Below, Brenwar shook his fist and screamed, “Get down here, Nath. Get back down!”
Nath shrugged and called out, “I’m just going to scout ahead. You know me. Do you want to ride?”
“No!” Brenwar became a speck on the ground, and in a few moments, the dwarf was out of sight.
Nath eased back into the strange seat, and before long, wind tearing at his face, he smiled.
Ah, it feels good to be part of the wind again. How I’ve missed it!
Before long, they were soaring through the clouds of the night, and Nath said in Dragonese, “We’re headed for Narnum, but avoid the wurmers.”
The dragon’s wings beat slow and steady. There was enough power in them to hold at least ten more of Nath, if not twenty. The strength of the bull dragon fed him. Its heart beat in unison with his. They connected. Scaled brothers.
Out of the deep blue sky, Slivver came. His wings beat with the ease of a feather falling. He landed right on the back of the bull dragon, in front of Nath. “Enjoying the ride?”
“Absolutely.”
“I don’t think the dwarf is very happy.”
“He’ll catch up. Eventually.” Nath chuckled. “He always does.”
The bull dragon soared higher than the distant snow-capped mountains that spiked the drifting clouds. The chill air normally would brittle a man’s bones, but it didn’t. The bull dragon huffed out a warm wind, like off a campfire, every time his wings made a downward stroke. The fire from his belly was warm and soothing.
Taking a look at the quiet lands below where only sparkles of fires burned like fireflies in the night, Nath said, “This is really something, isn’t it?”
“Adventure always is.” Slivver managed to somehow make himself look extremely comfortable on the bull dragon’s back, yet he seemed more man than dragon. “Sometimes it’s fun to just enjoy the ride, though it is a slow one. For a dragon, Waark moves at the pace of a dwarf.”
Waark’s body tremored, jostling the riders.
Nath and Slivver clung on.
“Take no offense, Waark!” Slivver winked at Nath. “It seems no one appreciates being likened to Brenwar’s sort.”
Like Nath, Slivver was one of a kind among the dragons. He was a silver dragon, but there were many types. There was the larger breed, some of which grew to a size rivaling the bull dragons, and then there were the smaller, more petite sort, quick and powerful with their magic. Not all dragons were old because they were bigger, and not all dragons were young because they were smaller. There were fire bites and pixie dragons who were more than a thousand years old. But even among the rarest of rare was Slivver.
Unlike the rest of their kin, Nath and Slivver were both fascinated with the races. Most dragons didn’t care at all. Ever. But Slivver did. If his brother could change into an elf, Nath had no doubt he would. For a while at least.
“Slivver, it’s good to have you back. It makes me think of the good old days. You know, back when I was little more than a century. Boy, I was so cocky back then. It’s a wonder I made it this far.” Nath brushed away a lock of red hair that had drifted over his eye. “I really missed you when you left.”
“I missed you too. Even in my sleep, I dreamed of our quests. Now they begin anew.”
Nath glanced back. The bull dragon’s tail swished behind them. Even at this slower flying speed, it wouldn’t take much longer to get to Narnum. A few hours at most. He felt a little guilty leaving Brenwar behind. “Perhaps we should turn around.”
With a flip of his paw, Slivver said, “Do as you wish. I can do the scouting ahead if you want. Besides, if the wurmers catch wind of Waark, he won’t be able to escape them, but they’ll never catch me.”
“Eh, he’ll be fine.”
CHAPTER 31
Selene donned her hood just before she entered the formerly Free City of Narnum. She’d almost forgotten the people would recognize her. Thinking back on all the atrocities she and the other Clerics of Barnabus had committed, she had no doubt the people would mob her if she showed her face.
She walked by a pair of giants, each of whom was covered in coarse hair and patches of armor. They were full bloods. Twenty feet high, their bodies filled half the stone-paved street. They poked at one another, jesting and laughing. Their bellies shook when they laughed. Women scurried back and forth, rushing in and out of a tavern. They held pitchers of ale in their arms and filled the huge tankards the giants set on the ground. Every time a giant spoke, the women shouted praise. Their painted eyes were wild with adoration in most cases, but not all.
