Dragon Alliance: Rise Against Shadow (43 page)

“I have to agree with the bard on this one, plus the giants in the south; even fire giants cannot hold onto large coalitions for long, beyond simple raiding parties,” Ordin added.

“You are correct, Master Ordin,” Jodem spoke as he walked from behind Gallanth. “We don’t know what the connection is, or if they are connected at all, but there are far too many similarities to not be masterfully orchestrated. The question is by whom and for what purpose?”

“Ah, Master Wizard, so good for you to grace us with your presence,” Ordin said. “We even saved you some ale.” He raised his tankard in a salute to Jodem, with Dekeen giving his salutary nod of deference, for elves have as deep a respect for magic users as they do for dragons.

“I think I need a glass of wine instead, but this will do for starters,” Jodem answered as he took the tankard from Mkel.

“Long meeting with the legion officers?” Mkel asked.

“The third battalion commander, Colonel Ponsellan, who arrived late after you all left, is a self-centered, egotistical politician, not a soldier or warrior. If it were not more apparent that he wanted all possible glory in tomorrow’s battle, and did not seem to care if he suffered an inordinate amount of casualties, then I am a wizard apprentice,” Jodem complained.

“Let me take care of the shale head,” Ordin said, slurring his words as he drained his tankard again.

“He is General Daddonan’s problem,” Jodem said, “but unfortunately he will affect us as well in our support to Battle Point. At least it is just us, the council here, and not the whole garrison or the Draden regiment.

“Why doesn’t General Daddonan relieve him? I thought you were just staying to inform the commanders of your magic ability for tomorrow, not to rehash the whole battle plan. Should I have been there?” Mkel asked.

“Because Ponsellan is very friendly with one of the Enlightened senators, and Daddonan dare not touch him unless he and his legion suffer the consequences,” Jodem explained. “You must remember that the non-Weir aligned legions are at the mercy of the senate for their funding. This is one of the dark sides to the checks and balances of our system that insures that neither the Weirs nor the central government becomes too powerful. You didn’t miss anything, but that colonel wanted the whole plan explained to him.”

“I still don’t understand how the POEs, a minority in the senate, can wield so much power,” Mkel said.

“They mostly pontificate and stall, and perform a great deal of political maneuvering, for they are overridden on most occasions, but they can wield their power very judiciously. Many a time, the rest of the senate basically placates them by letting them get their way.”

“Politics as usual, and for some reason, the Enlightened party always seem to be at the bottom of things, like the scum on the bottom of an otyugh’s foot,” Toderan interjected.

“All too much intrigue; you humans are too complicated,” Dekeen stated.

“Consider yourself lucky that elves do not engage in such practices,” Mkel countered.

“Yes, but there are still subtle nuances that the elvish hierarchy wrangles with; remember, elves are not perfect, just look at the drow,” Dekeen explained. “We just hide it better.” he said with a slight smile of elvish sarcasm.

“Well, as long as we hold up our end of the operation and back the Battle Point legion up after our mission is accomplished, we shouldn’t have any problem,” Mkel said in an encouraging tone. “While the enemy always has a vote on events, I have faith in my friends and in our ability to get the job done. Plus Gallanth is always with us.” Mkel said with an encouraging tone.

“Yes, we have confidence in ourselves, but still, this will not be a walkthrough tomorrow. However, I, like the captain, have faith,” Toderan echoed.

“Again thank the Creator that the Weirs have a degree of autonomy from the senate,” Mkel added. “I see that the master dwarf is asleep already; did he have a rough trip?” Mkel said with a mischievous smile.

“You know that he hates to fly on anything but Gallanth, and he turned a lovely shade of forest green on the back of Alvanch by the time we landed at this village,” Toderan said with a chuckle. Normally dwarves can drink twice as much as an average man, but the flying sickness really knocked it out of them. “Just as well, it will be an early morning tomorrow and we have to have our wits about us. The legion is manning the village defenses, so we will have ample warning if anything dares to attack tonight, and if they know that Gallanth, Strikenth, and Talonth are here, they wouldn’t even think about it. Good night, gentlemen,” Toderan finished as he got up and walked over to his sleeping winged horse.

