Prologue
The Masters of Guilds gathered in Calafrack, for a familiar danger had returned to their free lands: a dragon. When last a dragon came it was the first of its kind seen by human eyes. The dragon was believed to be a creature of myth and legend before Cedric Bull, of the Bull Guild, unleashed one in an attempt to take over leadership of Calafrack for himself. He failed, though, as the combined efforts of Michael Stonevien and Rattish the Wise proved to be too much for the beast, with Rattish’s powerful wind magic and Michael’s superior speed and strength. Cedric was banished from Calafrack and his fortress became property of the guild masters.
But two years later, this dragon was different, and with it came a much greater threat. Plife Draven, a lord of neighboring Pegasus, had declared war on his own kingdom. His army, along with his dragon, Gigalith, had already taken Sky City and killed Pegasus’s King Joseph Natale. Despite the might of his dragon, the lords of Pegasus still remained loyal to the Natale family and refused to submit to Draven’s rule. Plife lost the young prince, Nico, as he came under the protection of his loyal lords and was hidden by them in Pegasus, while the princess Alexandria escaped to Calafrack under the alias Diana Farrow, and contracted the Woodsmen Guild to protect her. When Plife caught wind of this, he personally marched an army and his dragon to Calafrack and demanded the Woodsmen forfeit the princess to him.
After meeting with the council, John Gondev, the leader of the Woodsmen, conceded to Plife’s demands, knowing that they would not be able to oppose a dragon, and arranged for the exchange of the princess. It was generally considered bad practice for a guild to breach a contract once terms were agreed upon, but with the circumstances so dire John was under immense pressure from the council. His son, Linkoln, disagreed with his father’s course of action, however, and took it upon himself to try to escape with the princess. He took off on his forest flyer, a one-of-a-kind boat that sails through the air, but the dragon Gigalith attacked, and his ship crashed into the Mountain of Dreams, leaving him and the princess missing. In this hour of darkness the council gathered again to decide what to do next, as without the princess the threat of attack from Plife’s army loomed overhead.
But two years later, this dragon was different, and with it came a much greater threat. Plife Draven, a lord of neighboring Pegasus, had declared war on his own kingdom. His army, along with his dragon, Gigalith, had already taken Sky City and killed Pegasus’s King Joseph Natale. Despite the might of his dragon, the lords of Pegasus still remained loyal to the Natale family and refused to submit to Draven’s rule. Plife lost the young prince, Nico, as he came under the protection of his loyal lords and was hidden by them in Pegasus, while the princess Alexandria escaped to Calafrack under the alias Diana Farrow, and contracted the Woodsmen Guild to protect her. When Plife caught wind of this, he personally marched an army and his dragon to Calafrack and demanded the Woodsmen forfeit the princess to him.
After meeting with the council, John Gondev, the leader of the Woodsmen, conceded to Plife’s demands, knowing that they would not be able to oppose a dragon, and arranged for the exchange of the princess. It was generally considered bad practice for a guild to breach a contract once terms were agreed upon, but with the circumstances so dire John was under immense pressure from the council. His son, Linkoln, disagreed with his father’s course of action, however, and took it upon himself to try to escape with the princess. He took off on his forest flyer, a one-of-a-kind boat that sails through the air, but the dragon Gigalith attacked, and his ship crashed into the Mountain of Dreams, leaving him and the princess missing. In this hour of darkness the council gathered again to decide what to do next, as without the princess the threat of attack from Plife’s army loomed overhead.
Gien sat, tapping his fingers on the oval oaken table. “What is the word from Plife’s camp?”
“We have till sun-up tomorrow to turn the princess over to him,” replied John Gondev. “If we do not, he promises to burn Calafrack to ashes.”
“He won’t,” Rattish interrupted. “Makes no sense for him to, especially if he knows that we were about to cooperate. Your son has put us in a rather difficult situation, John. If we cannot find him and the princess, we may have to offer some other means of tribute to Plife.”
“We have till sun-up tomorrow to turn the princess over to him,” replied John Gondev. “If we do not, he promises to burn Calafrack to ashes.”
