Dragon Alliance Dark Storm : Dark Storm (16 page)

Amerenth then raised his head and called in the loudest voice he could muster to quiet the crowds, as General Becknor and Canjon walked up on the raised portion of the platform. “Ladies, Gentlemen, and all friends of the Alliance, we would now like to recognize the outstanding athletes of the competitions today. Champions of the spear, please step forward,” Canjon announced as Gimbelon and the other two place winners stepped up onto the raised platform where they stood under the lighted triumph arch beside the brass dragon and dignitaries.

General Becknor spoke next. “Gentleman, please take your places,” he said as they moved to their respective places on the platform under the lighted image of their legion or weir’s standard projected by Canjon’s sword’s dragonstone. The standards glowed brightly, the three-leaf plant over reeds on a white shield of the Lancastra Weir, the red keystone shield with a gold dragon embossment of Draden Weir, and the two white crossed spears over a blue shield of the 10
th
Legion, all in the order of the performance. Canjon handed the bronze triangle pendant to General Becknor for the third-place winner, who then draped it over the 10
th
Legion soldier’s head. Gimbelon received his silver triangle with the all-seeing eye carved onto the medal’s face. The tall, slender soldier smiled, almost giddy with the excitement of his accomplishment, and gleefully accepted his medallion. The Draden Weir crew shouted for their young comrade. The gold-plated triangle medallion was then placed over the Lancastra Weir legionnaire as Canjon pronounced his name to the crowd, after which, applause erupted for all three.

After the spectators’ cheers and the dragons’ roars died down, Amerenth, the dragonriders, and the generals directed the awardees to move off the platform and started to announce the winners of the non-dragonstone sword competition. The three soldiers exchanged positions with the spear competitors and assumed their places. The projected banners changed to the images of Draden Weir’s standard first, then the white shield with three red stripes of the 3
rd
Legion next, and the green shield and vertical red sword of the 1
st
Legion after that. Canjon announced the names of the place winners, as General Daddonan and General Frankrest presented the medals. When they placed the gold triangle over Swierchaej’s head, Lawrent began to shout, along with Ordin, and they were soon echoed by all on the Draden Weir alcove, including Gallanth and the other competitors from the weir.
This
was
a
major
upset,
and
Swierchaej
will
be
rewarded
, Mkel thought to himself.

The final awardees of the jousting competition were then called up to the arch. Mkel looked through Markthrea’s sight to see Robouch’s expression. It was one of both pride and consternation; he knew he really wanted to prove himself. He would have to talk to him later and have Lenor or Toderan follow up. He had performed admirably for his first attempt at the games and in a heavily contested event as well. The Draden Weir standard switched to third place, the yellow shield with a black horse over a lance of the cavalry legion was in second, and then the gold shield with its green oak leaf and cross arrows, the standard of Eladran Weir, appeared in the first place position. Robouch was given his bronze triangle medal followed by the knights of the legion and Eladran Weir. With the closeness of the joust and the popularity of this event, after the gold triangle was awarded, the whole arena erupted in applause. Talonth gave the loudest roar of all to express his pride in the knight of his weir.

This ended the first day of the games; the celebrations began shortly afterward. Mkel and his crew retired from the alcove to the interior of the weir to await their competitors. There would be a gathering later back on the landing, since the evening was very pleasant. Mkel, Gallanth, Jodem, and Toderan would be talking to their soldiers who were to compete the next day in the non-dragonstone archery, land dragon, aerial joust, and hand-to-hand competitions. The weir did not enter a contestant in the horse race, leaving that to the legions and some of the other weirs.

After a short time, Toderan had gathered all the weir’s soldiers who would be competing the next day, as well as Robouch, Swierchaej, and Gimbelon. All were ushered back up the long staircase to Gallanth’s alcove and were assembled around the gold dragon as the weir’s kitchen personnel and halflings were getting the evening meal ready. He had to give Colonel Therosvet credit, the dinner spread he had arranged for all the weirs’ dragons, riders, and staff was of high quality. All of the assigned workers, hired help, and halflings were also very professional, but with the size of the Capital Weir, they also had to be well organized.

