The Clash of Land and Sea.

Chapter Seven, part B

Hayden saw Kirin scream and fall to her knees. He watched as Kraten shook his hand and shouted orders at his men and pointed at Kirin. Hayden saw it all happen but did not hear it. He was in shock because of the stone body of the king laying on still on top of Out Post.

Hayden pulled his blade smoothly out of his sheath, his movements as fluid as the wind that made the trees sway from side to side. He slowly stepped forward, one step gently landing in front of the other. The copper riders saw Hayden's advance and two of them broke off to deal with Hayden and Shane.

Shane was standing still looking at Aelfrie until he noticed the two copper riders moving to face Hayden. He roared his challenge and bolted at the nearest copper rider, not even drawing out his blade. The dragons were not going to be left out of this fight even if their riders weren't on their backs.

As Shane and Hayden began their fight Draek, Rilora, Shaylin and Nignra jumped over their rides and lunged at the new metallic dragons. Draek attacked the silver dragon and the two dragons tumbled over the side of Out Post. The copper dragons took to the sky and forced their pursuers to follow them high above the ground.

Shane ran and tackled a copper rider as Hayden and the other rider began slashing their swords at each other. One of the other copper riders followed Kraten's orders and descended upon Kirin while the final rider turned to stone where he stood, their dragon being swiftly killed by Rilora.

Hayden did not toy with the rider, normally they would take turns attacking and defending till someone found a weak spot in the others defense. Hayden only attacked three times, forcing the copper rider to defend each deadly blow. By the third attack Hayden feinted to left and, while jumping in the air, brought down his silver sword into the copper riders shoulder.

Hayden's blade went deep and the rider fell to his knees. Hayden ripped his blade free before the rider turned to stone. Hayden turned to help Shane but Shane had the rider pinned down on the ground with his legs and was pulling the riders helmet off. Once the helmet was free he used it as a hammer and began smashing it down on the riders head. It wasn't long until Hayden heard the sound of the helmet hitting stone.

Hayden moved slowly to Kraten, their eyes finally meeting after the silver rider witnessed what had happened to three of his four riders. Somehow the last copper dragon was able to break free from the melee long enough to land on Out Post and release a small stream of fire. Hayden rolled away from the hot flames and saw the last surviving copper rider run away from Kirin and jump on his dragon to take off. Shaylin and Nignra fell upon the dragon and rider pair just as they had taken off from Out Post.

Kirin crawled over to her father's stone body and continued to weep; taking no notice to the battle that was raging on around her. Kraten saw that he was out numbered and he began to start taking steps backwards, holding Cass close and looking up for his silver dragon.

"It's too late." Hayden said as he stepped closer to Kraten. Keeping his blood stained sword between himself and the silver rider.

"Do you know what you have done? You have murdered Metallic Riders! You can never go back to Celestial City now, more will come and they will hunt you down. They will follow you where ever you go." Kraten spat out his threats at Hayden and Shane as they closed in around him. Kraten still looked up for his dragon but Draek and Rilora were keeping the giant silver dragon busy high above Out Post.