Legon Restoration (41 page)

* * * * *

Legon gritted his teeth against pain. He backed off, feeling his tail knit back together were Green had sliced him. Legon flexed wards in the air around him as Green shot spells under his wings.
He wants to be in close combat
Legon thought. Legon backed off more and again Green tried to thin the air around him but this time just on his right side.
Fine.
Legon let his wards fail, seeming surprised. Green shot forward trying to take advantage of Legon's unsteadiness in the air. Legon used magic of his own, making the air dense on his right side, pushing his wing up. Folding his left wing Legon rolled in the air opening both wings, solidifying the air. Too late, Green was unable to change course, Legon infused his tail blade with a pain spell and swung. The blade crashed against Green's hind side, his wards only stopping magic not metal. Legon's blade dug into flesh and bone moving past wards, he flexed the magic and Green shrieked in pain.

Legon jerked the blade out of the other dragon’s bone, breathing lavender fire, pushing on multiple wards of Green's. In his distraction Green didn't focus, instead losing control and rushing at Legon who dodged him by again playing with the air. Green's biological wards weakened, in his rage the Iumenta seemed not to notice. Again Green rushed Legon, this time getting a grip on his shoulder. Legon felt his muscles burn as they were cut, blood running down his chest and belly. He kicked out at Green and snapped at his neck. Green blocked both, seeming to be getting his focus back.
 

We can’t do this all day
Legon thought
I need to end this.

This time when Green rushed him Legon was counting on him to expect Legon to faint. It worked, Green darted to where Legon should have gone, but he didn't. Legon made no move to dodge. Green exposed his neck. Legon lashed out his blade, slicing Green's neck but not deep. The dragon reared in the sky, Legon spewed a river of magical fire. Green did likewise, the two torrents of flames mixing in the sky. Legon sent a breaking spell, finishing off Green's biologic wards. Green's fire stopped and Legon didn't take time to register the look of horror on his enemy’s face. Legon reached down, feeling the well of power in him, tapping his minor. His body glowed, the power running down the length of him flung out in a orb of amethyst energy. It collided with Green.
 

Time slowed as Legon felt his magic wane drastically, his breath leaving in a whoosh. The spell hit only minor wards which crumpled. Legon watched as all of Green's exposed flesh ripped, shredding into thousands of pieces. The spell wasn't a shredding spell but rather one to vaporize blood. There was a dull pop as Green exploded, scarlet droplets turning the horizon crimson.
 

All that was left of Green was bloody armor and bone, which started its decent to the battle field below.

* * * * *

Barnin gripped Poison’s reins tightly. To his side the bloody bony remains of a giant dragon thudded to earth. He didn't pay it any attention; the sky had been raining gore all week.
 

He turned his head back to his men, "ON ME! ON ME!"

He yelled at Ankle and pointed. Ankle led his men while holding off a group of Calvary. Barnin spurred Poison, running around a formation of Dark Warriors, out flanking them.
Let’s see how you do with this!
He galloped up, catching the formation off guard; too late, they were unable to bring pike men to the rear. Barnin drew his sword, leaning over. Poison slammed into men, jumping over others. Barnin attacked with his blade as men pushed back, his men following suit. He couldn't see the Dark Warriors faces behind the cloth but he guested they wore surprised looks; Poison glowed yellow, the enemy blades being deflected. Barnin broke into a clearing. Before him were two Venefica on horseback, these two were the objective. He charged a war cry making his throat hurt. He ducked and wove as spells came from the startled Venefica.
 

To his side several men went down, but Poison rushed on. One of the Venefica turned, Barnin's other unit had flanked them from the other side. Barnin rushed forward, Poison slamming into the Venefica's horse. Barnin stabbed at the Venefica, who pulled a blade, blocking with unnatural speed. Heath’s magic was gone and Barnin wasn't fast enough to block the Venefica's slash across his chest. Two more came and he barely deflected them. The Venefica grinned, swinging; Barnin raised his sword knowing he couldn't make it in time.
 

