**********
The companions were stopped on the banks of a large swift-flowing river. They had been moving slowly in an effort not to exhaust Garth, who stubbornly refused help from the others. The stocky dwarf plodded along on his sturdy legs with amazing resilience, refusing to stop to rest, and complaining loudly that they were moving too slow. The loss of blood had turned his face a ghostly pale and his breathing had become ragged, but he still steadfastly refused any aid. When they finally stopped at the banks of the stream, he collapsed in a heap, completely exhausted.
“He cannot keep this up much longer.” Dar said worriedly, watching Garth closely. “He’s lost a lot of blood, and refuses any help. Thankfully, the poultice I've covered his wound with will prevent any infection and help prevent further bleeding, but if he keeps pushing himself this hard, he's going to kill himself.”
Damion sighed, shaking his head. “Let’s let him rest for a while. If he gets any worse, we will force him to ride on one of the horses.” He turned to gaze at the swift-flowing river. “How do you suggest we cross? It's too deep, and the current is much too strong for the horses.”
“There is a place we can cross about a mile downstream.” Dar answered, still concerned with the dwarf's injuries. “The river isn't quite as deep there, and the current is not so swift.”
“How much farther is it to the centaur village?” Garth grumbled loudly. He had crawled to the river's edge and began splashing water on his face.
“About two miles, once we have crossed the river.” Dar answered. “We should be able to reach it by dusk.”
The dwarf groaned, then sighed heavily. “Let’s get moving, then.” He slowly pushed himself to his feet, then turned and set off with Gretta hovering in concern a few steps behind.
The others exchanged worried glances, then followed.
They reached the shallow area of the river, and crossed it with little difficulty. Garth continued to trudge along determinedly, his face growing paler with each step. Finally, the sturdy dwarf could go no further, and he collapsed to the ground unconscious.
Gretta let out a frightened squeal, and rushed to his side.
“Damn stubborn dwarf!” Dar cursed, running over to join the dwarf maiden. He checked the dwarf's pulse, then breathed a sigh of relief. “He’s still alive! He’s just pushed himself too hard.”
Damion carefully lifted the unconscious dwarf and placed him across his pony's back. “Just lead the way. I'll make sure he doesn't fall and land on his thick head.”
They kept moving until they came to a well-worn trail, then followed it until they finally came upon a large wooden fence that blocked their way. There was an open gate in the center of the wall leading into a clearing beyond, but they were forced to stop as two large centaurs stepped from the shadows on either side of the trail holding long bows that were drawn and leveled at their chests.
“Halt!” One of them, a large male with the body of a palomino, commanded in a deep voice. “Thou shalt not proceed any further.”
Dar gestured for them to stop, then stepped forward and spoke quietly with the burly centaur.
“I cannot believe that there are centaurs still alive in this world!” Sly murmured, watching the creatures in fascination. “I have heard many legends about the centaurs, but I always thought that they were only that, legends!”
Dar continued to talk quietly with the centaurs, and then finally came back to the others, his expression relieved. “They’ll allow us to enter. Luckily, I knew many of their ancestors, and I am still remembered by many of their elders. They'll be able to help Garth. Their healers are very skilled.”
They passed through the huge gate and continued into the clearing. The pair of centaurs that had blocked their way stared at Damion as he passed with wide, curious eyes. He was surprised to see that there wasn't any sign of fear or hostility in their gazes, only innocent curiosity. The large palomino that had first blocked their way locked eyes with Damion and smiled a friendly smile. He returned the smile, somewhat reassured by the centaur's calm and friendly demeanor.
The large clearing beyond the fence had a number of huts that were open at the front, with sliding doors that rolled easily aside to allow the centaurs to move around freely. Dozens of centaurs stood around the clearing staring at them curiously as they moved into the camp.
Dar quickly ran over and spoke with an elderly-looking centaur that trotted forward to meet the childlike Alena. They spoke together quietly for a moment, then Dar quickly motioned for the others to join them.
“This is the clan elder, Ket Matoc.” Dar informed them. He looked to the elderly centaur. “Allow me to present my friends, Lord Damion Omensent of Sevria, and Gabriel Quickhand, Master Swordsman.”
They both bowed respectfully to the elderly centaur.
