The Dragon Eaters

by Duke Kittle

  * * *

  The tension in the air at the front gate of Likonia seemed to have abated a bit with Belthazuul's inaction and Tina's arrival. The dragon of rock and soil remained motionless as Tina remained seated on the ground in front of him with her legs crossed and her hands folded in her lap. Kravek was sitting ten yards behind her and eating the rest of his payment from Tina.

  Tina's gaze was settled on Belthazuul's face, and the two of them were simply staring at each other in a way which to others might have seemed eerie. But Tina knew that a dragon such as Belthazuul could very well be sleeping in his statuesque posture. Even so, she wanted him to know where her attention lay.

  It wasn't until Tina could see something moving in the air far behind Belthazuul that she moved her eyes. She blinked a few times and touched the side of her glasses. The runic circle appeared in the right lens, and its layers rotated. Her vision grew sharper, and within the circle, Tina could see off into the distance far beyond her normal scope.

  Twisting and flowing through the air with the smooth movements of a snake was a white-scaled Maldavian with a long, slender body that barely possessed a humanoid shape. Though the Maldavian lacked any sort of wings, she moved through the air as if gravity had no claim on her. Her underbelly was covered by golden scales which swept all the way back to her tail but ended shortly after reaching it. Her head resembled that of a wolf, though the only thing even resembling fur on her face was the golden mane which flowed from the top of her head and swept down the back of her neck. A pair of long whiskers trailed out from the sides of her scaly muzzle, and they swept and flowed with the movements of her body. Even the four horns on her head swept back majestically as she flew toward Belthazuul.

  Flying beside the serpent-like dragon was a pair of Maldavian Albatrosses. She recognized one of them as Norita, Belthazuul's Albatross. The other Albatross flying beside the white Maldavian had a stronger physique. A male Albatross, his white scales, golden-feathered wings, and even his back-swept horns made him look much more like the new Maldavian who was approaching. Tina smiled to herself. She recognized the dragon and her Albatross.

  Landing next to the imposing Belthazuul, the newly arrived Maldavian looked much smaller in comparison even though she was taller than the largest of buildings within the city of Likonia. She looked up at Belthazuul and bowed her head, speaking in the Maldavian native tongue. “Return to the Ring of Fire, Belthazuul.”

  Belthazuul's stone head turned as he fixed his gaze on the other Maldavian. He then bowed, his body moving with the sound of grinding stone. “Yes, Lady.” Belthazuul turned his attention back on Tina. “We shall have to have another staring match another time, Wizard. It has been enjoyable.” Belthazuul then fixed his gaze on Norita. Without a word, he sank into the ground to become nothing more than a massive mound of soil. Norita dived into the soil herself to join him as the two swam through the soil back toward the woods.

  Tina smiled at Belthazuul's remark as he departed and rose to her feet. She bowed to the white-scaled Maldavian. “It has been too long, Methystra.”

  The white-scaled Maldavian turned her attention down to Tina. She bowed her head. “Welcome back, Theorist van Schtoffen. I wish you could have returned in better times.” Methystra looked at the guards standing at the ready on the wall. “Belthazuul's orders have been rescinded for the time being, Lady van Schtoffen, but the council remains ready to issue them again. I sent him away only because two dragons in one place at this time is tempting bait for these Eaters of Magic.”

  Tina adjusted her glasses. “Methystra, there is no need to be quite so formal. We are long friends. Please, call me Tina.”

  Methystra looked down at Tina. The Maldavian parted her jaws and breathed out a thick mist which spiraled around her body rapidly. All that could be seen of her for a few seconds was a column of fog. A shape descended down through the fog as the shadow of Methystra's form disappeared. Stepping out of the mist was a much smaller, far more humanoid form which more closely resembled a Maldavian Albatross than one of the true Maldavians. The new form however lacked the telltale feathery wings specific to the Albatrosses.

  The clothing she wore looked like silk and was wrapped around Methystra's wrists with a stretch of cloth leading back up to her neck. Tina could see the cloth hugging the woman's torso where it crisscrossed on her chest. More of that cloth was hanging around the woman's waist with a trail leading down in the back over top of her long, tapered tail with a similar stretch of cloth hanging down in front. Her golden hair was bushy, but swept straight back on her head with her four golden horns framing it.

  A smile appeared on Methystra's muzzle. “It's good to see you, Tina. I take it by your presence here the Council of Stars has become involved in all of this.”

