Dragons Shining (12 page)

“Thank you for the warning, Albrite. It has been good to meet you. Please take care of Justin and Bruce too. They must both be suspect.”

“Of course, except I believe none of you are defenseless even now.”

The Royal family waived to the cheering crowd and left on horses brought by the Elite Guard, out of the exit gate opposite from the gate taken by the soulless. The remaining ten Elite Royal Guardsmen stayed with the team.

Baird came down the center bleacher carrying the enormous championship trophy. It was a spectacular, gold plated pedestal horse, and rider. The horse was shown rearing and the rider with a pike complete with a diamond studded toroid.

“As the Captain of the Fable’s Arch Dragons, I deliver this trophy into your hands, Heath Ironist for the period of two years and the next Southern Kingdom Toroid Championship”, said Baird loudly.

Heath took the trophy and held it aloft so the cheering fans could see it, at least those near the center post where the most influential people were.

“Beware Owen. We will leave for Dragon Mount in two days. Say your goodbyes soon.”

“I agree, Baird, though it makes me sad. I must get away from my friends and loved ones or they will suffer.”

The team remounted and headed back across the field to the locker rooms and stables. The ten Royal Guardsmen mounted and followed.

“Heath, it’s Owen”.

Heath started and looked over at Owen in surprise.

“Don’t be alarmed, Heath. I am learning a few new skills. I needed to speak privately, and this will be our only chance for a while. The King has assigned these guardsmen to us tonight. Five will stay close to me, and five will guard you and your family tonight.”

Heath did not have a clue how to organize his thoughts for projection, so simply gave Owen a questioning look.

Heath gave Owen a wide-eyed nod.

Upon reaching the stable and locker rooms, they were surprised by their families. Everyone was there in the large hall outside of the lockers. So after a quick shower, where Owen had to be very careful and a change of clothes, the party started. Owen had been leery of giving Gander over to the squire, but the ’horse’ had given him a clearly content mental image of napping in his stall after a bath, so he relented. He did warn the squire to stay away from Gander’s head and feet.

“Gander will kick or bite you if you fool with those”, he had warned.

After Sophie disentangled herself from Heath, she came over and gave Owen a big hug, mindful of his arm. “You were magnificent, Owen! I am so proud of you.”

Owen blushed. He had always been nervous about hugging Sophie, and now it was worse. She was young, beautiful and kind. He loved her; she was now married and was supposed to be his sister too.

Angie nuzzled Sophie away and gave Owen a bear hug. “I was so worried when you went down. Did you break it?” indicating the arm. Sophie went straight over to Tom and got between him and Suzy to get a hug.

“Yes, but Doc is good at fixing them. It will be good as new.”

Ben came over to shake Owen’s hand. “I am proud of you son. You gave all for your team, and you took that fall like the man you have become. I hope you do not feel guilt about the two who died. They sealed their own fate, with no help from you or anyone else.”

“Two men are dead and one horse. No, I am sad, father. They were both out to hurt or kill me in order to win, so I do have a part in their deaths. As for feeling guilt, no I do not, just sadness. This game is not worth it to me if it brings such avarice that men die while playing it, because of pride. There is something I must tell you all when we get home. It is important.”

“Why not tell me now, then?”

“This is for Hodgen ears only, father.”

Heath cornered Owen away from the others. “What gives Owen? Are you becoming a wizard too? And what is this about a dark lord who is hunting you?”

“Hush, Heath. Others will hear. You don’t want that and neither do I. There are things in this world it is better for you not to know about, but this thing will out before long anyway. I was born a Wizard, yet hid my power all this time. I do not use it in public, period. As such I am a threat to Belaros. He is a Demon Prince, the Demon Prince, and he is among us. Don’t make that face, or I will give you images of his minions Prince Jason has met in battle that will haunt your dreams! I will be leaving Fable’s Arch, and soon, so that I am not hunted here to cause this town grief.  I pray it is not so, yet I am afraid all men will soon enter a life and death struggle against Belaros and his plans to enslave us. You must prepare. Take the five Guardsmen tonight. They are Elite and the best fighters the King has. Please!”

Heath was silent for a moment, considering. “I will take them and provide food and shelter for them, Owen. But if this Belaros wants another sworn enemy, he will attack my family.”

Owen was tired. He suffered through many more congratulations, hugs and handshakes before Ben gathered the Hodgens to go.  Ben, Angie, Tom and Suzy rode in the carriage. Three guardsmen rode in front and two behind. Toms horse trotted behind, tied to the carriage.

“My name is Ender, Owen”, one said as Owen rode up beside the front guard.

“Oh, yes. Justin mentioned you, or he showed you to me in his memories of that battle near Windhaven. He thinks your name is very appropriate.”

“It is not my birth name, but never mind that. I was there all right. So was Rolph, who is with your friend Heath. Prince Justin assigned us, with Kirkland’s permission. The men we face now are worse than Orcs, however. These can think.”

“Albrite told me they are soulless and some are vampires, the beastly kind that thirst for blood.”

