The Journey 18.

Autumn. The Capital City Fanile.

They look away to their right, and draped over another of the broach towers here within the so called real palace.
Is another dragon, this one identical in shape and size to the large black one. Except that it's all white in colour.
They're the twin dragons, Blackflame and Whitefire. Born from the same egg centuries ago. Who are the royal family's dragons. Well, that's a bit of a misnomer. As they're the sovereign's dragons. At this point in time. The king of Terrindim.
Most of the rest of the royal family would like to think the twin dragons are their's.
But the king of Terrindim doesn't. Nor do Blackflame and Whitefire. Who though tolerate to the rest of the royal family to one degree or another.
They definitely don't see themselves as part of the family. Even though, long ago. The current royal family of Terrindim, were of poor noble stock from the western provinces of the kingdom. Who were wild dragon egg hunters.
Who rose to prominence and stature, and took the throne pretty rapidly when the twin dragons came of age.
"So who do you have there with you oh lord of Highsun" asks Blackflame the dragon who snakes his neck and head down towards the path that approaches the broach tower he's draped over.
"This is bosun Cedric, and able airman Orvick formerly of the Dragon's Revenge" says lord Ganulf, the lord of Highsun, and advisor to the prince.
"Formerly eh" says the large black dragon with an arched eye ridge as he looks at the three humans who have stopped on the path, after they've crossed the courtyard.
Courtyard being somewhat of an understatement. As it's more like a very large city square. Almost the size of some of the parade grounds towards the outer sections of the vast complex that's the Royal Palace of Terrindim.
"Sorry to hear that" says the rather talkative dragon, who continues with "I rather liked admiral Halmack, at least he could actually control those ships you lot fly around on".
Blackflame's tone is a pretty clear indication of what he thinks about airships, and what most people refer to flying as.
To say he's a rather dismissive about it, is an understatement in the extreme. He doesn't care for it at all. Infact he thinks it's absolutely ridiculous. And thinks flying should be left to dragons and their riders.
Lord Ganulf who knows the king's large black dragon doesn't think much of airships, and people flying on them, bows to him, and says "Thank you".
The lord of the city of Highsun, then slightly winces, then dryly says "It could be better" in response to Blackflame asking him "How's that war of yours going?".
"Though" says the nobleman from the northern province of Hanamede, who continues with "The dragon Sunbeam and rider Daeliss have killed two of their dragons in the last five days".
By the look on his face, Blackflame is rather impressed. So is Whitefire, for over on the broach tower she's lying all over, she opens one of her eyelids, and looks over at the lord of Highsun, and her twin brother Blackflame.
That's suitably impressed for Whitefire. The opening of an eyelid. That's basically the large white dragon's way of saying, well done indeed.
For as much as Blackflame is rather talkative, who'll talk to any and everyone. From the lowest of servants like the kitchen sculleries and chambermaids. To the king himself. Which he does often.
Whitefire is the complete opposite. Who doesn't say much to anyone. Including the king.
In the years that lord Ganulf has been coming to the capital, and the Royal Palace of Terrindim. And over the last three years, where he's lived here in Fanile. Whitefire has barely said a handful of words to him.
She's like that to everyone. So unlike her twin brother. As the twin dragons are about as opposite as you can get in personalities.
"Well, well, well, isn't that something" says Blackflame the dragon in reference to the dragon Sunbeam and the rider Daeliss Komav killing two dragons in the Golmard faction.
Not exactly an easy feat. Nor has it been done all that often in the faction wars. Especially not within just one week.
Lord Ganulf nods, then quickly as he knows Blackflame will prattle on if you let him, he asks "Is his highness in?".
"Of course" is the reply of the large black dragon, who then chuckles in his deep rumbling way, as he adds "That's him there".
As the sounds of shouting can be heard from within broach tower that Blackflame is draped over.
The shouting can be heard more clearly, as it comes from a window up on one of the higher levels of the broach.
"Move your wing you big lump!" shouts the voice, followed in a dry tone with "I would like some sunlight coming into my offices thank you!".
With a chuckle, Blackflame lifts up his left wing, and folds it across and down his back.
The large black dragon then grunts, then says "Of course" when he hears lord Ganulf quietly say "Don't tell him will you" followed by "I'll do that".
Blackflame lifts his head up and out of the way. Allowing the trio of humans to continue on their way towards the broach.
Both of the airmen, who have seen the two most well known dragons in the kingdom at a distance in the past.
Frankly stare up at Blackflame as they pass beneath his head and neck as he briefly looks over at his twin sister Whitefire, before he goes back to sunning himself as the cool autumn morning finally heats up.
They enter the broach tower, which is the size of a keep pretty much anywhere else in Terrindim.
They're met by a servant, who says "This way" in reply to the lord of Highsun saying to him "Lord Ganulf to see his highness". They follow the servant, who leads to them to some wide curving stairs.
With the servant a bit out infront of them, the nobleman from the mountainous province of Hanamede in the north of the kingdom, quietly says to the airmen following behind him "You two are now on my staff".
The lord of Highsun then dryly adds "Not that I've got much of a staff" followed by "Apart from my household staff, you two are it".
Both able airman Orvick and bosun Cedric are stunned to say the least at this.
"You'd only be reassigned in the fleet anyway" quietly says lord Ganulf as they follow the palace servant at a distance.
"And lets be honest, if you're not posted to one of the better ships in the faction, say like captain Komav's Dragon Flame" continues the advisor to the prince, who follows that with "You're not going to last that much longer in a war like this one".
Both the bosun, and the able airman with the club foot, nod when they hear that. As they know that's a distinct possibility.
"Airman Orvick, just like you did with admiral Halmack, you'll be my aide" quietly says the nobleman from the province of Hanamede, who left his family's faction, the Salmain faction, to join the Balford faction.
"Yes my lord" says able airman Orvick, who at the beginning of the day, before the battle started. Would never of thought he'd end up here in the capital Fanile. In the Royal Palace of Terrindim, in what's called the real palace. Off to see his highness, with lord Ganulf, who he's now an aide to. And all before midmorning too.
"Bosun you know how to use that cutlass?" asks the lord of the city of Highsun.
"Yes my lord" says Cedric the bosun, a man in his mid thirties, who has served in the various Balford fleets, for close to twenty years.
"Boarded nearly thirty enemy ships and fought on them in my almost twenty year career in our fleet my lord" says the bosun, who until just a short time ago, was one of helmsmen of the Dragon's Revenge, the flagship of admiral Halmack.
"Good you're now my offsider" quietly states lord Ganulf, the bosun blinks in surprise at that. As he never thought he'd hold such a position in his career at all.
For the offsider of a nobleman, is often a commoner. Though usually a good friend of the noble in question.
An offsider is many things, typically a confidant, who does a number of tasks for the noble they're serving.
The task most well known concerning an offsider. Is that they're the second for the noble during duels.
Cedric has just realised he might be one of the busiest offsiders in all of Terrindim. For it's a well known fact that lord Ganulf ends up in a lot of duels.
For the simple reason, a lot of people throughout the kingdom want to see him dead.
They fall silent as the palace servant leads them off the stairs, up on the fourth floor of the broach keep.
And as they make their way along a wide hallway, to a set of double doors that are guarded by pair of king's guards.
They stop just before the double doors, and one of the guards knocks, then opens one of the doors when the command of enter can be heard on the otherside.
The palace servant steps forward, and goes through the open door, and announces the nobleman from the mountainous province of Hanamede.
"Lord Ganulf, the lord of Highsun" states the palace servant, there's a pause from inside the room, which is eventually followed by "What the fuck?" in a tone of surprise, and after that is "What the hell is he doing here?".
"His highness can be a little excitable at times" murmurs lord Ganulf to the two airmen who he's just made members of his staff, just before they go through the open door.
Prince Waniq, the crown prince of Terrindim. A man just recently turned thirty. Who for all intensive purposes, is the leader of the Balford faction.
A man at around five foot ten inches in height, who is taller than the average Terrindiam.
Stares in shock as he looks at his advisor lord Ganulf. Who should not be here in the capital, and the Royal Palace of Terrindim. But should be further north in the kingdom. In the central province of Smalsare. With the third fleet. Fighting against the Golmard faction.
Seeing the flecks of dried blood across the face of his advisor, the crown prince gets a sinking feeling in his gut.
He sees two airmen behind the lord of Highsun, and they look a little worse for wear too. Uniforms disheveled, with scuffs and bruising starting to show. The feeling in the crown prince's gut gets even worse.
"I don't want to know do i" says prince Waniq, who then glances at those of his staff in the Balford faction in here with him in his office.
"Not particularly your highness" says lord Ganulf, who walks towards the desk the crown prince is behind.
"But since I'm lucky to even be here, i might as well tell you" adds the nobleman from the province of Hanamede.
The prince sits down in his chair, and sourly says "I'm not going to like this".
Then the crown prince, who can get more than a little excitable at times. Rash, is often a word to describe him. Sits there and listens in stunned silence at what his advisor has to say.
You know he's shocked when he doesn't have a word to say. So he just sits there, taking in what lord Ganulf has to say.
Prince Waniq, the crown prince of Terrindim, the oldest child of king Crassil and queen Pania. And effectively the head of the Balford faction, one of the two largest factions in the kingdom.
Is not the heir to the throne. That's someone else. He knew at a fairly young are he wouldn't be the next sovereign, even though he's the oldest of the king's children.
He came to terms with that fairly quickly. Infact he was still a child, when he realised not being the heir. Was actually quite beneficial if you wanted to get things done.
Something his siblings, and most of his cousins never learned. As one by one, they were all passed up as being the heir to king Crassil.
Some of that has built up resentment in the wider royal family. Ending up in a number of faction wars in recent years.
For with the exception of the sovereign, in this case the king. Anyone in the kingdom of Terrindim can belong to a faction. And most of the extended royal family belong to one faction or another.
It makes family gatherings here in the Royal Palace of Terrindim quite lively affairs to say the least. With so many of the wider royal family belonging to rival factions.
The crown prince sighs, and sinks down into his chair as he continues to listen to what his advisor has to say.
As he looks at lord Ganulf, he sees that the lord of Highsun, who he's known for a number of years, even before the nobleman from the province of Hanamede joined the Balford faction three years ago.
May look calm and collected as he tells him what happened earlier this morning with the third fleet up in the province of Smalsare.
But prince Waniq knows him well enough, that he figures the lord of Highsun, is more than likely boiling with rage beneath the surface.
And probably wants to be elsewhere, killing someone in a duel. Than standing here, explaining to the crown prince what's happened in the central districts of the province of Smalsare.
After lord Ganulf finishes speaking, prince Waniq, who can get carried away with things at times, takes a few deep breaths to calm himself down.
"The third?" finally asks the crown prince of Terrindim.
"Apart from those who broke off and fled" says the lord of Highsun, who briefly pauses before he continues on with "I wouldn't expect much of them to survive".
Trying to keep calm, prince Waniq, who like a lot of his family, still has the sun touched, and blond features found throughout the more arid western provinces of the kingdom.
Slightly shakes his head, then he finally mutters "You're fucking family" as he looks at his advisor.
"Tell me about it" sourly says lord Ganulf.
"And i thought my family was dysfunctional" dryly says the crown prince of Terrindim.
Which earns a few grins and smiles from the gathered staff. Including a quirk of the lips from the lord of Highsun.
"My second cousin Yammick?" asks prince Waniq.
"Dead most likely" says lord Ganulf, who rather hopes the senior admiral didn't survive the battle, as he considers him an utter fool.
The crown prince sighs, and not one usually for regrets. He wonders if he made a mistake in making his relative Yammick the senior admiral of the third fleet of the Balford faction.
His advisor lord Ganulf cautioned him not to. And instead have fleet admiral Halmack be the senior admiral of the third fleet.
But family ties within factions must be maintained. So of course he put his second cousin in command of the third fleet of the Balford faction.
In doing so, they've probably lost more than half of that fleet. Along with his second cousin Yammick. As well as admiral Halmack, probably the best fleet admiral in all of the Balford faction.
"Fuck" the crown prince mutters to himself, who shakes his head again, as he realises they're probably now in war against the Salmain faction as well.
The oldest child of the king and queen of Terrindim, is just saying "Well at least we killed another one of their dragons".
When he's interrupted by a deep rumbling voice saying "Is she coming out soon Waniq?".
Looking away to his left, the crown prince yells "Would you move your big head Blackflame!" followed by "Your blocking the light again!".
The large black dragon mutters something in the language of the dragons, before he moves his head away from the windows he's peering through. The dragon Blackflame then says "Well, is she?".
Prince Waniq, who the twin dragons Blackflame and Whitefire tolerate more than anyone else in the royal family apart from the king and one other.
Rolls his eyes, and though he's still angry about learning of the defeat the third fleet has had up in the province of Smalsare, he can't help but smile after he says "She's having her lessons this morning, you know that" and he hears Blackflame loudly mutter "Stupid lessons, she should be here out here with us".
The crown prince then calls out "She'll come out after the midday meal". A satisfied grunt can be heard from Blackflame, followed by "Good".
Prince Waniq wryly smiles as he thinks of his young four year old daughter Sarsha. Who the twin dragons Blackflame and Whitefire absolute adore and dote after.
In doing so, making her the heir to the throne, and the next sovereign of Terrindim . . . . . .

