Dragon of Eriden - The Complete Collection

by Samantha Jacobey

  “Then what else shall we need?” the magistrate asked, still studying their sketches and plans.

  “Weapons,” Animir interjected with a snap of his fingers. “Perhaps the armories have not been completely drained,” he offered.

  “Aren’t you an elf?” Gradien observed in surprise. Noting him for the first time, he felt certain he had not come in with the others.

  “Yes, but not loyal to Cilithrand,” he countered with a shake of his head. Turning to Ami, Animir pushed, “I’ll go and have a look. Whatever we find will be more than we have.”

  “That would be awfully risky,” Amicia pointed out, “going back to Jerranyth.”

  “I won’t be long,” he assured, turning to Rey. “Come help with the supply?”

  “No doubt,” Rey chuckled, giving Ami a quick peck on the cheek before reaching for his arm. “We won’t be long,” he announced before they disappeared.

  “My how talented you all are,” the wizard breathed. “I’ve got my share of magic, but the great city of Jerranyth is far beyond my reach.”

  “The ossci gave us insight, to be sure,” Meena informed him curtly, glaring at her adversary with thinly veiled hatred in her eyes.

  “Wan,” he growled in return. “Your blood should have been spilled long ago.”

  “Ah, but it wasn’t. Justice served now that I should have a hand in the preservation of our people,” she hissed, raising her chin.

  Grinning at his wife’s posturing, Piers felt confident she could take the man before him in a fair fight, and perhaps even a dirty one. “You should leave her be, Gradien. My bride is a skilled warrior, and we really don’t have time at the moment to test your metal against hers.”

  “Agreed,” Gray laughed, the rumble anything but amused. “But when there is time, I shall see her strength to be certain.”

  Rolling her eyes, Amicia pointed at the map and suggested, “We want to line the walls, and we have crews constructing scaffolding to support them, but I fear our men will be easy targets. If you can gather some stones, I will enchant as many as I am able.”

  “Enchant them,” the magistrate grunted. “You people are full of surprises. What does an enchanted stone do?”

  Unable to resist a demonstration, “Hit me,” Piers offered, jutting out his chin.

  Rolling a laugh, the other man wasn’t born yesterday. Still, he took the baited offer and made the swing, the arch of blue light knocking him to the ground as his arm burned. “Holy Eriden, is that the charm? A shield of some kind,” he groaned, flopping over and getting to his feet.

  “Aye,” the Mate grinned, showing him the small, smooth stone. “Amicia is quite talented with enchantments. Bring her stones that she may create as many as she can for our men who will defend the walls.”

  Sending a squire, the rocks were gathered in no time, and she began working on them in haste. She had only completed a few when Reynard and Animir returned from their quest to Lady Cilithrand’s lockers.

  Dropping a crate in their midst, Animir grinned, “They require assembly, but we have the means for many arrows.”

  “I’ll get my people to work on them,” Gradien informed him, opening and closing his hand with a scowl.

  “What happened to you?” Rey wondered aloud.

  “He tested the shield,” Piers chuckled.

  Laughing with him, Animir and Rey made a few more trips. Using a golden orb, they spent the rest of the night locating other armories in the elf mountains that had not been emptied completely and soon had a small cache of spears, bows, and more arrows to add to their stockpile.

  Observing the natural light filtering in over head as they were given a meager breakfast, Amicia gasped, “The night is gone already.”

  “Aye,” the Mate agreed, “but we accomplished much in the darkness,” helping himself to one of the biscuits. “What else is on our list that hasn’t been done or at least planned?”

  “The weapons have been well stocked,” Amicia observed between bites. “Excellent work on the part of Animir and Rey. They will need to be distributed, and I’d really like a count on our muscle.”

  “I’ll see to the distribution and get a count on our numbers,” Gradien volunteered. “You should get some rest. Everything we can do at this moment is under way, and you will need a clear head when the battle begins.”

  “I have to agree,” Piers grunted, digging at his tired eyes. “We hardly napped yesterday when we finished on the mountain, and now we prepare to defend again.”