“Gimbelon, Robouch, Swierchaej, come over here!” Mkel called over to the three as they walked up to the alcove from the level below that had the lift from the weir landing floor. “Congratulations to you all. The leadership and especially Gallanth wanted to tell you how very proud we are of your efforts and accomplishments,” Mkel continued as he complimented the trio.

“Yes, Gentlemen, you should all be very proud of yourselves, as the weir is proud of you. You all distinguished yourselves today in friendly competition and improved your skills for battle. Most important, though, you all did your best and were true to yourselves,” the gold dragon praised the three. They all stood in awe at his words and their delivery.

“I owe you all a drink in a couple of minutes, but now, to our competitors for tomorrow. Poteignr, Crystinj, Terrenj, Lieutenant Wheelor and your crews, and of course our favorite paladin, Senior Sergeant Toderan, please gather around Gallanth. We all enjoyed seeing our friends compete and do well today. All their efforts and training paid great dividends, as I know they will for those of you competing tomorrow. I want to give you my best wishes for success, and I know Gallanth will give you the luck blessing. Poteignr, Crystinj, I will talk to you afterward. Lieutenant Wheelor and crews, I have faith in your abilities, especially you Amman—just shoot straight,” he said with a smile. “Sergeant Bleilou, Sergeant Mateolex, keeps them coordinated, and Raybraun, Prescan, Haak, Torcelst, trust each other and trust Strongst and Shantor. They are among the best land dragons in the Alliance.”

“Yes, my friends, trust in your mounts, and may the luck of the dragons be with you,” Gallanth said over all gathered as his eyes flashed, which caused everyone close to him to be bathed in a faint golden light. The soldiers were stunned for a split second and then looked at each other as if they had been given an instant awakening.

“Now, please, all of you, eat, for I am very hungry and cannot feast until you have eaten,” Jodem interjected and ushered all of them to the tables, which were now filled with an assortment of foods and various types of drink. The conversation picked up as the weir crew started to move to the tables and began to eat.

“Terrenj, stay fast like I know you can and try not to get hit a lot,” Mkel said to his soldier as he walked toward the food tables.

The tall, blond-haired soldier smiled at him through his scarred face from his many encounters in combat and training.

“Poteignr, Crystinj, please come over here.” Jodem motioned the two archery competitors over to Gallanth. Mkel walked over to join them. He knew he wanted to give them a couple of last-minute tips to rest on before they competed in the archery event the following day. “I want you two to know that even though you are young competitors, I know your skill. You will do well, but remember when you are on the firing line, be all there. What matters back here or in Draden or even in the Fire Mountains cannot have an effect on your shot. Remember your breathing; fire only on the pause after you exhale; have a firm grip on your crossbow stock with an even, decisive, and smooth trigger pull. Your follow-through should be so smooth that an observer would think that an arrow had never been fired. Focus on the sight and secondarily on the target. It’s all about consistency,” the master shooter and wizard instructed his young students.

“Yes, and above all, just have fun. The only shooter you have to satisfy on that line is yourself, not Jodem, not me, not Gallanth. Just shoot and aim for the true focus and purity of being at one with your crossbow and the whole shooting sequence. I have faith in you,” Mkel encouraged them with a smile.

“As do I,” Gallanth added. “Now, go get something to eat, and we will have a surprise for you both in a couple of days that I know you’ll like,” Mkel added as he nudged them to go to the dinner tables. They both smiled and walked away.

Crystinj was an eager and inquisitive young female soldier in the weir’s support corps company, with a flair for gathering information and analyzing it as well. She was a tall, lanky girl with slightly wavy brown hair and greenish eyes that held promise. Mkel had been impressed by her since she approached him a year ago and asked him to teach her how to shoot. She had proven to be an able student and quickly became one of the top archers in the support corps company and one of the best in the weir.

Poteignr was also tall and lanky. He was of a truly humble nature, being Watterseth’s nephew and a cleric’s son at that. His purity would have made him a natural candidate for paladin, but he simply enjoyed teaching the weir’s children too much to engage in that rigorous training and lifestyle. His unassuming character gave him a natural lead into being a talented shooter, though Mkel was not sure that he could pull the trigger of his crossbow on an enemy. He did know that the time when he would find out would likely be coming soon however.

