Free Omensent: Rise of the Shadow Dragons by Barry Gibbons

of your doing."
    "I thought you had this handled?"
    Veren shrugged. "I can't do everything."
    "What if they don't believe me?"
    "Convince them! But whatever happens, stay calm! I'm sure Sorsos will try and denounce your claims."
    They slowly began to make their way towards the raised platform and the crowd of people gathered began to murmur excitedly as more of them began to notice Damion. He heard the word 'freak' whispered several times as they made their way through the hall, and many he passed stared at him with frightened expressions.
    Veren motioned for him to stop when they were about twenty feet away, then stood quietly as he awaited to be acknowledged by the throne. It wasn't long since the entire hall had gone quiet to await what happened next.
    The king's face grew clouded as he looked out over the assembled crowd, which had fallen dead silent. He quickly spotted Damion towering over those near him, and then his eyes fell on Veren.
    "Commander Veren!" The king exclaimed, jumping up from his throne in surprise. "It was believed that you were dead!"
    The one eared man bowed deeply. "Not quite yet, your majesty."
    "It had been reported that your fa rmstead had been found in ruins!" The king gestured for him to step forward. "We had sent riders to request your return to advise us in our current crisis, but they found nothing but destruction! It was assumed you had lost your life!"
    Veren shook his head gravely. "I survived, your majesty." He said simply.
    "What happened?" The queen inquired in a serious voice. "Farms and villages all over Jaghera are being destroyed and we can't seem to locate the cause! At first we thought it was the Deirians attacking, but we're getting reports that it's happening there too!"
    "I'll do my best to tell you everything, your majesty, but it may be a little hard to accept."
    The royal couple exchanged worried looks.
    "A little ove r a year ago I returned to my farm to find my home in flames." Veren started grimly. "Out of the darkness appeared a dragon as black as the night around it. It destroyed my home and killed my family."
    The king's face grew pale, and the queen gasped in horror.
    "I tried to track down the beast, but it vanished into the night." He continued in an emotionless tone. "After searching for several days, I decided to cross the sea to the southern continent." He laughed humorlessly. "I had heard the rumors about the man who released the dragons back into the world, and how he now controls the great serpents."
    "The Dragon Lord!" Sorsos sneered arrogantly. " As I have already advised the king and queen, I believe he is trying to use his beasts to take over the world!"
    The king threw the colorfully dressed man a n irritated look.
    "I decided to visit the town of Sevria in the Godstear Mountains, where he was said to make his home inside of the Serpent's Keep. I waited until I managed to get close enough to him, then I struck, intending to kill the man I thought was responsible for the death of my family."
    The crowd in the hall listened breathlessly as he told his story, and the only sound to be heard was that of Veren's deep voice.
    "So you're saying you killed the Dragon Lord?" The king exclaimed in shock.
    Veren shook his head. "Not exactly." He turned and gestured to Damion, who had been standing quietly in the background. "Your majesty, allow me to present Lord Damion Omensent, known by most as the Dragon Lord."
    There was a number of shouts of surpri se and alarm as the people closest to Damion scrambled from their seats in terror. Many of those gathered broke and ran, disappearing as fast as they could into the suddenly crowded hallways.
    The king's face was stunned, and he had taken a step back hesitantly. Sorsos, on the other hand, took several steps forward to stare at Damion with burning eyes.
    "Damion managed to avoid my attack and defeat me." Veren continued once the remaining crowd had settled down. "Instead of killing me, he showed mercy to me."
    The king