ound their waist, and two thongs would be tied to short spikes that grew on the ridge above his eyes that would trail back to the people in the front row, to give them something to hold onto with their hands.  Finally, each person would have a single rope that would be tied to both of each persons ankles and would be tied around Tarrins neck, a final line of defense against falling in case both the skirt and the leather thongs failed.  Tarrin used Sorcery to create the design, and it took Haley, Azakar, Ulger, Mist, and Var and Denai almost a half an hour to get it tied securely onto Tarrins head.  It didnt bind at all, though it did tug just a little when he turned his head in certain ways.
	Nice, Haley said, binding the last strap securely, under the the base of his jaw.
	Mist, dig up something warm for the cubs to wear, Tarrin told her.  Its going to get cool up there.
	But deshida, its the middle of summer.
	Well be flying over mountains, Denai, he told her.  The higher you go, the cooler the air gets.  Add that to the fact that well be flying quickly, so theres going to be a lot of wind, and youll understand.
	Ah, like a sandstorm at night, she said, nodding.
	Exactly.  Just without the sand.
	Ill go spread the word, Azakar announced.  Everyone should know what to expect.
	That is a good idea, Zak, Dolanna nodded.
	I think Miranda wont regret keeping that wool robe after all, Haley chuckled.
	She doesnt have it anymore, Tarrin said absently.  She lost it when I made her the one she has now.
	Oh yes, I forgot, he mused.
	Tarrin lad!  I say, were done! Phandebrass shouted, running up to them holding Tarrins spellbook in his hands.  Its complete, it is!
	Very good, he said.  Give it to Kimmie for now.  She can hold it for me until we get to the Dura.
	I say, very good.  Give us a few minutes to pack our things, and well be ready to go, we will.
	I will tell Kang to start preparing to move out, Dolanna said.  Tarrin nodded to her, and she quickly hurried over to the Arakite general.
	After the skirt was secured, Tarrin allowed some of the Shadows, under Azakars guidance, to secure the net.  It would be slung so it would be cradled against his belly, using his own body to trap the gear in the net.  Since he made it with Sorcery, it was already perfectly sizedall he had to do was hunker down over the net with the gear spread out atop it and allow the soldiers to slip the loops at the four main corners over the strong spikes that grew from the ridge of his back, then throw extra ropes over his back to tie it down at regular intervals to keep the supplies from shifting around too much.  That exercise only took about fifteen minutes to complete, and after that, Kang ordered everyone to mount as the Vendari and Selani got into the basket, then they helped tie down Ember and Forge.  They tied themselves into it securely, and Tarrin had the Knights tie the slings to the wrists of his forepaws.  After that was done, he reached down with those huge forepaws and gripped the sides of the basket to get a feel for it, then picked it up to see how much weight he was going to be carrying.
	Not nearly enough to make it a burden.  He could do this easily.
	Everyone mount, Tarrin called.  Make sure youre bundled up.  It might get cold up there, he reminded them as he set his head against the ground.  Var and Denai scrambled up quickly and easily, then helped Jal and Zyri up as Mist handed them up to them, then Mist climbed up herself.  He felt them getting into position, tying themselves down.  Tell me when youre ready up there, he said quietly to those atop his head.  Is everyone ready in the basket? he asked.
	We are secured and ready, Binter replied immediately.
	Kang, everything Im responsible for is ready, he called to the general.
	Well, lad, noboby really told us how to ride these things, he said ruefully.
	You dont have to do anything.  Just hold on.  Theyll follow me.  Ariana, Lorak, youll lead us.  Lorak knows the way, and Arianas eyes are needed up front.
	Aye, Tarrin, Lorak nodded.  I can navigate using the mountain passes.
	Anayi, youre in the back, he told her.  Keep an eye behind us.
	Yes, Tarrin, she said with a nod.
	Where is Sarraya? he asked.
	Im here! she shouted from Azakars shoulder.
	Fireflash? he asked.
	Kimmie has him, Mist answered from over his eyes.
	Then when you give the word, Kang, he prompted.
	Kang nodded.  Sergeants, report when your elements are secured in their saddles and ready! he boomed.
