land after his service is complete." Feran informed them. "The time of service is six years, but longer service will result in increased, lands. All veterans will retain their former rank, and all of the privileges that go with it, regardless of the army he served in before."

  "That is a far better offer than we hoped." Gareon said. "If the men accept, how do you wish them to proceed?"

  "It depends on the number of men you are talking about?" Feran said.

  "All of them." Gareon replied. "Except for the men who follow the prince's of Anrivar, and there are only forty of us."

  "That would be one thousand nine hundred and eighty-seven officers and men." Commander Fracher informed him.

  "All of them?" Feran repeated, stunned by the news. "Do you have some structure to your forces set up now?"

  "Yes, we did that as the men began to arrive in our camp while we were still south of the borders of the empire." Commander Fracher said. "And when Gareon arrived he was given command by the prince's, who left the camp soon after."

  "Let me talk to the king, but I am sure he will want to keep you together as an army in the guard." Feran said.

  "Look for Commander Fracher, he is the camp commander now." Gareon said. "He represents the men"

  "As you wish." Feran said to the old warrior.

  "Thank you for your time." Commander Fracher said, and the two men walked from the training grounds, and back across the great road.

  Danorathin landed in front of the Swo
rd and Dragon, and Menimeth dropped to the ground as he landed. The great bronze dragon leapt into the air, and was sitting above the gates to the dragon rider capital seconds later. The men of the Dragon Guard looked at the beast as they went about their training, but no longer feared him. The sight was a daily event, which had taken place every morning since the inn was opened, and the solders came to expect it.

  The smell of Blackbeer was still on the morning breeze, and Menimeth followed it into the tavern. Entering the establishment owned by his friend from Argnon, he was greeted by the smile of his friend Litlorn. Several other men were seated at tables throughout the room, and as the dragon rider sat in his usual chair against the wall, the smell of Blackbeer hung in the air.

  Feran entered the tavern minutes later, and walked to the table where Menimeth and Litlorn sat. Farlin brought him a mug of the brew, and he sat with his friends while they talked of the coming battle in the west.

  "We will need to send men to Argnon soon." Menimeth said.

  "Yes, and you will need to visit Commander Rayden in the southwest." Litlorn told him.

  "I will need to summon the forces of the realms as well." Menimeth said. "Though they do not have that many men I can use."

  "It will have to be enough." Litlorn said.

  "I spoke with Gareon not long ago." Feran said to Menimeth. "And Commander Fracher who is now the highest ranking officer of their camp."

  "Was there some problem?" Menimeth asked, concerned.

  "Not really." Feran said. "They have some men who wish to join the Dragon Guard."

  "I had hoped some of them would." Menimeth said. "How many will join?"

  "One thousand, nine hundred and eighty-seven officers and men." Feran said, and Menimeth almost spilled his mug, as he stopped it half way to his mouth.

  "Did you say, one thousand nine hundred?" Menimeth asked, not sure he had heard Feran correctly.

  "And eighty seven, yes." Feran said, smiling.

  Menimeth looked at Litlorn, and then back to Feran. That was a lot more men than he expected, and he was stunned by the number Feran had given him. With the solders from the realms, they would have enough to make a stand at Argnon.

  "How many men can we send west at this time?" Menimeth asked.

  "Fifteen hundred." Feran replied. "But more will be ready soon."

  "Who should we send to lead them, if the battle comes before the remaining warriors arrive?" Menimeth asked.

  "Javen will be the one to go." Feran said. "But he has more than one reason to do so."

  "I will speak with Gareon about the men who wish to join the guard." Menimeth said. "You should have the first army prepare to leave for Argnon."

  "Commander Fracher is the man you need to speak with." Feran told his friend and king. "He is the camp commander now, and speaks for the men."

  "Then that is who I will speak with." Menimeth said. "If things work out right, you will be their commander when they depart for the west, and Kyler will command the forces of the realms when they arrive."

  "What of Commander Fracher?" Feran asked. "He is the camp commander."

  "But you are now his commander." Menimeth said. "We will need to replace the captain emblem you now wear, for the commander emblem, right away."

  "Commander?" Feran asked. "Of the Dragon Guard?"

  "Yes, and Kyler as well as Javen will need to change their emblem also. You three will be my generals in the field of battle."

  "What of me?" Litlorn asked, with a hurt look on his face. "Where shall I be when the fight takes place?"

  "You will be with Darik, Donderan, and I, in the Castle." Menimeth told the Elf. "We will attack from the front."

  "And what of Danorathin?" Litlorn asked. "Will you not fight from the back of your dragon?"

