Doom of the Dragon (41 page)

“I will meet you there,” Skylan told them. “The Cyclopes and I will set sail after dark. You
must
wait for my signal to attack.”

Skylan was adamant on that point. Bear Walker agreed. Skylan wasn't worried about the ogres obeying him. Drawing Keeper aside, he told him to keep watch on Sigurd and Grimuir, who were so eager for battle they might take it into their heads to start killing before it was time.

The Vindrasi wore leather armor that had been given to them by the gods on the isle of Joabis. Made of reindeer hide, the armor was lighter than plate and chain mail and the Vindrasi considered it stronger. Each carried the weapon he liked best, as well as gifts from the gods. Sigurd and Grimuir fought with battle axe and spear. Erdmun carried a war hammer and Bjorn had taken a liking to the Sinarian combination of spear and short sword.

The ogres wore heavy armor and carried massive shields, spears the size of trees, and either swords or axes given to them by the Gods of Raj. They had painted their faces to look particularly fearsome, with black lines across the nose and the rest of their faces a ghostly white. Raven's-foot wore a black feather cape; he had tied feathers to the gourd and daubed his entire body in white paint.

Dela Eden had chosen thirty of her best archers to accompany her on the
Venejekar
, which was all the dragonships could carry. Those who marched with the ogres wore strange-looking armor woven of bamboo and armed themselves with clubs and knives.

Before they left, the warriors assembled in front of Skylan, who stood on a boulder to speak to them. He knew he should make an inspiring speech. He was sending this small force to face overwhelming odds and it was quite probable that none of them would return. True, they had all died once, but that did not make dying easier. He could think of nothing to say and realized that this moment was too sacred for words.

“Great Gods of Raj,” said Skylan. “Mighty Torval and gods of the Vindrasi, we go to battle in your names. Grant us your blessing and victory over our foes!”

The warriors bowed their heads. The ogre shaman solemnly and reverently shook the gourd. Skylan hoped Torval wouldn't be offended that he had included the Gods of Raj in the prayer.

“Give me a spear,” said Skylan.

Sigurd handed him a spear. Shouting out Torval's name, Skylan hurled the spear in the direction of the foe, dedicating them to the god. The ogres gave a cheer that shook the ground while the Cyclopes raised their voices in a shrill, eerie wail that raised the hairs on Skylan's neck.

His small force set out. Skylan contrasted these few hundred with the thousands they would soon face.

“We just have to keep Raegar occupied and give Aylaen time to find the spiritbone,” he said to himself.

Touching the amulet, Skylan spoke softly. “Torval, we will make you proud.”

He only hoped the god was still alive to hear him.

 

CHAPTER

36

The Dragon Kahg had been keeping a watchful eye out for his foes, Fala and the traitor dragons she had persuaded to abandon the Dragon Goddess Vindrash and join Aelon. Fala claimed she didn't revere Aelon; she was serving the god in return for jewels.

There are so many gods tromping about heaven these days I don't know one from the other,
Fala had once told him.
I care for no gods, any gods. Why should I? They have no care for us.
”

Kahg remembered because he agreed with her. He had discovered the truth about the five spiritbones and had been furious to find out Vindrash had lied to him and the other dragons. Since then, his anger had subsided. Vindrash had paid for her folly. He was aware of the bitter battle the gods were waging against Aelon and his forces. He knew the fate that awaited the gods, no matter what the outcome.

Kahg had to admit Torval and Vindrash and the others had acted nobly, and he would do his part in honor of their sacrifice. He would do all in his power to assist the human Skylan and the Bone Priestess Aylaen to obtain the fifth spiritbone. (The fact that he remembered their names was itself a high honor; the dragon had served so many humans they all tended to blur together.)

He had one concern before he would agree to undertake this mission. He had not expressed that concern to the humans, because he knew they would not understand. While the humans were busy preparing for battle, Kahg left the ship, searching for the Dragon Fala. He found her lazily flying above the two galleys anchored in the water some distance from the shore.

Fala and the two other dragons had taken the form of earth dragons: big, bulky, and slow moving. He wondered if that had been their choice or the choice of the human who held their spiritbones.