	After about five minutes, each squad sergeant had affirmed that everyone in his element was ready to go.  Tarrin used that time to instruct the Pegasi in what they were doing, and what he wanted them to do.  They would follow him, and be mindful that most of them were carrying riders who had no experince with airborne movementso they had to be rather gentle and cautious.  If it came to combat in the air, they would allow those who had experience in riding Pegasi engage in that combat while the rest avoided itmeaning that Azakar, Ulger, Haley, Dolanna, Miranda, Ariana, and Anayi would be primarily responsible for protecting the host in the air.  Alright then, just hang on and let the winged horses do the flying! the general boomed.  Theyll be following Tarrin, so they know where theyre going!  Mistress Ariana, Master Lorak, if you would be so kind as to get us started? he asked with a nod to them.
	Everyone grab onto something, Tarrin told his riders and the people in the basket.  Youll get jostled while Im taking off.
	He reared up and spread his wings, then kicked away from the ground as they drove downward, creating such a force that it pulled his monstrous form high into the air.  His body sank as the wings stroked upwards, then pushed him higher as they pushed down, pushing him higher and higher into the sky, until he had enough altitude and speed to make the flight smooth for those in the basket in his forepaws.  He circled their makeshift camp several times along with Ariana and Lorak as they gained more and more altitude, creating a delicate ballet of aerial dance as the Pegasi joined that circling column, rising higher and higher into the sky, until Ariana and Lorak veered away from the circling column and started out to the north.  Tarrin joined them after one more circling pass, with a large herd of Pegasi following behind him, allowing the mighty dragon to lead the way.
	That high up, he could see the mountains.  Beyond those mountains there was a forest, and beyond that forest was the lands of the Dura.  Land outside the control of the One, land where his friends and family could escape from this world.  He had only to contact the Dura now, find out what happened to the Dwarves, and all the things he promised Niami would be doneafter he confronted the One for a final time, a battle which would free the souls of his brothers and sisters, a battle which would destroy the Ones icon, and a battle that would cripple the Demon Lord that the One had brought to this world, allowing him to be easily destroyed.
	Everything would work out.  Everyone he cared for would be safe, Lorak and the Elara would be able to rally their forces to crush the Demons who had already reached this world, and the damage he had done to this world would be repaired.  There would be a war, there was no way to avoid that now, but at least he would give the Elara and the Shadows the advantage they needed to win, once the forces of the One realized that the Demons were the true enemy and joined forces to defeat them.
	But for himfor him.  That didnt matter anymore.  He knew what had to be done. He knew what it would take.  He knew what it would cost him.  But it didnt matter.  It had to be done, it just had to, or the world of Pyrosia would be destroyed by the dark might of the Demons.
	Duty was honor, and they price of that honor was blood.  Blood he had shed trying to destroy an evil god out of rage, blood he would shed facing that mad god one more timenot out of fury, but out of duty.  He was the reason that Demon Lord was here, because he had failed to destroy the One the first time, and was poised to easily destroy him once he was fully healed and strong enough to face a much more injured, much weaker adversary.  Everything that happened from this point forward was directly his responsibility, his fault, and he was not going to allow the Demons to destroy this world. Protecting the lands of Pyrosia was now his responsibility, his duty, and he could not turn his back on themnot now.  Not when they needed him, not when they needed someone strong enough to face the wrath of a Demon Lord.
	Honor and Blood.
	The One would be destroyed, and the Demon Lord would have his wings clipped.  He would make sure of that.

Chapter 13

	The sound of the beats of many wings, both large and small, broke the sound of the rushing air a a large flight of Pegasi kept pace with a mighty gold dragon, soaring between two mountain peaks, wings cutting though surpringly cool, dry air.  Bare rock flanked both sides of the formation as they flew between to towering mountain peaks, the tops of which were still covered with snow, the span between them more than wide enough to support the full formation.
	But it was what was below the flying animals that had the attention of all those who were riding upon them.  Below the flyers was a carpet, a virtual sea of milling, shimmering, undulating humanity.  The valley floor below was covered with humans wearing the red uniforms that marked them as the armies of the One, and there were thousands of them.  They looked up at the majestic Pegasi and the overwhelmingly huge gold-scaled dragon and it caused their neat and orderly marching lines to break up and degenerate into the jumbled mass that was left in the wake of the flyers.  There were other things in that mass, dark things, evil thingsDemons.  They watched those Pegasi and that dragon fly over their heads, and they did not try to intervene.  They could feel what that dragon was, sense the radiance of divine power that surrounded the creature; they knew what he was, and they would not oppose him.  Beings such as he were not things that Demons of their limited power took on in small numbers.  They knew that they would stand no chance against him.  They did communicate both ahead and behind that he had passed, but they took no direct action.
