Dragon Alliance: Rise Against Shadow (19 page)

“I must always see my little dragonrider when he passes by my woods,” she stated as she handed the toddler back to Annan.

“Dekeen, you are as impetuous as my husband; he is definitely a bad influence on you and your customary elven courtesy,” Annan quickly spoke back. “Your wife is welcome to see my son any time she wishes.”

“Alas, we must be departing,” Beckann said as the great white unicorn walked over to them, her white coat almost gleaming in the sunlight that shown through the overhanging tree branches.
A brilliant creature,
Mkel thought to himself,
rare and elusive
. Once one chose a rider or a companion, they were as resolute in their loyalty as a dragon. Their magical powers were also something to be reckoned with.

“Yes my love, we have matters to attend to back in the forest,” Dekeen said.

Their clan’s village was set in the heart of Draden Forest, closer to the mountainside. The elves made their homes in the trees and in well-camouflaged wooden structures that could be walked past almost without notice when not lit up by hundreds of lighting crystals. Any force that made it into the forest would face arrows from all sides and from above.

Beckann was always busy instructing the younger elven wizard apprentices or preparing potions and performing experiments to improve upon the products that the elves were famous for.

Dekeen lifted his thin but beautiful wife up onto the large magical horse’s back after she gave Michen a kiss on the forehead and Annan and Mkel a hug. Mkel and Dekeen shook hands again.

“Will you be joining us for dinner tonight?” Mkel asked. “I believe Tegent will be entertaining the Weir afterward.” Tegent, being the Weir garrison’s bard, was very talented with his dragonstone-modified lyre, even by elven standards.

“That sounds like an interesting proposition,” Beckann said inquisitively.

“We will be there,” Dekeen said.

“Then we will see you there, and we will reserve you two seats at our table,” Annan added.

“Until then, my friends,” Beckann said, and with that, the unicorn reared back and disappeared.

Dekeen gave a half salute and ran into the wood line to check on his patrols. Mkel and Annan walked another mile or so along the river and then turned around to head back to the Weir. Michen was getting antsy so they knew it was time for his nap. Drake took his fidgeting well. The patience and tolerance of the elf hound was a blessing.

They made their way back to the Weir gates without incident, although Dekeen’s warning about the sea devil saragwin did make Mkel watch the water more often then he usually would have. He had confidence in the sea elves, but nobody was perfect. The tower guard again saluted Mkel as they walked back into the mountain. The Weir was surprisingly quiet for an afternoon. Likely everybody was resting, tending to gear after the exercise, or getting ready for the several days off that he gave them prior to the weapons skills and squad drills that were scheduled after he left.

They made their way up to their living quarters and put a very tired Michen down for his nap. Mkel and Annan got undressed and had a moment alone before they fell asleep themselves. Mkel woke up about an hour later, quickly dressed, and gave Annan a kiss on the forehead before he walked out of their bedroom onto Gallanth’s landing. He walked past the still sleeping dragon to Jodem’s laboratory.

He opened the large oaken reinforced door and walked in. Jodem was at the far end of the large room, gathering papers and poring over a large binder book.

“Come my friend, over here,” the wizard said to him without pausing in his tasks. “I’m just getting a few things together for our trip. I have to arrange a meeting with General Daddonan’s assigned wizard, Andellion, over a few matters. We are also getting ready to create a dragonstone weapon. Ordin and Dorin have separated a slice off of that vein of mithril that they unearthed. They think it is enough to make a sword and maybe an axe or lance head, with the remainder to be made into a couple dozen bolt tips for us and arrow heads for Dekeen.”

“Very good; I assume that will wait until we get back from Battle Point and before we head to the capital?” Mkel asked.

“Yes, that will be the best course of action. The most important issues we have to discuss are the defense agreement with Battle Point and the upcoming senate gathering in Draconia, with the likely issues that will result. General Daddonan will be asking you to agree to a direct defense pact with the Battle Point legion for the whole Weir garrison,” Jodem explained.

