We were to be consumed in the fires of Hell.
Switching from arcane bullets to anti-magic rounds, I poured spell-negating destruction upon the dragon’s shields.
This time, my bullets did not get through.
We sustained our fire throughout the dragon’s descent, doggedly trying to get something, anything, past its magical defenses.
When the dragon was perhaps three hundred paces aboveground, in full descent, wings folded against its massive scarlet body just before it entered range of its fiery breath weapon, the sky exploded with light, blazing illumination brighter than a thousand thousand suns.
Thunder cracked through the air, its continuing reports rebounding from the mountainside like the toll of the apocalypse.
The lights did not fade, nor did the peals of thunder diminish.
They remained above, centered on the dragon, their effect triggered by its arrival, not affecting it, just the area around it to avoid its arcane wards, depriving it of any sense of where we were.
Before it could muster a counterspell, rushing at full speed earthward, the dragon crashed into the rocky terrain not fifty paces from us. Dragonfire spewed into the air, the impact sending a shockwave that would have knocked us off our feet had it not been dissipated by my shield. Debris and rocky particulates flew into the sky, cracking and shattering on the protective wards surrounding us.
In this smoking pit of ruin, unbelievably, the dragon stirred.
Unable to get a clear shot, we held our fire.
The dragon screamed in rage and pain, then disappeared.
Injured, perhaps gravely, the dragon teleported back to its lair.
I bent back down and picked up my jerky.
A good meal should never go to waste.
Ascent
The point of the dragon’s impact looked like the crater of a meteorite that had vaporized upon slamming into the earth. The ground steamed and hissed, the rock fused and melted from the heat of the drake’s flames.
“First time I’ve ever seen a dragon bomb. If that didn’t kill it, I don’t know what will.” Scarlack scratched his massive head, as though trying to figure out how to make sense of a puzzle a bit out of his ability to grasp.
“If nothin’ else, we’ve managed ta piss it off!” Eustace grinned, happier than I had seen him the entire trip.
He was glad for small victories, for they set the stage for larger ones.
Luerl did not share Eustace’s elation. “It will just go back to its lair and heal itself. We will have to kill it to make any real, lasting effect.”
I shook my head, sharing a bit of Eustace’s optimism. “We may not have killed it; it might recover from its injuries, however dire, but we’ve gotten to it.
“We have taken up residence in its mind.
“And our presence will only grow.”
Eustace shook his head in feigned surprise. “Ya’re one evil bastard.”
For once, I did not disagree with him.
* * *
Morning dawned overcast and gray, the air filled with the peaks’ effluents.
At least the dragon had been kind enough to let us sleep through the rest of the night.
We ate a quick meal, eager to challenge the heights above and the dragon within, our morale, for once, improved.
Before we left, we talked strategy, given what little we knew of what was to come.
“When we reach its lair, I expect we’ll be forced down a long tunnel suitable for turning us to ash.”
“Could make good gunte,” added Scarlack.
I shook my head. “If we make it out of this alive, you can harvest as much ash as you like, but for now, we have to focus on not becoming ash.”
Scarlack gave an only somewhat reluctant nod of agreement.
I was probably tops on his ash list.
“I can shield us from blasts of its dragonfire if we are together, but not if we are apart.
“Luerl, would you offer us protection in case we are out of range? Protection against magic in general would be ideal.”
Luerl gave a confident nod. “I will cast a few protective spells before we are off. They will need to be refreshed before we make the heights, however.”
“Good. Quarters may be tight in there. We need to be ready for traps and other surprises.
“But we should bring a few of our own.”
I looked to Luerl again. “Can you have another set of spells ready to go off as soon as we see the dragon or when we decide to trigger them? We’ll need different ones because he will be ready for similar tricks.”
“Of course. This is what I live to do: have fun at others’ expense.”
“Excellent.”
I told him what he needed to do.
“I don’t expect things to be any easier for us with the dragon unable to fly.
“It can still run us over or teleport past us easily.
“If we are to survive, we absolutely must break through its defenses.
“We have not had much success in trying thus far. This has to change.
“I will give everything I have to punching a hole through its wards. If anyone else has any anti-magic capabilities, use them as soon as you see it.
“We may not get another shot.”
“Anything else?”
I looked around.
Eustace growled. “Aye.”
He pulled his massive greathammer from his back, the rune-etched surface dripping with power. “If yer bullets won’t get through and ya’re in range, dragons bleed like anythin’ else.
“Ya just have ta hit ’em a bit harder.”
Luerl and Scarlack bared their teeth.
I couldn’t blame them.
To Eustace’s speech, I added, “This thing has killed your brothers just as it has killed mine.
“Do not lose sight of why we are here, in your rage and lust for revenge.
“We are here to kill the dragon, whatever it takes.
“It is smarter than we are, stronger than we are, and more skilled in arcane arts than we are.
“We cannot make any mistakes if we want to live.
