The Book of Ominiue: Starborn by D.M. Barnham Page B

Shayne knew this was probably a fabrication; it usually was when concerning heroic figures; fictional or historic. If by some chance truth did exist in the dragons and they did base their choice of rider on personality alone, then one would assume it was a very selective community. The riders were probably more likely to marry each other, enforcing the personality traits that seemed common in their society and therefore creating family dynasties.
    Madan’rah’s ancestral genetics would have diluted slowly over the years, mixing with others of different nature. The lionman was strong and fairly intelligent, but Shayne simply found him ordinary. He was friendly and a good leader, but not the workings of a potential legend.
    ‘Look!’ Madan’rah pointed out. ‘Keemaíth is ahead.’ They all cast their eyes up the road. Shayne could see a river coming from the mountains and on the other side stood a large city with two ancient walls running all around it; on the outside rose a smaller wall with a higher one behind it. Relief came to Shayne. His legs and rear end ached beyond anything he had so far experienced, and he knew he would have trouble dismounting. Everyone was pleased to see the city: The Earthmen because they were all feeling sore and sorry for themselves and the lionmen because it was civilisation and many were stationed there including the High Captain.
    The horses picked up speed to try and get to the city a little quicker. The Earthmen gripped harder but it did not help and many of them had to keep adjusting. At first the slight change in pace felt better and gave Shayne some relief, but not long before new pains rippled through his legs and the original ache of his pelvis returned, not to mention that he could not keep balance and resorted to gripping the pommel of the saddle for support.
    When they were a kilometre from the great old gates Shayne saw that there was an honour guard waiting for them. The Bohaníde warriors sat upon great warhorses, creating a guard on each side of the road into the city. Lionman and horse were fully armoured, their dark metal gleaming in the sunlight.
    When they had reached the guard their train slowed down and Shayne was told to ride ahead by himself. After him rode Pan’arden, her pet tiger and Kíe side-by-side; followed by Hanniver, Red Rocket and Madan’rah; then the other Earthmen and the Bohaníde search party, with the robots and Star Born Soldiers following them and finally the remaining Bohanese warriors.
    Shayne did not feel comfortable up at the front by himself, he was used to being flanked by one of the three leading lionmen. He rode on hiding all discomfort. The city walls were ancient with archers on top of the gates peering down upon them.
    The honour guard wore heavy armour, with their faces hidden behind helmets that were adorned with a crest on top like the ancient Greeks. They held great halberds that looked as long as jousting sticks, with the metal points gleaming in the sun. The horses were just as heavily armoured with a unicorn-like horn on their head gear. They had great shields resting on the rear of the horses with the red-winged fire lion painted upon them. On one side of each horse was mounted a greatsword that a human would struggle to lift, and lastly they had the standard swords hanging from their belts.
    As Shayne’s horse reached the first of the honour guard a horn was blown from the far end and all the warriors in unison lifted their weapons off the ground and into the air. They all called out something that Shayne could not understand.
    He rode on beneath an arch of raised spears. When he reached the gatehouse the last warrior called out a command, sending all the halberds back to their resting position with a single fluid motion and a unified thud. The same lionman then called out as the party passed through the ancient gates, ‘Dama undíne hama ilnenoi alfama Kéaran.’
     

    The defences of the city were ancient and despite the