Music, exotic and dark, blared from horns, voices, strings, and drums. It echoed throughout the city. Sounds from band after band collided with one another.
Selene weaved her way toward the sound of where the masses gathered, fighting the urge to cover her ears and moving with the flow of the raucous crowds filling the once-glorious streets, now rough and shambled. Above, nested in the spires and lying on rooftops, were the dark-scaled wurmers. Their eyes bright, bodies never resting, they were like lizards bathing in a moonlight sun. She could see dozens, but there must have been hundreds.
She pressed through the knots of people who waded among the giant men as casually as they did their own. Men and women who stood ten and more feet tall. Each had a flock of followers behind them, and for every ten small giants, there was one full blood. They lounged and frolicked with one another. The normal-sized people behaved with wild abandon.
This is insanity.
A woman caught Selene by the elbow with both hands. “Come, sister! Come with me!”
Selene pulled away.
The young woman’s grip remained firm. “Why do you hide your face, sister? We are all beautiful here.”
A second woman blindsided Selene and jerked the hood down. “You’re so beautiful! A true maiden for Eckubahn. He must see you!”
Selene shoved the women aside. Heart racing, she covered her head and ran.
The women called out after her. “Eckubahn will have you! He’ll take your heart.”
Ducking into an alley, Selene cut from one street to another and waded into a different sea of people. They all moved in one direction. Hands and arms waving, they were chanting and praising Eckubahn. The giants. The titans. She followed the sea of people into the arena where the Contest of Champions had been held. It was bigger than it used to be. The giants had expanded it to have seats to hold their kind. Within the entrance tunnel, Selene couldn’t see what it was inside the arena that had the crowd so excited. Everyone pushed and shoved.
These people are wild!
Finally, the throng of cajolers squeezed out of the tunnel and filed into the seats of the oval ring. On ground level inside the arena, Selene looked up and caught her first glimpse of the colossal giants. There were many. Bare chested. Armed in some cases. All of them were full blood.
Seated on a throne made from the bones of dragons sat the biggest one of all, Eckubahn. His head was aflame. Beside him stood another titan with a long ponytail and burning green eyes.
A sick feeling stirred inside the pit of Selene’s stomach. She made her way up the steps of the coliseum. The seats were filling fast. She made it up high enough to see down into the arena.
Time to see what all of this ludicrous commotion is about.
She turned. Immediately her heart jumped. She gasped and clutched her chest.
In the center of the arena, Nath was chained up to a wall of iron, waist deep in sludge.
CHAPTER 32
Eckubahn. The titan king.
Staring at him, Balzurth knew he was every bit the menace Gorn Grattack was, but worse in other ways. Gorn was a dragon. Even a good dragon once. He didn’t hate dragons. He just hated the good in them. That’s where Eckubahn and Gorn differed. Eckubahn hated all things good. The giants hated all things dragon, good or not. Eckubahn was the worst of all atrocities: an evil spirit in an evil body commanding an ever-growing army of oversized fiends.
“MY PRIZE. MY P
RIZE.”
Eckubahn’s cavernous voice hushed the crowd. He turned his flaming head to face his fellow spirit, Isobahn. Together, the pair of titans was more formidable than every person and giant in the arena put together. Brawny and mystical, the titans emanated uncanny, wicked power.
“My servant Rybek did well. Did you send for him?”
“I did,” Isobahn replied. He stroked his ponytail. Isobahn was the leaner of the two titans. His face, shaven and scarred, might have even been handsome at one time, for a giant. He didn’t seem worried about a thing. “I imagine he’ll be here soon. I see no reason to wait for him. Let the games begin.”
Eckubahn shifted his focus to Balzurth, who was still disguised as Nath. The dark, glowing pits of the titan’s eyes bore into Balzurth, searching. The titan’s fingers gripped the dragon skulls that made up the chair arms. His long fingernails pecked the dragon-skull foreheads.
