Dragons and Mages: A Limited Edition Anthology

by Pauline Creeden

  “Why don’t you both travel to Ustrina. Speak with the king yourselves. It might make him take his alliance with you both a little more seriously if he was to be faced with both the dark lords.”

  Zelak stopped the growl that was threatening to leave him. Shooting a cold glare towards Zurina as she spoke. She knew how much he hated Ustrina. He had been only once, and he had vowed he would never go again. It was why he had agreed to work alongside Axis. Use him as his spoke person with the dragons, then kill him once he was of no use. Though of course, Axis had no idea of this. He was in the mind that they were partners.

  “That is a brilliant idea, Zurina. Of course, it would depend on if Zelak would swallow his pride and be prepared to set foot on the land that he hates so much,” Axis mocked.

  His words only angered Zelak more, realising that he didn’t have a way out of this situation, he knew that he was going to have to visit the flying fools.

  “Very well, but we make it as quick and as painless as we can. I hate that place, you both know that. And I have no time for their king. But I suppose you are right, Zurina it is the best way to do this. After all he may have another idea of how to bring his son to heel. At least I hope he does.”

  “Good, then we travel at first light tomorrow. We should reach Ustrina in the day if you use a bit of dark magic to help us. You are free to make yourself welcome in the castle. I have other business to attend, so if you would excuse me,” Axis said, standing and exiting the room quickly, leaving the two necromancers alone.

  Zelak stood and made his way to Zurina, pulling her flush to him and kissing her deeply. “I was hoping that he would leave soon enough. Though I am not sure I can forgive you for making such a suggestion. You know how much I cannot stand that hell hole of fire,” Zelak hissed, daring to kiss the beauty in his arms once more before letting her go and stepping back to admire her, not that he hadn’t done enough of that while they had been talking.

  “I know, but it really is the only way we can be sure we do this right, Zelak. The white dragon is more powerful than we can ever imagine, luckily for us the youngster is not aware of his full power yet. We need to catch him before he reaches full strength. But not kill him. He will be of great use to us. His blood would be an amazing addition to both our armies. The blood of a dragon, a royal one at that, will bring such power that truly no one will be able to defeat us,” Zurina explained.

  “Speaking of such, I wish to see the undead. I haven’t for a while and I am keen to see how far they have come and just what they are capable of,” Zelak said.

  “Of course. I assumed as much. Follow me. I will take you to them,” Zurina agreed, turning and leading the way towards a side door that Zelak hadn’t even noticed.

  Not hesitating, he followed, eager to see her creation. He couldn’t wait to unleash this hell on the lands, and to watch them all bow down to him, as they always should have.

  Chapter 19

  Just as Axis had promised, with the help of dark magic they arrived in Ustrina just as night fell the following day. Their carriage rolled through the gates of the city as they were about to close for the night, Kelak could feel eyes on them. He knew it would take no time for word to reach the king of their arrival. The black unicorns that pulled the carriage of the fae king were well known in all the lands. The once pure beasts were no longer kind, instead, their souls had been ripped from them replaced with an evil, their eyes shone a deadly red. Unicorns were dangerous creatures at the best of times, but mixed with dark magic, even Kelak would not dare to cross them.

  “Do you think Izzeris will receive us tonight?” Kelak questioned Axis, he knew very little about the dragon king, it was how he liked it. He had no intention of learning much on this trip. It was Axis’ job to deal with Izzeris, and Kelak planned on letting him do most of the talking. Unless of course it looked like the fae was going to create more of a problem.

  “I don’t know. Probably not, but he will let us stay comfortably in the castle that I am sure of.”

  “I think I would rather make use of his taverns. I am not sure that I want to stay in the walls of that building. I have been here only once and I vowed I would never return, let alone spend a night in the castle,” Kelak replied, letting his eyes roam over the buildings of the city as they passed.

