Omensent: Princess Of Dragons (Book 5) (4 page)

"I know," Leia grinned impudently. "but mom wasn't there, and what she doesn't know won't hurt her."

Damion shook his head and laughed. "We'd better get inside before she comes looking for us. You know that she doesn't like it when you're out late."

"Okay," The young girl agreed in a slightly sulky tone. She turned to Xaxis, who had stretched out on the cool cobblestones of the courtyard. "Thank you for the ride, Xaxis. It was wonderful!"

"It was quite enjoyable." The huge dragon agreed, lowering his head down to gently nuzzle the young girl. "I always look forward to our nightly excursions, but tonight's flight was especially entertaining."

"I'm happy that you enjoyed it." She gave the huge beast an affectionate hug. "Try to stay out of trouble. I'll call for you tomorrow once I have finished with my lessons."

"Of course, little mother." Xaxis replied respectfully. "I shall wait for your call." He rose to his feet and launched himself into the air with a single thrust of his huge wings.

"Where is he going?" Damion asked as the massive serpent vanished into the darkness.

"I told him that he needed to find himself a new lair." Leia shrugged, making her way towards the castle. "You said that he needed to find a new place to settle."

"How did he take it?"

"He seemed a little disappointed at first. He really enjoyed staying here in the courtyard. But he understood why he couldn't stay any longer. He said that he would find a suitable cavern somewhere in the mountains nearby so he would still be close, just in case I need him."

They slowly made their way to Damion's office high up in the upper levels of the massive castle, where they found Raven, Shirk, and Lady Skie talking quietly with a pair of strangers dressed in hooded traveling robes.

"It's about time!" Shirk grunted sourly when they entered the room. "We were beginning to wonder if you were ever coming back!"

"What took you so long?" Raven asked in a suspicious tone.

"We lost track of time." Leia told her, flashing her father a warning look. "We hurried back as soon as we realized how late it was."

"Who are our guests?" Damion asked, looking at the pair of hooded figures curiously.

"Allow me to introduce Ava Delilah, High Priestess of the Elven Isles," Shirk proclaimed in an official tone which seemed distinctly out of place coming from the old bandit. "and her companion, Etha Brody, Head Ambassador for the elven kingdom."

The two strangers slowly lowered their hoods and revealed their hidden features. The woman had a thin face, with high cheekbones and a sharply pointed chin, and long blond hair which had been braided into one single braid, revealing the elongated ears that identified her as an elf. Her companion's features were equally as sharp, though his golden hair had been cropped close.

"It is an honor to finally meet you, Dragon Lord," The elven woman greeted Damion with a graceful curtsy. "We have traveled many long and harrowing miles to find you."

"You must be weary from your travels then. Please," Damion gestured to the long table that dominated his office. "Take a seat. I'll send for refreshments."

"I'll see to it." Lady Skie volunteered, quickly hurrying from the room.

"The tales of your exploits have reached legendary status among our people." The elven woman told Damion, taking a moment to look the huge warrior over before settling down in one of many cushioned chairs that surrounded the table. "It seems not a day goes by without hearing one of our people regale listeners with yet another tale of the Dragon Lord and his amazing exploits."

"Indeed," The elven man agreed in a slightly haughty tone, settling into the adjacent chair. "Many refuse to believe that you even truly exist. They think that you are just a mythical figure created by storytellers."

"I have heard a few of the tales myself." Damion chuckled ruefully. "Some of them have been exaggerated a bit."

"I had thought as much." The elven ambassador sniffed contemptuously. "Tales of a man who controls the dragons, has faced entire hordes of bloodthirsty dragonspawn, and wields incredible magic? Only a simpleton would believe such nonsense."

"My father has done all of that and more." Leia told him in a slightly offended tone. "He united the Dragon Gem and Dragon Sword, releasing the scarlet dragons from their prison within the Dragon Gem. He has faced countless dragonspawn and shadow dragons in battle, and he led our forces to victory over the Etazk in Sierra."

"So you really
do
control the dragons?" Ava Delilah asked in surprise.

