Power of the Dragon (The Chronicles of Dragon, Series 2, Book 9 of 10): Dragon Fantasy Series (Tail of the Dragon)

by Craig Halloran

  “I’ll return before night.” He took to the air and saw Rerry and Ben waving from below. Wings beating, he circled a few times, then soared into the bottom of the clouds. He could see for miles now. The path to the west toward the Ruins of Barnabus seemed clear. They’d have to traverse the mountain range just north of Morgdon. It would make a long trip, even on swift feet.

  Bright flecks twinkling in the sky caught his eye. The seeker was among those lights, flying in a zigzag pattern trying to lose the strange lights.

  “That’s not good. Anyone can see those lights, from the ground or the sky.” Nath gave chase.

  The swarm of radiant lights corralled the seeker toward the ground. All the lights vanished into snowy treetops.

  Nath crashed through the branches, catching sight of the lights that surrounded the grounded seeker. The little dragon lay on the ground, squirming. His arms and feet were bound up with magical webbing.

  The lights encircled the seeker. The colorful forms revealed their lithe little foot-long bodies.

  “Fairies!”

  “Not just any fairies, but my fairies,” said a seductive voice.

  Nath turned. “Lotuus!”

  CHAPTER 20

  “By the hills of Quintuklen, those are big horses,” Rip said to Bayzog. There were five one-eyed orcs, huge in their saddles. They rode massive horse-like beasts. “What are those creatures riding them? Are those orcs? I never imagined they could be bigger and uglier.”

  “They are the nuurg,” Bayzog replied, brushing his hair over his ears. “An abomination of giant and mankind. They are one of the many forms of corruption in this world.” Bayzog held the gaze of the leading nuurg.

  The nuurg leader lifted his hand. They came to a stop thirty yards away. The ram-horned horses called wrath horns snorted. They clawed their spiked hooves at the ground. Their harness jangled when they let out frightening whinnies.

  “I don’t suppose they’re on our side,” Rip said.

  “No.”

  “I won’t lie. I’m itching for a fight. It’s been a long time since I sank my steel into an enemy of flesh and blood. I just figured I’d be able to warm up first. I hate fighting on an empty stomach.” He patted his mail-covered tummy. “A hot meal first would have been nice. Bayzog, I hope you have some tricks up your sleeve. I’m going to need help with this.”

  “Lay down your arms,” Bayzog suggested. “Let’s see what they do.”

  “I’m a legionnaire. I don’t surrender.”

  “I’m all for running,” Pepper said. He was curled up in a bed of grass out of the nuurg’s sight. “My legs may be short, but I can run fast. The willowwacks shall provide me with the cover I need. They won’t find me there. You, maybe.”

  “Halfling, you won’t make it to the woodland before they do. Just be still, I’ll handle this. Perhaps we can parlay with them.” Bayzog lifted his hands. At the same time, his fingers and lips moved the slightest bit.

  The nuurg riders approached. The wrath horns moved in long strides. In seconds, they encircled the small group. Pepper shivered. Rip held his sword low. Bayzog remained exposed.

  In front of Bayzog, the nuurg leader lowered his spear. His single eye narrowed beneath his thick eyebrow. He wore a full suit made up from plate mail and chain. Dragon scales strung like a necklace hung from his neck. Sweaty nostrils flaring, he spoke in Common. “You look lost, little people. Explain.”

  “No, just unfortunate. We travel to Narnum, to serve. We crossed some strange beasts in the willowwacks. We barely escaped with our lives.”

  The nuurg nodded. “I see. Describe these so-called beasts.”

  “They were tremendous brutes. Antlered men. Powerfully built. We managed to outwit them.”

  The nuurg laughed. His men joined in. “You speak in fables.” He sniffed the air. “You have a strange scent about you.” He stood in his stirrups. He spied Pepper. “Ah, a halfling. They make fine dinners. We are a day hungry.”

  Pepper clutched the grasses. He started to shake out of control.

  “This one is old and sick, as you can see. He trembles from fever.”

  “He trembles from fear, liar.” The nuurg stretched out his spear. With a nimble touch, he moved Bayzog’s hair aside, revealing his ear. “You are a portion of elf, I see. Very tender meat.” He withdrew the spear and stared down Rip. “That’s a legionnaire insignia on your shoulder. I suppose you’re traveling to serve the titans as well.”