Normally they would all sleep in close proximity to Gallanth, for both shelter and security, but it was a perfect night with just a slight coolness to the air. Insects did not come near dragons for unknown reasons, which was another added benefit to sleeping near one. Dekeen said good night and walked to his eagle.

“Jodem, Gallanth, I need to talk over what happened today,” Mkel said with a change in his normally jovial tone of voice.

“You are troubled over the Morgathian death knight you killed today?” Gallanth asked him in a surprisingly low but audible tone, not communicated telepathically.

“Yes and no. The black hearted
pogasch
deserved what he was given. He killed that boy’s father in cold blood. He was defeated and could have been bypassed, but he brutally killed him anyway, and in front of his family. I have no remorse for letting Kershan’s blade go through him, although the sword almost seemed to act on its own. Until now, I have only killed orcs and their associated allies, no more than insects. They are born to be evil and know nothing else,” Mkel explained.

“But you still have a small sense of remorse?” Jodem asked.

“Again yes and no, it was just different. I have not felt that kind of anger before. If you hadn’t snapped me back to my senses when the chromatics appeared, I don’t know how much of a help I would have been for you, my friend,” Mkel answered as he put his hand on Gallanth’s large clawed front toe.

“Remember that a metallic dragon’s true strength comes from his soul bonding with his rider. Your emotion and love give me as much strength as the purest of gems that Ordin supplies. Without it, we would be only slightly better than the chromatics. The Creator intended this as a balance to the evil that the world can dish up,”
Gallanth explained.

“But then why does he let this evil exist, since he created all of this? Why not stop it?” Mkel asked.

“In his immeasurable wisdom and boundless love, he gave all his creatures with even the remotest level of logical thought the power of choice and free will. Dragons, elves, and giants did choose as whole races and species. From this decision there is usually only one turning point, and that can only occur just before death. Humans, which he loves most of all, were given individual choice as to which path they choose to follow. This is what also makes mankind so fascinating,” Gallanth explained. “We dragons were put here to guide humans and protect them. Unfortunately, the chromatics, led by Tiamat, resented this subordination to what they considered a lesser species.
That is why they call men Sapsprech, or talking monkeys”

“Yes, I understand, but that still doesn’t explain why good must suffer so under such tyranny and evil,” Mkel said.

“Mkel, while there is much evil in the world, there is also much good. Acts of evil do not go unpunished, for while it is free will that allows men and creatures to commit evil, it is also the same for those who do good,” Jodem commented to his young friend.

“The Creator is constantly adjusting or guiding events to make up for the evil that is done by those who would perpetrate it. Like the death knight you killed today, it was not your fault that he killed that boy’s father, but by you felling the pogasch, he will not kill any more innocents or good men. No, it will not bring back that boy’s father, and I know you very much identified with the boy’s pain, but it was not your fault. I know you thought of your father today and of your loss, and I know it is never easy for you. Remember that I will always be here for you, my friend, and take comfort in the fact that we saved hundreds of lives today and delivered a major blow to the enemy, as we will do tomorrow,” Gallanth explained with an unusual display of emotion in his voice, which he lowered to as much of a whisper as a dragon could do.

“And remember that the Creator also sacrificed his earthly spirit by letting him attempt to bring the chromatics and their followers back into the light, and correct the error of their ways,” Jodem explained.” “That is the true love he has for all of his creations, even the five-headed evil arch dragon herself.”

“I understand; it is all part of an immense balancing act that the Creator is constantly juggling,” Mkel said, trying to control his emotions, for he could feel the inner pain and sorrow welling up inside him, and he knew Gallanth could sense this as well.

“Yes, but remember the overall balance has always slightly tipped to our side,” Gallanth said in a slightly comforting and confident tone, trying to tell Mkel that everything was all right.

