Curse of the Dragon Kings

by Anne Spackman

  "But what made the elves willing to share their silver?" Lilia asked.

  "There was plenty for all," Galanor replied, shrugging. "And Dragoras and his hundreds of Dragorians helped the Elves to build the city of Maedera to the west of the mine. Dragorians also helped transport loads of silver to the Elwellyn Forest before the ancient highway was completed." Galanor shrugged.

  "Oh," Lilia nodded.

  "At the same time, the Silver Elves began adding to a small city near the southern edge of the Elwellyn Forest. In time, it grew larger and greater with the completion of a new Silver Castle." Galanor went on. "And there the Elwellyn Elves began to craft magical items which they traded for silver with their elven cousins of the city of Maedera."

  "Where is that city?!" Lilia cried.

  "Here!" Galanor declared. "For when the castle was finished, the elves renamed the city Argolen," Galanor said with a smile. "And to Argolen we have come. Queen Grainnewyn chose to live here when her mother Queen Elwellyn and father King Gwyngalian left Arcaendria for another world."

  "So this is the Silver Castle?!" Lilia cried excitedly. Now her visions turned from piles of gold to piles of silver.

  "And when does Aiovel come into all of this?" Dylan asked.

  "Be patient!" Galanor laughed. "First came the dwarves and the elf cousins."

  "Where did they come from?" Mygdewyn wondered.

  "Why, through the magic gate, of course," Galanor replied. "Oh sorry, I suppose I left that bit out."

  "The magic gate?"

  "Actually, back then it was much larger, and growing." Galanor explained. "That was how we Dragorians came, though my mother says the gate closed to our home world when the dwarves arrived from theirs. That was more than five thousand years after we came. Not that we ever wanted to go back to our homeland. Arcaendria had become a magnificent meeting place of magical creatures.”

  “But it must have got better when the Sea Elves arrived.” Lilia chimed in.

  "Anyway,” Galanor cleared his throat and waited until he had their attention, “when the dwarves appeared in the Black Mountains, the elf cousins also appeared in the forests for the first time. In actual fact, Ronan, Silver and Killian Elves lived together at that time," Galanor paused, "which might explain why Killian Elves look more like Silver Elves than the others do—" He broke off and shrugged.

  "So what happened to the dwarves?" Mygdewyn asked.

  "Yes, well, some of both the elf cousins and dwarves were invited to join Argolen and made their home in this city." Galanor replied. "Other dwarves moved away to form their own settlements. But they quickly retreated to abandoned caves, when the invading humans took over the plains to avoid the monsters in the hills."

  "Humans?" Dylan brows raised.

  "Yes, about five thousand years after the dwarves and elf cousins came, humans started to appear," Galanor looked to Dylan. "There were soon more humans than any other group of people."

  "Just imagine! Humans. Living here," Dylan said, shaking his head. Where did they come from?"

  "I don't know," Galanor replied. "But I'd guess that they came through the magic gate which lies somewhere near Gyfen. Or the one on the continent of Vilna."

  "There's another magic gate?" Dylan asked, surprised.

  "Yes, near the city of Ligri." Galanor nodded.

  "Where is the Gyfen gate?" Dylan persisted. He didn't like the idea of an unguarded magic gate hidden somewhere in the city.

  "Actually, I don't know," Galanor admitted. "I've looked for it, but I haven't ever been able to find it."

  "You were looking for it?"

  "Yes," Galanor nodded. "That was why I came to Gyfen in the first place. Yet now I believe the gate is guarded, or else I would have found it."

  "Boring!" Lilia exclaimed. "I don't care about Gyfen! I want to know what happened when the humans got here!" Dylan regarded her suspiciously. Why the interest in humans? Then he remembered that she was only half Sea Elf.

  "That, my dear, is obvious. Of course, they eventually took over the land!" Galanor said and shook his head. "But that was our fault. At first none of us magic creatures bothered to deal with the humans; we were so busy arguing with each other that their population grew and grew before we could ask them to please not take over so much of the land that had been ours. But eventually, the encroaching humans managed to push all of the other races to a small area in the center of this continent of Daegoras.

  "In the beginning, however," Galanor continued, "the very first sort of humans to arrive were dependable, orderly wizards and priests— the kind of humans that we could tolerate. They were even invited to come to live in Argolen. My mother told me that in no time at all, this city became famous across the continent of Daegoras for its wealth and beauty.

