Dawn of The Dragon

Chapter 9: The Fall of Bram

Hiddard stumbles up out of breath, with two cuts on his face, and a sliced finger. "They took her!" he yells. "Molly is gone. I couldn't battle them all. I promised her a good life. I will kill that bastard down there!"

He moves through Tomas and Ton towards the long stairs.

Kalera goes after him. "Hiddard! Hiddard! Wait!"

Halting, he turns to her. "I must kill him."

"You can't. What will it solve if you go down there to meet your end? I need you, Hiddard. I want nothing more than to see Ager's head on a spike, but Tomas is right. We aren't prepared. If we charge in now, Molly, Celest, and Sundo will surely die."

Hiddard tamps down his rage and turns to see Ton running up.

"My father takes his leave to the city center. He has given me my orders, but I will do as you command," Ton promises his queen.

As Kalera turns to Hiddard, the bells ring out in the city north. A large boulder suddenly catapults into the center, killing at least thirty Enforcers. The clings of metal sound as men and women battle.

Ton and Hiddard rush their queen down the stairs to a wooden door. Entering, they gather weapons. Both men begin to arm themselves as the door creaks open. Ton and Hiddard instinctively move in front of Kalera, swords drawn. It's as if they know she is powerless.

An Enforcer falls to the floor. Standing in the doorway is a tall woman with blonde hair and blue eyes.

"Genna," Ton whispers. "Thanks to the gods."

"I have news. Several Brams men made it to the Cosmic Passage. They are waiting for us with weapons, meres, and supplies."

Ton turns to Kalera. "You see, my queen, she is what hope looks like." Then he walks over to Genna and plants a kiss on her lips.

"I welcome the news, my love. My father commanded me to seek passage through the catacombs with hopes of finding his wife and my sisters."

"It will take a fight. Enforcers are at the gate."

"Genna, this is...." He struggles to introduce Kalera.

"I know who she is, but I work for Lord Donegal, not her."

"Genna, this your queen. You will show her respect," Ton commands.

She looks to Kalera and lowers her head. "Your Grace."

While Hiddard and Ton continue to arm themselves, a metal case catches Kalera's gaze. She opens it, and before her is the sword of her ancestor, Palera. She recognizes it because of its green glow. It had been brought to Bram about twenty moons ago. Tomas had planned to present it to Kalera during a ceremony.

"Your ancestor's blade was forged by a Dred, so it holds great power," Ton says.

The sounds of sudden screams jolt Kalera as she opens the case, removing the sword and sliding it into a scabbard on a belt. As Genna looks on, Ton straps the belt onto Kalera.

"I don't know who or what is beyond that door, but we protect our queen," he says.

Kalera, Ton, Genna, and Hiddard don't make it very far before being ambushed. The men clash with the Enforcers as Genna protects Kalera behind a large boulder.

"I can see it in your eyes," Kalera says her. "Go. Help them. I'll be all right."

Then Genna moves into the open, distracting two Enforcers just as Kalera feels a presence behind her.

Before she knows it, she is being dragged across the ground with a hand covering her mouth. She bites the hand, and the man screams. Turning around, she is stunned to see Jessup.