by M. L. Forman
I am grateful for your help , Alex said, his thoughts entering the dragon’s mind. I am in your debt, and I will do everything I can to break the curse Jabez has put on you.
The dragon nodded its understanding but was unable to reply. Alex sat down on a pile of gold coins and let his mind move closer to the dragon’s. He wanted to know how the dragon had gotten here, and how Jabez had managed to steal its voice. As he opened his mind, the dragon was able to show him the answers to his questions, and the more Alex saw, the more he understood. For a long time, Alex sat in the treasure room, sharing thoughts with the dragon, until he came to the question he needed to answer most.
Where is the Axe of Sundering? Alex thought, his own mind recalling what he’d seen in Jabez’s thoughts. I need it if I’m going to end this evil.
The dragon did not show Alex an answer in its thoughts, but instead, it turned its head and looked at the tunnel leading to the underground lake. Alex looked at the opening as well, and then at the dragon. He didn’t understand what the dragon was trying to tell him, and then suddenly he realized what the dragon was saying without words.
The Axe was not hidden in the treasure room, and it was not guarded as Alex thought it would be. Jabez had put the Axe in the one place he thought it would be safe, the one place that no warrior would ever be able to reach it. With a laugh, Alex stood up and bowed to the dragon.
When Alex moved toward the tunnel, however, the dragon shifted as if to stop him from leaving. The dragon looked around the treasure room and then at Alex.
You want me to take all of this? Alex asked.
The dragon nodded its head.
If Jabez returns before I have the Axe, or if I fail to destroy him, he will be angry with you for giving his treasure away , Alex said.
A light flashed in the dragon’s eyes as Alex spoke, and its meaning was all too clear. If Jabez should discover the loss of his treasure he might try to destroy the dragon, which would be one way for the dragon to escape its prison.
Very well , Alex said. I will take this, and hope that Jabez never returns to this room.
It only took a few seconds for Alex to move all of Jabez’s treasure into his own magic bag. With that task completed, Alex looked at the dragon once more. The look on the dragon’s face told Alex all he needed to know, and once again he bowed to the dragon.
You will be free, I promise , Alex said as he turned to go.
Without looking back, Alex moved down the tunnel toward the underground lake. This time there was no hurry; he wasn’t being chased. Now there was only one thing he needed to think about, and that was getting the Axe of Sundering out of the icy lake. Alex had seen the lake in Jabez’s mind, but he hadn’t recognized it for what it was, not until the dragon had given him the answer he needed. The spark of magic he’d seen in the lake wasn’t Jabez’s doing, and it wasn’t the dragon’s, either. The magic came from the Axe of Sundering, and no dark magic could ever hide it.
Standing at the edge of the platform, Alex looked out into the darkness. He had seen the magic Jabez had used to hide the Axe when he’d look into Jabez’s mind. Now he used that same magic to call the Axe back. There was no need to worry about Jabez noticing this magic, because it wasn’t his magic. He was using the magic of the Axe of Sundering itself.
After several minutes of staring into the darkness, Alex saw what he was looking for. A faint glimmer, like a distant star, appeared above the waters of the lake. Slowly the glimmer grew brighter as the Axe moved toward Alex and finally hung motionless in the air in front of him.
The Axe of Sundering floated just out of reach, waiting for Alex to take it. For a moment he hesitated, dazzled by the beauty of the deadly weapon in front of him. Without thinking, Alex lifted his right arm, reaching out for the axe with his numb hand. The axe moved away, as if it did not wish to be touched. Alex felt a wave of magic wash over him, magic that came from the axe. It was searching his mind, testing his power, and deciding if he would be the one to wield it.
Alex couldn’t take his eyes off the axe as he stood waiting. Slowly words formed in his mind, words he had heard before.
“Will you pay the price? Will you give up all that you are to wield this weapon?”
