Vegenrage: The Magic User

by Robert Spina

  Vergraughtu works his magic, consuming the entire attack, and Gisewear flies high in the sky, circling with Ragbrise and Guylumbree.

  “Farrah, get inside now, come on.” They run into the home, and Farrah follows Logantrance to Vegenrage. “Quickly, grab his feet.”

  Logantrance draws a Dimension Door with his fingers and picks up Vegenrage under his arms, and Farrah has him by his legs, and they walk through the Dimension Door. They walk right into the courtyard just inside the Erkensharie walls, and Logantrance’s and Farrah’s eyes widen as Gairdennow, the brilliant golden dragon, turns to face them. He is already standing on his hind legs, and his tail acts like a third leg, giving him added stability as he can walk very good on two legs. He is massive, eighteen feet tall, like this. He has a dorsal fin that runs down the center of his back like a sail fish, only his fin is not one long fin. It is actually twelve fins that span from his neck to his tail. He has two golden tusks that protrude out from just behind either side of his mouth, growing out and curving straight. He reflects golden light and is beautiful. He is chewing on an Erkensharie elf and has the legs of the elf in his right paw, which he can grasp with very effectively. He puts the legs in his mouth and chews them up. There are elves lying dead all around the courtyard, victims of Gairdennow’s breath attack.

  Logantrance puts Vegenrage down. “Blaze in ferin meslotin bur.” A stream of superconcentrated flame shoot at Gairdennow, hitting him right in the stomach, melting his golden scales. Gairdennow retreats to the air and flies high up, healing himself and diving down at the three, unleashing his Breath of Gustament.

  Farrah uses Vergraughtu, and the golden staff sucks up the golden dust that slowly settles to his mouth. This is a most insidious attack. His breath is a golden dust cloud, harmless in appearance and actually beautiful but very deadly. It is actually a fine mist that settles very slowly to the ground like fine sediment in water sinking to the bottom. The mist is very fine and harmless to the touch. What makes it deadly is that it clumps together and hardens. The golden cloud takes almost an hour to settle to the ground, and it is attracted to breathing beings. When the mist is breathed in, it clumps in the nostrils and/or mouth and hardens up, blocking air flow. This is very difficult to remove, and once touched by the cloud of mist, it will follow you and engulf you until you breathe no more.

  Logantrance shoots fireballs and superheated missiles at Gairdennow, knowing he is very vulnerable to heat, and this works, driving him away. Logantrance looks around at the obvious destruction that has happened here. There are eight Erkensharie elves lying dead and who knows how many eaten by Gairdennow. “Farrah, we must get to the Mystical Erkens. Grab Vegenrage by his feet and let me do all the talking when we get there. Where we are going is very special and very secretive, hopefully in this time of destruction, they will be forgiving.”

  “What are the Mystical Erkens?”

  “This is the home of the Erkensharie magic users. This is one of the most magical places you will ever see, and no one outside of the elves are allowed entry here, especially humans.”

  “Are you sure we should go there?”

  “We don’t have much choice. I know Whenshade and Tunull very well, and they will help us. Grab Vegenrage by his feet. I will teleport us there.”

  Farrah picks up Vegenrage’s feet, and Logantrance says the magical words as he picks up Vegenrage, and they vanish. They appear in the forest. There is thick tree growth all around them, and Logantrance looks around. “Oh no!”

  “What is it, Logantrance, what is wrong?”

  “The elves must have protective magic blocking all entrance by teleport spells. Our entry has been blocked.” Logantrance walks a few steps and puts his hands on an invisible barrier, and Farrah follows beside him and feels the barrier too. “Wow, what is this, Logantrance?”

  “It’s a Barrier of Force blocking all entrance.” Logantrance chants a spell and slaps the barrier. When he touches the barrier, there is a sound like a bubble being slapped, and Farrah can see ripples throughout the bubble grow up, making the magical dome visible for a few seconds. “Wow, that is so neat, Logantrance.”

  “Be on your guard, Farrah, we are in great danger here.” Logantrance retrieves his golden staff from his Bag of Holding and can see the Vinegrowers starting to advance on them. He casts fire spells, burning the vines.

