Dragons of Destiny Read online

  Instantly Rufio was back on the attack. He expertly stabbed and slashed at Ryder with the skill of a blade master. Ryder was able to avoid the worst of the onslaught, but burns were appearing on his bare chest and back. For several minutes, the sword kept him at bay anytime he tried something, nullifying his ability to close the distance and counter attack.

  More and more burns began to show, and Ryder was slowing down as a result. Each punch he threw looked telegraphed, each kick an exaggerated effort. Rufio recognized this and went in for the proverbial kill. He lunged for a stab through Ryder’s stomach, but he narrowly missed as Ryder miraculously spun away from the conjured sword’s thrust. Mid-spin he was able to grab Rufio around the torso. He capitalized this time by hip-tossing him.

  Rufio flew through the air, and Ryder summoned two energy orbs with his Adimus Aura, which he sent colliding with Rufio before he could hit the ground. The orbs exploded upon Rufio, changing his trajectory and his velocity mid-flight. He slid on his face across the tiles all the way to the far side of the ring.

  The crowd’s noise was deafening. Arius had never seen such a back and forth fight in all of his life. He found himself cheering right along with all of the other fans. Miles, Davin, and Hunter were yelling at the top of their lungs as well.

  “Get up, you son of a bitch!” Arius yelled at Rufio.

  “Finish him off, damn it!” Miles bellowed at Ryder before looking quizzically at Arius. “You’re going for Rufio?”

  “I’m not rooting for either at this point. I just want it to keep going! I haven’t watched a fight this entertaining in years!”

  Both men clapped each other on the back while Rufio made it back to his feet, only to be saved by the gong. Each of the fighters stumbled back to their corners. Even from this vantage point at the top of the stadium, Arius could see that both men were breathing heavily and sporting multiple bruises and cuts. Ryder’s red and angry burns stood out in particular.

  At the start of the third round, they both strode to the center of the ring and clasped forearms, signaling their mutual respect. After the embrace, the flurry of punches resumed. Ryder struck Rufio with a four punch combination, and Rufio countered with a right kick to the ribs and a front kick to the chest. He followed it up with a spinning elbow thrust that hit home right to Rufio’s left ear. After that onslaught, the two began circling again. Feints were thrown by both, their exhaustion palpable.

  Without warning, Rufio completely engulfed himself in flames. He rushed forward ablaze and pulled Ryder into his grasp, crushing him into a bear hug. Ryder let loose a cry of pure agony that hung in the air, trying in vain to push Rufio away.

  As his attempts became more and more feeble, it became clear that the fight had come to a close. The referee approached the two and waved a red flag indicating the end of the fight. Rufio dropped Ryder and the flames vanished. He raised both fists into the air and half the crowd applauded and cheered appreciatively while the other half issued boos and insults.

  Arius, Miles, Davin, and Hunter were amongst those cheering the outcome. They watched as Healers rushed into the ring to attend both combatants. Rufio took far less time to be completely healed of all his ailments. Ryder took just a little longer, as burns were a trickier business to be healed and removed. After the Healers were finished, Rufio strode to Ryder and lifted his arm in the air. The two spun together, taking in the admiration that the audience members showered upon them.

  The four members of the Phoenix Elite that had carried in the chest of ashes rushed into the ring. Rufio clasped forearms with Ryder once more and murmured something in his ear. Ryder nodded, and they bowed to each other. Rufio’s comrades hoisted him into the air, and they trotted him around for the audience to see their newly crowned champion. The woman’s voice from earlier filled People’s Pavilion again.

  “Ladies and sirs, your new champion, Rufio!”

  The Sky General raised both fists as the concussive boom of applause shook the stadium. Ryder approached carrying the Sword of Ryuken. It was tradition for the fallen champion to present the sword to the victor, and Ryder dropped to a knee and held the great sword out to Rufio, pommel first. Rufio bowed deeply at the waist to his opponent and accepted it with a wide smile. He thrust the blade over his head for all to see while his brothers-in-arms shot fireballs into the sky in celebration.

  Chapter 3

  “Jenukai’s wings! You’re as ugly as ever!” Owenisis bellowed his greeting as Arius dismounted from Alrukar.