Kahg stopped when he was within hailing distance of the three dragons, placing himself in a position where he could beat a swift retreat if necessary. In his form as an air dragon, he could easily outfly and outmaneuver the ponderous earth dragons.

Fala was the first to see him and she paused in her flight, drifting on the air currents.

“The mighty dragon Kahg,” she called out to him. “Are you here to join the victors?”

“I see no victors, Fala,” said Kahg in disparaging tones. “I see three dim-witted lizards foolish enough to serve humans who have yet to pay them.”

He had no idea if the dragons had been paid or not. He was merely hoping to nettle Fala, lure her into giving him information. His plan worked. She gave him information, but certainly not what he had expected.

“We are not like you, pitiful Kahg. We no longer serve humans. We serve only ourselves.”

This was amazing news, if it was true.

“Big words from a small mind,” Kahg returned, his lip curling in a sneer. “So long as the humans hold your spiritbones, you serve them.”

“They do not hold my spiritbone,” Fala returned. “The human Raegar is a fool who murdered my Bone Priestess and would make a slave of me. Therefore I took my spiritbone from him. He has no way of commanding me. I do what I choose.”

“So you fight for the god Aelon. You trade one master for another.”

Fala was scornful. “I fight for myself. As do my two comrades.” She flew a little closer, and Kahg kept a wary eye on her. “Where are your humans, mighty Kahg? Did you mislay them?”

“They ended up fighting each other,” said Kahg. “I grew disgusted and left.”

“Come join us, Kahg,” Fala said and her tone was soft and persuasive. “We do not need to work for humans or gods. The city is rich, filled with jewels. We will force them to give us what we want and then we will kill them.”

Kahg was both saddened and angered to hear such talk. “We left the Realm of Fire to escape a life of such butchery. Go back there if you want to spend your days in killing and slaughter.”

“The fire has gone out of your belly, airy Kahg,” Fala said scornfully. “You are nothing now but a bag of wind.”

She preened, pleased with her jest.

Kahg was weary of this conversation. He had found out what he needed to know, although at this point he wondered why he had bothered.

“May you someday learn better sense, foolish Fala,” he told her.

He turned his spiky back on her and flew away, taking his time, not to seem to be fleeing from her.

“May you someday fall from the skies, mighty Kahg!” Fala angrily cried and tried to chase after him. She flew for only a short distance before giving up the pursuit. Kahg gave an inward smile. Even a dimwit like Fala could see that an earth dragon was no match for a swift-flying dragon of air.

Winging his way back to the
Venejekar,
Kahg reflected on what she had told him. She and the others had taken back their spiritbones. He had been worried that the humans were carrying the spiritbones of the dragons. If he killed the humans, he might well have killed the dragons and he had vowed never to destroy his own kind, no matter how misguided they might be. He had seen too much of that in the Realm of Fire and he had planned to try to find a way to warn her she might be in danger, if he could do so without imperiling Skylan's mission. That was no longer necessary.

Kahg was free to act, to assist with the attack. They would strike by night, when Fala and her dragon friends were either away hunting or sleeping with full bellies. He would do his part to help Aylaen summon the dragon. He let himself dream, briefly, of meeting, perhaps even flying with, the Great Dragon Ilyrion.

He did not let himself dream long, not wanting to have to face the sorrow of disappointment. He did not have much hope for a successful outcome. The humans, Skylan and Aylaen, were well-meaning, but humans were so fragile and their foes were strong and powerful, numbering a god among them. The Vindrasi gods would try to help, but they were having difficulty helping themselves.

The Dragon Kahg knew what he would do if they failed. He would not live in a world ruled by Aelon. He would return to his home in the Realm of Fire and take his chances there.

He went back to the
Venejekar
to tell the human Skylan, whose name he still remembered, that he would undertake the mission. The dragon then said what might be his final prayer to the Dragon Goddess Vindrash.

“I know my anger has cast a shadow between us. I would not have that shadow remain. Wherever the stars guide you, Vindrash, I wish you well.”