The Journey 17.

Autumn. Fanile. The Capital Of Terrindim.

People hurry to get out of his way. He's never a popular figure at the best of times. And with an angry looking scowl upon his face at the moment. People definitely don't want to get in his path.
His face is scraped and cut. Covered in dried blood in places as he walks at pace.
Behind him follows a pair of airmen. From his faction by the looks of it. One a bosun by his insignia. And the other, an able airman. Who walks with a limp, due to the club foot he has.
The wizard Morsen sent them over two hundred and fifty miles to the south. To the capital city Fanile. Into the heart of the kingdom, the Royal Palace of Terrindim.
The three of them, the only survivors of the flagship the Dragon's Revenge. Are making their way towards the inner sanctums of the Royal Palace. The vast, sprawling castle complex found in the middle of the capital city.
Able airman Orvick, who knuckles the tears in eyes, has to hurry to keep up with lord Ganulf, the lord of Highsun, and the advisor to the prince.
Next to the young airman with the club foot, is a bosun by the name of Cedric. Who was at the wheel of the Dragon's Revenge. When it was destroyed by an enemy dragon, not that long ago. On this cool autumn morning found throughout most of the kingdom.
Just the three of them made it through the rift cast by the wizard Morsen as the battlecruiser. Which was the flagship of admiral Halmack, was destroyed.
Orvick, an aide to the fleet admiral. Barely has a chance to look at his surroundings as he and bosun Cedric keep up with the nobleman infront of them.
The able airman with the club foot, who is from the capital Fanile. Has been to the staging grounds, and the airdocks of the Royal Palace before.
But this is the first time he's ever been inside the vast complex. And definitely the first time he's been inside the inner sanctums of the royal family's abode.
Orvick and Cedric share a look, as they both catch a glimpse of the face of lord Ganulf infront of them, as they turn into a covered walkway between a keep and a tall tower. A walkway that goes through the base of the tower.
The look on the face of the lord of Highsun. Is one of pure anger. Infact Orvick is of the opinion, when someone speaks of murderous intent. Then that's the look upon the face of the advisor to the prince at the moment.
Court officials, palace guards, noblemen and noblewomen. All get out of the way of the nobleman from the province of Hanamede in the mountainous north of the kingdom. Who is in a hurry as he makes his way through the palace grounds.
He's said barely a word to Orvick and Cedric since arriving here in the Royal Palace by way of a rift.
He's told them to follow him, and keep up and not to fall behind. Apart from that, he hasn't said a word.
Though both of the airmen who serve in the Balford faction, have heard the lord of Highsun occasionally mutter to himself as they head further into the inner sanctums of the palace.
After they go through the base of the tower, they follow a path alongside a round keep. At an intersecting path, lord Ganulf takes a few steps down it, and finally comes to a halt. There he looks at the building at the end of the path, just twenty yards away.
The lord of Highsun stares at it for a few moments, before he spits in disgust in the direction of the building. Then turns around, forcing the two airmen to get out of his way. Before they follow him again. As he resumes his way along the main path.
Orvick spots the large brass plaque on the wall next to the large double doors at the front of the building.
The able airman who knows how to read and write thanks to his position as an aide to one of the fleet admirals in the Balford faction.
Clearly saw the name Salmain embossed on the brass plaque, on the building the advisor to the prince spat towards.
Orvick gulps as he wonders what he's suddenly found himself in the middle of here in the Royal Palace of Terrindim.
Within the palace grounds, you find people from throughout the kingdom, who are members of every faction that Terrindim has.
All of the factions have headquarters of some kind throughout the Royal Palace. Wether it be an older keep, or a newer building that's been built more recently.
The Royal Palace is sacred ground. Where factions who are even at war with one another. Can mix and mingle, and be safe in the knowledge that they can't harm one another.
As the wrath of the sovereign, the king at this present time. Will meet out swift justice upon anyone who breaks peace within the grounds of the Royal Palace.
Though that doesn't entirely dissuade any action between those who are at war with one another.
As there's still one avenue, for the nobility at least. To deal with matters that will incur violence.
And that is through the act of duels. Which in various times throughout the history of the kingdom of Terrindim. Can be popular to deal with certain arguments between those whose factions are at war with one another.
Infact quite a few faction wars throughout the centuries here in Terrindim. Have been won and lost in a duel between nobles.
It's not unheard of to have a faction war that's gone on for years, come to an end by dueling nobles.
Lord Ganulf slows a bit, and the two airmen following behind him. Look around the lord of Highsun.
And see on the path they're on, a small group of people walking in their direction.
The able airman and the bosun see that it's a nobleman, wearing an armoured breastplate. Something of a rarity here in the kingdom of Terrindim. As you're unlikely to find chainmail or scale mail too. As most soldiers and airmen. No matter what their standing in society. Wear leather armour at most. The majority of them wear little armour at all. Padded, and stuffed clothing is what you'll find most soldiers in.
Behind the oncoming nobleman are officers in uniform. It's obvious for the colouring of their uniform, they belong to the Golmard faction.
He slows even more, then after being so silent for most of the short time they've been here this morning.
Lord Ganulf glances back at the two following airmen, and says to them "You know what lads, i smell a rather unpleasant odour".
The lord of Highsun, comes to a stop in the middle of the path as he adds "It's the smell of shit you accidentally stand in sometimes".
The nobleman from the province of Hanamede in the mountainous north of the kingdom briefly pauses as the group from the Golmard faction come to a stop just half a dozen yards away. Having clearly heard what the advisor to the prince just said.
"Annoying true" adds lord Ganulf, followed by "But ultimately insignificant because it's so far beneath you" the lord of Highsun then says "After all, it's under your boot where it belongs".
Then feigning surprise, the prince's advisor says "Why sir Porscin i didn't see you there" followed by "A good morning to you".
With a look of disdain upon his face, sir Porscin of the Golmard faction says "And a good morning to you lord Ganulf". Even though he would want to say anything else apart from that. He follows form, and greets the lord of Highsun.
"Busy morning?" asks sir Porscin, who is from the eastern province of Darnass. Who knows that the advisor to the prince is supposed to be with the Balford fleet up in the  province of Smalsare. Fighting the Golmard fleet that are up there.
"Yes quite" says the lord of the city of Highsun, followed by "I'm off to see the prince to discuss it".
The nobleman from the northern province of Hanamede. Who figures that probably no one here in the Royal Palace knows yet of the fairly obvious outcome of the battle this morning in the province of Smalsare.
Says to sir Porscin "Condolences" he briefly pauses as the enemy nobleman frowns at him, he continues with "For that deep red dragon, the maroon coloured one. Large fellow, don't know his name sorry. But from the way he fought, I'd say he belonged to a family in your faction since the egg".
"Deepsun" says sir Porscin automatically, who then slightly winces as he realises he probably shouldn't of said that.
"Ah that's the fellow's name then" says lord Ganulf, who glances at the two airmen behind him and asks "Did you know that lads?".
"We didn't my lord" is the reply from able airman Orvick who realises that the lord of Highsun, who just a short time ago, was furious as if all the hells had opened up, is trying to antagonize the enemy nobleman, and the officers with him.
"Must not of had all that much renown my lord" quickly adds the able airman with the club foot.
There's a quirk to the lips of the prince's advisor as he sees how quickly the young airman has caught on.
And he now realises why admiral Halmack had the able airman with the club foot, at such a young age, be one of the fleet admiral's aides.
"Must not of alright" says lord Ganulf, who sees he's getting the enemy nobleman worked up, quickly follows that with "And he won't have any too, considering he and his rider were killed by our Sunbeam and the rider Daeliss this morning".
Sir Porscin, and the officers in the Golmard faction's army and fleet with him, look at the lord of Highsun in shock.
Then the advisor to the prince, who figures word has reached the capital of the battle earlier in the week, in the province of Darnass, says "That's two of yours in a week that Sunbeam and the rider Daeliss have killed".
Glancing at Orvick, who he knows, has definitely remembered the name of the enemy dragon and rider killed in battle earlier in the week, says to him "What were their names again airman?".
"Sunblaze and the rider Cyril my lord" is the immediate reply from Orvick, who indeed remembers the names of the enemy dragon and rider killed in the battle in the province of Darnass.
"That's the pair" says lord Ganulf with a nod of his head as he looks at sir Porscin and the officers with him "Killed by, let's be frank, a young girl whose had her family's dragon less than three years" followed by "A commonborn girl at that".
The lord of the city of Highsun, who beneath the surface is still seething in anger at what's happened this morning.
Faintly smiles as sir Porscin scowls in anger at him. While the nobleman from the province of Darnass, right hand hovers over the hilt of his sword.
Lord Ganulf takes a step forward, and pointedly looks at the enemy nobleman's right hand and sword. "Yes?" says the prince's advisor in a deathly quietly tone of voice as he then looks at sir Porscin in the eye.
The nobleman who is part of the Golmard faction snatches his right hand away from the hilt of his sword.
For lord Ganulf, who was never all that popular when he was in his family's faction, the Salmain faction. Even though he was a respected ruling lord of the city of Highsun.
Who still isn't all that popular now he's in the Balford faction. Who is a more than accomplished warship captain, who quickly became the advisor to the prince.
Is one thing, that most other nobles throughout the kingdom of Terrindim are not. A highly talented and skillful swordsman. So much so he's known as the best duelist in all of Terrindim.
Who has dueled since he was a young teen against nobles of all ages. And has yet to loose one. Infact he's rarely been wounded in the duels he's had. And he's had a lot of them. It's one of the reasons he's not that popular. 
"Sorry, must be moving on" says lord Ganulf as he eyes sir Porscin and the Golmard officers with him.
"And condolences again" adds the lord of Highsun, who looks at the two airmen who survived the destruction of the Dragon's Revenge with him this morning, and says to them "Come on lads, must not keep his highness waiting".
He then looks at sir Porscin again, who grudgingly stands to one side, as do the officers with him. For the simple reason lord Ganulf is of higher social ranking than the nobleman from the province of Darnass.
They continue on their way, without looking back at the enemy behind them.
Once they round a corner in the path, that goes by a hedgerow, the lord of Highsun quietly says to the able airman and the bosun "It's the little victories that count, remember that lads".
The nobleman from the province of Hanamede, who at just over six foot, is very tall for a Terrindiam, continues with "Those bastards will soon know they've been victorious up in Smalsare, so we've got to take our little victories when we can".
The lord of the city of Highsun, who switched from his family's faction, the Salmain faction to the Balford faction three years ago. In an attempt to become the rider of the dragon Firelight. And because he grew to despise the decisions the Salmain faction have been making in recent years.
Quietly says to the two airmen "I know it's petty" followed by "But I'm a petty kind of guy, so there you go".
Both of the airmen, one who has served in the fleets of the Balford faction for nearly twenty years. And the other just for a few years.
Nod in agreement with the advisor to the prince, a nobleman who isn't particularly popular amongst the crews in the fleet. There's a grudging, and a guarded respect for him. But nothing more than that really.
Feeling emboldened to speak up, able airman Orvick says "I thought you might of been trying to goad sir Porscin into a duel my lord".
"I was" is the reply from sir Ganulf without looking back as he leads the way through the palace complex.
"Pity the bastard didn't go for it" states the nobleman from northern Terrindim in a loud mutter.
The lord of Highsun falls silent again. And the airmen, the only crew members of the Dragon's Revenge to survive it's destruction this morning.
Hurry to keep up with the man who is the advisor to the prince as they continue on their way through the Royal Palace of Terrindim.
After they go around a rather large garden, where people are quick to get out of the way of lord Ganulf.
They cross a bridge, that goes over one of the streams throughout the vast palace complex.
As they do, the bosun Cedric, who has had a tour of the palace grounds a number of years ago by his aunt, who worked as a servant in the palace.
Nudges Orvick, and gestures away to a keep to their right, and mouths the word "Ours".
After a moment, the able airman with the club foot nods as he realises that keep is the headquarters of their faction, the Balford faction.
They're not heading for that, they're heading for the central broaches, which are behind forty foot tall walls. The central broaches that are often referred to as the real palace.
The large gates in the wall are open, and while throughout the vast palace complex, they've seen palace guards.
The gates here are manned by the king's guards, and they're stopping everyone who is entering and leaving.
Infact everyone stops for them, as they ask the reason why you're either entering or exiting the real palace.
The lord of Highsun stops, and before the guard sergeant can ask him his reason for entering the real palace.
The nobleman from the province of Hanamede says "Lord Ganulf to see his highness" gesturing at Orvick and Cedric, he adds "These two are my witnesses".
The guard sergeant nods, then looks through the open gates, to where another guard sergeant stands. Who steps out of view for a few moments, before stepping back and nodding.
"You may enter lord Ganulf" says the sergeant in the king's guard, who steps aside for the lord of the city of Highsun, who nods to him, before setting off. Followed closely by the two airmen from the Dragon's Revenge.
Orvick sees how thick the walls are as they walk through the gates to the real palace.
As they go through the wall, lord Ganulf quietly says to able airman and the bosun "You two stick close to me" followed by "Whatever you do, don't wander off, or let anyone lead you away".
The nobleman from the mountainous province of Hanamede quietly adds "You're about to enter the most dangerous place in all of Terrindim".
And as they walk out through the thick wall, and look across the large courtyard here, to one of the broach towers inside of the real palace.
The bosun Cedric and able airman Orvick sees exactly what lord Ganulf means about it being dangerous. Because there's a rather large black dragon draped over the broach tower, sunning itself on this cool autumn morning in the capital city . . . . . .

