Rise of the Last Dragon Rider - Chapter 058 - A threat like no other (Patreon)

Right about what?

Pammon continued to thrum as Kaen regained his composure and stood up, holding his chest still as his lifestone flooded him with its power.

The lifestone that was meant for a king.

A lifestone never meant for a dragon rider.

That dragon rider had broken the world the last time this had happened.

Kaen, you are who you were meant to be.  Inside you is a power that threatens these beasts, and you have just awoken it.  Look at them now.

As his eyes lifted from the stone platform he was standing on to the dragons high above, he saw them backing away from him.  If a dragon could have an expression that embodied fear and hate at the same time, every one of them wore it.

Elynudra darted her snout forward, her jaws beginning to open and green smoke rushing over her long teeth.

“Stop!” Kaen shouted, holding his palm out toward her.

As if someone had grabbed her throat in a gigantic fist, the dragon’s mouth froze, unable to open or close, and Kaen could hear her gasping for air.

What have you done?!

He recognized her voice as she sat there, unable to move, tiny tendrils of green smoke coming out of her slightly agape jaw.

How?  Please let me go!

Her eyes shook, clear liquid running from them as Kaen glared at her.  His lifestone was an all-consuming fire, ready to snuff her life out at this moment for what she had intended to do.

Anger and rage flowed through him as waves of fury poured out of Pammon.  He felt the fire inside Pammon begin to burn, and Kaen had to make a choice. He had to stop this path before there was no going back.

“Close your mouth and do not do that again, or it will be the last breath you take,” he said, his voice like a file over metal, leaving no doubt in Elynudra’s mind.

Her jaw snapped shut, and she moved as far back as she could on her pillar, risking falling off if she moved much more.

Turning his gaze to the other four, who all were trying to regain their lost composure, Kaen took a breath and let it out, feeling as if smoke was coming out his nostrils.  The fire of his lifestone still raged inside.

“Tharnok was right,” Kaen declared as he spoke slowly and loudly.  “We are far more dangerous than he is.  I just now realized that.  It would appear you five made a grievous error in allowing this conversation to go on longer than it should have.  Now I know why you five fear me.”

He took his time, letting his gaze fall on each of them one by one before settling it on Aethux at last.

“I was asked what kind of Dragon Rider I am.  I will tell you once more, and do not make the same mistake of doubting what I say again.  I am the last, but I will no longer stand by and let foolish men or dragons ignore me when I say I will protect anyone who needs my help.  Do you understand?”

Aethux brought his head forward and then bowed it.

Forgive us, Dragon Rider.  It has been a long time since one like you has commanded the power we sense inside you.  What will you command us to do?

Kaen shook his head and grunted.

“I am not here to command unless I must.  I will ask again.  Will your kind help me?  Will you allow me to ask the other dragons who might be willing to join me in a new place and world?”

The five dragons glanced at each other, and a moment later, the other four brought their heads toward him and lowered them as Aethux had.

You may make your request.

Kaen nodded and moved to where Pammon sat. His dragon’s chest puffed out, and he had a smile that showed every one of his teeth.

After climbing into his saddle and strapping himself in, Kaen looked again at the five dragons who had regained their composure.  Each of them was silent, watching him, wondering what Kaen might make them do and if they would be powerless to resist as Elynudra had been.

“Pammon, Amaranth, and I will be leaving.  I need to find Tharnok and see if I can find a way to stop his rampage.  After that, I will return and expect to hear you have prepared for the request I will make.”

Pammon spun around, not letting a moment pass, or the council members have a chance to reply.  He launched himself into the air with a giant leap, flying toward the tunnel that had brought them into the mountain.

I doubt I have ever witnessed a dragon piss themself, but if my nose was correct, I believe that Elynudra did just that.

Pammon began to thrum as he flew, his laughter echoing off the stone walls as they moved toward the tunnel.  For well over a minute, he continued to laugh, letting himself enjoy the fact that each of the dragons who had considered themselves unstoppable had found their match in the boy sitting on his back.

Kaen sat there, letting himself smile as his lifestone finally released the torrent that had burning inside his chest.  It left him a bit tired, but there was no time to waste.  The next stop was going to be far worse.

Are you sure you want to stop for the night here? We could travel a bit further and have more privacy.

Kaen and Pammon both laughed at Amaranth’s question.  The green dragon looked around at the constant parade of dragons flying overhead and off to the side for the last hour.

We will be fine.  I doubt anyone will be foolish enough to risk bothering us, and I suspect the council will share the news of what transpired in their room.

