Fall of the Last Dragon Rider - 061 - Breaking Limits (Patreon)

The days passed, and with each one, Phillip and Frederick began to realize their mistakes. 

Countless formations had been tested, and some proved to be more successful than others. One led to their defeating over half of Aldric’s men. 

The King had been replaced, and Hess was now commanding them. He was still moving with grace and power as he directed the rotating group of guards.

Half the group rotated out every two days, giving new recruits a chance to get experience while having those with them to guide and teach.

Phillip and Frederick also began to experiment with different students, finding that some worked better with one formation than another.

It was on the eighth day when everything fell into place.

-----

Phillip and Frederick had outfitted themselves with two swords, forgoing the shields they often carried. It was the third skirmish of the day, and for the first time, they stood side by side, using their students as a shield behind them and to their side.

When Kaen saw the formation they took, he grinned and turned to Pammon, who nodded slightly.

How many do you think they will defeat?

At least three-fourths. Much will depend upon how they figure out their strengths and weaknesses, but I feel for those guards who meet them first.

As the horn blew, both groups charged each other this time. 

Hess called for a change of formation, stacking his troops in sets of five, two deep and in an X pattern. Gaps were formed, and Kaen groaned as the shift happened quickly.

Maybe not three-fourths…

Pammon thrummed once.

Too late to take it back.

The sounds of the collision that came as both groups collided was loud, but the number of guards cut down within the first moments was even more so. 

Phillip and Frederick used a skill, not waiting as they sometimes did. 

In the first few seconds, ten men fell to the ground, struck by their swords and now dead by all intents and purposes.

Kaen winced from the power of those strikes, knowing the healers would have their hands full in a moment. 

The students followed quickly, keeping the pockets of other troops at bay as the two dragon riders cut through the men who came at them with ease. They had stood about five feet apart, which gave them enough room to cover the middle between them while also covering their own sides and front.

In moments, the guard section faded fast as the outer groups tried to collapse from the side and back.

Unfortunately, it left Hess unprotected, and both men dashed toward him.

Frederick spun as they got close, cutting off the rush of four men and giving Phillip a few seconds of uninterrupted time against Hess.

Neither wore a smile as they sometimes did when they had practiced or dueled. 

Both had grim looks and as Phillip came at Hess, the older man didn’t hesitate.

Hess activated his shield bash, and Phillip rolled from the attack he knew was coming. He had feinted for a quick assault, trying to draw out the attack.

Kaen couldn’t help but grin as he saw Hess scowl, but his dad wasn’t out of tricks yet.

The shield had pressed forward so fast, and even though Kaen constantly teased Hess of being beyond his prime, a single shift in position led to Hess activating the shield charge.

Phillip was beginning to stand as he saw Hess barreling at him and held up both swords, preparing to block what he knew would most likely knock him out of the fight or at least stun him.

Hess had trusted, however, the men too much with his back. Phillip’s roll had put Hess between Frederick and himself. As Hess drove forward, Phillip whistled, and even though Kaen couldn’t see his dad’s face, he could only imagine the look he must have.

Frederick was on Hess’s unprotected backside in a blink, landing two strikes against him as his shield barreled over Phillip.

Both were down and out, falling to the ground together as Hess cursed.

Frederick spun and blocked and parried the two guards coming at him.

Ok, maybe I was right, three-fourths!

Pammon groaned, and they watched with smiles as the fight continued.

-----

Frederick groaned as he lay on the ground, panting from the exertion but still smiling.

“Seventy-eight… we got seventy-eight!”

Phillip laughed and nodded. “Nice work on Hess.”

“It was your plan… you know what Hess would do,” replied Frederick between breaths.

“You two have improved more than I realized,” Hess said as he stood near the boys. “I guess I have also gotten a little soft in my own way, being too predictable.”

Kaen stood near them, letting them talk about how things went. The students were ecstatic at how well they had done, and the guards discussed what they could do to avoid that again.

After the healers were finished, Kaen got their attention with a simple whistle.

“Good work! Now comes the hard part,” Kaen declared, a massive smile on his face. Now, both sides know what these two need to do to win. I expect Frederick and Phillip to improve on what they just did, just as I anticipate their squads finding better ways to support them.”

Kaen turned toward most of the guards. “You know this and must find out how to make it harder on them. When your turn is up, tell the next group and warn them. I don’t want you making it easy on our two dragon riders.”

Everyone laughed and nodded.

“Good, thirty-minute break, and then we go again. We will keep going until both riders are alive and every guard is defeated.”

Kaen gave a quick nod and turned to move back to his position.

“Son!”

Stopping mid-turn, Kaen smiled at Hess, who was coming to join him. 

“Walk with me a moment, I want to ask a question.”

Kaen raised an eyebrow but nodded and walked back to the tower with Hess.

“How long do you expect this to last?”

Kaen sighed and bit his lip for a moment as they walked. “Less than a week, hopefully, no more than three days. After that happens, I have something else then.”

Hess laughed and gave his son a gentle hit to the arm. “I was never this much of a bastard, but maybe I should have been. You’re pushing these kids and men just right. It amazes me how much they don’t get too frustrated with the same thing. Are you intentionally giving those speeches when you do, or is it pure luck?”

Scratching his face, Kaen didn’t say anything for a few steps. Finally, he stopped and turned to look back at the group that had been behind them. “Look at them.”

