Wings of Gold

Ch. 14 - Match Met

          Goldedge's wings sliced through the crisp water as I guided him along the ocean, soaring just above it while weaving around several sea stacks. Now, I was flanking the right side of the dragon hunter ship. I urged my beloved dragon forwards, his tail whipping the water with each mighty flap of his wings. We caught up to the ship, but I was not foolish enough to attempt to take it out.  As we closed the dwindling gap, I reached for my spyglass to get a closer look. My bottom lip threatened to quiver when my eyes laid upon Viggo's figure standing on deck. I bit my lip hard to suppress the show of weakness.

          I hadn't noticed that while I was scanning the deck of the ship, Goldedge had gained altitude and was in sight of the hunters who manned the net-shooting catapults. I was surprised by a sharp-shooting goon on deck, and suddenly the net was hurling toward me. "Climb Goldedge! Fast!" I shouted, replacing my spyglass in my bag and gripping the handles of the saddle. We clawed hastily into the sky, and commotion erupted on the ship. I tried to spot Viggo in the swarm of people below, but failed due to being, well...occupied. 

          Goldedge and I twirled perfectly in the air, arching over the ship and dodging through the ropes and rigging of the masts.

"Ay! Dragon rider!" Came a shout from below.

"Which one? Is it the boy and the night fury?"

"Nay, tis a silver dragon, razorwhip I believe." The voices of these hunters were different, their accents seeming foreign compared to my own.

"Who cares what it is, shoot it down!" This voice was authoritative, but not like Viggos. As we swooped beside the ship I caught glimpse of who it belonged to. Raising a long sword, the masked hunter shouted orders to the scrambling men. 

Beside this hunter was Viggo, inspecting the rider to confirm who it was, after all, I wasn't the only one who rode a razorwhip. I pulled my hood over my head snuggly, hoping to convince him I am another, less relevant, rider. 

Alas, my hopes were shot down, I saw the recognition in Viggo's face as he saw the hints of gold running along my dragons wings and tail. In my moment of fear and hesitation, my flying became sloppy.

"Do not let them get away! I know that dragon, the rider can be valuable!" Viggo shouted, his hands clasped firmly behind his back.

I couldn't help but smile, of course I'm valuable to him, I'm one of the few still living who could kill Viggo Grimborn. 

A volley of arrows shook me back to the current task at hand --- not getting shot down. I could fly away, but I'd risk Viggo getting away and disappearing by the time I return with the other riders. "Time to end this," I reached for my short sword and rose to my feet in the saddle. 

In my fit of rage, I leapt from Goldedge's back onto the bow of the ship. A gritty battle cry led me charging towards the stern where I last spotted Viggo. Three hunters felt the wrath of my sword as I plowed towards my target, who was stock still, teasingly patient for my arrival.

15 feet, he's calm.

10 feet, he smiles.

5 feet, he closes his eyes.

I rush to close the distance, raising my sword above my head in preparation to bring it down upon his wretched self.

The arch of my sword felt slow and heavy as he remained there, calm and serene. My arms began to feel weak, my stomach twisting from rage to confusion.

I couldn't do it, my sword froze just inches from his skull.

His cold eyes opened and bore into mine, I saw the glisten in them that spoke the words for him.

He won.

My chest heaved shakily and I snarled primitively, my lips curling in disgust while his tugged into a curt smile. The blood rushing through my ears subsided and was replaced with the clicking of crossbows being loaded. I dropped my sword and turned around to see a dozen men surrounding me, and behind them was my beloved dragon, caged and calling out in misery.

I firm hand on my shoulder forced my to my knees and I became overwhelmingly light headed and dizzy. I am one of the few who could kill Viggo Grimborn, and yet I failed to when I was armed and he was not.

I suppose I have met my match.