Fall of the Last Dragon Rider - 016 Old Friends (Patreon)

The sensation Kaen felt as he experienced destruction through the eyes of Pammon almost overwhelmed him.  His lifestone burned, and that power was shared, causing the fire that came from inside his friend to burn hotter and last longer.

Pammon came from the east, just enough off the ground and at a speed that his fire would fall under him as he breathed, covering a solid twenty-yard-wide section.

The screams and shouts that came were lost behind them as Pammon flew.

For almost a third of a mile, a blanket of fire cut off the south side of the army from the tiny section on the north side, unable to cross the fire that would take minutes before it might burn out.

Give me more… I have a little left, but I need more…

Kaen focused, feeling how tired Pammon was, watching a patch of two hundred yards be safe from the destruction Pammon was bringing.

Recalling his purpose, Kaen took a deep breath and let his power flow through the bond.

Pammon took a massive breath, and then another long stream of fire, this time a shade darker than before, came out of his snout.  It burnt to a crisp the kobolds he engulfed with it, and another thirty seconds or so of fire was spent, covering at least another four hundred yards of death.

Hold on… I am out of flames, but I am not done yet.

Kaen gripped the strap that lay on his legs with one hand.

Do you want me to shoot a bow? I can–

For now, let me do this.  The time may come when you need to use the limited arrows we have- there are more than we prepared for.  Let me use my size and strength.

Kaen realized what Pammon was about to do, held back from warning him about how dangerous this was, and stopped.  He had done enough foolish things, and Pammon had been right each time.  If Pammon felt this was his time to shine, so be it.

Gripping the strap with both hands, Kaen watched as Pammon lowered himself and picked up more speed.  His dragon angled himself slightly, his massive back claws and feet acting like a plow in soil, tearing up the army under him.

Half a mile passed with almost no drop in his dragon’s speed when Kaen noticed Pammon’s eyes shifting more to the west.

Up there! Do you see that group?

Kaen did because Pammon saw it.  A massive army of kobolds had come together and were attacking a walled-off town.  Above it, Glynnis was doing her best to keep the kobolds from surrounding it, but a grey mist hung above the main army attacking the south wall.

You aren’t showing off to impress me, are you?

Pammon ignored Glynnis’s comment as they angled toward the troops.  His eyes searched until they found what Pammon had been looking for.

There are the casters, two different groups. Look at those kobolds next to them.  They are a lot taller and covered in armor.

Remember the archers stationed before them as they advance.  Between those two groups, I need help getting close with that spell active.  And the arrows they use are not like most of the normal ones.

When Glynnis said those words, Kaen’s brain started to become active.

Pammon, can you–

I’m on it.

As if he was using a telescope that King Aldric owned and showed him one night, Pammon’s vision zoomed in on the archers in front and looked at the arrows on the back of the pack before the casters and larger kobolds.

Holy dwarf balls… those are like the arrows Hess was making me.

Those are just the tips, though, not the entire arrow.

Still! That means someone has taught them how to create those arrows and given them the materials we cannot find anymore… It has to be Stioks!

Forget that for now.  We will be fine.  Now is your turn.  Take your bow and your arrows.  I will get you into position and be your eyes.

Angling up, Pammon moved higher up into the sky, letting the army he had been destroying from behind get a small reprieve.  When he reached about three hundred yards above the casters they needed to attack, Pammon began to hover.

Tell me what I need to do.

Kaen unhooked his bow from the clip next to him, pulled it up to his chest, and smiled.  He didn’t need Pammon to show him what he was doing.

Just keep your eyes on our targets.  I’ll do the rest.

A wave of satisfaction came through their bond, and Kaen pulled an arrow from the quiver tied near him.

He let his power flow into the tip and sent a shot toward the ground.

The white-tipped arrow arched, flying through the air before landing about thirty yards from his target.  The kobold it impaled exploded, and a blast radiated out from it, taking out more creatures in a ten-yard radius.

A little off.  You were–

I got this.  Let me do it.

Kaen took another arrow and let it go, watching it fall and, this time, get closer. It hit within fifteen yards and sent another circle of death to those near the one he hit.

Turn slightly to the south and move back for a little.

Taking a deep breath, Kaen watched the chaos ensuing down below.  He could see the casters and others looking up at him, but nothing they had would reach Pammon.  Their attacks were worthless.

Glynnis, do you realize you could have dropped rocks or trees upon them from up here?

No reply came for a moment, and Kaen wondered if she hadn’t considered that.

There aren’t many trees or large rocks around here, and I’m not as large as Pammon.  Flying around here with them would have been difficult for me.  It’s unlike Ebonmount, where there was a ready supply of those.

True.  Just wondering.

Pammon thrummed slightly and stopped when Kaen loaded two arrows.

What? Why did you do that?

Kaen grinned, ignoring Pammon’s question.

Let me shoot and be quiet.

There, in the blackness of no vision, Kaen breathed in slowly and then exhaled. He had cut his ability to see through Pammon’s eyes.  He knew where his targets were and exactly how he needed to shoot. The time for him to do this on his own was now.