  “Logantrance, what are these?”

  “They are the Vinegrowers, protectors of the forest. Quickly protect yourself.”

  Farrah can see the vines advancing on her, and she draws Quadrapierce and starts slashing at the vines, cutting them as they advance. She has a dagger in each hand, which become excellent long swords, and she is very good with them, slashing and slicing the vines that advance in greater and greater numbers. “Logantrance, there are too many of them. They just keep coming.”

  “Just keep them at bay. We have to hold on until help arrives and hope the real danger avoids us,” he says, looking into the trees. Logantrance can see the real danger just as he says that, and the very large adult Treestrider shoots its barbed harpoon right at Farrah. Before Logantrance can yell a warning to her, he sees a magnificent sight. The real power of Cleapell becomes known to us all. The harpoon heads right for Farrah and is about to hit her right in the chest.

  Farrah now knows why Cleapell is called the Cloth of Time Displacement. The harpoon from the Treestrider gets about one foot from her chest, moving very fast, and is about to strike her, when it seems to stop and move very slowly, so slowly that Farrah can move around and avoid it. The Cloth of Time Displacement slows all attacks on its wearer, giving the wearer the ability to avoid or counterstrike. Farrah sees the attack and simply steps to the side and slices the tendon, severing the harpoon from the Treestrider, and when the danger has passed, the harpoon falls to the ground in real time.

  The Treestrider retreats to tend its severed arm, and Logantrance and Farrah continue burning and slashing the Vinegrowers. “Logantrance, did you see that?” Farrah is jolted with excitement as she slices the Vinegrowers with a smile on her face, like she is having fun.

  “Farrah, keep yourself under control. We are in great danger. There will be more attacks, be ready for them.” Logantrance can see three more Treestriders advancing on them and ready to attack, when the three of them are transported into the dome of protection. Logantrance is halted from a powerful spell he was about to cast, stopping his chant, noticing he is inside the barrier.

  Farrah stops swinging her swords, noticing that it has become quiet, and she turns to see the odd-looking elf wearing strange clothing.

  “Illith, thank you for granting us your safety.”

  “Logantrance, I only allowed you entry here because it is you, and the Dragon Feast is decimating the whole planet. This is surely one of very few places of safe haven for all life right now.”

  “Yes, it is very dangerous for all humanoid life.”

  “Who is this you have with you?”

  “This is Farrah, and this here is Vegenrage. They are very strong allies to us.”

  “Well, this one does not look like he is much use to anyone.”

  “He will awaken, and you will see he is most able. Where are Whenshade and Tunull?”

  “They are protecting Ulegwahn and the Great Erken from dragon attack. There are six dragons attacking in Erkensharie as we speak, two outside our barrier here, doing battle with the Vinegrowers and Treestriders. They will retreat or be defeated. So far they have not been able to penetrate our barriers, but their tenacity has been most concerning. We are all monitoring the dragons right now. I only came to your call because the rest of our magical order is watching closely this unforgiving situation.”

  “The dragons are feasting on all three planets, no one is safe. The dragons have studied and are out to destroy all magical humanoids. They have found my realm and entered it. Are you sure they have not learned entry here?”

  “They have tried, but our barriers have resisted their magic so far, b
ut as I said, they are tenacious and keep trying. They are wiping out our Vinegrowers and Treestriders, retreating when they get hurt just to be replaced by another dragon. I will take you, but what of these two?”

  “Vegenrage needs to sleep. He has been exhausted. With your permission, Farrah will watch as my personal friend.”

  “This is very unusual, but this is a very unusual time. Come, I will take us to a place where he can rest, and then we will go see Peakreech.”

  “Peakreech, the peach-colored dragon.”

  “Yes, this girl has some knowledge.”

  “You will see she is very resourceful.”

  Illith chants, and they appear in a room with Vegenrage lying on a bed. “He can rest here while we check on Peakreech.” Illith chants, and they are teleported to a part of the woods where six elven magic users are monitoring Peakreech, who is fighting the Vinegrowers and Treestriders outside the barrier. Inside the barrier, it is quiet, but they can hear what is going on outside the barrier.