“Weir Sergeant!” Mkel called over to Toderan, who was still drinking with Lawrent.

“Yes, Captain?” he answered as he walked over to Mkel and Gallanth.

“Are you ready for tomorrow?” Mkel asked.

“As ready as I need to be, sir. Alvanch could do the joust run by herself; all I have to do is just point my lance in the right place,” he replied.

“Don’t get too overconfident, my friend. I know you’re good, but your competition has a vote, and I don’t want you hurt with what may be coming our way soon. I will need all my council fit; we owe that to the garrison and our soldiers,” Mkel stated.

“I know, sir; I will be fine tomorrow,” Toderan said with a rare smile accented by his brown mustache.

“I know, my friend. I just don’t want to face a fight of that magnitude without you at my and the company’s side,” Mkel said as he put his hand on his taller friend’s shoulder.

“Have faith, Dragonrider,” he said and with that, Toderan turned and went back to Lawrent to finish his tankard and to get something to eat.

“He will be fine, Mkel, and Gallanth needs to eat, as do you. We will review your training notes for our competition in two days; we have to sweep the matches just to show our Capital Weir friends what Draden is truly made of,” Jodem said with a smile.

“Yes, my rider, I will go get another of those large grouper fish halves. I indulge myself with this treat when I can,” Gallanth said to his rider.

“All right, my friend, but don’t stuff yourself, for we have to be fit to fly soon, and a belly full of fish could throw your aim off,” Mkel replied.

“Not a chance, I would not give Valianth, my brother, or Talonth an edge,” Gallanth said as he carefully stood up and moved to the interior of the weir. He went down to the feeding area set aside for the dragons to get his seasoned grouper.

“So what do you think?” Mkel asked Jodem.

“I think that they will do their best, and a couple of them actually have a chance to place. All we can do is remind them of the training we and the elves gave them and simply be there for them,” Jodem stated.

“I wish them all luck, but I hope this level of competition brings out their best, for that is what we will need if we face the fire giant army in the east,” Mkel answered.

“We will be all right, and the weir will not fail. You’ll see,” Jodem tried to keep Mkel at ease.

“I know; I have faith in our soldiers and of course Ordin’s dwarves and Dekeen’s elves. As their commander, I don’t want to lose any of them for something we can prevent,” Mkel said with a feeling of anxiety.

“You can only do what you can when you can. You give them every opportunity to hone their skills, and with the power of the weir council and what you and Gallanth bring to bear, it is the enemy who should fear losing all,” Jodem said as he put his hand on Mkel’s shoulder.

“Yes, but they don’t care who they lose,” Mkel answered.

“Then we can grant them that. This is all in the future. We plan for it, but right now, we are here, at the games. Come; let us enjoy the victories and efforts of our friends and soldiers. I am hungry to try these Capital Weir dishes and the cold ale,” the portly wizard said with a smile and ushered Mkel over toward the gathered Draden soldiers.

The next morning, at the first full light, the aerial mounts were gathering on the far side of the parade field next to the weir mountain. Toderan, as usual, had woken up far earlier than Mkel and was one of the first ones down at the parade field to check Alvanch’s saddle and flying straps. They would be tested this morning in the aerial jousting, especially against the Sky Legion’s best knights. Toderan was deep in thought, as he rechecked his armor and inspected his practice lances. He then sheathed his holy sword. “No need for you today, my trusty friend, but soon,” he said quietly to his powerful magical sword. Its dragonstone ruby glowed faintly red for a second and then went back to normal as he thought of the coming fight with the fire giants. “Refocus on the now; plenty of time to plan for those unpleasant events,” he told himself as he started to lead his winged horse to the staging line to await the commencement.

The thirty or so other knights and paladins from the weirs and the non-weir-affiliated legions were gathering in the marshaling area to await the day’s opening ceremony and the announcement of who was scheduled to compete against whom. Toderan noticed that there was no entrant from Battle Point.
They
must
be
still
reconsolidating
from
the
fight
last
month,
he thought as he held Alvanch’s reins and guided her beside the other flying horses.