Rise of the Last Dragon Rider - Chapter 018 - An enemy we can't see (Patreon)

Slaying four sleeping goblins was much easier than Kaen had realized.  The art of killing someone or something in their sleep had never been a skill he had practiced, yet now he knew exactly where to plunge his dagger while holding his hand over their mouth.  No sound beyond the squishing noise.

When the fourth one was dead, he slipped the dagger back into its sheath after having cleaned it off and drew his sword.  Unhooking his shield from his back, he knew that a dagger would not be enough.

The wall shimmered as he moved closer to it.  Like water on a stream at night, even with no moon or stars to reflect on it, light or a glow seemed to be there as it rippled in the darkness of the cave.

The goblins are dead, and I am going to touch and see what this thing is.

Another grumble and wave of frustration hit him, but Kaen had to block it out.  As he began to reach toward the wall of liquid, he stopped and saw a sword from one of the goblins he killed in the room next to him.  Putting his back in his scabbard, he retrieved it and moved back to the edge of the shifting wall.

Putting the tip of the goblin sword into the inky substance did nothing as it wrapped itself around the blade.  Pulling it out, it looked just as it had before.  A pock-filled and worthless blade for any real combat but great for shanking someone in their sleep.

Snorting, Kaen put it back on the goblin's dead body and drew his own.  With one last breath to settle the nerves he had, he pushed his sword through the barrier and pressed until it touched his hand.

A cool tingling effect started to spread over his fingers and wrist, but no pain was evident.

Holding his breath, he pressed his entire arm and chest through until his head popped out on the other side.

As he strode through, he felt heat and was assaulted by noises and a smell that reminded him of the first cave they had found.

Stumbling through, he saw a massive cavern inside the mountain.  There were buildings made of rocks, small and tall ones.  Forges and other sounds of tools against rocks echoed throughout the cavern, and the noises of an army being busy were everywhere.

Somehow, that wall behind him stopped all the noise and light.  Inside this cavern was an army building and waiting.

We are in trouble, Kaen called out to Pammon.  There is a whole army in here.  Far larger than any of the ones we faced two years ago.

You need to come back now!  Do not argue, and do not be foolish!  Return while you can!

Kaen knew Pammon was right, and yet even though everything in him wanted to scout and see what he might find, the path that led down into the cavern below was empty.  No one seemed worried about a person stumbling in on them.

A sea of orcs, goblins, and a few other creatures, like trolls, moved like ants below.  Lights were present from great fires, and he saw carts and other wagons bringing what must be more to some of the fires off in the distance.

This cavern must be at least a mile wide he thought as he counted the number of creatures he could see.

You aren’t moving yet!  What are you doing?

Bending down to blend in more with where he was, Kaen sighed as he tried to take in all that he saw. Everything he could report back would be important.  Scouting around, he paused as he looked at a few lines of movement a ways off.  Squinting, he realized his eyes had not tricked him.

There were humans in there, pushing and pulling carts right next to orcs. They did not appear to be chained or forced.

“Humans are working with them…” he muttered to himself.

Wishing he had brought his bow, Kaen could have at least caused some damage.  Not as much as he knew would be needed.  Pammon wouldn’t be able to get in here as the section of the cave he came through was too tight.  He might fit, but it would take a while, and that would mean none of them could get past while he did.  Yet if Pammon was in here, he could easily fly around with how tall the cavern was.  It had to be at least eighty feet high, maybe even a hundred in most places.

King Aldric and Herb had guard stations outside the original caves and rigged explosives.  Yet, looking at this collection here, they could easily dig a tunnel somewhere else.  Perhaps that is what they were doing.

Why aren’t you moving yet?  The two women are just as anxious as I am.  They have been tied to me for a while!

Backing into the black wall behind him, Kaen felt himself drift through and saw the corpses at his feet.

He needed to go, and he had to do his best to hide his actions.

Fetching the goblin he had first killed, he took the blade from it and used it on three of the goblins, widening the hole in their eye socket.

On the fourth one, he took the blade and cut a mark on its cheek, acting like he had missed, and used the blade of that first one he had killed to plunge a few times into the scout's chest and stomach.  Leaving the scout's dagger in the eye socket of the fourth and the other blade in its chest, he left it on top of the one he hoped would think had killed the traitor.  Blood did not flow like it should have since they were dead, and anyone with any skill should figure it out.

I’m coming, be ready.  We need to leave and make it back to Ebonmount.  The mission is over.

He felt Pammon agree and, forgoing stealth, quickly returned through the stacks of warning rocks, sprinting once he was past them.

“Kaen!”