Two wurmers as big as horses lay at his feet like dogs. Their hungry eyes were fixed on Balzurth. Claws scraped at the stones below the dragon seat.
“Nath Dragon. Today your heroics end.”
Time to sell it, old man. Say something smart-alecky like your son would.
Balzurth stared right back at the titan and said, “Why thank you, Eckubahn. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the celebration. And to think you went to all this trouble to throw a retirement party for me. I’m elated.” He looked from side to side. “And a bit baffled. I don’t see any cake.”
Isobahn sat up, eyes wide, brows lifted. A confused expression filled his face. He chuckled. Others in the seats chuckled as well.
Eckubahn’s flaming head brightened. His fists went up and came down hard, shattering the dragon-bone chair arms.
“SILENCE!”
As Nath, Balzurth shrugged. The chains on his arms rattled.
That’s it. Get in his head a little. Distract him.
Sweat trickled down his cheek. Balzurth, as mighty as he might have been, could still worry. At the moment, he was faced with the two most powerful titans, Eckubahn and Isobahn. The rest of the spirits were scattered all over Nalzambor. In addition to that, a host of giants surrounded him. He couldn’t fight them all. Not at once. Not without help. But he didn’t need to fight them all. He only needed to take the fight to one, Eckubahn. Balzurth’s nostrils flared. He had his wish. He was close enough to kill the titan king.
“I know what you’re doing, Eckubahn.” Balzurth jerked his head and blew at the long, red Nath hair in his eyes. Not having any success, he said, “You want to draw my father out. But let me tell you, he’s too wise for that.”
“He’ll come,” Eckubahn said. “He’ll hear your cries. Feel your pain. The only way to save yourself is to get him to exchange his life for yours. Let me assure you, Balzurth is mine.”
Balzurth shook his head, this time managing to get the hair out of his eyes. “No, no. I don’t think it will happen. I’m my own dragon now. He knows this. I got myself into this, and I can get myself out. Besides, my father never listens to me. He’s stubborn like that.”
Eckubahn leaned forward and said with authority, “Call for him.”
“Eh, my father is all knowing. If he wanted to be here, he’d be here by now. Sorry, but we’ll just have to have the cake without him.” Balzurth tried to cross his arms over his chest, but his restraints wouldn’t let him. “Imagine me folding my arms over my chest right now.”
Eckubahn sat back on his throne and gave Isobahn a nod. “You are a fool, Nath Dragon. For I am all knowing. Perhaps your father is not here, but someone else who cares for you is.”
Isobahn’s head swiveled over his shoulder. He pointed toward the audience in the stands and said, “Seize her!”
A commotion erupted in the stands. Men and giants converged on a single figure in the crowd. Oversized limbs and hands the size of shovels locked on the legs and arms of a lone robed figure.
Who is he talking about?
The giant men roughly dragged a woman kicking and screaming over the benches, but her cries were from anger, not fear. They dragged her in front of the throne. The giant yanked down the woman’s hood. A black-scaled tail lashed out, smiting the giant in the head.
Balzurth got a glimpse of her face.
Selene!
Without holding back, the giant force of men clubbed her to the ground and dragged her across the dirt floor of the arena in front of Balzurth.
She moaned.
A giant hit her again.
“Quit, you monster!”
The giant drew back its club.
“Stop,” Eckubahn said. There were no visible lips to be seen behind his speech; just his eyes showed on his face. “Harness her to the stone.”
Standing twenty feet high, a cyclops walked over with a block of stone the size of an ox cart. The chunk of granite must have weighed tons. Rectangular in shape, the slab was bloodstained, like a sacrificial altar. With muscles bulging in its arms, it set the block between Eckubahn and Selene. The smaller giants shackled Selene by the wrists with dwarven iron and secured her to the pillar of stone. She lay flat on her back.
“What are you doing, Eckubahn?” Balzurth yelled. “You have me. Let her go! I demand it!”
