Dogs of War. 12

It was dark in Igoro's throne room, there was only two torches lit as he sat and stared down at the severed hand that lay at the foot of his throne. It once belonged to Lady Shauri Baba, his son's mate. She was dead now. Igoro had ordered her beaten, sliced and staked out in the jungle to be eaten by predators. Her hand was the only thing left to remind him of their treachery. For years Goren and Shauri had opposed Igoro and his rule. They spoke out against his slave market and fought him every time he sent out his troops to invade one of their neighbors. Goren, Shauri and that damned Beno had been a thorn in his side ever since the day Anon had lost his life and his place as the Hominid chief. Igoro stood up and stepped down and kicked the hand across the room.

"Damned fools." He shouted. "Why can't he see what it is that I am trying to accomplish here. I could make us gods, stronger that the Pantheran’s or any of our enemies. In time, even Mulu will come to bow to me if they would just leave me alone and let me finish my plans!"

Frustrated, Igoro paced back and forth before his throne. The Tigaren had escaped along with the Avian and Goren. But Igoro knew there could only be a few places they might run too. They would either head deeper into the jungle or try to get back to Tigaress, or they would head back to the mountain the Avian had called home. Palas would try and organize what was left of his people. Igoro smiled as he thought back to his last visit to Starspeak.

He had come in the night all alone. He didn't trust any of his warriors with what he had planned for the nights work. He made his way quietly through the forest pass the Aerie's young Nightingale watchers. It was easy since they were all so busy fight over who would sing the lead in their night song. After passing the Nightingales, Igoro stopped and whispered a quick cloaking spell to hide himself from the circle of Red necked Nightjars that sat silently keeping a shape eye out for any intruders. His last obstacle and most deadly of all were the Crown eagles that sat high and majestic as the lords of the Aerie. They were the real threat Igoro knew he had to face if he was to take the Avians as his next batch of slaves. Though the Felines made strong warriors, they would be to proud and almost impossible turn to his side. Avians on the other hand were simple minded folk and easy to manipulate. A force of the Eagles or Hawks could be a great asset to him. A simple compulsion spell would be all he needed to turn their weakness into one of his great strengths.

As he slowly made his way in through the jungle, he chanted his cloaking spell continuously. Above his head, the Eagles watched but never moved a muscle. Igoro crept in carefully watching every step closer and closer. As he entered into the Aerie, Igoro looked up at the great trees of Starspeak. There were Pines and Maples, Dragon trees and Cotton trees. There were fruit trees with monkey oranges, waterberries and wild plums all placed separately so each can get the enough sunlight. Beyond the trees, he saw the true home of the Avians. A tall cliff riddle with the caves that housed the different avian species of the Aerie. The cliff was split in three parts. The lower part housed the smaller birds. Wrens, Swallows, Hummingbirds and the Sea birds. The middle section held the better hunters. Falcons, Hawks, Owls, Harriers and Kites. The highest part housed the lords of the Aerie. The Eagles, Vultures and Buzzards. Moving quietly, Igoro slipped in through the trees very carefully. He knew that any sound he made would alert the Avians to his presence and bring their feathery wrath down upon him. From the lower nest he lifted himself up to rise until he stood just below the nesting areas of a trio of Eagles. Cautiously he stopped as one of the Eagles eyes opened and he scanned the surrounding trees. The Eagle frowned as if something strange annoyed him. Something didn't smell right. He took a few steps and looked out to find the scent that had woke him. He gazed down on the quiet valley with his sharp vision. He watched as two Sea birds fed their young while over to the left, a pair of Toucans squabbled over whose turn it was to go on the hunt. All seemed quiet and normal. There was no threat to the Aerie. Then why did he feel so nervous and what was that scent that had caught his attention?

It was a strange scent, unlike anything he had ever smelled before in the Aerie. But something about it was familiar. The smell was wild, like something from a distant memory. The Eagle shook his head trying to rid himself of the scent, but it was impossible. With every step he took, it grew strong and stronger. It was almost overwhelming. Flapping his wings, he launched himself from his Aerie to sail out into the skies. Unfortunately for him, that was the second Igoro struck.

Raising his staff, Igoro sent a blast of power out at the airborne flyer taking it without any warning. It fell like a stone plummeting down to crash into the mountain side. At the sound of the Eagle's cry, the Aerie burst into activity. The predators all took off flying out ready for battle. Like clay pigeons he blasted them out of the sky one by one. As Igoro fought, a pair of Condors streaked down with their talons extended for the attack. Igoro saw them coming up from behind, but he was to busy with a line of Vultures that were coming at him from the front. With shrieking scream, the Vultures dive down at Igoro. Their eyes a blaze with fury. Quickly Igoro sent a rapid fire pulse wave of force at them then turned and swept out with a blast of heat burning the Condors out of the sky. All around him the forest burned. He could hear the screams of the Avian young as they leaped from their nests into the blazing inferno and death. A trio of Doves flew out in front of Igoro and begged him to stop. They ask why. What had they done to deserve such a fate?