  Rip gestured toward Bayzog. “I serve him. He saved me, now I owe a debt to him.”

  “Saved you? Interesting.” The nuurg commander scratched the back of his head. “So, he saved you from those staagan, did he? We hunt those crafty people. They make a tasty meal. If this portion of an elf saved you from them, he must be quite formidable. Is that so?”

  “I would say he’s crafty,” Rip said, looking at Bayzog with uncertainty. “A quick thinker.”

  “Thinking is dangerous. The titans don’t care for it.” The nuurg tugged the reins. The wrath horn turned. He spoke a command in Orcen. “Gizzlit!”

  Bayzog knew Orcen as well as any tongue. “Gizzlit” was Orcen for “Kill them.”

  The nuurg riders dropped the tips of their spears. The one nearest Rip took a poke at him.

  Rip cut the spear top off with his sword. “I knew talking wouldn’t do us a lick of good! The only thing orcs respond to is death!” Moving with fluid skill, he rushed by the lowered head of a wrath horn. With a quick stab, he punctured it in the neck.

  The beast reared up. Its rider tumbled to the ground.

  Rip pounced on the humongous man. He ran his sword through the nuurg’s heart.

  A nuurg rider whipped his horned steed around. He charged Rip with the spear tip, ready to gore the man.

  Rip jumped aside. The spear bit into the back of his thigh. “Gah!”

  Bayzog flicked his fingers in the sky.

  Two nuurg riders were ripped from their saddles and tossed high into the air.

  The nuurg commander watched his men go up, higher and higher. With a twist of his great neck, he leered at Bayzog. “You!” Spear in hand, he cocked his arm back. “Die, deceiver!”

  Bayzog stood on flat feet. His energy was spent. He swayed. All he could do was focus on the impending doom about to befall him. The nuurg’s spear would go through three of him, if not more.

  A startling sound sent shockwaves through the highlands.

  “MAAAAROOOOOOOOOOOG!”

  The wrath horns reared up.

  Bayzog fell.

  The nuurg leader fought his reins and shouted commands in Orcen. He turned the beast toward Bayzog and snapped the reins, charging right at him.

  Rip knocked Bayzog clear of the wrath horn’s path. The veteran soldier jumped to his feet. He chased after the nuurg commander.

  The nuurg turned his beast for a second charge.

  Rip grabbed the harness and swung himself up into the saddle. He crushed the nuurg’s nose with the pommel of his sword. Both of the fighters fell from the saddle. The nuurg landed on top of Rip.

  Bayzog found himself with the last nuurg that had fallen from the saddle.

  The nuurg charged with a spear.

  Out of the sky, a nuurg fell on top of the one charging. Bone snapped.

  The other nuurg hit the grass with a loud wump. None of the three moved.

  Winded, Bayzog spied Rip.

  The nuurg commander had the legionnaire pinned down with one hand. He punched Rip with the other. The heavy blows landed with jarring impact.

  “MAAAAROOOOOOOOOG!”

  The nuurg commander’s back arched. He covered his ears.

  Sword in hand, Rip sat up and stabbed the nuurg in the chest. He pushed the humanoid far bigger than he aside. His face was swollen and bloody. Using his sword for a cane, he stood. He limped over to Bayzog and helped him up.

  “I’m the one who should be helping you, friend.”

  Rip laughed. “It’s a grand day to be alive, isn’t it?”
He stuck his sword in the air and yelled at the top of his lungs, then fell down.

  Pepper appeared on the back of a pony-sized bearded dragon. A big smile was on his face. He patted his wingless dragon’s head. “Look, my thunder beard has returned. His timing is excellent, is it not?”

  Sitting up on his elbows with a grimace, Rip said, “I could handle them. The bigger the orc, er, well, the more likely I’m going to kill them.” His eyes rolled up into his head. He fell backward.

  Bayzog leapt to his side. “Rip!”

  Pepper rode over on the back of the thunder beard. “He looks bad. It’s probably from the wounds that he suffered.”

  “That’s a brilliant assessment.”

  “I know of something that can help. I saw it in the woodland. It’s a root the halflings call moonsky. It will perk him up.” With a nod, Pepper rode off into the woods. He didn’t look back.

