Chapter Fifty-Seven
Jen yawned as she walked down the cold stone halls of the baron’s keep. They’d arrived a day and a half ago and she finally felt recovered from their mission. Lane had been kind enough to arrange a sorcerer who sent a message to the archmage with their full report. The archmage’s response had arrived this morning. She was coming herself to talk to Al Elan. Jen shivered. She didn’t envy the boy that interrogation.
She paused on her way to the yard. Al Elan was Damien’s age, she couldn’t think of him as a boy. Not to mention that he was hard as steel. Whatever his story, it wasn’t pleasant.
Jen resumed her journey and after a couple turns stepped out into the bright afternoon sun. Lane stood off to one side searching the sky for signs of her mother. They were alone today since the baron hadn’t returned and the baroness didn’t get along with the archmage. No reason was given and one look at the older woman’s face convinced Jen not to ask.
She stopped beside Lane, who said, “She should be here any minute.”
Jen nodded. On one hand she badly wanted to know what was going on and on the other she feared to find out. Her greatest hope was that Al Elan had exaggerated about an approaching army to gain their attention. The kingdom had just finished cleaning up after one catastrophe. They didn’t need a war.
“There she is,” Lane said.
Jen squinted and enhanced her vision. The archmage was surrounded by a glowing aura as she powered through the air. A deep scowl creased her face and Jen once again felt a twinge of pity for Al Elan, or anyone else that had to answer her questions.
The archmage landed a few feet away. Jen bowed and Lane hugged her mother. With that taken care of the archmage asked, “Where is he?”
“In one of the guest rooms,” Lane said. “We’ve kept him isolated, but he’s showed no sign of wanting to run away. In fact, all he seems to want is to eat.”
“No surprise there,” Jen said. “He looked half-starved when we picked him up.”
“You didn’t put him in a cell?” the archmage asked.
“Talon and Edward are guarding his door,” Jen said. “He’s not going anywhere and we figured he’d be more cooperative if we treated him like a guest rather than a prisoner.”
“Well enough,” the archmage said. “Take me to him.”
Jen led her down the corridors to the guest room where her teammates kept watch. They bowed and stepped away from the door. Jen opened it and the archmage strode through. The door closed, leaving Lane and the others out in the hall. Al Elan sat behind a small table covered with breadcrumbs and a pewter mug.
“Archmage, this is Al Elan. Al Elan, this is Archmage Lidia Thorn. Do you wish me to leave?”
“No.” The archmage pulled out the second chair and sat facing the young man. “Tell me everything.”
Al Elan bowed his head. “If you wish, but it is a long story.”
“I have all the time in the world.”
He raised his head and locked gazes with her. “No, I fear you do not, but so be it. My story begins in a land far to the south, defined by heat and ruled by a dragon.”
Chapter Fifty-Eight
The sun had long since set when Al Elan said, “And that is the end of my story.”
Jen gave a full-body shiver. The tale of a land she hadn’t even known existed had held her rapt. And Al Elan’s ability to leave his body as a spirit sounded almost unbelievable. A talent like that would make him invaluable. No wonder the invaders were reluctant to let him escape.
The sun had set hours ago, but she’d gotten so engrossed in his story she hardly noticed. Now that it was over, they had some serious decisions to make.
The archmage stood and stretched, her back popping. She took the map Jen had found and spread it out on the table, glowing orbs appearing at each corner to hold it down.
“Can you read these markings?” the archmage asked.
Al Elan looked it over a moment then nodded. “The markings detail where knights have either subverted local authorities or taken control outright.”
He pointed at a village seemingly at random. “This one says they pay the local lord fifty pieces of gold a month in exchange for him not interfering with their business. In the next town agents killed a militia commander when he refused to cooperate. It’s similar all along the border. I’d guess over half your border is now under the Fire King’s control, one way or another.”
The light globes vanished and the archmage rolled up the map. “You’re certain their goal is to fight the Ice Queen’s army?”
“Yes,” Al Elan said. “Though if they could take control of a chunk of your territory on their way out the army wouldn’t think twice about it.”
“Okay, assuming you’re right, and I have no reason to believe otherwise, that implies that there’s an army of ogres ready to descend on our northern border. They’re meeting at the Plains of Judgement and have been for thousands of years. If that’s also right, then it has to be the Golden Plains they’re talking about. They’re the only large, naturally occurring plains in the kingdom.”
“Wait,” Jen said. “The Golden Plains are the kingdom’s bread basket. More than half our grain is raised there and this time of year it’s only a third harvested. If they fight there now…”
“I’m aware.” The archmage ran her fingers through her hair. “I need to get back to the capital and talk to the king. I already sent a warning to the northern army, so they’ll be on alert. Jennifer, I need you to talk to General Taos and muster the southern army. Brief them on the threat, relocate to a camp closer to the enemy’s staging area, but make no move until I send word. The Fire King’s army isn’t really our enemy and if we can avoid a fight, I’d like to.”
“Understood, Archmage.” Jen got to her feet as well. “What about the corrupt officials and infiltration units?”