"Not all of them." Damion shook his head. "The Dragon Gem only controls the scarlet dragons. It has no power over the shadow dragons or the veiled dragons."

"And the stories of how you faced the Dragon God, and defeated Him in battle?" Etha Brody asked in a skeptical tone. "Are you expecting us to believe that those tales are also true?"

"That part is a bit of an exaggeration." The huge warrior told him.

"So you never faced the Dragon God?"

"Aye, I faced Him." Damion nodded with a frown. "Several years ago, a highland witch abducted my daughter from her crib and fled with her across the sea to eastern continent to hand her over to the Dragon God. We pursued them to the temples of the highland witches where Leia was to be handed over to the Draco, and I confronted Him."

"What did He do?" Ava Delilah asked in astonishment.

"He was furious that I would attempt to face Him. He believed that the dragon blood in my veins gave Him dominion over me, and He became outraged when I refused to give my daughter up to Him."

"Is that when you battled Him?" The elven man asked, his tone still skeptical.

"No man can battle a god." Damion murmured grimly. "They are far more powerful than you could possibly imagine. I merely defied Draco's commands, causing Him to lose control and lash out at me, breaking the Pact of the Gods."

"How did you survive?"

"The Serpent Mother, Estheryal, stepped in and prevented the Dragon God from going any further." Raven explained, glancing at Leia, who was still staring at the elves with open dislike. "With the Pact of the Gods broken, the Serpent Mother was free to return to the world once more. She forced Draco to return Leia to us."

"What did the Dragon God wish with your daughter?" Etha Brody asked Damion, glancing down at Leia with a slight sneer on his face.

"He wanted my blood." Leia told him, returning the sneer. "He wished to use it to create a new breed of dragons which He planned to release upon the world."

"For what purpose?" Ava Delilah asked, her expression concerned.

"The Dragon God has been forced to sit back and watch as His children disappeared from the world, while mankind spread out and took control over the lands." Damion explained in a grim tone. "With the scarlet dragons under the control of the Dragon Gem, and the shadow dragons scattered to the winds, He needed new children that were free to carry out His plans."

"And what was He planning?"

"What else?" Shirk snorted humorlessly. "He intended to use His new children to destroy mankind. The dragons once dominated this world, and witnessing their fall was too much for Draco to bear. He wished to see them returned to their former glory, and the scourge of mankind erased from the world."

"It is fortunate that the Serpent Mother intervened." The elven woman stated in a trouble tone. "The world would surely be lost if Draco hadn't failed in creating a new species of dragon."

"What makes you think He failed?" Leia asked with a frown. "The Dragon God still managed to obtain a bit of my blood, which He used to created the veiled dragons."

"Veiled dragons?"

"They are a new breed of dragon whose scales can shift to blend with their surroundings, kind of like a chameleon." Raven informed them. "There aren't very many of them, but they are formidable beasts that are extremely difficult to detect."

"This is troubling news." The elven woman frowned. "A new breed of dragon could spell disaster for any who have the misfortune of crossing their path."

"Oh, they won't hurt anyone." Leia assured her confidently. "My children know better than to bring harm to the innocent."

"
Your
children?" The elven man asked, staring at Leia questioningly.

"When the Dragon God created the veiled dragons from Leia's blood, He also inadvertently created a link between them that allows her to know what they are thinking and feeling." Raven explained with a note of pride. "She can even influence their actions. They look upon her as their mother, and would do anything that she asked of them."

"Truly?" The elven man gave the young girl a skeptical look. "She looks no different than any other child that we have encountered on our journey here."

Leia's expression grew angry, and she opened her mouth to reply, but was cut off as Lady Skie came bustling back into the room followed closely by several servants bearing trays of food and drink.

"I had the servants bring up some elven wine from the stores," Lady Skie told their guests as the servants placed several dusty bottles on the table. "and I recalled that elves prefer fish, fruit, and fresh vegetables over beef or venison, so I hope this will be suitable." She gestured to a tray of freshly sliced fruit.

"That was very kind." The elven woman bowed her head to Lady Skie in thanks.