“Shouldn’t that be decided with Colonel Wierangan?” Mkel returned.

“Yes, but even though it is assumed the Weir is responsive to the Draden regiment, the lines of responsibility are still fairly gray. The garrison has a degree of autonomy, although you have always directed it as a combined battalion of the regiment to make the Strike Legion. Other Weirs handle this in different ways. Colonel Lordan and Talonth and his wing basically command the cavalry legion at Eladran Weir, with a regular Alliance army colonel as his deputy ground commander, while Slidess and Trikenth with their wing are a strong air arm of the High Mountain legion under direct command of an Alliance army colonel. This mirrors most Weirs that don’t have dragonriders with a military commission and don’t directly command troops like you, Lordan, and Sighbolt. Bristurm of Denar Weir will be in this position as soon as he gets his commission. There is no fixed standard or solution, especially until these new Avenger dragons increase their numbers, for there are only a handful of young metallic dragons to come of age anytime soon to be stationed at Battle Point. Plus bronze dragons won’t go that far from the sea or a major river or lake,” Jodem explained.

“I thought the Avenger dragons were supposed to eventually be stationed in Ian and Freiland?” Mkel asked.

“They are, after the first wing is fully up to strength and the next brood comes of age,” Jodem answered.

“Have you seen them yet?” Mkel inquired.

“Yes, they are about the size of a bronze dragon and look like a cross between a bronze and a gold. They have a metallic brown-gold hue to their heavily armored hide. Their mouths are long and lined with powerful teeth and have deep set eyes. Two long, smooth, but sharp horns protrude from the back of their heads. Their bodies are well muscled and powerful; they are almost as strong as red dragons but faster. Their claws are thick and powerfully built, and their wings are rounder or more ovoid compared to other metallic dragons, but each bone support ends in a long talon. This makes the wing strike from these dragons hit with horrific damage. Their long but powerful tails end in a modified plate similar to a gold dragon’s but longer like a sword as opposed to a gold dragon’s broader arrowhead axe shape; they are capable of slashing or piercing strikes.

“These unique dragons have great optimistic attitudes,” Jodem continued, “enabling them to inspire all those around them. While they are not as intelligent as the metallic dragons, their enthusiastic spirit and absolute fearlessness makes up for this. In their presence, they can inspire courage in all around them, giving all creatures a morale boost like Gallanth does, but not to the same extent.

“They are the only successfully created dragon species to date,” he said. “This was finally achieved by the top wizards of the Alliance Wizard’s Council, along with several of the most talented elven magic users, by taking some of Michenth’s blood and that of all other metallic dragon types, with a great deal of other materials. The Avenger dragons are bred to bridge the gap from the more powerful but slower breeding metallic dragons and the faster reproducing chromatics. The successful breeding experiment resulted in these magnificent creatures that are born to battle evil and are masters of the close fight. They have been raised to serve with the highest paladin order of the dragon knights as powerful steeds and defenders of the capital.

“While they cannot cast spells as true dragons can,” he continued, “they still have some magical abilities. The magic shield they emanate can defend from as much spell damage as a silver dragon’s, and they can also project their shield to protect others up to their line of sight. Their sonic force breath weapon has devastating effects on those that it hits.

“Avenger dragons are born for close combat,” Jodem continued. “They can enter into a battle fury once per day; that gives them the strength of a gold dragon for up to half an hour. Normally they possess between silver and red dragon strength, but during this fury, they not only gain in strength but speed and extraordinary evasion and parrying ability. This also allows them to attack very fast with their bite, tail strike, and claw attacks. This ability will make them deadly in close combat. An Avenger dragon will make even a red dragon think twice about engaging them in close quarters.