  He had to give the dragons credit, the city of Ustrina was an impressive place. Even the poorer buildings were made of fine materials. Smoke could be seen rising up to the heavens from fires burning within. The smell of fresh meats and other tempting foods reached Kelak’s senses, reminding him that he had not eaten yet that day, choosing not to accept Axis’ invitation to breakfast that morning. Now he wished he had, he was hungry and the smell reaching them wasn’t helping.

  “Trust me, you would rather be in the palace. Dragons are ruthless creatures Kelak you should know that. I wouldn’t want to be mixing with their lower class.” Axis replied.

  Kelak cursed in response but chose to say no more on the matter. If they were to stay in the palace then he would make the most of a bad situation. He supposed at least in the palace the beds would be comfortable, and the food good. They pulled up outside the large iron gates of the palace moments later. Two onyx dragons stared angrily down at them from either side of the gates.

  Kelak lifted his lip in a disgusted snarl. “They aren’t the most welcoming of sights those two black monsters.”

  “Says the necromancer,” Axis sniggered.

  Kelak shot him a deadly look, a silent warning that he was not in the mood to be mocked. Axis had the decency to hold up his hands in surrender and chose not to say anything else on the matter.

  The gates opened, allowing the carriage to roll in to come to a stop at the bottom of large marble stairs. Kelak allowed his eyes to follow the steps up to a gold plated door, not surprised when he saw the knocker to be another large onyx dragon head. The rest of the palace was made of marble and the black onyx stone weaved together. It was a truly beautiful building and as much as he didn’t want to admit it to himself, he longed to be in it once more to see if anything had change with the interior from the last time he had visited. Kelak couldn’t remember much from his time in front of the king, but he did remember he had been just as in awe of the place as he was now. Dragons were proud creatures, they liked shinny things, it was no wonder that Ustrina looked like something from a cave of treasures.

  “You know you could take some tips from Izzeris on how to make a magnificent palace. Yours is so dark and boring. It could do with some colour,” Zelak teased Axis as the door to the carriage opened and steps appeared to let the three of them disembark.

  “I like my home thank you, and you don’t visit enough to cast an opinion on its exterior,” Axis shot back.

  “It’s not just the exterior, my friend, the interior could use some work also,” Zelak retorted, before leaving the carriage, not waiting to hear Axis’ reply. He didn’t care for it, he just wanted some food and a comfortable bed to sleep in.

  Climbing the steps to the door, he was surprised to have it opened for him, and be greeted by a tall brooding dragon, well, he assumed he was a dragon. The violet eyes of the species gave him that distinct look, that matched with the same cold stare seen on the statues that they had passed by, and the black hair, Zelak wondered if the stone monsters had been moulded on this creature. Holding back the urge to laugh at such a thought, he tilted his head in slight acknowledgment, feeling both Zurina and Axis come up by his side.

  “I am assuming Izzeris will not be receiving up tonight?” Axis spoke, stopping Zelak from saying anything else.

  The dragon in front of them stayed silent for a few moments, his eyes sweeping over each of them in a slow deliberate movement. They lingered a little too long on Zurina for Zelak’s liking, and he felt himself tense up and reach for his dagger hidden beneath his cloak. Axis stepping lightly on his foot stopped him from drawing it, and for once he was grateful to the fae king. He wasn’t so sure he wouldn’t have stabbed th
is idiot should he have continued to stare at Zurina any longer.

  “No, the king will not see you tonight, he has said though, that you may make yourself welcome, enjoy some food and a comfortable bed for the night. He will send for you tomorrow.”

  “Send for…” Zelak was silenced once more as Axis stamped down harder on his foot, he felt Zurina’s eyes burn into him. His own anger was bubbling close to the surface. The fact that they would be ‘sent’ for thoroughly pissed him off, but what made it even worse was the fact he had been silenced by his two companions. Yep, the dragons had most certainly lost the last bit of respect he had for them. Did Izzeris forget just who it was he was dealing with?

  “He hasn’t forgotten, but you are not immortal Zelak and he will kill us should we disrespect his wishes,” Axis broke through his thoughts.