He waved at them as he slowed down some, taking a breath and wiping the sweat from his brow.  The moisture from the rain, combined with the cave and his running in full gear for miles, had made him a bit slimy under his armor.

“We need to go!” he announced as he got within range of the two of them.  “I’ll explain on the other side, but time is important, and I do not want to waste a moment.”

Ava started to speak when she felt a pinch on her waist from Selmah.

You smell.  Both goblins and sweat.

I know, but now we know what they are doing.  The real question is, how can we stop them?

Shaking his head, Kaen felt Pammon acknowledge that problem but had no answers.  Knowing he would not fit inside the cave prevented him from helping at all.

Kaen glanced at the fire, and without having to say anything, Pammon came over and pressed his foot against it, smothering the flames.  Darkness engulfed the cave, and his lifestone appeared in his hand, causing both women to flinch for a second at the light.

“I need you two to listen to what I am about to tell both of you.  Make sure your harness is tight around you and the other.  Pammon will use a skill, and we will fly much faster than we have before.  If you feel you need to vomit, make sure you turn far enough to the side that it doesn’t hit you in the face or the one behind you.

Ava glared at him for a moment, wondering if that was directed at her.

Are you sure you want me to use that with them?  We both know it may be harder on them than we realize.

Cinching his harness around him, Kaen considered that once more.  The wind would be extremely brutal.  He could sit up a little more, absorbing some of the wind.

We will have to see how it goes.  There is no time otherwise.  Aldric and Herb need to know what we found out.

He tossed the light globe to Ava as he started to climb up on Pammon. Selmah coughed, and he turned around to see what she was wanting as he fastened himself in.

“I assume this is worse than what we are supposed to be finding out?”

He saw the look of concern on her face.  She knew he wouldn’t call that off unless it were that important.

Nodding, he pointed to the darkness of the cave that led under the mountain.

“Thousands of orcs, goblins, and I am not sure how many humans are in there building something.  If the other caves are like this one, we are looking at an army of easily twenty thousand.”

A gasp rose from Ava as she weighed that news against what they had thought before.

“What will you do?” Selmah asked, her face set like stone.

Shrugging, Kaen turned around and picked up the reins sitting on Pammon’s neck.

“For now, I warn the kingdom.  After that, whatever I must do.  This is bigger than anything else right now.”

Pammon turned the moment he had the reins, moving toward the entrance of the cave.  The sound of a pouring storm was gone, but as they got close, gentle rain echoed off the walls.

“Cover yourselves,” he warned them.  “This is going to get much worse once we cross the mountains.

Pammon had flown hard and fast to gain the altitude needed to cross over them.  The rain was colder and stung more as he flew over the peaks.

The sun was gone; it was nighttime, yet only he could see what was before them.

Dozing in the rain, Kaen had closed his eyes, waiting until Pammon told him to prepare.

I am going to drop a little bit down the mountains, and then once over the forest, I will use my skill.  We are too high for them to handle this air and temperature.

How long till we get home?  Kaen asked, choosing not to bug Pammon with endless questions as he wrestled with the knowledge of what he had found.

I will see how long I can hold on, and if they can manage.  Perhaps in less than four hours.  Maybe three.

Even though they had practiced this skill multiple times in Roccnari, knowing Pammon thought he could manage to keep it active the entire trip home amazed Kaen.  He had grown a lot, and with how large he was now, Kaen knew Pammon would have easily destroyed that fort of bandits without their help.

[ Flight Burst Activated ]

A yelp had come from Ava and Selmah both when Pammon had rocketed forward.  Even before he had used the skill, he had used the descent from the mountainside, gaining speed as he plummeted toward the forest.

Like an arrow loosed from a bow, he surged forward.

Ava’s arms clenched tightly around his waist, and Kaen would have smiled if it had not been for the air that was buffeting his face.  It took effort to keep his mouth from flying open, and he had to squint to be able to see.

This is much faster than before! He shouted, not realizing how much effort he had put into that statement.

Yes, because I sense the need is that great.  Now, hold on and just close your eyes.  It will get faster if you lend me your lifestone.

That could be harmful for so long.  I do not want to risk you for this.  It is not that important.

As the wave of confusion came across their bond, Pammon felt confused, or at least Kaen thought he was.

If you say so.  I am willing if need be.  For now, just let me handle this part.  When we get there, I will want to eat and sleep.  Some of us did not get a full meal.

Fighting the wind, Kaen rubbed that same scale as always as he chuckled, letting the wind steal it from his throat.

Closing his eyes, he let the stinging wind remind him of how much he loved being on Pammon’s back.  Alive like this.