The Dragon War

There weren’t always dragons in the valley. And if it were up to them they’d wished for it to stay that way.

It was a cold morning. Their breath clung to the air in little clouds. Each of them huddling together in small groups to keep some semblance of warmth in the early winter morning.

Malek and Ren were looking over the old edge of the wall, a structure of rock and wood nearly forty feet tall and extending almost a mile in both directions, from the Ghost Mountains to Ice River. The old structure had been there for over a hundred years marking the spot between kingdoms, one of several battlements along the border.

Their little holdfast hadn’t seen action in over thirty years, but that streak would end today.

The northern army had just fallen. They’d received word early that morning, before the rising sun, and that King Conor was dead. His retinue was in shambles and Oligard the Winged King carried his body over the human army. The massive beast allowed whoever laid down their arms to retreat.

The ones who surrendered made it back. Those that tried to avenge the king felt the dragon’s wroth.

And now, a great flight of dragons was on its way. Oligard sent word that he would no longer suffer the insult of living next to such pitiful creatures. A wing of dragons was coming to each battlement. The war would end today, his message said.

The border would fall. They knew it in their bones. They were no match for the sky lizards coming for them.

He would take charge of his new kingdom with fire and claw. And he would be starting the Old Fort, the place they were standing now.

Malek looked out over the edge, “I don’t get it. What good are walls against dragons?”

Ren smiled and put her hand on her friend’s large shoulder, “Not all dragons have wings.”

“Oh, that’s comforting,” he said.

“Don’t worry there will be plenty with wings too,” a voice said behind them.

“Prince Daniel,” they both said, dropping to a knee. A tall man stood there in gleaming armor, the kind of shine only armor untouched by battle could have. His red cape was lined with fur that swished behind as he walked.

“That’s not necessary here.”

“Sorry my lord, old habits.”

“No worries Malek,” the prince said, smiling at his old friends. Ren and Malek were not only his oldest friends but his personal guard. They insisted on following his new command after his title was stripped. They followed me to their doom, he thought to himself.

“I’m sorry about your father sir,” Ren said.

“I am too. When the old sky lizard comes I mean to show him.”

“Ha!” one of the older men laughed, he was seated on a cask and drinking from a wineskin.

“Only a man that’s never been in a fight wishes to be in one,” One Eyed Ben said.

“I’ve been in a fight Ben.”

“Aye, I know. That’s why you’re here. And why only your friends call you Prince.”

“Watch it Ben,” Malek said.

“Leave it Malek,” Prince Daniel said.

“Yes, he’s the prince no longer. No need to treat him like a prancing pony.”

Daniel moved between Malek and Ben to keep his large friend from doing something dumb. “I appreciate your loyalty but he’s right I’m not a prince.”

“See?” Ben said.

But Prince Daniel looked at Ben, “I may not be Prince, but am a Commander here. So you will watch your tongue or I’ll have that second eye.”

“Take it sir. All the better, I won't have to watch the massacre.”

“There won’t be a massacre,” Prince Daniel said, “Just a battle.”

“There’s no difference. Not that you would know.”

“I’ve seen battle, Ben.”

The old man laughed so hard he started coughing. “Oh the Prince has, has he? Putting down village revolts with your Father and thousand men at arms is not a battle. I mean death boy.”

Prince Daniel stepped to the old man, “I’ve seen death.”

“Oh you mean the petty squabble that landed you hear? I don’t mean killing your lover’s husband. I mean real death. You killed one man. I’ve killed hundreds. I seen everyone I know lying dead next to me. I mean when the blood runs so deep you start tasting it in your mouth. And the screams. Grown men crying for their mothers. Oligard himself came with a winged horde. Thirty years ago. King Conor’s father was dragon hunting along the border and brought down a little green. The dragon king sent word that he would not tolerate a dragon being taken like a common stag.

“He sent a message that King Borel must make amends. And that he must send a sacrifice to answer for the misdeed. The songs say that Borel was willing to do it. He’d asked for a volunteer. And one answered. A farmer from the hills all he asked was for his family to be taken care of. Old King Borel did better. He made his son a lord. And it was set.