The Journey 16.

Autumn. The Province Of Smalsare. The Kingdom Of Terrindim.

"They've turned off" says Helbe the elven thief.
"Something must of happened" says Mira Reinholt the mage as they see the new arrivals turn off from chasing part of the Balford fleet that's fleeing to the south.
"The rest of that fleet should fuck off as well" says lord Farque referring to the Balford fleet.
"Because if that new bunch turn on them, they'll be decimated" adds the undead warlord as they watch the battle from the bow deck of the Quick Gull.
"Well, looks like they're turning towards them" quietly says Jarjin Littlefoot the hobbit, the others nod, then the halfling from the far eastern coastal nation of Dreese, adds "Though it looks like they're going to stand off".
As in the distance to the south and west of the hill the Quick Gull is infront of.
They see the new arrivals from a third faction, slowing down in the sky. So much so, that their three dragons start to lazily circle in the air. With one of the blue shaded dragons heading down to the ground. Where the Balford army has already withdrawn. And the Golmard army is in pursuit of them.
While up above in the morning sky, here in the central districts of the province of Smalsare.
At least two thirds of the Balford faction's fleet are still engaged with the Golmard faction's fleet.
Fighting ships from both sides of battle are being destroyed and damaged.
Though it's obvious, even from this distance. That the Golmard faction has the upper hand. As they have more dragons than their opponents, even though they've just lost one in this battle.
After looking around, and seeing Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy, standing with Tovis the war engineer, and Beldane the cleric along the starboard rail in a midships.
Who like the entire crew of the sleek looking airship that was previously in the Sultanate of Dreese's fleet. Are watching the battle in the sky to the southwest.
Lord Farque then glances at Helbe the elven thief who is standing to his left. The heavily armoured deathlord looks at the right shoulder of the young elven noble from the island principality of Laerel.
"You see or sense anything out of the ordinary just before that new lot turned off?" asks the lord and ruler in the lands Farque who speaks quietly in the ground pixie language.
"Hmmmmm not really" says Narladene the ground pixie who speaks quietly in her own language too.
The tiny winged creature who is attached to the highly talented elven magic user, and whose senses are almost as good, though not quite, as lord Farque's own, thinks about something for a moment, then quietly says "Someone cast a rift on one those fleeing ships at the back as it was destroyed by one of the red dragons".
The undead warlord, who is known by the name of Draugadrottin to the people of his lands, slightly nods his full helmed head, as he sensed that as well.
And didn't think much of it. Apart from it being a desperate attempt from one of the spellcasters onboard that particular warship in the Balford fleet.
To get themselves and others off the doomed airship. The deathlord of Farque sensed a few people go through that rift before the wizard who cast it was killed.
He didn't think much of it at the time. But since it happened just before the new arrivals turned away. It might of more significance than he realised.
"You want me to go and have a snoop around at things?" asks Narladene, who grins as Helbe the elven thief rolls his eyes, as he can't understand a thing she and the undead warlord are talking about.
After a moment thinking about it, the undead being who has the elven name of Des'tier, which means, the Destroyer, says "No".
The lord and ruler of the lands Farque, who thinks Narladene is a annoying gnat most of the time. Knows that she's perfectly safe from anything magical the dragons do. But there is a small chance she could be physically harmed by them. Especially considering there's quite a few dragons in and around the battle to the southwest of the hill they've landed infront of. Here amongst the rich farmland in this part of the province of Smalsare.
Annoying gnat or not, even he won't risk the ground pixie, just to get a closer look at the battle.
Which with every passing moment, is turning in favour of the Golmard faction, and getting worse and worse for the Balford faction.
"Hope that new lot don't turn back this way, and come near us" says Helbe the elven thief after lord Farque and Narladene finish their conversation in the ground pixie language.
"I don't fancy facing three dragons" dryly adds the young elven noble who is part of the royal family that rules the elven principality of Laerel, which lies off the coast of the Southlands.
"You?" says Mira Reinholt the mage with a slight smile upon his face "Who has killed two dragons himself?" adds the once powerful mage, who is in exile from his homeland, the city-state of Vexil.
"Let's face it, i just finished them off" dryly says the highly talented elven magic user, who nods his hooded head to the side at Des'tier, and adds "His lordship all but killed that first one in Leeabra".
The mage Reinholt grunts at that, as that refers to the dragon who was his friend. Who bit off the lower half of his left arm. And briefly killed him in the capital city of the kingdom of Druvic.
"And that other one had a dwarven dreadnought crash on it" continues the elven masterthief who then adds in an extremely dry tone of voice with "Not to mention those two raving lunatics Dorc and Percy were on it, attacking it, the same time they were trying to kill each other".
Jarjin Littlefoot grunts, then rolls his eyes at the mention of that.
As that was the battle in the southern kingdom of Melaurn in the Southlands.
When he as Zubutai the barbarian hordesman first died. And was brought back to life by lord Farque, who was in his own lands to the north at the time.
Who brought the hordes outrider back to life into the body of one of dwarven crew members of that particular dreadnought.
"I missed that one" dryly says Mira Reinholt the mage, who was offworld at that particular time.
"Lucky you" dryly says Jarjin aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman, who out of all his deaths, remembers that one, his own one, most vividly.
The elven princeling from Laerel softly chuckles then falls silent and nods his hooded head, when next to him, lord Farque dryly says "I don't fancy facing a trio of dragons" followed by "One or two i could deal with" then adds in a sour tone "Fuck facing three at once".
The others on the bow with him, who are three members of his personal council nod in agreement. As they know the heavily armoured deathlord is their best protection against any dragon. For the simple reason he's the one who can best kill them.
Draugadrottin briefly pauses before he says "Though" he pauses again before continuing with "These dragons don't seem as tough or as ruthless as dragons elsewhere".
The undead warlord who is of the opinion that the dragons here in the kingdom of Terrindim, which is in the eastern half of the continent.
Are inhibited due to their close personal relationships with humans. So much so that they allow humans to ride upon them. Something you wouldn't see a dragon anywhere else in the world do.
"The only one that looked remotely like a dragon elsewhere" says Des'tier, who continues with "Is that large orange Balford one that killed the maroon coloured one from the Golmard faction".
"I agree" says the mage Reinholt, who is also a highly skilled swordmaster.
"These dragons here, are no where near as lethal as others elsewhere" adds the once powerful mage, who has been good friends with two dragons in his lifetime.
One of whom was the dragon Mor, who was and still is, one of the senior lecturers at the Mage College of Vexil.
The spellcaster who is a highly skilled swordmaster just shakes his hooded head at the image of his older teacher Mor, having a human in a saddle upon his back like a horse.
His old teacher wouldn't take to kindly to that. Infact Mira knows old Mor would clearly think that just the idea of it being as totally ridiculous. As no self thinking dragon would do such a thing.
Old Mor would have a fucking fit if he saw the dragons in this kingdom, Mira Reinholt thinks to himself, the exiled Vexilian mage then silently adds, and I'm pretty sure he'd laugh himself fucking stupid at the names the dragons here have.
"They're fucked" states Jarjin Littlefoot as they now see some of the Balford fleet who are engaged with the Golmard fleet, are trying to break off and flee. Like one of their wings has already done.
"They've got no chance in one's and two's like they're trying to escape in now" adds the halfling who is a former air sailor in the Sultanate of Dreese's fleet.
Lord Farque, Mira Reinholt and Helbe the elven thief all nod in agreement with the hobbit, who in actuality is a hordes outrider from the southern tundra by the name of Zubutai Timaginson, who just happens to find himself inhabiting the body of Jarjin Littlefoot.
As they watch the destruction of a large portion of the Balford fleet here in the province of Smalsare, in the central region of the kingdom of Terrindim.
The lord and ruler of the lands Farque hopes that the victorious fleet, which looks like it's more and more likely going to be Golmard fleet. Don't decide to fly west, the direction that they're going.
For the simple reason that they might have to take a detour on their way westwards across the kingdom.
He also hopes the new arrivals, don't go that way too. As they will make their journey westwards even more difficult.
"They're done for" says the mage Reinholt referring to the Balford fleet.
The spellcaster who was once the most powerful mage of his generation to be found anywhere in the Southlands.
Who knows a fair bit about aerial combat between airships. As he's been in an awful lot of them over the years, continues with "It's not even midmorning, hell it's still early morning and they've been defeated".
"Think they could had a chance if that lot at the back hadn't of pulled out?" asks the Vexilian swordmaster in exile with a glance at the large heavily armoured figure in the dark blue/black full heavy plate armour.
"I doubt it" says Draugadrottin, who briefly pauses before he adds "Especially if that new lot joined the frey".
The undead warlord is silent for a few moments, before he quietly adds "Whatever that new bunch was up to, they were thwarted by something in the battle".
The lord of the death realm nods his full helmed head in the direction of the battle in the sky to the southwest of them, and he adds "Look at them" followed by "They're just hanging around to watch the end of the battle now".
It's clear to see that the fleet and dragons of the third faction are just observing things.
As they're back well off from the battle that's quickly drawing to an end.
Even when a couple of badly damaged Golmard warships fly their way.
The vessels in the third faction give them a wide as berth as possible. Getting well out of the way of the disabled ships as possible.
As across the sky, more and more of what's left of the Balford faction try to break away, and flee to the south.
Not even the remaining Balford dragons can help stop the inevitable defeat.
Especially once the flagship of their senior admiral, the senior admiral Yammick is destroyed.
Not by any of the Golmard dragons, or for that matter, any of the Golmard spellcasters on their warships.
His battlecruiser is destroyed when he takes the wheel himself as he finally decides to flee.
And he turns it into the starboard side of a cutter in his own fleet. Which is trying to get clear, as it too has decided to flee.
The triple masted flagship of the Balford forces here in the province of Smalsare cuts the smaller warship in two. In the process ripping away it's own bow section, and it's fore mast.
The Balford flagship starts to drop out of the sky and break apart with the prince's relative, senior admiral Yammick at the wheel.
A position he should never of been at. Just like the post of senior admiral. Which he should never of been given.
Down on the ground, just infront of a hill, and few hundred yards behind a farmhouse, and it's out buildings.
Onboard the Quick Gull, the small, sleek looking single masted vessel that served as a scout ship in the fleet of the Sultanate of Dreese.
They watch the battle come to an end, and though it started at dawn. It's over well before midmorning. Infact it's not even halfway to midmorning.
And as the Golmard warships and their surviving dragons break off from the battle after decimating their opponents.
What's left of the Balford faction scatter in all directions as they attempt to flee.
"Here we go" quietly says Helbe the elven thief who continues with "They're moving".
As they watch the fleet of the third faction that turned up in the middle of the battle. Are now on the move.
And though the Golmard fleet let quite a few of their enemy retreat. As a fair bit of their own fleet has been destroyed or badly damaged.
Not so the third faction, who move to intercept some of the defeated Balford fleet who are fleeing.
"Let's see who does what first" says Mira Reinholt the mage.
"The Balford's" says lord Farque a few moments later, a moment later, Narladene the ground pixie nods her head in agreement as she stands upon the right shoulder of the young elven noble she's attached to.
As she, like lord Farque has already sensed. A practitioner of magic upon one of the damaged Balford warships that's fleeing, is going to cast. 
A fireball streaks across the morning sky from a damaged war galley in the Balford fleet. Heading towards one of the third faction's vessels that's blocking it's path.
The fireball splatters harmlessly off the that particular warship in the third fleet.
Which doesn't retaliate. But one of the three dragons in their fleet does.
A dark blue dragon sweeps up and over that particular warship in the third fleet. And dives down towards the oncoming war galley from the Balford fleet.
The dark blue coloured dragon doesn't cast anything, nor does it spew fire from it's maw.
Instead it just crashes down onto the already damaged war galley in the Balford fleet.
Smashing through it in flight, breaking apart the Balford warship that's attempting to flee.
The dark blue dragon drops down, shaking itself, to get rid of broken bits of the war galley that's on it. As the Balford vessel is in multiple pieces as it falls through the sky towards the ground.
"Well, i guess that's what they're doing then" quietly says Jarjin Littlefoot the hobbit in a dry tone of voice , the former air sailor from the far east coast of the continent continues with "Attacking those Balford ships that are trying to get away".
The third faction, the Salmain faction, who have only attacked once the Golmard faction broke off from the battle after clearly being victorious.
And only after one of the fleeing Balford faction's vessels attacked one of their's.
Uses all fifty or so of their warships, along with their dragons of various shades of blue.
To attack the remains of the Balford fleet. Whilst the Golmard faction stand off, well back in the air from what's happening.
The damaged vessels in the Balford fleet have no chance against fifty fighting ships, and a trio of dragons, who are fresh, and ready for a fight.
After a while as they watch things in silence, Jarjin aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman points then says "There's a handful of ships getting away to the south".
"They're letting them get away" says lord Farque as there's four of the damaged Balford warships fleeing to the south, who are not being pursued by the third faction's vessels and dragons.
"They want the rest of their faction to know what's happened here this morning" adds the undead warlord as they watch the last of the Balford vessels being destroyed.
While the final remaining Balford dragon that hasn't already fled. Disappears in the sky through a rift that it has just cast.
As debris and burning airships fall out of the morning sky towards the rich farmland here in the central districts of the province of Smalsare.
The lord and ruler of the lands Farque quietly says "Now we wait and see which way all this lot go".
The heavily armoured deathlord briefly pauses before he continues on with "We might have to turn away to the north or south to fucking avoid them all".
As they already know, that innocent airships who get caught up in the middle of the wars between the factions here in the kingdom of Terrindim. Don't fare all that well.
As they tend to attack anyone who gets too close to their fleets. It's how they got caught up in an earlier battle between the Balford and Golmard factions, further east in the province of Darnass.
"We wait?" asks Helbe the elven thief with a glance at the undead being standing next to him.
"We wait" says the lord and ruler of the lands Farque as they watch the end of the battle on this cool autumn morning, here over the farmlands in the central districts of the province of Smalsare . . . . . .

The Journey 15.

Autumn. Smalsare In Central Terrindim.