  "So much that when the tales of Argolen reached Dragoras, he decided to visit the city. It was during this first visit that Dragoras first beheld the beautiful Queen Grainnewyn and fell in love with her.

  “Dragoras was an interesting looking fellow, with bright golden hair and yellow-green eyes; he was the forerunner of the Gold Dragorians, before they became known to you as dragons.

  "In any case, Dragoras decided to remain permanently in his Dragorian form, and the ten other dragon lords followed suit. They and their half-elven children became known as Dragorians to the rest of the city of Inverlen, though most of the true Dragorian kind remained in the city of Dragoras."

  "There are gold-colored dragons?" Mygdewyn was surprised.

  "Then what are you, Galanor?" Dylan inquired.

  "Me?" Galanor shrugged. "I am a Dragorian descendant of one of the eleven Dragon Lords. An Ice Dragon, if you will."

  "So what's this difference between all these dragons, besides the different colors of their skin?" Mygdewyn persisted, still dubious.

  Galanor looked at the dwarf. "A world of differences, some no longer as important, I suppose. For when Dragoras married Grainnewyn, the dragons all lived together, and their names and talents were somewhat different from what they are today. Their former attributes in that time have long since been lost, though I think some of the original dispositions remain. But they became specialized over the years, after the dragons' curse, when as dragons they began to inhabit different environments."

  "Ice Dragons aren't evil, are they?" Lilia asked, scrutinizing Galanor.

  "No. Well, most of them are somewhat cold, reserved creatures, you understand, but not evil. Sensitive to insults, yes. But very affectionate when you get to know them. This all comes from having a soft skin, you see."

  "That's funny," Lilia said. "You don't seem to me to be the reserved type."

  "Aiovel taught me how to be more amiable," Galanor admitted. "I was still an impressionable child when I met her, long ago."

  "What about the other dragons? You seem quite reasonable, but the others—" Ronan broke off. He was thinking about the Emerald Dragons he'd learned about at the ancient highway; Dylan had other, darker recollections.

  "Well, as Dylan can no doubt attest, Black Dragons are not nearly as hospitable. They're somewhat greedy as far as dragons go and heavily plated creatures, which comes from living in caves. They have to protect themselves from falling rocks, of course, and to protect their treasures, but the dull plating also helps them blend in to mountainous terrain. They are indubitably cunning, as you'd expect, and quite bad-tempered, but they're also extremely intelligent. Not as intelligent as Ice Dragons, though," he added thoughtfully.

  "And the Emerald Dragons?" Ronan asked.

  "Yes, I remember. We saw tracks of the Emerald Dragons, didn't we? So of course we had to get away as soon as possible."

  "Why?" Ronan interrupted.

  "Because they don't often go far afield from their nests." Galanor explained. "They live in forests and green fields— you can hardly see them in
their normal environment, for they are well camouflaged. So you can see why I didn't want to linger around. You never notice them coming, and suddenly they've found you." Galanor laughed.

  "You've met with them before?" Mygdewyn asked.

  "Actually, I know quite a few of them," Galanor replied.

  "What are they like, so I know when to run if I see one?" Mygdewyn asked.

  Galanor considered. "Well, the skin of all Emerald Dragons is smooth and like new grass. Because of this they do tend to be somewhat neurotic about their vulnerability. Doubtless, though, they are the prettiest of the cursed dragons and understandably a bit vain about that.

  "Still, they can be... almost cordial, which is another good reason to avoid them, since they have a tendency to detain their guests indefinitely. Old Olierin and his crew— they're quite a bunch of characters. Unfailingly receptive to flattery, if you want to get on their good side!" Galanor chuckled reminiscently. "Yet their vulnerability has made them secretive and somewhat indecisive, I'm afraid. They prefer hiding to open conflict, and have grown relatively lethargic as far as dragons go.

  "Anyway, if I refer to the dragons in their present forms, it is only for clarity." Galanor waved his hand dismissively. "For all of the Dragon Lords were splendid to behold in the ancient days, even the mighty Scathaechir, youngest of the Dragon Lords. My mother tells me he was once a stunning creature with coal black eyes and hair blacker than midnight. I think she must have had a liking for him—" Galanor broke off, mildly embarrassed.

