Age of the Dragon 5: Dragons, Riders, and Kings

The Ambush - Gwaren

Adaia anxiously shifted her feet, staring out a blasted window at the carnage below. Around her were other elves, most of whom had been simple tradesfolk before taking up weapons in the name of Queen Rowan and now her son, Prince Maric. Also among them was a human who was Prince Maric's right-hand man and someone the Lady viewed with some level of respect. At least, that's how Adaia felt.

Her mind turned to her son, securely kept at the mansion with her husband and the two children of the Lady. She and her husband circled the town from the shadows, hidden in the clouds above.

As a misty rain began to sweep through the village when the sound of hooves on cobblestones and marching boots rumbled through the silence. She tensed, gripping her bow tightly.

She glanced at the back of the man leading their group. He caught her eye and indicated they hold.

"Not yet," she thought, knocking an arrow as quietly as possible.

Seeing the soldiers marching into the square, she felt a shiver of fear. She suspected the dark-skinned man in yellow robes to be a mage, clearly, the leader, judging by the heavy guard around him.

The diversion began as some common folk rushed out and prostrated themselves before the mage, desperately telling the Orlesians about the rebels attacking and fleeing.

None gave away anything about the dragons nor the soldiers hidden in the buildings.

"Maker, hear my prayer," she thought desperately. "Please let my arrows fly true. Keep my nerve and safeguard my family. Let us be victorious today..."

The mage gave orders, and she glanced at the man again. Still, he did not give the signal to attack. The mage cast some magic over one of the women in the group, suspending her in the air and touching her with lascivious intention. As he turned away from her, an arrow sprouted from the mage's chest. Confused, Adaia looked to the man again. He seemed just as surprised as two more arrows flew through the air, one missing, the other piercing the mage's throat.

Prince Maric lept from the shadows, yelling for the men to charge, and she saw frustration on the man's face as he gave the signal. She raised her arm, smoothly pulling the arrow back and firing. Her arrow flew true, piercing the soft part of the Chevelier's armour, just in his armpit as he raised his sword arm.

"Cover the Prince and Lady Rowan!" the man called.

Adaia turned her eyes to where the prince was and fired an arrow through the neck of a soldier who had been about to cut the woman in half.

A mighty roar rumbled far above, and a set of white teeth appeared from the darkness as the huge black dragon snatched a screaming rider from his horse. In the same dive, a figure in black rolled to their feet, a black weapon flashing in the firelight as they protected the Prince's back.

"The Lady has joined the fray," she felt her lips pull in a smile. "These Orlesians may have thought themselves prepared for anything... but who prepares for a dragon to strike from the darkness?"

Adaia turned her attention to shooting as many of the Orlesians as she could when she heard the sound of Lady Rowan screaming, "Maric!"

She turned her eyes to see the Lady cut the head off a Chevalier as Lady Rowan crouched at the side of Prince Maric on the ground, unmoving.

The man leading their group tossed his bow aside, looking at her. "Cover me," he ordered.

"Yes, sir," she answered, taking aim as he leapt out the window and sprinted to their side.

She fired arrows as he ran to the side of the prince. The Lady had knelt beside the prince, her hand glowing with magic as she worked to save him. Any who tried to grow closer to the wounded prince and the ladies were shot down or snatched into the air by hungry teeth.

The man reached the Prince's side, and the Lady ceased her magic, switching back to her weapon as she protected Lady Rowan and the man as they dragged the Prince out of the battle site. Adaia fired another arrow, which struck the hand of a soldier, causing him to drop his weapon.