A Dragon's Bond

Chapter Twenty Seven - Battle

     Two riders came in hard and fast, their bodies covered in arrows, one of them dropping out of the sky just before reaching Retribution, the sun just beginning to crest the horizon. Bells rang and men shouted upon realizing their allegiance, they had been men from the scouting mission. The last rider and dragon flapped hard until they finally fell and landed within the training grounds, every force from Retribution rushing to the location, desperate to see what was going on, Eulay and Jack racing to the front.

"What is going on! Eulay come forward, this man was with Adam!"

     The fear and concern clear on Jack's face, his breathing heavy as he and Eulay finally got to the rider, kneeling as they reached his side. Tears were already beginning to form and roll down Eulay's face.

"Rider, what has happened"

     He was laboring with each breath, the dragon already succumbing to its wounds, the arrows making it hard for him to speak.

"General, Queen, Adam went into the camp when he saw the Queen...some of the men followed, while some of us went back for help. He and the Queen tumbled off in battle and the other nine of us were no match for the Queens army. No one would have noticed us if the other men hadn't of attacked behind Adam. He wanted to act alone...we need to go help."

     With his last words he fainted from his wounds, the medics immediately scooping him up and whisking him into the infirmary. Everyone was frozen for a moment, the air dead and silent, the weight of everything resting hard on everyone's shoulders. Eulay stood up holding her head high, turning to face the crowd, everyone's eyes locked onto her, people physically holding their breath in anticipation.

"We all knew this day would come, the Queen has been advancing on Retribution for some time now. Adam has decided that the time is now, he needs you, and I need you. Will you answer our call? Will we go defeat the Queen? Let us ride now, hard and fast into the wind, and deliver a just death to the Queen and her army...For Retribution!"

"For Retribution!"

     Everyone echoed her finals words loudly before mounting their dragons, the entire base filling with dust as every able bodied man and woman took off for battle, people scattering in every direction grabbing what they could before leaving. The ground forces began marching out the gates, everyone chanting "Retribution". The morning horizon sun and sky became dark with the bodies of dragons and riders coming from Retribution, their wings flapping at different times making the sky look like a sea of bodies.

     Eulay and Jack rode in front of the forces, quiet tears streaming down her face, her normally tough and determined face blanketed in fear for her love. Jack wearing a face of anxiety and determination, their bodies covered in bright white dragon's leather, their weapons gleaming in the morning sun.

     They flew for twenty minutes at breakneck speed, wastefully tiring their dragons in an attempt to get to Adam as quickly as possible, the Queens army just starting to come into view on the horizon.

     As they got closer they could begin to make out the entirety of the Queens forces, the whole army circled up around something in the center. Adam and Draioct could be seen fighting the Queen one on one. Her heart raced and she laughed slightly in relief at seeing him still alive, the feelings quickly over shadowed by the fear of such a large force. She glanced over her shoulder to see most of Retribution hard on her heels, ready to follow their leaders into battle.

"Come on men, replace your fear with courage! Into the heart of the storm!"

     They all swept downward into the heart of the Queens army, the enemy noticing their new visitors too late to react. Dragons and riders slammed into the Queens forces, elements exploding into the unsuspecting villains, the initial wave a success, the Queens men falling like flies. They quickly regained composure and countered, men, women, and dragons fighting in a sea of bodies and elements.

     Eulay brought her sword down hard, ending the battle for her untrained assailant, her eyes constantly locked on Adam's battle with the Queen, the two exchanging blows in the circle.

     Retributions ground forces peaking over the horizon, running full sprint in an attempt to even the odds against their enemy. The chants loud and impressive, their courage bringing silent fear into the hearts of the Queens army.

     Jack stepped in next to Eulay as they began fighting back to back, Holbrook shortly joining them, the three decimating every enemy they encountered. Jack shot a large Plasma bolt into three men running at the from the side, Holbrook finishing one off with a quick few swipes of his sword, the men quickly being replaced by three others, the Queens army lacked in skill but made up for it with large numbers.