  Wafting to his aide, Gray directed, “See them to my lower suite. It will be cooler there so they can rest.”

  Following the smaller man, their entire party, less the dragons, made their way into a nearby building, but instead of climbing, the stairs descended into a cellar.

  “Oh, this is nice,” Amicia breathed, the difference in temperature quite noticeable. The sand walls held back by invisible restraints, the ceiling barely cleared Animir’s head, as the tallest in their group. Around the walls, a selection of couches offered a comfortable place to sleep if they were able. Claiming one and a small square pillow, she waited until their escort had gone before she observed, “Do you think we are safe to slumber?”

  “I’m sure if they intended to kill us, they would have already,” Rey retorted, taking a blanket and the floor.

  “You know, we could have gone back to camp for that matter,” Zaendra observed, testing the cushions on one of the sofas.

  “But then we would not be here if something happened and we were needed,” her husband pointed out, also stretching out onto a section of the earth beneath them.

  “We’ll only get a few hours,” Piers observed. “Let’s get quiet.”

  Flat on the cushions, Ami stared at the ceiling above, her mind still listing things they needed to do and worrying if they would happen. When she awoke, she wasn’t even sure she had been asleep. Lifting her head, she looked around at the others, their breaths and snores comforting her with their familiarity.

  Rolling over to stand, she picked her way through to silently climb the stairs and return to their plotting. Finding her way on her own easier than she thought, she arrived at the courtyard formed by the four buildings and let herself in.

  “Have I missed much?” she asked, looking up to see the sun almost directly overhead. “Oh, I have been below a while.”

  “Yes. I take it you slept,” Gradien grinned. “A crier has reported we have just over a thousand gathered at the plaza,” he informed her, rubbing at the sweat on his bald head with a swatch of cloth. “We near midday. How soon before our enemies arrive?”

  Pouring herself a glass of water, she replied, “I can find out.” Enjoying the drink, she called to the dragon. “Lamwen.”

  “Yes, my queen,” he replied.

  “How close are they now?”

  “I hold my distance, but they are within view of the city walls, I am certain,” he replied. At the height he circled, he believed the elves were unaware they were being monitored. “Yes, the battle will come well before the sun sets if they continue this pace.”

  “I fear the fight will arrive before dark,” she said aloud. “Lamwen says they are within sight of the city. I will infuse more stones while we wait,” she suggested, resuming her work.

  “Do not spend long,” Gray advised. “We will put everyone into their places soon enough.”

  Working until the others joined her, Amicia felt relieved at the freshness of their faces. “Well, at least you look somewhat rested,” she observed with a smile.

  “I noticed you were gone,” Rey grumbled, suppressing a yawn.

  “I’ve had more sleep than you the last few days. And besides, I still had work to do,” she explained, indicating her collection of trinkets. “They are not enough for all, but some will have protection. Distribute the stones and instruct them how to use them,” she commanded, pointing at the finished pile with an open palm.

  “Yes, my lady,” Animir agreed as he and Rey gathered the encha
nted rocks.

  “I guess we are as ready as we’re going to be,” Piers grumbled, noting their list had been completed while they slept. “I must say, I’m surprised our friend Gradien came through for us.”

  “I’m sure it was a matter of self-preservation,” Meena pointed out.

  “Whatever the motivation, I’ll take it,” Amicia countered. “But I believe we have done all we can to prepare.”

  “Not all,” the wan disagreed. “Have you contacted the glen and informed them of our plight?”

  “The glen,” Ami breathed. “Of course. Perhaps a few more warriors can be gleaned.”

  Reaching into the abyss, she searched for her ally and friend. “Uscan.”

  “Princess,” he replied in kind.

  “How is the battle for Esterbrook?”

  “We have pushed them back but have yet to eliminate them completely,” he informed her evenly.

  “Can you hold them without the aid of the dragons?”

  “I believe we can at least do as much. Why?”

