Red Dragon's Keep (The Dragon's Children Book 1) Read online

  Thomas, Aeden, Captain Braden, Master Sergeant Haloran and his staff sergeants met around the fire at the center of the camp.

  “The ford is marked, Lord Thomas.” Haloran used a long stick to draw a map in the damp earth. “We should move the men across by squads in an hour and set them in a screen along the edge of the forest road to the south and west. Picket five of the horses along the south side of the road to act as shock troops if the need arises.”

  “Move the archers into the trees on the north. Have them climb as high as they can so they’ll be firing down on the Demons,” advised Lady Aeden.

  Haloran nodded in agreement. He tapped his chin, narrowing his eyes as he stared into the forest. “The scouts can set up deadfalls and snares to slow down the Demon advance there and there.” He pointed north and south of the battlefield on the other side of the river. “I wish there was some magical trap that we could set that would thin them out.”

  Perhaps there is. HellReaver’s voice echoed in all of their minds. Lady Aeden, can you go with the scouts and set magelight to explode when the Demons trip the snares and deadfalls? Make sure that you cut it off from your ki so that it will not drain you.

  Lady Aeden looked at Thomas and HellReaver sheathed at his side with a frown. “I’ve not done that particular magic before, HellReaver, but I think I can do it.”

  Good. The sooner the better. I can feel the horde approaching.

  The council broke up as everyone scattered to complete their tasks.

  Chapter 28

  Infantry troops splashed through the cold water between the marker branches that had been placed on either side of the ford. As they clambered up the riverbank on the opposite shore, they hurried to form up and move into the trees on either side of the road. A cold breeze blew down the mountains from the west. Fallen leaves crunched under boots. Men crouched behind snares and deadfalls they had set up to trap the Demons.

  Aeden ghosted silently between groups. She set a magelight trigger at each snare and left a portion of magical potential tethered to the trigger. She had gone out five hundred yards and created a trip-line that would alert them to the Demon approach.

  Thomas crouched with Captain Braden behind a deadfall close to the ford. Sergeant Haloran had insisted that he be close enough to the river to escape to the other side if things went badly. Aeden slid in beside them, clutching OathKeeper in her fist.

  “I saw two of the creatures that Marta described winging along the road. They may be the horde’s Smachtmaistir,” she muttered to both of them. “They’ve taken stations on both sides about two hundred yards beyond the trip-line.”

  Captain Braden shook his head. “I’ll take a squad and try to flank them.”

  He stood up and waved four soldiers and two archers to join him. They jogged south along the road.

  The forest exploded with flashes of magelight and shrieks of Demons as they triggered the magic traps. They had reached the trip-line. Thunder rumbled. Demons poured from the forest on the southwest side of the road. The horses kept in reserve on the road screamed in fear and pain, rearing and kicking out, as Demons leaped on them and started feeding on still living bodies.

  Stefan and Maccon pulled their swords and tried to defend the helpless horses. Heddwyn screamed in fear, broke free and galloped frantically away. Stefan swung at the claws that reached for him. He cut one from the Demon’s arm, but the other reached past his sword and plunged into his chest. He fell to the ground, dead.

  Maccon desperately blocked and blocked but couldn’t find any room to attack. The Demons swarmed over him. With a last thrust, he pushed his sword through the chest of a Demon, killing it. The Demon following it slashed down Maccon’s face and chest. Blood exploded from his body. He was dead before he hit the ground.

  Soldiers grimly swung swords and poleaxes, engaging the Demons by twos and threes. Demon and human blood flew in arches as weapons met flesh. Archers hidden in the trees poured arrows into the writhing mass, targeting Demons as they became separated from the horde. The battle swirled in chaos.

  Two hundred yards to the north of the battle, Captain Braden raised his fist, signaling his men to halt. As the sky lit up with mage fire, they could see the figures of two coal black creatures hidden among the evergreen needles, perched on large branches on either side of the road. Braden squinted and tried to make out their shapes, but they were shrouded with some close fitting material. He signaled the archers to target the figures.