  "What do you think a cross between a Black Dragon and an Ice Dragon would look like?" Lilia wondered.

  "Enough of these tangents!" Galanor said gruffly, coloring crimson, despite being an Ice Dragon himself. Lilia just chuckled, delighted to have found a sensitive spot in Galanor.

  "What is this curse you keep mentioning?" Dylan asked.

  "Yes, the curse," Galanor replied, composing himself. "I'm getting to that part. Where were we?"

  "Dragoras came to Argolen," Lilia said.

  "Right," Galanor nodded. "Well, Dragoras soon won the heart of Grainnewyn and settled in Argolen with his loyal Dragorian lords. But, as you might have guessed, their happiness was short-lived."

  "No, don't tell me!" Lilia cried. "It was the Dark Wizard's fault!" Galanor peered at her, this time in mute surprise.

  "Very perceptive of you, Lilia," Galanor agreed, with open admiration.

  "Grainnewyn and Dragoras lived happily in Argolen? I doubt it." Dylan said, glancing about at the ruined city.

  "Yes, you see, their demise was inevitable." Galanor nodded. "Grainnewyn had unwittingly sown the seed of discord herself years before, when she established a Great Hall for the Elwellyn wizards in Argolen."

  "Oh, how sad!" Lilia cried. "You mean the Dark Wizard came from Argolen?"

  "In a manner of speaking," Galanor answered. "Grainnewyn herself was the most powerful wizard among her people, a practitioner of the ancient magic, similar to the magic practiced on Bressilen today but more powerful." Galanor laughed. "By that I mean the elves could cast real spells, create their own if you will, not merely conjure spells that amplify the powers of Nature. Because elves don't rely on written spells or scrolls to practice their magic, humans don't believe that elves have magic at all. The truth is that the elves possess a different magic, an older magic. A magic with fewer restrictions to use but more consequences when it is used.

  "Anyway, when Grainnewyn's castle was being built, she brought her beloved younger brother Galadon with her. He had been a mere infant when their mother and father left for another world, and his sister had raised him. In Inverlen, Grainnewyn began to train Galadon in the arts of magic.

  "Galadon grew to adulthood here, but when he left, he founded the city of Maedera out of devotion for the sister who had raised him. It was his suggestion, you know, to build a city nearer to the mines of Briodun in order that many beautiful objects of silver could be created as gifts to adorn his sister's palace when it was finished."

  "You said the dragons helped," Lilia reminded him.

  "Yes, but Galadon only grudgingly accepted the aid of the Dragon Lords." Galanor nodded. "Still, the three cities lived in prosperity for more than five thousand years— until Dragoras made the decision to visit Argolen.

  "Galadon was sitting in the Garden of Argolen with his sister when the Dragon King came. But unlike his sister, Galadon had always mistrusted dragons, and Dragoras most of all. He believed that the Dragon King sought only to steal his sister's wealth, and that Dragoras wanted to humble the Silver Elves and take their lands, and perhaps even bring armies through the magic gate to take them. Soon Galadon's mistrust grew to a secret loathing.

  "When Grainnewyn agreed to marry Dragoras, Galadon abandoned Argolen and took up residence in Maedera. There, in secret, say the dragon legends, chaos grew in his heart and turned at last to evil. In no time, he began to plan the destruction of the Dragon King."

  "Preposterous!" Ronan interrupted. "Chaos does not necessarily lead to evil!"

  Galanor smiled. "No, it doesn't. But as you know, chaos and order are forever at odds, trying to balance, forever fluctuating—forever unbalancing each other, if you will. There is both good and evil in chaos, as there is in order. Chaos makes us do destructive things, yes, but it also moves us to do spontaneous acts of kindness and charity, and chaos gives us the ability to make a quick joke, to laugh at ourselves, and to suddenly fall in love. Moreover, order is not merely following the law, which is good. It is not merely the source of logic or our ability to recognize the causes and effects of situations. You see, order doesn't permit change; order is also stagnation, like a still pond where disease might begin to grow. Living by order alone can be boring as well, and it can make us bitter. No one can enjoy a life that becomes entirely predictable and routine. So you see, there is good and evil in both chaos and order, and chaos and order need each other."