“He won’t,” Rattish interrupted. “Makes no sense for him to, especially if he knows that we were about to cooperate. Your son has put us in a rather difficult situation, John. If we cannot find him and the princess, we may have to offer some other means of tribute to Plife.”
“What if she’s dead? What if they are both dead?” questioned Sully Borden of the Dawn Star Guild. “Isn’t Plife’s intention to kill off the Natales so there is no threat to his claim? Why not just tell him the bitch is dead and that we did his dirty work for him? Maybe he’d just go away.”
Rattish began to shake his head. “No, he likely wants to marry the girl himself, or give her to his son. That’s why he’s concentrating on finding her more than her brother. With a Natale in his bloodline, the lords of Pegasus may more easily accept his rule, but I fear that no matter what we give him, he will not simply leave us and go. A dragon is a powerful weapon, and that kind of power can change a man. You all were here two years ago when Cedric Bull unleashed his dragon. He sought only one thing: conquest. Plife is no fool; he is in fact much wiser than Cedric was. He will have our lands.”
Rattish began to shake his head. “No, he likely wants to marry the girl himself, or give her to his son. That’s why he’s concentrating on finding her more than her brother. With a Natale in his bloodline, the lords of Pegasus may more easily accept his rule, but I fear that no matter what we give him, he will not simply leave us and go. A dragon is a powerful weapon, and that kind of power can change a man. You all were here two years ago when Cedric Bull unleashed his dragon. He sought only one thing: conquest. Plife is no fool; he is in fact much wiser than Cedric was. He will have our lands.”
“So why let him?” Michael chimed in, with a calm and settling voice. He sat at his father’s side, a man of nineteen sporting a confident grin and wide eyes partially hidden underneath his thick black curls. “We have slain one dragon, Rattish, you and I, so why can we not slay another? Let Plife Draven attempt to take our lands, sack our city. We can fight his army. If all the guilds combine, victory is possible. We will push him out of our lands, and his dragon? We can kill that too. I know it.”
Rattish sighed. “No.” His voice was stern and cold. Michael had been filled with much hope and confidence, but that one solemn “no” shattered it all. “This dragon is different, much older, larger, more deadly. The two of us would not be able to slay such a beast. I know this, Michael, and you must trust me.”
“What would you have us do? Lie down and let him conquer us? Let him take everything you, my father, and all these men worked so hard to build?” Michael stood now, staring down at Rattish, but Rattish calmly smiled back.
“No Michael, I wouldn’t. I simply wish for us to play his game for now. My advice to you all is to submit to Plife’s will. Tell him the truth of what happened to Linkoln and the princess and swear fealty to him. Become his friend, his ally for now. There is no way we can defeat him alone, but I have friends, old friends mightier than I. With even one of them Michael and I would be able to slay this dragon, and I may even be able to return with an army that would dwarf Plife’s. I simply need time, for I have a long way to travel.”
Rattish sighed. “No.” His voice was stern and cold. Michael had been filled with much hope and confidence, but that one solemn “no” shattered it all. “This dragon is different, much older, larger, more deadly. The two of us would not be able to slay such a beast. I know this, Michael, and you must trust me.”
“What would you have us do? Lie down and let him conquer us? Let him take everything you, my father, and all these men worked so hard to build?” Michael stood now, staring down at Rattish, but Rattish calmly smiled back.
“No Michael, I wouldn’t. I simply wish for us to play his game for now. My advice to you all is to submit to Plife’s will. Tell him the truth of what happened to Linkoln and the princess and swear fealty to him. Become his friend, his ally for now. There is no way we can defeat him alone, but I have friends, old friends mightier than I. With even one of them Michael and I would be able to slay this dragon, and I may even be able to return with an army that would dwarf Plife’s. I simply need time, for I have a long way to travel.”
“I know, I know.” He had removed Daniel from the chamber and the two were talking in the hall. Michael looked down into his brother’s brown eyes that matched his own, deep and dark and glazed with tears. “I don’t agree with Rattish’s plan, but he’s never been wrong before, and I do trust him. You should too.”