  His mentor laughed heartily at his own jest as he walked out to greet his godson. His lanky frame and long legs covered the distance quickly, and the two embraced in a hug. Arius was tall, but his godfather towered over him.

  “It’s good to see you too, you old pervert,” mocked Arius.

  “Oh-ho! That’s like the aristocrat calling the politician fat, you bloody hypocrite,” Owenisis chuckled and slapped Arius on the back as they parted.

  Owenisis winked at Arius as they walked along together. His thick brows were completely gray now, and his long silver hair was pulled into a ponytail that reached the middle of his back. “You know, I can’t have you landing that beast near my cattle.”

  Arius looked over at the enclosure where his godfather kept his herd of Ranis. The shaggy creatures were portly in size and lazy in nature. As usual, they had barely even moved when Arius touched down, completely unaffected by a thirty foot tall Black dragon landing nearby.

  “You keep them so drunk that it’s difficult to get a reaction out of them whatsoever.” Arius smiled and shoved Owenisis good naturedly.

  “What can I say? They taste better when you feed them beer and massage them. I can’t have them tensing up while you make all that racket. It defeats the entire purpose! If my steaks have an ounce of gristle on them, I’m blaming you!”

  Arius chuckled putting up his hands as if to fend off an attack. “Fair enough, fair enough. Speaking of steaks and beer, your godson is famished and thirsty!”

  They made their way from the flowered meadow clearing into the dense Ghost Song Woods. After a few minutes of trudging along in an amenable silence, they came into view of the modest woodland cottage Owenisis called home. It was made of red bricks and had a single story. Its shingled roof had a lone chimney that was emitting smoke, even though it was a warm day.

  On the outside it was the quaint home of an old man. Owenisis opened the chipped green door for Arius, showing the true nature of the house. Inside it was a veritable palace sporting several stories and an overabundance of rooms and luxuries. Arius couldn’t help his fascination at the abilities his godfather possessed with Caster magic.

  Owenisis was probably the strongest Caster alive and a founding member of the Circle of Seven, the leaders of the Gaelarian Alliance. They were the most powerfully magical people alive in their respected crafts. More than that, they were the Architects of the Seven Cities and the reason Dantron had yet to invade.

  Arius had never gotten the truth about why Owenisis had severed the Link with the Circle of Seven. Every time he brought it up, his godfather would launch into a different and absurd tale. In fact, the more Arius brought it up, the more outlandish the stories became. Sometimes out of sheer boredom he would ask Owenisis just because he knew he would be thoroughly entertained for almost an hour. So the mystery remained, and his godfather had lived in isolation, or at least relative isolation, ever since.

  They walked through a lavishly decorated entryway. The thick maroon carpet sank under their feet, and a dark cherry wood paneled the wall. Burgundy lamps held Everlight Orbs of a phosphorescent golden light. Priceless oil paintings hung every few feet, and grapevines snaked their way along the wall and ceiling. Arius plucked a grape from the wall and popped it into his mouth. Red wine burst from the grape as his teeth punctured its skin. He particularly enjoyed his godfather’s wine grapes.

  “Have you added to it since the last time I was here?” Arius asked as they stepped out of the entryway.

  O
wenisis cupped his goateed chin and tapped his cheek with an idle finger. “Hmmmmm, let me think… Oh, yes. The new library!”

  He led Arius to a spiraling staircase off to the left-hand side, and they climbed several stories. After what seemed like a never-ending ascent, they finally branched off to what might have been the fifteenth floor, though Arius had lost count. Owenisis pushed open a heavy oak door, and the two peered inside. It was the largest library Arius had ever seen. Rows of books sat amidst lavish green and argent chairs and couches. Highly ornate candle holders and chandeliers kept the place stunningly bright.

  “Show off,” Arius muttered under his breath.

  “There are enough tomes, novels, and research volumes to keep me reading through a hundred lifetimes, Arius,” Owenisis boasted, looking overly pleased with himself. “I might actually do it too, if the finer things in life grow dull.”

  In his peripheral vision, Arius spotted one of those finer things seductively swaying her way towards them from down the hall.

