Dragons Shining (29 page)

"Clearly this is not your first time, Baird."

"Not even close, youngster."

Owen
changed
, and beat his wings madly to rise with the larger Dragons. There were dozens.
"
Is this all of the male Dragons, Falos?
"

"
Only half of the mature males, Owen
.
I will introduce you
."

A long list of introductions followed, with Owen courteously greeting each one and trying to remember all their names. That was not hard when they spoke to him, yet for him to start a conversation, he must remember their names. Owen got the unmistakable feeling that it would be all too easy to insult a Dragon, and that they would not easily forgive such mistakes by another Dragon.

Falos smiled inside.
"For a youngster, Owen is taking this very seriously",
he thought
. "Perhaps I should tell him that Yearlings are normally stupid, and must be reminded of things all the time. No, let him sweat. Strength is not given to the pandered. He looks very much like Briana, somewhat larger and with different coloring. I will send an image to Znost."

This was the first time Owen had attempted a long flight, especially at such high altitude. He was enjoying the freedom of flight as he never had. The view was spectacular. For as far as the eye could see northward was a carpet of giant trees, part of the Dragon Forest. Birds of all types and sizes flittered below in the tree tops. A flock of Giant Chitabion was making it's way West toward the plains. To the East the tall, snow covered peaks of the Dragon Mountains loomed in the misty heights. But he was hungry. Owen had had nothing to eat since the boats before dawn. It was mid afternoon with many hours of flight ahead. Down below was a large break in the trees. His keen eyes detected several Elk sleeping in the tall grasses. This was too much.

"Falos, I am starving. There are Elk below, and I don't think I can make the rest of the flight so hungry after the battle."

"I understand, little one. Go ahead and hunt. A few of us will remain with you and I will send the rest onward. We will catch up later."

Falos told twelve of the Dragons to remain and the others to wait at a location well known, several hours onward where there were Deer, Elk and Buffalo, the most proliferate herbivores of the mountain meadows. These Buffalo bred like rabbit and would be a menace to the local environment without the Dragon predation.  Those who remained then circled down to watch Owen hunt.

"
The appetite of a young Dragon is sometimes appalling to us older Dragons, who are no longer growing
",
Falos sent to Baird
.

"I have not seen him hunt in Dragon form as yet. I wonder how much of an Elk he could consume."

"Ha. Just watch."

Owen circled so the sun was behind him, flying faster than the wind. Even so, the Elk spotted him, and the large female he was after nearly made it to the tree line before he slammed her to the ground and drove his fangs into the arteries of her neck, drawing her delicious, hot blood. She struggled, heaving and trying to dislodge him, but soon the blood loss overcame her struggles, weaker and weaker until she stilled in death. Owen drank her life force as well, letting her spirit fly free. He ripped into muscles and loins rapidly consuming all but bones and other in-edibles. Then he coiled up in the grass nearby and fell immediately asleep.

"
That was spectacular", Baird sent. "He drank its blood first. That's the first time I have seen him do anything like that, although I suspected it. I don't know where he put all that meat."

"Just like Znost. I could use a bit more rest myself. We might as well take a nap too."

Baird had taken along a back pack he removed from his saddlebag just before giving his horse to the swamp people. The pack was loaded with salt smoked fish and alligator, and contained a filled water flask. After eating, he joined the dragons in a short nap, but not before using his skills to set wards. He didn't want any surprises.

But he got one anyway. After about an hour had passed, Baird felt his wards probed hard. He woke with a start, and because he was resting against Falos, he also woke with a start and a grunt. Owen also was awakened, having napped off his meal.

They all looked to the edge of the forest where five Ogres were slapping the wards trying to get their attention. Owen flew over to meet them and changed into his Elven form. The Ogres were startled and stepped back.

"Greetings, Ogres. You have our attention now
."
Owen
said. Baird arrived on Falos and dropped his wards. It was obvious the Ogres were not bellicose.

"You must be the one Briana told us about" the largest one said. "The Dragon King, Owen."

"Yes, I am Owen, this is the Wizard Baird, and this is Falos." The dragons were alert, and watching from the distance.

"I am Zhong, this is Fhong, indicating the female, and this is Slong. We are a scouting party, and we have urgent news for the dragons, and for you Dragon King."

"Go on", said Owen.

"The Elf wizards have sent us a message, by water scrying. The Elves know you are here, and knew we were here too. The Demon is in the forest attacking the Mother's tree with a host of
malagae. The unicorns and rear guard fairies are holding them off and the Fairies main force are elsewhere. Briana is there with the unicorns and she has called the forest creatures for aid. They are hard pressed by the Demon, and the Mother is not awake enough yet to help them much."

Owen was stunned. His strangled cry turned into a roar as he
changed
. The ogres scattered, and Baird barely had time to leap onto Owen's back before the irate dragon flew up over the forest in the direction of the Mother Tree, a score of miles distant. The trees blurred below as Owen poured on the speed.

"Owen, quell your anger. This will not help us."

Owen did not respond as he uttered a spell of high magic, concealing his form and that of Baird on his back. He tripled his speed with a flurry of spells until Baird could barely hang on, and the wind whistled past. He strained to contact the Forest Mother, willing her to cooperate. She heard him, yet was so slow to respond that Owen lost the meaning.