On the stern deck of the battlecruiser the Dragon Flame. The captain of the warship, captain Jarmic Komav has his right arm raised in the air.
And along the deck, all the way forward to the bow. Officers and bosuns are watching their captain, waiting for his order.
The Dragon Flame's captain as he stands near the helmsman and the wheel, looks away to starboard, forward in the bow quarter. Watching Sunbeam the dragon, who he's known all his life. In the fiercest battle Jarmic Komav has ever seen him in with another dragon.
Infact it's the most violent and brutal looking battle that everyone onboard the Dragon Flame has ever witnessed between two dragons.
They're close enough now, that the warship captain can now clearly see his young cousin, Daeliss Komav in the saddle at the base of Sunbeam's neck.
The dragon rider, though strapped into the saddle, is being flung from side to side as she holds on for dear life.
As the two large dragons, one from the Balford faction, and the other in the Golmard faction.
Claw and bite at each other, and thrash and smash into one another. Trying to destroy their physical wards so that they actually damage one another.
And though dragons are immune from spellcasting, they still can't get through a spell cast on another dragon. Like a ward, which has to be depleted like any other ward.
Jarmic Komav winces as he watches Sunbeam and Daeliss battle the large crimson coloured dragon from the Golmard faction.
While next to the captain, the sorcerer Sarvon has one eye on his captain, and the other on the battling dragons.
Everyone onboard the Dragon Flame flinches as the sound of a loud boom comes from the two dragons. As one of them casts a spell to distract the other.
Which ever one did it, was unsuccessful as both of them are still trying to kill one another.
The two large, naturally magical creatures slam into one another again. And once more as they clinch, they go into a tumble sideways, rolling and flapping in midair. Coming ever closer to the Dragon Flame.
As they do, captain Jarmic Komav after having a quick look around. And he sees that the rest of their wing who are fleeing the battle. Are going more to the southeast to try and avoid the two large dragons hell bent on trying to kill one another.
Knows that what he's about to do, if it isn't at least partially successful. Will doom him and his crew. With their battlecruiser most likely being destroyed by an irate dragon.
The warship captain, usually a relaxed and quite convivial fellow. Always willing to chat and joke around with the poorest of peasants to the highest of nobles.
Who is one of the most popular officers in all of the Balford faction. Who will admit to himself, and no one else. That yes, he is a notorious womanizer, known throughout a lot of the kingdom for being so. Something he tries to play down publicly, though he's failed spectacularly trying do so.
Is almost the complete opposite when he's in the thick of a battle. He usually only speaks to give orders. And when he does have a conversation, it's usually with the sorcerer Sarvon.
His crew respect that, for he's got them out of battle after battle they've been in.
And though they've been damaged a number of times. The Dragon Flame has always been relatively intact.
That might not be the case now. As the warship captain stands there with his right arm raised.
Waiting for a signal himself, along with what has to be highly accurate guess on his part.
As he and everyone else onboard the battlecruiser out infront of the rest of their fleeing wing. Watch the two battling dragons come tumbling sideways, rolling over one another, trying to bite and claw through their wards, as they get even closer and closer to the Dragon Flame.
Then captain Jarmic Komav drops his right arm and shouts "Launch!" as he sees the two dragons slowing in their tumble. While at the same time he hears the same command in his mind from the dragon Sunbeam.
They're large barrels, larger than the largest ale barrel. Barrels usually used for hauling iron stock and rod.
They're full of large rocks. And sometimes during the winter. They might be frozen with water poured in with the rocks.
They're extremely heavy, and it's why you'll only ever find them on the largest of warships in the kingdom of Terrindim. Warships like the battlecruiser the Dragon Flame.
The triple masted airship has seven small catapults onboard. Three on either side, and one in the bow.
They could be used in ship to ship combat. But that would be a waste of time. As spells from further afield are far more successful than the small catapults, that don't have much of a range.
They're used more as a defensive weapon. And not necessarily against other warships who get in close. As they try to board an enemy vessel and attempt to capture it.
They're used primarily in a defensive fashion against dragons. And true in normal circumstances they are absolutely useless against dragons.
Who often attack by teleporting in and causing as much damage as possible before teleporting away again.
But if a dragon is locked in combat with another dragon. So much so, that they don't care about anything else, apart from trying to kill one another.
The small catapults, with their loads of large barrels. Can sometimes be effective. Though an enemy dragon has to get very close. And be preoccupied with another dragon that's trying to kill it.
Just like now, here this morning in the skies above the farmland of the province Smalsare, in the central region of the kingdom of Terrindim.
The starboard side catapults and the one on the bow deck launch their large barrels.
Loads that ordinarily wouldn't damage a dragon's wards that much. Even if they hit their target at the same time.
But in conjunction with an attack by another dragon. That's an altogether different prospect. Especially if they get the timing right.
Which is what captain Jarmic Komav is hoping for here. If not, the enemy dragon from the Golmard faction. Could destroy his battlecruiser with ease if he thinks they're an annoyance.
The warship captain who is from the western province of Halvarc. Watches as the four large barrels stuffed full of big rocks go sailing out from the Dragon Flame.
Jarmic Komav knows that beside him, Sarvon the sorcerer is casting a spell, maybe even two. Hopefully to get at least two of the barrels to fly straight and true through the air. On the way to their target. Who is tumbling very close towards the battlecruiser that's leading the retreat away to the south.
Sunbeam the dragon as they slow their tumble through the air with the enemy dragon called Deepsun.
Gets beneath the crimson coloured dragon from the Golmard faction. And squeezes as he pushes up, forcing the enemy dragon to roll again. As he does, Sunbeam bites at the neck of Deepsun the dragon.
Just then, three of the four large barrels shot from the small catapults onboard the Dragon Flame, that's just a hundred and fifty feet away now, hits the large crimson coloured dragon in the left flank and left wing.
And though that would normally be enough to smash through the hull of another airship.
It barely depletes the wards around the dragon from the Golmard faction.
But that's enough, because of the pressure being put on by Sunbeam as they're tight in a clinch.
Who feels the wards give way around large crimson coloured dragon as he bites away at the neck of the enemy dragon.
Daeliss Komav the dragon rider hears the shout of triumph from Sunbeam within her mind.
As all of sudden the Golmard faction dragon lets out a roar of anger and pain as Sunbeam bites into it's armoured neck.
The dragon Deepsun shoots out a jet of flame out to the side. Aiming for the battlecruiser the Dragon Flame.
Which fortunately, captain Jarmic Komav ordered to climb right after they launched the large barrels from four of the small catapults onboard.
The line of dragon fire passes harmlessly beneath the large triple masted warship.
As it does, Daeliss Komav who knows this is her best opportunity, watches carefully, and as the head and neck of the enemy dragon whips down as it tries to break free from Sunbeam.
The lean, blonde haired, attractive teenager from the western province of Halvarc takes action.
The bolt in Daeliss Komav's small hand held crossbow shoots off. And travels just thirty feet or so.
And because the dragon Deepsun no longer has wards up around him as he tries to scramble free.
The crossbow bolt slams into the rider in the saddle who briefly comes into the view of Daeliss Komav.
The commonborn dragon rider in the Balford faction was aiming for the enemy rider's midriff.
But she's off, she strikes him in the neck instead. Going right through it, spraying blood everywhere.
