Dragons Shining (32 page)

Owen shuddered at the thought, and Briana hugged him warmly.
"He has never spoken to me",
said Briana
.

"Regardless", continued the fairy Queen. "You must carry the ring and drop it in the pit as soon as possible!"

"Well I guess we had better wake Baird and the dragons then", said Briana. "I am famished, although I guess we can hunt on the way." She and Owen passed a flask between them, each taking a long drink of the cool delicious water.

Baird was already awake, and was packing away his bed roll and munching on something. "Here, you walking dead. Have some of this hard tack. Fills the stomach at least." He came over and offered them some of his hoard of field rations which they took gladly.

Owen counted the sleeping dragons, and came up six short.
"
Briana, six of the dragons are gone
."

"Are you sure, Owen?"

"Yes, I don't even remember all their names, but six are missing from those who stayed with me. That's half of them, not counting Falos."

"Falos and the others were injured. Thanks to the power of your swords, I had enough energy to heal them. Speaking of the swords, Zana has shown me some very large rubies in her cash, even larger than the ones on your swords."

"That's great! There are many uses to which we can put them, Briana. We can discuss that later, if Zana will let us have them. Look, Falos is waking. I need to speak to him."

Baird said "I think Zana will part with them if you ask her, Briana."

"Good morning, Falos! You are looking better than when I last saw you",
said Owen
.

"First light, little one, yes. Your mate has gentle hands that heal without pain. You should learn from her."

"Well I am not surprised by that, Falos. Although I don't think I could equal her skill at healing no matter how hard I try. We would have been lost without your help, and I can't help but notice that Ianos, Delos and  four others are no longer with us. I morn them."

"We will honor them, Owen. They died a noble death after an age of life, and their spirits will be rewarded. Now though, we have other matters to attend to. Fly. Take that accursed ring and drop it in the pit. If you are not drawn in behind it, we will know you as our new King. We will follow, and we will send the signal to all Dragons. Those that can will be there."

"I will follow as well, and will brave the pit at your side. No, don't even think about arguing!"

"I welcome you at my side, Briana. Coming Baird?"

"Wouldn't miss it, Owen. But I cannot pass the pit. Only a Dragon Lord can pass, and his or her chosen Dragon companion."
Baird mounted Falos, and the big Dragon lumbered skyward. Zanos and the other six dragons were quick to follow

After
changing,
Owen rose rapidly skyward with Briana close behind.

With Salece's and her "father's" the elf's help, she had been able to create a halter much like Owens that could stretch and take on whatever shape was required to assuage her modesty. She changed and flew with Owen nearly wing tip to wing tip, on his left.
"
I have seen the pit Owen
."
She sent him an image and also the best route.

"
Thank you Briana. You are a stunningly beautiful Dragon. Has anybody told you yet? It's wonderful to be so near to you.
"

Dragons cannot blush or she would have.
"
Not quite in that way, no...
"

They flew through the night and at dawn they saw several Buffalo browsing on the lower slope.
"
I'm still hungry
",
Briana sent.

So by mutual consent, Falos, Zanos and two of the others swooped down and killed four of the lumbering beasts. Forsaking his usual kill pattern, Owen joined in the feast. He and Briana had not eaten much in the last three days. Soon the large herbivores were reduced to red stained bones.

"
It's not far now, but it's almost straight up
",
Briana told Owen.

They were soon on their way again, laboring higher and higher along the face of the mountain. Owen could feel the Pit as they finally approached. Up over the edge of a wide ledge they flew, and there was the Great Pit. Only Briana and Owen continued onward. The rest landed on the ridge, which continued in a rising semi circle around the cone of the one time volcano. On the far side, the rock wall rose higher, and Owen could see the entrance of a large cave in the rock wall. Over the cave, carved in the rock was the figure of a red dragon and its rider. The rider wore a crown, Kragon.

Owen began to feel the pull. Around the lower perimeter of the pit, the dragons watched in concern, hundreds of them.

Briana was at his side, wing tips almost touching, as they flew out over the pit. The energy of her soul arced in blue fire between them, and bolstered Owen's resolve. Looking downward, Owen saw dark tendrils being sucked out of his struggling wings and torso.

"
Look below, my love. Keep fighting, there is no true darkness in you."

"I see it, Briana. Do not fear, I will never give up."

Below them a great flaming hand stretched taloned fingers up and opened as if to catch something. Owen threw the ring, the black jewel now exposed once again. As the ring left his hand, the pull lessened greatly, and the two dragons began to make headway toward the cave above. Dark streamers drew from Owen and surprisingly a few from Briana as well now, decreasing and then ceasing. Owen watched the ring fall toward the huge, open hand. Just before the hand closed upon it, a dark female shadow streaked across and snatched the ring from Satan's hand. The images faded with a roar, and a peal of maniacal laughter that retreated into the roiling maelstrom of darkness below.

"She snatched the ring."

"Yes, the Demon's mother I am guessing",
Owen sent.
"At least it will be some time before that monster can return. We must use that time to prepare."

Free of taint, the Dragon King and his Queen flew up to the cave, landed and changed into Elf form. Owen placed his arm around her, and her warm body nuzzled against his. He noticed that she had also acquired a lovely, blue harness outfit ensorcelled to withstand the change. Looking back they could see clear sky and hundreds of miles across the forest, hills and wetlands below.

"Oh, how magnificent",
Briana sent.  Against the starting backdrop of the world below, a semi-circle of flames rose from the dragons lining the ridge. In the center, a column of green energy spewed high into the sky. The likeness of a giant emerald dragon graced the empty space above the void, dripping emerald fire into the pit. It was salute to the young new Dragon King, which could be seen all across the land.

"We cannot let them down."

"We will not, my love."