Baird was surprised when Owen vanished from under him, yet he caught on quickly and worked to augment the spell. Nothing but a sudden whirlwind disturbed the treetops. It was all he could do to hang on, now.

"
Baird, he is moving too fast. We cannot keep up and can no longer see you
."

"Just stay as close as you can. I think I know what he has in mind, but he is not speaking to me. As you know, near the Heart Tree Copse with the Mother Heart Tree as it center is a large clearing to the east. The battle must be in the clearing where the Demon could have flown on a wyrm. Owen will try to take the Demon by surprise. Things will happen very fast and I am sure they will be watching the sky. He will need all of our help, and it may not be enough. But this is our chance. If we can take Belaros out now we can at least buy some time to better prepare. I don't think we are strong enough yet to destroy him totally. Even if we can kill his body here, he will be back. Fly as fast as you can, Falos. We will need your help soon."

Owen entered the mind of an eagle winging to the battle. He did not dare use his mind to sense directly, or to contact Briana. That his why she did not contact him he was certain. This must be a total surprise. "
Quiet Wizard! Quiet Dra
gons!
"

Baird took that as the first "command" Owen had ever given him. Falos said nothing and none broke silence from that point on.

The Eagle dove at the Wyrms scratching at their eyes. The occupied Malagae didn't waste a spell on them, but soon there were hundreds of Eagles. Several Wyrms were blinded before the Malagae finally reacted, blowing many of the Eagles from the sky. This allowed the Unicorns a shot and two of the Malagae died in blue fire.  Several Wyrms crashed to the ground before the Malagae regained control. Owen could see two dead Unicorns, two charred fairies. Other fairies were riding Unicorns, and the Fairies were showering the dark ones with all manner of lightning, fireballs ice, javelins and rocks. Briana rod an enormous blue dragon with her arm up and ward energy pulsing around her. There were Bears and two Rock Gnomes which were fighting a host of four legged and very toothy hellhounds that Belaros must have called with his black magic. "
These are called hellhounds in Baird's manuscript
", Owen thought. "
Like giant black wolves
." The Demon himself was enveloped in a black swirling nimbus that turned aside every attack. He suddenly flashed with a bolt of lightning, killing Owen's Eagle, and the images ceased.
"Briana must have killed his Wyrm, or her dragon did",
thought Owen.

Owen knew what he must do to reach Belaros. It was black magic, and the thought of it made his stomach curl.
"I must not become like him, but how else to penetrate that ward?"

Owen dipped directly into the tree tops, which parted in front of him. This is what the Mother had tried to tell him, and he had finally realized that. She would help him dodge the trees. He would hit Belaros from the nearby tree line, not the open sky. The Dragons were not far behind him, catching since he entered the trees. They would hit the enemy from the sky above, shortly after Owen's ploy. The Dragons would be no match for the Demon and the host of Malagae. "
My plan has to work
."

Baird sensed the dark magic and recoiled from the black shroud Owen had caste about himself. He deduced Owens strategy at the edge of the tree line and jumped off, using the magic skills of a ten thousand year old wizard, and landed on a high tree limb overlooking the clearing. He was totally invisible to the combatants, and would stay that way until Owen struck. "
I hope that boy comes out of this without that black pawl. I should have purged those spells from that damn book
!"

Owen came out of the trees in a fast glide, with only the sound of the whistling wind, drowned by the noise of battle. 

Briana was caught in a battle she was not prepared for. She had been planning a visit to the Mother Tree ever since her song. She felt she could speed the waking process, or that at least she should try. She had foolishly made the flight after solo hunting on the nearby mountains. "
Why not?
", she had thought. Now she was ashamed of herself. "
I should have known. But then who else would have been here to save the heart tree? At least Onadath knows. Maybe he can send help."

-----------------------------

Delishaterina knew something was terribly wrong. The forest was keening in pain and alarm. A powerful call from Briana was heard, for all aid at any cost to protect the Mother. The electrifying call had the Fairies flying at dangerous speeds to reach the Mother, whipping through the trees in a blur. All of Mother's creatures were moving as fast as possible in that direction, so the Fairies had to take care and not collide.

"
D..e..li..sha..ter..ina",
called Mother. She was waking faster now.

"Y..e..s. M..o..th..er",
she answered.

"
H…ur…r..y."

The fairies flew even faster as the trees whipped and swayed to ease their path. "
The Demon will feel our wrath!"

-----------------------------

Now Briana was in real trouble because she had nothing that could penetrate the Demon's wards and they were badly outnumbered. She and Zana both faltered and were weakening fast. Even dragon fire could not penetrate the Demon’s black wards. The valiant bears and fairies and the treasured unicorns were dying. If the Demon killed the Mother, the whole forest might die. Belaros wanted her alive too. He was not trying to kill her, just wear her down. Other creatures were hastening to their aid, but they were not near. Most of the fairies had left to join Owen. The hosts were yet too far to help. It was up to her, and she was failing.

"
My senses deceive me. What
illusion is this
?”
thought Zana.