  Bayzog had a feeling the halfling wouldn’t be back. Pepper is a strange person.

  “Guh, what happened?” Rip said out of his busted lips.

  “You hit the nuurg’s fists too many times with your face, I think. Can you walk?”

  “A thousand leagues if I have to. Help me up.”

  Using both hands, Bayzog put his back into lifting the much bigger man.

  “Where did that halfling go?” Rip asked.

  “I think he travels far from danger.”

  “Well, I would too if I was trained to know better.” Rip reached behind his leg that was gored. “Aw, will you look at that. My trousers are ruined. I can’t walk around looking like this. Can we stop somewhere and get some new ones?’

  “Certainly, let’s find some shelter and stitch you up first.” With a good deal of Rip’s weight on him, they hobbled down the road the nuurg had come on.

  CHAPTER 21

  Lotuus sat on a fallen dogwood tree, radiant as a rainbow. Her black eyes had a gleam to them. Her smile of bright-white teeth would freeze the marrow of a common man. Legs crossed and hands placed politely on her knees, she said, “Are you happy to see me?”

  “The murderer of my friends Laedorn and Uurluuk? ‘Happy’ is the last word I’d use. ‘Fortunate’ might work, perhaps.” He slid Fang out of the new sheath the elves had made for him. It fit perfectly between his wings. “Perhaps you came to give yourself up for execution. It’s long overdue, Fairy Empress.”

  “Please, Nath, you wouldn’t kill a woman as lovely as me. You like me. You know it. That’s why you freed me.”

  “If I’d known you were in that tomb, you would still be there.”

  “Yet your father led you there, did he not?”

  “What happened did happen for a good cause.” He looked at the emerald seeker, who was still pinned to the ground. “Let him go.”

  “Why would I do that?”

  “Because I demand it!”

  Lotuus shrank back. She swallowed. With a quick motion, the fairies loosened the mystic webbing. Many of them kissed the little dragon a moment before he took off. “Are you appeased, young majesty?”

  “Out with it, Lotuus. What do you want? You’re far too arrogant to surrender, but that would be the advisable path if you want mercy.”

  “I stewed in that tomb for a thousand years, Nath Dragon. A thousand!” Her wings buzzed. She tossed her gossamer-like hair. “I simmered!” She took a deep breath. “But I’ve had time to mull things over since I’ve been back. In truth, I find myself viewing my actions from a new perspective.”

  “Are you telling me you have regrets?”

  “A few. Nath, as delicious as making trouble is, I believe I’ve seen the error of my ways.”

  Nath stuck his sword in the ground. He held his hands over the dragonhead cross-guard. “Have you now? Do tell.”

  “Well, we are fairies, well known for our mischief. And we can’t help but be drawn to power. I have to admit, I find Eckubahn entirely fascinating. The size, his brawn, and the cunning.” She wagged her finger at Nath. “He is many steps ahead of you, Nath Dragon. The entire world is under his spell. He’s magnetic.”

  “Yes, I’ve seen the oversized coward. The two of you make quite a pair. He wears his skin of evil on the outside, whereas yours is turned inward. So out with it, Lotuus. What do you want from me?”

  “When it’s over, I want freedom. I don’t want to be stuck in that tomb again.”

  “You speak as if I’ve won this war. It’s far from over.”

  She floated up into the air. Eye to eye, she said, “Your resiliency is astonishing. I’ve never seen the likes of it before. You took down Isobahn. You survived the molten flame. Your friends love you. I long for adoration like that, but I’ll never have it. You are truly good. It changes people. I want you to win. I don’t know why, but I do want that. But Nath, you cannot beat Eckubahn without my help.”

  “I suppose this is where I’m supposed to offer you a pass in exchange for your knowledge.”

  “Exactly.”

  Nath tilted his head. He needled his chin. “You’re a murderer, Lotuus.”

  “My actions were by order. It was an act of war. Laedorn and Uurluuk were casualties.”

  “No, the way I see it, you killed them in cold blood. That’s different. And I believe you acted not out of orders but rather out of malice. I can see right through you, Lotuus. Your heart is as black as your eyes.”