  Zelak turned his attention onto him, swallowing heavily to try and calm himself down. “Firstly, don’t ever go into my mind again, and secondly how dare he treat us like this. He is working for us, not the other way round,” Zelak spat, only just realising that they were alone once more.

  Axis didn’t say anything instead he started walking further into the castle with Zurina close behind him. Zelak didn’t have any choice but to follow them. Despite his anger he allowed himself to admire the interior, pleased to see that it hadn’t changed much in the years that had passed. In fact, if anything, it had gotten better. The tapestries had been refreshed, and some new art had been added to bring even more vibrant colours to the palace halls. The place truly was beautiful, and Zelak decided that once he had power over all the lands he would take Ustrina as his home.

  “This is your chamber tonight,” Axis’ voice disturbed his thoughts once again.

  Zelak glanced at the closed door in front of him, before turning his gaze to the fae. “And how exactly do you know this?”

  “Because while you were trying to think of ways to shred that idiot who greeted us, I was actually listening to what he was saying, and where it was we were staying. My chamber is right next door and Zurina’s on my other side,” Axis replied.

  Zelak couldn’t help but notice the smirk that crossed his lips at the mention of the lay out of the chambers. The shit had purposely positioned himself between the two necromancers. Zelak had always thought that Axis had no idea of his and Zurina’s relationship. How wrong had he been. Reaching for the door and flinging it open he stepped in, turning back to glare dangerously at Axis. He couldn’t wait to kill the fool.

  “I will see you come morning when we are ‘sent’ for by the king. Then we get this damn meeting over with. I don’t want to stay another night. One is enough, and I am most certainly not looking forward to it.”

  Not waiting to hear any answer, he slammed the door behind him as he entered the grand room. Making haste to the table that was laden with food, he allowed his senses to wash over it all, his hands brushing each of the foods to check for any poison. Certain that he was safe, Kelak sank down into the velvet chair at the table and began to eat.

  As he ate, he swept his eyes over his surroundings. It was a large, well lit chamber. The main attraction was the large four poster bed situated in the middle of it. The same gold that platted the door decorated the bed, its sheets were black silk with white pillows and a fur blanket to complement it. The rest of the interior matched the black, white and gold theme, and Zelak wondered if each room in the castle had its own colour theme. Knowing the dragons he wouldn’t be surprised if that was the case, making him more desperate to see the whole castle.

  He let his mind wamder to his dark beauty, tapping into her own mind finding himself blocked. She clearly didn’t want to connect with him that night and he wondered why. Was it because they were surrounded by walls that would hear everything being said? It would be too much of a risk for them to be caught together, and for that he respected her wish to be left alone. He would finish his food and then allow himself a goodnight sleep. Heaven knows he would need all the strength he could get to make it through their meeting with the king of the dragons the following day. He would make the old fool realise that his son was a very real danger, and that he needed to be found before he destroyed all they had been working on over the last few years.

  Chapter 20

  Izzeris sat silently on his throne waiting for his guests to arrive. It wasn’t yet light, and he would be lying if it didn’t take him great pleasure to know that he would have them woken. He knew that he shouldn’t tempt fate, that he shouldn’t mock a necromancer, especially one so powerful as Zelak. But the dark fool was with the fae king, and Axis knew how things worked in Ustrina. The dragons ruled the lands and the skies. They were still the most powerful of all the species, it would do Zelak well to remember that. He called himself a king, but the necromancers had no king. They were just as much of an outcast as the hybrids they had rid of some years ago. Zelak and his people were wielders of magic far darker than the fae could ever master. They had the power to bring the dead back should they wish, and that alone was an evil no one dared to think of. Izzeris knew he needed to keep Zelak on his side, but it didn’t hurt to have a little fun at his expense.

  While he waited, wondering why it was taking so long for them to come, he let his thoughts wonder to the real reason that Ustrina was entertaining a fae and a necromancer. His son. Ashran had not been seen since the fight in the village he had been found in. Izzeris still could not understand how his son had managed to defeat his deadliest assassin. Yes, Orsar had been stupid, but he hadn’t needed to be smart. He had been bred as a killing machine and that was all he was needed for. Ash was a good fighter, but he was not the strongest and Izzeris could only assume he had used his mind to his advantage, him and Blaze would have worked well together.

