Gilmreth the Awakening

by Raymond L. Weil

  Idly, Storn wondered if there was someway to take the daughter for his own use. It would mean he would have to move against Jalene much earlier than he’d originally planned. Revenge against the Sylvars would taste so sweet. Just the thought of having the daughter under his control was extremely appealing.

  “Our spies have reported the area around Galvin to be quite fertile; unusually so,” Storn went on, reporting what he’d heard from his carefully chosen handpicked men. “Galvin’s farmland is providing bountiful harvests and its livestock is extremely healthy. It would be well worth our time and effort to send in some temple guards to seize the village and the surrounding area. The extra food we could harvest from the area alone would be an added bonus. They could bring in the Sylvar woman at the same time.”

  “There is absolutely no sign of sorcery?” Jalene asked, concerned and feeling slightly uneasy, remembering the legendary stories of Malcon Sylvar.

  She wondered why the land on that side of the mountain was so fertile. It sounded like sorcery was involved. She knew what it took to clear the land of the old Worldfire poison. She’d cleared much of it around Draydon so the farmers could feed the growing population of her city. There’d been no reports of sorcery since the time of Malcon Sylvar.

  The information she had gleaned from her studies had been plain enough. Sorcery had disappeared with Malcon Sylvar. Even the legendary Sylvar family itself had never produced another sorcerer since Malcon’s time. No; she was the only sorceress. Jalene knew there was no one to challenge her power. Perhaps the land was fertile from Malcon’s doing so many years ago.

  “None,” Storn replied. This was something that Sikes had been instructed to check into very thoroughly. “We interrogated several villagers. There are no rumors of sorcery at all. The Sylvars are just simple farmers. They tell old stories about their past and what Malcon did to Gilmreth, but there is no sorcery. They just have old memories of legends and past deeds from that time. The temple guards will have no problem subduing them.”

  “I have a better idea,” Jalene replied craftily, wanting to ensure that there were no hidden surprises. “I shall send Gilmreth first!”

  Since most of the people on Draydon’s side of the mountain had been coerced into moving into the city, the dragon hadn’t been allowed to destroy an entire village in over a year. The sheer enjoyment she received as the dragon pillaged and destroyed was utterly thrilling and satisfying. She didn’t want to miss this golden opportunity.

  “He can destroy a few homes, frighten the villagers, and soften them up for the guards,” Jalene spoke in a firm voice. “After a night of Gilmreth, they will quickly see the wisdom of serving the temple. It should also make it easier for our temple guards when they demand the Sylvars be handed over. They wouldn’t dare resist or consider refusing lest the dragon return!”

  Gilmreth, Storn thought uneasily. The dragon had repeatedly refused to fly over the villages on Galvin’s side of the mountain. It obviously feared greatly some obscure threat. Storn suspected it was some memory of a past occurrence that had seriously harmed the powerful dragon. Was the dragon actually intelligent enough to remember how the Sylvars had inflicted pain upon it so many years ago, how Malcon had been responsible for placing Gilmreth into that age’s old deep sleep?

  Storn wondered just how much control Jalene actually held over the dragon. Was it using Jalene for its own sinister purposes? Sometimes, at the dragon sacrifices, Storn wondered with great concern whether Gilmreth was really under Jalene’s power. Storn knew there was only one way to find out. The dragon needed to be put to the test! This might be a convenient way to see just how much control Jalene had over it.

  “Very well, call the dragon tonight,” Storn said, his eyes turning dark, meeting Jalene’s. “Order the dragon to attack Galvin, but only enough to put the fear of death into them. I will send the guards tomorrow to pick up the pieces. We need to move quickly before the cold weather closes the passes for the winter or it will be late next spring before we can move against them.”

  Jalene stared hard at Storn, sometimes the priest made her feel very uneasy. She suspected that Storn was hiding something. There was something secretive about his past that Jalene hadn’t been able to discover. He seemed like a piece of ice floating in the water, with only a part of the whole ever showing in the light. Much was hidden in heartless darkness.