Alex’s mind spun wildly. Did he really have to give up everything he was? Could he only wield the axe if he gave up being an adventurer, a wizard, a dragon lord? Did the magic of the axe want him to give up being a dragon? Alex didn’t know if he could give it all up, he wasn’t sure it would be possible to meet the price the axe was asking. His mind raced through all his adventures, everything he had done, and all that he still hoped to do.
The Axe of Sundering didn’t move as Alex thought. Suddenly his thoughts shifted to the evil that was being done by Jabez and the Brotherhood. If he failed to win the axe, all of Westland—all of Jarro—would fall into evil. If he didn’t win the axe, the Brotherhood would soon take over all the known lands.
Alex moved his hand toward the axe, his mind made up. Yes , he thought. I will give up everything to stop this evil.
The Axe of Sundering moved down and forward, and when it touched his hand, the numbness vanished. Magical warmth flowed through him. The axe had chosen, but Alex wasn’t sure what would happen next. He pulled his arm back, looking at the magical markings on the axe. Now that it was in his hand, Alex realized what was so special about this weapon.
“Made by magic,” Alex whispered.
Unlike Moon Slayer, which had been made by hand and then had magic added to it, the Axe of Sundering had been made completely by magic. No hammer had ever worked the metal of this weapon, and no stone or file could ever make an edge as impossibly sharp. The Axe of Sundering was much more than just a weapon.
“You have paid the price, and yet remain yourself,” a voice that Alex had never heard said inside his head. “To freely offer all is payment enough.”
A sense of joy filled Alex as he shifted the axe from hand to hand. The balance was perfect, and as he swung the weapon, the axe felt more like a part of him, not just a weapon in his hands. The axe was small and light enough for him to use with one hand, yet large enough for him to use both hands if he needed to. There was powerful magic in the axe, magic that was both the same and different than the magic of Moon Slayer. Alex knew that the axe would help him in battle just as Moon Slayer did, but it would also help him in other ways. It would take time for him to understand this new power, but at the moment, time was something Alex did not have.
He had to find Jabez and end his evil. Alex hoped more than anything that he was not already too late to help his friends.
Alex slid the axe into his belt and returned to the treasure room. He bowed to the golden dragon as he passed, but he didn’t have time to stop.
Surprising Jabez could mean the difference between success and failure.
He made his way back up the many flights of stairs and through the hallways until he was close to the throne room. He knew he would need all his strength in the fight that was coming. Even with the Axe of Sundering, it would not be an easy battle.
He reached for the throne room door, but then he paused. His sudden appearance would certainly surprise Jabez, but if there were guards or even servants in the room Jabez might escape. The dark wizard would certainly recognize the Axe of Sundering in Alex’s hand, and the fact that Alex had it might scare him into running.
He forced his mind to focus, tried to think like a dragon, and became invisible.
As quietly as he could, Alex opened the door and stepped into the throne room. He closed the door behind him, looking to see what dangers might be waiting for him. The room was empty, and that didn’t seem right. He had expected Jabez to be here, giving orders or listening to reports of the war he had started. The fact that the room was empty brought new worries to Alex’s mind.
A sudden rustle of movement made Alex jump, his right hand grasping the axe in his belt. The massive doors to the room opened wide as Alex moved out of the way, and a pair of garg
oyles entered, carrying a wooden chest between them. A dozen goblin soldiers marched close behind the gargoyles, and walking in the middle of the goblins was Whalen Vankin.
Alex was stunned. Somehow Jabez had managed to locate Whalen, capture him, and then bring him to Conmar.
Whalen looked like he had been badly beaten. His clothes were dirty and torn, and he walked with a limp. A dirty bandage, stained with blood, was wrapped around his head. One of the goblins pushed Whalen forward, and he stumbled as he entered the throne room.
Alex wanted to rush forward and free his friend. He wanted to cut down the goblins that were gathered around Whalen, laughing their evil laughter. He wanted to use the Axe of Sundering to hack the gargoyles into pieces, but he knew he couldn’t. He had to wait. He moved into the shadows at one side of the room, rage flowing through him. Jabez would be coming soon, and it was Jabez that he had to destroy.
