Omensent: Revealing the Dragon (The Dragon Lord Series) Page 10

  "Calm yourselves," Damion told them in a firm tone. "This one is with us."

  "B-But... milord!" The tribesman protested fearfully. "We-We can't allow that creature into the city! The Council will have our heads on spikes by nightfall!"

  Damion merely stared at the man, who seemed to gain a bit of his courage back and steadfastly refused to move.

  "Okay," Leia snapped with an impatient sigh, glancing up at her father. "Go ahead and turn him into a radish."

  "Turnip." Sly corrected, falling into another fit of helpless laughter.

  "Right. Go ahead and turn him into a turnip." The young girl commanded with a scowl. "I'm getting a little tired of sitting here."

  "Please, milord!" The man wailed once more, dropping back to his knees.

  Damion glanced to the other tribesmen, who were trying desperately to hold back their own laughter, then looked back down to the groveling warrior. "Don't worry about the Council. I'll see to it that they do not hold you responsible for allowing Slither into the city."

  "Y-You will?"

  "I give you my word." The huge warrior assured him sincerely.

  The tribesman slowly returned to his feet, then gestured for the other warriors to allow them to pass.

  Without another word, Damion nudged Storm ahead and led the others onto the enormous bridge that led the into the fortress city.

  Once they out of earshot, Leia looked up at her father. "How'd I do?"

  "You were perfect." Damion chuckled proudly. "You're growing quite skilled at the art of manipulation. You really take after your mother."

  "Hey!" Raven exclaimed in mock outrage, causing both Leia and Damion to laugh.

  It took them nearly three hours to cross the massive bridge leading across the raging White River. The Deolan tribes had been driving their herds across the bridge to sell at the markets in the fortress city for thousands of years, and the ancient structure bore the scars from the millions of hooves that had pounded across its span.

  When they finally reached the massive gates which led into the great city, they found Bativa waiting for them with an enormous smile on his face.

  "Damion!" The huge tattooed chieftain laughed, hurrying forward to greet them as they approached. "I'm delighted to see you my old friend!"

  "It's good to see you too, old friend." Damion replied, slipping down from his saddle and embracing the tribesman, who stood nearly as tall as the massive warrior. "We've been looking all over the grasslands for you. When we finally located your tribe, they informed us that you were here."

  "I've been here in the city for the last month." Bativa explained with a shrug. "It's the time of year that we hold our Spring Council." He looked over to Leia, then broke into a wide grin. "Greetings, little one. It is wonderful to see you."

  "Hello, Bativa," Leia smiled back. "It's nice to see you too. Father has had us looking all over for you."

  "Is that right?" The Deolan chieftain turned to give Damion a questioning look.

  "Did the messenger reach you?"

  "He did." Bativa confirmed with a nod. "He told me that you were hurrying here to speak with me, and that it was urgent, but wasn't able to elaborate any further."

  "It's best if we talked about it somewhere private." The huge warrior frowned.

  "Is it that serious?"

  "It's worse." Sly grunted in a weary voice.

  "Very well. Follow me and I'll lead you to the inn where I'm staying. I took the liberty of reserving several rooms for you, and ordered the cooks to prepare a feast for your arrival." He started to led the way inside, then stopped in his tracks as his eyes fell upon Slither, who was eyeing the crowd around them nervously. "I don't know if it was the wisest decision to bring Slither to Mercedia. The people are sure to get upset having one of the spawn in their midst." He looked over to the huge shadowspawn. "No offense, Slither."

  "None taken." The shadowy beast replied back with a nervous hiss.

  "He's here to help protect Leia." Damion explained with a serious expression. "The people will just have to get over it."

  "If you say so." The tribesman shrugged. "Just don't blame me if we end up with a blood thirsty mob carrying torches and pitchforks trailing along behind us."

  They followed the huge tribesman through the massive gates and into the fortress city of Mercedia, leading their horses by the reins to make it easier to weave their way through the milling crowds of merchants and travelers who had journeyed for hundreds of leagues in the hopes of making their fortunes. The horses and cattle bred by the Deola were prized around the world, and deals involving vast sums of gold were taking place all around them as they pushed their way through the streets, a task made much easier as those nearby caught sight of Slither and stopped in their tracks, their expressions fearful.

