His eyes burned, he squinted involuntarily, barely seeing ten feet in front of him. The smell of rotting eggs assailed his nostrils, his lungs felt as if they were on fire. He was on the verge of suffocating. He knelt to one knee, one hand in ash and gravel, the other tightly gripping his spear.
All around him smoke filled the air, emanating from the ground itself and the charred remains of a forest long burnt. He coughed as he tried to catch his breath.
"It's up there." His older brother beside him pointed, his blonde hair and skin blackened with soot. "I am certain of it, the nest is up there."
Kaleb followed his finger up the cliff face. The smoke hid the jutting white stones scraping the grey sky. Atop, the nest of grey stones was nearly invisible. Climbing that is impossible, he thought, fingering the purple shard hanging from a piece of cord around his neck.
"I can not see anything." Kan cried, he coughed. "Are you sure Orin?"
"Yes I am sure." Orin answered. "Let us get going, we have wasted enough time as it is, nightfall is upon us. Loiter any longer and we will have to sleep here."
"I am not sleeping here." Kaleb cried. "But do you think she is up there, can you see? We will die if we climb up there and she is there, we can not fight her."
"Enough of your cowardice." Tolkien stood, looking down on Kaleb in contempt. "If she is there we fight and die as Dyagons, not as some sniffling child."
"But..."
"Let's go."
The four boys ran through the asphyxiating air, the ash muffled the sound of gravel crunching underfoot. Their honour were at stake, returning to the village without accomplishing their task meant shame and certain derision. They would be treated as pariahs.
Kaleb gripped the purple stone as he ran, he had thought the hard part of the trials were over. He had fought, clawed and faced death at every turn, barely coming out alive to receive this stone. As fate would have it, that was only the beginning.
His mother had sheltered him too much, he was her baby Kaleb after all. However life was cruel, he had learned this all too late when she died. His village was a village of warriors, his father was a warrior so a warrior he had to become. Dragon warriors; Dyagons the outsiders called them and getting the Amalgama stone was the easy part, now he had to hunt a dragon's egg.
They had located a nest, but fighting a dragon with spears, fighting a dragon with anything but sorcery for that matter, was suicide. He winced as the stone of the cliff cut into his hand. His body ached, he groaned, willing himself upward. Gusts of strong winds slammed him against the stone face, his muscles and joints screamed in agony.
He prayed the dragon was not there guarding her eggs. Dragons were ferocious enough, a mother protecting her eggs would be vicious.
The other boys were out pacing him, he had to catch up. He strained, putting more effort into his sore muscles. He closed his eyes and grimaced as blood from his fingers ran down his arm. The warriors way was the way of pain.
This pain was nothing he told himself. The bonding ceremony would be more excruciating. The Amalgama stone that he had worked so hard for would be used to intertwine his consciousness with that of the unborn dragon within the egg. For that to happen his mind would have to be unravelled and reassembled. He may not survive the process.
For centuries his clan has been the most venerated in his village, holding the highest rank. This was his duty and he would not fail.
"I see no sign of her." His brother called from above him. Orin was his clan's pride and joy, he for sure would one day be chosen to hold the title of leader. "Hurry. We have to do this before she returns."
His muscles pleaded for mercy the rest of his journey upwards. His shoulder had been dislocated the last time the wind had assaulted him, he was certain of it. Kan reached down and pulled him up the last couple of feet, he screamed out in anguish as his body felt as if it was being torn apart.
"Grab an egg and let's go." Orin cried. "Hurry!"
Kaleb collapsed by the nest of stones breathing heavily. "Give me a minute."
"Damn it Kaleb get up, get up now."
"I just need to catch my breath."
"By the mercy of Rai Uz!" Kan cried out suddenly. "Grab an egg, she is coming, we have to move now!"
Kaleb picked up an egg, it was about the size of his head and felt as though it was made of steel. He shoved it into the pooch at his side and squinted into the distance at the dark speck rapidly getting larger.
Kan was already on his way down the cliff face. Orin grabbed Kaleb and pulled him from the nest.
"Damn it, Kaleb, move!"
Tolkien held on to both of them before they could begin their descent. "No Orin, she will be here in no time. If we start climbing down now our hands and feet will not be free to fight."
"To do what?!" Kaleb exclaimed. "Are you insane. We will die if we stay here."
"That we will," Tolkien grinned. "And we will die fighting as warriors."
"Orin?" Kaleb pleaded.
"Enough!" Orin shouted. He positioned himself in the nest amongst the eggs with his spear at the ready, Tolkien joined him. "Mom would be ashamed, even if you are her baby Kaleb. Let's hope she isn't looking down on us now." He glanced back at his younger brother, his eyes filled with disgust. "I am still your older brother however, it is my duty to protect you."
