knocking over more carts and sending the guards diving for cover. They circled as they gained altitude and Boris looked sadly down at the rooftop of the warehouse.
“Sorry Shane, looks like I won’t be meeting up with you after all.”
Ellis suddenly lurched to the left as a black streak shot past. Surprised, Boris peered down to see men atop the battlements, arming the large crossbows. Another shaft flew past as Ellis jerked to the right.
“So that’s what those are for! To defend against the dragons!”
Ellis quickly gained speed and was soon out of range. Erik sat unsteadily in the saddle and let the wind dry the tears from his cheeks as the city of Gaul disappeared behind them.
***
Tirate, followed by six of his best soldiers, stepped through the shattered door and into the king’s chambers. One of the guards he had posted at Erik’s door now sat dazed, in the middle of the room. A thin trickle of blood ran through matted hair and down one temple onto his torn clothes. He grabbed the man by the collar and roughly lifted him to his feet.
“Where are they? Where is the king, and where is Boris?”
Groaning, the man squeezed his eyes shut. “I…don’t know sire, he…I…don’t know!”
Tirate heaved the man backwards, causing him to collapse in a heap. Growling, he turned to his armed men.
“Find them and find them NOW ! I don't care what you have to do! I want them back!”
As the men scattered, Tirate charged down the hallway fuming. He hadn't expected Boris to come back for provisions for at least another week and he certainly didn't anticipate an escape from the palace with Erik. Boris had to be stopped.
A grinning young pageboy running up the hallway skidded to a stop at the sight of Tirate, his smile melting.
“You! ” He bellowed. “What have you seen boy? Anything unusual?”
The color drained from the boy’s face as he shook his head. “No Sire!”
Tirate snarled. “Then be on your way before I have you whipped.”
“Yes sire!”
The boy broke into a run and flew down the hallway at an impressive pace.
Chapter 6
To The North
Ammon practiced with the sword as the last rays of the sun disappeared over the horizon. The repetitive motions were nowhere near as graceful as Boris’ fluid-like movements, but the blade felt more comfortable in his hands each time he picked it up.
He moved from one stance to the next, careful to keep the majority of his weight on his good leg, and began the slow dance again. He held the sword at arms length until a slight movement on the horizon caught his eye. Shielding his eyes from the glare, he focused on the tiny black dot rapidly approaching.
“A dragon?” He murmured.
Hastily he thrust the sword back into its scabbard and hobbled towards the cave. Boris wasn't due to return until morning and from what Boris had told him he didn’t think it could be one of Tirate’s men, but why take the chance?
“Fulgid get inside before he sees you!”
Sprawled across a rock just outside the entrance, Fulgid yawned and lifted his head at the approaching dragon and then lay back down.
“Fulgid!”
Ammon fumed. It would be impossible to hide with those bright golden scales lying out in the open! The dragon was getting closer, making a straight line for the cave.
Ammon begged. “Fulgid will you PLEASE come inside?”
Lazy amber eyes glared up briefly at Ammon, and with a disgruntled sigh, Fulgid rolled to his feet and ambled inside. Exasperated, Ammon moved deeper into the cave and tried not to make any noise. Minutes passed before a shadow darkened the cave entrance and Boris' booming voice shouted his name. Confused, Ammon looked at Fulgid.
“You knew it was him didn’t you?”
He limped outside and looked up. Boris rode Ellis so low over the cave, the dragon’s belly was almost touching the boulders as they passed overhead.
“Ammon, can you hear me?”
Cupping his hands to his mouth Ammon shouted, “Yes!”
The dragon turned and passed over again. “I need
“Sorry Shane, looks like I won’t be meeting up with you after all.”
Ellis suddenly lurched to the left as a black streak shot past. Surprised, Boris peered down to see men atop the battlements, arming the large crossbows. Another shaft flew past as Ellis jerked to the right.
“So that’s what those are for! To defend against the dragons!”
Ellis quickly gained speed and was soon out of range. Erik sat unsteadily in the saddle and let the wind dry the tears from his cheeks as the city of Gaul disappeared behind them.
***
Tirate, followed by six of his best soldiers, stepped through the shattered door and into the king’s chambers. One of the guards he had posted at Erik’s door now sat dazed, in the middle of the room. A thin trickle of blood ran through matted hair and down one temple onto his torn clothes. He grabbed the man by the collar and roughly lifted him to his feet.
“Where are they? Where is the king, and where is Boris?”
Groaning, the man squeezed his eyes shut. “I…don’t know sire, he…I…don’t know!”
Tirate heaved the man backwards, causing him to collapse in a heap. Growling, he turned to his armed men.
“Find them and find them NOW ! I don't care what you have to do! I want them back!”
As the men scattered, Tirate charged down the hallway fuming. He hadn't expected Boris to come back for provisions for at least another week and he certainly didn't anticipate an escape from the palace with Erik. Boris had to be stopped.
A grinning young pageboy running up the hallway skidded to a stop at the sight of Tirate, his smile melting.
“You! ” He bellowed. “What have you seen boy? Anything unusual?”
The color drained from the boy’s face as he shook his head. “No Sire!”
Tirate snarled. “Then be on your way before I have you whipped.”
“Yes sire!”
The boy broke into a run and flew down the hallway at an impressive pace.
Chapter 6
To The North
Ammon practiced with the sword as the last rays of the sun disappeared over the horizon. The repetitive motions were nowhere near as graceful as Boris’ fluid-like movements, but the blade felt more comfortable in his hands each time he picked it up.
He moved from one stance to the next, careful to keep the majority of his weight on his good leg, and began the slow dance again. He held the sword at arms length until a slight movement on the horizon caught his eye. Shielding his eyes from the glare, he focused on the tiny black dot rapidly approaching.
“A dragon?” He murmured.
Hastily he thrust the sword back into its scabbard and hobbled towards the cave. Boris wasn't due to return until morning and from what Boris had told him he didn’t think it could be one of Tirate’s men, but why take the chance?
“Fulgid get inside before he sees you!”
Sprawled across a rock just outside the entrance, Fulgid yawned and lifted his head at the approaching dragon and then lay back down.
“Fulgid!”
Ammon fumed. It would be impossible to hide with those bright golden scales lying out in the open! The dragon was getting closer, making a straight line for the cave.
Ammon begged. “Fulgid will you PLEASE come inside?”
Lazy amber eyes glared up briefly at Ammon, and with a disgruntled sigh, Fulgid rolled to his feet and ambled inside. Exasperated, Ammon moved deeper into the cave and tried not to make any noise. Minutes passed before a shadow darkened the cave entrance and Boris' booming voice shouted his name. Confused, Ammon looked at Fulgid.
“You knew it was him didn’t you?”
He limped outside and looked up. Boris rode Ellis so low over the cave, the dragon’s belly was almost touching the boulders as they passed overhead.
“Ammon, can you hear me?”
Cupping his hands to his mouth Ammon shouted, “Yes!”
The dragon turned and passed over again. “I need
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