PART 22

All he could see were multiple snake heads, where claws should be, tearing into his flesh
Baylin whispered into Dresden’s ear while Galvinor tore a chunk of flesh from Dresden’s back with his claws.“Sariahfina will rule this world. Humans are in the way Dresden and you’re in the way.” Dresden gritted his teeth against the pain. He knew he couldn’t fight them like this. He knew he had underestimated their combined strength. He had to figure out how to get out from underneath them, how to clear his mind of the illusion and paralyzation. Was this the end for him? Did he have to forfeit this life to these brutes who he’d come to slaughter. Baylin leaned in very close to Dresden’s face.
“You’re not the savior of this world Dresden, but we are it’s deathbringers that will transform it in our image.” Baylin took a swipe at Dresden’s face, raking his claws across his creek. Dresden felt the blood trickle into his mouth. How long could he withstand this? This couldn’t be how Lazarus had meant it to end. He was supposed to live, to stop Sariahfina, to halt the Dragon takeover of Earth. He felt his claws twitch, he could feel the muscles relaxing and gaining sensation. Galvinor continued to rake him with sharp claws and tear the flesh from his body but Dresden could not move. How was he not already dead, he wondered? He was losing so much blood. Galvinor took another swipe at his face, leaving a deep gouge from sharp claws across his other cheek.
He couldn’t let it end this way. He couldn’t let them win. He tore his mind away from the sensations in his body, he had to gain control of his limbs and his senses. The onslaught continued, but very soon, Dresden could feel his legs again. He swung his arm, it felt heavy and clumsy but his claws met Baylin in the side of the head and sank in. He heard the Dragon growl in pain. Baylin moved in for another attack with the fiery burst of his illusion spell. Before Baylin could open his mouth, Dresden felt the air around him stir. The attacking Dragons became frantic, leaving Dresden in the snow, and taking to the sky. He couldn’t see what was happening, but that retreat gave him time to regain feeling in his body. He lurched forward, barely able to move his legs, almost stumbling over from the pressure. Blood gushed from the side of his mouth, staining the white ground. When he could turn his head towards the sky, he caught sight of Galvinor crashing to the ground beside him, tongue hanging out in a gruesome way. A long, deep gash down the front of this silvery chest, split the Dragon in two. When Dresden could move completely, he turned towards Galvinor, he was not dead, but barely clinging to life, he glared at Dresden through narrowed eyes.
“Sariahfina will rule this world. You might win today,” He gasped. “But you can never stop what’s coming.” Galvinor choked on his own blood. He tried to stand, but couldn’t. Dresden saw a flash of light in the direction he had left his clothing. Then a loud chime rang out into the world, and Kizjin Kol flew from its sheath. The sword grew in size, large enough for Dresden to wield it properly as a Dragon, something he had never done before. He gripped the hilt with a battered clawed hand and brought it down on Galvinor, cleaving the Dragon’s head from his body. Overhead, he could hear growling coming closer as Baylin dove for him. He swung the sword upwards just in time to rend Baylin’s right wing from his body. Baylin crashed to the ground as another Dragon landed lightly next to Dresden. Dresden drew his sword, but let it fall when he saw who was standing next to him. A Dragon, with iridescent scales like an abalone shell that shimmered metallic purple, stood on all fours and greeted him as a friend.
“Ardent! I didn’t know you were still alive.” Dresden gasped as he stared in disbelief at a Dragon he hadn’t seen in almost five hundred years.
“It’s a good thing I am too, or you’d be dead right now.” He gestured towards Baylin, who was clawing at the ground to escape Dresden and Ardent.
“It’s impossible!” Baylin yelled, craning his head around to look at Ardent like he was some kind of ghost. “I killed you! You should be dead.”
Ardent walked over to Baylin and set a huge clawed foot on Baylin’s good wing. “You only wish I were dead, you snake. You tried to kill me, but didn’t stick around to finish me off. Big mistake. I assure you we won’t do the same for you.” He rubbed Baylin’s wing into the rocky ground, making the Dragon scream out in pain.
“Dresden, your sword.” Ardent called over his shoulder.
