The Dragon Bond

Chapter 35

Several Days Later

The sun slowly rose, revealing the low hanging mist, cast just above the dew-covered grass. So thick was the mist, that Goeryx could not be seen until he lifted his head above his shoulders. By then, Syron had already risen and was circling over head. Glimmer had mounted Sunray, eagerly waiting for the day, but Symon and Aeryx had not yet awoken.

"I'm sorry for what happened. With Sarvos I mean," Glimmer said to Aurora.

Aurora sighed, dropping her head.

"It isn't your fault entirely. He didn't have to follow you. You were reckless and foolish, and he followed you. You carry some of the burden, but not all of it," Aurora replied.

Glimmer shook her head, firmly shutting her eyes as she reminisced.

"I know you think low of me for my actions. Syra's Bay, Symon, all of it. I meant not to drive our family apart. And now because of me, Sarvos is gone, and thousands of innocent people are dead. I don't know how I can move forward from all of it," she said.

Aurora half-grinned.

"Just don't lose yourself like that again. You've tried to kill Symon twice. If you weren't my sister, I'd have you executed for treason. Mind yourself and serve the people as best you can. Our family has already been torn apart, nigh irreversibly. Don't let it be for nothing," she replied.

Glimmer nodded, and mounted Sunray. Rigel had already mounted Goeryx and had been frolicking in the cool morning breeze since before sunrise, whilst Symon was struggling to rouse himself.

"Do you figure we are within a day's ride?" Aurora asked as she hauled him to his feet.

He nodded, rubbing his eyes.

"More or less. Only Hal Haar can command the Plains People, so finding him will be of the most importance," he said as he roused Aeryx and climbed atop her back.

"Has she ejected any more food?" Glimmer asked.

Symon shook his head.

"No, thankfully not," Symon replied, then looking above him.

Overhead, Goeryx cawed, calling for his siblings to join him. Aeryx obliged and leaped into the air without Symon commanding her to do so. Aurora laughed aloud as Symon scolded Aeryx for her disobedience, before commanding Syron to follow them.

Quickly, the sun spread its warmth across the landscape, even if for a small cloud cover. Soaring on the fast-travelling winds, Sunray outpaced the others, constantly having to double back in order not to lose them. Goeryx hung lower in the air, searching for food far ahead of the others. Aurora watched closely as Goeryx hovered just above the ground, searching for any sign of a threat.

And finally, she would see it. Just ahead of them, a small camp sat nestled on the shore of a wide, fast-flowing river just beyond a patch of trees. Glimmer rose to meet Aurora, a panicked look in her eyes. Instantly, she recognized the banner they were flying.

"Syra's Bay! They're from Syra's Bay!" she shouted.

Aurora's eyes grew wide, her heart now racing. She and Glimmer exchanged looks, terrified. Symon was perched high above them both, seemingly unaware of what was about to happen. Without thinking, Glimmer dove furiously, desperately trying to reach Rigel before he passed over the trees. Sunray folded his wings in as tightly as he could, only spreading them again just before hitting the ground.

"Rigel! Rigel!" she screamed, straining against the wind to project her voice.

But it was of little use, as Rigel was much to far ahead to hear her. When Goeryx reached the tree patch, Glimmer's heart sank. Sunray beat his wings rapidly, closing on Goeryx just as the camp came into view. Right away, the camp was flooded with chaos. Men grabbed weapons whilst women and children hid as best they could. Rigel watched the hectic scene, unaware of the danger.

"Rigel! Get away!" Glimmer screamed as Sunray descended on the camp.

Rigel realized the danger moments later as arrows flew towards him. Goeryx pitched up but couldn't outfly the barrage of arrows as they tore through his wings. Goeryx struggled to stay aloft, fighting his torn wings.

"No! Rigel!" Glimmer screamed as Sunray reached the camp.

"Damn you all! Fyre Sunray!" she screamed.

By then, Symon had taken notice and had descended to Aurora. Both watched as Goeryx fought as hard as he could to stay in the air. Panicked, Aurora and Symon attacked the camp alongside Glimmer. The three dragons made short work of the Syra's Bay residents, quickly turning the tides in their favor. Even still, there were thousands of them. Only the thick smoke from the rising flames obscured their view. Goeryx had succumbed to his wounds, falling to the ground just up the river.

"Protect him!" Aurora shouted to Glimmer as several men charged for the crippled dragon.

Glimmer turned Sunray in the direction of her brother, just in time to see the enraged men fill Goeryx with spears and arrows. Panicked, Rigel ran down the riverbank, hoping to avoid being killed.

"There he is! Kill the bastard!" one of the men shouted as they pursued Rigel, unaware that Sunray was descending on them rapidly.

One man drew his bow and loosed a single arrow which struck Rigel in the leg. Rigel stumbled and rolled down the riverbank, landing in the fast-flowing white river water. Sunray bathed the attackers in flames just as Rigel was swallowed by the water, but his efforts were to late. Glimmer watched in horror as the relentless current swallowed Rigel, though he fought and kicked to stay afloat.

"Aeryx dive!" Symon shouted, hoping Rigel would be able to grab hold of her talons.

But by the time Aeryx arrived, Rigel could no longer be seen. Glimmer screamed maniacally, turning Sunray back towards the camp. Again and again, Sunray would rain fire upon them. Now so consumed by smoke, those who were left could do little against the assault. Unlike her last encounter with the people of Syra's Bay however, Glimmer was not alone this time. For near half a day, Syron, Aeryx and Sunray strafed the camp, paying no mind to the carcass of Goeryx. Only when the flames stopped falling, did the smoke finally clear.