The wait was a short one. Jabez came limping into the room, a pained look on his face as he climbed the steps to the stone throne. It took a few seconds for Jabez to turn and sit down. It was clear that he was suffering from the wound Alex had given him.
Alex moved closer, his hand ready to pull the Axe of Sundering out of his belt, but he did not act.
“You don’t seem pleased to see me, uncle,” Jabez said, a nasty grin spreading over his face.
“Why would I be pleased to see you?” Whalen asked. “You’ve broken your oath as a true wizard, you’ve brought war and suffering to Jarro, and you’ve dishonored my name.”
“The dishonor you brought upon yourself,” Jabez said with a sneer. “You always thought that I would be like you. You tried to make me into a copy of yourself, but I was too clever for that. You and your do-good attitude, always using your powers to help others because you claimed it was the right thing to do. Look where all of your good deeds have gotten you.”
“I see you’ve learned nothing,” Whalen said. “I tried to teach you the correct path and you refused to learn.”
“Hah!” Jabez laughed, his face turning red with anger. “You tried to teach me the fool’s path. What I’ve learned is that the gratitude of the poor and helpless is meaningless. All that really matters in this world is wealth and power.”
“You are a fool,” Whalen replied.
“A fool?” Jabez yelled back and started to laugh. He laughed so hard that he suddenly grimaced in pain from the wound in his side. “Let me show you who the real fool is.”
Jabez snapped his fingers and the gargoyles came forward carrying their wooden chest. They placed the chest at the bottom of the stair that led to the throne, and then stepped away. Jabez’s face was full of hunger as he looked down at the chest.
“Leave us,” Jabez said, waving away the goblins and gargoyles. “There is little need to fear the great Whalen Vankin now.”
The goblins all laughed as they turned and left the room, followed closely by the gargoyles. Jabez didn’t say anything more until the throne room doors were closed, but his eyes remained fixed on Whalen. Alex used the time to move closer to Whalen, thinking that he might have to defend his friend from a sudden attack.
“I’m sure you think your plans will find success,” Jabez began, his voice calmer than it had been. “You’ve always been so cunning, uncle, but this time your plans have all come to nothing.”
“You’re beginning to bore me,” Whalen said, sounding much braver than he looked.
“Oh, you find me boring, do you?” Jabez laughed. “Then let me tell you about your foolishness. Let me show you how your plans have failed. Let me explain how I will be the greatest wizard in this land and all the other known lands as well. Your council of wizards will bow before me.”
“They will never bow to you,” Whalen said, the anger clear in his voice.
“Just as you would never bow,” Jabez snapped back.
Jabez slowly waked down the stairs, holding his staff for support. Once he was steady, he swung his staff out, striking the wooden chest. The wood crumbled away like dust, replaced by a stone pillar. On top of the pillar was a single stone that shimmered with a silver light—an Orion stone.
Alex touched his pocket, reassuring himself that the other Orion stone was still safe in his possession.
“Yes, uncle, here is the secret that you did not expect,” said Jabez, his eyes moving from the stone to Whalen once more. “The Orion stones that you thought had been destroyed. You and your foolish council thought the secret of their making was lost forever. Yet two of these wonderful stones were given to me, and now they will be part of your greatest and final defeat.”
“The stones may not work the way you wish them to,” Whalen said. “Use them if you will; they will do you little good.”
“I thought that’s what you would say.” Jabez laughed.
He picked up the shimmering stone and walked closer to Whalen. He held the glowing stone tightly in his hand, and then pressed it against Whalen’s chest, right over his heart.
Whalen screamed, his eyes clenched tight.
Alex stepped forward, his hand on the axe at his belt, but again, he had to force himself to stop and wait.
Jabez had a cruel smile on his face as he pushed the stone harder against Whalen’s chest. A bright white light surrounded the two wizards and the Orion stone. Slowly, the light began to be absorbed by the stone until it was gone.