Reaching out with a telekinetic hand, Igoro grabbed them out of the air and held them suspended before. He looked into their innocent eyes before he spoke.

"I am a predator and you and your people are my prey." He said. "If I am to become the War lord of all of Aspana, many will have to die. The Lycaon have paid their price, now it is your turn. This Aerie has many brave warriors. I can't afford to allow your people to seek revenge somewhere in the distant future. You all must die to make my future safe."

"But we are no threat to you." The center Dove cried. "All we need is a place live in peace.

"Aspana will never have peace!" Igoro screamed at them. "Not as long as I rule these lands!!

With that said, Igoro whispered a spell, and the first dove began to scream. First one wing twisted and snapped. Then the Dove's body began to crush until he was nothing but a mass of bloody feathers. As the other two scrambled to get away, Igoro reached out and grabbed them in one of his mystic force bubbles. As they beat on the impervious sides, the bubble began to shrink crashing them in a slow agonizing death.

Looking around at the burning forest, Igoro was pleased with what he had done. There wasn't a single Avian left there alive. There would be no vengeful Avians coming for revenge. The only ones left alive were in his slave pens and he would make sure they would never fly again. Laughing like a mad Hyenan, Igoro said a transport spell and was gone in a flash.

Deep in the foliage on the forest floor, an elder Eagle peeked out from his place of hiding. There were tears in his eyes as he stepped out and gazed up at what was left of Starspeak. Every nest was in flames. The only life left here was in the six eggs he had hidden away. He had watched as the Gorilla killed everyone in the Aerie then put it to the flames. He wanted to help the Doves, but he knew it would have been useless. The Gorilla would have killed him and then there would have been no one left to protect the young ones. Now his task was to gather the eggs and move them to a place of safety. There was an old forbidden temple to Alea, the mistress of the night hidden deep in the forest that would be perfect to hide in. There, he knew the old magic scrolls had been hidden. He would take the eggs there and teach them of magic when they hatched. Someday they would come back and seek out the Gorillas, and they will have their revenge. This he swore to the mighty god Tyree, the father of everything wild.

It was quiet in the forest of Domina, all the trees were still and there was no sounds of the hunter or the prey. It was like some great god had come down and ordered the forest to be still. The hair on the back of proud Dar'yl's neck stood straight up, it was a warning. A warning of danger. With his sword drawn, Dar'yl kept watching on their surroundings. He knew that at any second, Gorillas or Hyenan warriors could come charging out at them. In the front Sakura kept a watch on the trail for any sign of his beloved. Astan's trail was getting lighter and lighter as they got closer to the Gorilla city. Pretty soon, there would be nothing left to follow and that fact scared Sakura. Because once the trail was gone, they would be blind to Astan's movements.

"How much further?" Deja asked.

"Just a few miles." Sakura answered with a nervous voice. "The city is just ahead."

"Then we will soon find him." Sky said. "Does that scare you?"

"Yes and no. I know he's in the city just ahead of us. But I have no idea how he is. This Igoro could have tortured him."

"I do not think so." Dar'yl said from behind them. "If Igoro intends to give Astan to Mulu, he won't harm him in any way. He will want to deliver him in good condition."

"Then you think Mulu is on his way here?" Deja asked looking from Dar'yl to Sakura.

"Yes." Dar'yl said with a nod. "He may have already been here. That's what I am afraid of."

"No." Sakura said as he looked off in the jungle. "He hasn't been here yet."

"How do you know?" Quynn said. He took the water skin from Sky and took a deep drink. "You sound so sure."

"I would feel Astan's panic." Sakura smiled. "He would know if Mulu was anywhere hear him, of that I'm sure."

"So what do we do?" Quynn asked. "We can't just go walking in and demand his release, and we can't just sit here in the jungle and wait.

"One of us his to go in." Dar'yl said. "Meaning one of you. Sakura and I would be recognized immediately. That leaves you three."

"I could go." Deja suggested.

"No." Dar'yl said. "Igoro would not come out for a female. It has to be a male."

Yeah." Quynn laughed. "I can just see what those gorillas would do if me or Sky knocked on the gate. We'd be in chains in less than two minutes."