  The archers drew and loosed their arrows. They flew straight and true. The archers fired again and again, piercing the creatures and skewering them to the trunks of the trees as they spread their membranous wings, trying to take flight.

  “Quick,” shouted Captain Braden. “Climb up and make sure they’re dead.”

  His troops rushed to the trees and climbed up the trunks. Knives found throats and Demons died.

  A shout behind him drew Braden’s attention. At least five Demons were rushing toward him, knife-sharp teeth ready to rend and tear. He braced himself for their charge.

  The leading two launched themselves and he drove his sword into the chest of the one on the right and his short-sword into the muzzle of the one on the left. He pulled his weapons free and danced over the falling bodies, engaging the next two. He slit throats left and right as they leapt, but he couldn’t recover quickly enough to engage the third Demon.

  Its teeth fastened on his throat and bore him to the ground. His final sword thrust found its way between the monster’s ribs and pierced its heart. He’d fought to his last breath, taking an honor guard of enemies to their deaths.

  § § §

  Thomas swung HellReaver with grim purpose; thrust, slice, backhand, again and again and again. Demon blood covered him and dripped from everything. The ground was slippery with it. Bodies lay in clumps of dead Demons and soldiers. Demons circled, feigning attacks and retreating. The stink of sulfur caused him to gag again and again.

  As soldiers were killed, surviving Demons joined the attack on Thomas and Aeden. The attacks became more intense. Thomas formed magelight and threw it again and again at the Demons, blinding them.

  He faltered as exhaustion set in. Weary muscles started to quiver and refuse to respond. His sword dipped as he panted for breath. A Demon dashed in and knocked the sword from his grasp. As it fell, HellReaver blazed out with a flash of light. The Demons turned away in pain as their eyes were assaulted. Thomas lunged forward and grabbed the sword as it hit the ground. He stabbed up at the Demons not yet recovered from the light, then rolled back to his feet.

  A surge of energy rushed into him from HellReaver. He slashed at the two Demons attacking from the right, removing their heads. He followed through with a thrust of his sword to the Demon in front of him. The Demon shrieked, but continued up the sword, eyes locked with his, claws reaching for his throat. Thomas lifted up with a surge of power and disemboweled the creature. Demon blood sprayed.

  Demons moved between Aeden and Thomas, forcing her away from the rest of the company. They circled her, then leapt in to attack, clawing and biting. One fastened its jaws on her sword arm, weighing it down and preventing her from swinging OathKeeper. Two more grabbed her leg and started to feed. She screamed in pain. Bodies of Demons bore her to the ground in triumph. OathKeeper lit up with magelight, sending it spearing into the closest Demon.

  With a roar like a bear from the north, Thomas raised HellReaver and pointed the sword at the Demons attacking Aeden as he charged to her rescue. Magelight flashed from HellReaver and seared the Demon chewing on her arm. It shrieked and lit up like a torch, burning no matter how the creature twisted and turned and threw itself on the ground to try to extinguish the flames.

  Aeden struggled to her feet, slashing at Demons, her legs and arm bleeding badly. She raised OathKeeper and called fire from the sky. She lowered the sword and used it like a whip. Wherever it touched, Demons exploded.

  Thomas swung again and again in fury, throwing magelight as well as
cutting and stabbing, until all of the Demons who had attacked Aeden lay dead. He looked beyond his pile of bodies to see none left standing.

  Thomas and Aeden reeled in exhaustion toward each other, clasped each other by the shoulders and slowly folded to the ground. As they sat in a stupor, OathKeeper and HellReaver pulled energy from the earth up into their people. Wounds began to slowly heal as the energy flowed from the swords into their bodies.

  Half the company lay dead. The other half staggered to their comrades, checking the wounded and dead, and searching for the living. The archers that Captain Braden had ordered into the trees to bring down the bodies of the odd Demons dragged the corpses to Thomas and threw them on the ground in front of him. Gently they lowered the body of Captain Braden to the ground.

  “Lord, Captain Braden is dead,” the first archer told him. “He died keeping the Demons off of us while we dragged these abominations out of the trees where they perched. Ain’t never seen anything like ‘em.”