“Our unconscious friend over there is Prince Garth Stonecrusher, son of Tarok Stonecrusher, King of the Dwarves, and his betrothed Gretta.
The elderly centaur nodded to each companion in turn, then stood in silence, quietly watching them with wise assessing eyes. After a long moment, the elderly centaur turned back to Dar, a smile on his wizened face. “Stories hath long been passed among mine people about thee, Dar of the Alena.” His voice was formal, and his speech archaic. “Mine grandfather held thee in the highest regard. Long have mine people pondered thy fate.”
Dar's face was sad. “I left following the dragons on their final flight to their imprisonment. I have searched all these years for some way to release them without success.” His face brightened. “But now, a dragon has returned, and their prison, the Dragon Gem, has reemerged into the world once again!”
Ket Matoc nodded, his face grave. “So, thy intention is to follow the dragon in search of the fabled gem. But what wilt thou do once thy art face to face with the beast? Who hast the power to face a dragon?”
“I do.” Damion stated firmly. “I will stop the dragon, and the madman that is controlling it.”
“Have thy truly such power as to contend with such a mighty beast?” The elderly creature’s eyes burned into Damion's, seeming to stare into his very soul. After several long moments, the centaur smiled gently, and nodded his wizened head. “Aye, I believe that thou mayst in fact have the power to face the dragon. Thy aura is strong, and power doth seem to vibrate from thy very core!” The old centaur nodded once more. “Aye,” He said again. “thou hast the power. Thou could succeed against the dragon, but what of the scar-faced human and the Dragon Gem? How wilt thou overcome their power?”
Damion drew the Dragon Sword from its sheath. “With this.” He answered simply.
The old centaur gasped. “The Dragon Sword!” He put a trembling hand to his chest. “It hast always believed to have been lost!”
Several of the other centaurs overheard their elder’s words, and trotted over to get a closer look at the mythical sword.
“With this sword,” Damion announced confidently. “I will stop the dragon, and make Kaviel pay dearly for his misdeeds.”
Ket Matoc quickly regained his composure. “Thy discovery is most fortuitous! Thy sword may indeed bless thee with the power needed to face the Dragon Gem!”
“So you’ve seen Kaviel?” Sly asked. “Here in the forest?”
The elderly creature nodded. “Aye. He hast taken refuge here in this forest, bringing with him a great number of vermin. He doth dwell in a cavern that once belonged to a dragon, in the very heart of the forest.”
“Tempest’s lair.” Dar said. “Kaviel must have needed a place safe from attack, and she took him there.”
“He hast been gathering an army of foul creatures to his side. They brought with them hundreds of slaves that they art forcing to cut down the trees around the cavern and erect a large wall around the lair. Our warriors have killed as many of the disgusting creatures that they could, but there art far too many for them to drive off alone.”
“How much further is it to the dragon's lair?” Sly inquired.
“Two d
ays hard riding. But thou hast to contend with dozens of perimeter guards that art all around the clearing. It is very difficult to reach the lair unseen.”
A loud thump drew their attention to Garth, who had slid from his pony and crashed to the ground in a small hairy heap. He raised his head for a moment and looked around, a dazed look in his eyes, then lapsed back into unconsciousness.
Damion sheathed the Dragon Sword, then went over and lifted the limp dwarf into his arms. “Our friend was injured while fighting some goblins and dragonspawn, and was too stubborn to allow us to help him. He has lost a lot of blood.”
Two centaurs trotted up immediately and took the dwarf away. “We wilt care for him.” One of them, a great brute with a body the color of onyx, assured Damion. “We shalt have him back on his feet in no time.” He turned and trotted away with Gretta trailing along behind with a concerned expression on her face.
“Do not worry for thy friend.” Ket Matoc moved over to Damion’s side and patted him gently on the shoulder. “He dost reside in the best of hands.”
“Which brings us to our next problem.” Sly said his scruffy face concerned. “As long as the Dragon Sword remains in this village, it isn't safe. Kaviel can use the Dragon Sword to track us here and kill everyone.”
“That’s true.” Damion agreed grimly. “We can’t remain here.”
“Mine friends, I hast some knowledge of another clearing a couple of miles from here that thy may find acceptable.” One of the centaurs who had trotted up to gaze at the Dragon Sword offered. “It should be close enough to await thy friend to recover, yet far enough from the village as not to bring any harm to mine fair people.”