  "Not until later in the battle." Menimeth told his friend. "First we must take care of the siege weapons they have built."

  "That will be fun." Litlorn said, but believed it would be anything but, fun.

  "I must speak with Commander Fracher." Menimeth said, as he stood from the table. "I will speak with you later this evening."

  Feran followed Menimeth out the door, and walked to the garrison to carry out his king's orders. Javen was at the training grounds designed for the cavalry, and taught them the things Menimeth had taught him about horses. All of the men were taught to ride, and fight from the back of a horse, but no cavalry would be formed until sometime after the west was secure. Still, the men would ride into battle in the west, because all of the warriors of the empire would fight that way.

  Kyler worked with the men at using the bow, because all of them would carry one into battle as well. That was another part of what Menimeth believed would be the power of the empire, and the best way to win a battle. Menimeth wanted warriors on horses, who could use their bows as they attacked, and then cut the enemy down with swords and spears, as they crashed into, and through them.

  Feran sent for Javen and Kyler to return to the garrison, and he relayed the order to them when they arrived. It would take several days to get the men ready to travel, and on their way west, but Javen would keep up the training until Menimeth gave the order to leave.

  Menimeth was with Commander Fracher for a long time, and when he emerged from the camp, he called his dragon. Danorathin landed in the great road, and Menimeth walked from the camp, and climbed onto the back of his dragon. All of the men watched as the dragon leapt into the air, and was out of sight within seconds. Menimeth went south first, but before he was back in Glansford, he would have seen all three regents of the northern, southern, and eastern realms. The forces they were to contribute to the battle would be leaving for Glansford soon, and then they would continue on to Argnon.

  The day was waning when Feran walked from the city of Glansford, across the great road, and into the garrison. It was his job to work with the swordsmen, but was not needed all of the time. He only needed to train the accomplished swordsmen, and let others train the rest. He tried to be there as much as he could, but he had other duties to perform as well. Running an army was the hardest job that he had ever tried to do, but he was getting better at it daily. Javen and Kyler waited for him inside, and the three commanders walked across the great road, and into the Sword and Dragon.

  Menimeth entered the tavern minutes later, and sat with his friends at their table in the corner. Farlin walked to the table and placed a mug of his best ale on the table for each of them.

  "I don't guess my inn in Argnon will survive the battle." He said as he placed the last of the mugs on the table. "But I will rebuild it if I have to."

  "I do not expect the town to be lost." Menimeth said. "And when this is over, the western realm will grow in population."

  "And a good inn will be needed in more places than just Argnon." Farlin said. "I must get back to my patrons, but I will think about that."

  "Is there a chance that the town will be lost?" Javen asked, when Farlin was gone.

  "Yes, It is possible." Menimeth replied. "But it will be rebuilt if it is, and better than before."

  "What of the western realm?" Javen asked. "Are the towns to the south safe?"

  "Only if we stop the enemy at Argnon." Menimeth replied.

  "The towns to the north of Argnon will surly not survive." Kyler said. "We will not be able to prevent that from happening."

  "I am afraid you are right." Menimeth replied. "But we will do what we can."

  The men sat in silence for a while, and drank their ale slowly. Thoughts of the battle that was to be fought at Argnon, was on all of their minds, and the losses they would endure as well.

  Over the next three days, the men of Commander Fracher's camp were given the armor of the Dragon Guard, and by the forth day after they had joined the guard, the men of the camp dressed in the colors of the empire, and wore the cloak and sash as well. Menimeth believed they needed to train together for several weeks before they could be sent west to fight in the battle, because he needed a force that could fight
as a group, and limit the casualty's sustained on the battlefield. Besides, it would take several days to get the horses needed for all of the men.

  Javen, and the fifteen hundred warriors he commanded, departed Glansford that morning for the west. All of the men, carried bows, swords, and spears, but they all carried a shield of purple with the golden dragon on the face as well. Wearing the colors of the empire, and with the purple sash around their waist, they rode out of the garrison and turned west. The line of men in ranks as they rode out of the garrison and onto the great road, was a sight not seen for more than five hundred years.

  It would not take them more than five to six weeks to reach Argnon, and set up their camp. Ten of the scouts from Commander Fracher's camp went with them, to gather the information about the enemy's forces as they advanced on Argnon. Menimeth needed to know more about the enemy, and the route they intended to take. He did not believe that they would use the great road, because the empire could stop them at the bridge over the Grayling River. The river was much easier to cross in the north where it was the shallowest, and where many fords were found. That is where they would cross the river Menimeth thought, but from which direction would they approach the castle at Argnon.