  Slither appeared to be handling the experience far better than the people that he passed. His reptilian eyes were wide and full of wonder as he took in the amazing sights of the massive fortress. He seemed amazed by the sheer number of merchant booths that lined the wide streets, going as far as to wander over to several to stare at the assorted trinkets with curiosity, causing a number of merchants to nearly faint dead away from fright.

  "It's a bit overwhelming, isn't it?" Bativa asked the shadowy beast with a chuckle, making sure he stayed close to Slither's side to help avoid any misunderstandings by passersby.

  "SSSlither hasss never ssseen sssuch a place before!" The shadowspawn hissed in amazement. "SSSlither hasss ssseen many citiesss before, but nothing sssuch asss thisss!"

  "And this is just the first level." The tribesman laughed. "Wait until you see the rest of the fortress!"

  They continued to follow Bativa deeper into the fortress for several hours until they finally reached a large well appointed building which had a pair of elaborately carved stallions stationed on either side of polished wooden doors.

  "This is the Charging Stallion." Bativa told them, motioning to a pair of stable hands who immediately hurried forward to tend to their horses. "It's the finest establishment in this sector of the city. We'll stay here tonight, then move on to my personal quarters near the center of the city tomorrow."

  They followed the tattooed warrior into the richly appointed building, then stopped as the innkeeper hurried forward to greet them.

  "Good evening, my lords and ladies." The bald little man welcomed them with a graceful bow. "Welcome to the Charging Stallion. My people will make sure your belongings are taken to your rooms. Would you care to make use of our bathing facilities before you dine?"

  "Oh, yes." Raven and Leia exclaimed in unison, causing everyone to laugh.

  "I think everyone could stand to bathe." Leia murmured, giving her father a pointed look. "Some of you have grown quite fragrant over the last couple of weeks."

  "I think we had better do what she says." Damion murmured to the others. "She'll never shut up about it if we don't."

  "Very good. If you'll just foll..." He suddenly stopped mid-sentence as his eyes fell upon Slither, who was busy sniffing at the air with a hungry expression. "What is that... that... creature doing here?"

  "He's with us." Damion informed him shortly.

  "I'm sorry, but that savage cannot stay here. It will have to leave immediately."

  Damion started to open his mouth to respond, but Slither suddenly stepped forward and leaned down until he and the innkeeper were face to face. "SSSlither isss not a sssavage. SSSlither is of SSSevria."

  The innkeeper turned pale as he stared into the shadowspawn's reptilian eyes.

  "SSSlither will not leave little Leia'sss ssside." The great beast placed a protective hand on the young girl's shoulder.

  "Enough foolishness!" Bativa snapped at the innkeeper impatiently. "These people are here as my guests. I will not have you insulting them. Any of them."

  The innkeeper swallowed hard, still staring at Slither with wide eyes, then he finally nodded. "V-Very well. If you will follow me, I'll take you to the bathing facilities."
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br />   After they had scrubbed away the layers of dust and grime, they assembled in the enormous dining hall to enjoy the lavish feast Bativa had prepared for their arrival.

  "Finally!" Leia sighed happily, snatching up a chicken leg and devouring it with relish.

  "You act as though you haven't eaten in days, little one." Bativa commented, his eyebrow arched questioningly.

  "I've just gotten a little tired of sitting around waiting for father to return from hunting up our dinner." The young girl shrugged, tossing aside the bone and grabbing another chicken leg. "He likes to go off into the wild to get our meals instead of stopping off to get supplies like any normal person."

  "We were in a hurry." Damion said defensively. "We didn't have the time to detour off to visit any villages. Besides, we'd never have gotten Sly out of the local taverns." He gestured to the scruffy little man, who had a tankard ale in each hand, and a blissful expression on his scruffy face.