The dragon screeched as it neared them, the sound reverberated through their bodies and tore at their eardrums. It swooped down suddenly, dipping below them. Fire erupted from its massive jaws, shaking the mountain.
"Kan!" Kaleb cried out, he watched as his friend fell from the cliff face below, a sizzling ball of fire. "No!"
The dragon continued swooping downwards, then spreading its gigantic wings caught an updraft and soared back into the sky.
"It's coming back around, brace yourself." Orin cried.
Kaleb gazed at his back, his stupid older brother. Was he not afraid? Why was he so brave?
"Why am I such a coward?" Tears welled up in Kakeb's eyes. That was all he could do. This was what he always resorted to, he was nothing but a crybaby.
He watched his brother steeling up for the dragon's attack. Orin was the future of the clan, with him at its helm the clan would continue to be great. A crybaby like Kaleb however was not needed. He ran forward and pushed Orin and Tolkien aside as the dragon flew in to attack. He dived from the nest with his spear in hand.
He was not needed, if the future of their clan was to be secured Orin and Tolkien were. Kaleb the crybaby could die here.
Fire erupted from vicious jaws as Kaleb shouted a feral war cry throwing his spear. Fire engulfed him, spear, egg and all.
...
Kaleb woke up startled, almost falling from his chair. His eyes darted around, checking his surroundings. Daidra was rising in the east and dew lay heavy upon the trees. He pulled his yellow cloak tight around him as the chilly wind brought laughter from below to his ears. Why was he dreaming of that now?
"Did you hear me?" Daimos asked, he turned from the balcony he was overlooking. "Are you even listening to me?"
"I am. I am." Kaleb replied. He was not in the mood for this, he had been up all night tracking something, something that was already responsible for the deaths of at least four men. And now these dreams.
"I am telling you it was a mistake letting them cross our borders."
"I thought you said they saved you from certain death."
"I wouldn't say certain." Daimos replied. His face flushed. "But just look at them, they prance around here like they own the damn place."
Kaleb sighed. Something foreign to the realm was hunting in the surrounding forest. At first only the scattered remains of wildlife were seen but it had moved on to nearby farmlands which was the problem. Now it was hunting even easier prey, livestock and two farmers were found almost completely eaten. Rumours had spread throughout the land about a beast comprising body parts of different animals with insatiable blood lust, a sort of chimera. The city had organized a hunting party but two of the guards that went did not return. Those that did were completely terrified and would not venture back into the forest.
The Cardinal had ordered him to take care of the situation personally to put an end to the rumours and spreading fear. However with captain Deinos out of the city the duty of keeping the Lamechs in check also fell to him.
What was so special about that five anyways that the captain himself had to take them to Saon? Quorae thirteen, each five was assigned a number in accordance to the sequence in which they would visit the Daidran city, they were just another litter of half breed. Why take them himself?
"Prance?" Kaleb asked, raising his eyebrows. He rose from the chair and joined Daimos looking down on a group of Lamechs chattering below. "I would hardly call that prancing."
"They are up to something." Daimos cried. "Don't say I didn't warn you when they spring their trap."
"Do not talk like that around the others," Kaleb warned. "You will spread fear and conjecture among the men. You and I both know why they are here."
Still from Daimos's account of the events two nights ago, that nymph was powerful. Were nymphs not suppose to be gentle creatures? He shook his head in thought. Yet those Lamechs had taken her down so easily and with barely a scratch.
Even with such a small number of them here in the city, if the lamechs were up to something, they really could pose a problem. Come to think of it, these attacks by that beast did start around the same time as their arrival, and also there is the matter of that kiss. Why would the nymph have kissed the Lamech?
"Well as the nymph said anything as yet?" Kaleb asked.
"No." Daimos answered. "The witch is keeping her mouth shut."
Kaleb sighed again, captain Deinos would be returning later today which means there would be one less item on his plate. He could go back to the hunt, not only of that chimera but of the infidels of the temple of Lumeira and all those who saw it fit to disobey the Senate and the Order.
He lived for the hunt.
"I think she is waiting for that lamech to return." Daimos continued.
"Why would she be?" Kaleb asked.
"Because she thinks he is Aimar."
"Aimar?" Kaleb laughed. "The son of Rai Aiden is not a Lamech, Daimos, and if he was hiding among them in this city, right under our noses do you not think we would notice. Are we all fools?"
