Rise of the Last Dragon Rider - 001 Roccnari (Patreon)

Dive!

Pammon immediately dropped altitude as the horde of Teratas converged on them.

Fourteen left.  I’m rolling soon.

Clenching his stomach, Kaen prepared for the spin move they had practiced more times than he wanted to remember.

As Pammon spiraled through the air, he leaned backward and let an arrow go.  Drawing another arrow, he watched as the closest Teratas took the arrow through its long, leathery neck and flopped wildly.

Thirteen.

Ten seconds till I have to get back to climbing.  Hurry up.

Chuckling, Kaen pulled two arrows and lined both of them up without having to think about speed, wind, direction, or anything.  His lifestone barely smoldered as he was so used to this by now.  Twinshot activated, and two more Teratas took arrows to their body, sending them on a death spiral to the ground.

Five seconds.

One more arrow leaped from his bow a second before Pammon flared his wings and pulled out of the downward spiral he was in.  The force held Kaen flat on the back of his dragon and those massive scales.  His saddle provided a little more padding, and the leather straps stretched from the forces they were under.

Ten left, and they are still following us.

Those mindless birds give a new meaning to one-track minds.

The thrum of Pammon’s amusement did nothing compared to the wind buffeting him as Kaen spun around in his saddle, facing the backside of his dragon and the ten winged creatures trying to catch them.

Multishot took out three more, and two single shots brought their total down to five.

How many did you want to handle this time? Two?

You say that like it’s not that big of a deal.  Each of those is as big as a horse, and some of us must be careful of our wings.

Pammon knew he was joking, and their bond betrayed his inability to be sarcastic.

Just let me know when you are done playing around.  None of this is difficult for you, and we are wasting time.  Elies and Tharnok are waiting for us.

Grunting, Kaen sent arrow after arrow at the mindless creatures.  They had been bothering an area in Roccnari for a while, and he was fulfilling a request by the king, Havannath.  He had not asked for much the last two years, but when he did, Kaen felt obligated to respond.  No task yet had been deemed worthy of Elies or Tharnok’s time.

Two are left, both in a standard flight pattern.  They are about one hundred yards away.

Without warning, Pammon banked sharply and stopped his speed in a moment, spinning quickly at the two creatures that were out of their league.

Pammon caught them as they got close, one in his mouth, biting off its head and everything else down to its chest.  The other he snatched in his front talons, carefully ensuring the Teratas’s claws and teeth were far from his wings.  Both were dead in seconds, hanging limply from Pammon’s mouth and talons.

Let me know when you are done eating those.  I cannot stand the way it looks when you chew on them.

Pammon thrummed as the sound of bones cracking and flesh tearing drifted to Kaen’s ears as he looked behind Pammon.

The fields beneath them were massive, with rows of crops growing in perfect lines.  Water canals ran up and down the fields, criss-crossing with small damns and levies that helped control where the water ended up.

Trees were everywhere around the farms, and some reached two hundred yards into the air.  It was a different land than he had grown up, but it was beautiful and clean.  The elves here had been a kind host, gracious to him and honoring him even though he felt he deserved none of it.  Ridding this pack of beasts that had moved in here recently would earn them more renown.  Something he cared very little about.

The sounds of a swallowing and a burp made Kaen chuckle.

All done?

I really could use a drink of water.  Let’s visit one of the canals, and you can report that we are finished.

Turning around in the saddle Elies had designed for him, Kaen smiled.  He was safely harnessed in yet able to move with ease.  For the last two years, he had impressed the man with his dedication to everything they were taught, and now he knew it was time he went back home.

“All forty-seven of the Teratas are gone,” Kaen informed the elder of the farmland he was in.  “I wish I could have gotten all of them out of your fields. I know they caused damage as they fell to the earth.”

The older elf smiled and bowed.  His hair was silver and even though Kaen knew he was over one hundred years old, no wrinkles showed on the man’s face.  His blue eyes seemed like water, flowing with wisdom and knowledge.

“My people, thank you, Dragon Rider,” elder Thalion declared.  “The earth will take the nutrients from the beasts.  I fault you none for the damage their death has caused to the fields.  Your actions have saved our flocks and my people from their ravenous appetite.  I only wish I had something I could give you as thanks for accomplishing this.”

“No reward is needed,” Kaen answered as he waved off the elder's statement.  “The king himself asked me to take on this task, and your people have been gracious in providing us a place to stay and train.  I am happy to give back to you and the land.”

The elder smiled and bowed.

Kaen noticed the few children in the village who were all staring and watching from a distance.  Pammon was at least twice as large as he had been when they arrived.  He stood taller than their house, and his appetite was often alarming.

