Chapter 9
Raid on Te’are
They were planning to invade another city that week. Word of Aeron and Zorach had swept the nation in a days time. The king was sending troops to all the cities near De’ad.
Days had passed since they took over De’ad and they had already stopped three hundred troops from coming in the city. Aeron enjoyed his free time. He mostly spent talking with Maddie, or riding Misery.
They hadn’t really had any time to spend together since after he was in Belguim. They would fly or practice combat. Some days Zorach would practice with them. His dragon’s name was Goldbrem. The name actually fit because his dragon is gold.
It was the day of the march. Aeron and Zorach were to ride ahead so the people of Belguim could see them. Zorach and Aeron were going over battle tactics when Maddie showed behind the corner. Zorach nodded to Aeron and left.
Maddie ran up and gave him a giant hug. “I’ll miss you. I really want to go but they said I couldn’t.”
“You can come if you really want to. And if you want you can ride with me?” He gestured toward Misery then looked in her deep blue eyes.”
“Can I really ride him? Wouldn’t it be too much? And I don’t want to stay out of the fighting.”
“Please for me.” He asked again
“Fine but don’t get yourself killed. Without Misery, Zorach, and me you would have been dead in a heartbeat.” Madison said.
“Hop on. The people are moving. And you have to get off as soon as Te’are is in sight.”
Zorach and Aeron flew side by side the whole time. The littlest things caught their eye. They saw all kinds of birds and moths. The most interesting being a Slagon which Misery killed and ate.
The troops were about a mile behind them when they saw Te’are.”You’ll have to get off now.” Aeron said flatly to Madison.
She left without argument. Aeron and Zorach picked up speed. Misery and Zorach’s dragon, Goldbrem, swooped down towards the city. Suddenly a bell starts to ring.
“I think they noticed we’re here.” Zorach said sarcastically.
Misery landed and let go a mighty roar. The soldiers around them jumped in sheer fright. Aeron shot energy at the gates. “Good now go to the south and get the barracks.” Zorach said as he killed one of the soldiers.
Misery jumped into the air. The rebels were still about a mile to the east. He went toward the barracks but was stopped in sheer fright. In front of the barracks was a three headed dragon and a tall thin but muscular man on top of it.
Misery immediately landed and hid behind a building. Aeron knew who that man was. The man was King Xorion. Aeron was sure because there was only one dragon that had three heads.
He immediately went to where he had last seen Zorach. He found him slaying a couple of Ewenki. “We have to get out. Xorion is here.” Zorach blew the last away with magic.
“Now what are you stammering about?”
“Xorion is here.” He barely got to finish his sentence before Zorach jumped onto Goldbrem and shouted to ride. They went toward the barracks and turned to the right but were too late. Xorion had seen them and was taking off.
“It’s too late to run. We must stay and fight.”
Misery and Goldbrem turned and stopped facing the three headed dragon. “Ah let’s see who is here. I’m surprised to see you here Zorach. And an apprentice. Tell me what his name is.” Xorion said with a cruel smile.
“His name does not concern you.” Zorach stated firmly. Aeron had noticed how the king didn’t address him directly.
“Ah are you going to be stubborn are we. Well I know how to deal with that.”
Without warning he charged as Zorach unsheathed his sword, but the king didn’t use his already drawn sword, but used magic. His ball of energy blew Goldbrem out of the sky. Before Aeron could think properly Xorion’s three headed dragon attacked. Misery was there to blow fire, but was bit on the wing.
Goldbrem was already back in the air while Misery tried to regain altitude. Zorach slashed with his sword but the king easily parried the blow. Aeron shot a ball of flame toward the king but it vanished before it even left his hand. Next, Aeron tried to attack with his sword but again the king blocked it with ease.
Zorach was below them trying to pierce the dragon’s wings but to no avail. Xorion saw him and his dragon flipped; however, Zorach had already landed a blow. The king’s dragon was falling through the sky. Suddenly a cloud of arrows filled the late sky. Xorion howled in anger and sent the arrows flying towards his own men.
Aeron ducked under Xorion and stabbed his dragon between the ribs. Then out of nowhere Zorach slashed at Xorion. Aeron saw Zorach’s sword red with blood. Xorion tried to heal himself but another cloud of arrows filled the late sky. This time he did not deflect them. His dragon roared in pain.
Aeron saw his chance he slashed at one of the dragon’s heads. He felt the cutting edge give way into the skin as the head fell away. Xorion’s dragon fell to the ground.
Immediately Zorach jumped to the ground and started putting protection on Xorion. “Get to the chapel. I’m going to take him to a secure location and make sure no one survives.” Zorach said as he lifted Xorion to his feet.
Aeron took off right away. He looked back towards the fighting. He really wanted to join; however, he knew what his orders were, and didn’t want to commit insubordination. He turned the corner only to turn back. Across the road was a group of Helkin.
Aeron tried to dive into the part of his mind that held garna, but to no avail. It’s like it isn’t even there. He thought desperately.
As best as he could he drew his sword quietly. He sneaked up behind the one closest to him, but before he attacked he couldn’t help but notice a small figurine made of clay, or so he thought. Aeron slit the Helkin’s throat as the one in front of him tried to slit his.
The man dropped to the ground, and the figurine with him. He found that he could use magic again. He blew two of them away then turned to the one lying on his back.
“Ah. I saw you capture my master. Very well done, but you are no match for his master. No, no match at all.” The Helkin said with a twisted smile. “You forget that my master is the most powerful magician in Ukran. He does things that you will never do and will never dream of doing. But his master does things he can’t and never will be able to do.”