Hess saw that everyone was laughing and talking, both groups mingling and having animated conversations.

“It’s easy to see right now they don’t need me telling them anything. A little praise or a simple correction, and that is all they require. When things were not like this a few days ago, you remember what I did?”

Hess groaned and nodded. “Kicked my arse in front of every one of them.”

“Hey, I let you win a few times.”

Groaning still, Hess nodded. “That you did because we both know I can’t win on my own.”

“While that might be true,” Kaen replied, “They needed a distraction. We showed them different techniques and attacks. They got a break and also got to learn. I’m sure you saw both sides using the stuff we showed them since then.”

“That intelligence and wisdom stat of yours must be getting too high now. That’s some fine thinking from a boy who couldn’t tie a proper knot for so long.”

Kaen laughed as he recalled the frustration of that memory Hess was mentioning.

“You know my plans. Five or six months is all we can afford. I already sent word to the wood elves and dwarves. They will be ready when the time comes.”

“What about here? How long will you do this?”

Kaen looked at Hess. The smile he had just had was gone. “Until they finish one last task. Don’t tell anyone, but after they are ready here, we will go with our dragons and fight some kobolds.”

“What? Why would you do that?” asked Hess, his voice louder than he had intended.

“I remember some of my best training was done in a goblin cave, fighting an attack on Minoosh and going up against a pack of bandits.”

“What about those orcs?”

Kaen winced at the memory of Luca. “Pammon and I learned more than I ever knew I needed from that fight… These boys have seen fighting and been on the front line, but now they need to learn what a dragon rider can do. You’ve felt their hits, even when not giving everything it hurts.”

Hess nodded, reaching behind with one arm and rubbing his lower back. “They do hit a lot harder than I ever remember.”

Chuckling, Kaen motioned to Pammon. “Ask him. He will tell you how his children are doing. Foros and Tazorath are both growing stronger every day. When we are ready here, the six of us will head to the desert, and there, dragons and their riders will find out why armies fear us.”

Kaen paused, leaned over, and grabbed Hess, pulling him close. “They will also have someone like I had who could easily solo everything to ensure nothing goes wrong.”

Hess roared with laughter and embraced Kaen. “Good luck then. I’ll do what I can to make sure they are ready.”

Nodding, Kaen patted him on the shoulder and then motioned to the tower. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go talk with Pammon some more.”

-----

Four days later, cheering filled the air, and Kaen stood on the tower smiling as Pammon thrummed.

They finally did it. That was impressive.

And two of their squad members are alive as well. Even better than I had initially believed.

Some might say that was luck, but they really are impressive. 

Kaen glanced up at the sky and then at the group celebrating below.

I’m going to call it a day. Would you like to go and check on Amaranth and your children early? They can be done for the day as well. Go hunting or whatever you four want.

Pammon leaned over to Kaen and nudged him gently with his snout.

I would very much enjoy that. Your wife and Glynnis should be back anytime as well.

Kaen nodded and smiled as he began moving down the steps of his tower.

Could you believe how excited she was to go with Glynnis to visit Bosgreth? When I first asked, I wasn’t sure if she was going to kill me or say yes. Still, it helps us because we don’t have to go and get the armor they should have done by now. 

She is excited to show off her belly to Bosgreth and Dagan. Still, it was good for both of them. Glynnis felt left out with how Amaranth and Ava get along. Perhaps they will be able to forge a new relationship.

Kaen nodded and was almost upon the celebration of students and guards, who seemed to not care that they had just been destroyed by two boys.

Waving and smiling, Kaen moved to where Phillip and Frederick stood, grinning like they had just killed the largest deer in the kingdom's history.

“Congratulations, you two!”

“I can’t believe it!” exclaimed Frederick. “I almost thought we were going lose near the middle, but thankfully, our squad kept them off our backs!”

Some cheers came from their group, and Kaen nodded, raising a hand for silence.

“Ok, now comes the good news!”

Phillip and Frederick both groaned.

“You all get to celebrate. Head to town, stop by the Dragon Rider Inn, and food and drink are on me!”

Cheers broke out, and Kaen gave them a few to celebrate before raising his hands again.

“One more good piece of news! Tomorrow is a rest day. Sleep, stretch, eat, do whatever you want, or your King tells you to do.”

Some laughter and groans came as the guards knew how true his last words were.

“After that, we start here again, and trust me, it’s going to be even harder then.”

“And there’s the bad news,” muttered Phillip.

A few groans came, but no one seemed to care too much. Dinner, drinks, and a day off were worth celebrating.

“Now get cleaned up and get a move on!”

Kaen turned and stared at Pammon.

Why haven’t you left yet?

You don’t want a ride back?

No, I’ll walk with everyone else. You go see your family. Tomorrow is all yours as well. Enjoy it.

Pammon thrummed, and as he leaped off the ground, he gazed at Kaen.

Glynnis is going to be very upset to learn she missed out.

Then we better pray she gets back tomorrow.

As Pammon flew over their heads, his thrumming continued for a while. 

Kaen could sense his joy and excitement.

“What was that?” Hess asked, having snuck up next to Kaen.

“Just a happy dragon about to go spend time with his family. Care if I join you and Sulenda?”

Putting his arm around Kaen’s shoulders, Hess smiled and tugged him back toward town. “We’d love it.”