  § § §

  The Master Sergeant found Thomas and Aeden sitting there, surrounded by dead Demons. He was covered with human blood and Demon gore. He shouted and gestured urgently at two of his men to come help him move them to the bank of the Caladen. The river had kept the Demons from surrounding them and slaughtering everyone.

  “My Lord and Lady, you must drink and try to clean up.” He cupped his hands and scooped up the frigid water. He held them up to Thomas’s mouth. Dazed, it took a moment for Thomas to recognize the water and then he drank. Haloran did the same for Aeden. Soon, both of them were laying on the bank, scooping and drinking on their own.

  Exhausted, Thomas rolled to his back on the cold, wet ground with a groan. He slowly pushed himself up on his elbows and upright from there. Aeden did the same.

  Thomas looked toward the picket line and it finally hit his brain that none of the horses remained. He pushed himself to his feet and staggered over to the butchery of what had once been twenty horses. He did not see Heddwyn’s body and relief surged through him.

  He stumbled to the end of the killing field and froze. “No,” he cried out in pain when he found the bodies of Stefan and Maccon. He collapsed to the ground next to their bodies. Tears filled his eyes and he stifled a guttural sob that threatened to overwhelm him.

  Haloran sent his men to call in what was left of the company. “You and you,” he pointed at two of the survivors, “Wrap the bodies of the Demons in canvas and get them on the wagons. Get others to help do the same for those of ours that lie here. We need to get them back to the Keep.”

  Thomas stood in stolid silence next to Haloran. “Was this worth it?” he asked. “I lost Captain Braden, Stefan and Maccon. Did we learn anything from this battle?”

  “Yes,” Haloran responded. “We did. It’s going to take more than swords and arrows to save the Keep and the town. It’s going to take magic and more people than we have right now to win. This battle showed us just how little we know about the Demons.” He shook his head in resignation. “Come. Let’s gather up our wounded and dead. This is just the first battle in what I fear will be a very long war.”

  Chapter 29

  Five long days later, the wagons moved slowly along the road at first light, horses and men weary and despondent. Winter’s chill pressed against the earth, slowing movement and thought. As they reached Red Dragon’s Keep, the wagons turned south down the road toward the cemetery where the slain would be buried with all honor.

  Thomas, Aeden and the remainder of the company rode back into the forecourt that they had left such a short time ago.

  The boys, Breanna, and Marta hurried down the steps. Breanna rushed to Thomas and grabbed him in a hug as he dismounted from his borrowed mount. “Are you okay?” her voice wavered. “We knew something was wrong when Heddwyn returned without you.”

  “I'm all right. We lost half the men and Captain Braden. Maccon and Stefan are dead.”

  The boys gasped.

  “Raina and Marta, Faolan is fine. Thank the Three Gods you came to Red Dragon’s Keep when you did. Without him, I think we’d all be dead.”

  Raina’s eyes started to leak tears. Marta swallowed hard and covered her face with both hands, then clasped them together and murmured a short prayer of thanks. Tears dripped from her eyes, but she made no sound.

  “Could all of you help with the horses and getting the wounded to the healers? After that, I need a bath and a change of clothes. Let's meet in the great hall in two hours. That should be long enough to get everyone settled.”

  § § §

  Still tired but much cleaner, Thomas met the others in the great hall. Gregory had ordered mid-meal to be served early. Lady Aeden waited in the arch of the door to the kitchen corridor. Thomas motioned her to meet him at the table.

  “Would someone please bring a chair to the table for Lady Aeden? Gregory, please join us.”

  Cameron jumped up and grabbed two of the chairs sitting along the wall. He bustled back and set them across from Thomas’s seat.

  “Lady, if you would join me?” Thomas invited. He bowed deeply to her. The others looked on puzzled.

  Lady Aeden nodded her thanks and mounted the stairs to the dais. She wore her usual trousers, tunic and low boots. Her fiery red hair flowed freely down her back. She took the chair next to Thomas.

