A/N

Thank you for waiting for this next chapter. I have been having some hand issues and with it comes a lot of pain. However, it wont stop me from writing but it will slow me down just a little. For that i am sorry.

I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 37

The Dragon seekers

Cedric sat in the center of the prisoners tent chained to a thick wooden post that jutted from the earth at an odd angle. The magic blocking shackles grazed against Cedric's wrists as he shifted his position in an attempt to get comfortable. He cursed when the effort only caused the wounds along his back to reopen. He stilled when he felt blood start to trickle down his back. He leaned against the post in defeat. Each lung-full of air caused sharp spears of searing pain to shoot through his chest and nausea was quickly approaching. Cedric cursed Morgana.

"Oi, shut your mouth," Neal, a sorcerer under Morgana's rule, sneered. "Or I'll shut it for you." The torch withered in the frosty air casting shadows on Neal's angular face. The tent barely offered shelter from the cold as a harsh wind tore through and assaulted Cedrics' wounds.

Neal used to be amiable towards Cedric, even cordial at times, but that never could disguise the cruelty that festered inside him. Now Neal took it upon himself to be the personal thorn in Cedrics' side. He used every opportunity to egg Cedric past his sense of reason. Pushing him to make mistakes, and then there was Emrys with his half ass-ed plans that inevitably ended with Merlin unconscious, a sorcerer or ten dead and Cedric in chains. Fate was cruel and closing in fast, and the only light in the dark, at least in Cedric's mind, was to find the dragon, Athusia, before the bond between Merlin and Morgana was complete. However, Cedric over heard Neal talking with other sorcerers about Morgana's new plans that put a major kink in his own plans. Morgana had sent the dragon away, with a very large and concerning force towards Camelot the moment Merlin fell unconscious. She never intended to meet her brother on the battle field. She was going to steal the throne and kingdom out from under him.

"Piss off, Neal," Cedric barked, gesturing obscenely for him to go fuck himself.

Reese, a burly man with a large beard and even larger ax strapped to his back, laughed. Neal looked back at his friend, daring him to laugh again. Reese's smile faded, but the spark of humor never left his jovial amber eyes. With a snarl, Neal spun on Cedric and aimlessly kicked him in the head. Neal's boot grazed the side of his face. Cedric paused a moment to let the shock ware off. Slowly he looked back up at Neal. A smile played with Cedrics split lips.

"Is that all you got, you slimy git?" Cedric Laughed. "My little sister hits harder than that when she's drunk." That was no diss on his sister. Omari was a tough woman, and a mighty force to be reckoned with.

She, like him, was a part of a clan of Dragon Seekers lead by their parents. Omari had Magic like Cedric did, however, where Cedric had the ability to move from place to place with little more than a thought, Omari had a rare talent for bending the laws of nature. They were embedded into Morgana's army in its infant years. Cedric as Morgana's guard and Omari among the archers, away from the corrupted sorcerers and their darkness to keep her desired talents hidden and as far from Morgana as possible. The goal of infiltrating Morgana's camp was to keep the dragon race from extinction, not give Morgana another weapon to use. Kilgharrah was near his last days, and the egg Cedric's parents have been protecting for the last two decade still hasn't hatched. Cedric guessed it was waiting for its mate, as it was with dragons.

Rage clouded Neal's dark eyes. His face twisted up into an ugly scowl. He kicked Cedric again, this time deliberately aiming for Cedric's face. Neal was a man who gave into wrath with ease.

Cedric anticipated his move and reacted on instinct. Cedric brought his arms up, his movements sluggish but he managed to blocked Neal's boot in time. The chains rattled and the cuffs cut deeper into his wrist. Neal shoved Cedric's arms aside, and before he knew it a fist came down hard on the side of his already battered face.

Cedric reeled. A searing tidal wave of pain rolled through his body and shot down his spine. Dark dots danced around obscuring his sight. Curses rolled of his tongue like an uncouth opus. The pain was less than it was five minutes ago, and ten before that, thanks to Cedric's enhanced biology, and his incredible tolerance for pain. His body was slowly, but surely, healing itself from the inside out, but it still hurt. Once Cedrics' vision cleared, he glared up at Neal. Cedric let his loathing fill his eye's. All he could do was imagine smashing his fists into Neal's smug face over and over again until there was nothing left but a pile of blood, bone and brain matter, however, Cedric would never allow himself to fall pray to that kind of malignant emotion. His vows forbade it. Cedric grit his teeth and took in a deep breath through his noes. He got a powerful hold of his emotion. He had to reign it in. Anger would gain him nothing, and besides, that kind of rage was disabling. It clouds judgment, a distraction that allows you to be susceptible to manipulation, or worse.

Neal looked back at Reese, looking for approval. Cedric took advantage of his arrogance. Cedric rotated onto his side and swung his right leg over his left and kicked Neal in the back of his knee as hard as he could. Neal's leg gave out from under him. His knees cracked onto the dirt ground, hard. Taking advantage of Neal's vulnerable position, Cedric leaned back the way he came and swing his booted heel into Neal's chest knocking him flat onto his back. He was pinned by Cedrics leg across his neck. Neal growled and shoved his leg from his neck. Cedric leaned back against the wooden post and watched Neal stand up. He rubbed at his chest and glowered at Cedric. Cedric rested his head back and smirked up at him.

"You're such a piece of shit, Cedric." Neal growled and kicked at Cedrics ankle.

Cedric gave a barking laugh. "I'd disagree with you but," Cedric drawled. He ran his tongue over his teeth inspecting them. He spat a blob of blood and saliva at Neal's feet. "You're right,"

Neal scoffed. He glared at Cedric. "Then I should just kill you now." Neal mumbled.

"That would be very unwise." a feminine voice countered from behind him. Neal turned to see who it was.

Cedric blanched as his sisters fist connected with his face. He dropped like a sack of rocks. Behind her Reese lay unconscious on the ground. She knelt down next to him and set her bow on the ground. She held her hand over the shackles and with a thought they clicked open.

"Where's Athusia?" Omari demanded.

Cedric rubbed his wrist. Sadly he looked up at his sister and shook his head regretfully. With a pained grunt he slowly got to his feet, Omari followed, helping when he needed support.

"Where is she?" Omari asked gentler, apprehension weighed her words down.

"They already took her." Cedric said regretfully.

"What?" She stepped back in shock and shook her head in denial. "Where?" She gasped.

"We don't have time for this," Cedric snapped. "We have to get Merlin." He started his way from the tent, but a gentile hand on his arm stopped him.

"Cedric, where did Morgana send Athusia."

Cedric shook his head angrily.

"Cedric." Omari snapped. He looked back at her. Storm clouds descended over his bright eyes. "Where."

Cedric huffed in annoyance. It was bad enough to know that Morgana was winning, it was even worse to have to confirm it. "Camelot." Cedric let the word hang in the air.