Aimar; the aberration created by the experimentations of the mages of the now destroyed temple of Lumeira, was more of a Sfin. A dark Sfin, if ever there was one. It took the appearance of a beautiful, androgynous child. Its beauty was second to none, attracting both male and female alike. Kaleb had seen it once, and had found his unnatural attraction to it revolting.
A hundred years ago a single mage, on the verge of death, had returned from the realm of Pejora. His exploratory party comprising of twenty powerful mages had been hunted down and slaughtered, he was the sole survivor. For their sacrifice he had returned with a completely useless treasure, a philosopher's stone that he claimed was infused with the aura of the sealed Rai Aiden and the legendary flames of Nandura. Subsequent efforts to utilize the power within this stone proved futile, with it killing every mage brave or stupid enough to undertake the task. A conclusion was reached, to be used - given the nature of philosopher's stones - the person doing so would have to be born with that affinity. A novel idea was conceived, the stone was to be implanted into the heart of an unborn still developing foetus. The reasoning being that the child would grow absorbing and incorporating the aura within the stone with its own.
However even this idea was met with failures, the experiments resulted in many gruesome deaths. The stone consumed many mothers and children in glorious blazes. Thought a blessing at the time, Aimar was fortuitously created when the stone was implanted into the divine and thus more resilient foetus of a lesser Sfin.
The result was a beautiful monster responsible for the deaths of hundreds.
"That is what she believes." Daimos answered. "And I have heard from the guards who know this lamech that there is something odd about him."
"As far as I am concerned they are all odd." Kaleb cried. He scratched his chin, picturing the lovable but wicked smile of a young Aimar. The child, when he had lost control, had sprouted wings of fire, rendering the ground at his feet molten. The monks at that time had for some reason used the nymph to calm him. "Wait until this lamech has returned and solicit his help in her questioning, then maybe we will get some answers."
"And involve him even further in our affairs?"
"Just do it. If she really thinks he is Aimar she might say something." Kaleb said walking away. "I need to get some rest."
"Sir."
He would be back on the hunt again tonight. First he would check the traps he had laid and if empty he would have to try finding the tracks of the beast. The potential danger of the lamechs was not as imminent as that of this beast.
Growing panic could destabilize this region. Hysteria would lead to people being afraid to leave their houses, leaving farms and animals abandoned. This would inevitable lead to a food shortage. Lingering criminal elements would take advantage of the situation, robbing and looting. The realm could fall into chaos. Not on his watch, he was a Dyagon, the entire forest would burn before he let that happen.
Let captain Deinos handle the subtleties of dealing with the lamechs. He preferred a more hands on approach.
Why do they always gather in groups of five, Kaleb wondered as he walked by one such group. They turned in his direction, smiled and bowed slightly. Wolves in the skin of sheep, an opponent that bore its teeth was more to his liking.
They were definitely up to something, why else would they have taken the Senate's offer. They got nothing from the deal but the promise of death. Yet here they were, chatting and smiling without a care as if all was right in the world.
Foolishness, all of it. If the rest of Onra knew, or worse if the other realms of Rai Uz found out what they were doing here, the consequences would be dire. And to think just over a decade ago the temple of Lumeira was destroyed for doing almost the same thing. The affairs of the Rais were not to be trifled with. Onra was being denied a king for a reason.
A kingdom without a king was always in danger from other kingdoms but they had survived for millennia with the Senate in charge. Why risk it all now, if it was known that lamechs were allowed to enter the realm, the other realms of light would invade leading to war. The Senate would be ostracized and its supporters put to the sword.
He entered his living quarters and collapsed on his cot. Origen was going to be angry, he was up all night and with Kaleb awake it was stopping him from falling asleep. Kaleb pulled the shard of purple stone from beneath is iridescent dark green armor.
"Sorry bud."
I should probably remove the city cloak and my armor in order to sleep comfortably, he thought. His hand moved to the silver dragon clasp holding the cloak in place. "Just give me five minutes, I will do it. I will do it." He said as sleep took him.
..
A knock at his door woke him. He sat up looking around for a minute wondering where he was and what time of day it is. The knock came again.
"Yes, yes." If it was Daimos he was going to get a piece of his mind.
"Captain Deinos, has returned sir. You said you were to be informed as soon as he did."
"Thank you, I will be right out." He got up and walked over to the mirror, grooming his blonde hair. There were bags under his eyes and he was looking older than he actually was. Truthfully he was never considered handsome among his village, his brother, Orin and his sister, Orinthia had inherited all the looks, but even so he was now looking a little worse for wear.