His eyes went out of focus as he thought of Samantha and that he wouldn't see her again. Then his arm vibrated. Barnin looked shocked seeing his blade blocking the Venefica who also looked surprised. Barnin felt a mind, "Sara!"

Her voice was strained. "Yes," she growled, "I'm not losing another friend, I don't have much left finish this!"
 

Barnin smiled, "With pleasure."

Barnin rammed his shield into the man destabilizing him. He swung at Barnin but they were now physical equals and Barnin could tell, extensive magical training or not, the Venefica was no swordsmen. He attacked with all his might. The Venefica blocked a few blows and then Barnin stabbed, feeling his blade sink deep in the other man’s chest. He fell from his horse. Next to him the other Venefica turned, but Barnin was already on him removing his head. Sara's presence left Barnin.
 

Barnin turned to the infantry, the joy of victory filling him. Pain stabbed in his gut. He looked down to see the tip of a spear in his belly, blood coming from the wound. He grabbed the spear with weak fingers; it was pulled from him by the Dark Warrior holding it. Barnin pressed his hand against the hole in his gut feeling his life flowing from him. He grasped the horn of his saddle, his own blood slicking his grip; he tottered and fell from his saddle.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

City of Ash

"I often felt as though the weight of the world rested on the shoulders of my sister and me, the Perfectos Compatioa. We felt this way because the weight of the world truly did rest on us. A weight we did not have to bear alone, thankfully."

- The Everser Vald
 

Sasha looked out over the battle field, the dome lighting the ground and hills. It was late in the night, she wasn't sure when but she knew it was well past midnight. She could feel her brother waking up and readying himself for more fighting. He'd defeated the Iumenta class eight that day; it had an immediate effect on both sides. For the Elves they'd been bolstered, the Iumenta it seemed felt opposite. The Iumenta spent the rest of the day losing air space, resulting in ground casualties as well. The dome was falling, but how much longer would it take?
 

The air above flickered with dragons jumping in and out of the area.
 

"Why do they jump out of the area?" Sara wondered beside her.

Sasha looked to her friend, covered in other men’s blood.
 

"We hold the northern air space along with the surrounding area. They need to feed Ascended, but more important they cannot place all of their units here lest we attack Impa cities. So they jump in and out," Sasha explained.

"But what if the crystals are destroyed?"

Sasha shook her head, "The dome has to fall for that to happen. That won’t happen for some time still I think. And besides, the Capital is not far, so the Impa could jump Ascended there instead if needed."
 

But Sara's question got her thinking. Why did it have to take so long for the dome to fall? She had ideas of how to deal with the Iumenta crystals, didn't she? Had a plan even, a plan she wasn't planning on using until they were nearly ready for the dome to fall...she excused herself walking off briskly. The fighting died down at night, only the Elves keeping a large force in the area. She poked Legon with her mind and made her way to Sydin's hanger.
 

The big black dragon slept in a large hanger. She walked up nudging his nose. He didn't respond.

"Sydin!" she said loudly knocking on the top of his head.
 

He opened an eye.

"Wake up!" she said again.

"Sasha, what is it?" he asked not sounding happy to see her.

"I want to attack the dome," she said honestly.

"OK, you go right ahead and do that dear," He said still sounding out of it.

"I think I can crack the defensive crystals," she said.

His eyes opened, "What?"

"I can take them out Sydin, I know I can, but I'll need help."

"I'm listening."

Legon walked over to her, she waved him over, "We need to hit the dome hard and now, take the air space so they can't jump anyone in."

"We can't hold that space for long Sash," Legon said.

"You won’t have too, if you attack the dome it will stress the crystals and I can hit them."

She looked into her brother’s eyes, sending a mental argument his way. Legon looked at Sydin, who still didn't look convinced. He looked at the dome.

"Sydin," Legon said. "Even if Sasha can't do anything, we need to start working the dome over."
 

Sydin agreed.
 

Legon looked back to Sasha, "OK, you have your chance." Then to Sydin, "Give the order to scramble, all hands on deck."

