A harsh reptilian screech split the cold air as the black dragon banked, beginning it slow spiral descent towards the ground. Bruder had relished the flight, feeling the lazy power of the beast beneath him. The thrill of the journey had lightened his darkened mood, for he knew that he was on a fool’s mission, one he was ill prepared for and could easily die on. If he died now without completing his true mission he would die an outcaste, without any honour in the eyes of his people. Only two things gave him a glimmer of succour that this duty was of such importance that his personal honour required that he take a part; the other the fact that few Vortan had the chance to fly with a dragon, and so never knew the joy that the freedom of the open air gave.

The black dragon landed with a gentle thud and stretched out its long serpentine neck allowing Bruder to alight. He turned and stared into the cat-like eyes of the dragon, clenching his left hand over his heart he bowed low in respect to the mighty beast.

“Благодарит моего брата” Bruder said a deep tone. “Ждите пять дней тогда возвращаются к вашему владельцу.” The last word said with mocking irony. In response the dragon let out a sharp screech, it eyes narrowing slightly either in humour or anger.

Turning Bruder strode off, his armour clanking with each step. He sort out the woman Persia, his only chance that he would survive what was coming next. He knew though that time was short and if he could not find her then he would have to act alone. That would require stealth, the Red Dragon Army did not sneak around, they marched into battle, Bruder though was no longer part of the Red Dragon Army and new situations required new tactics, a good solider knew this. The blood pounding in his ears sounded like war drums, beating the march into battle.

The Dragon looked about and noticed several Rancite soldiers lurking in the shadows. It sent out its mind and took control of them sending them of to find it some information. The Dragon began to shrink and its scales became rubbery and metled into a new shape. Standing their was a young Elf dressed in the Garb of one of the elite black dragons of King Welf. Instead of any Rank insignia it wore the mark of the Kings personal Scribe. The dragon looked at itself pleased with the magic it had recently learned. Suddenly several shadows moved around it and jumped the young beast. Three in all, skilled harbingers, they let fly with their bird shaped daggers and short swords. The dragon-elf caught the first ones wrist and with a flex of its new mussels ripped of his attackers arm. He then belched out acid fire into the face of the second whilst gutting the third with a set of claws which had just formed on his left hand. All three where dead. Extending his mind the three sharp shooters on the roof all took their aim away from him and pointed their bows at each other, they fired and three more died. Then he located the mage and priest, oh well he thought the conflagoration and wrath spells they where casting should not be wasted. The dark wrath hit the mage just as the conflageration hit the cleric both died in agony and suprise. A terror team lay dead and the dragon fealt hungry. Just then he heard the trumpets announcing the arrival of Field Marshal Tilsburgs men. He suposed he had best go report the inccident. But first he was hungry and their where much it could learn by eating these dead men!

Bruder crept through the undergrowth, his annoyance growing as he had not found General Persia, meaning he must act alone. What he had just discovered was an enemy scouting group, four archer scouts and a more heavily armoured officer, the steel of his helm almost hidden by a heavy cloak. A sneer spread across Bruder’s face, all archers were cowards, killing from a distance rather than staring into their enemies dying eyes.

Bruder hunkered down in the bushes, his hands moving as he murmured the incantation formulae of his first spell. At the culmination of the casting Bruder touched the hilt of his axe, feeling the energy pass from him into the weapon. The air thrummed around the axe head and Bruder could sense the static charge the enchantment gave off. Without waiting Bruder cast his second spell, further draining his limited arcane resources, for a moment the outcome of the spell was not apparent, only when he moved did the silence he cast upon himself show.

He crept up on the officer drawing his dagger as he moved, grabbing the man by the head, he pulled back as he slid the blade across the man’s throat. While Bruder was silent his victim wasn’t letting out a rattling gurgle as he sank to the ground. The four archers turned as one seeing Bruder for the first time, he reacted instantly flinging the dagger at the nearest man. It was the hilt rather than the blade that caught the man, smashing into his nose and splashing blood across his face as his head snapped back.

The remaining archers fired, two missing in their panic the last one’s arrow shattered against Bruder’s shield. Pulling his axe free he charged at the archers as they moved to reload their bows. In his head he could his own battle scream, but to the men he was running towards he was eerily soundless. The closest archer moved to try and bring his bow into play, but he wasn’t Bruder’s target, instead he lowered his shoulder and ran through the man, knocking him backwards off his feet. His target’s eyes involuntarily followed his companions descent to the floor, missing the swinging axe blade that connected with his neck, nearly shearing his head from his shoulders.

Bruder felt an arrow graze his face as it passed him, leaving a stinging line on his cheek. Bruder turned, smiling wolf-like at the archer and stalked towards him. The man panicked and threw his bow at Bruder, who parried the weapon away with his shield, he used the momentum to strike the man with the shield, driving him off his feet. Before the man had time to react Bruder struck down with his axe cleaving into the man’s chest.

Bruder looked around at the last two scouts, one clasped both hands to his face, blood flowing down his face, his eyes still slightly glazed. The other was trying to stand and pull his sword free at the same time, causing himself difficulty with both. Bruder moved towards the latter man, only to find his axe stuck in his earlier victim, cursing silently Bruder turned back and pushing down on the man’s stomach with his boot, wrenched the axe blade free.

Bruder reached the sword wielding scout just as the man steadied himself on his feet. Bruder swung at the man dropping to one knee at the last moment allowing the sword thrust to travel over him. His weapon connected with the man’s left knee, first shattering then cleaving through the joint. The scout fell screaming to floor, Bruder killed him by stamping down on the man’s face, feeling the skull crack beneath his boot.

Bruder turned to the last man, who with horror filled eyes held up his hands to surrender. Bruder smiled in return, before smashing his axe head through the man’s face. Bruder was already returning to the dead officer before the dead scout’s body toppled sideways to the ground. He bent and pulled the officer’s helm free, it was too shiny but it was better than nothing, which is what Bruder had at the moment.

The brief fight had made Bruder feel better, even though it had almost drained him of mana, now all he had to do was get into a heavily fortified city held by a well organised enemy. That was the easy part, the hard part would be getting out alive again, but Bruder had always enjoyed a challenge!

Bruder did not realise it but General Persia had only just mist him as they had both crept through the out skirts of the mighty city.

Whilst exploring their surroundings they could not help but notice that the majority of the buildings where made of stone and that they bore an uncanny resemblance to Blackwell in Albion. Bruder had studied the city well whilst part of the Dragon Armies as had all Vorton. Persia had passed through it when she had first arrived.

Now they both thought about it this city was as far as the main buildings and streets where concerned laid out almost identically? Suddenly the ground shook and time itself seemed to slow down, rhythmic thumping started and as it did the whole city began to go from solid to almost see through.

Bruder felt his soul tug on the inside of his body as did General Persia, the General got an ill feeling about this, Bruder realised he was feeling the effects of three types of magic all in equal measure, time, planner and soul magic.

He had a choice the General had a choice both where near the outskirts of the city they could if they ran now avoid been scooped up when the city left, they might be able to figure out which city was next and save it or they could stay and go see where they where taking the city.

Only fate new what they would do………

Bruder was struck momentarily with indecision. The need to find out where the cities were going was great, but the risks were too great. Growling with frustration Bruder turned and ran for the edge of the city, skidding to a stop to grab one of the many statues that littered the city. He reached the edge just as the city vanished, feeling the tug of magic as it left.