  "I never thought about it like that," Dylan said, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

  "Yet in Galadon's case," Galanor resumed, "the chaotic aspect of his nature alone turned evil, for he could not control his instinctive jealousy of Dragoras. The ordered, logical side of his personality remained as it had always been. Thus when both the good and bad of his chaotic side became corrupted to evil, he became a man possessed of a cool logic, with a heart that was full of evil governing all his mind and action. That is why he became so dangerous."

  "But those Silver Elves seemed so nice!" Lilia wailed unhappily.

  Galanor laughed. "Perhaps it was not entirely Galadon's fault." Galanor conceded. "Indeed, some said the influx of order and pure reason brought to Argolen by the methodical, unspontaneous human wizards and priests had caused an imbalance in Arcaendria's magic, or that the appearance of the hard-working dwarves had made order so strong that the higher powers that balance Nature set off a disastrous ripple of destructive chaos—and brought the legions of new, chaotic humans."

  "That's right! Blame it all on the dwarves!" Mygdewyn sniffed, as though injured by the barb. Ronan suppressed a laugh and clapped his brother on the shoulder in sympathy.

  "I didn't intend to, Mygdewyn," Galanor shook his head. But chaos and order had long been balanced in the hearts of all the Dragorians and in the Silver Elves—yet suddenly that balance was upset. Each person turned to one side or another. Some people clung to following only what their leaders told them, to law-abiding order, while others refused to listen to any one and did as they pleased, embracing the chaos."

  "I still don't understand," Lilia whined. "There's the priests' Natural magic, and dragon magic and something in between that the Silver Elves used, and something else that humans seem to have, and all of it stems from some balance between chaos and order? Plus the magic gate that leads who knows where and works who knows how. And is possibly the reason why magic in Arcaendria is such a hodge-podge
. How in Daegoras does all of the magic work?" She sighed, out of breath.

  "Well, actually, I don't know how magic works." Galanor admitted, a bit uncomfortable. "No one does. That's the mystery of magic." He shrugged. "And everyone has a different notion about it, so I suppose there never will be a definite answer. Simply put, magic defies logic."

  "But you did say the powers of order and chaos had never been balanced." Ronan admonished Galanor. "Myrddin also reminds us that if either force of nature becomes too strong, they check themselves through the actions of living creatures." Ronan said. "If order surpasses chaos, it will only be superseded by the necessary breakdown of imposed order. Chaos results. Balance is restored— for a while. So the dwarves and other factors would merely disrupt the balance temporarily." Ronan smiled at the dwarf; Mygdewyn appeared mollified.

  "Yes," Galanor smiled. "But whatever the reason for his fall toward evil, Galadon soon set about seducing seven of the Dragon Lords to his service, promising them great power and wealth over the world and its new inhabitants, the other lesser elves, dwarves, and men. At first, they refused to listen to him, but at the same time, they were tempted by what Galadon had offered them. So, they foolishly kept Galadon's promises a secret from King Dragoras.

  "Meanwhile, more elves migrated to the northeastern forests of the continent, and humans came in greater numbers to the West and to the East, establishing cities by the coast on either side of the continent Daegoras and on the continent of Vilna. I suspect the power of chaos in so many humans empowered the Elwellyn Prince."

  "How, if there wasn't any chaos left in him?" Lilia wondered.

  "It was part of the balance." Galanor shrugged. "Or imbalance. The more chaos there was dissipating around, the less order there was in general, so those few who thrived on the power of order gained more power as the forces tried to balance. In fact, this is why Galadon hoped to breed more chaos in the hearts of men and dragons, for the more quarrelsome they became, the more his own powers grew.

  "About that time, an ancient spell of protection that Queen Elwellyn had created around the forest lands began to wane in its power, and the Elwellyn Forest dwindled to an area surrounding the River Elwellyn and Elwellyn Lake. We've seen what remains of the forest when we went there. The rest of the magical Elwellyn Forest disappeared. The unprotected trees of the continent of Daegoras were cut and burned by human settlers to clear land for farming to feed their growing numbers, and most of the Silver Elves burnt out of their homes retreated to the Living Palace. The West, your western kingdoms, that had been theirs became known as Lewgyr, the "lost land" to the Elwellyn Elves. You can see why they have little to do with humans these days, why they became known as Shadow Elves.