As that happens, Sunbeam the dragon, with all the strength he possesses. And with more effort he's ever done in his life to date.
Shoves the enemy dragon away from him, using all four of his legs to do so. As he does, he keeps his jaws clamped down on the neck of the dragon from the Golmard faction.
A snarling grin can just be glimpsed on the maw of the large, burnt orange coloured dragon in the Balford faction.
As he feels one, then two, and a third, then a fourth. Of the natural armoured plates around the neck of the enemy dragon get torn away in his jaws as he thrusts the large crimson coloured dragon away from him.
Deepsun the dragon lets out a gurgling roar as blood sprays everywhere from his ripped apart neck as he drops away in the sky. Trying to flap his wings, to no avail. As all that does, is spray the blood out of his ripped open neck and throat even quicker.
While hanging by the straps in the saddle at the base of his neck. Is his rider, dying from a similar wound to his throat and neck. As he falls out of control down through the air towards the ground below.
Both Sunbeam and Daeliss watch the dying dragon and rider falling towards the ground for a few moments.
Then the dragon that's been in the Komav family since the egg. Who is more exhausted than he's ever been in his life. Who feels absolutely battered and bruised as his wards were severely depleted.
Flaps his wings slowly, as he glides away to get out infront of the battlecruiser the Dragon Flame. To lead the retreat of the Balford faction to the south.
At the rear of the wing that's in retreat, a cheer goes up from the crew of the Dragon's Revenge when the lookouts up top, call down that the dragon Sunbeam has killed the enemy dragon that was away to the south. In the way of the fleeing wing in the Balford fleet.
Admiral Halmack is suitably impressed and says "Hell, that's two in one week that Sunbeam and Daeliss have killed".
Though technically the commonborn rider Daeliss Komav and her dragon Sunbeam didn't actually kill the other enemy dragon earlier in the week in another battle.
But since no one knows how that particular dragon was killed, it was attributed to the rider Daeliss and her dragon Sunbeam.
As some of the crew hurry to the starboard rail, and look down in that direction, where they spot the enemy dragon. Dying or already dead as it falls down through the air towards the farmland below.
Lord Ganulf the lord of Highsun, and the advisor to the prince says "That is impressive" followed by "That must be some kind of record, I've not heard of a dragon and it's rider kill two other dragons from a different faction in less than a week".
The nobleman from the city of Highsun, which against his family's wishes, he's still the lord of.
Isn't enamoured that a young commonborn rider is probably the best rider and dragon combination in the Balford faction.
But he can definitely appreciated them and their skills in battle. Especially in killing another dragon in what was basically a physical fight, if what the lookouts called down, was accurate.
As that is not exactly common. Even in the kingdom where there's a large number of dragons in various factions, who are often at war with one another.
"You're right" says the fleet admiral, who looks around, and sees just a handful of ships from the other wings are breaking off, and are heading this way, instead of fighting the enemy Golmard fleet.
Admiral Halmack glances back and sees three of his youngest aides standing behind him, lord Ganulf and the wizard Morsen. Who are situated behind the helmsman at the wheel.
And that all three, are grinning from ear to ear after hearing about the death of an enemy dragon, thanks to Daeliss Komav, and Sunbeam the dragon.
As the two other young aides wander over to the starboard rail, to look down at the enemy dragon that's just hit the ground after being killed by Sunbeam the dragon.
Able airman Orvick looks around, back the way they've come from. And like admiral Halmack he sees very few of the ships in the other wings.
Break off from the enemy fleet, and head south like their wing, and the supply and support vessels are doing.
The sixteen year old airman with the club foot, then looks directly to the north. Where he can clearly see the Salmain faction's fleet, and three of their blue coloured dragons heading to where the two warring fleets are.
Orvick is just wondering if the new arrivals will follow after their wing. After all, lord Ganulf is onboard the Dragon's Revenge. And it's no secret that the Salmain faction want him dead for leaving them.
When suddenly he feels the air behind the fleet admiral's flagship go completely still. The next moment, a couple hundred feet off the stern of the battlecruiser. Appears a red coloured dragon.
"Dragon!" shouts able airman Orvick in warning as he sees the red coloured enemy dragon.
The wizard Morsen spins around, as does both admiral Halmack and lord Ganulf, the lord of Highsun. And they all catch a glimpse of the enemy dragon, just before it casts a spell.
The wizard grimaces as he briefly senses the enemy dragon casting a blast spell. Far too powerful for the wards around the Dragon's Revenge that he and other spellcasters onboard have cast.
The battlecruiser suddenly bucks forward and upwards, and starts to break apart as it's magical keel is destroyed by the dragon's spell.
The entire triple masted warship dips down and forward before it starts to break apart.
And before Orvick looses his footing, and starts sliding down the deck of the warship. The able airman catches sight of the enemy dragon rearing back, as they tend to do when they spray fire from their maw.
Just as it does, another dragon appears out of thin air, and slams into the side of it.
As he's pitched forward down the deck, Orvick is pretty sure that it was the dragon Firelight and her rider sir Malfane who just hit the enemy dragon, and sent them hurtling sideways through the air.
Admiral Halmack as he lies on the deck, reaches out and grabs the youngest of his aides, Orvick. Who is sliding down the deck.
The fleet admiral turns his head when he hears a loud cracking sound. And he sees the midmast of the triple masted warship rip away, while the bow section and foremast has already broken off from rest of the airship.
The admiral looks to his left, and sees his long time friend Morsen the wizard, lying flat on his back on the deck, eyes closed, obviously concentrating on casting something.
The fleet admiral also sees lord Ganulf holding onto the base of the plinth the wheel is on. The lord of Highsun has got a firm grip on the helmsman, who is holding onto him for dear life.
Then as the remains of the Dragon's Revenge tips forward even further. The wizard Morsen opens his eyes and shouts "Through the rift!".
Lord Ganulf lets go of the helmsman, who falls down the deck about a dozen feet, and goes through the rift that's appeared just infront of where the wheel is.
"Move!" shouts lord Ganulf the lord of Highsun, and advisor to the prince. Who lets go of the base of the wheel's plinth. And dives forward through the air, and through the rift.
"Take the lad!" shouts admiral Halmack as his flagship the Dragon's Revenge breaks apart.
The fleet admiral who sees if he does the same thing that lord Ganulf just did with the helmsman. With the youngest of his aides, Orvick. The able airman with the club foot will miss the rift, and fall to his death.
So with an extreme amount of effort on his part. The admiral, a man in his early fifties. Swings Orvick up and over him, and shoves him towards Morsen the wizard.
Who briefly catches the able airman, then basically throws him down the deck. Sending a screaming Orvick tumbling down through the rift.
The next moment, and there's a large cracking sound again. And the deck beneath the fleet admiral and the wizard rips apart.
Shattered wood shoots up, and pierces the wizard Morsen. Going through his back and out his chest.
The rift vanishes as the spellcaster is killed instantly.
Admiral Halmack fares much better. If one can call what happens to him better. As he's flung up into the air.
The fleet admiral, with his destroyed flagship shattered apart all around him.
Falls down through the air, with a bitter smile upon his face. Knowing that he'll soon be dead when he hits the ground.
And as he freefalls to his death, Admiral Halmack is just glad he was able to get at least one of his young aides to safety, along with lord Ganulf.
Who he knows probably holds the key to victory against the Golmard faction, as well as the Salmain faction, who look like they've declared faction war upon the Balford faction . . . . . .

