Chapter 4

“General!”

The General of the Wolf-Warriors sat on the back of a large wolf. It was grey mixed with small patches of white. It was extremely muscular and it moved with a graceful ease. Its eyes were a piercing blue. As its gaze passed where I was hidden, I could swear that it saw me.

“Halt soldier! What is it you wish to speak to my master?”

“I must speak with my Lord Athario. It is of the utmost importance!”

“What is it?” the General asked.

“The town has been taken my General,” the man bowed. “It now belongs to his highness King Mammon. May his reign last forever.”

“Excellent! Tell me was there any resistance?”

“Yes my General, there was some. The cities cavalry opposed us but the Dragon Tamers and the Phoenix Riders annihilated them. There is no more opposition my General.”

“What is the state of the city?”

“It is only smoke damaged my General. They were very careful not to damage the city too much. Only the outskirts need repair.”

“Are you sure she is there? Your so called informants have been wrong before,” the General said darkly. “For your sake this had better not be a wild goose chase.”

“It isn’t my General,” he gave an evil grin. “Her family is caged in the centre of the city. No doubt she will try and rescue them, and when she does, we will be ready for her. Everything is in place my General. I would bet my life on it.”

“Good,” the General smiled. “You just did. I will claim the honor of bringing the key to King Mammon. I will bring him the vision. Like he promised, he will share his power with me. I will be invincible.”

A Dragon Tamer landed behind the pair. I can remember the dragon very well. My terror at seeing it has imprinted it into my mind. It wouldn’t have been so bad if it was a normal Tamers dragon but it was the Captains. This particular dragon was known for its ferocity and ruthlessness. It attacked everything that it saw, even other dragons. Only the Captain could control it.

Before I describe the dragon, there is something that I should explain. There are five units to the empire of King Mammon. As I mentioned earlier, these are the Dragon Tamers, Wolf-Warriors, Chimera Chargers, Phoenix Riders and the Tiger Assassins. When humans join these animals, they get certain powers. I am explaining this now as it is vital you understand it for the next part of the story.

The country of Hanu is where the Dragon Tamers originated. When with their dragons, they master the element of lightning. The Phoenix Riders are from Canta and can fly at the speed of light and control fire. The Wolf-Warriors are from Sharlon and become almost invincible warriors. The humans can merge with the wolves and their essences join. The Chimera Charges are from Krane and they have the ability to spit poison. Both the humans and the chimeras have this ability. Last of all are the Tiger Assassins. They are from Torna. They have the ability to make themselves part of the shadows.

The dragon was enormous. It was as big as a mountain. Its scales seemed to change color in the ever changing sunlight. Its fangs protruded from its top lip and were extremely sharp. Smoke curled up from its nostrils. Its wings were spread to their full extent and were causing trees to uproot. Its talons were long and black and they dug into the soil beneath. Its long tail was thrashing about impatiently.

I was cowering behind a tree when I heard a commotion coming from down the trail. Some Wolf-Warriors were dragging a female down towards the Dragon Tamer and the General. I was so afraid for that girl. I wouldn’t have traded places with her for anything. I would have loved to have gotten her out of there. She was too young; she should never have had to experience that much fear. She looked to be only about five years old.

She was thrown in front of the General and the landed face first in the mud. Tears were streaming down her face and her little body was trembling. She was so young. She tried to run but she was just thrown back on the ground again.

“What do you want? I haven’t hurt you! Why did you attack mummy and daddy?”

Silence bitch! I ask the questions! Understood?” The General backhanded her and she fell to the floor in a heap. A huge red mark spread across her cheek.

“Please just leave me alone.”

“We’re looking for a girl with a necklace of a phoenix. We have been informed that she has been seen in the city, in the area you lived. Tell me, where is she?”

“I-I don’t k-know w-who you m-mean!”

“Oh I think that you do,” the General whispered dangerously. “Tell me and I’ll let you live. Don’t tell me and you shall die. If you choose to tell me then you shall be shown some mercy. You would become a slave of the great Emperor.”

“I don’t know who you are looking for!” she cried.

“Are you sure that you don’t want to tell me before I sentence you?” The girl sat there shaking. “Very well. You are to be executed by fire, lightning and sword.”

A cry erupted from the girl. She shakily got to her feet and again tried to run. Unfortunately for her, the Wolf-Warriors blocked her path. The Phoenix Rider stepped forward and the little girl collapsed in fear.

“Burn her piece by piece,” the General yawned.

“No! Please no!”

“You had your chance to tell us. You say that you don’t know anything and we can’t let you live to tell of what you have seen. It’s just convenient that you die! Burn her piece by piece, but for her lack of respect, don’t kill her yet,” he said turning to the Phoenix Rider.

A thin, long jet of fire spurted from the mouth of the phoenix. It caught the girl on her lower leg. The smell of charred flesh spread throughout the clearing. It made me want to gag. I was paralyzed in fear as the girl’s skirt caught fire and she quickly tried to put it out.

The General signaled to one of the other Wolf-Warriors. He came forth with a bucket of water and threw it over her. It put the fire out but the girl was still screaming in agony.

The phoenix burnt all her other leg and she collapsed to the floor screaming for her mother. There was a hissing and crackling as the water on her skin boiled. Large clumps of skin were falling off her legs and blood oozed down them. You could plainly see the skin on the ground. The wolves leapt forward and eagerly started eating the flesh on the floor and lapping up the blood.

The General called off the phoenix and motioned for the Dragon Tamer to come forward. The Tamer on top of the dragon held out his arm, his palm facing the girl. A bolt of lightning shot towards the girl. It struck her in the chest. She was thrown across the clearing by the impact. There was now a large black mark where it had hit her.

The Dragon Tamer dismounted with ease and walked to her.

“That was low voltage,” he hissed, “You ready for some more?”

All he had for an answer was a whimper of pain. The girl was curled up on the ground in a tight ball. He extended his arm and another bolt of lightning erupted from his palm. A high pitched scream erupted from the girl. Her hair was standing on end.

“Enough,” the General said.

The General walked to the little girl and stood in front of her. A distinctive metallic ring sounded throughout the clearing as he drew his sword.

“Are you ready to die?”

He plunged his sword deep into her heart. The girl’s eyes widened as the spark of life left them. Blood spurted from the wound as he withdrew his sword. The blood sprayed all over him. Blood came from her mouth and ran down her face. She lay on the floor dead.