Omensent: Princess Of Dragons (Book 5) (47 page)

Damion shook his head. "Not yet. They must be pushing their horses pretty hard to reach Celestia. The poor beasts won't be able to hold up much longer."

"Neither will ours, I'm afraid." Shirk murmured, patting his sweaty horse on the neck. "They won't make it much further without rest."

"There is a storm brewing out at sea that'll hit the island in the next couple of hours." Damion informed them with a tired sigh. "We're going to have to find somewhere to ride it out. Snowfeather says that it looks like it may be pretty fierce."

"Storm or no storm, we need to press on." Brody told them in an unyielding tone. "We can't allow Yrinn and his blood elves to escape."

"There's no way that the horses can continue without a bit of rest." Raven told him in a tired voice. "They're exhausted, and so are we."

"They'll make it a little further." Brody disagreed with a scowl. "We can't stop now. We need to press on."

"We'll never catch them if we kill the horses." Shirk told him wearily. "It would be best if we stopped for the night so they can rest, and then continue again first thing in the morning."

Brody shook his head stubbornly. "We cannot risk letting them reach the queen. Only the gods know what they may have planned for her and Petra's followers."

Everyone turned to look at Damion.

"I think it would be best if we found a suitable place to set up camp for the night." The huge warrior decided immediately. "The horses don't have that much more left in them, and neither do we.
And
there is a storm about to hit the island. Yrinn and his blood elves won't be able to go any further once it makes landfall. Let's stop for the night and have a good meal, then, after a good night's rest, we can return to the chase." He looked to Brody, who sighed in exasperation. "I know that you are worried for your queen, but we must use our heads. We would be no help to her if we rode our horses to death before we were able to catch up to Yrinn."

Brody sighed again, then nodded in agreement. "You're right, of course. It would be wiser to stop for the evening, especially if there is a storm about to hit the island. I guess I'm just concerned for my queen's safety." His expression grew thoughtful. "If my memory serves me correctly, there is a farmhouse a mile or so up the road that was abandoned after a fire. The farmhouse was completely destroyed, but the barn and other outhouses should still be intact. We can stop there for the night."

"Let's do that, then." Damion nodded in approval.

They pressed on for another mile or so before they located the overgrown track that led towards the ruined farm. It was immediately obvious that what little remained of the farmhouse was completely unusable, but one of the large barns nearby still stood mostly intact.

"This should be suitable enough for the night." Damion said approvingly, leading Storm towards a number of horse stalls that had been built along one of the walls. "It should at least keep us dry during the storm."

"We should gather as much firewood as we can before the storm hits." Shirk grumbled as thunder began to boom in the distance. "We can build a fire near the entrance to help ward off the dampness, not to mention to cook on, and keep us warm."

Brody and Shirk disappeared in search of firewood, while Damion and Raven looked to the horses. Once the horses were fed and watered, and they had an large enough supply of wood to last the night, Raven set about making a stew from their supplies, while the others cleaned away the excess rubbish, and laid out their bedrolls.

"I'm going to try and find something to eat before this storm hits."
Snowfeather hooted, launching himself from his perch and sailing out into the darkness outside.
"I'll keep an eye out for your quarry while I'm hunting."

"Make sure that you're back before the storm strikes."
Damion warned the huge owl.
"I don't want an errant gust of wind to blow you all of the way back to Sevria."

"Don't worry about me. I'll be back soon enough."

"Where's the feather duster going?" Shirk asked curiously.

"He wanted to find something to eat before the storm hits." Damion told him with a chuckle. "He'll be back before long."

A rumble of thunder echoed across the island again, sounding much closer than before.

"He'd better hurry." The bearded bandit murmured, glancing out the open barn door towards the dark sky above. "That storm sounds like it's bearing down on us fairly quickly."

They settled down on their bedrolls, and quickly began to devour the stew that Raven had prepared while they waited for Snowfeather to return.

Damion had just finished the last bite of his stew when he noticed movement in the shadows near the rear of the barn. He quickly rolled to his feet and drew the Dragon Sword from its sheath, his eyes locked on the shadows.

