Free Dragons Rising by Daniel Arenson Page B

this garrison!"
    The
door of the largest tent opened, and a burly lord emerged, wrapped in
a samite gown and wearing a burnished breastplate large enough to
drown a pig in. A bushy, red mustache curled across the brute's pink,
pudgy face. He was busy tightening his belt and tugging up his pants,
and Gemini glimpsed the tousled head of a Terran woman in his tent.
    "What
is the meaning of this?" the man blustered. "Who are you,
scoundrel, that you ride a firedrake and--"
    Gemini
spoke calmly, stroking Lore. "Flame him."
    The
yellow firedrake puffed out his chest and blasted forth his fire. The
stream crashed against the mustached lord, knocking him down,
consuming him. Soldiers cried out and fell back. The tent caught fire
and collapsed, and the captive woman screamed within. Lore kept
blasting forth his dragonfire as the lord rolled, begged, tried to
flee but finally fell and rose no more. When the flames died, they
revealed nothing but a charred corpse in blackened armor.
    Gemini
nodded. "Good. Good!" He dismounted and faced the troops
who gathered around. All were kneeling now. "You, go fetch me
some armor, a sword, a shield." He turned toward another
soldier. "You fetch me a pack full of battle rations, and
you--yes, you, the scrawny one, go get the camp healer. Tell him to
bring his supplies with him."
    When
Gemini's firedrake cackled and tossed his head, the troops blanched
and all but fled toward their tasks.
    The
female paladin, the one who had flown here with him on her firedrake,
moved her mount to stand closer to Gemini. She wasn't bad-looking,
Gemini thought--young, pretty, her hair golden.
    The
priests should have sent her to my bed, Gemini thought, trying to
imagine her without her armor on.
    "My
lord," she said, "the man you burned was dear to Lady
Mercy. She will hear of this, my lord."
    "Oh,
I hope she does." Gemini licked his lips. "I hope she hears
and screams. I hope she screams so loudly the entire city of Nova
Vita hears. Do not worry, my darling. My sister is far, far in the
north across the sea, and the southern continent, well . . . this is
our domain." He stared into the paladin's blue eyes. "Serve
me well, my dear, and you will rise high in my favor. What's your
name?"
    "Kaela,
my lord."
    He
nodded. "I'll remember you, Kaela. Do not forget what you saw
here today. Do not forget what happens to those who disobey me, who
refuse to kneel before me. They burn, my sweet Kaela. But those who
kneel will be blessed."
    His
eyes strayed down to her breastplate, but then Gemini clenched his
jaw and looked away. No. He would not think of other women now. Those
days were behind him. All he cared about was Domi--healing her, being
with her again.
    Finally
the troops returned, bringing with them armor, weapons, food, and a
bearded old healer. Soon Gemini was flying again. He was still
filthy, unwashed, stinking, but he wore armor again. A sword hung
from his thigh, food filled a pack across his back, and an old healer
sat behind him in the saddle.
    You
cannot stop me, Mercy, he thought as he flew back toward the
hill, leaving the other firedrakes behind. No one can. You hurt
Domi. You hurt her badly, and you will pay.
    He
landed back on the hill, dismounted, and led the healer toward Domi
in her cave.
    "Heal
her," Gemini demanded.
    The
healer knelt and gently undid the bandage on Domi's leg.
    "Spirit,"
Gemini whispered, grimacing. The wound stank. He could smell it even
standing outside the cave. Gangrene was spreading through the cut,
and pus dripped down Domi's leg. The wound was raw, open, revealing
rotten flesh within.
    Oh
Domi, Gemini thought.
    The
healer shook his head sadly. He looked back at Gemini. "It's a
bad wound, my lord. It festered for too long. I'll have to amputate
the leg."
    Gemini
growled. He grabbed the old man's collar. "You bloody butcher!
Is that how you treat wounded soldiers? Chopping off wounds rather
than healing them?" His eyes stung, and he barked a laugh.
"Those days are over for you.