  “Arius, it’s so nice to see you,” Soee purred.

  She was carrying an ostentatious tray with two beer mugs filled with an ice cold dark ale and a pipe with broken-up purple sensimilla already packed into it. A dish with more sensimilla for further bowls sat next to a plate of honeyed dates wrapped in bacon.

  Soee was erotically gorgeous and quite bereft of clothing or modesty. Her big violet eyes drank in Arius hungrily, and he could feel his face growing warmer as she looked him up and down. He tried in vain to keep his eyes from her firm and perky breasts as they bounced ever so slightly as she walked. Her dark nipples were small, and her amber skin shone with newly applied oil. Her dark hair was brushed out, and Arius could smell the rose and lavender scent it cast.

  “Hello, Soee. It’s a pleasure to see you as always.” Arius bowed to her in greeting.

  She strode directly to him and squeezed his manhood with her free hand through his black breeches. It rose slightly in her not-so-gentle grasp.

  “Isn’t that the understatement of a generation?” She whispered in her smoky voice.

  “We’ll take our refreshments in here, lover,” stated Owenisis, gesturing to the library.

  Soee was first through the door from the hallway, and Owenisis gave her perfect backside a playful slap. The two men followed her to a nearby set of chairs that had a coffee table in between them. Soee bent all the way over setting the tray down, giving them a pleasant view of her slit.

  “That will be all for now, Soee,” Owenisis told her as she straightened. “I have the feeling my godson has important things to discuss with me.”

  “But I haven’t played with Arius in ages,” she harrumphed, pouting her full lips.

  “You know I’m betrothed. Whatever would Evaline think of me if I were taken advantage of by you?” Arius teased.

  “It would be our little secret, as always,” she insisted, squeezing her breasts together and brushing them along his lips. Arius blushed only a bit, but it wasn’t missed by the temptress.

  “Now that is an extraordinary sight to see! Arius Jadestar blushing over my forwardness. She must be truly special if I can get turned down that assuredly.”

  “It’s an arranged marriage, strictly for politics. We’ve only met the once, in truth. You know that. If you take me on a tour of the library, I’ll be more than happy to show you how little my arranged marriage means to me.”

  “That’s a wonderful idea. Soee, if you would be so kind, please show Arius the new library,” Owenisis said, winking at the two of them.

  “Follow me, then.” Soee grabbed hold of his hand and placed it squarely on her backside.

  She led him down several rows before finally choosing a spot they could be alone and out of earshot. She pushed him hard against a shelf and kissed him passionately. Her tongue gently flicked the tip of his own tongue, and her hands went to work on his belt. Arius took the opportunity to bend down and take a firm breast in his hand, and he began suckling a nipple that became erect in his mouth as he caressed it softly with his lips and tongue. She moaned into his ear and arched her back in response.

  She had his pants around his ankles in seconds. Arius’ manhood was achingly hard as she began stroking it lightly with practiced fingers. She went down onto her knees, pressing it to his stomach as she began to kiss and lick every inch of him. Arius’ eyes rolled into the back of his head, and he began to breathe heavily at the pure ecstasy he was feeling. He gently gripped her hair while she took her tongue and ran it the length of his shaft. Her hand fondled him as she continued to lick and suck him eagerly.

  After a few moments of exclusively using her tongue along his length and tip, she took him completely into her mouth, able to take him all the way in. She moaned slightly while she sucked and Arius felt that warmth in the pit of his stomach telling him he was close to climax. She noticed the quickening of his breathing and pulled away for a second.

  “I want it in my mouth, Arius. I want to swallow it all up for you.”

  She began sucking again, but now she used both hands coaxing it forth all the faster.

  “Now!” He told her.

  A spasm went through him as he released deep into her throat. She knelt back and opened her mouth, sticking her tongue out and showing him she had indeed swallowed everything. He sighed happily and smiled, helping her to her feet. They walked hand in hand back towards Owenisis.

  “Wait for me in my chambers tonight. It’s your turn when I get done talking with my godfather.”