  She had tried to read the surface thoughts of his mind in the past, but had found a strange resistance. Some natural barrier surrounded his mind that prevented access. The only person she had ever encountered that her powers couldn’t penetrate. With the Stone of Loraine, there was no doubt she could penetrate that barrier if she ever felt the need was desperate enough. So far, Storn had done nothing against Jalene’s expressed wishes, but he did bear watching.

  Perhaps when this Sylvar woman was sacrificed, it would be Storn’s time also. Several other priests could fill his shoes. Baelen would suffice if necessary. The blond priest was completely obedient and utterly afraid of Jalene and the dragon. He was so patronizing to her that he would be very easy to control.

  “I’ll call Gilmreth tonight,” Jalene responded, her voice low, picturing the dragon asleep in his lair. “I will use the Stone of Loraine to force the dragon to attack Galvin. Not even Gilmreth can resist the full power of the stone. Perhaps the dragon does remember the Sylvars and what they did to him long ago. Just the promise of revenge may be all that’s needed to induce the dragon to attack the village.”

  “Very well, Milady,” replied Storn, wanting to see how this turned out. Jalene would be forcing the dragon to do something that it hadn’t been willing to do. If it obeyed Jalene then the Stone of Loraine in the proper hands could indeed be used to control the dragon.

  Storn looked out over the city, which he had forced the people to build. He felt uneasy about what they were preparing to do. Some deep inner feeling, some primeval instinct, seemed to be saying there was an unknown danger lurking on the far side of Firestorm Mountain. Gilmreth was right in not wanting to go there. But what could it be? His handpicked men had reported that there was no reported evidence of sorcery since the time of Malcon Sylvar. That was nearly a thousand years ago. Sorcery had died out except for Jalene, what could the danger be?

  Putting the thought out of his mind, Storn turned and left Jalene, returning to the temple depths. He wanted to be present when Gilmreth arrived later. He particularly wanted to see the dragon’s reaction to Jalene’s commands about Galvin. He also needed to prepare some of his temple guards and a priest for their incursion to the Galvin area if Gilmreth did indeed follow Jalene’s commands. Still, in the back of his mind, he felt uneasy. Something just wasn’t right. He had learned long ago to trust his instincts. He would watch everything carefully just in case.

  Jalene watched Storn vanish down the steps. “Yes Storn,” she said quietly, her piercing gaze watching the stairwell that Storn had descended. “I think it’s nearing time for us to part company.” Turning toward distant Firestorm Mountain Jalene could sense Gilmreth’s growing hunger reaching out toward her. “Soon Gilmreth,” she murmured momentarily, forgetting the chill. “Tonight you will feed again!”

  -

  Later that night, as the quarter moon slowly rose in the east casting its weak reflected light upon the snow-capped peaks of Firestorm Mountain, Gilmreth began to stir languidly beneath. Raising his head, the dragon’s yellowish red eyes snapped open, peering into the gloom. Gilmreth sensed the summons to the temple. To feast again, to feed his growing, ravenous appetite drove the dragon to rise. On powerful wings Gilmreth flew down the dark tunnel, launching himself into the frigid night air of the mountain.

  Jalene stood atop the temple, her arms spread, and the scepter containing the Stone of Loraine in her right hand glowing brightly. Its red radiance cascading over the top of the temple seemed to pulse like the beating of a mighty heart. She wore a long black skirt that accented the sensuous curves of her body as she waited expectantly. She
swayed slightly as she sensed Gilmreth rise. She could feel, almost taste, the dragon’s burning hunger.

  Storn and four of his top priests stood behind Jalene watching and waiting. The priests behind Storn nervously scanned the night sky for any sign of the fearsome dragon. Baelen stood with the priests shuffling his feet nervously, looking up into the darkness. Anytime the dragon neared, Baelen felt apprehensive. It frightened him! The sacrifices were his responsibility and tonight he had brought no one!

  The priests with him had seen too many of their compatriots fed to the dragon after suffering Storn’s wrath or displeasure. Looking about, they saw no sacrifice and wondered glumly if they were the chosen for tonight’s unscheduled appearance of the dragon. Baelen stood silently, not giving the other priests a second’s notice or explanation.