“Why should I? He doesn’t think I’m strong, but I am. You know it too. I want to help. I want to slay a dragon too.”
“Dragons are not easy to slay, Daniel, and this one is a lot bigger than the one that I killed. I know you wanted to help last time but—”
“I was too young,” Daniel mimicked in a mocking tone. “But I’m 13 now. I’m a lot stronger than I used to be. You saw me when I went out with you that last time on patrol. Those bandits thought they could just push us around and take what was ours. We showed them.”
“We did.”
“And Link is out there, Michael. Link! He’s our friend, we can’t just leave him like that!”
This fact also bothered Michael. Linkoln had been good friend of theirs, but the fact of the matter was that he very well might have gotten himself killed. “I know Dan, I wanted to go find him, but—”
“Then why won’t you just let me help you? Why do we have to—”
“Why do you ask so many questions? It’s not your call to make, Daniel. It’s not even my call. Father only lets me sit and speak because he wants me to take his position one day, but honestly it’s up to the guild masters.”
“So you’ll tell them then? Try to get them to let us slay that dragon and bring Link home?”
“No Daniel, I won’t. You’re my littler brother, kid, and I’m not going to let you go out there and risk your life. I don’t care that you think you can do it or that maybe you can. Link’s my friend and I love him, but you’re my brother and I’m going to protect you. And if protecting you means doing what they say and leaving him out there, then that’s what protecting you means. Link made his choice. He put us in this situation. He’s got to deal with that now. Now go! I’ll stop by your room after the meeting has adjourned. I’ll fill you in on everything. I promise.”
Michael could see the tears start to pool in his brother’s eyes before he ran away from him down the hallway. He knew his brother desperately wanted to fight alongside him, that it was the boy’s dream. He even knew that his little brother might be right, that they could slay that dragon together; he even thought he could do it himself, but now he had to swallow the same pill he had fed his brother. It simply wasn’t his call. All that strength, the strength to dance around and behead a dragon, and still no power. Still at the mercy of his father and Rattish and the council.
“Why should I? He doesn’t think I’m strong, but I am. You know it too. I want to help. I want to slay a dragon too.”
“Dragons are not easy to slay, Daniel, and this one is a lot bigger than the one that I killed. I know you wanted to help last time but—”
“I was too young,” Daniel mimicked in a mocking tone. “But I’m 13 now. I’m a lot stronger than I used to be. You saw me when I went out with you that last time on patrol. Those bandits thought they could just push us around and take what was ours. We showed them.”
“We did.”
“And Link is out there, Michael. Link! He’s our friend, we can’t just leave him like that!”
This fact also bothered Michael. Linkoln had been good friend of theirs, but the fact of the matter was that he very well might have gotten himself killed. “I know Dan, I wanted to go find him, but—”
“Then why won’t you just let me help you? Why do we have to—”
“Why do you ask so many questions? It’s not your call to make, Daniel. It’s not even my call. Father only lets me sit and speak because he wants me to take his position one day, but honestly it’s up to the guild masters.”
“So you’ll tell them then? Try to get them to let us slay that dragon and bring Link home?”
“No Daniel, I won’t. You’re my littler brother, kid, and I’m not going to let you go out there and risk your life. I don’t care that you think you can do it or that maybe you can. Link’s my friend and I love him, but you’re my brother and I’m going to protect you. And if protecting you means doing what they say and leaving him out there, then that’s what protecting you means. Link made his choice. He put us in this situation. He’s got to deal with that now. Now go! I’ll stop by your room after the meeting has adjourned. I’ll fill you in on everything. I promise.”
Michael could see the tears start to pool in his brother’s eyes before he ran away from him down the hallway. He knew his brother desperately wanted to fight alongside him, that it was the boy’s dream. He even knew that his little brother might be right, that they could slay that dragon together; he even thought he could do it himself, but now he had to swallow the same pill he had fed his brother. It simply wasn’t his call. All that strength, the strength to dance around and behead a dragon, and still no power. Still at the mercy of his father and Rattish and the council.
