The Brownlen Saga

Chapter 4

Almost immediately after the five brothers joined the guards surrounding the castle wall, the dragon attacked. Bellowing huge columns of fire from its nostrils and its mouth, the dragon focused on the weakest point.

A group of guards who had taken down their shields to look around the courtyard were suddenly facing a five foot wall of fire. They threw up their shields hastily, trying to remake the solid wall, but the fire was too great and the flames overtook one of the men. Fire engulfed his tunic and the man fell screaming to the ground.

Hearing the screams, Joshua ran toward the fallen man, grabbing his gray hunting cloak from the captain along the way. Reaching the man, he threw his cloak over the guard's burning legs and torso and beat on the cloth to extinguish the flames.

"Take him inside!" Joshua commanded. "Have the maids take care of him!"
Running back to stand with his brothers, he heard Matthew yell. "Behind you, brother!"

Joshua twisted to the right, flinging his shield up behind him. He felt the sudden heat from the dragon's fire on his legs. His brothers had raised their shields in an instant and the flames broke apart on their alum-protected shields. Joshua kept his feet under him and slammed his back against the castle wall, shoulder to shoulder next to Solomon.

"Are we having fun yet?" Joshua asked sardonically.
"Always!" Solomon agreed with a grin.

The dragon circled once again. The brothers kept together, scanning the sky for the beast's return. Before the dragon could swing back around again, it suddenly seemed to lose momentum and speed. The massive head and tail began to swing wildly as it bellowed. Its movements became sluggish and the bright yellow eyes became dull.

"What is it doing?" Gabriel shouted.
"I don't know." Matthew stepped away from the wall and leaned his head back, trying to get a better look. "I think it's...falling!"

Before anyone could say another word, the huge dragon gave one last earsplitting howl and began falling, tumbling toward the earth. The guards, believing it was only a ploy, held their positions against the wall. The huge animal spun as it fell, twisting its body as it plummeted.

All eyes looked to the five brothers.
"Sir!" The captain called to Matthew. "Do we hold, or do we go?" Matthew looked quickly at the falling dragon and back to the captain.
"Go!" He commanded. "Take twenty men. Be on your guard!" Matthew turned to his brothers and met their eyes. "I'm going with them."
"No, Matt!" Gabriel cried. "Let the guards do this. We need to protect the family and the castle."
"Let him go!" Joshua placed a hand on Gabriel's muscular arm. "We'll protect the family."

Matthew's eyes met Joshua's and a look passed between them. As the first and second sons, they had experienced so much together. They worked together and they fought together. They fought enemies and they fought each other. But their bond was strong and Joshua knew Matthew would fight to his last breath to save the family.

"Brother." Matthew slapped a hand on Joshua's chest. His grin lit up his whole face. "Save me some dinner!"
"Don't be late!" Joshua joked in reply.

Joshua turned to Solomon and spoke quickly. "Run the wall for us. Check for anything or anyone that may be part of this trick."

Solomon nodded and began running across the courtyard to the nearest wall. Feeling for the grooves in the stones, Solomon easily scaled the inner wall. Throwing his arms over the top of the wall, he jumped to the top, squatting low as he looked over the stone wall. Scanning the road below and the skies above, Solomon adjusted his shield and spear and began running along the top of the wall.