In the dark depths of space, a yellow star shines hotly down on her children, the planets and moons lighting and warming as they turn in the cosmic dance. One, a green and blue orb capable of sustaining intelligent life glimmers brightly with hope, it's twin moons weaving around it like insects collecting from a flower.
Upon the larger moon, nearest the planet, was a colony. The people lived happily enough within the metal-and-glass structure designed to withstand the brutal conflict of atmospheric pressure within and cold, hard vacuum without. The people there, while mostly human, were very welcoming of outsiders, and did their best to inform visitors of the rustic, almost medieval society on the planetside. Sometimes a ship would no more than appear on their powerful radar before it crashed or landed on the planet below, which was oblivious to the presense of the lunar colony.
Within the multidomed colony, all manner of life thrived, vast farms, both traditional and hydroponic, supplied the needs of the colony, and every being of maturity did his or her share to keep things running smoothly.
There was a young woman there, with raven hair, skin like fine porcelain, and eyes as gray as the sea on a stormy day...
But this is not her story.
The day had dawned clear enough for the colony, but then the ship arrived in orbit, a hideous monstrousity of a craft, designed for function, not asthetics, black as night and more than twice as deadly. Much more. The ship did not respond to their hails, unless teleporting warriors directly into the colony is a response.
Mechanical horses with mechanical riders who bore blades thinner than fine parchment and sharp enough to shave the fuzz from peaches without bruising the flesh raced through the domes, hundreds or perhaps even thousands of them causing mass hysteria and distruction of a level the colony had never before experienced. Crops lay in ruins in he fields, storehouses toppled, burned or otherwise laid to waste. Men, women, animals, children slaughtered indescriminately by machines built to kill and destroy. No amount of pleading could dissuade them from their course - they were not programmed for compassion.
A lone warrior raced toward the armed 'men' on a horse too stupid not to charge blindly ahead - a woman with black hair, white skin, and eyes like the stormy sea...
* * *
Bekirol's pleasant sleep, his dreams filled with corruption, distruction and death, were shattered as the loud knocking at the door came again, more urgently this time. Swearing loudly, the large man rose from his bed and wrapped the black silk robe around him, covering his silk sleepwear. He had black hair, black eyes, and huge bushy black eyebrows. Everything about him was large, especially his nose. Though he was large, he was by no means fat. Evil could never be fat.
Bekirol stomped across his excessively large and exceedingly expensice bedchamber and flung open the intricately carved door. "This had better be good." he growled, and the wiry man outside his door shuddered involuntarily.
"The DarkRiders have returned, my Lord."
"Good." Bekirol said gruffly, and slammed the oversize door on his steward's face.
* * *
The DarkRiders stood, sat, figited and waited in general unease in Bekirol's foyer while the large and angry Lord dressed and ate. Resplendent in pricy imported silks, Bekirol stormed past his underpaid and underappreciated messenger-mercenaries into his lush and intimidating office. The trio of black-clothed figures followed unbidden. Bekirol dropped into a heavy leather chair behind the massive desk. "Speak." he commanded.
The lead DarkRider did not hesitate. To falter was to die. "She refused again, Brother." The swarthy man said.
Bekirol looked up from his overstuffed chair at men who were clearly not of his blood. "The Border lands will be MINE!" he snarled. "Where is Xaf?"
"He should be here shortly with Darosa's sons." The dark rider replied.
"Excellent. Bring them directly to me." Bekirol said. "Now go."
The dark men bowed and departed, not knowing that Xaf's mission had failed entirely.
* * *
Bekirol brooded in his office for a time. The longer he sat, the angrier he got. He wanted Border's lands, and marrying Darosa was the only way he could get it. And her persistant refusal to merge their lands was beginning to irritate him.
"Kul!" he snapped, and the agonizingly thin steward appeared promptly, as if from nowhere. "Is there a colony on the moon?"
Kul hesitated for a heartbeat or so, as if he were inquiring. "There is, Liege. How did you know?"
"I just knew." Bekirol said pompously. "Do any of my minions have mechanical warriors on mechanical horses?"
Again Kul hesitated. "Yes, Liege." was the inevitable reply.
"Good. I want that moony colony wiped out as a display of my power."
Kul's face twisted into a slight grimace. "What you command shall be done, Liege, though the warlords think..."
"I don't care what my inferiors think!" Bekirol bellowed. "Just do it!"
Kul nodded and slunk off as Bekirol reclined in his chair and dozed, dreaming of unspeakable evils.