  Storn, watching Jalene, smiled ominously as she summoned the dragon with the Stone of Loraine. He was aware of the nervous shuffling of the priests behind him, and one penetrating glare froze them in place. Baelen’s pale eyes went to the stone surface beneath him, unwilling to meet Storn’s withering gaze.

  Turning back to the Stone of Loraine, Storn marveled at how the perfect, egg sized ruby crystal glowed with power, spreading its fiery incandescence over everything. He could sense the growing power contained in the heart of the crystal, the power of sorcerers long since gone and turned to dust. The continued strengthening of its crystalline structure after ages of quiescent recovery was very evident. Each time Jalene used the crystal it became stronger, returning ever closer to its former power and glory. Soon the crystal would be at its strongest, completely recovered and tuned to this new day and age. Then it would be ready to return to its rightful owner!

  A sudden flash of red dragon fire flamed the ebony black sky above, signaling the arrival of Gilmreth. A gargantuan, bestial roar split the night above the now quiet city. People around the city looked toward the temple as they recognized Gilmreth’s inhuman roar and the sign of dragon fire up in the night sky. Many wondered what was going on.

  The priests behind Storn huddled together, not sure what to expect. Baelen glanced with concern at Jalene, hoping she controlled the descending dragon. Shivering in the cold evening breeze, fearing their end was soon to be upon them, the other three priests warily watched the approaching dragon.

  Let them suffer, Storn thought; a little humility would be good for the spineless fools. Only the head of his temple guard had demonstrated the fearlessness to face the dragon unafraid. In addition, Anton Par was totally under Storn’s control.

  A sudden beating of wings and cold air swirled atop the temple as Gilmreth alighted effortlessly in the center of the temple platform. The dragon’s head stared questioningly down toward Jalene, his yellowish red eyes seeming to glow in the dim, flickering torch light.

  “To Galvin, Gilmreth,” Jalene commanded sharply, using the Stone of Loraine to reinforce her words.

  A nebulous red glow immediately surrounded the dragon’s head as she formed a picture in his mind of what she wanted him to do. She used the stone and her abilities to form a mind link with the dragon. “Go to Galvin and destroy a small part of the village; only a small part. You may feed upon no more than this many villagers,” commanded Jalene, holding up four fingers on her left hand, planting in Gilmreth’s mind exactly what she wanted the dragon to do. “Go, and as a reward you will soon feed upon the blood of your most ancient enemy.” The red glow from the scepter continued to play over the dragon, growing brighter and brighter.

  Gilmreth swung his head ponderously around the temple platform, ignoring Jalene and the intrusion into his mind, looking over the flat surface of the temple and studying the few humans on it. There was no waiting sacrifice to feed upon at his feet. The manacles lay empty upon the cold, white stone. A slow anger began to burn in the dragon’s ruthless heart. There was always a sacrifice. Gilmreth looked over at the huddled priests, wondering if they were the sacrifices for tonight. They would be pitiful feedings at best. He could sense what Jalene wanted, but Gilmreth wanted to feed now!

  Jalene raised her scepter higher, a more powerful, fluctuating nebulous red glow spread across the white stones illuminating the temple platform in an eerie blood red light. It seemed to pulse around Gilmreth, keeping time with his evil, monstrous heart.

  Gilmreth felt the increasing pressure from the glowing stone upon his mind, encouraging him toward Galvin, discouraging him from feeding. Gilmreth could sense a promise from the one who held the glowing stone, of a feeding in the future the likes of which he had never experienced.

  Gilmreth hesitated. He could still remember intense, agonizing pain from two dangerous humans who once lived near that village. He’d avoided that side of the mountain because of that memory. The feedings on this side of the mountain had been easy and very fulfilling; it hadn’t been necessary to feed on the far side. Uneasily, the dragon turned his gaze unwaveringly toward the human female holding the glowing stone.

  Jalene’s mind link with Gilmreth became awash in energy as she tried to impress her will upon the dragon. She could sense the dragon’s confusion and resistance.

  “Go to Galvin, Gilmreth,” Jalene commanded, concentrating with all her might upon the Stone of Loraine.