  Logantrance addresses the magic users, and they all take notice of Farrah. Very few humans are allowed in the Mystical Erkens, and they are people such as Logantrance that are well versed in magic and well liked by the elves. They inquire with Logantrance about this unheard of intrusion; however, Peakreech attacking their barrier has their full attention, and they return their concentration back on the barrier keeping Peakreech at bay.

  This is an awesome battle taking place. Peakreech weighs over six tons, and the Vinegrowers are constantly wrapping around his legs, trying to shackle him, but he is so big and strong that he pulls them from their foundation. Peakreech has knocked over nearly two dozen trees, making a wide space for him to attack the shield from the ground. Treestriders are launching harpoons, which do penetrate his scales, and then they pull themselves feetfirst into him and they cause him serious wounds.

  They watch as a Treestrider launches both harpoons into Peakreech’s left side and pulls itself feetfirst into his side, sticking deep into his flesh. There are now four deep wounds in Peakreech from this one attack alone. He bites the Treestrider in half with his powerful jaws and swings his head into the barrier, which deflects his weight. He notices another Treestrider aiming for his wings and catches the harpoons and swings the Treestrider into the barrier, cracking its body, and it falls to the ground. Peakreech steps on it, crushing it under his weight, and pulls its harpoons free from its body.

  “I know you’re in there, elves. I know you are watching.”

  Two more Treestriders shoot their harpoons into Peakreech and pull their bodies feetfirst, sinking deep into his back. His wings are tucked in close to his body and were not struck by the Treestriders, and they start to bite huge chunks of his flesh and scales with their very large powerful jaws.

  Peakreech laughs, looking into the barrier, and turns standing on his hind legs and rolling back on the barrier, crushing the Treestriders and actually sinking their spear-like arms and legs deeper into his flesh. He looks to the forest and lets free his Breath of Biopleen. He swings his head from right to left, covering the entire forest in front of him. This is a very potent acid that clouds from his mouth in a raindrop mist that quickly melts and disintegrates everything it comes in contact with. Treestriders are no match for this, and the ones caught in the mist are slowly dissolving away.

  Peakreech looks into the barrier like he can see the watchers, laughing as the Treestrider limbs in his body are forced out magically, and he heals himself, speaking in the ancient dragon tongue as the elves watch. He extends his wings wide, forming a triangle from the tips of his wings to the snout of his mouth, and chants, “Ex lexclon soell memom dles arkonious ander arrr rike kekon!” A red line grows from the tip of each of his wings to his snout and shoots in a very circular and wide red tornado into the barrier. The barrier deflects the red wind, but Peakreech continues his attack, and the dome starts to show visible cracks.

  “Illith, he is going to penetrate your shield. I must get out there and divert him away.”

  “Logantrance, we are ready for this situation, stand back for now. Crayeulle, Cebleeth, Tronillis, take position.”

  The three elves move to the edge of the barrier and kneel, crossing their arms at their chests and repeat a chant over and over, concentrating. The ground opens up behind them, and a massive arrow rises out at a forty-five-degree angle facing right at Peakreech.

  “Sombons, Lentoz, Angribe, take your positions.”

  “Logantrance, what is that arrow?”

  “It is a magnificent weapon, the likes of which I have never seen. It is made out of Foarsbleem, and it will cut right through that dragon.”

  Sombons, Lentoz, and Angribe levitate in a pyramid above Crayeulle, Cebleeth, and Tronillis and begin to chant the same chant. The arrow rises at a forty-five-degree angle right to the barrier wall, and a magical golden circle forms inside the six elves. Illith starts to say magical words and walks back, pulling the arrow toward him, and the golden light mimics a bow string. Illith finishes his chant, and the arrow is released. It shoots with incredible power. The barrier has no effect on the arrow, and it passes freely, penetrating Peakreech right in the center of his belly and exiting, landing many feet behind him.

  Peakreech’s flame tornado stops, and he falls to his front legs, vomiting a lot of blood from the enormous wound in his belly. He staggers and stumbles for a minute and falls to his side, dying. He says nothing and looks into the barrier, knowing the elves are watching. His breathing slows and stops, and he dies with his eyes closing.