“We’ll deal with the officials once this crisis has passed. As to the infiltrators, leave them alone for now and focus on getting our army ready. I’ll send word as soon as I can.”
“What about me?” Al Elan asked.
He’d been so quiet Jen almost forgot about him. Getting chased out of your homeland was a horrible thing. She felt for the guy, but his fate was out of her hands.
“You will remain here with Jennifer,” the archmage said. “Should I need a translator, you will be of great use.”
Al Elan bowed his head as Jen followed the archmage out into the hall. Her squad hopped to their feet.
“Maintain your guard,” Jen said. “I don’t think he’s planning on going anywhere, but why take chances? Edward, arrange a rotation so everyone gets some rest.”
Her second nodded and she left them to it. The archmage led the way down a curved staircase, through the gaudily decorated entrance hall, and out into the yard. A faint breeze blew as the stars twinkled overhead. She hadn’t realized how stuffy the interrogation room was until she got outside.
“Will you wait until morning?” Jen asked.
“No.” The archmage sighed. “What a time for your brother to be gone. I could kick myself for suggesting he go gallivanting with the professor.”
“You couldn’t know what was coming. We’ll get through this one way or another. Eventually, Damien will run out of food and then you’ll see him topside in a hurry.”
A faint smile twisted the archmage’s lips. “I’m sure. Be careful, Jennifer. We’re dealing with a powerful enemy, one we’ve never encountered.”
Thinking back on her numerous fights with the knights Jen was forced to swallow a lump in her throat. “No need to warn me, Archmage. We’ll take care of things here. Safe journey.”
The archmage nodded and shot into the air. In moments she was little more than a golden dot on the horizon.
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Damien rested in one of the surprisingly comfortable stone chairs the Builders favored and did his best to ignore the professor’s droning. They were relaxing in an empty building not far from the main tunnel, t
he same empty building Damien had been sleeping in since they arrived.
There hadn’t been an attack for a few days and if it were up to him there wouldn’t be another today. Dahlmis worried that the heretics were up to something, but Damien couldn’t imagine what else they might try. Perhaps the plan was to coax them out from behind their walls. That certainly wasn’t going to happen. Damien’s side didn’t have enough fighters to go on the offensive.
“It appears their culture has worshiped the black dragon for thousands of years,” Dorius said. “From what I can determine, the beast hasn’t moved from that spot since they found it.”
Damien rubbed the bridge of his nose. “That’s great, Professor.”
“Isn’t it? I’ve learned so much since we arrived my book may become a multivolume set. If only the elders would grant me an interview, it would be the crowning achievement of my career.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Could you ask Dahlmis to put in a good word for me again?”
Damien yawned. “Sure.”
He’d already asked Dahlmis twice and had no intention of doing so again, but if argued with, Dorius would never shut up. He almost wished something would happen just to get him out of their borrowed house. Almost, but not quite. Anytime there was a battle his comrades were at risk and he didn’t want anyone getting hurt if it could be avoided.
He shut his eyes for a moment and a force tugged at his mind. A moment later he found himself in the dragon’s psychic wasteland. Dreamer towered over him, wings spread, yellow eyes glaring.
Damien did his best not to let his fear show. “Been awhile. Is everything okay?”
“No.” The dragon’s deep voice vibrated in Damien’s chest. “Everything is most definitely not okay. The probability thread is nearly ready to reveal whatever force threatens our world. I must be ready when it does. To that end, my chosen must be brought here so I can invest my power in him.”
“What’s a probability thread?”
“Nothing your mortal mind can comprehend. You must bring my chosen here as soon as possible.” The image of a lean, muscular young man around Damien’s age appeared beside him. The man had dark skin and hair and was dressed in a red tunic and pants. “His name is Al Elan. I have attempted to fetch him in the psychic realm, but he has learned to resist my grasp. He is in the kingdom now, with your sister. Find him and bring him to me.”
“With Jen? How did that happen?” Damien felt like he was running down a steep mountain path and couldn’t get his feet under him. “I can’t just leave. In case you forgot, we’re in the middle of a war.”
“This petty skirmish is irrelevant in the grand scheme of the world. The approaching danger outweighs this a thousand times. The Builders can fight their battles without you.”
“No. I gave Dahlmis my word that I’d help them defeat the heretics. I can’t leave until they’re safe.”
The dragon roared. “I haven’t time for your petty mortal games.”
“They might be petty to you, but many will die without my help. That isn’t a responsibility I take lightly. You want me to get this Elan guy? Help me end the war. One blast with our combined power and the heretics along with their monsters will be nothing but dust.”
“How dare you bargain with me!”
He stared the black dragon down without trembling. Given what Dorius said and the fact that he needed Damien to fetch his chosen, Damien suspected Dreamer couldn’t leave his position. That fact gave him considerable leverage.
After a minute-long staring contest, the dragon snarled. “Very well. You are correct in thinking my power is the key to defeating the monsters. They gain their protection from my scales, but it won’t help against the power that created them. I will grant you the strength you need, but when you’re finished you must go straight to the surface to fetch my chosen.”
“Deal.”
The dragon breathed a cloud of black mist over Damien. “Breathe deep and my power will become one with you.”
