The Dragonborn

Part 59

Agro reared letting out a fearful whinny as she thrashed her front legs. Jack managed to stay in the saddle, watching the blood dragon stare down at him with its bright yellow eyes. The blood dragon bared its teeth, its deep voice bellowing out like thunder. "Dovahkiin! Whatever you hope to find here... YOU WILL FAIL"! The foresworn warriors all around shifted uncomfortably, but those close to Delphine and Mark kept on fighting. From atop of the high rock, Jack barely heard the Hagravens eerie fluttery voice coo out to the Briarheart warrior. "A Dragonborn? Here? I want him"! The blood dragon jerked his head toward the Hagraven, snarling out furiously. "Stay away! He's MINE"! The Briarheart warrior turned on his heels, making his way down the steps without any trace of fear for anything going on. 

The blood dragon curled its long neck like a snake and opened his mouth to pour out a burst of flames. Jack thought that would be the end of the Hagraven and the Briarheart warrior... but it wasn't. The Hagraven boldly raised one of her frail hands high and the dragons flames slammed into a ward that was strong enough to protect both her and the warrior as he descended the steps without looking back. The blood dragon cut off his flames and let out a pained growl as the Hagraven dropped one hand and raised another. This other hand shot out a red light that struck the dragon in the chest and drew out tiny balls of light to her palm. The dragon shook his head, before soaring away from his spot, heading for Jack. Jack turned Agro toward the docks, prodding her to run under, while somewhere the Hagraven screamed out angrily. "NO! He's mine"!

There was a loud zapping sound and the next thing Jack knew the dragon crashed into the river. The river water rose in a high wave that swamped the ground from under Agro. Jack became separated from Agro as the water rose up high and just as quickly fell away. Jack half swam and half crawled out of the water for the nearest muddy shore.  While above him on the docks, he could hear the clash of weapons. A body fell into the water behind him, spooking Agro to bolt up the shore passed him. Jack tried to grab her reins as she passed, but missed. Instead, a firm hand grabbed his wrist and yanked him into a blow to his stomach. The knee to his stomach, knocked all the air from his lungs, while the pain staggered him to the ground. Clutching his stomach with his free hand, he looked up into the cold expressionless face of the Briarheart warrior.

Jack tried to yank his wrist free, but the Briarheart warrior's grip was inhumanly strong. The Briarheart started to drag him back toward the high rock like he was nothing more than a simple child. No matter how much he resisted, he couldn't even get the Briarheart to break his pace. Removing his dagger, he stepped in to plunge it into the man's neck. The Briarheart stopped, turning slowly to look back at him with those same emotionless eyes. Jack swallowed in disbelief. The man should have been gushing blood. He should have been dead. Instead, the Briarheart removed the dagger effortlessly and back-handed him in the face with it. Jack fell back across the wet ground, spitting a mouth full of blood. His face was throbbing like mad and he swore that he bit his tongue. The Briarheart hefted him over his shoulder, while the Hagraven suddenly moved into his line of sight, cooing out as she traced a sharp black talon nail across his throbbing cheek. "Quickly! Quickly! I want his heart"!

Jack jerked away from her disgusting claw, smacking her hand away and taking a deep breath. The Hagraven shot him a glare, before he shouted out. "FUS RO DAH"! The Hagraven was blasted off her feet and sent into the water. The Briarheart didn't put him down though. His grip only tightened as he continued to head somewhere. Jack took in the area anxiously. Delphine was fighting the blood dragon, slashing up his wings to keep him grounded. While holding the dragon's attention was Mark. Wielding a shield and blocking the dragon's every fire attack, before hacking at its massive nose and dodging it when it tried to eat him. Esbern even seemed to be helping Mark by shooting ice spikes at the dragon's eyes. Almost all the forsworn were dead. The only stragglers were the ones that had him.