Change on the Rise
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Jack passed the gun across the table to the waiting hands of his men, each one nodding as they accepted the gift with a solemn nod, and then moved on. Jack's hand hesitated as a hand that was long fingered and refined seized the rifle and he met the eyes of the man who started back defiantly before Jack released his grip and let his son win.
The rain outside had lulled to a soft drizzle and they knew they could wait no longer. If it began to downpour again they might miss their window. The river would rise.
Dorian walked over to stand next to his other parent who was watching the exchange with equal silence with the knife in his hand slowly, almost lazily swirling in wide circles on the stone he had spit on to lubricate the blade. It gave him a weird satisfaction to do this, like his spit might find its way into the heart to the man this was intended for. The blade was pale, almost white if not for the stain of blood that had turned it a dull black along the edge. This was not made of metal… it was made of another kind of biting thing all together.
They were all dressed the same. Dark clothing, hats pulled low over their hair and ears, just their faces visible on the torchlight as the flames of the torches flickered in the night.
There was no need for words as Dorian turned to look over his men, all of them ready to follow this sixteen year old to death and honour, as were those about to follow his fathers to the same field, to the black… to the same dark monster waiting to eat them all… or join them in battle.
Finally Ianto stopped the shucking noise and placed the stone down, sighing as he checked the blade in the moonlight before slipping it up his sleeve and looking over at his husband while checking his sword next. Jack looked at him and nodded slowly, their silent goodbye missed by everyone but their oldest son. Dorian watched, and then turned to his younger brother of twelve with a nod of his own that sent Hamish back over the field beyond the barn they were all in. He knew the way in the dark like the back of his hand, a mere fifteen minutes on the outside to get home. He was running home to make sure his younger brothers and sisters were all in the cellar, locked in and safe before it began.
He did not look back.
Might go blind if you turn to watch, Taddy said so.
Everyone in the old barn was on edge as the first of them followed Ianto out into the night and Jack placed his hands palm down on the table as he closed his eye in a silent prayer that he might see his husband again.
Alive would be nice.
They all moved out in their agreed pods, Jack moving last so he could keep their son between them, checking behind them and sweeping their tracks in case there were spies watching.
There are always spies.
They ran through the woods as leaves flew up from the kicking of heels, the hands slid around the bark of trees and more than one slipped in one spot, clambering up to run on with mild amusement and embarrassment. Each person dropped their fire torch into the barrel of rain water waiting for them on the edge of the field, now only the moon to guide them. Ianto first to the field where he stopped running to stand and breathe deeply, settling and preparing as those from the other side swarmed towards him.
Steady.
Jack ran with renewed vigour as he heard the distant bellow that told him Ianto had begun his attack.
Gods, grant us victory. Valour. Or a fast road to the next place.
Jack burst from the tree line to find Ianto in the middle of the field, the grass covered with blood as he swung that sword, his mouth open as he panted and roared, slipping in the wet as the soft drizzle now became a weird mist filling the vale.
The vale.
Jack stopped running, his heart pounding as he looked around with alarm. The mist was thick, growing thicker by the second as he not detected a faint smell … so he called out a warning as he dropped to the ground, his son calling the same as they told their men to do as they had been trained.
Drop to the ground, cover your head with your arms and take a deep breath, then hold.
Only Ianto remained, staring down the enemy who stood with looks of confusion as their adversaries acted like a bomb was going off. Some turned to look behind themselves like the river that flowed down the bank on the other side of the field might have crocodiles slithering out or mehaps water borne snakes? They were as confused as their leader who had not expected this madness either. They were not flanked, they had made sure of it.
Ianto simply dropped the blade and reached into the pocket of his waistcoat, then he threw his arms out with a roar of defiance, the lighter in his right hand clicking moments before the flame ignited the gas filling the field.
The world lit up.
Ianto stood with his head tipped back, f ace to the heavens as the world around him burned.
The flames cleansed and renewed.
Then, as it all seemed to implode and die away Ianto let his head move to look at the man who stood before him, the only one left as his companions all lay on fire, dead or dying… at least those who had not flown from the power of the blast to the water bellow already.
The man's clothing was half blown away and his eyes wide as he grinned maniacally at Ianto. Finally, the first words were spoken as the man held out his hand to Ianto "Dragon's Breath. Clever cousin. You forget… I am Dragone too."
"I forget nothing cousin" Ianto crooned softly while accepting the handshake and stepping on, as if passing endearments to a lover and it was a heartbeat later that the man realized his mistake.
Ianto had another blade.
And this one found it's mark.
"We may both be Dragone by our fathers my cousins" Ianto purred into the ear of the man convulsing against him "But I am half human by my mother. And there is no more of a vicious creature. Take the tooth of our Great-Grandfather's Ride."
Ianto stepped back, letting his cousin's body fall back off the dragon's tooth, then slid down the embankment into the river flowing behind the battle field.
Soft singing started as the others were fed to the river, their bodies drifting downstream so their people could mourn their losses.
There on the mountain, in the backcountry the Dragone Bastard raised his head and blew his breath across the water … the mist rising to ferry the bodies along to their kin.
For he is another kind of creature.
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Without the light
Oh, the darkness comes
Hold through the night
The shadows will run
[Pre-Chorus]
Fend off the enemy
Sing out the jubilee
With all the fire we can breathe
[Chorus]
We're singing all day and you can't tame it
High tide or low tide, you know
Nighttime or morning time, yeah
We're going strong
Headed up down the river, oh Lord
I feel the reveling
I feel a change on the rise
[Verse 2]
What good's a man
Who's lost his soul?
Can't take a stand
When his flame's gone cold
[Pre-Chorus]
Fend off the enemy
Sing out the jubilee
With all the fire we can breathe
[Chorus]
We're singing all day and you can't tame it
High tide or low tide, you know
Nighttime or morning time, yeah
We're going strong
Headed up down the river, oh Lord
I feel the reveling
I feel a change on the rise
[Bridge]
I feel a change on the
I feel a change on the rise
I feel a change on the
I feel a change on the rise
[Chorus]
We're singing all day and you can't tame it
High tide or low tide, you know
Nighttime or morning time, yeah
We're going strong
Headed up down the river, oh Lord
I feel the reveling
I feel a change on the rise
[Chorus]
We're singing all day and you can't tame it
High tide or low tide, you know
Nighttime or morning time, yeah
We're going strong
Headed up down the river, oh Lord
I feel the reveling
I feel a change on the rise
I feel a change on the rise
Avi Kaplan