  "So what was so urgent that you would come rushing all the way to Mercedia?" Bativa asked the huge warrior curiously.

  "Where should I start?" Damion sighed heavily. "Have you ever heard of the Etazk?"

  The tattooed chieftain's face fell. "I have. They are a race of religious zealots. The Deola still tell tales of the atrocities the Etazk committed during the War of the Gods, usually to scare the children into behaving."

  "It looks as though they are gathering to renew that war once again. We received a report that there was a large force gathering in the port city of Salastar. When Tempest and I went to investigate the report, we found the Etazk had an army fifty thousand warriors strong preparing to sail out of Salastar."

  "Fifty thousand?" Bativa gasped in disbelief. "Who are they planning on going to war with?"

  "Everyone." Sly burped thunderously. "It looks as though they are planning on renewing their war with the other races. The priest Damion spoke with claimed that Etaz had returned to lead His people to war against all nonbelievers."

  "This is serious." The tribesman frowned. "As I said, the Deola remember the atrocities committed by the Etazk. If they are gathering to renew their war, the Council needs to be notified."

  "That's why we're here." Dar chirped through a mouthful of boiled potatoes. "The Etazk concern everyone, and it is going to take a significant size force to repel them. We already have messengers spreading the word, and we have arranged to have what men we can gather in the villages throughout the foothills assemble outside of Crete, but we don't stand a chance without the Deola."

  "The tribes must be assembled immediately. If they were preparing to sail out when you left them, only the gods know where they are now."

  "They're still in Salastar." Damion assured him. "While we were investigating the report, we took the opportunity to destroy the fleet of ships they had anchored out in the port. Without those ships, the Etazk aren't going anywhere."

  "Is that how you ended up with that?" Bativa asked, gesturing to the fresh bandage that Raven had placed on his wounded arm after he had finished bathing.

  "I'm afraid not." Damion shook his head. "Tell me, have your people been experiencing anything unusual as of late?"

  "As a matter of fact, they have." Bativa nodded. "There have been a number of reports of cattle disappearing right out from under our herders' noses, and of strange cries that echo throughout the grasslands."

  "That's what one of your fellow tribesman told us." Damion nodded. "We heard the strange cries your tribesmen reported for ourselves as we made our way to Mercedia. Then, last night, I was attacked while I was out hunting."

  "Something was actually foolish enough to attack you?" Bativa looked surprised.

  "I was preparing to take down a wild pig, when I was suddenly attacked by a dragon."

  "A dragon?" The huge tribesman frowned. "Was it one of the shadow beasts that managed to escape the slaughter in Arleia?"

  "I'm afraid not." Damion shook his head. "This appeared to be a totally new breed of serpent."

  "A new dragon?" The huge warrior turned pale. "Are you sure you're not mistaken?"

  "You're actually going to sit there and ask the Dragon Lord if he is mistaken about a dragon?" Sly asked, shaking his head in disbelief.

  "There's no doubt it was a new breed of dragon." Damion assured him, chuckling at the look of astonishment on Sly's face.

  "Its scales were similar to the skin of a chameleon." Damarius supplied, brushing a bit of gravy from his beard. "It can shift its colors and mimic its surroundings, rendering it almost completely invisible."

  "An invisible dragon?" Bativa asked in a skeptical voice. "You're jesting, right?"

  "Does this look like a joke to you?" Damion asked, removing the bandage on his arm and revealing the long ragged gash he had suffered during his encounter with the strange dragon. "It used its camouflage to inflict a bit of damage before I was finally able to drive it off."

  "It still lives?" The Deolan chieftain grew even paler.

  "Don't worry about that beast." Sly snorted, draining one of the tankards in his hands, and then tossing it aside negligently. "It was injured badly enough when it fled that it won't be showing its face anytime soon."

  "But there could be others, couldn't there?"

  Damion shrugged. "I haven't the foggiest idea. I would ask Tempest what she knows about them, but she's busy keeping an eye on the Etazk for us. I asked Slither and he says he has never heard of a dragon such as this before. He says there have only ever been the scarlet dragons and the shadow beasts."