Both arrows began to spark, lightning infusing them as Kaen poured his magic and power into them.  After ten seconds, he let the arrows go.

[ Twinshot Activated ]

Only then did Kaen allow himself to see through Pammon’s eyes.

His friend was tracking the two arrows as they fell to the earth.  The casters and warriors had begun to spread out some, moving in different directions, but it didn't matter.  Kaen had seen them and how they were responding to the threat above.

Both arrows struck simultaneously, each hitting a different kobold, and the lightning and explosion they produced did precisely what he had planned for.

He didn’t need to hit a specific creature.  All he needed to do was hit a particular area and let those black-tipped arrows with their mana-infused spell inside them do the rest.

They landed sixty yards apart, each creating an area of destruction over forty yards in radius.

The ground exploded as the power he had infused went out in a circle, sending bolts of lightning that arched from each kobold to the next.  When it struck the taller kobolds in their metal armor, they acted like an amplifier, arching even more and catching other kobolds.

[ Archery Skill Increased ]

That was glorious… did you just gain a point in archery?

Kaen felt the weight of so much training, practice, battles, and more vanish from him as he saw that notification.

[ Archery Skill Waiting To Be Chosen ]

Kaen?

Yeah… sorry, I just… I finally hit level forty in my archery skill, and now I can finally choose an ability.

How about you worry about that later and focus on what we are dealing with now?

Kaen snorted and started to draw arrows rapidly, each time pouring power into them momentarily before sending them down below.

The cloud is starting to disperse! I can come help!

Wait just a little longer.  There are still a few archers, and I want to make sure that it is safe.

-----

Five minutes later, the army beneath them was running away in fear.  They fled once both dragons swooped in and began tearing them to pieces.  Without the casters and the archers to protect them from Glynnis, it became a route that lasted several hours as both Pammon and Glynnis ate their fill of the bodies of the creatures beneath them.

-----

“My god, what happened to you?”

Kaen smiled and shrugged as Tioanoe ran toward him as best she could.  All over, she had bandages and cuts.  Behind her were a few dozen other warriors who had come to see the dragon and rider that had saved their lives.

“I’d say you look awful, but you might not believe I can see all the bandages you wear,” joked Kaen as he bowed slightly.  “Sorry for the delay in coming… I was an idiot.”

Tianoe snorted and shook her head as she gazed up at Pammon.  “You have grown as well… perhaps we shall let the two of you pass through our land without payment.”

A thrum came from Pammon while Kaen groaned slightly, remembering the first time he had entered their land.

“Forgive me for how long it took to help, though… I know my delay has cost you many.”

She nodded slowly, and Kaen saw her spin a small colored bracelet on her arm.  Pammon’s eyes let him see it clearly beneath her fingers, and he felt a twinge in his gut.

“Krudae…”

The color on Tioanoe’s face changed a little as she realized what she had done.  “Yes… she has departed this world and now sits with our ancestors.  She had much honor for the numbers she had sent before her.”

Kaen moved forward, able to walk much better after practicing, stood before her, and extended his hand.

As they clasped forearms, Kaen smiled and gave a slight bow.  “I will pray that your ancestors know how great she was.  She almost took down a dragon rider.”

A coughing fit, followed by some sniffing, plagued Tioanoe for a few seconds.  “Dragon Rider Kaen, you honor us greatly.”  Turning, she motioned to Glynnis, who had collapsed near Pammon and appeared asleep as his dragon moved beside her.  “The dragon you sent has been a great ally in our battles.  I know she was weary, and the things she has done will be sung for many lives to come.  Now tell me, how are things in your kingdom?”

Frowning, Kaen scratched his neck and then tsked his tongue against his teeth.

“Let me grab some food to share with you and your people.  Then we can talk about what is happening here and at my home.”

She gave a bow and then turned, whistling and her fingers moving momentarily.  A dozen of the female warriors behind her took off, running into the town, each smiling even though they were covered in wounds and blood.

“You never fail to share what you have.  I am grateful as always.  Please, if you will join us in our last city.  Hard choices must be made.”

Kaen nodded and turned to look at Pammon.

I’ll do my best to not stumble and fall.

I have no doubt you will do fine.  Tell her I will always remember Krudae.  She was a fierce warrior for one so small.

Jogging, Kaen caught up with Tioanoe and put his hand on her shoulder.  “Just so you know, I am blind.  Right now, I can only see because Pammon is here.  Once we go inside your walls, I cannot see.”

She looked back at Pammon, who nodded slightly before resting his head near Glynnis.

Glancing out over the battlefield, she noticed that the warriors appeared to be making sure all the kobolds were dead. She tugged her ear for a moment.

“Then we will eat out here.  They will understand when I tell them you must remain to protect your dragons.”

Laughing, Kaen gave her shoulder a squeeze and bowed.  “Thank you for that.”

“No Dragon Rider,” Tioanoe replied, her voice strong and steady.  “We thank you for honoring your promise.  Today, we are prepared to die and hope our children and older ones might live.  Now we believe we can see them soon.  That gift is far greater than you will ever know.”

Smiling, Kaen held back the pain he felt at how he understood more than she realized.