War of Dragons (61 page)

Not like that you won't!
Perak called as he descended.
Colonel, your attack was utterly pointless. There is only one spot where you can hurt it and none of you are aiming for it.

Perak,
Kessick replied coldly, having landed where his lance was embedded in the earth.
So nice of you to join us. I hope you're enjoying the show. Please excuse me, I have a monster to kill.

Colonel, have you forgotten who you are addressing?
Perak asked coldly, circling above him.
General Perak. I outrank you. Do as you're ordered. Your attack was pointless and did nothing other than throw away more troops, which is all you appear to be good at. Fortunately they were your troops, so were probably worthless, but you will not repeat that error, or I will have you executed. Immediately! Is that understood?

Kessick visibly simmered—something difficult for such an expressionless reptilian face.
Yes, General. Understood. How would you like to attack it?
he asked witheringly.
From the safety of the clouds?

No, and not from the relative safety of a hundred metres away either as you did. Throwing these lances is pointless. It will have to be driven in with our full weight behind it. In the right place, not just anywhere.

Please, you don't really believe those old books, do you? Striking behind the ears? The throat is the most vulnerable part, just as with any other dragon.

Really, then why were your idiotic troops aiming at the sides of its body? But fine, you may attack the throat if you wish. That would require attacking from underneath, of course. I doubt you're really capable of that, are you?

Kessick couldn't resist this challenge.
I think you'll find I'm more than capable. Go back to your clouds and watch.

I'll be a little nearer, I think you'll find,
Perak replied.
Go, make your attack. On your own though—you don't need to throw any more troops away. If you want to end your life, do it on your own.

The True Dragon was still wreaking havoc and was now flying back towards them. Kessick took off and sped towards it, adjusting his grip on the lance to prepare for his attack. Perak ascended, but stayed above Kessick, keeping pace with him.

Follow my lead, Colonel Eric,
Perak instructed his protégé.
If I'm not successful, perhaps you will be.

Kessick was higher than the approaching True Dragon, and flew faster and faster, picking up speed. As he neared he dropped, gaining even more speed. If the True Dragon had seen him it wasn't paying attention, intent on catching a group of a few hundred Blue Dragons that were desperately trying to escape. Discipline had completely broken down, with troops scattering in its path, which did have the effect of reducing the rate at which it killed its victims. But it was so focused on venting its fury on those it pursued that it ignored the lone dragon hurtling towards it. It turned to the right, snapping at a large group, catching several in its jaws and crushing the life out of them. Kessick approached rapidly from below and on the right, and at the last moment he ascended, spinning in the air gracefully to position himself for the strike. His lance struck home, catching the True Dragon in the centre of the throat and embedding itself in the hard scales. Perak, who was approaching from above saw the look on Kessick's face, who realised that he had made a terrible error. His lance had struck deep in the monster's neck, but no blood came from the wound as the scales were just too thick. The beast felt the blow and reacted immediately, dropping its head to snap at Kessick. Kessick had almost come to a standstill in the air, having lost all momentum and consequently the ability to dodge an attack, and the beast caught his right back leg in its teeth and began to vigorously shake its mighty head. This was the moment Perak was waiting for and as the monster looked downwards the soft scales behind its ears were exposed. Perak had already begun his dive before Kessick had landed his own blow, and Perak struck as the monster ripped Kessick's leg from his body. As with Kessick, Perak held on firmly to the lance, using his momentum to drive the heavy black weapon deep into the monster, but this time the result was quite different. Immediately the True Dragon roared in pain, snapping its head upwards to try and locate the source of its tormentor. Unlike Kessick, Perak was dropping as he made his attack and picked up speed quickly, flying past unscathed before screaming in triumph, knowing he had struck a fatal blow. The monster filled the air behind him with flames, trying to strike back, but it had already lost and was beginning to fall. It hit the ground hard, still alive, but with a steady stream of blood flowing from its head. Perak had triumphed!

Fantastic strike sir!
Eric shouted.
You've done it!

Of course,
Perak boasted, listening to the cheers from the Blue Dragons. He wondered if they knew who it was who had saved them. He didn't wonder for long. Thousands and thousands of Blue Dragons began chanting his name.

Perak! Perak! Perak! Perak!

Come, Eric,
Perak said, beginning to ascend again.
The monster has dented our numbers, but we will still crush the Reds. On to the battle!

***

Jude!
Mark called, seeing him rising up from the group of commanders.
Have you brought any news?

The Blues hadn't taken off yet, at least not when I last saw them, which was some time ago. I've been stuck talking with the commanders. They fly so slowly.

Do you have any spies near their army?
Mark asked.
Do we know how many there are?

No, none unfortunately and we only have a guess at the numbers based on what we saw from a distance yesterday. They've been very effective at keeping us away. They're not going to tolerate any spies near their army so close to this battle.

Quite understandable,
Mark replied.
I'm guessing these Reds will be doing the same to any Blues they spot. How are the commanders?

Over-confident,
Jude replied.
Noah is being a little too downbeat, if you ask me, but it's not affecting their mood. A little more caution wouldn't be inappropriate.

Agreed,
Mark replied.
But there's nothing we can do about that. What are you going to do now?

Fly east,
Jude replied.
We can't rule out the possibility of a second army approaching and if they did, they'd almost certainly approach from the east. In fact, it's the most likely thing for the Blues to do, as we think that the numbers are in the Reds' favour at the moment. Most of my spies are spread out over the East and the South, just in case reinforcements appear. If that happens, then we need to get these Reds to turn around quickly.