“How is he?” Gien asked.
“You know how he is, Father. He thinks he can take on the world.”
“Not so different than his brother then.” His father smirked. “Still, eavesdropping on a meeting of the guild masters and then barging in—Daniel will have to be disciplined. I cannot allow him to act in such a manner.”
“He means well, Father. Let me talk to him. He’s just upset about Link.”
“We all are,” John interrupted.
“What’s going to happen to your son, John? If he’s alive I mean, what are you going to do?” asked Michael.
“You know how he is, Father. He thinks he can take on the world.”
“Not so different than his brother then.” His father smirked. “Still, eavesdropping on a meeting of the guild masters and then barging in—Daniel will have to be disciplined. I cannot allow him to act in such a manner.”
“He means well, Father. Let me talk to him. He’s just upset about Link.”
“We all are,” John interrupted.
“What’s going to happen to your son, John? If he’s alive I mean, what are you going to do?” asked Michael.
“That’s a topic for the Woodsmen’s table, son. He’s my flesh but he betrayed us all.”
“You reap what you sow,” Michael’s father added. “Link may very well be alive, but we will not be searching for him. No one is to leave the city until we have met with Plife tomorrow. The consequences of Link’s actions will be dealt with, if and when he returns. Hopefully, if the Dravens find him, they won’t kill him. And then maybe if they get their hands on the princess we won’t need to follow through with Rattish’s plan of surrender.”
“Wishful thinking.” John sighed. “I appreciate your concern for my boy, Michael. I know you two were close, but your father is right. Link did what he did, and now our main concern is cleaning up his mess.”
Michael could see John was struggling with his words. How could he not? Link was his only son and the two had been so close. The fact that Link had disobeyed John and his guild, which he loved, was baffling to Michael. But then again, Michael didn’t know the whole story, and it was not likely that he would find out.
“You reap what you sow,” Michael’s father added. “Link may very well be alive, but we will not be searching for him. No one is to leave the city until we have met with Plife tomorrow. The consequences of Link’s actions will be dealt with, if and when he returns. Hopefully, if the Dravens find him, they won’t kill him. And then maybe if they get their hands on the princess we won’t need to follow through with Rattish’s plan of surrender.”
“Wishful thinking.” John sighed. “I appreciate your concern for my boy, Michael. I know you two were close, but your father is right. Link did what he did, and now our main concern is cleaning up his mess.”
Michael could see John was struggling with his words. How could he not? Link was his only son and the two had been so close. The fact that Link had disobeyed John and his guild, which he loved, was baffling to Michael. But then again, Michael didn’t know the whole story, and it was not likely that he would find out.
His brother’s words still echoed in Michael’s head: “Link is out there, Michael. Link! He’s our friend.” He could hear the brat’s squeaky little voice repeating that phrase over and over again as he made his way home with his father. The sun had begun to set and the hour was drawing nearer that they would have to surrender their freedom to Plife Draven. The idea disgusted Michael, made him utterly sick to his stomach. His whole life he had never once been forced to bow down to a king or to a lord. He was free. Yes, he was always under the thumb of his father, but that was different. That was family. Now he would not only be forced to kneel, but also be forced to watch his father, the proud founder of Calafrack, a city based on principles of freedom, kneel as well.
When they got home, Michael could tell as soon as the aroma fluttered its way up his nostrils that his mother had just finished seasoning a fine rabbit stew. Rabbit stew was his brother’s favorite; no doubt their mother had seen how upset Daniel was and made it especially for him.
“Good evening, my love,” his father said, kissing his mother on the cheek.
“Good evening, Gien,” she replied with a gentle smile.
“Rabbit stew? What’s the occasion?” his father asked, although he already knew the answer.
“My poor baby boy came home crying today, Gien. Locked himself up in his room, hasn’t come out since then.”
“Your poor baby boy snuck into the Hall of Guilds and eavesdropped on a meeting today as well.”
“Good evening, my love,” his father said, kissing his mother on the cheek.
“Good evening, Gien,” she replied with a gentle smile.