  “We are gathered at Whitefair, and the elves march against us. If the dragons can mount an attack from the south…”

  “Say no more. I will see they are dispatched at once.”

  “Thank you, Uscan.”

  “Certainly, my queen.”

  Blinking a few times, Amicia grinned, “The dragons will be here as soon as they can.”

  “And the glen?” Zaendra asked, having returned to provide her report on the progress of the dwarf engineers.

  “Holding,” Amicia assured with a nod. “How is the gate?”

  “It will be finished,” her smaller friend agreed. “As for the scaffolding, it will be in place as well.”

  “Then we line the walls and distribute the arms,” Amicia stated with a firm jaw, “and then we wait.”

  Clash of Kings

  “Will they get here in time?” Rey asked gravely, standing with the others atop the tallest building in Whitefair. From their vantage point, they had watched the dark mass on the southern horizon growing as the sun hung in the western sky.

  “I hope so,” Ami whispered quietly.

  The dragons had not arrived yet, but the elves were clear in their approach. When they reached the walls, the sea of soldiers broke upon them like waves crashing to the shore. Swarming around the installation, they dug in and hid between the rocks on the east side, picking off those who defended the walls when they could. Setting up larger weapons, their assault on the sandstone barriers would likely prevail.

  From inside the city, the archers rained arrows down upon them to thin their numbers, but the difference would be of little consequence. Those who had shields were protected from the elf assault, but many did not, and they were killed or wounded by the flying arrows of the elves outside.

  “It already isn’t going well,” Piers observed quietly, joining the couple as they observed the struggle.

  “Dragon’s fire!” Amicia screamed, pointing into the distance.

  Flying in fast and low, six dragon forms blasted the backside of the elves with hot flame, Jarrowan in the lead. Turning on their massive catapults, the dragons would do their best to even the fight.

  The sight of the reinforcements a jolt of hope, a cheer went up along the wall. Grinning up at the Mate, the girl cajoled, “We haven’t lost yet. Continue the battle, and we will break them if we can.”

  “My lady,” Yimath interrupted, she and the other two ossci appearing at her side.

  “My friends,” Amicia breathed, kneeling to speak with them. “I did not realize you were still here! You should be safe within the marshes before the sunset.”

  “We’ve been aiding in the transport of soldiers and supplies, but at last our time is spent,” the small blonde replied, indicating the sinking sun with an open palm. “We were happy to help in all that we could.”

  “Yes, you must return to Falconmarsh before the day’s end,” Amicia agreed. “Thank you for all you have done in our honor.”

  “You are quite welcome, my queen,” the gnome smiled, offering a small bow before the three ossci vanished.

  Her mood quickly turned, Ami blinked back tears as she stood, her eyes sweeping the horizon as she fought the sorrow. The air felt cooler around her, but she surmised it was only an illusion created by the loss of her friends. “I wish I knew why they won’t really help,” she sighed.

  “It’s not in their nature to fight,” Gradien observed, indicating a weak spot in the wall. “The elves are tearing us down, destroying our defenses. The dragon’s fire doesn’t seem to be damaging their cannons. They will be inside before the light is gone.”

  “Not damaging their cannons,” Piers repeated, flicking his wrist to indicate them in the distance. Watching as a massive stone was cranked into place and hurled at the wall, he postulated, “Do you think they have discovered your anti-fire spell?”

  “It’s possible,” Amicia shrugged. “Who knows, it could have originally belonged to them, and the ossci simply recorded it. Either way, we keep fighting until the last elf is dead, or we are,” the girl countered, clenching her fists and willing them to victory.

  Watching Ziradon and Lamwen join the other dragons in their runs at the enemy, she noted they were held at bay with powerful crossbows that flung massive arrows at them. “Do you suppose it was the elves who armed the satyrs?”

  Shaking his head, the Mate sighed, “I don’t know. Those weapons are similar, but if they did, why are they now fighting?”

  “A double cross, maybe?” Rey joined in. “That would be pretty funny, actually. Cilithrand thought she was buying their loyalty by arming them, but in the end, they are using the weapons against them.”

