Dragons' Onyx Read Online Free

Egam’s defense. It did not bring joy to his heart to ask that of the elves, but it was necessary. It will be no different this time.”
    “You should wait for Boris to get up in the morning,” pressured Niki.
    Fredrik stared at Niki and then at Mustar. “No,” he finally said. “Mustar is correct that Master Khatama may not let me go. I am sure that he does not wish to contemplate Arik’s downfall until there is no other choice. Perhaps he feels that he can achieve his goal another way, but maybe that other way will fail. Arik needs to be informed. The chance of Alutar returning is too dangerous for us to worry about offending people. Teach me the transportation spell, Master Mustar.”

Chapter 2
Dragon Prophecy
    The soldier halted and dismounted just shy of the summit of the hill. He tied his horse to a withering old tree and looked back down the trail at the mercenary captain following him. The soldier signaled with his hands for the mercenary to dismount. Captain Orteka of the Kadin Claws Mercenary Company nodded and silently dismounted. He tied his horse securely and walked up the steep trail to stand before General Mobami’s soldier.
    “Is this the hill you talked about?” asked Captain Orteka.
    “It is,” nodded Fardez. “I grew up in the valley below. We will be able to see for leagues in all directions from here. We will also stand out if anyone is looking for observers. It is best if we crawl the rest of the way up.”
    “Lead the way,” nodded Orteka as he dropped to his hands and knees.
    Fardez crawled up the steep slope until he reached the summit. He scooted over to make room for the mercenary captain that General Mobami had asked to scout out the approaching Lanoirian army. Captain Orteka moved next to Fardez and stared into the valley below. His eyes grew large as he gazed down upon thousands of horsemen. He held his breath as he watched the army ride slowly into the valley like a flooding river.
    “General Mobami was expecting foot soldiers,” Captain Orteka said softly. “Lanoirian cavalry will spoil the reception we had planned for Emperor Hanchi.”
    “What reception?” asked the local soldier.
    “We had planned to harass the Lanoirians with our own cavalry as they approached Trekum,” explained the mercenary captain. “Foot soldiers would not be able to respond swiftly enough. We could have inflicted some serious damage before the Lanoirians ever got to the walls of the city.”
    “But they are all mounted,” frowned Fardez. “Won’t they chase your riders?”
    “They certainly would,” nodded Captain Orteka. “General Mobami was wise to ask me to observe the Lanoirians before we sprung our trap. Look at that army below. They have more riders than we have soldiers. Our trap would have been suicide.”
    “Why are they riding so slow?” asked Fardez as the thick black river of riders spread out into the valley below. “They do not appear to be in any hurry to get to Trekum.”
    “A very good question,” frowned the Kadin Claw. “They must be pacing something that travels much slower. Perhaps the Emperor does not like being left behind. We must wait to find out. Whatever they wait for, their horses will not be beneficial in attacking the walls of Trekum.”
    “What if we could kill the emperor?” asked Fardez. “Wouldn’t that stop the Lanoirian army?”
    “It might,” shrugged Captain Orteka, “or it might not. It would depend upon who is second in command and whether or not the men would follow him. I would love to see the emperor unguarded at the rear of this column. That would make it an easy decision to try it.”
    The two Sordoans watched for over an hour as the Lanoirian cavalry rode slowly into the valley below. Suddenly Fardez tapped urgently on Captain Orteka’s arm and pointed towards the mouth of the valley.
    “Foot soldiers,” Fardez sighed. “They must have not had enough horses for all the men.”
    “Perhaps,” frowned Captain Orteka. “Or it