Chapter 24 Motivate to Dominate
MOTIVATE TO DOMINATE
“If you’re going into a firestorm, then you’re going to need some improved level of protection,” Ezra said to Lark as she examined her wares.
They were a far cry better suited to a fight than what she’d been given back in the village, but for a real battle, she doubted the traveling cloak would protect her against more than a chilly breeze or light downpour.
“I thought the dragon was the extra protection?” Hardin said, eyeing Ingamar warily.
“She might not be able to control him. If she gets knocked off her mount, it won’t just be other Paragons, their Knights, or Northern monsters that pose a danger.
The firestorm itself is dangerous enough.
If she goes in wearing some light riding leathers and a wool cloak, she’ll have less protection than the standard infantry.
At least those young lads have some padding under their plate and leather to insulate them from all that heat. ”
“I’ll have Tel’s brismil sword,” Lark said, remembering what it felt like to have the blade in her hands. Its power had transferred into her own stores for use.
“The blade offers you a great advantage, but like Ingamar, if you lose hold of it, you’ll be another set of boots on the ground without proper protection against the flames,” Ezra insisted.
“It’s a good thing then, that we’ve brought a Paragon’s mobile armory,” Hardin said.
“Tel’s sets of armor are in there, excluding the brismil scale,” Venrick said.
“Are you sure?” Ezra asked.
“It’s locked in an enchanted chest that only he could open,” Venrick said.
“Only Tel could open it?” Ezra asked.
“Yes, unless one of you has a power strong enough to break ancient elven magic,” Venrick said.
“Could I open it?” Hardin asked.
Venrick opened his mouth, then hesitated. “Follow me,” he said, a curious expression wrinkling his face.
Lark followed Venrick and Hardin, walking directly at Thunder and Giant. Both horses reared suddenly and stamped their hoofs as Lark neared them.
“Whoa there,” Ezra called, trying to steady them with the reins.
The draft horses pinned their ears flat back, snorting at her. Lark hopped out of the way, veering wide around the side of the wagon.
Venrick immediately reacted, splaying his arms out to the side as he blocked Lark from the horses. “It’s okay,” he said in a soothing voice. “Calm down. It’s just me, Giant. No need to worry, Thunder.”
The two horses calmed, their eyes still wide as Lark passed behind their blinders. Venrick moved in to rub the sides of their jaws.
“That’s it, settle down,” he said as Lark stood back.
Ingamar nuzzled his nose up against her side, lifting her arm as he nudged her forward, almost like he was encouraging her to keep going to the back of the wagon.
“What got into them?” Hardin asked.
“Don’t know, that’s the first time they’ve shown any emotion since we’ve had them,” Ezra replied.
“It’s probably Ingamar. Like me, they’ve always had a bit of an issue with him,” Venrick said.
Lark continued around to the rear and eased the door of the wagon open.
Sunlight streamed through the gap, casting a warm, golden hue over the vast array of weapons and armor.
Tel's arsenal was an impressive sight, with racks bristling with melee weapons.
She saw gleaming swords, wickedly curved scimitars, heavy battleaxes, and an assortment of daggers, knives, and maces, each polished to a deadly sheen.
Spears stood tall in their racks, their razor-sharp tips glinting in the light.
The selection of ranged weapons was equally formidable.
Longbows and short bows rested against the walls, alongside intricate crossbows and rows of carefully balanced throwing axes and javelins.
Shields of various shapes and sizes hung neatly on hooks in one corner, their polished surfaces also reflecting the sunlight.
Toward the front, a cluster of trunks and stands that showcased armor of all kinds.
They ranged from light, flexible riding gear to imposing suits of heavy plate, each piece meticulously maintained and ready for battle.
“It can be overwhelming at first glance,” Venrick said, popping in next to Lark. “It all has its purpose and believe me that they have all been used at one time or another on Tel’s missions.”
Lark’s attention drifted to three small chests laying closed in the back corner.
“That smallest one was where Tel always kept the scale when he wasn’t using it,” Venrick noted.
Lark retrieved the chest, examining it closely.
The ornate box was covered with runes. The raised marking flashed with a blue sheen as she ran her finger over it.
The markings felt familiar to her, though they were written in a language that she should know but didn’t recognize.
She handed it off to Hardin as he climbed inside.
