DARK HOURS, a Fantasy Romance by Linda Mooney - Chapter 11

DARK HOURS

Chapter 11  

       It was early evening the next day before the outer walls of Noranye came into view. Long before then, they’d spotted the massive black dragon flying overhead. It was as if the creature had been waiting and watching for them. After it finally spied them, it swooped low overhead, frightening the horse to where the animal almost unsaddled both Kayge and the priest. It took great effort from the Centurion to calm their mount enough and continue onward.

       One thing they both silently agreed on was that Gola was now aware of the fact that Father Matthias had managed to find Kayge, delivered her message, and Kayge was returning to reclaim his beloved Emers.

       The guards and soldiers were expecting them. Kayge eyed the men lining the upper walls as he and the priest approached the drawbridge. He recognized many of them, especially those who had served directly under him, but not a single face showed the same familiarity. Every pair of eyes gazed back at him with vacant expressions. Gola had their souls completely under her command.

When the dragon disappeared from sight as the first turret came into view, Kayge wondered where it had gone. He suspected it could be within the confines of the castle, but he wasn’t certain. Neither could he worry about it. Not yet. Right now his focus was on the confrontation with the witch before he faced her Hell-spawned creature.

The drawbridge lowered and they were allowed to cross it. Entering the courtyard, they were immediately surrounded by a phalanx of guards. Slowly, Kayge dismounted. Father Matthias joined him as the captain of the guards approached. Again, Kayge studied the man’s face for some sign of familiarity. He knew Obred Tayson of Kimmsin. Had known the man since their initial days in the military academy. They’d bunked in the same barracks. They’d fought together. Advanced through the ranks together. And they’d been promoted to Centurion together. Yet the man’s eyes were dark, blank, and lifeless.

“You will come with me,” Tayson intoned in a flat, emotionless voice without greeting.

“Can the priest come as well?”

The Centurion never glanced at Father Matthias. “We have been instructed to bring you both.”

There was no movement to relieve him of his weapon, which did and didn’t surprise him. The witch was so confident in her abilities, she believed herself to be impervious to any attempts he’d make to come after her.

The soldier turned and began walking toward the main doors. Kayge cast a glance at the priest before following after the man.

They were led directly to the throne room. Gola was seated on the chair, as he expected. Two long lines of guards flanked her, protecting her. Kayge found their presence amusing. Gola had the power to eliminate any man with an incantation and a wave of her hand. These men were being used merely for show.

He resisted the urge to rest his hand on the butt of his sword. Although he knew the witch wasn’t afraid of him, he didn’t want to test the possibility that her guards might take his action as a threat and descend on him to defend her.

Kayge stopped at the foot of the dais but refused to bow or show her any sign of allegiance. Instead, he locked eyes with hers and waited, almost daring her to make the next move. Beside him, Father Matthias halted and also remained silent.

Gola’s gaze broke away from the Centurion and went to the priest. “You have done well, old man. I take it you delivered my message?”

“He did,” Kayge answered for him.

The witch turned back to the soldier. “Tell me what he said.”

Kayge didn’t try to hide his amusement. She wanted to be sure the priest had delivered it correctly. “If I want to be reunited with my beloved Emers, I have to kill the heart of the dragon.” It wasn’t an exact quote, but it was enough to confirm what he’d been told. It was also enough to gain a thin smile from the witch.

“I take it you have returned to do just that,” she said.

“I have returned for my Emers,” Kayge stated.

“Whatever it takes?” Gola pressed.

Kayge found it odd that she would say that, but confirmed it. “Yes. Whatever it takes.”

“Then follow me,” she ordered. Swishing her purple cloak about her shoulders, she strode off in the direction of the hallway that Kayge knew led to the inner, private courtyard saved exclusively for the royal family.

The soldiers fell in line behind him and the priest as they made their way to open outside area. Lit torches ringed the area as dusk gave way to the darkness of the night. As Kayge expected, the dragon sat at the far end, waiting for them.

A second chair had been placed here. Kayge recognized it as the late queen’s throne. Gola placed herself upon the tufted cushion, and her guards spread out in a semi-circle behind and around her.  Waving in the direction of the immense beast, she smiled.

“There is no need to delay this any longer. Begin!”

Kayge shoved the priest out of the way and drew his sword. The beast eyed him, an almost identical smile to that of Gola’s on its face. Was the creature waiting for him to charge?