He needed shaving, the stubble under his chin was thick and itchy. His green eyes had lost their luster and he was looking a little thin. He needed some time to kick back and relax, a vacation maybe. He could visit the hot springs and the luxury inns of Oshunra or maybe just go back home to his village to catch up with his friends. He kept thinking of his home as a village but in actually it was a city, the eight villages of the eight clans had long since come together to form the city of Dragonstone.
The establishment, survival and consequent prosperity of the Dyagon society was a miracle. The eight clans had originally been chased from their lands by warring factions of the neighbouring realm of Oyara. Cornered and with nowhere else to run the clans were forced into the bordering - dragon infested - mountains of the realm of Onra. Being mere human and with only a handful of second rate mages they were not expected to survive. And indeed masses were lost from exposure to the elements, starvation and being roasted and devoured by the fiery serpents.
However when all seemed lost something unexpected happened: A small boy, orphaned, starving and seeking protection from the cold of winter, crawled into a random cave. The walls of the cave pulsated with a eerie purple light and in its innermost reaches lay a nest of eggs. It was a dragon's nest, and rather than face the claws of winter once more the boy resigned himself to die within the warm recesses of the cave. However his resolve was weak and he clung to live, living amongst the glowing purple stones and the dragon eggs, surviving on the roasted scraps of meat - some probably being pieces of his own countrymen - left behind when the dragon left the cave to hunt.
This boy, at the end of a long and harsh winter, had emerged from the cave as the first of the Dyagons. And though weak when compared to a modern Dyagon, this boy and the subsequent similarly created dragon warriors were responsible for the survival of the eight clans.
Now the Dyagon clans were an indispensable part of the security and the military might of the realm of Onra. This was why Kaleb held this life consuming and arduous position here in the Holy city.
Why was the captain back so early anyways? Kaleb wondered, he could have sworn that he had just fallen asleep. He closed his eyes checking for Origen.
The night forest rushed by below. To his left Lumeira was peeking over the eastern horizon just enough to illuminate the sky but leaving the forest below in shadows. In the darkness a mouse emerged from its home pecking at some morsel on the forest floor. A moment later it was gone with a squeak. The silent wings of a owl carried it skywards, clutched in its deadly talons. Such was the cruelty of nature.
Cool wind on his wings and face he growled. Such was nature.
Kaleb opened his eyes. He had overslept and Origen had started the hunt without him. Origen temper was as fiery as his breath, they were going to have it out later for sure.
He picked up his sword and prayed to Rai Uz for the energy he needed to make it through the night. He left his room.
"Captain Deinos has gone down to the cells."
"Thank you again." Kaleb replied, nodding to the guard waiting on him outside. The guard was covered in the city's cloak with the hood up over his helmet. His hazel eyes and brown hair could barely be seen. "Find Daimos and have him meet me there."
"Sir." The guard bowed and hurried away.
Origen would check the areas they had laid the traps first. Kaleb would join him after reporting to captain Deinos. The captain would take over the questioning of the nymph and the dealings with the lamechs, leaving him free to do what he loved. It has been a while since he burnt anything to a crisp.
He banged on the black metal door to the dungeons. A slot opened and a pair of blue eyes peered out at him. The door opened and he stepped inside.
"The captain is awaiting you sir."
Kaleb nodded and continued further down the passage. Cells lay on either side and flickering torch light revealed eyes looking out from behind random metal doors at him. The odor of urine, filth and diseased bodies longing to be cleaned turned his stomach.
He wondered how in the world the dungeon wardens managed in these conditions every day.
"Sir, the lieutenant is here."
"Ah, Kaleb, you are finally here." Deinos beckoned to him as he turned.
Kaleb walked towards him, however his eyes were fixed on the lamech standing at Deinos's side. "Goodnight sir, you had a fruitful trip I hope."
"Fruitful? Yeah, I suppose it was." Deinos said, then watching Kaleb's eyes. "Oh, this is Aivar. I have asked for his assistance with the nymph and he has agreed."
"Aivar?" Kaleb raised his brow, observing the tall, dark - even in the bright golden cloak of the city - lamech with striking features. He smiled and bowed slightly and Kaleb fought the urge to back away. There was something about him he could not quite put his finger on. "You are the one that recaptured her?"
"I played my part," Aivar answered.
"I am told that she thinks you are an accomplice," Kaleb continued reading his eyes. "The one called Aimar."
"I think she does..." Aivar looked pass him as there was a bang on one of the cell doors in the dimness and again met his eyes. "However it is I may assist, I will be happy to do so."
"Happy?" Kaleb walked by him, heading towards the nymph's cell. "I am sure you are." His tone changed suddenly. "You will ascertain the location of her other accomplices and nothing else, understand?"
"Understood."