  After she left, Arius joined Owenisis, who was already seated. He gestured for Arius to do the same and took up the pipe, conjuring a small flame above his thumb. He lowered it over the bowl and took a deep pull. Blue smoke came out of his nose and mouth as he exhaled. A smell of spring berries filled the air. He offered the pipe to Arius, who waved it away.

  “This must be serious if you won’t share a pipe with me.”

  Arius took up his beer mug and drained half of it in one gulp. He wiped his mouth and sat.

  “Dragons Fist.” said Arius.

  “Okay? What of it?” Owenisis prodded after a moment and another draw from his pipe.

  “I need to find it.” Arius stated simply.

  Owenisis arched a bushy brow at Arius and set his pipe on the table. He picked up his own beer mug and took a sip while smiling in a bemused fashion.

  “Well, my young friend, that’s a hell of a statement to make after I’ve had a couple tokes of sensimilla. Are you now in the business of hunting mad gods? Adimus hasn’t been seen in a decade, not since shortly after the Duncar Moon impacted upon our homeland. That particular Artifact is his creation, and when a god doesn‘t want to be found, he stays hidden until he decides otherwise.”

  Arius shook his head and opened his mouth to reply, but Owenisis held up a hand to forestall him.

  “You’re getting that all too familiar look of unabashed stubbornness on your face, Arius. That look has been a pain in my ass in the past, you know that?”

  “I had the dream again. I was in the top box at People’s Pavilion not even an hour ago. The wine and sun must have gone to my head, because I dozed off…“

  Arius retold the entirety of his premonition. His godfather listened as he finished his pipe, dumping the cashed bowl into an ashtray. They both polished off their ale, and Arius finally gave in, taking some puffs from a new bowl while he recounted every detail.

  “After the final match of the Ryuken tournament I went straight to Jenukai Keep, grabbed Alrukar and flew here. I didn‘t know what else to do.”

  “And here I thought you were just going to come and tell me the results of the tournament, and we’d smoke and drink ourselves into a catatonic oblivion. This makes for a far more intriguing day to say the least!” Owenisis laughed as he sat back and clasped his hands behind his head.

  Arius stood up and walked to a nearby shelf and pulled a random book from it. “Corin and Horrux: Enlightened and Dangerous” was the book that caught his eye.
It was one of his all-time favorites as a child. It was about a boy and his tiger cub that grew up together, causing great mischief. Arius thumbed through it, smiling as he reminisced.

  “You know, Father used to read this to Dregan and I before we would fall asleep.” Arius laughed a hollow and mirthless laugh at the thought. “Trust me, after discovering the only way for me to kill Dregan is to steal a weapon from a deranged god, a catatonic stupor is exactly what I need. Tell Soee that we’re going to need a cask of this ale brought to your study. We’re going to need two steaks and an entire cigar of sensimilla before we eat all of it. I won’t be able to fly in that state, so I‘ll be bedding down here for the night, thank you very much.”

  “If we’re going to do this, we’ll do it right,” said Owenisis. “I just invented a new liquor. I’ll have a bottle brought up as well.”

  Arius smiled in appreciation. “Looks like I’ll need a couple days to recover after this.”

  Owenisis stood, clapping him on the back. “I settled in the Ghost Song for this reason. After all that conformity I suffered through with the Circle of Seven, all I wanted was seclusion with my beautiful wives, great food, and an overabundance of debauchery. I loved your father, but he and I never had the amount of fun that you and I do! Gods rest his soul, he was a droll bastard!”

  After their meal, several drinks and pipes followed in rapid succession. The two sat in a companionable silence in his godfather’s study basking in digestion and inebriation. Arius contently stared around at Owenisis’ collection of trinkets and oddities. In the corner, there was a tank of vivaciously bright and exotic fish swimming amongst equally bright coral and foliage. On the writing desk sat orbs with swirling lights of every hue. Diagrams of animal’s anatomy and bones that had been left spread out for study were everywhere as well. A clock with an elaborate set of gears ticked time off on a face that Arius wouldn’t ever be able to comprehend. No fewer than thirteen hands showed what time only the gods knew it was. A cacophony of notes and drawings were haphazardly spread out all over the place as well.