In the back of his mind, Father Matthias’ words whispered to him.

“I believe its every action is dictated to it by the witch.”

Realizing his back was to the woman, Kayge instantly pivoted to where he could keep an eye on both. He twirled his blade experimentally to see if the animal would react. It did, rising up on all fours and spreading its wings so far, the tips brushed the walls of the nearby keep.

“Come at me, beast.” He gave a come hither motion to it. “You think you are invincible?”

“We do not think it. We know it,” Gola replied with a hint of bravado.

Hiding his smile, Kayge glanced at her. “Then tell it to attack me.”

“Only when you get closer,” the witch smirked.

“I believe its every action is dictated to it by the witch.”

Kayge suddenly sprinted toward the creature, sword raised as if to spear it through the chest. The dragon roared and sat back on its hind feet, lifting its front paws, claws extended.

Instead of continuing toward it, Kayge abruptly changed course and lunged to its left, putting the animal between him and Gola. The dragon twisted its body as it reached out for him. At the same time, it leaped toward him.

Too late, Kayge noticed how close the thing had been by the far wall. A clawed hand came down to trap him against the ivy-shrouded rocks, when he dropped and rolled. The paw missed crushing him, but a couple of its talons raked down Kayge’s back, shearing through the leather straps that kept the metal pieces of armor tied to his body. A hard, almost debilitating jerk nearly lifted him off his feet, and Kayge felt his breast and back plates fall away.

He kept rolling to avoid a second strike as the beast raised its claws again. The front paws came down, shaking the ground when they landed. Kayge ended up on his back, staring almost directly up into the open maw.

The dragon roared again and lowered its head when it inexplicably stopped. Kayge threw up his hand holding his sword, but the creature continued to hesitate, then inexplicably took a step back. Its gaze focused on Kayge’s chest.

Confused, Kayge let his training and years of experience take over. He rolled away from the animal and staggered to his feet, when pain lanced up his right leg. A familiar warm wetness trickled down his calf, letting him know his wound had reopened. At the same time, the dragon’s nostrils flared, which told him the creature also smelled blood. It rose up once more, exposing its breast as if to taunt him.

“What is the matter, Centurion? Already starting to weaken?” Gola cackled in anticipation.

Kayge kept his eyes on the dragon but a kernel of an idea was forming in his head.

“I believe its every action is dictated to it by the witch.”

How? Why? Was it tied somehow to the witch? Or was it…

To win back his Emers, he has to kill the heart of the dragon.

“Gola!” He glared at the witch. “How do I know that if I plunge my sword into this beast’s chest that I won’t also kill my beloved?”

That made the woman laugh even harder, but it gave him his answer.

Killing the heart of the beast would also kill Emers. Gola knew it, and now he did as well, placing him at an impossible stalemate—kill the dragon and kill his beloved, or let the animal live and allowing Emers to remain in eternal torment inside it.

“I would rather release her from her purgatory, even if it means slaying her!” he yelled, raising his sword. He barely caught the witch’s movements as she signaled the animal to retreat. The dragon bellowed but obeyed. Once again, Kayge stared at the two. At the way the dragon obeyed her command…

It obeyed her command, but its back is to her. It cannot see or hear the witch, and Gola did not say anything to it, yet it knew. It knew!

To win back his Emers, he has to kill the heart of the dragon.

A wild, almost impossible thought went through him, but it was one that might, might, give him and Emers a chance. But he had to know. He had to know for certain, or else all of this would be in vain, and he would lose the only woman he had ever truly loved.

He changed his strategy. Instead of rushing toward the creature, he began circling it. All the while he kept his gaze on the animal, watching its eyes in particular. Waiting to see if the thing would glance at its mistress. At the same time, he was aware of the soldiers behind him. Their shapes reflected off the massive creature’s red eyes. He didn’t stop until he caught sight of Gola over his left shoulder. She made a move, raising her hands, fingers curved like claws. Simultaneously, the dragon rose up on its hind legs and lifted its front paws, talons extended. It opened its mouth, letting out a roar and exposing its Stygian throat.

Kayge backed up, aiming his sword at the thing, when his right leg buckled on him. Gasping from the pain, he fell to one knee, dropping his sword as he clutched his wounded leg.