“Who is his master? The king serves none and never will.”
“Ah, now that is an interesting accusation. Perhaps the king is an illusion to hide behind. Perhaps the real Master of Evil stands in this horrible place but nobody knows it. I know one is for sure though; The Master of Evil will ride again. And very soon it shall be.”
“If you speak in riddle you will never speak again.” Aeron said as he cut him off.
“You do not command me! He hasn’t found it yet, but when he does this nation will go up in flames and The Rebellion will go up with it. You mark my words.” The Helkin said in a more sonorous tone.
“What is he looking for? Tell me or you’ll die a very painful death. TELL ME!” Aeron screamed the last words with so much ferocity that he let go a bit of garna. The area around them burst into flames. The Helkin burst also with a muffled yell. When he died Aeron thought he had heard the words, take it.
Aeron looked at the ground and saw that the figurine wasn’t touched by the flames nor was it heating up. He picked it up and almost dropped it. He could sense an unbelievable amount of magic in the object. I better take this to Zorach.
Aeron continued on to the chapel without interruption. When he finally got there he was glad to see that the rebels had taken it over. The guard at the gate let him in.
“Lord Zorach has been awaiting your arrival. He’s through the door to the right.
Chapter 10
Answers
Aeron went through the door and the first door to the right was under heavy guard. It had four Captain-Generals and two swords men at either end of the hall.
“Remove everything but your sword and stand here. I’ll fetch Lord Zorach.” With that the Captain-General left.
He returned and pointed towards the door. Aeron stepped through with little to no hesitation. Inside there were no windows and walls were black with years of grime. On the back wall were two chains with Xorion’s arms in them.
On either side of him there were four of the best spell weavers The Rebellion had. They both had their eyes closed in concentration. Zorach was sitting by Xorion and he too had his eyes closed.
“Ah it’s the one who slew my dragon. How nice of you to join us.” He said with little emotion in his voice.
“How are you doing?” Aeron asked as Zorach looked up.
“Not too good. His mind is heavily protected. I’ve been trying to break through but as you see I haven’t. I don’t see how I can break it. I even have all the strongest spell weavers working on him to.” Zorach said while Xorion twiddled his thumbs.
“Well I’m glad you’re doing great because I had to fight six Helkin with only my sword because of this.” Aeron showed him the figurine.
“Where in the world did you find this? This isn’t just a figurine, it’s a satcha. Satchas not only restrict magic but kill the people who use it. It was used in the Elf War to restrict the elves from using magic to fight with. Even though you would die a less painful death by magic because the elves are about two times stronger than humans.”
“The Helkin had it and he told me some other stuff. He said that Xorion wasn’t the one behind it all. He said Xorion is just an illusion used to hide The Dark One. But I don’t understand. The Dark One is locked in Bhagavad.”
“Yes. It is said he was born in a place of hell, the pit of Valcon to be more precise. As you know the world has ended numerous times and once times are bad enough it will end again. Well he was made to end it, but he has to find the Darksword and the sworn.”
“He also said that The Dark One will ride again and that he has almost found it. What does it mean?”
“It means we have a very short time to live. Are you sure those were his exact words. If they were we have to get to the elves. The Dark One is destined to fight The Mankin.”
“So, I will fight him to save the world. I can’t be. I just can’t. I’m not Lendon reborn. I won’t kill everybody in madness.”
“We can get there by magic. Get ready, we’re leaving come dusk.”
Zorach turned to go to the door but he stopped. He was looking into the air as if something was there. Aeron went through the door where a servant showed him to a room.
He turned around and fell on the giant feather mattress. I kill them all. They all deserve to die. They have no clue what havoc I will wreak on them. Aeron almost shouted out. It wasn’t his thought but somebody else’s. There was a strange feeling in the back of his head.
Are you real? Who are you? The strange voice laughed a rasping sound.
Who are you and what are you doing in my head? He waited for an answer. After a couple minutes the voice answered.
Lendon is the name. I’m not in your head you’re in mine. Aeron almost fell. Lendon was the last Mankin. He put The Dark One in Bhagavad.
A servant came and told him to go out on the balcony. Aeron gathered his belongings and went to wait for Zorach.
Zorach came shortly after with a shoulder pack. “You will think of the island Allena. Be ready.” He thought with all his might on the island.
He channeled garna and a blinding light filled his vision. When he opened his eyes he was on a beach filled with elves. Zorach stepped forward and bowed to a lady sitting on the only chair present. Aeron immediately dropped to his knee and bowed.
Behind her was Goldbrem and Misery. “Welcome to the land of Allena. We will have rooms made for your comfort Dragon Warriors. The dragons will be with our dragon.”
Servants came to take their belongings and to take them to their rooms. Zorach’s was one door down from Aeron’s. The rooms were in the palace. Soon somebody brought some food for them both.
Zorach started explaining about elf customs. They were pretty weird but when he started explain about his training he found that they also had a Dragon Warrior who was trained by the original council of nine.
“I was not trained by the Council of Nine, but was trained by an elves swordsman and a magician from Sudan. I only learned basics but guessed a lot of stuff and was right. He will teach you differently.”
“Are you going to train with him to?”
Aeron didn’t hear the answer. Lendon was talking again but no words were distinguishable.
Another servant came and took their plates and handed each of them a note.
You will come with your dragon to the island of Te’cal and will start you training tomorrow.
Xina and Ishmael
Aeron had no clue what Zorach’s said but he left immediately. He wanted to get some sleep so he went to the bed chambers.