“Again I understand a bit more, but it is still difficult to forget that boy’s face. I saw him through Markthrea’s sight when that Morgathian killed his father right in front of him. All I wanted to do was eviscerate him, make him suffer, no capture, no trial, no mercy. Yet after I cut off his leg and sword arm and had Kershan’s blade pointed at his throat, I hesitated until I saw something in his eyes. Without flinching, Kershan effortlessly trust into his exposed neck. I can’t describe it; it was like I was outside myself watching and unable to affect the scenario,” Mkel explained, sounding very emotional and slightly confused.

“You are just tired, my young friend. Tired and upset. We should be getting some sleep now, for tomorrow will come very quickly,” Jodem said to him with a sympathetic smile as he gave Gallanth a quick sideways glance.

“Yes, it is time for rest now, my rider; you need to lay down under my wing and sleep. Like Jodem said, we have important work tomorrow, and I will need at least two gemstones prior to the fight and you riding with me, ready for battle,” Gallanth added as he stretched out his right wing slightly to cover Mkel’s bedroll. Mkel could feel he was getting very tired quickly and knew that either Gallanth or Jodem were casting a minor sleep spell over him, but he did not fight it, for he was tired. The ground mat he used felt comfortable, and he fell asleep within seconds.

“He is very troubled about what happened today, Gallanth,” Jodem said to the gold dragon in Draconic.

“I know, but he will overcome it. While his emotions run high, so does his strength and courage. Tomorrow we will be too busy to dwell on this, and we will be there for him when we return to Draden and the Weir,” Gallanth answered as he lowered his huge head on the ground, and curled around to almost face Mkel. “I want Watterseth to stay back here, just in case something slips around us tomorrow and Lady Beckann needs help. Andellion is still too weak to come out here to fight, or even to defend this town from anything, and they could use the good cleric’s healing ability as well. I will tell him tonight before I sleep.”

“I agree, even though he will protest,” Jodem answered.

“I gave into him this evening by allowing him to heal me, it is his turn now,” Gallanth replied.

“I wish you luck, my old friend,” Jodem quipped.

“No luck involved; good night, my good wizard,” Gallanth finished, which was a strange saying for a gold dragon, who were considered by many the luck dragons.

CHAPTER  VI

Repatriation

“M
kel, wake up. The legion is getting ready, and we must not be late,” Jodem said to his dragonrider friend, while gently shaking his shoulder.

“I’m awake. I’ll be ready in a couple of minutes,” Mkel answered as he sat up from his bedroll and pulled his blanket off. He quickly shaved, cleaned up, and dressed. The members of the Weir council, except for Ordin, had already gathered when he walked over in front of the still resting Gallanth.

“I guess the local grog is a little stronger than Ordin expected,” Mkel said to the group while he finished fastening his belt and shoulder strap that held his crossbow, sword, quiver, and other equipment.

“I will wake him up,” Dekeen said with a mischievous smile, as he took his water skin from the saddle harness on his eagle and poured it over Ordin’s head. The dwarf immediately jumped up, brandishing his powerful war hammer, Donnac, and whirled around, only to see his friends laughing.

He smiled as he lowered his hammer and asked, “Well, are we finally ready to fight?”

“I guess the Battle Point grog is a little stronger than you’re used to, my good dwarf,” Toderan said pointedly.

“No, I was just resting from a full day’s mining,” he quickly answered.

“Well, Ordin, I have faith you are always ready for giants,” Mkel interjected.

“Let them feel the power of my hammer,” Ordin growled.

“The Battle Point rangers are approaching,” Mkel said as he looked behind his group. Twelve rangers were walking behind Decray and Lupek as they approached.
The two seemed to be working together well already, which is a good sign
, Mkel thought to himself.

“Sir, gentlemen, welcome,” Toderan greeted Captain Decray and his team. “We look forward to drawing swords with you today.”