"So what brings you to Sevria?" Damion asked curiously. "I thought that most elves refuse to leave their island kingdom."

"That's true," Etha Brody replied, examining one of the bottles of wine with interest. "but recent events have forced our queen to... well," He frowned disapprovingly. "look for outside assistance."

"What has happened?" Shirk asked, accepting a large tankard of foaming ale from one of the servants.

The pair of elves exchanged a long look.

"Now is not the time to discuss such matters." Etha Brody told him in an evasive tone. "Let us enjoy this generous meal, and discuss more trivial matters. We can venture into the unpleasant reasons for our visit at a later time." He poured himself a goblet of wine and took a sip. "This wine is splendid." He commented in an obvious attempt to change the subject. "It comes from the vineyards of one of the more prominent elven families. They have been producing some of the finest wine for over a thousand years."

"What's it like on the Elven Island?" Leia asked curiously.

"It's as close to paradise as one can get here on the mortal plane." The elven man murmured, smiling for the first time since they had met. "There are cities with tall spiraling towers made of gleaming quartz, and vast forests bursting with wildlife. There are sandy beaches of pure white sand that dazzle one's eyes, and springs and pools with the sweetest water that you have ever tasted." He sighed fondly. "It is truly one of the most peaceful places that one could ever hope to live."

"It sounds divine." Raven said wistfully. "Don't get me wrong, I love Sevria. It is one of the most wonderful places in the world," She suddenly frowned. "but the winters can be rather brutal here in the mountains. I wouldn't mind Sevria being in a bit milder climate."

"It sounds boring to me." Leia muttered dismissively.

"Leia!" Raven exclaimed with a shocked expression. "You know better than to say things like that!"

"All I meant was that living on a tiny little island doesn't sound like it would afford much chance for adventure." The young girl explained quickly. "There are endless places to venture here in the mountains. I doubt it would take long to investigate all of the nooks and crannies of an island, and then what's there left to do?"

"The Elven Island is not as tiny as you may believe, little one." The elven woman smiled gently. "You could place the Godstear Mountains in their entirety onto the island, and still have miles upon miles of beaches and forests to explore."

"I never realized that the Elven Island was so significant." Damion commented as he piled his plate high with sausages.

"Few do." Etha Brody told him, holding his goblet up to the light so he could admire the wine's color. "Our island is quite isolated, and few have reason to venture there. Those who do are usually turned away." He noticed their confused looks. "We have strived to remain apart from the trivial events that drive the rest of the world around us." He explained in a lofty tone. "We have no reason or desire to mingle with outsiders, so most ships are turned away. It's one of the ways that we have kept our heritage unpolluted." He sneered slightly. "There
are
, however, a few who choose to leave the island and makes their lives elsewhere. They, of course, are immediately banished from ever returning. Such is the price that they pay for leaving their ancestral home." He gave a dismissive shrug, then took a sip from his wine.

"How can you banish your own people just for leaving the island?" Leia demanded with an outraged expression.

"It is tradition." The elven man told her mildly, one eyebrow raised as if he found her question impertinent. "It is how we keep the elven race free from outside corruption."

"Outside corruption? So you don't allow
any
of the other races to visit the island?"

"Only those few who are known to be friends to the elves are allowed to visit," He told her, choosing a slice of fruit and sniffing at it delicately. "but most are turned away. We have no interest in allowing outsiders to disrupt our ways." He wrinkled his nose in displeasure and returned the piece of fruit to its platter. "There is no crime on our island, no poverty, nor sickness. We live for many hundreds of years, so death rarely visits us. To allow outsiders into our midst would disrupt the tranquility."

"How does your society survive without trading with the outside world?" Lady Skie asked, taking a sip of her ever present tea.

"Our island provides us with everything that we need." Etha Brody shrugged. "We have farms and orchards that provide more than enough food for our people, quarries that provide fine white quartz for our buildings, and mines that provide our metal smiths with gold, silver, and iron. We want for nothing. Associating with the lesser races would serve no real purpose." He glanced to Leia and sneered again.