Shifter's Baby(28)
“A male. My child is a boy and healthy,” he told Mobian who didn’t even blink at the news.
“I will ready the bystanders,” Mobian answered with a nod to Rayzier.
From under his cloak, Mobian pulled a gleaming horn and sounded it. Instantly the crowd hushed and stopped what they were doing.
“Rayzier has just announced that his child has been born. A boy. Now, as you all know, in order for the child to truly be a dragonkin, then a sacrifice must be made. Another shall have to give their flame stone. As people that are battle minded, a sacrifice would not be complete without a fight. If you did not know, Rayzier has chosen Vyandun to spar with. One shall fall.”
The crowd cheered. As Mobian’s words ended, Vyandun had stopped gritted his teeth and raised one hand to the air.
“Dragonkin, I have one thing to say before this commences, and heed my words. I have faithfully lead you in these times of peace. I have been a good leader and if I walk away from this will continue to be. Remember that as you cheer for a contender.”
Most of the dragonkin looked around nervously. Mobian, who had watched in silence, lifted his horn once more and blew.
Instantly both men had changed and then swept upwards to the sky above the pit. Rayzier into a steely silver dragon that graced the air above him with ease and Vyandun who was a large black beast of death followed shortly after. There was an obvious size difference, but Rayzier moved much easily as his wings beat at his sides.
Their gleaming eyes met and then they clashed. Claws dug into the thick dragon hides and small bouts of flame trickled forth from their nostrils. Deafening roars escaped each of the dragons as they pulled apart and big droplets of blood rained down on the crowd.
The dragonkin cheered at the sight of first blood. Vyandun had a gash along his shoulder but Rayzier’s back leg seemed to be hanging limply. Without notice, Vyandun’s dark form launched forward, all four legs pointed out and dark claws protruding forward.
Rayzier darted to the side, but one of Vyandun’s claws caught his wing and a long rip formed. Instantly Rayzier fell hard and fast toward the pit below. At the last second he rolled, crashing into a group of chairs where no one had sat just yet.
The crowd roared with mingled excitement and fear. Mobian stood near the back of the crowd with a worried look on his face. Arabella, dressed in a long flowing gown appeared behind, walking with ease while she cradled the newborn.
“Is it over?” she asked.
Mobian turned to her, “Just about, but I’m afraid the outcome may not be as we wished.”
She noticed the black dragon swooping down, landing on Rayzier who had just righted himself.
“No!” she shouted!
“There is nothing we can do. Dragonkin cannot interfere with the outcome of the sacrifice. I worry that Vyandun will immediately take matters into his outcomes concerning you and the child rather than wait until no one is watching.”
Arabella felt helpless. Although she had been expertly healed by the wise woman and felt better rested than she had in all her life, the mounting fear that Rayzier wouldn’t win against Vyandun had never occurred to her.
“May I hold the child?” Mobian asked
The crowd roared again as Vyandun got another swipe at the retreating Rayzier who was pathetically trying to rise again in the air, his tattered wing holding him back.
Arabella paused. Rayzier had warned her not to trust anyone with the newborn, but he had also said that Mobian would be the one to assist her if anything did happen. After a moment she carefully laid the babe in his outstretched arms, showing him how to support the head.
An uncharacteristic smile broke out on the half blind man’s face as he cuddled the baby.
“Arabella, I did say that only dragonkin are not allowed to interfere. I said nothing of humans.”
She knew what he was insinuating and immediately began to scan around for a weapon. A long sharp stake that held up a canvas tent was laying on the ground nearby, pushed over when Rayzier had fallen.
The baby was contently sleeping in the crook of Mobian’s arm. She leaned forward briefly and kissed the sleeping child, knowing that if she failed to do what was needed, the newborn would be an orphan. An endangered one at that as it’s great Uncle would surely find a way to rid himself of a powerless contender for leadership.
She rushed forward and grabbed the long stake, the crowd of dragonkin not paying her any attention. Rayzier was bleeding profusely now, slashes across his back, his tattered wing now nothing but a stump on his side as he continued to fight of Vyandun’s advances.
Arabella was unsure of what to do. She was nothing but one small human woman and Vyandun was a very large and very angry dragon. Just then, Rayzier fell to his side, breathing heavily his nostrils emitting short flames. Vyandun crept forward, a forked tongue slithering from his snout.