Dragon Riders

MARADOMIN:


Maradomin looked at Ciru.
Ciru was very serious.
Maradomin took note of this. "Heal the woman and then heal Ciru." Maradomin looked at his troops "Three of you go and inform the clans." His face under the black cloak turned serious "Were leaving to Athanasia.

Thorn looked up, and froze. This wasn't good... Vanis was not one to tangle with, especially now. And adding Masset to the mix only complicated things.

He kept his expression hard, unreadable. "Same to you, Vanis. Masset."

Masset shifted as Ian sat down, panting. Thorn glanced at his son, truly concerned, but he couldn't risk leaving them open for an attack. And Vanis...the dragon in disguise. Any moment, and that beast could transform and kill them.

Gorton. Get ready.

Right. Shyen just arrived. Want me to send her?

Yes. Ian can't hold on much longer.

Right.

They all seemed to be waiting, hoping. No one moved, at all. Thorn expected an attack, but none came. Were they waiting for him? Or were they planning?

Finally, Thorn made his move. He spread his magic across the entire space, blasting everything within a three-hundred-foot radius. The remnants of the walls and columns gave out, exploding under the pressure of his attack.

Move, now, Gorton!

In the distance, the two dragons - Gorton and Shyen - roared and rocketed for the palace.

Garrel

Garrel reined in Alexander as they got to the outskirts of the city, watching a pair of Dark Knights dissappear toward the horizon. The attack had been nothing more than a feint to extract Nerad and the other assassins.

Turning back toward the palace, Garrel was surprised to the the shadow-mage, Marodomin had stayed behind. Perhaps he was more than a spy or assassin, perhaps he did have people to take responsability for.

Viedna and Roslyn pulled up alongside Alexander. The harlequin was cleaning his new sword on a square of softened leather. "It seems the generals have been kidnapped. If Shyen leaving the roost with the urgency of a charging bull wasn't the giveaway, sending Kaniy as an assassin would have been." He paused, reading Garrel's confused look, "Kaniy is a teleporter."

"Ah."

The two riders landed, making their way over to the renegade and the shadow-mage. From the other side of the courtyard, the prince, the sprite and their dragons landed as well. It was, it seemed, to be a meeting.

"Dispatches arrived for you," Azrayel said, taking the scroll cases from a servant and passing them to Garrel, "this morning."

As Viedna and the others debated the merits of going after their lost generals, Garrel quickly leafed through the reports. Reinforcements did not seem likely; the Saviours' already decimated ranks were hard pressed keeping the Damailian army from being massacred by the Athanasian military.

Viedna turned to Garrel, "we need more men, the Dark Knights will have us badly outnumbered if we attack their city."

"We have no time for this; Ari, Thorn and Ian are fighting as we speak, against Hanik and his henchmen!" Ciru exhorted.

"He's right we need to attack, even if it's just to get those three free, we can retreat back to Kettia afterwards, the shield's been rejuvenated." Azrayel reasoned, and indeed the protective shell had been reformed, leading to the flight of the Dark Knight extraction team.

"There are no more men to be had! While we've been fighting off the Al'aran, the Athanasian and Damalian forces have engaged, the Saviours have no men to spare!" Garrel shouted in reply, as frustrated as any of them.

Viedna seemed caught in a moment of indecision. "Then I shall go and find some. I would advise you all to follow the prince, whether he plans to rescue the generals or not, we are down to a few riders, no matter how large the armies of the tribes, or the shadow clans," he refferred scathingly toward Maradomin, "are, they cannot compete with superior dragon-rider forces. You must stand united."

Viedna leapt onto Roslyn's back and took flight from Kettia. Roslyn may have been a smaller dragon, but she was as agile as a cat and by far a faster flyer than Alexander or any of the other dragons. In seconds she was all but out of sight

"Where are you going you fool?" Garrel shouted at the quickly receding form.

"To the river. If I tell you to flee and hide, do so!" Viedna shouted. The command was absurd, the tone jocular.

"I always thought he was a touch crazy," muttered Ciru.

Maradomin jumped on Garen. Chynthia sat behind him.

"So th time has come?" Asked Chynthia

Maradomin looked focused "Yes." He replied.

They shot off. They were followed by a small herd of other shadow clan members.

"We shall meet the other clans at the capital." Maradomin said

Ariadne

ne... Ariadne..... can you hear me........?

Ari groaned, opening her heavy eyelids. She forced her head up, vision blurred by tears.

G.......Gaut.......Gautier....? Ari sighed, letting her head fall back down.The back of her skull throbbed, like someone had hit it with a million bricks. She tried to move her arms, which she found were restrained by the wrists with chains to the arms of the chair she sat in.

