Book 4: Chapter 53: Dragonback |
Riding on dragonback is one of those things many men picture. They see themselves on a saddle with their sword held high as the dragon rears up and blasts flame into the sky to announce their arrival. Perhaps if Parthax was smaller, slower, and more prone to being ridden they could’ve managed some approximation of that side-of-van fantasy. The reality of it was all of them holding on for dear life while Michael and Ollie maintained barriers to keep the wind from blasting them off his back and falling several thousand feet. The air was thin and freezing to the point that Michael could feel sweat freezing on his back.
If they had been as they were when they’d first left Stent, or even the versions of themselves that had fought with Cantalia against Burndan, the flight would’ve likely killed them. Luckily, as strong as they were, it was only extraordinarily dangerous and exhausting. They were unable to talk during the flight, or even peer off the side of the dragon’s flank without being blown away, so they stared at the scales they clung to for several hours before they finally felt the tremendous wingbeats that indicated they were slowing down.
Francesca had taken her leave of them after they’d escorted her down through the rest of the mountains to a small settlement with a number of dwarven traders. There she was easily able to find a group to travel with back into the mountain. She seemed eager to return to her work. Michael guessed that it was to push aside her feelings regarding Davi’s death. To them it was an old wound, but to her it was fresh.
Michael extended an aura of healing so that his companions would be refreshed as they gradually began to descend. He was able to pull up his head and look around. He was at an odd angle, but he could see what appeared to be a tent city on one side, and the great rift in the distance on the other. Michael didn’t need to look at the rift to know it was there. At this point he could feel its presence constantly, pulsing as fierce energies pushed against the world. He looked at it, seeing the ugly red scar that extended high into the clouds. He could feel a pulse from it even as he gazed at it.
The dragon landed carefully, keeping far enough away from the tents that his massive wings didn’t send them and the people within them flying. Once he was completely still, he extended one of his wings to the ground to give them all a path off of his back. Ollie simply flew off, and Michael led the way with the others, slowly walking down the golden scaled path that had been provided for them.
As they were moving off the wing, a host of knights on horseback approached with lances ready, but they came to a stop once they saw Michael and the others. In their lead was Knight-Captain Leon, his massive titled blade ready in his hand.
“Paladin Michael!” he exclaimed.
“Knight-Captain,” replied Michael with a fist pounded against his chest. “I am pleased to report that our missions were a success.”
The man laughed as he took off his helmet. “I feel as if your original mission may have expanded a bit in scope since you left?”
The dragon let out a low growl in acknowledgment that made all of the knight’s horses shudder and step back. “Dragons honor their deals. I will return when I am needed.” He stood back up to full height and began walking far enough away that his takeoff wouldn’t send them all rolling across the field. They all watched his takeoff and ascent, unable to take their eyes off of the creature of myth.
Once it was gone Leon brought his horse close to Michael and the others. “I think we’re going to need to have a long and detailed conversation.” He frowned. “Where are Lance, Laird, and Blake?”
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“We were separated at the Swandian and Cantalian border. I’m not sure of where they are now, but I feel that they are alive.”
Leon nodded, a bit of relief in his expression. “I would trust them to be able to take care of themselves well.” He turned his horse and set it at a slow pace so that they could easily follow him toward the city of tents. They were roughly a mile away from it, but even from where they were Michael could see a number of preparations that had already been made. Trenches filled with wooden stakes, large areas of loose dirt with long gutters leading to where wanted could be released to create impassable terrain, and close to the tents themselves he saw a number of siege engines. Trebuchets, catapults, and ballistae lined the area with men and women ready and waiting at them.
As they got closer they could see thousands upon thousands of men and women armed and armored for war. The knights all wore the blue-gray of Hume and mixed with the soldiers and the militia that had been gathered from within Hume itself. Along with them Michael saw a number of mercenaries and even a good amount of Stent volunteers including a half dozen that in spite of the dandyesque clothing they wore radiated calm competence and menace in equal measure.
When Michael came into view everyone took notice of him. He recognized a few people that he’d healed in the past pointing and waving at him. After walking only a few yards into the camp they were suddenly surrounded by men and women holding the six-sided symbol of the gods and offering prayers in their direction. Michael didn’t hesitate to raise his right hand and send out a powerful golden glow, radiating out a powerful healing pulse as far as it could reach. There was a cheer as he felt bones mend and wounds seal from where he was all the way to the edge of the camp.
Leon led them into a large command tent inside of which were a number of high ranking knights, soldiers and general Malkun who Michael had only met twice before. There were a number of salutes and curious gazes as they passed though until they eventually reached an interior room within the tent toward the corner. The Knight-Captain gestured for them to sit and they did so. After a few moments they were all brought water and a plate of sliced bread with meat and cheese.
The general let them eat and drink for a few moments before he asked, “So, what happened?”
“Caused a diplomatic incident, got another king on our side, healed a dwarven god, made a dragon god, and then we got flown on down here,” replied Ollie with a smile.
Leon smirked. “Perfect. That’s all I need for my report to the king. I doubt he’ll have any follow-up questions.”
Michael shook his head and began telling the full story. The journey through Swandia, the incident at the border, gaining the king of Burndan’s support after his mother was cruelly killed by the rift creatures, gaining the dwarves' support by healing their god, and finally gaining the support of the dragon that Leon had seen carry them there. He left certain details out, he didn’t feel that Leon needed to know the truth about his and king Castor’s relationship.
Leon started writing as Michael spoke and by the time he was done he had filled several sheets of paper with neat script. When he was done, he folded each piece of paper neatly and sealed them in wax. He stepped out of the room they were in and handed it to another officer with quick instructions to get it to the king as quickly as possible.
When he returned he was shaking his head. “It's amazing what you all have accomplished in such a short time. Only a month and I can’t imagine that things could’ve gone much better.” He frowned, looking at Michael. “I do need to ask… are you alright?”
“I feel fine, but I’m going to have a visit with Carmen as soon as I can after we’re done here to make sure.”
Leon nodded.
“How have things been here?” asked Pyotr.
Leon sighed. “Good, but not great. We have been working to seal any of the smaller rifts as they open, and have been very successful, but it hasn’t been without losses and the pace of their openings has been wearing our squads down more and more. We’re doing everything we can to prepare things here, but truthfully we aren’t entirely sure of what all to expect out of the rift. Prince Aza has been helpful with his suggestions, but even he doesn’t know everything that we could be up against.. Luckily, we think they won’t know exactly what awaits them when they get here either.”
“Have faith,” responded Michael. “The gods are on our side, and they’re stronger than ever.”