“Rabbit stew? What’s the occasion?” his father asked, although he already knew the answer.
“My poor baby boy came home crying today, Gien. Locked himself up in his room, hasn’t come out since then.”
“Your poor baby boy snuck into the Hall of Guilds and eavesdropped on a meeting today as well.”
“He’s curious about his father’s work.” His mother always defended Daniel, even if she knew he was wrong.
“Shira, not now. Not tonight.” His father buried himself in her arms. “Linkoln Gondev left with the princess we were going to hand over. Now our only hope of escaping Plife’s wrath is to swear allegiance to him, at least for the time being. Your poor baby boy wanted to go out there and take on a dragon, and if Rattish is wrong he may yet get his wish.”
Michael hadn’t even thought about that. What if Plife refused their offer and did set out to burn Calafrack to the ground? Then it really would be up to him and his brother to defend the city, but even then, could he allow Daniel to fight? Especially without Rattish, what hope would the two of them have? Daniel was strong yes, good with a blade, quick on his feet, and he had the same heightened senses that Michael did. If he planned out a good strategy and got the dragon to fight them in close quarters with plenty of elevated terrain for them to jump around, like last time, then maybe they would have a chance, but Rattish’s wind magic played a huge role two years earlier. They were able to use the rooftops of Calafrack as a means to gain a height advantage over the beast and Rattish was able to use his magic to keep it on the ground. That had caused a lot of collateral damage though, the city was still recovering, and he knew his father was not willing to make a warzone of their home.
“Michael, would you go check on your brother please? He was quite upset and you have such way with him. Just let him know supper is ready.”
He had a way with him—until today, that was. Today Michael had yelled at his brother, educated him on the harsh reality that was their world. Today he had made his brother cry and nearly brought himself to tears.
“Shira, not now. Not tonight.” His father buried himself in her arms. “Linkoln Gondev left with the princess we were going to hand over. Now our only hope of escaping Plife’s wrath is to swear allegiance to him, at least for the time being. Your poor baby boy wanted to go out there and take on a dragon, and if Rattish is wrong he may yet get his wish.”
Michael hadn’t even thought about that. What if Plife refused their offer and did set out to burn Calafrack to the ground? Then it really would be up to him and his brother to defend the city, but even then, could he allow Daniel to fight? Especially without Rattish, what hope would the two of them have? Daniel was strong yes, good with a blade, quick on his feet, and he had the same heightened senses that Michael did. If he planned out a good strategy and got the dragon to fight them in close quarters with plenty of elevated terrain for them to jump around, like last time, then maybe they would have a chance, but Rattish’s wind magic played a huge role two years earlier. They were able to use the rooftops of Calafrack as a means to gain a height advantage over the beast and Rattish was able to use his magic to keep it on the ground. That had caused a lot of collateral damage though, the city was still recovering, and he knew his father was not willing to make a warzone of their home.
“Michael, would you go check on your brother please? He was quite upset and you have such way with him. Just let him know supper is ready.”
He had a way with him—until today, that was. Today Michael had yelled at his brother, educated him on the harsh reality that was their world. Today he had made his brother cry and nearly brought himself to tears.
“Hey Dan, it’s me, Mike.” He knocked on his brother’s chamber door, but the room was silent. “I know you’re upset. Hell, I’m upset. It’s a terrible situation, you know? But Mom made rabbit stew for you, so there’s that, right?” He pushed the door open to his brother’s blackened room. “Dan? Dan!” He shook his bed to find only the pillows underneath the blankets. “Fucking fuck!” he yelled. “Fucking brat!” His parents rushed to him.
“What’s the matter?” Gien asked.
“Look, just look!” he said, pointing to his brother’s empty bed. His voice began to strain.
“The little fuck. He went after Link, didn’t he?” His father’s face was boiling red.
“So it would appear.” Michael sighed.
“My baby,” his mother gasped, “he’s out there by himself? With a dragon and an army in our woods. Gien, you have to go get him.”