“Are there other kinds?

“Yes, from what I have been told. Pure blood vampires do not drink blood to survive.”

“Never heard that before”, said another guard.

“Owen, this is Karl, and that is Purdy on the other side, Blake in the rear to the left, and Akron on the right.”

Purdy nodded. He was a huge man with an axe to match, in brackets over his shoulder.

“Well, Karl, did you even believe there were really vampires?” asked Purdy.

“No, not really. But then I didn’t believe in Orcs either until I saw a field full of dead ones, or had to heave their stinking, heavy corpses into the fire. That Black Serpent Dragon was a surprise too. I thought Dragons were on our side, except now I know there are those that are not.”

“The black serpents are called dragons but they are not. They are Wyrms”, said Owen.

“You are pretty knowledgeable about these things for a young sprout”, laughed Purdy.

“The Wizard Baird is my teacher”.

“Oh. That explains everything”, said Ender, laughing. “Look out Purdy. He might change you into a big, bug ugly lout. Ooops. Guess it’s too late, what a cruel young Wizard.”

They all laughed, even Purdy.

When they got to the farm, Tom took care of his own horse and the carriage team, leaving Owen only Gander to take care of. He had put his saddle on the last adjustment so it would not bind Gander’s increased, yet invisible girth. “
There is a way to change his shape in reality
”, thought Owen. “
It’s a high magic spell though, and I don’t want to attempt it right now. Maybe in Dragon form I can do it. Baird has a familiar that obeys that principal.
”

“Well, boy. I hope you can still eat hay because giving you one of the hogs would get rather messy in there.” Gander snickered at him, and started eating the hay. “OK then, we’ll see if we can get you something better tomorrow.”

Ben had offered the hired hands bunkroom to the Guardsmen, but they had declined. They said they would bunk in the barn and patrol the grounds all night. Tom had put their horses in the spare stalls for them. The barn had room for ten hired hand horses, so now there were stalls to spare.

Ender strolled over to where Owen was watching Gander. “Hey Owen, I wanted to speak with you alone. Is that ok?”

“Of course, Ender. I have a feeling you are wanting some answers, no?”

“Well, I was there to see Justin as a Dragon, and the girl too, Denice. They killed most of the Orcs between the two of them. Justin killed the Wyrm. I was just wondering if, well, aren’t you one too? The way Justin speaks of you and all. He never said as much, though, don’t get me wrong.”

Owen smiled. “Justin trusts you and Rolph, and if he does then so do I. Yes, I am a Dragon too, a bit different than Justin. I am a Vampire Dragon. Does that frighten you, Ender?”

“One of those pure bloods you were talking about, I hope”, said Ender nervously.

“Uh Huh. I don’t drink blood as a rule. Never have even, but I suppose I could kill an enemy that way and use blood magic to take his life energy. Be assured, Ender. I am a creature of light, not darkness. I would never jeopardize my soul by drinking an innocent’s blood, never.”

“But you are only a boy, Owen, Dragon or not, Justin too. You have not seen what I have seen, or killed as I have killed. I hope you can keep your spirit clean, my friend.”

“Friend? Yes, Ender, I am your friend, and friend to any who stand by the Maker against darkness.”

“Well I need to speak with Father and the rest now, Ender. Take care tonight and keep a wakeful watch. I don’t want people killed because they were sleeping.”

“Don’t worry, Owen. We will give our lives if need be, and our watch shall be tight.”

“Then take care, friend. I will see you at first light. Oh, Ender. Gander here is not what he seems. I bled on him when we got smashed, and he changed. What you see is an illusion. Do you want to see him as he really is?”

“I don’t think so. He’s not dangerous is he?”

“Not to you, but I think he would be a great help if we are attacked”, said Owen as he left the barn.  He waived at the other guardsmen who were storing their gear at the end of the barn closes to the house.

He found Ben, Tom, Angie and Suzy waiting for him in the living room. “I think you have something to tell us”, said Ben. “Yes, why the Guardsmen?” asked Angie.

“OK, here goes.” He fought tears, and almost won. “I must leave you in two days.”

“What, why?” “You don’t have to.” They had all spoken at once, and Owen held up his hand until they were quiet.

“You know how I came to you, and I have since learned why. It was for my protection that I was hidden, and you took me in. I love you all so much; it hurts to speak of this, yet I must. Maker give me strength to tell you the truth, and I pray you do not shun me when you learn it.”

“We would never”, said Tom. The rest nodded and agreed.

“I am His tool. His right hand, put here to battle the darkness that comes. That is why I am hunted, and the hunt came to Fable’s Arch this day.” He could not bear to show his real form to them. Not yet.

“You mean those dark riders, Owen?” asked Tom.

“I saw them as well”, said Ben. “Evil looking men they were.”

“That is why the Elite Guard is here tonight, the King’s personal guard. The Royal family is hold up over at Pug’s place with an entire company of Guardsmen. More Elite Guardsmen are with Heath, because the dark riders might mistakenly go after him. The King intends to hunt down these men tomorrow.”