Ariadne, thank the Gods! I've been trying to reach you forever! Are you alright, dear? Where are you?

She moaned. I....I'm in Athan.....asia.

Athanasia?! Hold on, dear! I'm coming to get you!

Ari struggled to keep down the bile in her throat. I haven't been able to contact you....I've been under to much stress....

Ari, try not to talk. You'll use up too much energy. Stay there and stay safe!

Ari slowly moved her sore body around in the chair, seeing which parts of her body were restrained. Her waist wasn't able to move much, a thick cord wound tight around it. She wasn't able to move her ankles, either--they were bound exactly like her wrists.

Her memory was slowly coming back--after her and Hanik had rounded a corner, something hit her on the back of the head--hard. That was where everything ended, becoming nothing but black. Ari looked up again with strained effort.

She blinked back the tears that impaired her vision, causing everything to become clear again. She couldn't see anything besides the stone wall in front of her, a fireplace somewhere out of her line of sight giving off a cold glow. She tried looking to the side of her, only to find that her neck was tightly restrained as well. She swallowed, her mouth feeling like sandpaper.

"Good morning, sweetheart. Sleep well?"

Ari turned her head as far to the left as it would go. Hanik slowly came into her line of sight, hands folded behind his back.

"Go screw yourself," she croaked.

"Now, now, that's not very nice. You don't see me over here calling you names now do you?" He walked up to her, glaring.

Ari stared back, eyes full of hate.

"Now, General," he snapped, "I'm going to ask you a series of questions. If you don't answer them correctly, you will be severely punished." Someone handed him an iron stick, the tip glowing bright red. He lowered it until it just barely hovered above the top of Ari's left arm. She could feel the heat radiating off of it.

"Question one," Hanik said casually, turning the hot iron in his fingers, "What is Prince Azrayels' weakness?"

"Bite me!" She hissed.

Ari's earsplitting, stomach churning scream could be heard throughout the castle, disturbing many of the soldiers and Dark Knights.

Masset

Masset threw himself backwards as Thorn's magic shattered the throne room's supporting columns, the Dark Knight channelling a burst of energy into a falling slab of masonry, throwing most of it aside. A few shards of rock scraped his arms and face, and through the dust that was gathering as the throne room collapsed, he saw Vanis trying to reach Thorn.

The colonel was raising his sword, mere feet away from the rogue, when one of the walls exploded inwards, flames licking over the edges of the chunks of stone as they toppled. Masset's eyes widened as Gorton folded his wings and dove between the broken walls, one claw closing around Vanis, then the dragon was carrying him up and out of the dome, Shyen gliding past moments later.

Vanis let out an enraged roar, his armour seeming to bulge and melt at the same time as he began to change. Gorton released him, knowing what would happen if he tried to keep holding onto a dragon. Vanis dropped, his armour lightening before the plates separated and grew, becoming the silver-tinged exoskeleton of his true form. His wings snapped out behind him as he grew to full size, and with another roar, he launched himself upwards towards Gorton and Shyen.

Glimmer

Hanik handed her the iron, stepping back from the general. "Cool down that burn, corporal. We wouldn't want her growing used to the feeling."

Glimmer smiled - like Nerad, she loved torture. She reached out one hand to Ariadne's cheek, the air around it misting slightly as the temperature fell.

Hanik was pacing behind them, "Just talk, general. Then this can all stop."

"Fuck you."

Hanik stepped back around to face Aridane, "Do you honestly think this is helping you? Every time you defy me I'll just burn you again! Do you think Ianeil and Thorn can help you?" He cackled, eyes blazing, "I left Vanis in their way!"

Glimmer raised the iron over the spot she'd just 'healed', knowing how much the sudden change in temperature would hurt the Saviour. "Recognise the name, bitch?" she asked, still grinning, then pressed the tip against Ari's arm again.

Ciru

Otraol pushed off the ground ahead of the other dragons, circling back over the courtyard to give them time and to keep Garen in sight. Then they swept over the city, Viedna and Roslyn already out of sight. Ciru shook his head, The Harlequin. He was a mystery even before the coup.

True, but anyone could see that he was loyal to Athanasia, not the Dark Knights. I mean back when the Knights were an army like the Saviours, not tied to any nation.

Ciru snorted, You mean not tied to Hanik the way they are now. He should've seen the betrayals coming - not all the Dark Knights were 'dark' back then. But for them, it was a choice between going rogue or death. Very few of them are still left.

I know, Ciru. Otraol's voice was sad, We helped put down the riots after the coup, remember?