Whalen slumped to the ground with a groan. Jabez lifted the stone high in the air. It now glowed with an inner golden light.
“Now you are powerless. This stone holds your magic—magic that will soon be mine.”
“My magic will never be yours,” said Whalen, weak but still defiant.
“Oh, but it will,” Jabez replied, a hungry look on his face. “I know how the stones work as well as you do, uncle. I know that once you are dead I will be able to absorb all the magical power this stone holds.”
“Then kill me and be done with it,” Whalen snapped.
“Kill you? Oh, it won’t be as quick and easy as that,” Jabez said. “First I must show you how foolish you’ve been. Before you die you will hear how your warrior was destroyed, how your well laid plans have come to nothing.”
“I don’t believe you,” Whalen said, his voice sounding desperate.
“Oh, but you will believe,” Jabez answered.
Alex moved slowly and quietly to stand just behind Whalen.
“I knew you’d deny everything,” Jabez said, moving closer. “You never admit your mistakes, do you? Bringing the sea elves into the battle—a minor inconvenience. Sending your young warrior to try and kill me—foolishness.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Whalen answered.
“Lies!” Jabez yelled, swinging his staff and hitting Whalen in the stomach. “Lies and deceit from the most honest of all wizards!”
Alex had to stop himself from reaching out to catch Whalen, had to stop himself from taking the invisible axe at his side and attacking Jabez on the spot. He didn’t know why he had to wait, but he knew there was a reason to wait. Some reason that was more important than his own desire to destroy the evil wizard in front of him.
“I suppose you didn’t send the warrior,” Jabez said, pacing back and forth in front of Whalen. “Yes, your young adventurer friend was here. He foolishly used a regular blade against me, and not the Axe of Sundering.”
Jabez turned and climbed back to the stone throne, bending over to pick up something from behind the giant chair. “Here is the proof of your failure,” said Jabez, turning to face Whalen once more. “Your warrior has caused me a great deal of pain, as you can tell, but it cost him his life.”
Jabez threw a blackened sword and a badly burnt magic bag down on the floor in front of Whalen. They were the items Alex had created to go with the false image of himself, and he was more than a little pleased that Jabez believed they were real.
“Your mighty warrior ran into a little pet of mine,” Jabez said, sounding almost gleeful. “So you see, uncle, all of
your plans have come—and will come—to nothing.”
When Alex saw the pained and troubled look on Whalen’s face, he realized that part of Whalen believed what Jabez was saying. Unable to stop himself, he reached out and touched Whalen’s shoulder. Leaning close, and in a whisper that only Whalen could possibly hear, he spoke.
“I am here.”
Whalen looked surprised for a moment, but Jabez took the look as one of defeat. He laughed at Whalen, who was still kneeling in front of him.
Alex thought fast, trying to find a way to free Whalen and at the same time destroy Jabez. His thoughts returned to what Whalen had told him about the Orion stones and about how they were used to steal another wizard’s magic. What was it that Whalen had told him?
“You’d better be sure I’m dead before you crush the stone holding my power. If I’m even barely alive, my powers will return to me, and I will destroy you,” Whalen said, rising to his feet.
Whalen’s words told Alex what he needed to know, the reason why he was waiting to attack.
“Oh, you’ll be dead,” Jabez said with a wicked grin. “You’ll beg for death first, but you will be very dead before I crush the stone.”
Alex knew what he had to do. He moved without making a sound, stepping around Whalen and walking to the pillar where the glowing Orion stone sat. With great care, Alex drew the Axe of Sundering from his belt. Carefully he positioned the hammer-like back of the axe over the stone.
“You seem so sure of yourself,” said Whalen. “Even now, you do not realize the danger you are in.”
“Danger?” Jabez asked. “What danger? I’ve captured you and destroyed the warrior you sent to try and kill me. My armies are sweeping across Westland, and it is only a matter of time before I have destroyed the humans and elves that stand against me.”