  "Well, it had to come from somewhere."

  "I have a few suspicions on where the beast may have come from." Damarius told them, brushing his brow lock from his eyes absently.

  Everyone turned to look at the old wizard.

  "When Leia was abducted a few years ago, it was all on the orders of the Dragon God, Draco."

  "Tell us something that we don't already know." Sly grunted sarcastically.

  "During our pursuit of Leia's abductors," Damarius continued, giving the scruffy little man a sour look. "We were told repeatedly that if she fell into the Dragon God's hands, He would have the means to bring about the destruction of mankind."

  "But we stopped Draco before He could take her." Raven protested.

  "That doesn't mean He still didn't get what He desired." The old wizard pointed out reasonably. "Let's look at the facts. There was something about little Leia that Draco desired so much that he was willing to break the Pact of the Gods to obtain it. Considering we managed to stop Him from taking Leia, and He has yet to make another attempt to abduct her, I think it's fairly safe to assume He must have gotten what He was after."

  "But He wasn't able to get anything." Damion frowned. "Leia was freed, and the Serpent Mother, Estheryal, forced Draco to abandon His plans. Leia didn't have a scratch on her."

  "That's not true." Leia murmured, her eyes haunted by the memories of her encounter with the Dragon God. Though she was still quite young when the Highland witch slipped into her room and abducted her from her crib, the young girl could still clearly remember coming face to face with the Dragon God, Draco, and the overwhelming feeling of His presence. "He used His talon to pierce my neck." She pointed to a faint scar on her throat.

  They all stared at the scar for a long moment, then Damarius suddenly snapped his fingers. "And there it is!"

  "And there what is?" Sly asked in confusion.

  "The reason Draco had Leia abducted." Damion slapped himself in the side of the head. "I don't know why I didn't see it before!"

  "See what?" Raven looked completely baffled.

  "Her blood!" Dar gasped in sudden realization. "It wasn't Leia Draco was after! It was her blood!"

  "Exactly." Damarius nodded sagely. "I have thought about this time and time again over the last few years, trying to figure out why the Dragon God hadn't attempted to complete the plans He had for little Leia. He hasn't tried, because He doesn't need to. He already has what He desired!"

  "That would explai
n a few things." Damion conceded. "I'll admit that I've wondered why He hasn't attempt to come for Leia again. If He has already obtained what He was after, He wouldn't need to bother coming for her anymore."

  "Does that mean Draco used my blood to create that... that beast?" Leia looked horrified.

  "Don't worry, little one." Raven assured her, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I'm sure that beast has nothing to do with you." She cast the others a dark look.

  "She's right." Damion murmured quickly, feeling a pang of guilt seeing the fear on his young daughter's face. "It's a pretty far fetched theory. Besides, it doesn't really matter where the beast came from. We have more pressing concerns with the Etazk."

  The others promptly caught on, and the subject was hastily changed.

  Once they had finished gorging themselves on the sumptuous feast, Raven, Leia, Dar, and Slither adjourned to their chambers, while Damion, Sly, Damarius, and Bativa lingered around the table to enjoy a few more drinks.

  "How do you think the Council will take the news of the Etazk assembling for war?" Damion asked the huge tribesman, accepting a large foaming tankard from one of the serving girls. "Do you think they are going to make things difficult?"

  "It's hard to say," Bativa held out his hands and shrugged. "I'm sure they will all remember the stories of the Etazk and the atrocities they committed during the War of Gods, but it's hard to say what the other chieftains will want to do. I'm sure some of them will wish to fight, while some of the others will want to pull the tribes back into the fortress where they'll be safe. It's hard to say how the vote will go."

  "That's what we were afraid of." Sly grunted, his voice somewhat slurred. He took a long drink from his tankard, then burped thunderously. "If we cannot convince the rest of the Council that we can't succeed without the tribes, we won't stand a chance against the Etazk."

  "I guess that means were just going to have to convince them then." Damion shrugged. "If all else fails, I'll just threaten to turn them all into turnips."