He sucked in a breath and staggered as the black energy mingled with his own soul force. The dragon’s power made Lizzy’s divine soul force feel like a match compared to a bonfire. When the writhing energy stabilized, Damien blinked and found himself back in his borrowed house.
“…and that’s why I think the Builders worship the dragon,” Dorius said.
“Fascinating, Professor.” He stood and turned toward the door. “I need to find Dahlmis.”
“Don’t forget to mention my interview.”
Damien threw a wave over his shoulder and hurried out into the street. Dahlmis was supposed to be on watch so Damien flew toward the wall. Several of the Builders walking around waved to him in passing, but he was too anxious to return the gestures. Blowing away the heretics might not sit well with the Builders, but the dragon’s warning sat like lead in his stomach.
As expected, Dahlmis was walking along the battlement, gazing out into the tunnel with his eyeless face. The weirdness of it struck Damien again. He shook it off and landed a few feet from the Builder.
“What troubles you?” Dahlmis asked.
“The dragon just contacted me. He wants me to go to the surface, find some guy that’s supposed to be his chosen, and bring him back.”
“We need you here,” Dahlmis said.
“Exactly what I told Dreamer.” Damien looked left and right. “The dragon gave me a sliver of his power, enough to destroy the heretics and all their monsters. Dreamer’s got me spooked. I need to find out what’s happening at home, but I don’t want to break my word to you and your people. This is your war, I’m just here to help you fight it. What do you want me to do?”
Dahlmis’s inhuman face twisted as he thought. “The elders—”
“We both know what the elders will say,” Damien said. “I made my promise to you. What do you want me to do?”
Dahlmis’s expression hardened. “We need to end this, once and for all. Do what you must. I will accept all responsibility.”
Damien put a hand on his shoulder. “You’re sure?”
With a hint of a humorless smile Dahlmis said, “Not in the least.”
Damien grinned. “If it’s any consolation, I know the king above. If you’re banished I can arrange a place for you to stay.”
“I appreciate your generosity,” came the deadpan reply.
Damien leapt off the wall and flew up the tunnel. The path his scout bug usually took was burned into his mind.
How many times had he thought of doing this very thing? Going into the heart of danger alone and eliminating it. That was his calling. With no one nearby he wouldn’t have to hold back. One blast and it would all be over.
Are you sure you can control the dragon’s power?
“With your help I can do anything. That said, it’s much more stable than the corrupt energy I used to blast the crystal demons last year.”
The stone streaked by and Damien extended his awareness. He shot out into the underground city and curved north toward the enemy’s outpost. Scores of tiny energy sources resembling Dreamer’s were gathered up ahead.
So far so good.
He rounded another bend and the passage opened into a familiar chamber. Hundreds of angry red eyes glared up at him. He didn’t bother counting the goblins, but all four of the remaining giants were there. One of the rogue Builders scurried toward the rear of the cavern.
That was proof enough for Damien. He drew deep from his core and formed a multicolored sphere of soul force.
Goblins snarled up at him. One of the giants hurled a black-scaled monster his way, but it came up short, falling back to the ground with a shrill squeal.
The sphere grew until it was as big around as he was tall. When all but ten percent of his power had gathered, Damien hurled the energy into the cavern.
It fell like a meteor and exploded with the force of an erupting volcano. Everything was vaporized in an instant. Stones tumbled from the ceiling, crashing amidst the dead. When the dust cleared, the cavern
had been reduced to a heap of shattered stone. The threat was eliminated.
Satisfied, Damien flew back to collect the professor. Using all of Dreamer’s power left him feeling hollowed out. After defying the elders, he didn’t know what sort of reception to expect, but he doubted it would be friendly.
Chapter Sixty
Sig found warmth in the Ice Queen’s frigid palace beside Ilda under the furs of his massive bed. If the former war leader resented the loss of her power and status, she did a fine job hiding it. He’d offered to make her his official second-in-command, but she warned him the other war leaders would resent her after her failure in the tests and that would make them even harder to control. He knew she was right, but he still wanted to do something for her.
Ilda ran her long, blue fingers down his chest. “What are you thinking?”
“Guess.”
Her hand continued down until she found the answer. “Ah, you think about that a lot. Are all humans so energetic?”
“If they were lying beside you, I’m sure they would be.” Sig kissed her. When they came up for air he said, “On a more serious note, have you considered my plan?”
She rested her head on his chest. “It’s a prudent decision. Saving our strength by avoiding combat with the human army will give you a much better chance of victory, especially if the enemy has to fight its way north.”
“And the war leaders?”
“That will be difficult. Bad enough they have to follow a human into battle, but to give up a chance to kill their most hated enemy… That will gall them even more.”
She echoed Sig’s thoughts perfectly. “So?”
“You can’t lead if you’re worrying about what the war leaders think. The Ice Queen has named you her Chosen. When you give orders, you speak with her voice. If marching peacefully through the kingdom is the best way for you to defeat the enemy and complete the mission, then you must do it.”
Dreaming in the Dark: Chains of the Fallen Volume 1 (Soul Force Saga Book 4) Page 21