  Shaking his head slightly, Izzeris found himself wishing that he had been there to watch the battle unfold. It would have been a sight to behold, and he felt a stab of pride at the thought of his son winning such a battle. Maybe he had underestimated Ash. Had been foolish to push him away and now he had no idea where his son was, and that alone concerned him. He had no idea what information Ash had left with, or even where it was he had been heading in the first place.

  The doors flying open snapped him out of his dark musings, forcing him to look up and see Axis and Zelak enter, Axis’ necromancer, Zurina just behind them, like the lap dog that she was. Izzeris couldn’t hide the smile as he saw the look of rage on the necromancer’s face. It was clear that Zelak didn’t take kindly to being pulled out of a bed at such an early hour. Izzeris remembered the last and only time that Zelak had come to Ustrina. He didn’t like the man then and he found he didn’t like him still. He had a permanent air of arrogance around him, mixed with the evil that ran through every one of his kind only made him dangerous, and Izzeris didn’t feel comfortable having him back in Ustrina. Zurina was under the command of Axis, and well contained, he didn’t fear her. But Zelak was a loose cannon with a lethal mind.

  “You took your time. I have been waiting for a long time. It should not take this long for you to come to mey call,” Izzeris spat, looking down upon them from his throne. He didn’t miss the look Axis shot in Zelak’s direction it would seem the fae was going to do the talking. How he wished he could be a fly on the wall on the carriage ride back to wherever it was they would return to after they left here.

  “Forgive us Izzeris. It seems our necromancer friend finds it very difficult to get up at such an early hour,” Axis replied.

  Izzeris was sure if looks could kill Axis would be dead by the glare coming from Zelak. Izzeris chuckled as he stood, waving a hand to dismiss Axis’ excuse. Coming down the steps that lead up to the throne and moving to the table that had been placed in the room, he poured out four cups of wine. Nodding to them.

  “I completely understand. And I do apologise for the hour, but I have much to do today and I wanted to be sure that I gave you the time you needed. Please drink and eat,” Izzeris replied, noting that Zelak didn’t take him up o
n his offer of food and drink. Knowing why, he took a drink before picking off a piece of bread and taking a bite of it, all the while never taking his eyes off Zelak.

  “I wouldn’t try and poison you, Zelak. If I wanted to kill you I would think of a much better way to do it. Poison isn’t my weapon. Not when I can very easily burn people alive, and that is far more fun to watch and listen to,” Izzeris mocked, picking up a cup and holding it out to the necromancer, his eyes challenging Zelak to refuse an offer from a king.

  After a few moments of hesitation, Zelak stepped forward and took the cup, taking a small sip.

  “You are too kind, Your Grace. Your hospitality has been of the finest I have ever come across, the food was delicious, the wine perfect and I had a fantastic night sleep.” Zelak spoke up.

  Izzeris didn’t miss the sarcasm dripping off his words. Smiling Izzerus took a seat on the steps leading to his chair of power. “It was the least I could do after the journey I don’t doubt you had. Now that we have our refreshments I feel we must talk about why it is you are here,” Izzeris said, taking a sip of his own wine watching as the other three in the room continued to stand.

  “Please sit, I don’t expect you to stand. Especially as we are not sure how long we will be here for. Though I do hope we can clear this mess up quickly.” He wasn’t surprised when none of them chose to sit. Shrugging, he stood to pour himself some more wine.

  “This mess is down to you not being able to control your son,” Zelak snapped, his sharp tone and words taking Izzerus back briefly before his own anger took hold.

  “I will remind you who it is you are speaking to. You are in my land necromancer, and may I also remind you that you are not a king.” Izzeris fired back, spinning round to face Zelak, only stopped from walking up to him and wrapping his hands around the man’s neck to kill him, by Axis stepping in between them.