“That will do for now," Damion agreed. "but if Garth is too badly injured, we may have to leave him in your care while we continue without him.”
Sly winced. “He won't like that.”
Dar nodded gravely. “He would never forgive us. Let's give him a day or so. He's as tough as nails, and wasn't injured that badly.” He made a face. “Besides, I don't really want to have to listen to him if he misses out on all of the fun.”
They made camp that night in the clearing a few miles from the village, and settled down to plan their next move.
“What are we going to do about the dragonspawn and goblins?” Dar asked, piling wood on the fire. “I don't think that even Damion could face a thousand of those creatures alone. We are going to need some help.”
“What about the centaurs?” Sly asked. “Won’t they help?”
Dar shook his head. “There is only a few hundred of their kind left. They would be far too outnumbered. They won't risk the extinction of their species.”
Damion thought quietly for a moment. “What about a distraction? If they were to distract the dragonspawn and goblins long enough to allow me to slip into the camp, they could just disappear back into the forest and avoid any direct confrontations.”
Dar was silent as he considered this idea. “It sounds promising.” He said finally. “They are eager to be rid of the creatures, and if they can help without endangering themselves, I'm sure that they will.”
They finally decided to turn in, spreading out their bedrolls near the fire to ward off the chill. Dar volunteered to stand watch while Snowfeather took the opportunity to disappear into the darkness of the forest to hunt, but the childlike sprite promised to wake Damion if he grew tired.
The freckle-faced boy sat against a tree, happy to be home after so many years. The familiar sounds of the forest echoed through the night, bringing back a welter of fond memories. He had spent nearly half of his life in this forest, and to be gone from his home for so long had been painful. He had been gone for over four hundred years, ever since the night the dragons were enslaved. He had searched the entire world for his friends and for the man who enslaved them, but he never found any trace of his ancient friends.
After searching endlessly, he finally uncovered an old journal in a library in the town of Crete that had been recovered in the remains of an old keep. The journal had been written by a young elf that was an apprentice to a very powerful dark sorcerer, and detailed the steps that had to be taken to enslave the entire race of dragons inside of a gem. When the gem was combined with its counterpart, a sword that was made to be the key to releasing the gem's magic, it would provide the one who possessed it unlimited power and complete control over the dragons. He had searched the world for the gem and sword, but they never surfaced.
“And now I am home.” He sat back and stared up at the sky. After a while, a gentle glow drew his attention to the Dragon Sword, which lay at Damion's side, glowing with a dim pulsating light that shown through its jeweled sheath. It took him a moment to react, and then he quickly sprang into action. “Damion! Damion!" He kicked the warrior hard in the ribs. "Wake up!”
“Ow!” Damion sat up rubbing his side. “What...” He fell silent as he spotted the sword pulsating with an eerie light. He instantly leapt to his feet and covered the sword to prevent it from being spotted, then roughly shook Sly awake. “Get the horses, and get into the forest and out of sight!” He commanded with an evil gleam in his eyes. “I’m going to get him this time!”
Dar and Sly quietly led the horses deeper into the forest while Damion piled more wood onto the fire. He then melted silently into the shadows to await his prey. Within a few short minutes, the enormous dragon appeared overhead, blocking most of the stars in the sky from sight. It circled silently over the clearing, watching their camp closely.
Damion could clearly see Kaviel riding atop the beast’s broad shoulders, and forced himself to remain calm and await the perfect moment to attack. He watched as they silently glided lower, preparing to attack the empty campsite, then drew his magic about him, and sent blazing bolt of energy blasting through the air.
At the very last second, the dragon veered away, and the bolt of energy merely grazed its shoulder. It exploded on impact, hurling the dragon through the air, and throwing Kaviel violently from its shoulders. He fell screaming to the ground and landed hard in a grove of thorn bushes where he lay stunned, moaning pitifully.
Damion was on him in instant, bursting from the shadows and sprinting towards his fallen enemy with a murderous gleam in his eyes. Kaviel was desperately trying to struggle to his feet when the huge warrior crashed into him, hurling the scar-faced man hard into the trunk of a tree.