His father let out a long breath. “It’s not that simple, Shira. The Dravens have control of the Forest of Dreams, so we can’t exactly march a search party out there in the middle of the night, especially after what Link did. Tensions are high enough.”
“He’s your son, dammit. Does that mean nothing to you?”
“Don’t be ridiculous, it means everything.”
“Stop! Stop fighting!” Michael interrupted. “I’ll go get him.”
“Michael, no,” his mother begged, but he saw in his father’s face that he agreed. The decision was already made.
“Father’s right. We can’t send a whole search party out and I’m the only one who can track him down and handle myself on my own. He’s my brother and I’ll be the one to bring him back. Besides, it’s my fault he’s out there anyway. I should have been looking for Link the second I saw his ship go down. I have to go now.”
“Michael, you can’t be seen.”
“I know, Father. I won’t be, you know that. I’ll be back before the sun rises. Just keep a bowl of rabbit stew warm for us when we get back, all right Mother?” He kissed his mother on the cheek and with just a sword on his belt rushed out the door still in his traditional blue felt shirt and black leather vest he had worn to the meeting.
How could his brother be so stupid? He knew what danger was out there and yet he went out on his own. Still, Michael admired his bravery and loyalty to their friend. Michael himself had wanted to go look for Link, just to know if he was alive or not, but he was afraid, though not of Plife or his dragon. He was afraid of breaking the rules, as he had been his whole life. He had always done what his father had asked, with no questions, no second thoughts. “Kill this man who breached our contract, Michael,” and he did it. “Build this dam, Michael,” and he did it. “Take this across the country, Michael,” and he did it.
But his brother always questioned why, never just accepted that he had to do something simply because he had to do it. Now that little squirt was out there, probably not even concerned with the danger he was in. Daniel never cared about putting himself in harm’s way, he never thought before he acted, he always just acted. Michael wanted to kill him, but he had to save him first.
“Look, just look!” he said, pointing to his brother’s empty bed. His voice began to strain.
“The little fuck. He went after Link, didn’t he?” His father’s face was boiling red.
“So it would appear.” Michael sighed.
“My baby,” his mother gasped, “he’s out there by himself? With a dragon and an army in our woods. Gien, you have to go get him.”
His father let out a long breath. “It’s not that simple, Shira. The Dravens have control of the Forest of Dreams, so we can’t exactly march a search party out there in the middle of the night, especially after what Link did. Tensions are high enough.”
“He’s your son, dammit. Does that mean nothing to you?”
“Don’t be ridiculous, it means everything.”
“Stop! Stop fighting!” Michael interrupted. “I’ll go get him.”
“Michael, no,” his mother begged, but he saw in his father’s face that he agreed. The decision was already made.
“Father’s right. We can’t send a whole search party out and I’m the only one who can track him down and handle myself on my own. He’s my brother and I’ll be the one to bring him back. Besides, it’s my fault he’s out there anyway. I should have been looking for Link the second I saw his ship go down. I have to go now.”
“Michael, you can’t be seen.”
“I know, Father. I won’t be, you know that. I’ll be back before the sun rises. Just keep a bowl of rabbit stew warm for us when we get back, all right Mother?” He kissed his mother on the cheek and with just a sword on his belt rushed out the door still in his traditional blue felt shirt and black leather vest he had worn to the meeting.
How could his brother be so stupid? He knew what danger was out there and yet he went out on his own. Still, Michael admired his bravery and loyalty to their friend. Michael himself had wanted to go look for Link, just to know if he was alive or not, but he was afraid, though not of Plife or his dragon. He was afraid of breaking the rules, as he had been his whole life. He had always done what his father had asked, with no questions, no second thoughts. “Kill this man who breached our contract, Michael,” and he did it. “Build this dam, Michael,” and he did it. “Take this across the country, Michael,” and he did it.
But his brother always questioned why, never just accepted that he had to do something simply because he had to do it. Now that little squirt was out there, probably not even concerned with the danger he was in. Daniel never cared about putting himself in harm’s way, he never thought before he acted, he always just acted. Michael wanted to kill him, but he had to save him first.
