Dragon Rider (DragonMage Saga) (46 page)

‘Angel look at the other students
and tell me what you see?’ Maive pointed around as she spoke to Angel.

Angel looked and soon could see
what Maive had seen in the students, they looked dirty and tired and were about
to drop. ‘Thanks Maive I’ll go and see Gavrie now.’

Walking over to Gavrie he taped
Gavrie on the shoulder for he was very busy shooting down the creatures. Gavrie
turned to see who had tapped his shoulder. ‘What’s wrong Angel, and why do you
look so ragged?’

Angel could well imagine what he
looked like for he felt like it to. ‘I’m very tried and looking around at the
other students they are all feeling the same. They look as though they are
about to drop. I think we need a little break we don’t want to but I think we
need to and soon?’

Gavrie looked around and could
see what Angel was on about; he never gave it a thought about the students.
They are young and some have just arrived and won’t even be very strong in
their magic. They will need a break soon and so will the wizards. ‘Ok leave it
to me I’ll get it sorted out very quickly.’

Gavrie thought about sending all
the students in and then decided there need to be at lest that same number of
wizards at the same time. This way the other wizards can go and have a break
while the few here with the students will be able to be with them when all the
others wizards went and had a break.

Gavrie walked around the students
sending them into get some food and to rest for a couple of hours while the
rest carried on. He came to Angel speaking while keeping a wary eye on what the
creatures were doing. It was good you let me know as I was getting very
involved in the battle and had not noticed. Now you lot go and get some food
and rest like the others.’

Angel turned to leave and turned
back to Gavrie. ‘It was Maive who spotted what was happening, are you and the
rest going to be able to keep on top of the creatures. The only good thing
going your way is it looks like the creatures are thinning out a bit?’

‘Go we’ll be fine and I can see
you are right they do seam to be thinning a bit. So this is probably a good
time to go and get a rest. I will call when you need to be back out here.’
Gavrie turned and went back to the battle firing a group of shots that hit
three creatures as they tried to get below the defences.

Angel and his group moved off to
the school buildings to have the food and rest which they indeed need. They
came into the meal hall to find students and wizards a like laying their arms
on the table and sleeping. They were exhausted and were going to be out to it
for a while. They found a table over by the windows and sat and did the same.

They were woken up and found
themselves in a daze as they tried to figure out where they were. The women in
front of them had brought food over to them and she told them to eat as it
would bring up their strength. They had not felt like food but with the smell
of it in front of them, they found themselves suddenly get hungry.

They ate all in front of them and
when finished found they could still eat more. They decide to go up and get
more for they are not sure when they will get another chance. Coming back to
the table Shylyn asks something they had all thought about. ‘Angel can we not
get magic from our dragons, won’t that help revitalize us?’

'It would but we can’t afford to
be seen with more energy than any of the others who have been out as long as
us. But the main point is we need to build up our strength and not have to rely
on our dragons just to get us through. This is important for we need to get our
fitness levels up so we can face the Renegade and then if we need that extra we
have our dragons.' He looked at each of them as he spoke and could see it in
their eyes they knew he was right.

‘You are right it’s just with
them around we tend to take it for granted we could do that when ever we like.’
She felt bad she was taking their dragons for granted, as she did not want this
to happen.

‘This is important; we need this
for ourselves, so we must build up our magic strength.’ He found the others
looking at him and nodding as he finished.

‘If these attacks are going to be
like this and more often then we are going to have trouble getting to our
dragons and to the tower and see the spell the Renegade is using. I hope the
Dragon Riders start their patrols over the mountains next and maybe that will
stop them coming here.’ He knew he was being hopeful, for the Dragon Riders to
be able to get away to cover the mountains when the Renegades could hide in any
of the valleys.

Angel just lay there with his
head on his arms thinking of what could happen. He now knew when they are with
their dragons they will now have to be very careful with the Renegades coming
into the mountains they will come close to the far end of the decks where their
dragons are staying.

I must ask Gavrie whether the
Dragon Riders will move their patrols over the mountains or if that was too
hard. The other point to that is they don’t want Dragon Rider patrols coming
close to were their dragons are. We don’t want them seen so we need to come up
with something soon.

They just lay there at the table
resting their heads as they would call it but anybody else would say they were
asleep. They did this for a couple of hours when they were shaken awake.
Standing in front was a wizard who looked at them as they slowly woke up.

‘Gavrie needs you outside; he
will see you in the cave.’ The wizard turned and left.

They slowly got to their feet and
had a loud yawn and then left the table and move outside. As they got to the
door they slowly looked out the door to see groups of wizards standing around
looking into the sky.

There were no more creatures
attacking at the moment so the groups were slowly getting relieved by fresh
wizards and students. They proceeded to the cave were Gavrie was getting lances
ready.

‘Ah the thinkers now we have a
little problem which relates to this attack. Why did we get so many creatures
attacking when other times they were just little attacks?’ He was giving them a
hard look for he wanted to see what they thought of the situation.

Angel looked at the others before
answering. ‘At a guess I would say they brought more wizards with them this
time probably double for it would take a lot to keep it open for the time and
amount of  creatures to attack.’

‘Yes that’s what I thought so
what do we do to stop this latest attack?’ He had a look of tiredness in his
eyes for it would be harder on him as he has got to make it safe for the
students.

‘The only thing you can do is get
the Dragon Riders to make patrols up into the mountains on a regular basis.
That would be the only way and that might not work for there are a lot of
valleys up there in the mountains.’ Angel stood and looked into Gavrie’s face
as he explained his idea.