Sydin rose, "Yes Un Prosa. Sasha the attack will begin in ten minutes."
 

She bolted from the hanger over to her work area, waking up team members. She tapped massive store crystals as she went.

* * * * *

Legon took to the air as sirens blared. Ground units didn't know what to make of anything so they just stared up as hundreds of Ascended took to the air.
 

Sydin's voice boomed to all, "We are taking the airspace above the dome, hold and bombard the dome," was his simple order.

Legon's guard formed up around him, all tapping into his mind. Joining him was the Ascended from Sasha's guard. "Sevens up front, stay tight," he ordered. They complied without comment. The dome burst with activity, sirens sounding. Anti dragon flack filled the air. Legon rose sharply, coming high above the dome as others engaged Iumenta Ascended. High above he turned in the air, angling down, "On me!"

He dove, pushing wards out away from his body as he plummeted. The dome grew in size. His unit wove in the fighting, coming on a heavy layer of anti dragon flack. His vision tinted purple as his wards activated, deflecting flack. They extended far enough to protect the others. The air was a blur of fire and magic, he could make out Iumenta on the dome.
 

"Cynta, Opes" he said.

They darted below him, pushing out wards, focusing all their power on them. Legon let his wards fade, reaching deep, pulling power, and sending dozens of breaking spells at the dome along with the others in the guard. Other units were doing likewise.

* * * * *

Keither stumbled to where Sara stood transfixed. "What's happening?" he asked.

"I don't know," she said taking his hand sounding scared.

He tried not to look at the dome, the lights made him feel sick and the sound...all around people, even Elves watched, not knowing what was going on. Keither had never seen anything like it. The battle raging was so fierce.
 

He heard an Elf yelling in Glosso. "What are they saying?" he asked Sara.

She looked at him, "They are saying the Everser Vald is attacking the dome..."
 

A dull roar built as word spread, at first Keither couldn't make it out but then he could. They were cheering, they were shouting support, some clapping others just yelling and still others chanting. The humans started to cheer as well.

From the center of the Elves’ camp a bolt of ruby flew across the field to the dome. There was a bright flash and a crack, the dome flickered and Keither heard the Elves yell louder. Sara started to cheer too and Keither found himself joining.

* * * * *

Legon pushed harder on his spells, feeling the dome fighting him. The air around him was filled with explosions; several dragons had already been forced back away from the battle but Legon wasn't going to stop. A flash of scarlet came from the camp, smacking into the side of the dome. There was a brilliant flash and Legon heard a crack. The wards of the building flickered and he felt a few spells for just a moment hit the white surface.

Sasha!
he thought.

He expanded his connection to her, "You did it!"

"I need help!" she said.

Legon spoke to all the Ascended in the area. "Did you hear that? Did you hear one of the defensive crystals break? My sister did that and she needs our help! Attack with everything you've got, go full power!"

He roared, diving at the building, letting power fill the air. The Ascended bellowed in agreement, the sky lighting brighter than noon with their magic. Again Sasha fired and again there was a crack. Legon got closer to the dome, the anti dragon flack failing. The third time Sasha fired there was another crack and Legon saw the opening of the dome flicker.
 

He folded his wings, dropping into the opening. He was plunged into chaos. He landed on the stone floor, empty hangers all around. He spewed forth lavender fire killing all in the area. Opes, Sydin and Cynta joined him in the dome. Familiars from all of the Elf Ascended flooded in taking out infantry.

"The crystals!" Sydin said.

Legon looked to the walls, seeing large blocks where they'd be. He fought through pricks of pain from arrows. Three of the blocks were blackened. He went to one that was not, smashing it with his tail and claws. It broke, as did others as the Iumenta fled.

"The dome is down!" Iselin said from outside, "Its wards have failed."

Legon came to his senses looking to Sydin, "The Capital." The old dragon nodded and they flew out of the dome.

* * * * *

Edling stood, nervous. He knew his part in this mission, had known his part for some time. He just didn't think it was going to happen tonight. Emma stood with him.