The Dragon King's Servant

Chapter Fifty Four: Ash and Ice

"Was that Melanie?" Brandi asked.

"Yes. She just took off and-" Kelly found herself at a loss for words. Her best friend had changed into a massive dragon. While she knew it was going to happen, the knowledge of it did not compare to the reality of how she truly looked.

"Where is the King?" Brandi asked.

"The Queen believes he is hurt o-or...D" Lynx couldn't bring himself to finish the word.

"No. That...isn't possible. There is no way." Brandi staggered slightly and Leo caught her.

"I should not have left his side." Heather snarled. "I must check on my love and my King." She bent low and sprang up into the air, four wings lifting her up over the city. Fear and concern thick on her face.

"Shouldn't you go too?" Kelly looked to Maalceus who struggled with himself.

"I should but I must protect the palace and you." He smiled a saddened grin. "My King would not have it any other way." Though even as he spoke. It was easy to read the mixed resolves he felt.

Maalceus truly wanted to go through the streets slaying every Vikara along the way until he found his brother and whatever had wounded him. His attention was pulled away as Kelly reached up and touched his face.

"Go. We will be fine."

Maalceus looked down upon his claimed woman and in a rush of passion and fury he pulled her in. Their lips and tongues intertwined with one another in a passionate embrace. For several long moments they shared the passionate deep lusting embrace for several long heartbeats before pulling away.

"Stay close to the palace. I have no idea what I would do if you got hurt." He smiled down at Kelly.

"I promise you. I'll remain close."

Maalceus closed his orange and yellow eyes and reached for his draconic essence. His skin darkened and his body grew. The charred and charcoal colored body of his large halfway transformed state smoked and steamed. The cracked channels along his charred skin filled in with magmatic liquid that blazed with heat.

Reaching out to the void, he stretched up his hand. In a blast of heat and smoke, a black double edged sword appeared. The hilt of the weapon glowed with a bright orange heat that spread up to the blade. A horned winged dragon acted as the guard, both wings spread out and upward. He walked forward into a run leaving a trail of smoke and fire behind him.

*****

Marvin curled protectively around his King. His slender silver scaled body protected his lord from the Vikara. A dozen border guards battled the remaining goblinoids. Metal on metal rang out across the border. Marvin outstretched his neck clamping his jaws down upon a wounded Vikara. The resurrected green skinned creature screamed once before dissolving into ash.

His silvery grey eyes caught the flicker of movement above him and he watched as his lover descended into the last vestiges of battle. Her short sword flashed out like a leaf on the wind. She spun backwards catching a Vikara by the head before reversing her flow and plunging into the eye socket of another.

With a full withdraw she repositioned herself and countered a clumsy strike with an ax. The weapon skidded off the flat of her sword and she returned the strike not missing her mark. The pale green skinned enemy fell away into ash. Heather glanced around and took stock of the dozen warriors who remained.

Half of each were barely standing and ther other half were exhausted but ready.

"Warriors! A protective border!"
Heather shouted commandingly.