Arimore

The battle at the front gate had begun. The army from Calithorne had been warned about the ambush that Mardock had planned for them. They had split their troops and sent only a small legion to the front gate to draw out the awaiting troops. As the army approached the gate Gabriel called out to King Andre’, “We come for our Queen!” he heralded, “Release her and we will return to our homes. No one need die this day!”

The King marched upon the wall walk overlooking the puny army that stood before him, “And why pray tell should I just hand her over? You surely don’t think this poor excuse for an army can overtake even my scouts.” He laughed.

“You forget our greatest ally,” Gabriel pointed toward the sky.

The King ducked expecting flames to burst forth from the very sky above his head. When nothing happened he stood with such arrogance that Arimore could barely restrain himself from bursting the King into flames. “So,” the King’s smug remarks began to flow, “where is this ally? I see only blue sky and sunshine. Looks to me like he forgot to show up. Dragons can be very unpredictable.” He turned to the guard, “Dispose of this nuisance.” He waved his hand in the air and walked to the keep. He didn’t see the dragon but he knew that if it were anywhere near Mardock, he would not be safe outside.

With a loud cry the hiding army of Mardock surrounded the Calithornians. Following the orders laid forth by the Queen, they dismounted and surrendered to the Mardocians. They quickly took the soldiers captive and began to celebrate an easy victory. As word reached the King he became suspicious. He strode to the courtyard with his personal guard in tow. He stood before Gabriel, “What trickery is this?” he asked.

Gabriel remained silent. He stared past the King as if he weren’t even there. Suddenly the sky grew dark. The King looked up as a great shadow loomed overhead.

“Arimore!” he shouted as he ran back toward the keep, “Retreat!”

The men scrambled, running madly for cover. As confusion overtook the Mardocians the rest of the army of Calithorne appeared at the gate of the city and rode straight into the courtyard. Civilians scrambled to escape the flood of soldiers fearing slaughter. Gabriel stood and faced the people, “People of Mardock,” he called, “We have no quarrel with you. Your King has taken it upon himself to stir the wrath of the great dragon. He has taken our Queen and her ward. If they are returned to us unharmed we will leave this place and no one need die this day. Unlike your King, we do not want war. We seek only to live in peace.” He turned toward the keep and yelled for the King, “King Andre’ I give you one final chance to return our Queen and her ward. If you do this, we will leave and take Arimore with us. What say you?”

The King paced in the keep. He turned to Pallidor, “Get word to Mason, tell him to bring the Queen and her charge to me. I will show them that they cannot walk into Mardock and make demands of her King.”

Pallidor ran to the dungeon and found the guards unconscious outside the door. He rushed in and found Mason sitting in a chair outside two empty cells. “My Prince,” he bowed, “the King wishes the prisoners be brought to him in the keep.”

“So my father’s heart is softening?”

“No sire, I fear he means to execute them in front of the Calithornian army.”

“Gather the troops that are loyal to me and have them meet me in the inner ward. Get word to those who are in the keep to prepare for our rebellion. Once the King hears that the captives have escaped he will know that I have betrayed him. We will take our stand in the courtyard with Gabriel.”

Pallidor ran through the castle spreading word of Prince Mason’s orders. He passed word to those inside the keep as he made his way to the King.

“You Majesty,” he said with alarm in his voice, “They are gone! I went to the dungeon and found the guards unconscious. The cells are empty and the Prince is nowhere to be found.”

“What! I knew that boy was up to no good! He has betrayed the wrong man!” He began pacing nervously, shouting, “I want him found! I want him hung for treason!” No one in the keep moved. They stood staring at the King. “Did you not hear me! Find them!” he ordered.

The guard stepped forward and Pallidor took the King into custody, “Your Majesty, please come with us.”

“Think carefully what you do,” The King grinned, “It will cost you your life if you land on the wrong side.”

“No matter where I land,” Pallidor replied, “I’d rather be on the side of what’s right.”

Prince Mason walked to the courtyard with his men close behind. He stood before Gabriel and laid his sword at Gabriel’s feet, “I come to offer you peace,” the Prince said.

“Do you speak for the kingdom?”

“I do.”

“Will you return our Queen?”

“I cannot,” he bowed his head, “She is not here. I helped her escape with her ward. They left out a passage from the lower dungeons that comes out on the north side of the castle just before your arrival. I expected Rowan to come for her but he didn’t come.”