“Until…

Malek and Ren said it at the same time. “King Borel’s Choice.”

Prince Daniel was silent as he had heard the tale far too often.

“Aye, Oligard sent word that to claim that a farmer was as good as a dragon would not suffice and if the King wished to make amends the only sacrifice he’d accept was…”

“A prince,” Prince Daniel said, “Grandfather was to pick my father or my uncle.”

“Aye, and you’ve heard the song. The old king couldn’t choose. And Oligard stirred from his perch and hundreds of dragons marched and another dozen flew in. We met them here. The King’s forces bolstered the garrison of The Old Fort. But it was no use. They overwhelmed the wall. Teeth, and claws, ripping men from limb to limb. My helm was ripped from my head and my eye went with it. Prince Conor came with reserves and we finally stopped their attack.

“Until…

“Oligard himself appeared.”

“Was he that much worse than the other dragons?”

“He’s like nothing you ever saw. A dozen times the size of a normal dragon. The sun went dark when he flew over. Older and meaner than any other creature and then the fires came.”

“I thought all dragons breathed fire?” Malek asked.

“Only those with royal blood,” Old Ben said, “He came from behind. And before we knew it the army was on fire. After a few passes the army routed. They scattered. A few stayed at The Old Fort but it was over. I tell you dragon fire is not like anything you’ve seen. You wouldn’t joke about taking him on. He is flying death, a plague with wings. And now he means to take this kingdom and there is nought to do but die so I will keep drinking so it won’t hurt so bad when he comes.”

“We can fight them off. Oligard makes threats all the time. No one has seen him yet. We will keep the fort. A new round of forces is under command of my little brother. He’s on his way as we speak. We will fight them off.”

Ren cocked her head, “Jake is king now isn’t he?”

“He is,” Prince Daniel said, trying to hide the hurt that his little brother was king now and not him.

“It won’t make a difference,” One Eyed Ben said.

“And what would you have him do? Wait in the castle while the border falls?”

“If the bear cub had any sense he’d take what people are left and start going south and hope the old lizard won’t fry them as they flee.”

Just then scouts sounded horns signaling that they’d seen dragons.

And so began the last stand against the dragons. A group of friends and old drunk among a hundred others wishing to be anywhere else.

They continued to man the fort, placing arrows and battlements.

They scrambled to their stations. Nocked arrows. Winched and manned ballistae.

Prince Daniel stood among Ren and Malek and watched ten figures appear in the foggy winter sky.

The creatures were moving faster. Growing larger and larger as they got closer.

“Loose,” Daniel called, and the ballistae fired bolt after bolt. Dozens of them into the sky to no avail. The shadows scattered. Dipping and diving. Soon they were in bow range. They filled the sky with hundreds of arrows, as though it was raining upward.

They heard an inhuman cry as one of the dragons went down, but the others were fast and attacked the battlement in impossibly quick dives taking a dozen men each swoop.

Sometimes the creatures dropped stones as well. Daniel saw a man crushed in front of him.

One Eyed Ben was right. It was chaos. Pure, utter chaos. He heard nothing but screaming and carnage surrounded him.

He’d wish to be anywhere else.

Until a strange calm took over, for a moment the dragons stopped their attack.

Daniel was about to make another command when he heard something drop to the ground. Further inspection showed it to be the body of the deceased King.

Daniel felt sick seeing his father. And then even sicker when he remembered that the last reported sighting was the King was in the clutches…of the Dragon King.

He felt it before he heard the wing beats, creating massive gusts of wind that sounded of thunder.

Old One Eyed Ben was laughing, “He’s here. He’s here.”

The last remnants of the human army looked up to see the ghostly figure flying above them. A massive beast. The fog added to the effect of the monstrous creature. It was as if a mountain was flying towards them.

He roared, a sound so loud Daniel’s head nearly split. The Dragon King soared and veered back.

Through the fog, Daniel could see the glow in his mouth.

He felt the prickles of heat before the fire hit.