* * *
The following morning when the DarkRiders returned, Bekirol was in a fine mood, pacing and growling, as Xaf had not returned with the captives as he ought to have.
"Lord, Xaf is dead." The DarkRider leader said with no remorse. "His cold corpse lay in the nursery."
Bekirol glared. "That makes no sense." He said quietly, angrily.
"Border Hold is completely empty, Bekirol, save for Xaf's body on the bloodied nursery rug."
"FIND THEM!" Bekirol raged. "FIND THEM NOW! AND GET OUT OF MY SIGHT BEFORE I HAVE YOU KILLED!"
* * *
Bekirol was intolerable for days, until news reached him. Bekirol sneered at the DarkRiders as they returned. "Where is she?" he demanded.
"We do not have her yet, Master." The speaker ducked as a brass goblet flew over his head. "But we found a kitchen maid. She says everyone was made to leave before Derosa and the steward Druthur."
Bekirol's eyes flashed. "And where is this Druthur?"
"We seek him even now, Lord."
"Excellent." Bekirol hissed. "Tell me, how did you get this information?"
"We threatened to ravage her daughters, Lord." The DarkRider replied instantly.
"And how did you repay her for her compliance?"
"We did it anyway." the riders said with an audible sneer.
"Excellent."
* * *
Bekirol was not pleased at all, and the residents of BlackRidge had no idea waht had infuriated him so. Children were quiet and subdued, staying cloistered in their nurseries, playrooms, and family rooms, and posting sentries of their peers to warn them to hush if they even thought their Lord might be nearby.
As the numbers of DarkRiders deminished, things grew tense.
The DarkRiders appeared to speak to Bekirol rarely now, instead of daily like they used to. When they did, things invariably got worse.
"Three more dead, Master." The lead said, "And Teremin has gone missing."
Bekirol's fist hit the massive mahogany desk, and the sound of splintering wood sent shivers down the spines of the heartless DarkRiders. "Who did this?" he demanded.
"We believe it was Vex, Brother."
"This Vex vexes me..." Bekirol snarled.
"I think that's the idea." one of the DarkRiders said.
Bekirol's face instantly grew red. "KILL HIM!" he roared, and the nearest grabbed his smartalec fellow and hauled him out into the office. The gurgling sound the DarkRider's breath made as it percolated through his crimson lifeforce on his last exhalation would stay in the minds of the others until their dying day.
* * *
"We've found something, Liege." The DarkRider said.
"Well spit it out." Bekirol snarled.
"We've found Darosa's wagon and horses, Lord. The traders claim they were abandoned, but Darosa's more clever than that."
Bekirol glared. "I don't want her WAGON! I want HER!"
The DarkRiders backed out of the office, and were gone.
* * *
Days passed, months. And then the DarkRiders returned. "Border Hold is still deserted, Lord, but we've news of Darosa. Apparently she's been taken offworld - by a dragonrider."
Bekirol snarled. "Blasted dragonriders!" he glared. He'd hated the winged beasts and their riders ever since his run-in with G'nat. "Get A'lik." He said in a low, sedate tone. This is when he was scariest.
The brownrider with the misfortune to be posted at BlackRidge came quickly, expecting some petty errand or another, not knowing the attrocities that Bekirol had done. "I've just learned that a friend of mine has been taken to an offworld Weyr, and I'd really like to pay her a visit."
A'lik shrugged. "Not a problem, Lord Bekirol. Which one?"
"That's where the problem is, dragonrider. I don't know. We'll have to visit them all."
Again A'lik shrugged. "It will take some time, but it's no problem."
"Good." Said Bekirol with a vile sneer. "We'll leave immediately. Get your dragon ready." Then he rounded on his sickly looking steward. "Kul - I want people and troops ready to move into Border Hold within the hour."
* * *
A'lik was not pleased to have his brown burdened with the oversized Lord and three of his DarkRiders, but it was too late to object now. The first few stops yielded nothing, and A'lik worried. Bekirol had not named the woman he sought for.
The stop at Sanrix Azon lasted for quite some time as Sargon, the leader there, was blatantly refusing to answer Bekirol's inqueries. The DarkRiders roamed about in a seemingly aimless fashion. Finally Bekirol stormed out, and the DarkRiders spoke amongst themselves briefly as the large man strode towards the brown.
Suddenly a great blue dragon. marked with lightning bolts, that must have been 50 feet long dropped in from apparently nowhere. Shenteken swung his tail and his menacing tail blade struck the heads from the DarkRiders.