Michael could see his breath for what seemed like miles. It was the only shimmer in the darkness of the cold woods. He knew where his brother would go: right where Link’s forest flyer had crashed. It was a few miles from the city, near the edge of the mountain. He was watching from his rooftop when the dragon shot down his friend’s ship. They were just specs in the distance to him, no bigger than his fist, but he had pretty good idea of where Link’s ship would have crashed. Michael was very careful to avoid the camps of Draven soldiers, but he had come across a few, and he was stealthy enough get around them. He hoped his brother was too, but in his deepest heart he was not concerned. Daniel was a sneaky little bastard who even got the drop on his big brother from time to time. He remembered when they were kids and he was training by himself that Daniel would come all the way out to the lake and sneak up on him, just to say he could take his big brother down. Of course once a scrap began between the two Michael always finished on top. Still, he had faith in his brother’s survival, and even a little hope that he had found Link and bring he and that princess home.
Link was younger than Michael, only 16, but older than Daniel. He sat perfectly between the brothers and they were the best of friends. Michael was concerned for Link now more than he was for Daniel. If his brother did find Link, then Michael would have to bring him back and turn him over to his father and John Gondev. Then Link would have to suffer the consequences of his actions. It would make things a lot easier, though, if they brought that princess back with them too, that way they could avoid any conflict with the Dravens. He felt bad about handing the girl over but Pegasus problems were just that, Pegasus problems. Maybe his brother’s impulsive action could save them after all.
Link was younger than Michael, only 16, but older than Daniel. He sat perfectly between the brothers and they were the best of friends. Michael was concerned for Link now more than he was for Daniel. If his brother did find Link, then Michael would have to bring him back and turn him over to his father and John Gondev. Then Link would have to suffer the consequences of his actions. It would make things a lot easier, though, if they brought that princess back with them too, that way they could avoid any conflict with the Dravens. He felt bad about handing the girl over but Pegasus problems were just that, Pegasus problems. Maybe his brother’s impulsive action could save them after all.
When he came upon the site of Link’s crashed ship, he found his brother sitting there, perched on a rock, his face buried in his hands. The hull of the ship was scorched and completely burned through and it’s sharp wings were tattered. The crash has taken a few trees down with it as well and the broken trunks were all over the clearing that had been created.
“Nice night for a hike, aye?”
Daniel jumped. “Figures you’d come after me. Father sent you, didn’t he? Sent you to bring me back, get a licking?”
“Shut up.” Michael jumped up on the rock and sat next to him brother. “You shouldn’t have done this, you know. Come out here on your own. It’s reckless, Daniel. You could get yourself killed, or more likely captured.”
“Nice night for a hike, aye?”
Daniel jumped. “Figures you’d come after me. Father sent you, didn’t he? Sent you to bring me back, get a licking?”
“Shut up.” Michael jumped up on the rock and sat next to him brother. “You shouldn’t have done this, you know. Come out here on your own. It’s reckless, Daniel. You could get yourself killed, or more likely captured.”
“No one’s going to capture me,” the boy said proudly, pounding his chest.
“Maybe so.” Michael cracked a small smile in the corner of his mouth. “No use in talking about it now. You aren’t going to listen to me, you aren’t going to listen to anybody.”
“No.” he replied. “I’m not going to listen when what people are saying is stupid.”
Michael laughed. “I love you, you know that, right?” He threw his arm around his little brother.
“Yeah, I know.”
“Any luck finding Link?”
“Nothing yet. I’ve been looking around this area for a while now. He isn’t dead though, and neither is the girl he took with him. No bodies left behind and the ship’s not too badly damaged, things considered. Might not fly again, but still. They’re alive. I don’t think they been captured either, I seen a bunch of the Draven soldiers come around here looking for them not that long ago. ”
“I suppose you’re going to say that we should keep looking for them then?”
“And I suppose that you’re going to say that we shouldn’t. That Father told us not to?”
“Maybe this one time we shouldn’t do what Father says.”