“The Avengers are also bred to be an extraordinarily tough species of dragon and can shrug off enormous amounts of damage,” he said, “being able to completely heal themselves twice per day or spread that healing ability to others. They are immune to death magic of all kinds. The dragon knights are currently training these dragons to wear barding armor made specifically for them. It is mithril lined and extremely strong, giving them an almost impenetrable armor when worn. It does hamper their aerial maneuverability when utilized, which puts them in the flying class of the chromatics. With this armor, speed and agility are wisely traded in when necessary.

“Overall,” Jodem concluded, “while they are new to the Alliance and the world in general, the Avenger dragons with their knight counterparts will make a significant impact in future battles. In a larger sense, they are probably the equal to a bronze dragon in a close engagement due to their great strength, speed, and ferocity, as well as their incredibly strong defensive ability. However, their lack of spell casting or general magic ability does not make them as powerful in all other areas, and so far their inability to teleport also limits their deployment. This is why they are to be paired with a powerful dragon knight, or wizard, for their magic ability will make up for the Avenger dragon’s limitations.”

“So they are meant to serve the dragon knights?” Mkel asked.

“Yes, but also as a mount for a wizard or anyone else deemed worthy. They also seem to only have a limited life span, roughly mirroring a land dragon, which is about that of an average man,” the wizard answered.

“Does that mean they can’t soul bond?” Mkel asked.

“They are not truly blood bonded with their rider. It is more like the link between a paladin and his dedicated mount, but slightly stronger,” Jodem explained.

“Interesting. I am anxious to see them when we go to the capital,” Mkel said.

“Please keep this to yourself, for news about them is not official, and the POEs are raising a ruckus lately about the Alliance military expenditures. It is best to keep them a secret as long as possible,” Jodem explained.

“Won’t it be difficult to hide dragons of that size? And as for the POEs, what a waste of human effort. Do they realize that the shortened name of their movement is the Draconic word for ‘weak, traitorous fool,’ the worst curse in dragon language. ‘People of the Enlightened’: hah, nothing more than stealers of air,” Mkel said sarcastically.

“The very nature of their philosophy would tend to support that statement,” Jodem replied with a smile as he chuckled at Mkel’s comment.

“I don’t understand how the senators from those areas actually listen to those of that ideology. Most can’t even vote because they did not serve,” Mkel said.

“You must remember that most of those affiliated senators are former arbitrators from both the army and navy, but mostly the navy. Their views are usually of a more arrogant nature, since they command more power or authority through magistrate law trials and the courts than from the common man. They view the law as a higher ideal or almost as divine, even if it is the citizens of the Alliance who they are supposed to represent, as both arbitrators and senators. This is the unfortunate price that we pay for having a nation based on laws, the dark side of the order we enjoy as part of our society. Those who espouse the antimilitary, antidragon views that can’t vote, still donate gold and silver to those senators to fund their elections, and they are gaining strength in the major cities. This is especially true along the coasts in the northwest, and they are gaining converts as they promise more and more entitlements to certain civilians, but especially veterans,” Jodem indicated.

“Yes but those laws were derived from the Founding Council of not only humans, but dragons, dwarves, and elves,” Mkel said, “who always have more sense than our supposedly learned arbitrators. It was the dragons who united this country two hundred years ago. It was they and the elves who helped forge the alliances we share today, that we depend upon for our very survival as a nation.

“It was the dragons who gave up their freedom at the will of the Creator to soul mate with human riders,” Mkel continued, “thus forever tying their fate with ours. They do not need us but we surely need and benefit from them, “a deterrent not only to the chromatic dragons, but to all the forces of Morgathia and the rest of the evil that exists in this world. They must have saved literally millions of Alliance lives, and now they are the target of scorn and ridicule by a group of cowards. These so-called Enlightened thumb their noses at the very instruments of their prosperity and defense, and then insult them by demands to spend less on the military than they already do. We are only at a fifth of the strength that served during the Great War. They seem to actually hate some of the very laws they are sworn to uphold as well as those that protect their very freedom, attempting to twist the law to promote their own self-serving purposes,” Mkel said in disgust as he felt his anger grow.