MARADOMIN:

The sword spoke to Maradomin: Our agreement. On what base is it now?
"Our agreement keeps." Maradomin replied. They were soon going to be at Athanasia.
Very well... Mage. Thou who retrieved me from the cabin of his forefathers, took me to use, released my powers and strengthened them. I shall help you to strike down the king. But you must remember my end of this bargain.

Maradomin looked at the horizon "You shall get your soul. Just wait."
For thou sake I hope so. You are to find me a noble or pure soul... or I shalt take thous own.

Maradomin sat on Garen silently...

"Garen. We must hurry!" Maradomin yelled

Are you alright. You have been acting strangely.

"No worry, Garen. I will be alright." Came Maradomin's voice from Garens back.
"But now we head for war." Maradomin whispered under his breath

Ian watched, feeling useless, as his father fought. The man was a legend, a champion...and Ian was only gilded, looking great on the outside but weak inside. Ian tried to get up, but couldn't. He tried to summon power, but couldn't find the strength or willpower. He felt useless, broken, no longer there...

A single tear fell from his eyes, but he swatted them away. No time to break now...he could do this if he just tried...

A scream pierced the silence, making him go cold. Ari...

He looked up as the screaming continued, an agonized, painful sound. It was coming from the dungeons, off to the left corner...the torture rooms. He knew those pretty well; he'd watched Nerad and Glimmer do too many "teachings" down there...

And Ari was there.

"Shit. Ari!" He made himself rise, made himself run, made himself fight through. He had to get to Ari. She needed him. He needed her. Thank God Thorn had Masset entertained while Gorton and Shyen fought with Vanis. That left him free, free to move. "Ari, hold on!"

He dashed into the stairwells, darting down them four at a time.

Masset

With a shout, he found himself being thrown backwards again, Thorn's magic hammering his body. He felt his legs jar as they were slammed into the wall behind him, and more cracks spider webbed the wall from both his impact and that of Thorn's power. With a growl, he focused the kinetic energy he'd absorbed from the hit, throwing it back out at Thorn, only to have it cancelled out by a second burst of the rogue's magic.

It was enough of a delay to get his legs moving again though, and he pulled himself upright, firing off more energy as he charged Thorn. Masset channelled the last of the energy he'd stored in Thorn's last attack into his sword, swinging it at him in a wide arc.

Vanis

Shyen's talons punched into his side, tearing away several scales as they ripped back out. Vanis rolled to the other side as Gorton's fire shot past him, gaining height with a few powerful beats of his wings.

He could hear them struggling to pursue him, and smiled inwardly, The pups want me, do they? With one more surge upwards, he arched his back, the weight shift flipping him completely so he was plummeting back towards them, wings folded in a full dive.

With a laugh, he reached out with his mind to theirs, exercising his ability to speak with other dragons as one of them, Here I am, young ones!

His jaws opened, and fire seemed to explode out of it.

Kaniy

They appeared in one of the corridors around the throne room, and Nerad turned to him with a frown, "Where are we, Kaniy? Weren't we meant to show up before the king?"

Kaniy took a moment to respond, fingers pressed to his head, obviously in some kind of pain. He shook it away, "There's something wrong in the throne room, it's flooded with magic. I couldn't get in. I don't think Hanik's there anyway, we'll have to find him."

Footsteps echoed along the corridor, growing louder as whoever was running came nearer to them. Ianeil rounded the corner, stopping dead in his tracks as he caught sight of them. He rose his sword into a guard position, eyes narrowing on the two of them.

Nerad stepped between him and Kaniy, knowing that the teleporter would need a few moments to recover before he could be of any use. The question was how long they could hold Ian back. Nerad could guess what had him looking this mad, if Kaniy's report was anything to go by.

Ciru

The dragons landed in the courtyard, Ciru, Maradomin and Garrel immediately leaping from their dragons' back, weapons readied. Otraol, Garen and Alexander rose immediately, angling for the aerial battle already taking place, which seemed to centre around Shyen and Gorton taking on a much larger dragon. Ciru's one eye widened at the sight of it, He hasn't taken that shape in a long time...either he's seriously worried, or he's stopped holding himself back completely.

A few of the riders from the shadow clan paused for a few moments to take in the battle and stare around at the half-ruined surroundings, piecing together rumours in their minds.

For three, it was an instant death-sentence. Without warning, blood burst from a rider's throat, two others suddenly finding throwing knives in their chests. The air shimmered near the man with the cut throat, a woman who looked almost childlike standing over him, with a smile on her face that bordered on the absurd in its serenity. She held a longsword in one hand, a third throwing knife in the other.