The Journey 14.

Autumn. The Province Of Smalsare.

As the rear wing of the Balford fleet start heading south. Along with the supply and support vessels in the faction go that way. Or drop down to the ground to start picking up the army, who have got the word to break off, and retreat to the south across the farmland in this part of the province of Smalsare.
And while up ahead, in the frontlines of the aerial battle. Where the senior admiral of the fleet, sir Yammick. Is absolutely furious that the word has come through by spell. That fleet admiral Halmack who is in charge of the rear wing of the fleet. Has ordered his wing to break off from the battle, and fly south.
And has suggested that the three other wings in the fleet that's under the overall command of the senior admiral to break off too.
And as one of the spellcasters onboard senior admiral Yammick's flagship, quickly informs him that another fleet, a fleet from the Salmain faction is rapidly approaching from the north. And will be amongst the two warring factions in no time at all.
The dragon Sunbeam smashes down upon the crimson coloured dragon from the Golmard faction that he and his rider Daeliss Komav have targeted. As it will be in the path of their fleet that's now retreating to the south.
Sunbeam doesn't take the enemy dragon by surprise. It's a little hard to when you drop down out of the sky from nearly twenty thousand feet up, at a speed of well over six hundred knots. So fast that there's a loud boom from his passing, which causes a disturbance in the air, around and behind him.
The crimson coloured dragon from the Golmard faction. Which is similar in size to Sunbeam. But has slight, spike like protrusions sticking out of it's armoured plates down it's back and along it's flanks.
And had two, what can only be described as horns, protruding forward from the top of it's head.
Unlike the large, burnt orange coloured dragon from the Balford faction.
Whose natural armoured plates are relatively smooth, though they're clearly more defined than most other dragons, they're almost perfectly square in shape as they run down his back, and along his flanks.
Though Sunbeam does have a plate that sticks up about five feet, that runs across the entire crown of his skull, semi circular in appearance. That's akin to something like a crown of royalty upon a person's head.
The Golmard dragon was ready for the attack from above, and had turned in midair, claws extended to face the divebomb attack.
Both dragons, unlike most in a battle when various factions in the kingdom of Terrindim are at war with one another. Do have physical wards up around themselves and their riders.
And those are about the only spells the two dragons will cast. Because this is fight between claws and fangs, and brute strength and skill.
Almost primordial, as they physically fight one another. For there's only two outcomes in a fight where warring dragons go into physical combat.
One is that they will break off, most likely injured too. And the other is death, with one killing the other.
Which surprisingly doesn't happen all that often in a physical fight between two warring dragons.
But in the way that Sunbeam came diving down out of the morning sky here over the farmland in the central districts of the province of Smalsare.
And the way in which the crimson coloured dragon from the Golmard faction retaliates. It's clearly obvious that there's going to be just one outcome in this fight. One dragon is going to die. And most likely it's rider will be killed too.
All four sets of claws on both dragons interlock as they grab onto one another as they drop down out of the sky together.
They spin round and round, so fast that it's hard to see them with the naked eye.
The only reason their riders aren't flung to their deaths. Is because of the wards up around the large dragons. Which keep their riders, who are strapped into their saddles. On the back of the large, naturally magical creatures.
Though for all that, Daeliss Komav the dragon rider as she goes spinning around and around in the air at the base of the neck of Sunbeam.
Feels herself blacking out due to the force her body is being put under.
Until the two dragons, who are trying to snap at one another. Are flung apart, and go spinning away from one another as their massive claws lose grip.
They come to an instant, almost unnatural looking stop, just a couple thousand feet apart,
And both dragons, snap their wings flat against their flanks, and shoot forward towards one another.
In those brief moments before the burnt orange coloured dragon, and the crimson coloured dragon smash into one another again, this time, head on.
The rider Daeliss realises that the way the enemy Golmard dragon is moving with it's rider, who like her is warded by barrier and protection spells.
That they must be from a family of wild dragon egg hunters, just like she and Sunbeam are.
As only those dragons and their riders can act, and move so decisively in battle, as they work as one.
Even now, Sunbeam is communicating into the mind of Daeliss, telling her what he's doing.
And she likewise offers suggestions in mere moments.
The commonborn dragon rider from the western province of Halvarc knows that she and Sunbeam are in the fight of their lives. As they take on an enemy dragon and rider, who are probably just as good as they are. As one large dragon tries to kill the other, as the war between their factions, here in the province of Smalsare continues on this cool autumn morning.
The battlecruiser the Dragon Flame has pushed forward amongst those in their wing who are at the front of the retreat south.
Captain Jarmic Komav knows that his warship and some of the others will have to lead the way.
As admiral Halmack has positioned his flagship the Dragon's Revenge, along with another battlecruiser in their wing, at the very rear of those fleeing south.
The captain of the Dragon Flame winces as he sees Sunbeam and the enemy dragon smash into one another again, a few thousand yards away to starboard, and further south.
The two large dragons are clinched together, trying to claw and bite one another. Unsuccessful so far, as their physical wards are still protecting them.
Though captain Komav knows that even physical wards cast by dragons are depleted the more times they're struck, with the weight behind the strike also having an effect upon them.
That's why the burnt orange coloured dragon from the Balford faction, and the crimson coloured one from the Golmard faction. Are hitting one another so often, and with such force. They're trying to deplete one another's wards, so that they can inflict actual damage upon one another.
The warship captain who out of the corner of his eye, spotted the prince's command ship, trying to put on as much sail, as they too flee southwards after the order came from fleet admiral Halmack to do so.
Hopes to the gods Glaine, Galavin and Torros, and to all the other gods if he's honest. That his younger cousin Daeliss Komav stays safe in the saddle upon the back of Sunbeam.
As one of the dragons, captain Komav isn't too sure which. Spews fire, which pretty much engulfs the two of them.
So much so, that those watching the two dragons that have engaged in physical combat. Can just see their tails, or a portion of flank, or a wing once in a while. As they're so thoroughly covered in dragon fire. 
After a moment's contemplation, captain Jarmic Komav calls out "Prepare the barrels!".
Next to the warship captain, the sorcerer Sarvon looks at him, and lifts a questioning looking eyebrow.
"Just incase they get close" explains the captain of the Dragon Flame with a nod of his head towards the two dragons locked in deadly combat.
"Well, that other one really, not Beam" adds captain Jarmic Komav as the two dragons part again, this time through fire and smoke in their patch of the sky.
At the rear of the wing who have turned south, onboard the flagship the Dragon's Revenge. Able airman Orvick looks aft, and clearly sees the Salmain faction's fleet, and three of their dragons to the north.
They're heading straight towards the battle between the Balford and Golmard factions.
The young aide to admiral Halmack, who is saying "Hopefully that Salmain bunch will give pause to the enemy too, as they figure out what they're up to".
"Hopefully" says lord Ganulf the lord of Highsun, the advisor to the prince continues with "Though I'm guessing only briefly" followed in a dry tone with "It's no secret my former faction want me dead".
The fleet admiral grunts, then nods to that, then he quietly says "Wonder if their dragons know you're here?".
"Could do is the quiet reply from the lord of the city of Highsun that Orvick just catches, followed by "We'll know soon enough".
Admiral Halmack nods again, then he looks forward as the lookouts up top, yell down that the dragon Sunbeam is fighting the enemy dragon to the south.
The fleet admiral calls out the order of "Prepare the barrels!".
Both lord Ganulf and the wizard Morsen look at the nobleborn admiral, who tells them "Just incase they get close" followed by "It could help Sunbeam".
Behind the three standing behind the helmsman at the wheel. Able airman Orvick gulps, for if what the admiral wants, that means the dragons, in particular the enemy dragon has to be fairly close to the Dragon's Revenge. At least a few hundred feet at the most.
Throughout the aerial battle between the Balford and Golmard factions here in the province of Smalsare. The new arrivals have well and truly been spotted.
And though the commander of the Golmard faction is pretty sure they're not here to attack his fleet and army. He knows the Salmain faction are an opportunistic bunch to say the least. A relatively small faction just fifty years ago. Which is now dominated by basically one nobleborn family. Who are now one of the most influential and important of those considered the minor factions.
Infact they're probably the most important of the second tier of factions in the kingdom.
And it's with actions like this one this morning, which will increase their influence within the kingdom of Terrindim.
The commander of the Golmard faction here in the province of Smalsare, ever one for the political movements of the various factions, knows this.
And even though he's in the middle of the battle here against the Balford faction. He'll do something to curb what the Salmain faction intends to do here this morning.
He tells one of the spellcasters here onboard his flagship to inform all dragon riders, what they should try and do if they get the chance.
The dragon Deepsun is out of the question. For though he's probably the dragon closest to who the commander wants eliminated.
The crimson coloured dragon, the largest and most skillful of the dragons here with the Golmard faction in the province of Smalsare. Is locked in a battle to the death with an enemy dragon, just as large. And from the looks of what's happening away in the sky to the south, is just as skillful as Deepsun.
The sorcerer near the commander on the stern deck of the flagship of the Golmard faction informs him that one of the other dragons will try and do it.
The commander of the Golmard faction faintly smiles, for if that's successful. Then he'll not just curb the influence of the Salmain faction. He'll not just get rid of basically the most important noble in the Balford faction with the exception of the prince.
But he'd also eliminate the best admiral by far in the entire Balford faction. Which frankly is just as important during a time of war between factions. In this case, the two biggest factions in the entire kingdom of Terrindim. Who are fighting over the right to have a family of dragon egg hunters, and their newly found wild dragon egg join one of the faction's or the other.
Sunbeam the dragon instantly spins in midair, compacting and coiling, before he springs forward as he and the enemy dragon spew fire at one another again, as once more they fly basically head first at each other.
There's a loud thud as they slam into one another, and they claw at one another, as their hind claws clamp onto one another. And though their grip is powerful. It's not entirely steadfast due to the wards they've got up around themselves, and their riders.
Though both of the large dragons, Sunbeam of the Balford faction, and Deepsun of the Golmard faction. Can feel one another's wards rapidly depleting. Getting weaker and weaker as each blow they inflict upon one another, does more and more damage to their wards.
The two large dragons go tumbling sideways in a clinch. Though thankfully for their riders, no where as fast and as chaotic as the spin they were in, when they first struck one another.
As Sunbeam tumbles sideways through the air. Daeliss Komav who sees the ground one moment, then the sky further up the next, and so on and so forth as they tumble.
Catches out of the periphery of her vision. Some of the airships in the wing of the Balford fleet that they serve in.
The rider Daeliss is pretty certain she sees her cousin Jarmic's battlecruiser the Dragon Flame, towards the front of the ships fleeing south.
And as Sunbeam slams his head down at the enemy dragon hoping to shatter it's wards, then it's snout.
And he flings his right front leg forward, like a person would a punch. As the large dragon in the Golmard faction rakes at his underside with it's two front claws hoping to destroy Sunbeam's wards.
He hears in his mind something that his rider Daeliss suggests. And though it might be a little tricky to accomplish. It will be extremely dangerous, not just to the two of them, but also to an entire airship in their fleet.
Onboard the Dragon Flame as he watches Sunbeam in a clench with the enemy dragon. Tumbling sideways through the air, more or less in this direction as they claw, bite and whack one another, trying to destroy their opponent's wards.
Captain Jarmic Komav suddenly hears the voice of Sunbeam the dragon in his head, who quickly tells him something.
"Full turn to starboard!" shouts the captain of the Dragon Flame.
The sorcerer Sarvon looks sharply at his captain, as that order takes them straight towards the two dragons who are locked in lethal combat.
"Starboard side and bow ready to launch!" adds captain Jarmic Komav.
The captain of the battlecruiser then quietly says to the sorcerer next to him "See if you can get some of them to hit the target cleanly".
The sorcerer Sarvon winces then mutters "Oh shit" as he realises what the captain of the Dragon Flame intends to do.
His confidence isn't helped at all, when Jarmic Komav nervously chuckles, then quietly tells him "If this doesn't work, then we're fucked" followed by "Because it's going to be pissed off with us for sure".
The sorcerer Sarvon, not a religious man at all, starts to silently pray to the three gods predominantly worshiped to within the Balford faction. Praying and hoping that what they're about to do, isn't going to get them all killed . . . . . .