All the anger and frustration Damion had been feeling for so long finally came to a boiling point, and he fell upon the stunned man in a towering fury. He began to pummel man in the ribs with powerful punches that cracked and shattered bones with every blow.
Kaviel squealed in pain, and desperately tried to escape the vicious onslaught, but was unable to get away as another blow crushed his nose.
Damion continued his attack, fully intending on torturing the man for as long as he possibly could before he finished him off.
Tempest regained control, and began to circle the clearing slowly. The bolt of energy had taken her by surprise, but only stunned her momentarily. She realized Kaviel might have easily been killed if not for her quick reflexes. She cursed herself for not seizing the opportunity to be done with the madman, then searched for the area where the scar-faced man had landed. She spotted him being beaten senseless by the warrior Kariah had called Damion. He was struggling with Kaviel, raining down bone-jarring blows with a frightening ferocity, seeming fully intent on beating the scar-faced man to death with his bare hands.
Kaviel managed to get one hand loose, then reached into his robe and grasped the Dragon Gem. “Help me!” He screamed in an almost womanly voice. “Use your fire!”
Tempest hesitated. “But...”
“Do it!” He screamed again, trying to fend off more crushing blows.
The great scarlet beast shrugged. “Whatever you say. I tried to warn you!” She drew in a deep rumbling breath, then released an enormous bellow of flames that struck the ground a few feet from where the men struggled.
Damion was hu
rled through the air by the tremendous force of the dragon's flames, which licked at his face and exposed skin with that same strange gentle tingling. He hit the ground hard, but was back on his feet instantly, prepared to renew his attack.
Kaviel also had been tossed through the air by the explosion, but he had been injured even further by the searing flames, which had burned every inch of exposed flesh on his body. He rose to his feet in a daze, his tattered clothes smoking alarmingly, and began to sob in pain as he struggled to get away.
Damion rushed towards him, fully intending on finishing the job, but Tempest crashed to the ground between them and lashed out with her razor-sharp talons, causing forcing him to dive for cover.
In an instant, Kaviel scrambled on top of her shoulders, and the dragon launched itself back into the air, where it quickly disappeared into the night sky.
Sly and Dar emerged from the forest and ran to Damion, who had dived behind a tree to avoid the dragon’s claws. They tried to help him to his feet, but he shook them off angrily. “Where is he?” He demanded in a rage, his eyes still gleaming in fury.
“They’re gone.” Sly informed him. “But you sure beat him senseless. I've never heard a man scream like a woman before. I rather enjoyed it!” He laughed a cruel, heartless laugh.
Damion roared a continuous stream of obscenities in frustration.
“I’m rather surprised that he survived that lynching.” Dar remarked offhandedly, ignoring Damion’s fit of rage. “I’ve never seen a man beaten so severely!”
Damion continued to stalk about in a rage until he was finally able to bring himself under control. “I can't believe I let him get away again!” He snarled in frustration. “I finally had him in my grasp, and I allowed him to escape!”
“At least you were able to give him a taste of what he can look forward to when you next meet.” Dar said with a smile on his boyish face. “I don't think he will want to come within ten miles of you ever again!”
Damion sighed, then settled back down on his bedroll. “We may as well get some rest. It's pretty safe to say that he will not return tonight.”
Everyone stretched out to sleep, unaffected by the brief battle. They had long grown accustomed to these minor skirmishes that always seem to arise, and had learned not to waste what little time they had to rest.
Sometime later, Snowfeather appeared from the darkness with a large rabbit clenched in his talons. He landed softly next to Damion, jarring him awake with the smack of one wing, and dropped the dead hare on the ground proudly.
“You wouldn't believe how great hunting is in this forest!” He chirped happily. “I’ve gorged so much that I couldn't eat another bite!” He stared at the dead rabbit for a moment, and then greedily ripped into its belly. “It is such a clear and beautiful night! So peaceful and serene!”
“Oh, would you shut up?” Damion snapped harshly.
Snowfeather fluffed his feathers indignantly. “Well! You don't have to be so nasty!” The snowy owl chattered angrily. “You act as though something is wrong! It's not like Kaviel showed his face, and then got away again!” He joked, unaware of the events that had transpired earlier.
Damion groaned, then rolled back over and covered his face with one arm, trying futilely to fall back to sleep.