Dragons Shining (15 page)

“Amazing. I am surrounded by magic these days, and still my men die. Oh, I didn’t mean that. I just wish somebody else would take care of this Belaros for us.”

“We all heard what the Archangel said, my lord. If they interfere on Cotera both gates will open: The gates to Heaven, and the gates to Hell.”

“I don’t pretend to understand how that Demon Prince could come through then. Anyway, the Dwarves and the Elves will probably bear the brunt of the initial attacks. We do have powerful allies.”

“General Rankin”

“Yes, sire?”

“Please assist Rolph to acquire provisions, and then organize the cavalry for a return to Windhaven. A reserve support services contingent is to proceed to Fable’s Arch for burial and cleanup of the Hodgen farm, the area around the Blacksmith’s, and what’s left out at Baird’s place. They are to help repair any damage, because of our inept intelligence in this case. Simply clear the remains of Baird’s cabin. The crown owns that land anyway.”

“As you wish.”

“Owen, I am sorry for laying any guilt on you. You don’t deserve that. We were alerted too late that a large armed force was making its way toward Fable’s Arch. If my intelligence was better, we could have intercepted them sooner. Albrite, I want magi scattered throughout the realm. They are to do their best to warn me of such incursions. No excuses!”

“Yes, Majesty”, answered Albrite with a worried expression.

“Albrite’s pet projects will have to wait it seems. He has been using a number of mages to try and determine a spell to control the soulless. His heart is in the right place, yet he will not listen to me when I tell him that power is beyond him.”

“Your majesty, maybe the Dragons will help, and warn us.  Any incursion from the wastes and forbidden mountains must go past them or the Dwarves.”

“I will take that under advisement, Owen. But first you must convince the Dragons. To do that you must get to them, so I suggest you start out as soon as possible.”

“Indeed. Sire, Bruce, Justin, Albrite, Rankin, and all of those here, I pray the Maker watch over you in the days and months to come. Please give the Queen my regards. I pray for her as well. And I am eternally grateful for your support, Majesty, over the few years of my life so far.”

“I am sure that small service will be repaid a thousand fold in the years to come, Lord Owen. Be careful on your journey. Much depends on you. Farewell.”

Owen left the tent, into the beautiful morning outside.

“Rolph, before you go.”

“Yes, Sire.”

“Guard Owen with your life, my trusted Captain. There is no greater service that you could do against the coming perils. Understand?”

“Yes, my Lord.”

“It’s not just me asking this, Rolph. It comes from above.”

“I understand, Sire.” Rolph bowed to his King and joined Owen and his men outside near the picket line.

“Well, Justin, Bruce, what do you make of him?”

“He will be the Dragon King, father. There is great warmth within, yet there are also dangerous depths in his mind where I cannot see”, said Justin.

“I sensed it too, brother. The light shines through him. I see no darkness”, said Bruce.

“You are correct, boys”, said Albrite. “This is why we wished him to have a human upbringing. If he is not killed first, he will inherit great power. His human upbringing will be the anchor that holds him against the winds of temptation that such power always faces. Hopefully Briana will not be forced to take up his swords. His death would change her, I fear.”

It had taken the rest of the day to get the pack mules loaded with provisions and a convincing number of exploratory miner’s tools. Their swords were now in pick saddle scabbards, disguised and accessible. Their clothes were rough homespun, with heavy coats and snow boots packed on the mules.  The main body of cavalry and soldiers had left, with the Royal family riding in a pair of well protected coaches. Only a few cavalry guardsmen remained to escort the work parties back to Windhaven after they finished repairing the damage in and near Fable’s Arch.

“I guess we should camp here tonight and leave at first light”, said Owen.

“Well let’s try these tents and bedrolls then. The others will keep a good fire going if it gets chill tonight”, said Rolph.

“Right. This will be the safest camp we have for a month to come”, said Purdy.

Tamaris and Ender pulled the tents and bedroll from the pack mules, while Owen and Rolph removed the loads and let the mules graze in a roughly fenced paddock with the guard horses.

“I need to ride over to the farm. I will be back in a few hours”, said Owen.

“Not by yourself”, said Ender. “I am coming with you.”

“Glad to have you, Ender.”

“You guys go on then”, said Rolph. "The three of us will set up the tents."

Owen and Ender retrieved their swords and trotted directly across the fields into the forest, on a direct route toward the Hodgen farm. They startled several deer on the edge of the forest that had been bedded down waiting to raid the field after dark.

“I hope we see them this close on the journey”, said Ender. “That was an easy bow shot, and we will relish some fresh venison before too long I expect.”

“I knew they were there”, said Owen. “Hunting should be easier now.”