That won't be happening,
Mark replied.
You didn't see them take off. It took for ever.

Then they'll die if reinforcements arrive,
Jude replied.
See you later, Mark. Farewell.

You too,
Mark called after him as Jude quickened his pace and flew towards the east. Mark looked down at the slow-moving army beneath him. Now they were all in the air it was a truly spectacular sight with the dragons flying in rows several hundred across and stacked twenty high. The commanders were towards the back, flying above the army—a tiny group compared to the army they commanded. Hopefully small enough for the Blues to ignore if they have to escape, Mark thought to himself, spotting the five children flying behind the commanders. He wondered what John would think of this if he could see it...

***

That looks really bad,
John said.
Do you think it can survive that?

Wami and John circled high above the Blue Dragons, who had ignored them while they engaged the True Dragon. John had transformed into a Blue Dragon to lose the creature and then back to Golden once he was clear of the army. The True Dragon was still flapping its wings on the ground, trying to fly, but they could clearly see a stream of blood trickling from the wound behind its ear and it appeared to have lost its coordination. Its roars were even louder than before, the deafening sounds conveying a mixture of pain and anger.

No, I don't think so,
Wami replied eventually.
That was an amazing strike—something I didn't really think was possible. It's a good thing they can't all fly like the one who attacked it or we wouldn't stand a chance. Look, the Blue Dragons are starting to regroup and get ready to leave; they clearly don't see it as a threat any more. I can't believe it, but I think that Blue Dragon may have actually killed it. Much as I hate them, I have to admire that attack.

John's heart sank.
Well, that's it, isn't it? This army is going to be on the move any minute now. They've lost loads of dragons but there's still too many and there's nothing to stop them now. We've wasted precious time that we should have spent going to warn the Red Dragons. Instead, they'll be flying here to meet their deaths.

Oh, no, it's not over yet,
Wami replied confidently.
No, the others will hear those cries. They'll be coming to help it any minute now.

Others?
John asked in surprise.
Other True Dragons? I thought there was just one of them. That's why we call it The True Dragon, rather than
a
True Dragon.

No, that's just a title. There's three of those in the Circle of Death. Didn't you know that?

No! Of course not!
John couldn't believe Wami had failed to tell him this.
I asked you to tell me everything, and I'd have thought that's something you'd have mentioned.

I didn't realise how little you Golden Dragons know about the True Dragons. Anyway, I'm telling you now. That sound will carry for a long way and they have great hearing you know. I expect we'll see them coming soon.

Wami! Suppose we had met one while that one was chasing us—we'd have had no chance!

I suppose that's true,
Wami replied absent-mindedly.
I did tell you that it was a crazy plan.

Well, either way, we need to get out of here. The Blues will be flying up here to attack us any minute now and then they'll be moving on. We need to get to the Red Dragon Army and warn them. If we can turn them around it might give them the head start they need.

Hmmm,
Wami replied.
Although I'm guessing that they'll probably need to worry about the True Dragons more than the Blues now. They'll probably attack every dragon they find for hundreds of miles around now.

Great, thanks, Wami. The plan was for the True Dragon to attack the Blues, not the Reds. Look, the Blue Dragons are flying this way. I think they've seen us.

Yes, I can see that, thank you. Hard to miss, really; hundreds of thousands of dragons flying towards you
.
Still, we're far too high for them to get to that quickly. What's the plan?

We have to split up,
John replied.
We don't know exactly where the Red Dragons are and we need to warn them. They're either going to meet two True Dragons or the Blue Army. You head that way and I'll head this way. Fly as fast as you can as we'll probably have the Blues chasing after us for the whole way.

Least of our worries,
Wami replied.
If a True Dragon doesn't get us, then you never know with the Red Dragons; they might turn on us anyway.

They won't,
John replied.
They know we're allies. Just go!

***

Why are they wasting time with those two dragons?
Perak asked irritably, watching troops chase after John and Wami.
They should be moving on.

There's only a few of our dragons going after them,
Pan commented.
But, Perak, that was amazing what you did! I thought you were going to instruct Kessick to kill the beast. I had no idea you were planning on attacking it yourself!

Kessick did attack it,
Perak said cheerfully.
The last thing that idiot will ever do. He actually died doing something very useful. I probably couldn't have landed that blow without him distracting it first.

I guess he will be remembered as a hero after all then,
Pan agreed.
Do you think he will get the statue he craved?

Not if I have anything to do with it. Only one dragon shall have a statue to commemorate that incredible achievement and that shall be me. I might not be permitted to join in the attack on the Red Dragons, but I shall still be remembered as the one who saved the army.

That you will, sir,
Pan said in awe.
Simply incredible. That thing is still screaming. It is dying, isn't it?

Without a question,
Perak replied confidently.
Can you not see the blood pouring from its head? It'll bleed to death eventually, although how long that will take is anyone's guess. It can't fly any more though, so it doesn't pose a threat to any of us.

I hate having to hear it,
Pan said.
Shame no one can't just put it out of its misery.

Don't be so sentimental,
Perak scolded.
It's just a dumb beast. It'll die soon enough. Besides, we won't hear it for long—we're on the move at last. Come, let's go and watch the Reds meet their doom....

***

Have your spies reported back to you again?
Prince Henry asked Noah as he drew close to him and the other Lords. The Red Dragon Army was in the air and heading to the south-east.

Not yet, your Majesty,
Noah replied.
Which is probably a good thing, since they're looking for any signs of reinforcements. It looks like the only Blue Dragons we'll be meeting are the ones in that camp.