  “Hey, guys,” Gradien interrupted their discussion, “we are going to need a new plan, and we need it quick.”

  “What’s going on?” Amicia asked. “So far our defenses are holding, despite our losses.”

  “Not anymore,” he pointed. “They’ve breached the western wall. They’ll be coming through that gap any time.”

  “Not if we push out through it first,” the girl challenged.

  “What, and fight them out on the sand?” Piers clipped. “There’s daring and then there’s crazy, love.”

  “If they get inside the city, can we pick them off as they enter?” Hayt suggested. “I mean, if they are ever going to take the city, eventually they have to come in.”

  Rubbing his hand roughly over his beard, Piers groaned, “We are heavily outnumbered. If we let them start pushing in, they will eventually overrun us.”

  “Then let’s push out,” Gray agreed. “Go down and lead the battle. Ami and I will stay up here and continue the watch on all sides, and she can reach out to you if we need to adjust.”

  “Yes, or I’ll send Lamwen and Ziradon,” she agreed. “I can reach them as well.”

  “All right,” the Mate agreed reluctantly, glancing at his wife. “Who will join me?” he asked, as if he were headed to the pub for a pint.

  “Aye,” Rey and Animir agreed simultaneously, Hayt and Zaendra close behind.

  “You know I’m no good hiding up here,” Meena agreed. Holding out her arm, she waited for all their hands to join in the center before she transported them all to rally their forces.

  “Wow,” Gradien muttered. “Should I be glad we didn’t have time to fight earlier?”

  “I would be,” Ami whispered, tears on her face. “I have this terrible fear they won’t all be coming back.”

  “You can’t think that way,” he countered, dropping his hand on her shoulder and giving her a squeeze.

  Wincing at the grip, she pulled herself free, reluctant to explain her recent injury. “Let’s just keep a look out,” she said instead, pulling away and pacing the edge of the walls.

  Back on the east side, the dragons continued their heckling, but it was a battle of attrition. Just when they thought they had made some headway, one of them made a clean shot, taking one of the dragons down. Watching it fa
ll to the ground, Amicia screamed, thinking of the way they had taken Lamwen in the same manner that night in the glen.

  Tears in her eyes, she watched as the young beast was shown no mercy. Removing his head with a clean swing of a broad sword, his body fell limp, leaking his precious fluids upon the sand. “Oh God,” she breathed, placing her hands over her face as her drops of sadness flowed, unable to pull herself away from the carnage. Her heart ached at the loss of her own kind, and she feared for them all, as none in the town of Whitefair would be safe from such an end.

  Shifting her weight, her mother’s dagger pressed against her leg. She had shoved it in her boot when she dressed after her bath the day before, thinking she might need it. Her mind drawn to it now, she clenched her teeth, wishing she could use it on the elf who had swung the blade. “They’re monsters,” she breathed. “Cold-hearted savages.”

  “They’re elves,” the wizard observed, as if that explanation should be clear. “They see all others as beneath them.”

  His words jolting her, Ami’s mind slipped for a moment, and she thought of the oracle, the creator who had brought all of the inhabitants of Eriden to life. “Will it ever end?” she grieved, wishing with all her heart that their differences could be resolved. “None is greater than another, and all life is precious.”

  “Yeah,” the magistrate coughed, as if he mocked her, “but damn few see it that way.”

  Turning her back as the fight continued, Amicia crept to the far side so she could watch their progress at the gap in the western wall. Animir had gathered their forces and would lead the charge through to the outside.

  When they made the move, the elves fell back in surprise, not expecting to be assaulted from the front in such a manner. Reinforcements up on the walls rained down arrows, and she grinned to see those leading the charge carried her shields. “We’re making headway.”

  “They will shift their troops soon enough,” Gray countered, pointing at the southern side, close to the sealed gate. “They’ve already started to adapt.”

  “Jarrowan has them,” she observed. “The dragons will curb their counter assault. The armaments may be enchanted, but their flesh still burns.”