The Dragon Bond

Chapter 32

Symon sat still atop Aeryx, sickened and bewildered. For a moment, he didn’t notice the wind battering him from all angles as he watched the water settle around where the ship had sunk. Only when Syron roared, did he feel it again. Frantically looking around, it took a moment for him to locate Syron.

“Go Aeryx,” he commanded.

Aurora was hunched over her saddle, sobbing into her arms profusely. Goeryx was still below, burning ships and men, though Sunray had ascended to meet Aeryx. Symon and Glimmer shared looks, both visibly distraught. Symons heart sank when he saw the hatred in Glimmers eyes as she looked down at the Royal fleet below. But she did not attack, at least not right then. Rather, Sunray cawed and screeched in anguish at the loss of his brother.

“Attack, Syron,” Aurora said angrily.

Syron again dove on the Royal fleet, bathing many ships in flames. The fighting continued into the evening, not slowing down even as the sun began to lower in the sky. Hundreds of ships on both sides were lost, and thousands of men, killed. The blockade slowly began breaking apart, with many ships engaging in ramming their opponents. In such instances, both ships would be critically wounded or sunk. On the bridge of his vessel, James stood along with See Daryl and Ser Kraig.

“Take us in slowly! Pull them from the water! Have shackles ready!” Ser Kraig shouted as the ship moved to pull survivors from both sides from the water.

One by one, men were pulled aboard, with every allied sailor being put in chains and forced to the ground. The recovery was swift and efficient. Only when Ser Kraig noticed a familiar face, did it stop.

“Father?” he said, stunned.

Looking back at him, soaked in seawater and bloody, was Ser Raaqson. Ser Kraig helped Raaq to his feet, amazed that his father was standing before him.

“I knew you were weak,” Ser Kraig began, “but I knew not that you were a traitor as well. How did you find yourself serving the murderous dragon Queen? The woman responsible for death and suffering all over the continent? And you serve her willingly?”

Raaq grined.

“Kraig, you’re my son, and you always will have a place in my heart. But, you have chosen to fight for a King who oppresses and murders his own people simply for viewing him as incompetent. For that, I can never forgive, and I certainly will not explain myself to you. All you need to know, is I am the reason those dragons descend upon you now,” Raaq replied.

“So you admit to treason then?” James shouted angrily.

Raaq looked to him, and nodded.

“With nothing but pleasure,” he exclaimed.

James ground his teeth with rage.

“Do you see what you have done old man?  Tens of thousands dead! Because of your treasonous actions! For this crime, you will pay with your life,” James replied.

He then turned to Ser Daryl and nodded.
Ser Kraig’s eyes grew wide. Though he hated his father, he couldn’t help but feel sadness as Ser Daryl drew his dagger and started towards Raaq. He raised the sword above his head, but Ser Kraig intervened. Ser Daryl shot him a vile glare, shaking his head.

“The King has ordered this man to be executed. If you stand in my way, I’ll be left no choice but to act against you as well,” Ser Daryl said firmly.

“I mean not to intervene,” Ser Kraig began, “ I only wish to carry the sentence out myself.”

Ser Daryl nodded, and sheathed his blade.
Ser Kraig drew his sword half from its sheath, looking down at his father.

“Have you any final words?” he asked.

Raaq hesitated a moment, then looked beyond Ser Kraig, gazing up at the rapidly darkening sky.

“Sunray,” he said with a smile.

Quickly, everyone’s eyes turned skyward as Sunray bore in through the smoke. Men scrambled, some jumping overboard, and others arming themselves. Ser Daryl Grabbed James and threw him over the ships side before he himself dove from the vessel, just as Sunray bathed the ship in flames. By the time James and Ser Daryl surfaced, the ship was nigh completely sunk, it’s top mast crackling with flames, before it too would submerge.

The fighting continued through the night, lasting until sunrise. By then, the Royal fleet had been reduced to only a few dozen vessels, while the allied blockade had suffered casualties of nearly half the fleet. Virtually all of Swartha’s fleet, along with Lord Rylis, had been lost.

Syron flapped his wings against the hot winds from the fires below, gliding back and forth along the blockade. Aurora searched relentlessly for survivors from either side, determined to save and many lives as she could. But, by then, the royal fleet had fled, and any ship that was not sea worthy had long since been swallowed by the freezing water. Reluctantly, she turned and returned to the cliffs on which Darla and Daro were waiting. Upon her arrival, she saw the others already waiting for her.

“Aurora? Where is your sister? Where is Kara?” Darla asked frantically.

Aurora felt as though she would vomit, realizing nobody else had told Darla.

“Where is she? Someone tell me!” shouted Darla.

Aurora shook her head, tears streaming down her face.

“Kara and Bryghtfyre were killed last night,” she finally said, reluctantly.

Darla shook her head, laughing manically as she paced back and forth. Glimmer clutched Rigel and Daro close as Darla descended into madness, before turning and charging for the cliff.

“Darla no!” Symon shouted as he ran after her.

But he wasn’t able to reach her before she reach the edge of the cliff. She looked down at the rocks below for a fleeting moment, before throwing herself from the cliff tops.