	The formation banked along the curve of the valley, and a wondrous sight opened to their eyes.  The horizon came into view with another mountain range far to the north, painted in bright light by the noontime sun, with a huge, surprisingly flat expanse of terrain between to the two mountain ranges.  The southern edges of that territory was covered with thick, brilliantly green and lush hardwood forest, with more and more evergreens mixed in with them as one moved further north, until the trees ended in a large grassy plain that ascended into the foothills of the mountains to the north.  It would be an easy glide the rest of the way, much different than the hard climbing up the mountains, the endless corrections against buffeting crosswinds, and the up and downdrafts prevelant in the mountains.
	But few were looking ahead.  Most were looking down even as the armies below looked up, and they fretted.  There was no way that the hundred or so of them could stand against an army that large.  And unless the Dura had a major army at their disposal, they would not hold against it either.
	They can feel you, Tarrin, Anayi told him as she banked over to fly close to his head, using the telepathic gifts common to her kind.  In fact, the sense of you is so strong I dont think they can feel me because of it.  I can hear themtheyre afraid of you.
	Good, Tarrin answered aloud, as he soared out past the two mountain peaks and saw the pass below plunge away from them.  They were flying out over the slope of the mountain, and the ground retreated from them quickly, as the road through the pass turned to follow the slope of the mountainside.  Lorak, how far is it from the pass to the stronghold of the Dura?
	Lorak, who was flying just ahead of Tarrin, referred to a map that he had pinned to a flat board, so he could look at it without the wind tearing it apart.  Its about three days on a horse.  We should get there by late afternoon.  We need to turn a little to the east, he said, urging his mount to correct the course, referring to a compass in his other hand.  Loraks ability to navigate using a map and compass had been a surprise.  He would do well on any ship on the twenty seas back home.  But what was more surprising was his quick adaptation to flying on the back of the Pegasusbut then again, the Pegasus was doing most of the work.  He was just along for the ride.
	Very good.  Well land in that open area between the forest and the mountains and eat, then continue on, he commanded.
	I see it, Lorak answered, even as his Pegasus nosed down a little to start descending.
	Ariana, Anayi, he prompted, looking at the two winged females in turn.  Anayi was flying by him, Ariana out in front of Lorak.
	Checking it out, Ariana called, then she folded her wings slightly and started a steep descent.
	The area was safe, so the host landed, wolfed down a quick meal, and rested for a brief period before taking to the air once more.  They turned back towards the mountains to catch thermals rising in the afternoon air, then returned to the north-northeastern course.
	Tarrin passed that time with the sound of Denais voice in his ears.  She was grilling Dolanna, delving as far into Dolannas personal life as the Sorceress would allow her to go.  It sounded like she was just being chatty, but in actuality Denai was feeling her out, trying to understand the friendship that he and Dolanna shared, and trying to fathom why he afforded the small woman so much respect.  Dolanna wasnt a warrior, was physically weaker than a Selani child, yet everyone who had seen her talk to Tarrin could tell exactly where she stood in their relationshipat the very least his equal, at the most the dominant.  The Vendari in the basket held in his paws were completely silent, but it wasnt fear.  Vendari didnt talk if there was nothing worth saying, that was all.  Theyd already remarked about the flight, made their comments about the two Hellhounds riding with them.  That done, they passed the time in dignified silence unless answering a question or commenting upon what the Selani were talking about.  The Selani with them did talk among themselves and with the Vendari, but they seemed to sense the Vendaris preference for silence, and kept their chatter to a reasonable level.