“But we want it dead more than it wants us.
“A man with a purpose is harder to stop than a bullet.
“Be that bullet.
“Hit your target and blow right through.”
* * *
We broke camp, gathered the horses and started the slow journey upward.
The flat, open spaces of the Wastes gradually steepened until a straight path was no longer an option. The land curved up and down, side to side, and our way with it. Jagged volcanic outcroppings thrust upward from the treacherous ground, adding the fear of real injury to a potential fall.
I chose what looked like the best line to reach the craggy ledge, over a league above the plains on one of the peak’s flanks, that was the dragon’s lair. But finding a line and walking it are often two very different tales.
Smoky remained calm and composed. He could fly off at any time if he wished, but the other horses grew more skittish and awkward as we crossed the increasingly rougher ground in search of a clear path upward.
Rocky defiles, debris fields and uncertain ground played havoc on their nerves.
Finally, after being forced to dismount and lead the horses by the reins across a narrow strand of questionable solidity, I called a halt.
This was about as good as it was going to get.
Ahead of us, a small plateau spread out for perhaps a few hundred paces in length and breadth. The relatively open ground rested forlornly on the sides of the steep, bare slope. Loose detritus from rockfalls lay scattered across the uneven ground. No plants suitable for grazing were visible, but there were other platy, living eldritch growths that resisted the barren conditions, appearing like ashen coral left after a long-lost receding tide.
Whether the aeryavores were animal, vegetable, or something else, I could not say.
If Smoky wanted to try to eat them, that was his business.<
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“We’ll leave the horses here.
“There’s no sense trying to take them further.”
* * *
The small plateau was about a third of the way up the mountainside, and the terrain would only get worse as we moved upward.
Scrabbling on our hands and knees over loose rocks might be the best of what lay ahead.
Before we walked away, leaving the horses behind, I gestured for Smoky to come over for a private conversation. His vibrant vitality, from his glistening, scaled coat to his proud features, was a boon to the spirit. “Smoky, I’m leaving you in charge while we’re gone.”
He raised an eyebrow, letting me know that he expected nothing less.
“I’ll need you to keep the horses corralled while we’re away. We’ll need them kept safely here for our return.”
Smoky gave me a glance I knew all too well.
I smiled ruefully. “I know you’ve got this under control.
“I wouldn’t have anyone else here. The horses will listen to you better than anyone.”
His short whinny was only slightly self-congratulatory.
“If the dragon sneaks past us and attempts to kill the horses, it will be up to you to lure it away.”
His snort, scoffing at the mere suggestion this might be a challenge for him, was as expected as it was true.
He was as confident in himself as I was in him.
I stroked the sleek scales of his neck in thanks.
He arced luxuriantly in reply.
I needed to pay him more attention.
And I needed to do a better job of showing him my appreciation for all he did.
“When this is all over, I owe you some fresh meat. Your choice.”
His excited whinny was all the answer I needed.
* * *
I decided Luerl was part mountain goat, snow leopard, and dragon. He glided over the ever-steepening rocks and scree like the wind over grass.
Scarlack, on the other hand, seemed more intent on bringing the mountain down than climbing it. Eustace wisely stationed him at the back of our party so that he did not inadvertently bring the mountain down on our heads.
Eustace was sure and steady, at home in or on the stones. He might not be as quick or agile as Luerl, but he stuck to the rocks like a spider sticks to its web.
No spider or spirit of the mountains, I struggled upward, one hand over the other, trying to keep my boots firmly planted and my grip sure, one hand potentially free to wield a gun if needed. Odds were, I would make it to the top, but I would not enjoy getting there.
I missed Smoky. He usually let me skip to the journey’s end without too much taxation or vexation.
Looking down over my shoulder as we made our way cautiously upward, I could no longer see the horses below. The dark bulk of the mountain blocked even that connection.
* * *
I was surprised the dragon did not attack us again on the way up while we were most vulnerable.
It was what I would have done.
Either the dragon was still nursing its wounds, which was unlikely given its arcane abilities, or it was giving extra attention to our welcome.
Not one for gatherings, I could skip the welcome and get right to business.
Playing host, the dragon had other ideas.
From where I clung to the cliffside, I could see the cave entrance up above. It looked a few lifetimes away, but I was not to be deterred.
No smoke warned of the dragon’s presence within, no smell of sulfur or ash wafting through the air told us of the dragon lurking inside, but I knew it was there…and I would be joining it soon.
One monster against another.
On the climb up, I had renewed my arcane vision spell in preparation for our welcome.
I could see the honor guard had been arrayed to greet us. An intricate lattice of magical energies laced the cavern’s dark opening.
I called up ahead to Luerl, who had finished his climb long ago. “Luerl, what do you make of those spells?”
Luerl had been scrutinizing the enchantment for some time while he waited for those of us who weren’t part wraith to struggle up the mountainside. Eustace was standing beside him, scratching his beard studiously.