Dresden limped over to Baylin, his limbs felt like lead weights and his wings were useless, dragging behind him in bloody shreds where Galvinor had torne them apart. He steadied himself and swung Kizjin Kol in the air, taking Baylin’s head from his body in one clean blow. Ardent stepped back admiring the destruction around him. He walked over to Tyndor to make sure the Dragon was completely dead.
“You did well Dresden. I’m glad I made it in time or you’d look like this piece of shite over here. Dead as a grizzy bear on a feast day.” Ardent adjusted the trees in the fire and helped Dresden over it. Dresden sat in a daze, barely alive, still bleeding heavily. His vision was beginning to fail him and he slurred his words when he tried to speak.
“Don’t do that. Save your strength. You’re going to need some time to recover. I couldn’t get here any sooner, but I made it. Lazarus said I would and I did.” Ardent held Dresden up with strong Dragon arms as they both sat in Dragon form by the monstrous fire.
Damn Lazarus, Dresden thought. When would he ever be rid of that Dragon’s’ meddling? How in the world did Ardent know how to find him? That was the last thought Dresden had before he passed out from blood loss.
He dreamed, which was unusual for him. Dragon’s are not supposed to be able to dream, but in human form, he had several times. This felt different somehow. He was standing in a place he didn’t recognize. Ahead of him stood a man of superior height, with fiery red hair, that was braided in places and jutted out around his ears. He was dressed like an elf, but the ears were not pronounced enough to be Elvish. He looked down at his body and noticed that he had no wounds, he felt fine, as thought the battle had never happened.
“There you are. I was wondering when you would finally lose consciousness so I could meet you.” The mysterious man turned to face him, smiling. “I believe you met one of my pets.” He gestured to a small cat-like creature at his feet.
“Who are you?” Dresden asked, as he approached the man.
The man smiled even brighter and clapped Dresden on the shoulder. “I’m no one, my friend. I don’t exist to you, but to help you along the way. You’re here now, because you followed my instructions. Though not so well when it came to the ambush part. I had hoped to spare you so much pain. Your body will need time to recover. Bless Ardent for finding you in time”
Dresden stood, stupefied as he gazed at the world before him. They stood on a precipice overlooking an ocean of small habitations along the landscape, with a river flowing through the scene. Greenery as far as the eye could see, it reminded him of Numa, minus the structures. He wanted to ask again, who this person was or where they were. But he just stood there, wanting to speak and not knowing what to say.
“No need to thank me.” His benefactor suddenly broke the silence. “It’s all in a day's work for me. I have others to look into as well. You’re not my only… project.”
Again, Dresden wanted to know more, but he felt his body getting very light all of a sudden.
“Ah, it looks as though you are waking up.” The man said, looking down at Dresden’s limbs. His arms were gone! He was fading away into nothing.
“What’s happening?” Dresden called out quickly.
“You’re waking up Dresden. You’re in good hands now. Ardent will take care of you. That’s quite a sword you’ve crafted, I must say. Perhaps we will meet again in some unnamed future.” He waved Dresden off just as Dresden opened his eyes. Pain flooded into him from every direction. He was laying down, wrapped in warm bedding in Baylin’s lean-toyurt. Ardent was sitting with him, both of them, now in human form. Ardent was a much younger Dragon as well. As a man, he looked to be in his twenties like Baylin. A very handsome youth as far as human standards were concerned, Dresden knew he would be in favor with the women if he pursued them. What was he thinking? He looked down at himself, took inventory of his body, the bruises, the blood, the added scars to match some of his other scars, the open wounds. He had been cleaned up and bandaged by Ardent, who had used his healing powers to close up the largest wounds.
Ardent, what a shock to see him again. He knew the Dragon could heal anyone, even an inch from death. Why were these Dragons showing up at the right moment to keep him alive? He couldn’t be that damn important.
“Hello Dresden. I'm glad you’re awake. I’ve made you some tea.” Ardent helped Dresden sit up and he took the steaming mug gratefully. “I know you have a lot of questions, but all I can say for now is that Lazarus sent me.”