Eckubahn’s flaming head brightened when he spoke. “No one makes demands of me. I make demands of you. Your woman, this Selene, I know of her and her darkness. It still flows through her blood. I can sense it. But the good in her is strong. So much I don’t like it.” The titan nodded.
An earth giant hairy as a caterpillar walked over. It held a tremendous axe in its hand. It was an executioner’s axe with a single, one-sided blade. Covered in dried blood.
Balzurth could smell dragon blood on the metal of the axe and on the stone slab. His temper rose.
How many dragons have died by this monster’s hands? No more!
The giant executioner stood over Selene and the slab. Lifting the axe over its shoulders, it turned its head to Eckubahn.
“I don’t delay, Nath Dragon. Call for your father, or she shall surely die right before your golden eyes.”
The deranged crowd chanted, “Kill her! Kill her! Kill her!”
Every syllable the crowd said felt like a dagger in Balzurth’s chest. It hurt. It angered him. His chin trembled with fury. For centuries, he’d been fully composed. There’d been no circumstance he couldn’t handle. But the gorge of madness now surrounding him infuriated him. The twisted, evil minds disgusted him.
His temper, long dormant, rose some more.
And this time, he didn’t tamp it down with wisdom.
Sasha’s darkness now dwelled within him, and it stoked his fires. Fanned the flames. Urged him to let the rage against evil come forth.
It’s time!
He locked eyes with Selene. The weary dragon woman’s eyes widened.
He spoke into her mind. Get ready.
With a snarl, he spoke to the titan, “Fine, Eckubahn! Fine! If you want me to call my father, I shall call him!”
“Make it quick. Hope he arrives soon. The axe will fall at any moment.”
Balzurth’s golden eyes burned brighter than the stars. He said, “You don’t have to worry about that. He’s already here.” Balzurth called out in an all-powerful voice that could be heard by the dragons to the five great cities and beyond.
“BAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHROOOOOOOOO!”
CHAPTER 33
Fingers crossed behind his head, Nath said to Slivver, “You know, I’d probably have this adventure completed by now if I could get Brenwar to ride on a dragon. That’s probably why, when I call, they don’t come. Maybe my heart’s not in it because he doesn’t like it.”
“Perhaps,” said Slivver. The beard of skin under his chin waved in the wind atop the bull dragon’s back. “But you need to remember you’re a dragon, Nath. You can’t do as the other races of people do. You’re different. Being among them too much holds back your dragon development. That’s been your problem all along.”
What?
Really?
This was exciting news that gave him hope, but on the outside, Nath played it cool. “I know. It’s hard, though. After all, I was born a man. I’ve walked, eaten, breathed, and drunk as a man all my life. It’s so hard to be something else.” He stretched out his arms, letting the high winds caress his clawed fingers. “Besides, they’re so entertaining. I tell you, Brenwar makes me laugh, and he’s never even trying to be funny.”
“Well, you know how I am about it. I share your fascination with the world of men. Much of that comes from my relationship with you. To mentor you, I’ve needed to comprehend your dilemmas. But Nath, the dragons, your brethren, are far from bland. You would find as much joy among us as anyone else. Take me, for example. Think back. You had friends back when.”
“I know, but I’m so attached to people. I love them.”
“There’s no wrong in that.”
“I’d hope not.”
A sound filled with vibration rushed through Nath’s body. His scales stood on end.
Waark lurched beneath him.
It was a dragon call. One much like the one Nath had used to summon the bull dragon, but at least a hundred times more powerful.
Nath was on his feet.
Slivver’s eyes were staring into his. The silver dragon’s jaw hung.
Waark’s wings beat faster.
“That was Father! It came from Narnum!” Nath about jumped out of his boots. He’d never heard anything like that before. Nothing in the entire world could have equaled it. The earth-rocking bellow echoed through all the lands and stirred the snow in the very mountaintops. It was a dragon call for not just one dragon but all. It was a call to war. He could hear the voice of the people cry out in alarm as if the world were about to end.
Flight of the Dragon (The Chronicles of Dragon, Series 2, Book 5 of 10) (Tail of the Dragon) Page 11