A cow… or two would be a good reward.  You could ask him for at least one.

I will not, though.  They need each of their cows, and the king has provided you with plenty.  Besides, we need to move quickly, not take forever because you stuffed yourself.

Blowing air out of his snout, Pammon shook his body, giving Kaen the perfect opportunity to end the small talk.

“It appears we are needed somewhere else, Elder Thalion.  I wish you and your people a blessed day.”

Kaen smiled, giving a small bow and putting both hands on his chest, palms together.  The elder returned the gesture, allowing Kaen to turn and head toward Pammon.

Man, they sure like to talk.

Thrumming, Pammon bobbed his head and stuck out his tongue in the direction of the elven children, sending them laughing and running away.

Yes, they do.  Almost as much as you enjoy not talking.  I guess it is good you have learned to stand there and smile.

Patting Pammon’s neck, Kaen waved with the other hand as they left the ground, sending dust clouds from the air movement of Pammon’s wings.

Has Tharnok told you anything about what Elies wants today?

Pammon paused, and Kaen could tell he knew something but was unsure how to explain it.

He isn’t doing well.  You don’t have to say it.

Tharnok is nervous.  Once Elies does pass, it will be bad.  The elves have offered to give him a place to stay, but Tharnok knows he will die soon after.  He says if the heartbreak does not strike first, the madness will.

Kaen felt that pain from Pammon.  Learning about why they itched so much from Elies and Tharnok had answered so many questions.  If they were separated for more than a month, death or madness was a possibility for both.

We will have to trust them both to make the best decision.  I am not sure what I would ask if we were in their place.  They have been together for over two hundred years.

Neither one wanted to talk much after discussing the truth that Elies would soon be gone.

I’m going to miss this view.  Don’t get me wrong, I can’t wait to see Ebonmount again, but this is a whole different level of amazing.

He felt Pammon’s agreement as they flew over the capital of Roccnari.

Round white walls surrounded the city in different layers.  Each wall was easily forty feet tall and had spires armed with massive siege weapons to fight a dragon with.  Elies had done his best to help them prepare for the day Stioks came.

Perfectly straight streets ran from each gate in all four directions, and the circle of the city stretched on for miles.  Eventually, it was cut off as it ran into the massive river they had used as a barrier that ran from the east side, around the south, and then back up to the west.  Farms dotted the landscape outside the river.

In the middle of it all was a massive castle that spanned a large chunk of the inner third part of the city.  Two huge openings were there, high up in the sky, one for him and Pammon and the other for Elies and Tharnok.

He is inside the castle.  They are waiting for us.

Nodding even though Pammon couldn’t see it, Kaen had no doubt where Elies was.  His flying had been reduced to one or two days a week in the last two months.  The elves had done everything they could to try and slow the rot that was eating him alive.  All they could do no was help with the pain.

Take us in.  We need to get this finished so that we can return.

Do you still believe that decision is the best one?  The King and the nation have been gracious to us.  Staying here might be better for us long term.

And when Stioks attacks Ebonmount, and we are too far away, then what?  We have heard the reports.  We know what is coming.  We can help hold off the potential threats and attacks if we are there.  Losing that kingdom would hurt us in the long run.  The dwarves have dug themselves in.  Supposedly, they have learned how to grow crops underground and are stockpiling food.  War is coming at some point, and I do not want to run.

Be honest.  You just want to be close to Hess and their daughter, Callie. Oh, wait, you want to convince Ava to return to you.  It seems that you did hit your head the other day when sparring if you think she will easily forgive you.

Slapping Pammon’s scale did nothing but cause Pammon to chuckle.

He was right.  Ava was not happy with him, and no letter or the occasional visit had done much to calm her down.

Don’t forget my academy.  I need to be there next week.  We are having a ceremony where Phillip and Frederick get their life stones.  Things are changing, and we are needed.

I think you are confused, Pammon grumbled. We are wanted and needed everywhere.  Do not forget the third option Elies gave us.  It is the most dangerous, but it also has the highest potential for helping in what is coming.

Kaen said nothing as Pammon approached where they would land.  The open-air den for Pammon.  Doors could be shut if needed, yet they had been left open since he was out and expected to return.  The guards on the innermost wall waved flags moments ago, announcing they saw and expected them.

Forget it for now.  We need to focus.  A meeting with the King and Elies means trouble, and we both know it.

Slowing as he swooped into the large room, Pammon touched down with grace on the stone floor.  He remembered the first time he tried this and slid a few feet before almost falling on his side.  Now, it was second nature.

Don’t look now, but someone else is here for you.

Glancing at the door leading into this area, Kaen saw who Pammon had noticed and groaned.

Some things were worse than meetings with the King and Elies.