Ciru shifted his stance, knowing that the best way to fight this one was to try to predict her attacks. He'd usually beaten her in sparring when he'd been a Dark Knight, but then he'd always suspected her of trying to retain her unpredictability by giving him the same opportunities over and over again.

He bowed to her, "Cliares."

Her smile brightened, and she let out a childish giggle, "Ciru. You always were my favourite. A pity about my newest orders." She shrugged, gave him a look of mock-sadness, then vanished again.

Garrel

Alexander having joined the aerial battle, Garrel soon found himself embroiled in a fight with a pair of guards. He was almost embarrassed by how easily he dispatched them; he would have had them cleaning latrine for the rest of their careers, rather than defending a king.

Beneath the screams and shouts of fighting, the roar of flame and the clang of steel greeting steel Garrel heard a new sound; hoofbeats.

A small group of horsemen cantered through the shattered barbican; reining in to join the battle in progress. The men attacked Maradomin's shadow clansmen, spreading the battle even wider. The three lead riders stopped in front of Garrel.

"And what are you doing here Garrel?" The lead rider's voice was feminine and familiar, but Garrel could not place it.

"Who the hell are you?"

The riders dismounted without hurry, drawing their blades as Garrel stood waiting, "I am surprised you do not recognise me, of all the riders embroiled in battle here, I alone served alongside you. But of course," the girl fingered a cloth mask she wore over her face, "I am disguised"

No, she is dead.

"Who are you?"

The girl tore the mask from her face, revealing a face scarred by torture.

"Bella?" Garrel asked, breathless with wonder.

The former-saviour launched herself at him, blade-bared and face twisted into a maniacal snarl.

Viedna

This plan is poor.
"So is the situation we find outselves in." Viedna muttered in reply, "We have reached the site, breathe on the river."

Roslyn swerved in midair, circling around the spot in the river where they had encountered the dead clansmen two days ago. Viedna was sure it had been the Al'aran that had attacked them, and was sure he had grasped the significance of tracks that dissappeared by the waters edge.

"breathe," he ordered.

Roslyn began to breathe fire into the river, causing torrents of steam to rise. For two long minutes she exhaled, two long minutes before the river began to churn with creatures abandoning their home beneath the water.

This plan is poor.

*Hehehe, bella, it seems, was tortured into switching sides*

Maradomin:

He looked at the horsemen... He had not expected this. The shadow clan was not trained for open combat. There were only a few that were good at it.

Are the other clans here He asked Garen

I can see them but they are still far.

How long will it take them? Asked Maradomin

About twenty minute.

Maradomin looked around him.

"Men Come here behind. Dragons go to the front!." He commanded

The soldiers went into positions.

"We need a shadow. Make a small barrier and hide yourselves!" He said

The soldiers were happy to oblige... Shadows, they thought. With shadows we can win.

They made a small barrier that closed the battle site. The enemy horses went into a slight shock because of the fast change of lighting.

The clan members hid themselves into the shadows, into the ground, behind trees.. anywhere possible. They were the excellent assassins.

Maradomin guided Cynthia away from the barrier and then leaped back in himself.

Cynthia killed all the enemies that came out of the barrier. Whilst Maradomin worked as a cutthroat...Literally

**Good little twist, there, Rubric.**

Ian glared down the passageway, trembling in weariness and rage. He was exhausted, but his anger and determination to get to Ari was stronger. Every scream and shriek fueled his emotions.

"Get out of the way," he hissed, voice dangerously low. "Now."

"Go through me, perfidious bastard."

Ian's temper snapped. He charged, focusing a load of magic into his blade, and the battle began.

******************

Thorn raised his sword, moving to block Masset's attack. This was pointless; the Dark Knight couldn't win -

He swore when the blades clashed, a wave of power unleashing against him. His blade flew out of his grip as he stumbled, thrown backwards by the force. Everything was a blur as he rolled across the stone floor of the throne room, receiving cuts and bruises as he passed over rubble and his sword.

He got to his feet as Masset rushed him again, sword ready once more.


**Just don't kill them. **

*My internet's been down for the last couple days, and I am totally lost, someone bring me up to date please.*

*well.... The saviours are launching an attack against the dark knights. That is the main thing. the little details you can ask from the other.s*





**BRAIN FREEZE**

**The Saviours went after the Dark Knights and are currently battling inside Athanasia's capital. They came to rescue Ian and Ari, who were kidnapped. Right now, Ian is loose and going to find Ari, who is in the dungeons, being tortured for answers, and is now fighting Nerad. Everybody else is leading some kind of battle: dragons against dragons, Viedna against Bella, Maradomin against...people, lol, and Thorn against a minion, Masset.

Does that help?**