	Over the vast forest they flew, a forest with no roads, but there was definitely activity below.  Ariana and Anayi pointed out large concentrations of the Ones forces under the canopy, showing that the men in the pass were just the tail end of a large army marching north to crush the Dura, and Tarrin would bet that a similar army was also marching east to destroy the last of the resistance on the peninsula that brought the Pyrosian continent close to Auromar.  And once they cleared the forest, they saw the Ones armies forming up on the grassy plains, staging there while their members arrived and preparing to march north, and led by major Demons.  Tarrin saw no less than ten Glabrezu, and a large number of lesser Demons scattered among the host, the shock troops meant to blast through the Duras lines with their invincibility and allow the forces of the One to destroy the Dura.
	It was a grim sight.
	But now the Demons and the One knew where Tarrin was going, and now they knew that they would have to deal with him when they came for the Dura, that Tarrins divine might would stand between them and their prize.  That would either cause them to immediately march to try to get there before the Dura had the chance to prepare for their arrival, or wait until they had an overwhelming army that could swarm the Dura over.
	Either way, it wouldnt matter.
	They saw no other signs of the Ones forces as they continued north, but they did see patrols of short, stocky individuals either walking on foot or riding on massive, oversized wolves.  Those were the Dura, and they universally turned and charged back towards their stronghold when they saw the dragon and the winged horses soar overhead, moving in a straight line right for their home.
	By late afternoon, they finally came within sight of the Duras holdings.  They didnt have a grand fortress or a bustling cityin fact, unless one was looking for it, theyd miss the Dura completely. There were some farmlands down there, spread out in neat and orderly rows along the base of a large mountain, in a wide valley through which a river that came down from the mountains ran, nestled in the foothills at the base of that jagged mountain range.  Those were Dura farms, and in the side of the mountain itself, a road leading up to it, was nothing but a pair of massive steel doors set into the mountain itself.
	That was the city of the Dura.  They lived underground, only having the farms above ground to grow food.  All of their buildings and their society existed within the mountain itself.
	The farmers of the Dura turned to flee towards their mountain stronghold when they saw Tarrin, and there was a large force of soldiers boiling out of those open doors towards the farms, a response to his presence.  He paid them little mind for the moment, looking down to select the best place to land without destroying any farmland.
	He feltodd.  He knew he should be excited to meet the Dura, to finally see if they were the descendents of the Dwarves of Sennadar, or knew what happened to them.  But he was not.  He felt almost nothing, only a little relief in that he would be accomplishing part of the task the Goddess had set before him.  That was all it was to him now, the completion of a task.  And the entire task would be complete when the souls of his katzh-dashi brothers and sisters were released from this world and allowed to journey beyond the bounds of this material plane, to join the Goddess in that plane of existence where she truly existed.  When that was done, his task was completeand there would be nothing more left to do but destroy the One and deal with this Demon Lord.
	With a shudder of the earth, Tarrin landed between two neatly maintained tracts of farmland, growing cabbage on one side and turnips on the other, then set the basket down in which the Vendari, Selani, and the Hellhounds were riding.  He then backed up and laid completely down as much as he could so as not to crush the supplies trapped against his chest and belly, putting his head on the grass to allow those riding on his head to get down and to allow the men to disengage the net and free him of his burden.
	Were here, Var said with quiet amusement.  Do you wish help getting down, shaida Dolanna? he asked as Denai lightly dropped to the ground.
	I should be fine, Var, thank you for asking, she replied, and he felt her carefully climbing down the side of his head, using some protruding spikes on the side of his head as hand and foot holds as she got back down to earth.
	Anayi and Ariana landed close to him, then came up to report.  There are a large number of small stocky people running this way, she told him as Var jumped down much as Denai did.  I think theyre the soldiers of these people.
	Let them come, he replied calmly.  But no one raise any weapons to them.  Were here to talk to them.  Kang, he called.
	Aye, Ill get the people organized, lad, he called back, then he started barking orders.  In short order, men were checking over their mounts as men moved to get the net off of his body, and things were quickly started getting organized.
	It certainly didnt take the Dura long to get there.  In just minutes, a squad of about thirty of them came boiling around a hill, rushing towards them wearing heavy plate armor.  Despite all that weight, the short, stocky men moved with a confident pace that showed their strength.  They slowed down when they got within a half a longspan, then stopped when Tarrin raised his head and looked right at them, carefully moved forward to give the men room to pack the gear onto Pegasi, then sedately sat down on the ground and bowed his head slightly in a kind of greeting.  We do not come as enemies, he boomed, speaking in Duthak.  We are here to deliver important news from the southlands.  Approach.