  She sneered. “Don’t you dare talk to me like that, you pup! I am the Fairy Empress, and I—”

  “And I am the Dragon King!”

  Lotuus blanched.

  “I tell you what, Lotuus. I’m going to show you grace today. I’m going to let you leave my presence alive rather than turn you into ash. When you go back to your master, you be sure and tell him I say his days are numbered. I’m coming for him.”

  Lotuus’s jaw dropped. Her words became cross. “How dare you! You arrogant, bloated black lizard!”

  Nath took to the sky, laughing when he heard what she said next.

  “I gave you a chance, Nath Dragon! I gave you a chance! It’s more than you deserve! I hate you, Nath Dragon! I hate you all!”

  CHAPTER 22

  Nath hung inside the feathery folds of the snow clouds.

  Hundreds of feet below him, a flock of wurmers sailed through the air. One as big as a bull dragon led the pack. The chronic ree-rah sound they made was disturbing and loud. It was the second time in the day that he’d seen the evil brood scouring the skies.

  I should destroy them, take them out one at a time. No, they’ll just keep breeding.

  It was pretty clear that despite the victory at Dragon Home, the fight was far from over. The wurmers, even with three of the five nests destroyed, continued to multiply. The dragons were scattered and in hiding. Nath didn’t know where his mother was. He needed more dragons but feared to call out for them.

  That was where the seekers came in. He’d made a strong bond with the fantastic little creatures. They were out searching for more dragons. But there was a danger. Though super fast, the seekers were also fragile. If they were caught, they would die.

  Nath continued west toward the ruins, farther than he had initially planned to go. He should have returned to Selene and the others by now.

  She’s going to be mad. Aw, I’d probably make her mad even if I was there. Hopefully, the little seeker I dispatched will win her over.

  Nath picked up speed, shooting through the air like a black arrow with a flaming head. He didn’t stop until dawn. He landed on a crag high in the hills, forgotten by most of the western lands. The temple ruin of Barnabus stood stark in the morning mist miles away. A tremendous ziggurat of rectangular stone built hundreds of feet high, it looked close to a mile long at the base. Smaller temples surrounded it. They all had multiple levels. On each level, wurmers were perched. In addition to them were men, orcs, ogres, nuurg, and giants, all guarding the walls.

  Sansla wasn’t exaggerating. If anything, they’ve doubled their forces since he came by. There’s over a thousand of them. Th
at nest wouldn’t be more heavily fortified if it were in Morgdon!

  Nath’s chest tightened. His heart raced. It would take an army bigger than the one on the tremendous stone walls to take it down. The siege would last for months, possibly years. Eckubahn wasn’t a fool. He’d planned well, had realized that so long as even one wurmer nest thrived, he’d be unstoppable.

  A plume of infant wurmers burst out of an open mouth at the top of the structure, following a sizable one into the sky. There were at least a hundred of them in all. Their ugly wings beat against the stiff winds. They soared east, right over Nath, who stood hundreds of feet below them.

  Nath remained in his position for hours, watching the army on the walls.

  During that time, two more flocks of a hundred wurmers each departed from the nest.

  There are so many.

  He unsheathed Fang and took a knee. He closed his eyes and began to visualize himself penetrating the veil of evil that guarded the walls of the ziggurat. Should he fight his way through or just sneak inside was the question.

  Fang, if you have any suggestions, I’ll take them.

  He was tempted to have Fang teleport him inside, but he couldn’t lose any more time. The risk was too great. He’d need another way in.

  Fang’s grip pulsated in his hand.

  Yes, perhaps there is another way in. Shall we look for it together?

  ***

  Selene held the emerald seeker on her arm. Her brow furrowed.

  “What is it?” Brenwar had just finished making a campfire. He blew on the kindling, bringing forth a stronger flame. “Let me guess: Nath isn’t coming back.”

  “No, of course not. Not tonight at least. I should have known.”

  “What’s the problem?” Sasha set some twigs down by Brenwar’s fire.

  “Nath is delayed. But he instructs us to keep marching.” Selene gave the seeker a nod. The tiny dragon buzzed away and out of sight.

  “Perhaps we should march through the night,” Brenwar said. “I’m not one for stopping. Besides, nothing else moves on a cold night like this. That’s why I think we should.”