The Journey 13.

Autumn. Central Terrindim.

Onboard the battlecruiser the Dragon Flame. Captain Jarmic Komav looks ahead and watches the battle play out.
Their wing led by fleet admiral Halmack haven't engaged with the enemy yet. Apart from some of their smaller picket ships who were at the front of the Balford fleet.
Though that all changes when an enemy dragon suddenly appears amongst the wing that's to the rear, just infront of the supply and support vessels.
The only thing that stops the dragon from dishing out mass destruction amongst the rear most of the Balford wings.
Is that admiral Halmack ordered them to fly at different altitudes, and not in rows of two. Like the rest of the fighting ships in the Balford fleet did as they flew towards the enemy.
Captain Jarmic Komav grimaces as he sees a frigate further ahead in their fleet, and a good thousand feet lower down in the sky than he's flying the Dragon Flame.
Shatter apart from a spell cast by the dragon, while the war galley closest to the frigate that's breaking apart, goes up in flames as the enemy dragon spews fire at it.
Spells cast by practitioners of magic on other warships in the wing, bounce harmlessly off the bright red coloured dragon from the Golmard faction.
As it swipes one of it's front claws, ripping off the top of a mast of another of the frigates in the wing commanded by admiral Halmack.
Then the enemy dragon goes turns in midair and dive down at one of the battlecruisers flying lower down in the formation infront of the Balford support and supply ships.
As it does, a spellcaster onboard a war galley, infact two of them on that particular airship, cast a spell in unison.
A fair chunk of the frigate that's broken apart and falling out of the sky. Suddenly goes down and sideways a hell of a lot quicker than the rest of the warship that's been destroyed.
The broken part of the frigate, it's the bow section and a further thirty feet or so of the starboard side hull, slams sideways into the enemy dragon that's diving down at one of the battlecruisers in the wing, lower down in the formation.
Jarmic Komav clenches a fist in satisfaction as the Golmard dragon lets out a scream of both pain and anger after it's hit in the right side and wing.
The captain of the Dragon Flame has been told a number of times by his cousin Daeliss Komav the dragon rider, and the dragon Sunbeam.
That quite a few dragons in battle, don't bother to put up any physical wards to protect themselves from physical attacks.
As pretty much most physical attacks of any kind are useless against a dragon.
So he's not entirely surprised the bright red dragon from the Golmard faction, pulls out of it's dive, and turns away from it's attack on the wing led by admiral Halmack.
The wings of any dragon are it's most vulnerable spot apart from their eyes. And it's clear to see that the Golmard dragon's right wing isn't working properly as it flaps away.
The next moment the bright red enemy dragon vanishes as it teleports away.
"That got rid of that one" says Sarvon the sorcerer as he stands next to the captain of the Dragon Flame.
Nodding in agreement, captain Jarmic Komav says "Hopefully no more of them bother us back here, before we get to engage with some of the enemy ships".
The sorcerer nods to that, and quietly says "Hopefully" as he looks around at the surrounding sky, watching the early morning battle unfold.
"I spoke too soon" sourly says the warship captain who is from the western province of Halvarc.
Captain Jarmic Komav points away to port, as in the distance, there's an enemy dragon, crimson in colour. Circling around the airborne battle, occasionly biffing spells, at either the Balford fleet, or down at the Balford army on the ground.
It's flying in a wide arc, more than half a mile from the nearest airship, as it circles around the aerial battle, where it's path will see it end up near the rear of the Balford fleet.
Most likely amongst the supply and support ships. Which the Dragon Flame and number of other warships in the wing led by admiral Halmack. Have been tasked to protect.
Captain Jarmic looks quickly around and up to see if his cousin Daeliss and the dragon Sunbeam have returned.
They haven't, so he starts issuing orders to his crew, as he does, he glances at Sarvon the sorcerer, who is one of his senior officers onboard.
He sees the spellcaster, who is around the same age as he is, has a slight frown upon his face, as he looks away to starboard.
Since the Dragon Flame is quite high up in that sky compared to the rest of their fleet, as well as most of their wing.
They've got an unobtrusive view of pretty much everything in the morning sky, on this cool, crisp autumn day in the province of Smalsare in central Terrindim.
Captain Komav who has just called for the tightening of the sheets on the stay sails of the rear mast, and told the helmsman to turn one point to starboard.
Looks away to the north as Sarvon is doing, and quietly asks the sorcerer "What is it?".
The battlecruiser captain then slightly frowns as he thinks he sees something in the sky away to the north in this district of the province.
Next to him, the sorcerer Sarvon casts a spell, after he does, he hisses out a breath, then says "Fuck".
"What is it?" asks admiral Halmack onboard his flagship the Dragon's Revenge.
"Sarvon on the Dragon Flame says there's something to the north" is the reply from the wizard Morsen, one of six spellcasters onboard the admiral's flagship.
Standing not far from the fleet admiral, able airman Orvick who has been looking away to port. Where in the distance to the south, there's an enemy dragon, crimson in colour that he's been watching. That's circling the battle, and is on a course for the rear of the Balford fleet.
Looks away to starboard, and the north. As he stands with two more of the admiral's aides, here on the stern of the Dragon's Revenge.
Also standing here on the stern deck, is lord Ganulf, the lord of Highsun, who is the advisor to the prince.
The nobleman from the city of Highsun who is leaning back against the aft rail, stands upright, and looks starboard, away to the north too, frowning as he does so.
Then the advisor to the prince looks sharply at the wizard Morsen, who he hears mutter an oath, before he tells admiral Halmack "Sir there's another fleet to the north".
There's a pause, before the fleet admiral asks "Whose?" followed by "Their's?".
After glancing at lord Ganulf, the wizard Morsen says "No sir, it's from the Salmain faction".
The colour drains from the face of the tall nobleman who is the advisor to the prince as the wizard continues with "At least forty five fighting ships, and nearly twenty support vessels" the spellcaster, an older man in his early fifties who came up in the ranks with admiral Halmack then adds "And three of their dragons".
Lord Ganulf moves forward and joins the fleet admiral and the wizard just behind the wheel and helmsman.
Orvick, and the two other aides to the admiral with him glance at one another, then they quickly step forward too, so that they can hear what's being said by the three standing just behind the helmsman.
"If that idiot Yammick continues with this battle, then he'll doom us for sure, and most likely our war too" says lord Ganulf in an angry tone of voice.
Then as he gestures away to the north, the lord of Highsun dryly adds "For some reason i don't think they're flying to our aid".
Both the fleet admiral and the wizard nod in agreement with the nobleman who is the prince's advisor.
"They'll either wait until we're on the cusp of victory or defeat, then attack us" states the lord of the city of Highsun, who continues with "Or join in straight away and help the Golmard's" he then adds "Though i don't think my family's faction will actually do that".
"I agree" says admiral Halmack, who pauses as there's the sound of a large explosion that echoes across the sky, from out in the front where the two fleets are mixed up with one another.
"They'll definitely do the former" continues the fleet admiral who is in command of the rear wing of the Balford fleet "Because it's what i would do" adds the nobleborn admiral.
After a moment as he quickly contemplates something, admiral Halmack looks at the lord of Highsun, who is a rather accomplished airship captain in his own right, and says to him "What do you suggest?".
"You're a hell of a lot better at flying a warship, and in tactics when it comes to fleet battles than me Halmack" says lord Ganulf, who continues with "At lets face it, if you came from a more important family, you'd be the one in overall command of this entire fleet instead of that idiot Yammick".