"An taken straight to Igoro." Sakura smiled, "Isn't that exactly what we want? Think about it. We need to get into Igoro's slave pens. I mean isn't that where he'll keeping him? What better way is there to get in?"

Quynn looked over to Sky. He had a curious look on his face. It wasn't fear. He had seen fear on his mates face before. When they were fighting Janx Develos, Sky was scared to death. That was on his last night in Pollex, the city of the Phoenix. Sky had fought bravely that night and they were able to beat both Aster Telor and the disgusting Janx Devolos the witch hunter. But it could have went the other way and could have lost. Quynn shook at the thought of what that monster would have done to Sky.

[But he didn't and I'm safe, right here next to you where I belong.] Sky smiled and looked back to Quynn. [Isn't this why we're here? To help Astan and Sakura get back home safe. I think it’s worth the risk.]

[Are you sure?] Quynn sent. [These Gorillas are very strong and dangerous and I don't trust this Igoro, He sounds a lot like Aster Telor. He'll do anything for power.]

[I agree.] Quynn said. [But not you. I'll go. My dragon form is much stronger then your phoenix. I should be the one to go.]

[You may be stronger than me, but I'm faster and more agile than you.]

Quynn thought about what he said. He couldn't deny it was true. Sky was faster than him. But Quynn could never allow the one he loved to put himself in danger. He would always protect him and the reason didn't matter.

[I know Dragonfly.] Sky sent with a loving caressing touch to his mind, [And that's one of the reasons I love you so much.]
[ But you can't possibly always protect me. I have to learn to protect myself.]

"The hell I can't." Quynn said out loud. "The answers is no. I go if it’s between the two of us. I will never let you put yourself in danger.  And that's final.]

"He's right." Sakura said to the arguing couple. "I wouldn't let Astan do it either. Quynn and I are natural warriors. We've been trained since we were young to protect others. I could let Astan fight at my side, but I would never let him face any kind of danger if I can help it. The decision is made. Quynn goes."

Dar'yl stood there with a smile on his face. Though he wasn't in love with Sakura, he felt the same way about him. He would never let the young price put himself in danger, unless he was ordered to.

"Then what am I doing?" Sky asked frustrated.

"You’re our connection to Quynn." Dar'yl explained, "As Quynn is taken in, you’ll be there in his mind to tell us what he sees. Once he finds Astan, we wait until dark then go in and free them."

"That sounds so simple." Sky said looking into Quynn's eyes. "If anything goes wrong, I'm coming in to get you. I won't wait to discuss any possible plans. I'm coming right in, in my full icy form."

"I know Little Bird." Quynn took him in his arms and kissed him deeply. "I'm counting on it."

It had been a very eventful day in Domina. With the Lady Shauri's death, the rebellion had been quieted down. Her head and hands had been brought back as Igoro's sick trophies. Her head now adorned the gate walls where everyone could see them and Igoro hand taken the hands for his own use. As Shumo stared out at her head, he couldn't help but wonder if what she had said was true. Had Igoro really sinned against Tyree? The god had always said that the strong should always rule, but he had also warned them many times in the past of his hatred of slavery. In the scrolls he said he would always praise those who rule with strength and honor, but he would damn anyone who held another bonded to them in slavery. Slavery. Shumo had to think about that for a few minutes. Though Tyree forbid the practice, it had brought wealth to some of the people of Domina. Igoro and his circle of nobles did profit from the sales of those captured in Aspana that was true. What bother Shumo was the fact that there were still apes starving and begging in the street while they live in handsome Garden palaces. Then there was the Hyenan. They had always been the enemy, why in Tyree's name was Igoro working with them? Shumo was afraid to say it out loud, but something was wrong here. Maybe Lady Shauri was right. Maybe Igoro wasn't right for the postilion of High Chief. Igoro could be leading us all to our dooms.

With a mind heavy in thought, Shumo turned to continue on with his gate security check. He looked out and into the jungle as something walked out of the trees. Rubbing his eyes in disbelief, Shumo stepped closer to the edge of the wall and looked down as a human started heading for the city gate.

Quickly Shumo hurried into the tower to alert the guards to sound the alarm. As the alarm gong struck, Shumo jumped from the wall and into the trees and headed down to intercept the intruder.

With his hands held high, the human casually walked down the road that lead straight to the gates of Domina. It didn't take long before a squad of gorillas armed with clubs and swords came out to intercept him. Surrounded by armed warriors, Quynn stopped being very careful not to make any aggressive moves. With his club strapped to his back, Shumo dropped down to confront the intruder.