  Thomas raised his cup and toasted, “To a hard won battle with thanks to Lady Aeden. Had she not shared her magic, we would not have survived.”

  Everyone raised their cups and repeated, “Lady Aeden.”

  Thomas continued, “Tomorrow, we will look to the Keep. We think the Demons will attack here within the fortnight. Everything needs to be ready by then. For now, let’s celebrate our first victory and mourn our first loses.”

  § § §

  Thomas faced the Demons with only his short sword. HellReaver had been lost during the fight. The Demon in front of him leapt. The one behind him thrust claws into his back. He lunged up out of sleep with a shout, his heart hammering, sweating profusely. Oh thank the gods, a dream. Just a dream. He fell back onto the bed.

  He felt like he’d not slept at all. He fought with the blankets until they finally released him. Sitting on the edge of his bed, he scrubbed his face with his hands and tried to shake himself to alertness. He looked to the window and saw the first pearl grey light of daybreak washing the sky through the shutters.

  He pushed himself to his feet and tried to stretch. His legs rebelled and he almost fell. Every muscle in his body ached. He groaned. The fire in his room hadn’t been lit yet. He hobbled over and lit it himself from the fire-keeper. As the logs caught, he sighed. He filled his washbowl with water from the pitcher left there overnight, poured some into his glass, drank it and then another. He washed his face, neck and arms, then worked his cramping legs into trousers and arms into shirt and tunic. He thrust his feet into his house shoes. With slow and deliberate movements, he strapped on HellReaver’s sheath.

  Good morning, Thomas. It is a good day to be alive.

  Good morning HellReaver. If you say so, was Thomas’s grumpy response.

  HellReaver chuckled.

  Thomas walked down the corridor and took the stairs to the great hall. Almost everyone still slept. He heard the clatter of the cooks working in the kitchen, even this early, and walked through the archway and into their domain. Something was always kept simmering for those going to or coming off of watch.

  “Good morn, my Lord. How may I serve you?” Restin, the new head cook was short, stout and balding. His apron was covered with spots from checking the food that he cooked. He greeted Thomas, eyeing his sword and sheath with wary caution.

  “Good morning...Restin...isn’t it? Do you have anything to eat?”

  “Right this way my Lord.” Restin led Thomas to the warming hearth with its always replenished cauldrons of stew or porridge or soup. A kettle of water and another of tea sat on tripods set at the edge of the banked fire, keeping warm. He grabbed a wooden bowl from the stack to th
e left of the hearth and a cup from the shelf above. “What would you like, Lord?”

  “I’ll serve myself. Thanks, Restin.” Thomas took the bowl and cup from the cook and dished up some stew from the pot. He grabbed a roll from the basket next to the pot and plopped it onto the stew in his bowl. He put the cup on the hearth and poured himself some hot tea. Turning, he checked that the table sitting in front of the window looking out on the kitchen garden was empty. He made his way there around tables where bustling cooks, apprentices and skullies worked to get ready for breakfast. He sat down and began to eat.

  Aeden slipped into the seat across from him. “Good morning, Lord Thomas. You’re up very early.”

  “Good morning, Lady Aeden. I couldn’t sleep. Kept dreaming about Demons.” He mopped up some stew with the roll and bit into it. “Please, get some breakfast.” He waved toward the warming hearth with the roll and continued chewing.

  A small smile tugged at Aeden’s lips. She went to the hearth and dished up stew and a cup of tea and returned to the table. They ate in silence until the last bite was gone. Thomas was surprised how much better he felt after eating. He leaned back in his chair and looked around the kitchen as he took another swallow of tea.

  He jerked up straight. There should have been barrels of supplies stacked ceiling high around the perimeter of the room. Barrels of flour, corn, water, salted meat. “Restin,” he exclaimed.

  Restin stopped stirring the pot of beans that he was cooking. He hurried over to the table. “Yes, my Lord?”

  “Where are the barrels of supplies that should be lining these walls?”

  “My Lord, this is what was here when I took over.” Restin gestured at the walls. “I’ve not seen the usual supplies. I thought that they’d been moved to provide more space for our work. Was I mistaken?”