“It was Rowan’s plan to come in from the north,” Gabriel furrowed his brow, “What is on the north side of the Castle?”

“Wilderness,” Mason replied, “There are no cities within four days ride of the north wall.”

Gabriel gathered a group of twelve men, “I want a thorough search of the woods on the north side of the castle. I will ride with you…”

“I will come too,” Mason interrupted.

Gabriel nodded, “We leave no stone unturned. Mason, I want you to go to the dungeon and exit the same way Elara did. We will come around the castle from both the east and the west.”

“We have to find them before sundown,” Mason added, “The north woods are dangerous at night. They are thick with underbrush and trails are hard to find. There are also wild animals that roam those woods.”

“And you sent Queen Elara out there alone?” Gabriel asked.

“Trust me, I didn’t have a choice. If I didn’t get them out then they may not have gotten out at all.” Mason defended himself.

Arimore was concerned about Elara but he was more concerned about Sacha. He knew she would turn soon if she hadn’t done so already. He silently lifted off the turret and began a search of his own. He circled the castle and flew as low to the ground as he could when he came to the north woods. From the air there was no sign of Elara or Rowan but he saw something that caught his eye. There, right outside the castle wall he saw broken branches high up in the trees. “Sacha,” he thought. He turned and flew straight to Mount Christos. Upon his arrival he found Sacha, shivering and took her to the back of his den. “Child, come and get warm,” he held out his wings and wrapped her snugly close to his body.

She soon began to pull warmth from his flesh. Her shivering ceased and she looked into his golden eyes, “We have to save Elara,” her voice was weak but there was a determination he knew he could not stop.

“Mason and Gabriel are looking for her. Rowan is missing as well. Let’s get you stronger, then we will go.”

She nodded in agreement, “There’s something in those woods. I saw it from the trees.”

“The north woods are full of strange things child,” he replied, “tell me what you saw.”

“There were men,” she began, “cloaked in darkness and a creature I did not recognize.”

“Druids,” Arimore had concern in his voice, “Describe the creature for me.”

“It was big, with gray skin. It had a form similar to a man but not a man.”

“A troll. If the Druids have control of a troll Elara and Rowan could be in grave danger. I must go and warn Mason before they fall prey to it as well. Stay here and I will return for you.” Arimore took leaves and branches and started a small fire in the corner of the cave, “Stay warm. I promise I’ll be back soon.”

Sacha nodded and curled up by the warm fire.

Arimore flew with great speed for the castle. He scanned the ground and saw the troops circling from both sides. As he flew over the north woods he saw Mason examining something on the ground. “Mason,” he called through thought.

Mason looked up and saw the glimmer of scales, “Arimore, it looks like there was a struggle here.”

“I fear there are Druids in the woods,” he warned, “and from what Sacha tells me they may have a troll with them.”

“A troll?” Mason blurted out in surprise.

“Quiet,” Arimore commanded, “You are in grave danger. I fear they may have taken Elara and Rowan. If you move to the East you have a clear path and will run right into Gabriel. I will fly over the woods and find their camp. Listen for my voice and I will guide you.”

Mason immediately headed east and ran into Gabriel before long. He told Gabriel what he found and what Arimore told him withholding only the portion regarding Sacha for he did not know if Gabriel knew about her.

“Are you sure they’ve been captured?” Gabriel asked.

“I cannot be certain but from the scuffle marks by the castle wall I would say yes.” Mason couldn’t hide his concern, “Arimore is searching for their camp. He will tell me what he finds.”

“We can’t just wait here and do nothing!” Gabriel was obviously angry, “This is all your fault!” he stood nose to nose with Mason, “If anything happens to her I will hold you personally responsible.”

“As I will hold myself,” Mason backed away, “Gabriel, do you know her ward, Sacha?”

“I have seen her once,” a look of questioning came over his face, “what happened to her? You have only mentioned Elara and Rowan.”

Mason took Gabriel aside and told him of Sacha. He explained that she was changing into her natural form and they all would have died in the dungeon had the change come while she was in such a confined space. “Please, forgive me,” Mason pleaded, “It was the only thing I could do at the time. I had no idea there were Druids in the woods.”

Gabriel placed his hand on Mason’s shoulder, “I’m glad you told me and now I understand why you did what you did.” he shook his head, “I knew there was something about her that was unique but a dragon? Alright Mason, we wait but I will not wait long.”