“Looks like a warning spell. The beauty of it is, if we dispel it, the dragon will still know we’re here, so we could walk in just as easily. But there are other spells linked to this one.”
“Any idea what they do?”
“They’re too complex for me to read easily. We’d probably be best served by setting them all off from the safety of the entry, like dropping a bomb onto a minefield to blow all the mines and be done with it.”
Eustace agreed. “Do it.”
“I’ll do it!” Scarlack took the initiative in offering to trigger the spells.
While Scarlack got into position, we all found relatively secure positions on the more gradual slope on this portion of the mountain.
Ready, Scarlack rolled his shoulders and peered at the cave mouth, intently taking its measure. About a hundred paces from the entrance, he picked up a hefty, skull-sized rock, strode purposefully forward a few paces up the steep grade, and threw the stone decisively toward the cave, the motion born of long practice.
As the rock arced lazily through the entry, the entire mountainside exploded in a blinding detonation of fire and rock.
We all hit the dirt at about the same time, scrabbling for hand and footholds to make sure we did not slide down the mountain to our dooms.
“Looks like we’ll need a new entrance,” Scarlack noted archly, spitting out dirt and rocks where he lay face-first on the rock.
The blast had knocked him off his feet.
“I've just tha tool fer tha job,” grinned Eustace as he unshouldered his guernden.
I could not argue with results.
In addition to blasting dwarven enemies off the face of the planet, guernden made excellent tunnel-clearing weapons.
Dwarves were full of surprises.
While the molten slag cooled, we ate our lunches, guns at the ready on our laps. For the dragon, I would gladly set aside my meal and welcome it to the table with a mouthful of bullets.
With lunch finished, defensive spells refreshed, and the slag cool enough to walk on, we made our way cautiously forward to examine the maw of the dragon’s lair.
Eustace had done a fine job redecorating.
He could carve a tunnel for me anytime.
On a positive note, the blast had managed to clear all the enchantments from the entry. The resultant explosion had also sent tons of rock and debris backward through the tunnel’s interior. Though I could see plenty of wreckage, I could see no sign of remaining magical traceries along its path.
No dragon fire had been required to mold these walls. The tunnel had smooth, dark, rounded walls of volcanic origin. The tunnel curved slowly downward inside the mountain.
No hints of light or flames were visible within its depths.
“Its lair must be pretty far back,” grumbled Scarlack.
From his tone, I would wager Scarlack was not particularly fond of tunnels or the thought of being far underground.
I could see no hints of arcana that would signify the dragon’s presence, either.
Eustace sniffed. “It’s here, alright. Far, but here.
“Its got quite tha warren.”
I would not doubt a dwarf’s ability to sense the inner delvings of caves or the lairs of ancient dragons.
“The way ahead appears to be clear of further enchantment. Either the cave mouth was the only thing warded or the blast set everything else off.”
Eustace nodded in agreement, tasting the air. “We’ll need ta be wary o’ any traps that might’ve been set off as well.
“Stay close ta me.
“If I stop, do tha same.
“Follow my lead.”
Guns drawn and at the ready, we entered the lair of the great wyrm.
Dragon’s Den
We could see by the illumination of our guns.
Our shadows skipped and skittered with each step, with every adjustment of our firearms.
Though I could see, I felt a bit like a child wandering through the dark with arms outstretched, not knowing what lay ahead, groping for landmarks and security in the darkness.
In this case, there was no darkness, but there was a dragon.
By my reckoning, dragons, especially hostile ones, were far worse than just about any darkness.
The cave twisted and arced for perhaps a quarter league. Judging distance in the confined space and half-light was difficult.
I was sure Eustace could have told me to the step, but I wasn’t asking.
When light finally came, it wasn’t what we had expected.
* * *
The cave ended abruptly in a vast, decidedly not dormant caldera.
Far above, the hazy gray sky seemed pinned upon the lip of the volcano’s vast rim.
Treacherously distant below, a smoking ruin of intermittent lava flows, barren rock, belching fumaroles, and bleak pools filled the bottom of the crater.
Scarlack sighed. “No dragon here.”
In fact, the dragon could be anywhere.
With my enhanced vision, I could see that the crater’s walls were riddled with similar caves, any one of which might hold the dragon.
We were looking for a dragon in a haystack.
Unperturbed, Eustace pointed.
About a third of the way across the caldera, another cave mouth opened. This one was far larger than the one we peered out from, suspended between pit and sky.
“Think we can scramble over there?” Scarlack’s question was my own. I had no doubt Luerl could make crawling across the steep slope look graceful. Eustace could probably meld his hands to the raw rock. But Scarlack might be better served holding down the rear guard here at the cave’s mouth.
Luerl nodded. “I’ll enchant our hands and feet to give us sureness of grip and improved skill. We’ll make it across as easily as if we were walking on flat ground.”
Spellslinger--Legends of the Wild, Weird West Page 11