"You're next, Bekirol!" the dark-cloaked rider yelled. "You'll never have Darosa!" It was Vex!
As Bekirol scrambled aboard teh brown, A'lik thought to himself, Darosa? Lady Darosa?
She and her children are at Cy Dragonstake. his brown rumbled. Runakoth took them there.
Suddenly there was a blade at A'lik's throat. "You know where Darosa is! You filth! Take me there or you die now!"
A'lik swallowed hard and complied. What choice did he have? As they leapt skyward the brown dragon shot a message to the huge Azon blue -- Cy.
In three frozen heartbeats the arrived, and Bekirol knew he was in the right place. He could feel it, like acid pulsing pleasurably through his veins to his black heart.
There's a hatching about to begin in one of the highest rooms. She'd likely be there. the brown offered, not knowing the evil that was growing on the Nero Sands.
A'lik conveyed this, and Bekirol ordered him to land there.
* * *
At Ryslen, Bronzerider A'ndo leapt to his feet, startling his already edgy wing, for the dragons ahd begun to keen the loss of one of their own in the traditional way a mere heartbeat before. "My father!" The words were torn from his thrat in a ragged sob. "That bastard killed my father!"
His wingsecond and wingthird - his foster siblings - held him so he wouldn't fall. "Who, A'ndo?" Drikara prompted.
"Yes, who?" L'ken echoed, deeply concerned.
"Bekirol." A'ndo said, his eyes filled with hate.
* * *
The limp form of A'lik hung on the brown's neck as the great dragon threw himself between in agony. With bloody dagger in his fist, Bekirol walked directly into the Nero Sands at Cy Dragonstake...
An armed rider - or a DragonKnight by local terms attempted to bar his entry, but Bekirol would not have it. A quick flash of blade and it would be all over.
"Hey! I said stay out!" came the voice of G*non. Then G*non cried aloud in shock and pain and someone stepped into the Nero Sands.
Blank readied his sword and Sherra now had anger in her eyes. "How dare you kill one of my riders," she growled, an icy chill spreading through her.
It wasn't one of the riders from around here but who is this monster who comes with death in his eyes? broadcasted Delith, Sherra's golden dragon.
The man looked around at the candidates and hatchling and then back to Sherra. "Where is she?" he growled. "Where is Darosa?"
"The Lady Darosa is currently under the protection of the Dragonknights of Cy and if you think that if you can just come in here, kill a dragon, and expect us to comply, you are very wrong."
"No one defies me, Bekirol," he hissed as his eyes blazed with frustration and anger. He slashed at the creature who was closest to him, which happened to be the black dragonet with the bitten tail. To his surprise the young hy-dragon caught the blade between his teeth and wreched it away. He fastened his teeth on the Bekirol's forearm and growled at the mass-murderer. "Get off of me, Mchawith!" Bekirol shouted at the black creature. Even as he said it he realized what it meant and gasped. Mchawith released his hand and backed up a few paces to regard him.
Then maybe you should stop trying to kill me. Speaking of killing, Darosa and her brats are-
"None of your concern," stated Sherra. "And now, as punishment for not only killing a foreign dragonrider but fatally wounding G*non-"
G*non shouted from outside, "Actually I think I'll pull through!"
Sherra, still glaring at Bekirol continued. "For seriously wounding G*non-"
"Its not all that deep," shouted G*non.
Sherra sighed and continued. "For hurting G*non-"
"You know, I think he only nicked my armor."
Sherra rolled her eyes. "Fine fine. For an attempted assult on G*non I..." she trailed off and scowled. "Now I totally lost my train of thought. Anyways, you and your dragon will be transported back to your homeowrld by warp gate, not dragon. I've seen what you do with them." Before Bekirol could protest Black grabbed one arm and Aurora grabbed the other. Together they roughly hauled Bekirol off to the warp gate that was in the top of the spire with his dragon trailing behind.
Hatching by Head Knight Sherra of Cy Dragonstake
|
Rather abruptly, Bekirol was dumped back into the courtyard of BlackRidge, with an extremely hungry black beast in his lap. Both were snarling furiously. A DarkRider stood dumbfounded there, but before he could be insolent, the black beast was upon him, feasting on his life. Bekirol threw back his head and laughed maniacally. Mchawith!