There was other game in this forest so close to man’s wheat, oats, corn and soy fields. Owen practiced viewing the world from the eyes of these creatures, a good way to survey the forest without raising attention, instead of casting his senses all about to only be detected by a watching mage. He saw a local hunter over two hills and in the cut beyond, though a hawks eyes.  They rode past without the hunter even knowing.

They came out into one of the Hodgen wheat fields, and rode around it to the farmhouse. There was a crew of workers, and Tom was working to repair the wall and window that Owen had pushed the vampire through. They passed a smoldering pile of ashes and a stack of black weapons, dismounted and tied the animals to the porch rail.

“Hello, Tom”, said Owen. “I see you have your strength back.”

“It helps to have a brother who is a blood mage. Are you here to help?”

“I need to run, Tom. The King has commanded the army work force to provide materials and labor, and fix the damage here and in town. How are Father and Karl doing?”

“Go on in and see for yourself. Mom has been wanting to talk to you.”

“Are you angry with me, Tom?”

“Yes, a little. You hid things from us Owen. Where is the trust in that? It almost got us killed.”

“What choice did I have, Tom. What would you have thought if I told you I was a sorcerer and was hunted by the dark armies, too young to defend myself? I never used magic in the games, or around the farm. I would have been content to stay here, in hiding. Thinking about it now, how could I stay and watch Ben and Angie grow old and die. You and Suzy too, and Sophie and all the rest would age and die, and I would remain, also your children and grandchildren and so on. My place is not here. I love you, Tom, and Paw and Mom and Sophie, Suzy too.”

Owen entered the house and walked to the Kitchen where everyone was gathered.  Ben and Karl were pale and sitting, with a steaming porridge in front of them. Angie and Suzy leaned against the counter watching them

“Owen!” Ben said, trying to stand.

Owen stepped over to him and gently sat him back down. “Don’t stand, Father. Eat the porridge first. What you both need is some food to give you energy.”

“I am grateful, Owen”, said Karl weakly. “That was a death blow. I can’t believe I still live.”

“Serve our Maker in this reprieve, Karl. It was He who gave me this gift.”

“I will, in the best way I can. I would go with you if I were stronger.”

“I know. When you regain your strength, return to Windhaven and serve my cousin, Prince Justin. Tell him I sent you. You will be in the Maker’s service if you do that.”

“Yes, my Lord. Thank you.”

“You are the Prince’s cousin?” asked Suzy with amazement. “Then you have Royal Blood.”

“I am Justin’s cousin. Leave it at that”, said Owen.

“I knew that from the moment I saw you in swaddling, Owen”, said Angie. “Please come, I wish to speak with you in private.”

She led him back to the master bedroom. “Here, I hid this before the attack. I was afraid some evil thing might find it.”

She handed him the pouch of fifty golden crowns.

“You may need this where you are going.”

“Thank you, Mother.  I would refuse but I know you would not allow me to.”

She hugged him tightly. “You have paid your keep ten times over, Owen. And that is not counting when you healed your brother and father.”

“I would never take payment for saving a life.”

“I know. Come back and see us before we die, won’t you son”, she said weeping.

“Yes, Mother. I will come if I live through this. I promise.”

She dried her tears and let him go, and they made their way back to the Kitchen.

Ben had finished his porridge and was looking much better. He made it to his feet and hugged Owen. “May the Maker protect you Owen, in the difficult times you must face. I will treasure my time with you for as long as I live.”

“If I live, I will return here from time to time Father. I will see you again, I promise.”

“Just remember we love you, Owen. Always.”

“Thank you, Father. I love you all, and wish I could stay here.”

“Goodbye Suzy. You have a healthy boy in there. I will return to see him, I hope.”

“Well thank you, Owen. At least I know what baby stuff not to get now,” she laughed. “Goodbye. Don’t go off and get killed in some far away place.”

Outside, Owen extracted twenty five Gold Sovereigns and gave them to Tom.

“I can’t take this, Owen, I have not earned it.”

“Well neither have I. Take it and buy that adjacent land we have been talking about. It’s enough to get it going, too and to make sure that new son of yours starts off right. Don’t show it to Mom outright. She wants me to take it all.”

“A son? I won’t ask how you know. I am sorry for being angry. I love you, and could never stay angry at you.” He gave Owen a strong hug. “I will keep this then, and yes. That land needs buying. The old woman will give us a good price. Thank you, brother!”

It had gotten dark, and the workers had retired to the barn for the night. Owen stored his pouch away, and he and Ender made their way back to the camp, using the roads this time. The town was battened down tightly. Owen sensed their fear.

“Fear will turn to anger before long”, he said.

“Let’s hope they remember who to be angry at”, said Ender.

“The King was wise to provide men and supplies to repair the damage. They will remember that.”

“Yes, I hope so Owen. But men in general are not as wise as your family back there. When they are angry, they will even bite the hand that feeds them if there is nothing else to bite.”

“Philosophy, Ender? I am impressed”, said Owen seriously.