The Accidental Archmage: Book Nine: The Dragon Houses by Edmund A.M. Batara

Author:Edmund A.M. Batara [Batara, Edmund A.M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Independent
Published: 2021-07-02T22:00:00+00:00

***

Tyler found himself on the top of the mound with the two mages, the ranger, and the exile. Astrid and Ritona remained with the recovering seer. His eyes took in the sky. The approaching killer flocks were not specks anymore. The horizon was full of the strange drakes. He guessed they were about ten to fifteen miles from the town. His magical sight showed him how they looked, and the relationship with the ancient dragons found on Adar was unmistakable. Smaller versions of that majestically terrifying race. The mage estimated that the largest he could see would be three-quarters the size of Nýchta, the dragon belonging to Anemothýella’s race. Yet he noted that though the creatures looked menacing enough, with a fearsome similarity to what dragons had been portrayed on Earth in Western culture, they lacked the singularly august aura – that visceral dominating strength – of their primeval kin.

Then he noticed a streak of crimson running through their batlike giant wings even as the body coloration different from creature to creature. The mage couldn’t remember if the ones they encountered on Sterkstein had the same trait. As Tyler wondered about the unique marking, the inspection also showed him that his ability to see into the magical spectrum had improved. Some of the incoming creatures had auras of red and gold. He immediately assumed those were the magic wielders. Unfortunately, there seemed to be a lot of them.

Damn. I should be more observant about such matters, the mage thought, speculating if they were of the Reiði Elds tribe. The name of the clan, Angry Fire, should have indicated their abilities. But the flying and land-bound examples they had encountered in the past didn’t exhibit any magical abilities. Shit. They must have sent those without the talents of their more powerful kin. Must have been drones. A disturbing sign of strategy. These bastards are seriously intelligent.

“Suggestions on how to handle this mess? Quite the numbers,” Tyler voiced out loud, not taking his eyes off the approaching cloud of large fangs and claws. Yet the question of whether to call them dragons or drakes rose in his mind. They were more dangerous and formidable than ordinary drakes, yet a lot lesser than an ancient wyrm. He couldn’t remember how Gullen called them. The hell with it. Drakes it is. It’s an insult to even compare them to their scary and larger ancestors, he decided finally.

“We face an enemy familiar in form, yet with unknown abilities. The prudent commander would withdraw and learn about the danger first. But unfortunately, we are not graced with such a choice. My humble suggestion is to draw out an example of the kind of magic we’re facing. The numbers militate against the option of us waiting for them to arrive. They’re spread all over the sky. A wise precaution. These creatures act like mortals waging war,” commented the exile with detachment.

“We take the battle to them?” countered the mage in disbelief. “I am not fond of suicide.”

“We test the leading echelon and observe the reaction.

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