* * *
Time passed, and Mchawith grew larger and stronger. Bekirol's office had been swiftly yet carefully enlarged and redecorated by builders who feared for their life. Where before it had been richly furnished, now it was designed to be dark and evil. The most impressive feature was the low leather couch which would support Mchawith's bulk as he grew.
As luck would have it, Bekirol stood by the window in his office looking out, a calm moment in his life letting his mind wander. A dark horse with a female rider came racing in. There was a look in her eyes that Bekirol liked. "Get that rider a room and offer her the best comforts we have to offer. And something to warm her bed."
The DarkRider behind him blinked. "I don't think..." he began, and Bekirol rounded on him as Mchawith began to rise, all five of his heads orienting on the man. Bekirol didn't need to speak. The man was gone.
Laughing, Bekirol chose a woman from his unwilling harem and went back to bed.
* * *
Morning came, and Bekirol woke early. He dressed in expensive silks, and left his chambers to await the new Rider in his office. Sshe comess... Mchawith hissed, and Bekirol grinned.
"She's here, Lord." The steward said, looking a bit perplexed that his lord was already there.
"Excellent." Bekirol drawled. "Come in child, and close the door."
Kitai stepped boldly in, and took a bit of pleasure in shutting the door in the steward's face. The black-red hydra-dragon looked rather amused with a pile of kittens that crawled all over him, purring. "How cute." she said, sarcasticly, "He's playing with kittens."
"Mchawith!" Bekirol snarled, "Don't play with your food." Five heads snapped simultaneously down on five kittens, sending the sixth running for her life. She'd have to be hunted down later. The four snake heads busied themselves swallowing kittens whole, while the fifth head -- the dragon head -- munched loudly, defiantly, the sickening snaps of bones echoing slightly in the large room.
Kitai could not help but laugh. "You wanted to see me?"
Bekirol sat down heavily in his large leather chair. "Yes. What's your name, child?"
"Kitai." she answered, seating herself without permission.
"Where are you from?"
"Bynor."
"What's your stallion's name?"
"He's a gelding and he's not mine."
"He is now. I give him to you -- at least until a stallion can be found. What's his name?"
"Revenge." Kitai responded after a moment's thought.
Bekirol laughed. "Perfect! and what do you do at Bynor?"
"I'm a messenger." Kitai replied truthfully.
"And why are you here?"
"I just delivered a message to Ryslen and found that my beloved has forsaken me and taken another -- literally. She's near term with his child."
"That must make you very angry." Bekirol saind in a concerned fashion, for he was concerned. If he spoke wrong now, she'd go bolting back to Ryslen to tell what she'd seen and heard here.
"It's not funny. That stupid blueriding hussy stole my man!" Kitai snapped.
Bekirol smiled at her, a sickeningly sweet smile of the sort that's more often phony than not. "I see why you have a dislike for dragonriders. I do too. The woman I adore was stolen away from me by one..." It was mostly true - he wanted Darosa... but only for her lands and wealth. Kitai, on the other hand, he wanted in a much darker fashion.
Kitai felt more at ease now, as Bekirol was truly on her side in this matter.
"But if he's got a liking for dragonriders, then a dragon you must have to win him back. I'd loan you Mchawith, but he's too young. You'll have to find another. Perhaps you could get some nice rider to take you to Cy Dragonstake..."
Kitai perked up. She hadn't considered getting a dragon.
"And when you get to Cy, keep an eye out for a lady named Darosa and her sons Pelidaro and Torkeli. I need to know If they're still there."
Kitai grinned, a feral grin like the one Bekirol wasn't trying to hide. "I can do that." she said, a slight lilt in her voice that clearly meant it was a simple enough request to grant.
"If you can," Bekirol said, more or less truthfully, "You'll have a place among my DarkRiders, and you'll never have to be a messenger again." Of course, he'd intended to offer this from the outset -- but if he could exploit her to get closer to Darosa, of course he'd do that first!
"So if I don't impress I can ride for you? Is that what you're saying?" Kitai asked.
"Of course, my dear." he said, "But I'm certain you'll impress. So is Mchawith. Aren't you?"
The black-red dragon-hydra looked up at her then in an appraising manner. The four serpent heads nodded in time and the black dragon head spoke into her mind with a hiss. Yesss... Sshe'll do nicccely...
After a few negotiations on room and board and payment, Kitai and Revenge were gone.
"Our little Kitai is off on Revenge to have revenge..." Bekirol laughed maniacally. Mchawith laughed too, and Bekirol didn't bother to get clarification of what the hy-dragon mean by what he said next. I like Kitaisss...