The dragon stood up, spreading its wings, and prepared to crush him with its front claws. Kayge steeled himself as he pulled the knife he had in his belt. With one hard and sure throw, he twisted around and flung the weapon directly at the witch.

She shuddered when the blade sank into her throat. Before the woman could recover from the shock of his unexpected attack, Kayge grabbed his sword and rushed her where he plunged the honed steel into her chest. Into her heart.

A scream unlike anything he’d ever heard came from behind him. Kayge forced himself to remain calm as he continued to press the woman backwards until she stumbled and fell onto her back. Standing over her, Kayge gave the sword one final, hard thrust, until the witch was pinned to the ground.

He continued to hold onto the hilt, not letting go, and watched as Gola tried to raise her hands and conjure up a spell to defeat him. To remove the two weapons from her body. But the knife had punctured her throat to where she was unable to utter a single word, leaving her hand gestures ineffective.

Minutes passed. Around him the soldiers remained stonily silent and unmoving. He was aware the dragon was still behind him, but like the soldiers it didn’t move, didn’t react or cry out again. When at last the witch ceased struggling, and he was certain the light of life had faded from her eyes, Kayge released his grip on his sword and stepped away.

Now it was time to retrieve his Emers.

He turned around to find the dragon hunched down on all fours. It was breathing heavily, but it seemed to be broken, as if its connection to its maker had been severed. It was exactly what Kayge had hoped for.

He didn’t dare remove either of his blades from the witch for fear she’d be able to restore herself. He eyed the swords of the nearby soldiers, but he also feared his move to relieve one of them of their weapon would reactivate them, and they would fall on him to avenge the loss of their leader.

A movement. Kayge glanced over to see Father Matthias watching, fear turning the old priest’s face a deathly white. Seeing that the Centurion had spotted him, the man nodded.

“Keep the faith, my son! The Lord will guide your hand. Remember, you are doing this for your lady!”

Hearing the dragon move, Kayge whirled around to find it trying to lift itself up off the ground. It managed to rise up on its hind legs, front claws extended, but it didn’t try to advance toward him. It clearly wanted him to come to it so it could eviscerate him with its talons.

Pausing, Kayge studied the animal’s appearance. Like before, its focus never wavered, even when the body of the witch could clearly be seen reflected in its gaze…

To the side. Kayge straightened. The beast was staring at him, not at the witch directly.

The animal was focused on him…

No, not on him. He narrowed his eyes and took a couple of steps closer to the creature. The dragon’s attention continued to be centered…

Lifting his hand to his chest, Kayge grasped the crucifix hanging from the silver chain around his neck. The cross Father Matthias had blessed. Emers’ wedding gift to him.

“Keep the faith, my son! The Lord will guide your hand.”

He slipped the necklace from around his head and held the cross up to the dragon. The animal reacted with obvious fear and backed away until the far wall stopped its retreat. Yet Kayge continued to advance haltingly and fought the spears of pain zipping up the back of his right leg.

Unable to go any farther, the dragon opened its mouth and hissed a warning. It tried to lift its wings, but Kayge could tell the thing no longer had the power of flight now that its heart, the witch, was dead.

“Return her to me, foul beast! Return my Emers to me!”

Without warning, the dragon lunged at him, bringing down its front claws in an effort to slice through him. Kayge saw his opening and took it.

Holding the crucifix like a knife, he brought down his arm with every ounce of strength he had left and stabbed the creature in the chest, but the beast kept charging, unable to stop its momentum. Clutching the silver cross with both hands, Kayge continued to rip into the thing as it dragged him along, tearing through skin and scales as if they were butter. Blood poured over his face and arms, yet Kayge somehow managed to keep his grip on it.

The beast stumbled to a halt and tried to reach him with its beak, but the damage had been done. Entrails the thickness of Kayge’s arms fell from its abdomen. A second flood of blood gushed from its body, and a membrane, like a large bladder, oozed out of the opening. It hit the ground, splitting open, and Kayge stared as a small, naked figure sprawled almost at his feet.

Releasing the cross that was still embedded in the beast’s belly, he scrambled over the thick pool of mucus and bile until he reached her. She coughed as he pulled her into his embrace, and behind him he heard Father Matthias cry out in praise.

“Thank you, oh, merciful Lord! She lives!”

TO BE CONTINUED

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