"What is it?" Raven asked in concern, notching an arrow to her bow, and staring into the darkness with a confused expression.

Damion ignored her, and continued to stare into the shadows at the rear of the barn, his body tensed and ready to react at the slightest sign of attack. "You may as well show yourself." He growled finally. "I know you're there, and I'm not going to allow you to hurt anyone."

"I did not come to you to bring you harm, Dragon Lord," A soft voice hissed from the shadows. "I merely wished to bring you an offer."

"An offer?" Damion asked suspiciously. "What kind of an offer? Who are you?" He lifted the Dragon Sword as though he were preparing to strike at the shadows. "Show yourself!"

"Of course, Dragon Lord."

A dark shape shifted in the shadows momentarily, then an impossibly frail looking elf with long matted black hair, and deeply sunken eyes, calmly stepped into the light of the fire. His pale skin was an unwholesome shade of white, and stretched so tight across his bones that he appeared to be little more than a skeleton. He wore a long black shabby robe which was encrusted with filth, and left his skeletal looking legs bare to the elements.

"Hetris!" Brody hissed in a voice filled with both fury and dread.

"Good evening, Etha Brody," Hetris hissed with a sneer. "I must say that I was extremely disappointed with you when killed Adrin. He was a loyal follower, and a valuable asset. I had hoped that his conversion may have helped you to see the light. Instead, you killed him." He glared at the elven ambassador angrily for a moment, then shrugged dismissively. "But there is still time. Choose a victim, and speak the words of offering to me, and I shall forgive you for your transgressions."

"I will never bow to you, foul one!" The elven ambassador growled defiantly, spitting at the ground beneath the dark god's feet.

"Ah well," The emaciated elf snorted in amusement. "One can still hope. Besides, it is not you who I am interested in." He turned His pale eyes back towards Damion, who still held the Dragon Sword at the ready. "I am actually here to offer the Dragon Lord a truce."

"A truce?" Damion asked, his expression distrustful.

"Yes, a truce." Hetris murmured in a voice that was scarcely more than a whisper. "I would like for us to join forces."

"You must be daft if you think that I would join forces with you." Damion snarled in a scathing tone. "Your children have been trying to kill me and my friends for weeks now. Do you actually think that I would trust you?"

"Things are not always what they may appear." The withered looking elf told him gravely. "Just because you were attacked by elves, it does not mean that they were
my
children."

"Are you saying that the elves that have been attacking us are Petra's followers?" Shirk asked in disbelief.

"Not all of them." The emaciated elf admitted with a helpless shrug. "I will confess to sending some of my children after you. You
have
been hunting them like animals, after all."

Damion stared at the god for several moments, his eyes lost in thought. "The elves who attacked us on the ship, were they yours?"

The elven god shook His head. "They were not."

The huge warrior frowned. "How about the assassin who tried to fill me full of arrows when I first reached Celestia?"

"Again, not one of my children."

"And what about the elves who attacked us on the road to Oakenvale?" Brody demanded angrily.

"And those crazed elven children?" Raven added with a disgusted expression. "Are you saying that they weren't blood elves, as well?"

"Those were my children," Hetris nodded, a tight smile on his face. "and they were acting on my orders." He looked to Damion. "I could not afford to have you slaughtering anymore of my children. I'm sure you can see where I had little choice in the matter."

"And the elves who butchered that old elf in front of Petra's statue?" Damion asked in a grim tone. "Were they your children?"

"They were." The elven god nodded again. "Petra's faithful have been hunting my children, and slaughtering them like dogs. We were simply repaying the debt."

"By slaughtering a helpless old elf?" Brody asked in disbelief. "Is that how your children repay their debts?"

Hetris's eyes flashed red for a brief instant. "Is Petra's faithful any better?" He demanded in an angry tone. "They hunt down my children, slaughter them like livestock, and destroy my temples! They scheme, and plot, and spread lies in the hopes of drawing the sympathy of others, all in the hopes of preying upon them!" He sneered at the elven ambassador. "I may be the God of Strife and Deception, but Petra's faithful are the true masters of deceit!"

"You lie!" Brody spat in fury. "Petra's children are the most honorable of elves!"