From the bitter tone in his voice, the lord of Highsun makes it fairly obvious what he thinks about the prince's relation, senior admiral Yammick.
"So tactically I'll defer to you" says the lord of the city of Highsun, who follows that with "But whatever we do, and whatever the outcome, I'll take full responsibility for it" he then adds "You have my word on that, whatever that's worth".
The fleet admiral shoots a glance at the wizard who he's known for nearly thirty years. The wizard Morsen slightly nods his head yes.
"Very well then" says admiral Yammick, who after a pause asks the advisor to the prince "Your suggestions?".
Able airman Orvick refrains from gulping as he listens to lord Ganulf, who is basically talking treason as he suggests what they should do. Which might see them survive to fight another day against the Golmard faction.
Because if not, they, and the rest of the Balford fleet and army here in the province of Smalsare, could very well be wiped out in this morning's battle.
Daeliss Komav the dragon rider keeps low in the saddle as Sunbeam the dragon spews fire, torching an enemy cutter from stern to bow.
The large, burnt orange dragon in the Balford faction is flying through the thick of the Golmard fleet.
Now chased by just one of the enemy dragons. As the other one that was pursuing it, realised that all Daeliss and Sunbeam were doing, was keeping it out of the battle. Stopping them from destroying and damaging airships in the Balford fleet.
The rider Daeliss feels and hears a spell of some kind explode behind her. She grins as she realises that the dragon chasing them, would only do something like that if it was frustrated.
Because casting spells directly at a dragon is absolutely futile, considering they're immune to magic.
After Sunbeam whips his tail to one side, snapping a mast of an enemy war galley in two.
Daeliss Komav looks quickly away to her right, to the south after her dragon says into her mind to look that way.
The lean, blonde haired teenager from the western province looks further east too, back towards the direction of their own fleet.
And when Sunbeam sprays fire at another enemy warship, and hurls an energyball of some kind at one of their battlecruisers. Daeliss spots what her dragon has already spotted.
It's one of the Golmard dragons, crimson in colour. Way south of the battle, more than half a mile away by the looks of it and getting further away. As it circles around to the rear of the aerial battle, to get to the rear of the Balford fleet.
"Lets get it" says Daeliss Komav the dragon rider.
Her dragon Sunbeam wholeheartedly agrees, though he does say "Have to get rid of this other one first". Referring to the enemy dragon chasing after them as they fly through the Golmard fleet.
Both Sunbeam and Daeliss who are glad that the enemy fleet for the most part, are flying level and pretty much in even rows. Making them easy targets for a dragon on the rampage.
Look back at the enemy dragon, though Sunbeam doesn't actually turn his head to do so, as he doesn't have to.
And see that the dark red dragon, a female one, has a look of pure anger upon her maw as she tries to catch up to the larger, burnt orange coloured dragon from the Balford faction.
Daeliss catches sight of the enemy rider too. A man at least twice her own age. Who looks just as angry as his dragon.
The commonborn dragon rider from the western province of Halvarc flashes a tight grin, as Sunbeam explains straight into her mind, what he's about to do.
"Do it Beam!" calls out the rider Daeliss as they get closer to the frontline, where warships from the two factions are all mixed up with one another. As their spellcasters trying to bring down opposing warships.
The large burnt orange coloured dragon that's been in the Komav family since the egg.
Lifts up, then drops down, and swoops over an enemy frigate. And with his front claws, Sunbeam grabs the mast of the warship, and rips it out.
And as the crew of the enemy frigate scream in horror at what's just happened, and as their airship starts to drop and tilt to one side.
And as the pursuing Golmard dragon lets out a roar of anger and what it's just seen.
Sunbeam the dragon with the mast still in his claws, along with the sails and lines still attached to it. Disappears in midair as he teleports away.
Daeliss Komav and her dragon Sunbeam reappear nearly two thousand feet above the aerial battle between the Balford and Golmard fleets here in the province of Smalsare.
When he does reappear, Sunbeam twists in midair, and throws as hard as he can the mast, and everything still attached to it. Back down behind him as he climbs higher into the sky.
The enemy dragon pursuing them suddenly appears in the air just a few hundred feet behind and below the Balford faction dragon.
The dark red female dragon lets out what can only be described as a rather undignified sounding squawk just before the mast hits her in the snout.
The enemy dragon lets out a howl of pain and anger. As she like a lot of dragons in combat, she doesn't bother to put up physical wards. They really only do so, when they go tooth and claw at another dragon.
The Golmard dragon quickly turns aside, then lets out a yelp of fright, as it's rider is knocked out of the saddle by a broken spar on the mast, which rolled down it's head, then back after it hit her in the snout.
The enemy dragon tucks and dives, to retrieve it's rider, who is alive but unconscious as he falls out of the sky.
By then, Sunbeam and his rider have already disappeared, as they've teleported to somewhere else in the sky, here in the central districts of the province of Smalsare.
Daeliss and her dragon are now even higher in the sky, far above anyone else, so much so that Sunbeam has to cast a spell so that his rider doesn't feel the cold and that she can breathe properly.
Even from this height of nearly twenty thousand feet. The commonborn dragon rider from the west of the kingdom. Spots the crimson coloured dragon they've targeted as it circles in a wide arc around the battle.
The rider Daeliss is just about to tell Sunbeam to dive at the enemy dragon they're going to go after, when he suddenly goes completely still.
His wings don't flap, and his tail is stiff, though his head jerks to one side, and down, and a rumbling growl comes from the large, burnt orange coloured dragon that's been in the Komav family since the egg.
"What is it?" asks Daeliss who immediately knows something is seriously wrong, as her dragon only acts like this when there's a clear threat about.
Sunbeam quickly tells his rider that there's another fleet quickly approaching from the north.
The dragon rider quickly looks that way, and from the advantage of being close to twenty thousand feet above the ground, she easily spots the fleet in question.
"Hell" mutters the attractive nineteen year old dragon rider from the province of Halmack in the west of the kingdom.
Her eyes go wide in surprise when Sunbeam tells her that it's from the Salmain faction.
Then she's even more surprised when her dragon tells her what fleet admiral Halmack has ordered their wing to do.
And though Daeliss along with Sunbeam can do whatever they please in battle.
They do tend to look after the fleet, in this case this morning, the wing they're part of.
Daeliss can immediately see the reasoning for admiral Halmack's orders.
And she looks straight down, and already sees some of their wing, turning to port, and heading south.
Some of the following supply and support ships are doing that too. But most importantly, she sees the prince's command ship which is at the rear of their wing, is heading in that direction too.
"We have to make sure they've got a clear path south" says Daeliss Komav, who figures the oncoming Salmain fleet from the north will attack the Balford fleet when they're completely engaged with the Golmard fleet. Which will be totally disastrous for her faction.
"That means we've got to deal to that one as we intended" says the commonborn dragon rider pointing at the crimson coloured dragon from the Golmard faction. Which has turned sharply, as some of the Balford fleet is now heading south towards it.
"I know" says Sunbeam, who almost jumps up from a crouch in midair, and tucks forward and goes into a dive, when Daeliss Komav shouts "Do it!".
With his wings now tucked in close to his sides, and his rider holding on to the saddle for dear life as they drop from nearly twenty thousand feet above the ground.
Sunbeam the dragon hits terminal velocity as he shoots down out of the sky, the large, burnt orange coloured dragon goes even faster, and faster, picking up in speed as he and his rider divebomb their intended target . . . . . .