"Make no sudden moves Human." Shumo said as he stepped up to the human. "Who are you and why are you trespassing on Hominid territory?"

"I am Prince Quynn Drake Tyr." The boy said with a smile. "I am here looking for a slave."

The night was dark with a chilled wind blowing as Msia, Akani and Aggar made their way out of the cave and down into the valley. As a newly hatched dragon, Msia was hungry and needed to eat. Shifting to his lion form Msia headed out to hunt up some dinner. Akani and Aggar gathered some water and wood for a fire. Then Aggar on pack a package give to him from the people of Basolos.  There was wine with dried meat, some cheese and bread. After building a fire, they sat down and ate while they waited for Msia to return. As they waited, they talked about their lived. Akani told Aggar about the first time he had seen Msia. It was during the early slave raids. His father had come home and taken down all his hunting gear. Mother had thought it strange. There usually was no hunting at that time of the evening, it was to dangerous. When she asked where he was going, he pulled her to the side and explained that the high chief of the Zambesi had come into the village and ordered all the men to be ready at night fall for a hunt. His father had no idea what they would be hunting, but when the High chief of the Zambesi gave you an order, only a fool would dare to disobey.
Akani and a few other cubs of course were curious and followed them into the dark jungle. They marched for miles headed north east. A few of the cubs dropped out to tired to go on but Akani stayed on the trail. At sunrise they were in Pantheran territory. The high chief ordered the warriors to spread out and move forward slowly. Akani didn't understand what was going on.There were no Impala or gazelle in this area. There were no water buffaloes or antelope either. Akani didn't understand why they were there until he saw them attack the first village.
They caught them in the early dawn just as the sun began to rise. Akani hid behind a tree as the warriors of  his village charged in to a village of Lynx and took them all captive. They fought very bravely, but in the end they were out numbered. They had them all in cuffs and chains and lined up ready to march in less then an hour. The women and children cried and begged to be released, the men howled out into the night. The noise at one point was so loud, Akani had to cover his ears.
That's when it happen. Out of the night there came a mighty roar. All the Jackals stopped and grabbed for their weapons. Suddenly Akani heard shouting and the sound of battle coming from the northern edge of the village. Akani wanted to move to a better position so he could see what the noise was about, but he couldn't move. the slightest move might give away his position. Pushing his way through the crowd of scared Jackals, the  High chief screamed at the to get in position for a fight. As he pulled his spear for its place on his back, a great lion dressed in bronze armor came flying out of the trees to attack.
"Hold there where you stand Mahad Amin!" Msia shouted. "Free your prisoners or be prepared to die!"
With his golden mane blowing in the wind, Msia and his warriors dived in to the attack. The Jackals tried to defend themselves, they fought very hard but Msia and his warriors were trained for battle while the Jackals were not. Mahad hadn't trained them. He only using them to make gold. He didn't care if they lived or if they died.
Like the coward he was, as the Pantheran's charged in, he cast his spell and was gone.
With Mahad gone, the Jackal warriors dropped their weapons and tried to run. But it was to late. The Pantheran's were surrounding the village and they were all taken into custody.
Akani turned to run and was stopped by a young lion who stood there in chain mail with a sword. The lion looked at Akani then put sword in its scabbard and stepped aside.
"Go home." He said. "But know that we will not put up with being hunted as slaves. We will defend our people."
"The young lion?" Aggar said as he threw another piece of wood on the fire. "That was Sakura?"
"Yes." Akani nodded. "I made it back to our village by noon. A few hours later my father and a hand full of the village men came home with their heads down. My father would never speak of that night. I think he was a shamed of what they had done."
"What about Mahad Amin?"
"He lived on." Akani said. "Always one dark scheme after another until his son bested him in combat and took over the leadership of the Hyenans. But that was one of the last raids in Panthera. Until now."
"There's something I don't understand," Aggar said as he shifted his place to get more comfortable. "You know slavery is wrong. You saw what happened at the Lynx village. Why would you join with Mulu and help him hunt?"
"Sadly, I forgot the lesson I learned that night. When Mulu called, I blindly saw treasures and followed his orders. When I saw Msia in Mulu's pit, I thought it meant Mulu's strength had made him superior to the lion king. I was wrong and it almost took my death for me to realize my fault. Now I will serve him faithfully for the rest of my life. And I will. I'll serve him or die for him or his son Sakura."
As Aggar sat back and closed his eyes he thought about the story he had just heard. He realized that the egg could have gone to either Msia or Akani. They both had the heart to be a dragon. But he knew this wasn't over yet. The future was very unpredictable. In Tyree's name, anything could happen.