"Really? Then why have they been trying to kill the Dragon Lord?" Hetris stared at Brody, whose expression suddenly grew troubled. "Yes, Brody," The elven god murmured in a vindictive tone. "You have been betrayed. They have used you to bring the Dragon Lord here, but not for the reasons they told you."

"I don't believe you." Brody told him, though his expression was troubled.

"It is true nonetheless." Hetris whispered in a seductive tone. "You have been nothing more than a pawn in Petra's elaborate games, and you have played your part well. Your goddess must be pleased."

Brody opened his mouth to reply, but closed it again, his expression troubled.

"You're wasting your time." Damion told elven god grimly. "Your lies will not work on me. There is very little that you can say or do that would convince me to join with you and your blood elves."

"Do not be so quick to judge me, Dragon Lord." Hetris grumbled, an amused note in his voice. "I speak only the truth." He grinned knowingly. "I know that you have been listening to Petra's faithful, but you should know that you were brought here for reasons that have absolutely nothing to do with the struggle between Petra and myself."

"Oh? And what reasons are those?"

"Why, the Dragon Sword, of course." Hetris's eyes locked onto the fabled sword, and His expression became one of desire. "Everyone, men, elves, dwarves, and gods alike, all dream of possessing the legendary blade which controls the scarlet dragons. It contains all of their combined power gathered from over the centuries." He took a step closer towards Damion, His hands reaching out longingly for the sword. "It is the most powerful object in the universe. It has the power to raise any god above all of the others, and to bring the entire world beneath that god's rule."

"And you desire the sword for yourself." Damion stated with a nod. "You hope to try and entice me into relinquishing it so you may take the power as your own."

"Of course." Hetris nodded eagerly, taking another step forward, His eyes still locked on the Dragon Sword.

"Honesty from the God of Deception and Strife?" Damion asked in surprise. "That's not like you, Hetris."

"On the contrary, Dragon Lord," The emaciated elf smiled again, revealing a mouthful a yellow teeth. "The truth is often the greatest deception of all. One day you'll realize that."

"So you have come here with the hopes of convincing me to relinquish the Dragon Sword to you." Damion murmured, his expression hard.

"And in exchange for the sword, I would give you more wealth than you could ever dream of!" Hetris assured him quickly. "I will shower you with new powers! You would be the most powerful sorcerer alive!"

"Damion is already the most powerful sorcerer alive!" Raven told Him, hurrying forward to stand next to her husband. "I doubt there is any power which you could grant him that he cannot already do himself!"

"I would reward your lovely wife, and your friends, as well." The dark god persisted, clearly hoping to win them all over. "And I would make you king of the world, Dragon Lord. You would live forever as my champion!"

"You're not the first god to make me such an offer," The huge warrior informed Him, tightening his grip upon the Dragon Sword, and raising it a bit higher, causing Hetris to flinch backwards fearfully. "and I'll tell you what I have told them all." He fixed the emaciated elf with a stern glare. "You will
never
claim the Dragon Sword as your own. There is nothing that you could offer me that I would accept in exchange for the lives of the scarlet dragons, whom I have sworn to protect."

"Not even salvation from the Dragon God?" Hetris asked in a knowing tone. "Bow down to me, Dragon Lord, and I will cast the Dragon God from this world! You will never have to worry about Draco interfering in your life again!"

"I can deal with Draco, and the other gods, myself." Damion told Him in an unyielding tone. "You can take your offer and return to whatever hole that you oozed out of. I'm not interested."

"But I could grant you immortality!" The emaciated elf protested in confused disbelief. "You
and
your friends! You could all live forever!"

"I don't want to live forever." Damion told the dark god, who stared at the huge warrior in incomprehension. "I just want to live a normal life, without the interference of meddlesome gods."

"You may regret that decision in time." Hetris warned him, His voice dropping to a whisper once more. "I have seen what is to come, Dragon Lord. Eventually, you will fall, and the gods
will
take the sword for themselves. You cannot stop it from happening. It is your destiny to fall." His gaze shifted back to the Dragon Sword. "But
which
god will take it up is still in question."