  The barrier was weakening and cracking, but it strengthens to its original hardness as the spell from Peakreech stops. Illith calls the arrow back with his magical words, and it sinks back into the ground from where it came. He looks at Logantrance. “That is what we call Dragonslayer. There is one more dragon on our western wall, let’s go see him.”

  “Illith, that was awesome. I have never seen anything like that.”

  Illith nods to Farrah as he walks by her. “We must get to the western wall to see the lesser of the two dragons, Orgrange.”

  “Orgrange, that is the orange dragon.”

  “That is right, Ms. Farrah. Time to put an arrow through him and aid our King Ulegwahn in the Great Erken.”

  The elves gather around, and Illith chants the words to teleport the nine of them to the part of the barrier being attacked by Orgrange.

  “Illith, Orgrange has leveled the forest with his napalm and is making attacks on the barrier now free from attack from the Vinegrowers and Treestriders. So far he has used his body to try and ram the shield and made some magical attacks with no real damaging effects. I do not believe he is capable of penetrating the Mystical Erkens.”

  “Good job, Pryzill. We will take care of this minor threat and then help the others protect the Great Erken.”

  “Illith, who is this with Logantrance?”

  “This is Ms. Farrah. I have decided to make an exception in this case, allowing her entry to the Mystical Erkens. Otherwise, she would be dragon food. Let’s take position and eliminate Orgrange.”

  The elves take position like before and begin the magical chant. Orgrange has incinerated a half-mile clearing in the forest outside of the barrier with his napalm breath and can freely walk around and make attacks on the barrier. The Vinegrowers and Treestriders do not have enough room to reach him from the forest and make viable attacks. Orgrange is sending napalm and magic missiles into the barrier with no effect.

  “I can’t see you. I can’t hear you, but I smell you. I know you are there, elves. The sweet smell of elf is irresistible. I can’t go through this barrier, so maybe I can go under it.” Orgrange starts to dig like a dog with his front paws, trying to go under the barrier. He moves large amounts of earth with his massive paws and feels deep under the earth to feel for the end of the barrier so that he may go under it. Orgrange excitedly stands on his hind legs, realizing that he can in fact go under the barrier and starts to chant a magical spell to help g
ain him access underneath the barrier.

  This is the moment Illith has been waiting for and releases the Foarsbleem arrow. It strikes Orgrange right through the belly, just like Peakreech, and lands many yards behind him. This is a deadly shot, and Orgrange takes flight, retreating away from the barrier, dropping blood along the way. He flies about twenty yards and crashes into the forest, falling to his death. The Treestriders will feast on this dragon for days before all the flesh of this massive dragon will be consumed.

  Illith calls back the arrow, and it returns to the earth. He then instructs the rest of the elves to aid in the protection of the Great Erken, and they teleport.

  “Let us go and check on your friend. Follow me, we will walk. I would like to talk to you about the events that are unfolding these past few days.” Illith heads into the magical trees, following a cobblestone pathway with Logantrance at his side, and they begin to talk about the awakening of Gwithen.

  Farrah follows behind them, and her attention is quickly diverted to the magical and beautiful forest they are walking through. Almost immediately, she forgets about the dragons as the sun is shining. The trees are like none she has ever seen. There were times when Alisluxkana took her into the Mindsunk Bog and the Wickenfall Forest, and it was always dark, damp, and eerie. The trees had no leaves mostly, and they were all dead mostly. Here, it is bright. The trees are beautiful with thick, lush leaves, and they are in many shapes and different species. Even the bees are beautiful, very large, and she can see them fly like they are in slow motion. The butterflies are flying around, and she can easily hold out her hand and catch them. Actually, as she holds out her hand to a butterfly, it lands on her hand, and she admires its beautiful color. It flaps its wings slowly, showing off its unique pink and purples with flowing designs that imitate the silhouette of its body. She smiles as the beauty of this place makes her happy. A hawk swoops down at her, and she can see it fly with great clarity as it U-turns in the air just before reaching her and snags the butterfly out of the air and flies off with it. There are woodpeckers in the trees with large red helmets made out of feathers, and they are drumming away on the trees. She wonders how they all don’t have headaches.