"Lieutenant Kaleb." The dyagon turned as a guard, out of breath, came running towards him. "Sir, Sir!"
"Yes, what is it?"
The guard grabbed his shoulder and brought his lips to his ear. "The restricted archives beneath the city," the guard whispered, trying to catch his breath. "Lamechs have broken in, Daimos needs your assistance now."
Daimos?
"Captain, kindly take care of things here." Kaleb said, already at a trot. "I am urgently needed elsewhere."
"Lieutenant? Lieutenant!"
Kaleb burst from the dungeons at a run with the guard at his side struggling to keep up. Best not to involve the captain as yet, it could be a misunderstanding on the lamech's part entering that sanctum without permission. However, if it was intentional and the lamechs were really after something to be found in the ancient archives it would be better he dealt with it, the captain could be too soft at times.
"How many?"
"Five." The guard answered between breaths. "Daimos and twenty men have them surrounded, they were at a standoff when he sent me to get you."
"A stand off?"
"The risks of damaging the archives are too great, a fight is out of the question." The guard answered.
"Let's pray Daimos will not be rash and jump to conclusions before we get to the bottom of this."
"There is no mistake sir, Daimos had us watching them for weeks." The guard said. "This is subterfuge, we think they are after the Seofon."
"The Seofon?" Kaleb's eyes were suddenly wide. There was only one possible connection between the Lamechs and that group. "By the Rais, they must be stopped at all cost."
They rushed into the library, passing hundreds of darkened shelves opened to the general citizenry of the city, into departments reserved for the upper elites and finally pass the dark polished oaken doors that had been sliced clean off, the sentries posted there were nowhere to be seen. And into the ancient halls where the history of the world had been meticulously recorded and kept. The lineage of the noble families of the world, blueprints of official buildings and city layouts of the fourteen realms, rare spells, incantations and forbidden rituals were just some of the things to be found here.
Bodies littered the floor, books and scrolls were scattered about and light smoke filled the air.
"This way!" The guard exclaimed, indicating the trail of the chaos and carnage.
All the bodies were city guards, Kaleb noticed. They had been sliced clean through, bloodless wounds no doubt inflicted by the heated blades of the lamechs. They raced through the maze of shelves, the body count increasing as they went along. All guards, not one lamechi fatality.
The clash of swords, cries and grunts caught their ears. They rounded a corner and were greeted by the scene of the battle. Five lamechs stood back to back, forming a tight circle. One had a large scroll swung across his back. The city guards had them completely surrounded but seemed afraid to close in as the space leading to the lamechs' feet was strewn with the bodies of their fallen comrades. Daimos was leaning against a shelf, one hand gripping his shoulder and the other his sword.
"What is the meaning of this?" Kaleb asked.
His eyes were met by that of the lamech with the scroll across his back. He spoke no words in response but instead only narrowed his eyes.
"Do you know what you have done?" Kaleb tried again. "You have violated our treaty, you have thrown away our hope for peace and have..."
"Peace?" The lamech laughed. "There can be no peace with the foot of the world on the throat of my people and my Rai."
"Your people? Your Rai?" Kaleb asked stepping closer and joining the circle of guards. "We have been nothing but kind to you and your people, and your Almighty Zohar does not need us since he already has you."
The lamech laughed again. "Rai Zohar? Are you playing dumb?"
"Enough of your insolence!" Daimos grunted. "None of you will leave this place alive, no more prattling and grand standing I knew you hagarian filth could not be trusted."
"Hagarian? You underestimate us but you will learn once more to fear us even more than you do them. Now come at us, come join your comrades laying at my feet."
"No don't!" Kaleb's shout came too late. The circle of guards rushed forward, reacting to the taunt and closing on the five. There was no clash of swords this time, only screams cut short and the sounds of bodies hitting the ground. The lamechs did not parry, there was no need to, only slight steps to get inside the defenses of their opponents. And each fell with one swing of their swords.
Kaleb stepped aside as the lamech with the scroll cut through a guard and came at him. The black sword gashed against his green armor, sending sparks flying.
"Let them through." He shouted as he sprang backwards, creating more space between him and the lamech. "Let them outside, we fight in the open. Let them through."
The lamechs were skilled at close quarter combat, this was obvious. And their swords made it almost impossible to ward off their attacks with conventional steel weapons. However they carried no bows, outside they would be at a disadvantage and outside he could summon Origen. The commotion should also draw the attention of the city mage.
The lamechs flitted pass him, disappearing through the maze of shelves. He grabbed Daimos by the arm as he was running by.
"Still alive?" He asked raising his eyebrows. He signalled to the surviving guards. "We catch them outside, they will not escape."