  Tina nodded. “The High Theorist sent me here to learn more about the Dragon Eaters, or as Shalizan and you have called them, the Eaters of Magic.”

  Methystra's smile faded at the mention of Shalizan. “You saw Shalizan before he died?”

  Tina rested her hand on the necklace which contained the lava-colored crystal hanging against the front of her robe. “I did. He wished me to tell you his last thoughts were of you, Methystra.” She lifted the necklace from her chest to look down at it. “I think he also must have wanted something between you and Angelica before he died. I hold her in this gem for now. He wished me to cast a Ritual of Preservation on her.”

  Methystra lowered her gaze. Tina could see the thoughtful look on the Maldavian's face, but she shook her head. “There is something I would say to Angelica should I be afforded the opportunity. But for now,” she looked to Tina again, “I would ask you to keep Angelica with you. I do not know Shalizan's intent in preserving her, but she may be able to help you before this is over.”

  Tina could see the mixed emotions swirling in Methystra's eyes. She removed the necklace and held it up toward Methystra. “Methystra, I do not know Shalizan's mind. But Angelica was a faithful and devoted Albatross. I think her last moments should be spent with someone who loved Shalizan as much as she.”

  Water edged Methystra's eyes, but she swept it away with her hand. “You know not how truly you speak, Tina.” She gently put her finger on the tiny necklace and ushered it back to Tina's chest. “But I believe Angelica would rather ensure that her Shalizan was avenged.”

  Tina didn't agree, but she could see how the subject was upsetting Methystra. She pulled the necklace back over her head and let it settle back against her chest. “Methystra, there are many things I would like to discuss with you, but I am uncertain how well the Likonians will react to you if you were to walk among them.”

  “Not well.” Methystra rose to her feet. “Especially not since one of my kind was sitting on their doorstep ready to destroy their town.” She turned her head to look back at the Albatross standing a respectful distance behind her. “Arkus, please return home and tell the council I have arrived safely and sent Belthazuul back to the Ring of Fire. I mean to remain here for the time being.”

  The white-scaled Albatross bowed his head to Methystra, but shot Tina a glance. Tina could see the warning in it and knew well enough the Albatross's meaning. Spreading his golden, feathery wings, he leapt into the air and flew back in the direction from which he'd come.

  Methystra looked down at Tina as her long tail swept back and forth behind her. “If you wish to speak in private, I can surround us in mist.”

  Tina giggled. “Or we could simply continue to speak in Maldavian. I do not get the impression the Likonians have learned your language in so short a time.”

  Methystra shook her head. “A few have,” she looked up at the wall where the guards seemed to be more at ease with Belthazuul gone, “though I do not see any of those whom I know have learned our language.” She then looked at Kravek. “Will your Albatross be joining us?”

  Tina blinked and looked back at Kravek. “My... Albatross?”
/>
  Methystra nodded slowly. “Though I can see you did not create him, I do see the flow of greater magic between the two of you.” Methystra raised one eyebrow. “He is not your companion?”

  Tina's face reddened as she recalled what kinds of greater, yet subtle magic could form between two people. She cleared her throat and folded her arms across her stomach. “He has been my traveling companion, but I only met him when I arrived in Likonia.”

  Methystra tucked one arm across her stomach while she rested her other hand on the side of her muzzle and smiled. “I see. I did not think your affections could be so quickly won, Tina.”

  Tina's face reddened a little more deeply, and she reached up to adjust her glasses, quickly changing the subject. “About the Eaters of Magic,” her ears pressed back against her hair, “I have come to learn a few things about them. I wonder if you might be able to help me confirm them, Methystra.”

  Methystra's knowing smile only made Tina's face all the redder before the Maldavian let the subject shift as Tina guided it. “What is it you wish to know?”

  “Your people can see the flow of magic in the world. Tell me, are the Eaters of Magic natural beings?”

  Methystra shook her head. “They are not. We have seen them many times before.” She frowned. “We thought at first the Council of Stars was angry with us when we did.”

  “Because they were created by magic?” Tina asked.

  Methystra bowed her head. “Because they were created by a wizard.” Methystra looked wounded as she continued, “My people thought at first we had somehow angered your Council of Stars by opposing the Likonians interloping on our lands. The Council of Stars has long been our ally, Tina. To believe your people had turned on us for such a reason was... disheartening.” Her wounded expression changed to one of relief. “You do not know the weight it lifted from our hearts when Norita gave our elders your message.”

  Tina sighed with her own sense of relief. “That explains a little bit.” She smiled at Methystra. “I am glad to have been able to help lift that burden, Methystra.”