“Oh boy Mike, I bet you wouldn't say that if he were here. I bet that you’d bow your little head like you always do and go ‘yes Father, anything you say Father, please beat me for sneezing Father.’”
The boys started laughing together. Daniel always had a way of lightening the mood and making Michael see what really mattered. He decided that they would stay out there and look for Link together. He figured that the danger was closer to the city anyway.
“Maybe so.” Michael cracked a small smile in the corner of his mouth. “No use in talking about it now. You aren’t going to listen to me, you aren’t going to listen to anybody.”
“No.” he replied. “I’m not going to listen when what people are saying is stupid.”
Michael laughed. “I love you, you know that, right?” He threw his arm around his little brother.
“Yeah, I know.”
“Any luck finding Link?”
“Nothing yet. I’ve been looking around this area for a while now. He isn’t dead though, and neither is the girl he took with him. No bodies left behind and the ship’s not too badly damaged, things considered. Might not fly again, but still. They’re alive. I don’t think they been captured either, I seen a bunch of the Draven soldiers come around here looking for them not that long ago. ”
“I suppose you’re going to say that we should keep looking for them then?”
“And I suppose that you’re going to say that we shouldn’t. That Father told us not to?”
“Maybe this one time we shouldn’t do what Father says.”
“Oh boy Mike, I bet you wouldn't say that if he were here. I bet that you’d bow your little head like you always do and go ‘yes Father, anything you say Father, please beat me for sneezing Father.’”
The boys started laughing together. Daniel always had a way of lightening the mood and making Michael see what really mattered. He decided that they would stay out there and look for Link together. He figured that the danger was closer to the city anyway.
But he was wrong. Something moved in the mountains, slithering and stirring in the night. A strong odor like that of burning wood had filled the air and Michael could see two glowing golden eyes illuminate the night as thin puffs of smoke blew past them. They could hear strong gust of wind coming abruptly, the same as when one would shoot air from their nose had they gotten dust in it, only these shoots of air were much greater. The scaly red behemoth Gigalith was upon them. They had not noticed it sleeping in the dark, but when it began to move, taking slow heavy steps towards them, it became clear what it was. Rattish was right: This dragon was different from Bull’s dragon. It was near double the size of the first, but there was something else about it. Its presence, the way it moved and looked upon them, was different. Fighting the other dragon was like fighting a wild animal. Michael remembered the fear in its eyes, but this one could stare into their very souls. It hinged its’ jaw open, revealing a wall razor like teeth, each nearly as large as Michael. He now knew for the first time what fear was. He could feel his little brother shake with it as the beast put its face in front of theirs. Its tongue glazed over its lips as it looked upon what it thought to be a late-night snack. How mistaken the monster was, though.
Michael tossed his brother back behind the rock and lunged at the beast, pulling his sword with his left hand. Right between the eyes he struck it, drawing blood. Gigalith blinked and let out a cry, jerking its head back, but Michael quickly jumped off its face before he could be flung into the air. He landed next to his brother.
“Listen to me and listen well. We need to blind it first, take out its eyes. We strike from the trees. I’ll keep it busy and you climb up. Give me the signal and I’ll lead it toward you. You jump from the tree to its face. Stab both eyes. After that, we regroup and attack the next weak spot. Understand?”
“Go it!” his brother said, running for a tree.
“Go it!” his brother said, running for a tree.
Michael positioned himself in front of the monster and began to taunt it. It would snap its massive jaw toward him, but every time Michael would dive out of the way, landing perfectly on his feet. He was much more nimble than the beast, and hopefully a lot smarter. This was not the way he intended to fight, he would have liked to have had some chains that he could use to stake to the ground and weight the beast down and a little more time to set up a trap, but he was left with little choice now. He would have to use his surroundings. When Daniel reached a sturdy treetop branch, he whistled for his brother, and Michael began to lead the dragon in his direction
Daniel leapt from his tree and just barely landed on the brim of the beast’s snout. He rushed at its left eye and buried his sword there, but then he lost his footing and fell to the ground. The dragon cried out again in pain, twitching its tail wildly while Daniel lay in its path, stunned and helpless.