  The Stone of Loraine responded, its bright red glow increasing, almost blinding Storn and the priests behind him. The entire temple platform became encompassed in the radiant red light that pulsed from the powerful stone.

  Gilmreth felt a sudden wrenching and excruciating pain in his head, commanding him toward the far off village. With a roar of pain and burning anger the dragon took flight, his muscles rippling as powerful wings beat against the night air. Dragon flame seared the chill from the night as the dragon rose. He circled the temple once before turning toward Firestorm Mountain.

  Fleeing the burning pain, Gilmreth flew toward Firestorm Mountain and Galvin. The pain gradually lessened as Gilmreth flew toward the distant village and away from the temple. He wouldn’t forget the pain nor who had inflicted it upon him.

  Jalene watched triumphantly as the dragon swiftly vanished into the night. Once in Galvin, the pain would subside and the dragon would attack the village. She felt satisfied that she did indeed control the dragon. The power of the Stone of Loraine was irresistible. He would do whatever she ordered so as not to experience that type of blinding pain again. She would keep a light mind link with the dragon to ensure he did as she’d commanded.

  Turning, she stared triumphantly at Storn Daes and his four priests. “The dragon has gone to Galvin. Not even Gilmreth can resist my power. Ready the temple guards to leave early in the morning and remember; I want the Sylvars returned to me alive!”

  “As you command, Milady,” Storn replied with a slight bow.

  He and the other priests turned and left the top of the temple platform, leaving Jalene alone. Storn was still not sure if his question about Jalene’s control over Gilmreth had been answered. Only time would tell.

  -

  Into the night, Gilmreth flew, his huge wingspan driving the dragon rapidly toward distant Galvin. The dragon’s massive muscles moved his wings rhythmically with minimal effort as he flew on. As time passed, the intense pain began to lessen. Gilmreth flew low over Firestorm Mountain, his long glide interrupted by quick beats of his wings to give him lifts over projections, and twists and turns of wings and body to avoid towering rock formations.

  Soon Gilmreth flew past the entrance to his lair and finally over the lower slopes of the mountain itself. Eventually, the lights of Galvin became visible in the distance, lamps burning in windows and upon the streets, dimly lighting the peaceful sleeping village. Suddenly the pain in Gilmreth’s mind vanished as he made the first pass over the unsuspecting village.

  The hunger inside Gilmreth grew as the desire to destroy and feed came upon him even more strongly now that the pain was gone. With an angry snarl, Gilmreth terminated the mind-link with Jalene. It was a trick the dragon had learned from ages past, and the distance
from the Stone of Loraine allowed him to do it. He looked down upon the village, his hunger growing. It was time to feed!

  Dimly, Gilmreth remembered feeding upon this village in the remote past. He remembered the pain he’d suffered at the hands of a pair of very powerful humans. Hesitating, the dragon turned and flew toward the spot where he had suffered that pain, wanting to know if there were any humans there who could still harm him!

  Over the fertile Sylvar farm the dragon flew, his yellowish red eyes scanning the dark ground below. He could easily see in the dark, the blackness holding no secrets from Gilmreth’s prying searching gaze. He looked warily over the landscape for any potential sign of lurking danger. Down below, he spotted a large, rambling farmhouse.

  In her room, Lynol’s eyes flew open as she awoke suddenly from a dreamless sleep. A cold foreboding swept over her, and she shivered violently. Her room seemed to drop to freezing in an instant as if a great danger was present. She cast her mind out, searching for whatever had awakened her, and then she sensed the dragon.

  “Gilmreth!” she cried with dawning realization, throwing the blankets back. Grabbing her clothes, she quickly began putting them on. “Father!” she yelled frantically at the top of her voice. “Gilmreth’s here! Wake up! We need to get to safety! We must get to the crypt!”

  At any moment, she expected to see deadly dragon fire flash down from the heavens, incinerating them and their home in one fiery heartless blast. The dragon had finally come to their side of the mountain. It was what she had feared for so long. The traders from Draydon had come and now so had the dragon. Lynol felt her heart beating wildly. This was the last thing she had expected when she went to bed.