Thank you to Dasque! Her beta skills are EXACTLY what I was hoping for. She is truly 'leet. :D
Extra big thanks to alyssacousland for her kind words over on the Cheeky Monkeys forum. Thank you to sapphiretoes and Warrose, as well, for their comments and dedication to reading the story!
Part 52: Triumph of the Darkspawn
Simon altered his vision, seeing through Pip's eyes, and Pip automatically shifted his view in closer so that Simon could see.
A second weapon appeared in Salanzin's other hand, a dagger. Simon bounced the dagger off of his shield and caught the attempt at a low, dirty maneuver from the sword with his own, wincing as the other man's sword skittered across his gauntlet, snaking through to leave a slight cut on his wrist between the joints.
He swung the shield hard, slamming it into Salanzin's chin, knocking the leather-clad man backwards a step and drawing blood. He pushed the advantage quickly, slamming him again, and when the other tried to dart sideways, slamming him yet another time, before settling back to get his own balance back.
The barbarian tried to work his way behind him, trying to walk quietly, but there was no fooling either Simon's enhanced hearing, nor Pip's eyes. Simon moved into a crouch, letting the other man move around to his side, deliberately weaving his head as though he couldn't tell where the other was.
His apparent weakness was Salanzin's vulnerable spot. He took the bait immediately, rushing towards Simon's seemingly unprotected side. Simon dropped low, sweeping his sword high for the expected parry. As soon as it landed, he slammed his shield into the other man's legs, knocking him onto his back and dropping a knee into his chest.
He pressed the sword against the other man's neck. "Yield," he told him.
Salanzin ignored the sword at his neck—he sensed Simon's weakness, an unwillingness to kill—and stabbed Simon in the side, under and between the plane of his chestpiece and the hinge of his legs piece.
Simon jerked away, slamming the shield brutally into Salanzin's face. The other lay gasping as Simon stomped down on his arm and jerked the dagger out of it, dropping it on the ground. He just as swiftly divested the barbarian of his sword.
Salanzin wasn't willing to give in, though, and swept Simon's feet out from under him. Simon fell, but he let the momentum of his fall send his foot into Salanzin's face, knocking him backwards away from the dagger he'd been reaching for.
Then he simply rolled, not trying to get up, and planted his knee on the other man's throat. He kept the pressure on just enough that Salanzin couldn't fight or struggle. "Yield," Simon told him. This time, it wasn't a request. As the barbarian glared at him, Simon slowly began to increase the pressure.
Finally, his face going red, he threw up his hands and gasped for air, "Okay!"
Simon got off of him, holding his badly bleeding side. He could barely walk, pain tearing through him like the raking talons of a furious drake.
He released his link with Pip's vision, too exhausted for the effort required to keep it open. He heard the Healer running toward him, and knew she would be in range in seconds. Too late, he heard the scrambling sound from behind, and then running footsteps—
Pip was there, landing hard on the field, his foreclaws on each side of his wounded Rider. He dropped his head into the path of the cheating barbarian, who had picked his dagger up and was running headlong for Simon's unprotected back.
He roared right in the man's face, every spine on his body rigid and standing up. He was a pure, savage demonstration of livid male Dragon. His wings spread with a growl of ferine rage, displaying absolute, deadly threat.
Even as the man fell and scrabbled backwards away from him, he reared and came down so heavily on his front claws that the ground trembled. He roared again, a warning and a violent promise.
Then his head turned and he stepped carefully away to allow the Healer into range to Heal Simon. As Simon slowly stood up, he leaned heavily against Pip.
He watched again through Pip's eyes, amazed as the group of barbarians, who had moved up during his battle with Salanzin, began to drop down onto one knee. One by one, then in pairs and in a growing tide, they knelt, bowing their heads as they faced Pip.
Within moments, even the children and elderly were kneeling in the same manner, all paying homage to Pippilinipini.
Pip lifted his head, gazing at them for a moment, before slowly lowering his head in acknowledgement of their action. They stood and began to talk excitedly.
The elderly woman stepped forward. "I am Mayah. Please forgive us, Great One. Salanzin has allowed fear to cloud his judgment. He has led the clans well, and I do not believe he is as evil as his actions show him to be here. He truly fears that a blind leader might weaken us. I do not excuse his actions, but I hope that you can try to understand them."
"Pip will not allow Salanzin to harm Simon. Simon won the battle. If Salanzin makes another attempt on Simon's life, Pippilinipini will destroy him."
She stared at him, her mouth hanging open. It was clear she hadn't expected an actual response. She recovered and snapped her mouth shut. "Great one—Pip—we will not tolerate his actions. We will accept the judgment of the Patriarch, be it death, exile, or enslavement."
"Simon does not wish to be a Patriarch," Pip told her.
"It's not something you can wish or choose, Great One," she answered nervously. "It is what he is. It's part of his nature. He is the only remaining male of the Dragon's Claw Clan. We cannot designate it or undo it. Only death or a properly won Challenge can transfer it. He has already won the Challenge. This is unprecedented, and I doubt the outcome would be different if we tried again. The Challenge must be won honestly and with full effort by both parties, or the Patriarchy will not be passed. And I don't believe he wants to lose his wife and children, only in order to pass away the Patriarchy, anyway."
"What are—" Simon began.
He was interrupted as, without warning, the field erupted with Darkspawn. There were masses of them, and the tribes began to fight in earnest. It was everyone for themselves as they burst from under the ground in droves.
Pip was immediately over-run. Darkspawn clung to him, and he shrieked as he whipped his wings out and fought to lift off. He heaved mightily, breaking many of them loose, and lifted off with Darkspawn clinging to his legs and slicing at his belly.
He bellowed and roared as they dug at him, chittering and growling. He bit one Hurlock and threw it even as those below on the ground fought valiantly, getting in each other's way as they fought not to be overrun.
He managed to dislodge a Genlock, but he could get no altitude.
Alistair broke off his ground fight and altered even as he leapt. He swung near Pip and managed to bite one free, and knocked two more. He returned on another pass, but he could see blood raining down from Pip in a sheet as the Darkspawn sought to open him up and infect him with their blood.
The fighting on the ground intensified as the Darkspawn became more spread out, and more humans and elves, as well as a few dwarves, joined from Margarite.
Pip continued to shriek in agony as the Darkspawn tried to burrow into him. Finally, desperate in his pain and confused by the Darkspawn blood that was beginning to enter his system, he turned his head and belched liquid red acidic flame. It coated the Darkspawn and destroyed them swiftly.
But it also struck him, and although his scales resisted it, it entered into his wounds and it seared into a fragile wing.
Pip tumbled from the sky, landing with a strangled scream, barely managing to miss landing on anyone. Healers from the barbarians and the Orders alike rushed towards him as the fighting began to calm quickly.
"He's dying," Mayah said tersely as she inspected him with a spell. Then she turned towards Simon. "You have not tasted of his blood, have you?"
"No," Simon answered. "Of course not!"
"You fool!" Mayah barked at him. "That's the only way the Darkspawn cannot taint him! He must taste your blood, and you must taste his. It may be too late now!"