Amaranth thrummed at Pammon’s response, lifting her head and neck high into the sky as she did.  Her chest vibrated, sending the vibrations toward the two of them.

Never in my life had I seen a dragon more afraid.  Not even of the council members.  How did you accomplish such a feat?

Kaen just smiled, poking a stick at the fire he was sitting next to.  His mind was still racing from everything that had transpired and what the long-term effects of it all meant.

Do you think that would work on Stioks?

He could sense the doubt and frustration of Pammon at that question.

I would not risk it.  Something tells me it would not.  That dragon is consumed by whatever Stioks has done to it.  Perhaps if there is no other option left, you can try.

Kaen nodded, stirring the coals a little more before sighing and tossing the stick into the flames.

I don’t want to be that person! I don’t wish to… I can’t be someone who breaks the wills of others just to accomplish what I want.  If I do that, I am no better than the man I have vowed to stop.

Turning toward Pammon, he saw his friend’s snout just a few feet away, those golden eyes staring into his.

You will never be that kind of man.  I have no doubt about that.

Kaen nodded, reaching out with his arms and touching Pammon’s snout.

Perhaps I should command you to do something stupid.  That would be payback for all the times you have done something to me.

His tongue snaked out through a slight gap in his teeth, striking Kaen on the side of his face and leaving a trail of saliva dripping down his chest.  A thrum began to rise as Pammon pulled his head back, and Kaen groaned, wiping the mess from his face.

That is not the kind of person you are.  Do not forget that.

Through their bond, Kaen felt the joy of Pammon and how his dragon was doing his best to break the funk he was in.  It was true.  Kaen could never do that to him.

“I guess I’ll just have to find other ways to make you suffer,” Kaen called out as he ran forward, leaping at Pammon’s neck and beginning to wrestle with him.

Amaranth watched in amazement as the two acted like kids, laughing and playing as Pammon crushed plants and a few trees.

The following day, as they flew toward where Tharnok had last been seen, Kaen gave up counting the number of dragons who flew just close enough to be seen but not near enough to talk with.

I have no doubt that someone has learned what transpired by now.  One of the council members has most likely shared some of your power and is warning the others to stay away.

It seems like they would then be breaking the agreement we had.

Turning her head as she flew, Amaranth looked at Kaen as he stared at her.

You will believe that, but they are not ready to admit defeat.  If there is one thing those five have learned in their six hundred-plus years of life, it is that just because you lose a battle does not mean you have lost the war.  I have no doubt a few will try to bend your command.

She paused, and then Kaen saw her starting to laugh.

However, I doubt that Elynudra will try that.  I would assume she might not show up at all if she has a choice.

Pammon thrummed in agreement at that comment.

Trying to ignore Kaen's frustration at that thought, he turned his attention toward the mountain they were flying at.  Tharnok had killed another dragon days ago, and something had to be done to stop him.

We both knew this might be a possibility.  I can still feel you holding out that you can somehow talk him into being how he once was.  Do not risk it.  He is no longer the dragon who once trained us.  He is lost.  He is broken.

Pammon paused, and Kaen felt him thinking about something that hurt.  A pain that he recognized before Pammon continued speaking.

He feels like you did when you thought Hess would die.  All that rage and fear except even more.  You were able to save Hess.  He could not save Elies.  Imagine for just a moment the person you might be had Hess died in your arms or if we were just a few seconds too late.

Rubbing his chest, Kaen winced as the air assaulted his face.

Pammon was right.  That moment had almost broken him.  Had Hess died, he would have become someone else.  A person he doubted he would recognize at all.

So what should I do? Not even try?  Just attack him when the moment comes? Ignore who he is and what he taught us?!

Pammon shook his head for a moment and bent his neck, looking to the side so that Kaen could see into his eyes.  A few clear drops were swept from Pammon’s scales that surrounded his golden eyes by the wind.  Kaen could see how much what was about to come actually bothered his friend.

I remember everything he taught us.  One of those was never allowing yourself to let feelings make you do something stupid.  Something you have ignored more times than both of us want to admit.  I am almost sure I know what Tharnok would tell us to do if he could.  You know as well.

Kaen nodded, reaching a hand up to his eye and realizing there was a wetness to his as well.

He took a deep breath, letting the cold wind fill his lungs, and held it for a moment.  Letting it burn before he finally had to let it out and draw another breath.

Glancing down next to his leg, he saw what he knew would be used today.

Those seven arrows forged differently than every other arrow he had ever used in his life, with one purpose.

To take a dragon’s life.