  Tina sat with her hands folded on her lap while Methystra settled onto her knees in front of the tiny wizard. She pulled her glasses off and used the edge of her robe to clean them. She spoke in the plain trade language with the knowledge Methystra was fluent in it. “There's something which seems very odd about this entire situation, Methystra.” She put her glasses back on the bridge of her muzzle. “While I have seen the aftermath of the Dragon Eaters' presence, I have yet to see them for myself. You confirmed my own conclusion about their origin, at least. If I'm to undo them, I need to at least examine them. They apparently roam, but they must have a home of some sort. I've been told they only emerge in the days before, during, and following the full moon.”

  Methystra nodded. “That is the only time we have seen them, save in one instance.”

  Tina's ears straightened up and swiveled to face Methystra. “When was this?”

  Methystra gestured toward the south. “An Idassian wizard erected a beacon of magic to attract them once. It was much closer to the Likonians’ mine in the Maw of Malidath.” She set her hand back onto her knees and gave Tina a stern expression. “The Likonians have been disturbing the resting places of the betrayers, Tina. That is one reason we have been opposed to their presence. They placed their colony directly between the Maws of Kaelus and Malidath.”

  Tina wiggled her whiskers as her tail lay across her lap. “Why do you suppose that is, Methystra?”

  Methystra shook her head. “We did not know at first, but when they started digging into Malidath's grave, we suspected it was because they wished to take Malidath's blood.”

  Tina wrinkled her muzzle. “Malidath's blood?”

  Methystra bowed her head. “When the All-Father imprisoned Kaelus and Malidath, he ensured Malidath would never taste the breath of life again. As a result, Kaelus’s blood remains a part of his body, but Malidath’s blood seeped through the stone. I am certain it caused Malidath great pain, but once exposed to the air, it fused with the stone and turned to an ore imbued with the power of a Maldavian. I think your people call it aetherium.”

  Tina's ears stood up. “Methystra, do you think Governor Keldo knew about this?”

  Methystra shook her head. “I am uncertain, but it was not very long after the Likonians built their city that they started digging.” She put her hand on her chest. “Once we found out about it, Belthazuul caved in the entrance to their mine, and we forbade them from digging any deeper.” Her hand settled back into her lap. “Then the Dragon Eaters appeared.”

  Tina lowered her head to look at the ground as she drifted into thought. “...An ore like that would be invaluable to many magic users. Perhaps that is how Governor Keldo enticed the wizard into working for him.” She sighed and rubbed the bridge of her muzzle with her fingers. “But I suspect trying to confront the governor about it will yield nothing useful without some more solid evidence. And I'm certain the High Theorist will want something more substantial as well.” Tina finally rose to her feet. “Methystra, could I impose upon you to show me to this mine?”

  Methystra bowed her head. “I would be happy to, Tina.” She pointed toward Kravek with a grin on her face. “Will your Albatross be coming?”

  Tina muttered. “He's not my Albatross.” She looked back over her shoulder at Kravek. “But he's been very helpful since I came to Likonia.” She looked up at Methystra again. “So I would like to ask him, if you don't mind.”

  Methystra's knowing smile was all the answer Tina expected from the Maldavian at first, but she spoke as she rose to her feet. “When you are prepared, I will take you.” She looked at Kravek with that same smile still on her lips as she gave Kravek and Tina a respectful distance.

  Kravek lifted one of his ears and let it flop against his neck as Tina approached. “Why was she smiling at me like that?”

  Tina waved her hand dismissively. “She's just trying to pull on my whiskers. Kravek, I need to go to the mines south of here. Methystra's offered to carry us, if you'd like to accompany me.”

  “Carry?” Kravek looked at Methystra curiously. “As in... fly?” He put his hands out in front of him and wiggled his fingers as if imitating a pair of wings.

  Tina tilted her head. “...Kravek, you're not afraid of flying, are you?”

  “Not flying.” He opened his palm and smacked his fist into it. “Falling is more like. I'm very heavy, Tina. And I hit the ground very hard.”

  Tina giggled. “Don't worry. You'll never fly more safely than with a dragon like Methystra.”

  “I would have never supposed I'd be flying.” Kravek looked down at the unfolded cloth and picked up the last piece of bread from it. He broke off a little of the crust and popped the rest into his mouth. He offered the piece of crust out to Tina. “Dinner, and I'll come along for all the use I can be.”

  Tina smiled and took the crust of bread. “It’s a deal.”