Hardin met Venrick’s eyes. He nodded and Hardin moved to open the lid. The chest clicked, unlocking for him. He lifted it open.
Venrick let out a chortle, passing his hand through his thick hair. “I can’t believe it’s right here.”
The scale was simple, nothing more than a palm-sized, deep blue dragon scale.
“Out of all the advantages in this armory,” Venrick said, a smile gracing his handsome face, “that is the one that will put you above all the others, if it’s there.”
Venrick’s jade-flecked eyes met Lark’s. She held his gaze, her lips parting slightly, heart beating faster at their proximity in the enclosed wagon.
“I’ll be outside if you need anything else,” Hardin said, feeling awkward at the moment.
Lark didn’t take her eyes off Venrick’s as Hardin left the wagon.
“This brismil scale was instrumental to Tel’s success as a Paragon,” he said, seeming reluctant to take his hand away from it.
Lark’s memory jogged, producing an insight to the precious artifact.
Brismil scales were not only rare, but extremely powerful.
When touching exposed skin, the user donned a plate armor suit made of dragon scales.
Brismil scales varied in size depending on which ancient dragon they’d come from.
Brismil armor was nearly impenetrable. It enhanced the user’s sight, hearing, strength, and stamina.
The extent of this enhancement varied with the individual wearing the armor.
When worn in combination with a brismil sword, whoever was in the suit wielded strength akin to a god.
The one in brismil was difficult for any dragonrider to destroy.
For a Knight or a common soldier, it was next to impossible.
“I can’t accept this,” Lark said, offering the chest back to him.
“You should be the one to wear it. It will only increase the abilities you already have and yours are more valuable than any of mine.”
“Venrick, this is worth more than a set of Yogo Sapphires. If I lose it—”
“You won’t lose it. Tel has scale harnesses you can wear.”
“A harness?”
“This scale needs direct contact with the user’s skin to work. Wear the harness under your shirt but leave it unclipped, where it won’t touch your side. Only clip it in if you need to use it.”
“I’m not going in alone; this will be too much.”
“You think I’m going with you?”
“I just assumed you were. You are, aren’t you?”
“I mean, maybe, but I can’t just go up against a dragonrider and expect to survive. And what if there are Northern troops there? Am I supposed to face them on the ground alone?”
“I’ll be there, too, and so will Ingamar. You have to go with us. What if I need support?”
Venrick hesitated in his response.
“I’m not Tel Roan and I don’t know if I can do this alone.”
“I don’t know if Ingamar would be too keen on letting me ride with you.
With this,” Venrick rapped his knuckles against a chest plate on the suit of armor, “I might be about as useful as a Knight, though I lack the formal training. But that means I’ll need to be ground support for you if you want me to go into the firestorm with you. ”
“What if there isn’t an armed force outside this storm?” Lark suggested.
“That’s a dangerous way to think. If there’s power in this storm there will soldiers ready to fight for their Kingdom’s claim on the right to collect the power.
But it’s not like I haven’t seen this kind of action before, just not with these odds.
I do have a decade of training with one of the most powerful dragonriders in the Kingdom, so I’m not completely lacking when it comes to knowledge of the battlefield.
Squiring for Tel wasn’t all just jockeying weapons. ”
Lark imagined two small armies facing off around the edges of the firestorm, Venrick in their midst, this time without Tel’s Honor Guard or a squad of friendly soldiers to help watch his back.
This time, if he went on the ground, he’d be alone.
She tried to push the chest containing the brismil scale back into his arms.
He wouldn’t accept it.
She clenched her jaw, meeting his eyes and said, “If you’re not going to take the scale, you won’t be able to keep up with us from the ground. You will take Tel’s brismil blade. It will give you the speed needed.”
Venrick’s expression widened, two lines forming on his forehead. “Stormbreaker is meant to be used with the suit of dragon-scale armor. You will put it to better use than I can.”
“I protected the Hyalite for several weeks with nothing but a few daggers. Now I have Ingamar’s help, and with this,” she said, tapping the brismil scale case, “I bet collecting a few Yogo Sapphires will come naturally.”
“If you’re concerned for my safety, and that’s valid, but yours is paramount.
Yes, we’re both on Lamar’s wanted list now, but I am not the one that everyone will be looking for.
You will capture everyone’s attention,” Venrick said, leaning in closer, measuring her with his gaze, locking in on her parted lips.
“You should have the sword and the scale.”