	The shock on their faces told him two things in that instant.  First, that they spoke Duthak.  Second, that these Dwarves had to be in some way related to the long-lost Dwarves of Sennadar.  There could be no other way, because they spoke Duthak.
	They looked among themselves, then they started advancing at a cautious walk.  It took them about ten minutes to get close enough to shout back, and during that time the mounts were watered and fed and the net holding their gear had been removed from Tarrins belly, and those packs and bags and boxes were now being distrubuted among the Pegasi to be carried onward.  Who ye be, and why ye be here? one of them shouted back to the host.
	My name is Tarrin, he answered, hearing how the Dwarf spoke and instantly correcting some of his pronunciation.  Among us are members of the Shadows.  Do you know the Shadows?
	Aye, the same dwarf called.  We be in contact with the Shadows.
	Good.  We bring important news concerning the One and his activities against the Dura.  We also come seeking sanctuary.  I dont know if you know, but the One has destroyed the Shadows in the cities to the south.  The Shadows have come seeking a place of safety.
	I wouldnt have any personal knowledge of that, yed have to talk to the Dain and the Elders.  He turned and talked to one of his men, who immediately ran off towards those doors in the mountainside.  I be asking ye to stay here while my runner sends word of yer arrival back to me officers.
	Thats fine with us, Tarrin called back.  We will wait right where we are.  He glanced back at the others.  Ill warn you now, Im going to use magic to return to my natural shape.  I only used magic to take this form to help get us here.  I wanted to warn you so you wouldnt be surprised.
	The dwarf laughed.  Aye, thank ye for that, he called back.  What manner of beast be ye when like that?
	A dragon, he replied.  A creature not native to this world.  Immediately, the draconic body melted into living flame, and then evaporated like mist on a sunny day, leaving behind the fire-winged Were-cat.  That form drifted lightly to the ground, then after a quick word to the others to remain where they wer, he advanced on the Dwarves.  He shivered his wings slightly then folded them behind him, and he could tell that the Dwarves were getting a bit intimidated, because he kept getting bigger, and bigger, and bigger.  When he was about twenty spans from them, he stopped, and spent a long moment just looking at them.  They were just as the ancient art described them; short, stocky beings with wide, bold features, and copious facial hair.  Every one of them had thick hair in reds or browns or blacks, one with blond hair, and thick beards that were long and well-tended.  All of them wore heavy plate armor, but the way they moved in it told him that they were both incredibly strong for their size, and they wore the armor so often it was like a second skin.  They were armed with axes and warhammers for the most part, though every single one of them had a shortsword sheathed on his belt.  They were figures right out of history, out of mythology to him, and he had waited so long for this moment, so long that the excitement he thought he hadnt felt about this moment began to assert himself.  All those years of studying the artifacts left behind by the Dwarves, the determination to find the descendents of that noble race, it had all culminated in this moment, when he stood before the object of his long quest and realized that the Dwarves were truly not extinct.
	Id be askin how ye speak the Dwarven tongue, the leader of the squad asked, staring wildly at the Were-cat, a creature that, too him, was probably even more fantastic than the dragon it had replaced.
	Tarrin looked at him, then chuckled ruefully.  It took years of meticulous research, he answered truthfully.  Thanks for correcting some of my grammar.  I didnt have anyone around to listen to, so I guessed at some of the pronunciation.
	Ye learned Dura from a book? one of the Dwarves asked in surprise.
	I learned Duthak from a book, he said pointedly.
	That made the leader of the squad give him a strange look.  Who are the Duthak? he asked.
	You are, he told the Dwarf.  Or you were, a very, very long time ago.  Thats why Im here.  Thats why Ive come.  Well, one of the reasons, anyway.
	If I might ask, what manner of creature be ye? the squad leader asked.
	Im a Were-cat, he answered.
	I aint never heard of yer kind.
	Id be surprised if you had, since were not native to Pyrosia. He decided not to overload these Dwarves with too many shocks, so he decided to tread lightly around certain fantastic revelations.  We come from a distant land, a place so different from here that you could call it another world entirely.  A place so distant weve never even heard of the One.