‘That’s my thoughts as well so I
will be going to speak with the council when this attack is over. I don’t think
it is over yet; there will be more of this one. That is why I have got the
wizards who have rested to come out and relive the groups that are out here
guarding and keeping an eye on the sky above.’ He did not have a very happy
face with Angel’s thoughts on the matter.

‘Do you think they will send the
patrols over the mountains, as it would be good to know they patrol above?’
Medwin speaking with a hint of hope in his voice. He knew it would be very slim
for the Dragon Riders to fly above the school there might be a few.

‘What do you want us to do now Headmaster?’
Angel asked knowing what the answer would be.

‘You lot can go back inside and
up to your rooms and get some sleep for you are just managing to keep your eyes
open.’ He turned back to what he was doing as they turned to go.

‘Headmaster we could not do that
as it means leaving all the others out there while we sleep. It just would not
be fair they worked just as hard as we did.’ Angel had turned to speak as the
others halted outside the door.

‘You are the students and are
better off resting and keeping your magic nicely honed, for when the next group
come over the top.’ Gavrie looked at them and knew they would need convincing.

‘We still don’t think it good
enough to go and rest while they stay outside to protect us.’ He looked at
Gavrie who had turned away from them; waiting for an answer that was not going
to come.

They headed off into school and
went to their rooms where they lay and waited for the next attack. Angel knew
there would be one and so did not say anything at the moment as the others were
very tired. They would be told when they next attacked, so it was not long and
they where a sleep.

They were awoken by a loud
banging on the door, which Shylyn went over to see who it was. Standing out
side was Gavrie and he did not look happy. ‘I summoned a council meeting but
none would come for they knew what it was going to be like and what I was going
to say.’

‘What can we do apart from just
wait here to see when the next attack is and how many will be in on it.’ Shylyn
was starting to get a little scared when Gavrie did not have a solution.

Gavrie looked and could see he
was scaring Shylyn. ‘It’s ok I just needed to rant a little as this is getting
frustrating. I can see the others are sleeping so I won’t disturb them now.
Shylyn don’t worry, can you tell the others what I said, as at the moment you
four have ideas that no one else is prepared to suggest. I like the new ideas
your little group brings around here.’

‘Angels group for with out him
this would not be a group, it is his thinking that is bringing out the ideas in
us all. You might say he is our centre, the brain and we are what protect that
brain. We enjoy what we have become together and look forward to what lies
ahead. I’ll tell Angel you were here and what you have told me. Thanks Headmaster.’
Shylyn had relaxed a bit now she had explained what their group was, she felt
it was right.

‘Rest now and I’ll send someone
to wake you when the next attack comes.’ He turned and left closing the door
behind him as he went.

*

As he walked down the hall he
thought on what Shylyn had said. She has noticed what Angel is becoming to
them. She is right as now I can see it in the group; Angel is the centre with
the others around him. But not as a hanger on’, but guardians for him, I can
see it in the way they look out for him. There is always one on each side of
him.

I don’t think they see they do it
but I think it has become their way around Angel. They notice he is different
and what he does keeps them safe so they guard him unknowingly. Now back to the
problems of the moment, the next attack will come soon and I think it will be
before night.

Gavrie went to his room and lay
down to get a little rest before the next storm that will come. Laying there
his thoughts turned to why he went up to their rooms and told Shylyn about the
council not meeting. He would normally never do anything like that as they are
too young to have that type of worry put on their shoulders.

There was just something in them
and he felt they needed to know what was happening. As if they could do
anything about what was happening was beyond their capability of fixing or
finding an answer. But it felt like the right thing to do telling them, well
I’ll just have to wait and see what happens.

*

It was mid afternoon when the
word comes of the next attack. Gavrie was woken and he ran downstairs to the
Dragon Deck and out to the middle where looking up he could make out the
creatures coming over the top and heading down.

As he looked around other wizards
come running out of the school and getting into groups and spreading out over
the deck. They would be down here very soon and there appeared to be hundreds
again as they come down.

The groups of wizards waited till
they could be sure of getting as many as they can. Angels group come running out
of the school and Gavrie indicated the cave for them. They headed over and as
they ran they had their heads in the air looking at the hundreds of creatures
descending down to them.

They formed their little group
into a line that faced out of the cave, joining other first year students doing
the same. They were to stop the creatures trying to enter the cave and those
who worked at the weapons in the back of it. At their feet they had lances
ready when their magic was getting to weak.

The first of the creatures were
now being fired upon and soon the rest of the mass would be here. So far only
two groups had opened fire with their spell fire balls and lighting bolts,
(these not as effective as the balls.) The others waited and conserved their
energy for the creatures that came at them.

‘This is going to be a long day
and I hope they don’t attack during the night. We might need our dragons help
so I think we had better let them know what’s happening?’ Angel did not try to
hide how he felt as the others would be able to tell.

Aura came into his mind just as
he finished talking to his friends. ‘We can see the creatures coming over the
top of the mountain; they are not even trying to come to this end of the Dragon
Decks. We are high and out at sea so they are unable to see us, so we can let
you know when they have finished coming up out of the valleys on the other side
of the mountain.’

‘Just be careful we don’t want
you getting hurt, but thanks for letting us know.’ There was worry there in his
voice, for if the creatures seen them they would probably attack them.

The creatures were now in full
attack as they waited in their line to stop any that got past the groups of
wizards. The creatures did not worry about damaging the school as all they were
interested in was the wizards. The creatures wanted food the blood that flows
through the wizards.