 

CHAPTER

37

Aylis the Sun Goddess sank into the west, letting her radiance shine for what might be one last time. Tomorrow Aelon of the New Dawn might rule the world. Skylan and the Cyclopes boarded the
Venejekar
and, guided by the Dragon Kahg, the sleek, fast dragonship stole out of the river and sailed into the sea.

Skylan and Dela Eden scanned the darkening sky, watching for the signal from Bear Walker that the ogres were in position and they were cheered to see a single flaming arrow arc through the air, then drop back down.

The sun had disappeared and the afterglow had faded from the sky by the time the
Venejekar
sailed around Gray Beak. The white rock looked ghostly in the night. There was no wind. The waves lapped against the shore. Skylan had prayed to the Sea Goddess for calm waters and he was grateful his prayer had been answered.

The plateau and the fallen city of Tsa Kerestra came into view. The storm clouds that had swirled for centuries above the plateau were gone. The night sky was clear and cloudless and filled with so many stars that they cast their own cold, brittle light. The moon looked strange, round and fat and radiant, almost outshining the sun.

Skylan decided that Aelon must have captured the moon. The god wanted all the universe to see the glorious rout of his foes.

“You will get an eyeful,” Skylan promised.

In addition to the white light of stars and moons, a bright orange glow lit the night. At first, Skylan could not figure out what it was. As the
Venejekar
slipped over the waves, drawing nearer to the Sinarian camp, they realized the glow came from enormous bonfires, lighted to celebrate victory.

Only the city of Tsa Kerestra was dark, a black blotch on the horizon. No lights shone anywhere.

Skylan looked back at the bonfires. He could see the silhouettes of people coming and going. Skylan did not like to use the magic glass that made people who were far away seem to jump suddenly at the legate's face, but he needed to see what was going on. He picked up the glass and put it to his eye.

The firelight blazed in front of him, so close it seemed he could touch it.

“What is happening?” asked Dela Eden. “Do they celebrate?”

“Joabis would be proud,” Skylan replied wryly.

The soldiers of Oran were good fighters, fearless and well disciplined. Skylan had reason to know, for he had lived among them, fought with them and against them. He also knew the Sinarians drank as hard as they fought.

And why not celebrate? They had good reason. The fabled city of the Stormlords had fallen—literally so—without a blow being struck. They had won the greatest victory the world had ever known and Raegar would see to it that his men drank to his triumph and enjoyed themselves. Many were probably roaring drunk by now, including their officers.

The
Venejekar
glided swiftly over the waves, stealing close to the massive galleys. The captains would leave a few men on board to keep watch. The rowers, who were also trained soldiers, and most of the rest of the crew would be ashore.

The two enormous galleys floated at anchor within hailing distance of one another, but far enough apart so that they wouldn't collide. Lanterns hung from the bows and sterns to signal their positions. The smaller boats and wherries used to ferry men and supplies clustered around the galleys, reminding Skylan of baby ducklings huddled around their mothers.

He could hear loud talking and drunken laughter coming from the decks of the galleys. Apparently those keeping watch had been supplied with food and drink to make up for the fact that they were missing the celebration. A good captain would have seen to it that those on watch drank nothing stronger than watered wine. Judging by the sounds of raucous laughter drifting over the water, Raegar had few good captains.

Skylan stripped off his armor and gave his sword into the care of Dela Eden.

“Keep watch over Wulfe,” he told her.

Dela Eden glanced at the boy, who was talking with the oceanids, and shook her head.

“The Gods of Raj go with you,” she said.

Skylan slipped over the rail and dropped into the dark water, where he was immediately accosted by the oceanids, all agog with excitement, wanting to know what he was doing.

“Wulfe!” Skylan called irately, spitting out a mouthful of water. “Tell your fish friends to leave me alone!”

“They're not fish,” said Wulfe.

Skylan started to say something and swallowed more water.

“They only want to help,” Wulfe added.

The beautiful fae women with the sleek silvery bodies and long sea-foam hair eagerly nodded. Catching hold of Skylan, they almost dragged him under in their enthusiasm.