	Take us with ye, one of the Dwarves chuckled.
	I intend to, he answered bluntly, which made the nine Dwarves stare at him in shock.  Thats one of the reasons Im here.  You, the Dura, are the descendents of the Duthak, who used to live where I came from.  Ive been sent here by your god, Clangeddin, to ask you to return home.  But, given whats happened recently, its now going to be more of a demand than a request.
	We aint never heard of no Clangeddin, one of the Dwarves said.
	Ye got lots of nerve to come and say that, fuzzy, another called.
	Men! the squad leader snapped.  Well, ye got guts to say that up front, fella, he chuckled.
	Ive learned over the years that putting it on the table immediately stops certain arguments further down the line, Tarrin said dryly.  I wont make any pretenses as to why Im here.  I originally came here to try to convince the Dura to come home.  But now theres a new danger stalking Pyrosia, something a thousand times worse than the One, and its simply not safe for you to stay here.  Ill meet with your Elders and your Dain and Ill tell them exactly whats coming, then Ill offer to take them home, to where your ancestors came from.
	That sounds unbelieveable, one of the Dwarves snorted.
	Five years ago, I would have agreed with you, back before I had these, he said with such weariness in his voice that it made the Dwarves take notice, as he jerked his thumb over his shoulder at his wings.  While were waiting for your runner, Id like to invite you to come meet the others, he said, his voice normal once more.  A few of them have wanted to meet you for a long time.
	The squad leader pulled back and conferred with his men for a moment, then stepped forward.  Wed be honored to meet yer friends, he announced.  Were kinda curious about a few of them, like those scaly big ones.
	Tarrin chuckled.  Theyre Vendari.  Just be polite and theyre very amiable.  Do you speak Penali?
	He shook his head.  Nay.  Only the Elders deal with the outsiders.
	Tarrin pursed his lips.  Then we have a problem.  Ill have to fix it.  Would you like to learn Penali, or do you think it would be better if I taught the others Duthak?
	Ye can do that? the squad leader asked.
	Im a magician, sir Dwarf, Tarrin told him calmly.  I can do both, if it pleases you.  Its not very difficult.
	Well, they wont be able to understand nobody if they cant speak the language, another Dwarf called aloud.
	True.  Let me go take care of that now.  Wait here, if you please.  If someone who already speaks a langauge gets touched by this spell, it can confuse you.
	Aye.  Call us up when ready.
	Tarrin returned to the others, and realized that he wouldnt be able to get everyone within six spans of him to cast the language spellunless he changed his size, that was.  Im going to teach all of you the language of the Dwarves, he called out.  If any of you already speak it, say so now.
	Nobody spoke up.
	Alright then.  Everyone gather up in front of me, and include the mounts.  And dont be surprised when I expand my wings, I have to have everyone within six spans of me.  There are too many here to do that, so Im going to change the rules by changing my size.
	They milled around a second, then gathered up.  Will this affect us? Binter asked.  You know we are resistant to magic.
	Tarrin nodded.  Its not really an invasive spell, he answered.  Basicly its going to teach your mind a language in such a way that you wont forget.
	Ah.
	If you have any problems, let me know afterwards, he told the Vendari.  I can fix it.
	I will.
	After they were gathered up, Tarrin recalled the words of the spell he needed to use, then caused his wings to suddenly expand out to over twenty times their normal size, flowing out like the expansion of a summer dawn stretching its light across the eager mountains.  Those sail-sized wings gently yet swiftly enveloped the entire host, encircling them and allowing him to get past the six span restriction by placing the entire hose, Pegasi and all, within the boundaries of himself.  He then chanted the second part of the spell, because he was using his own memory to supply the language.  He chanted it over and over again, until he felt it implant itself in the minds of those within the boundaries of his wings, and then he chanted the final part of the spell, which caused the knowledge to seal itself into the minds of the recipients.
	When he was done, when he retracted his wings away, he saw the look of grave concern on the face of Dolanna.  He saw in her eyes, for the first time, that look of questioning there.  She took several steps towards him, her face sober, but Haley intercepted her, turned her aside with some question or comment or something.  She glanced back at him, her expression promising a long talk in the future, but allowed Haley to spirit her away.
	After he was done, he invited