Dracon and the Edge of the World

by Michael T Payne

  “Dracon!” Alyndra cried out and struggled to get up, Diama held her in place trying to comfort her.

  “Shh,” she urged Alyndra back down to a lying position, “You are alright, mother.”

  Alyndra looked at Diama confused.

  “Mother?” she asked.

  Venalina rushed to Alyndra and knelt next to her.

  “Yes, you are with child, Alyndra.” Venalina smiled warmly at her.

  Alyndra looked around at her sisters then at Talila.

  “I had a dream…” was all Alyndra could say before she started to cry with joy and held her belly.

  “Dracon is fine, it’s time you came home.” Venalina hugged Alyndra, “Rest, no one is leaving Taranath. Come sisters,” Venalina announced to everyone in the Pools of Pythia, “celebrate our new mother!”

  “Venalina!” Talila shouted as the Vordalyn started to sing and surround Alyndra, drowning out Talila’s voice.

  Venalina backed away from Alyndra as others surrounded her, singing the song of a new mother. Venalina glanced at the glaring Talila, then nodded for her to follow. She floated up, then flew off. Talila crouched ready to leap into the air and fly after her, but Kaylin grabbed her arm, keeping her in place.

  “Mind yourself, remember she is the queen. Do not disrespect her, Talila, she has always had your best interests at heart, more so than even your own sisters. All along she believed in you, even when no one else did. Don’t you forget that. Show her the same faith she has always shown in you.” Talila softened her glare then nodded yes.

  Talila flew up and followed Venalina out of the floating underground city. It was an orb in a pocket of earth that did not rest upon it, did not touch it at all, simply floated within. Below it, were many caves and tunnels, even some hallways leading out to the world above. With her Vordalyn vision, Talila could see creatures living all around the outside of Taranath, none daring to enter however, even the most unintelligent creatures kept their distance. She followed Venalina to a balcony that over-looked the orbed city of Taranath. The balcony led to a long hall that was made of smooth, milky-white stone, its surface had a sheen, making it appear wet. Venalina landed on the balcony, transforming as soon as her feet touched the balcony’s floor. Venalina walked down the hall without waiting for Talila, or even turning back, to see if she was following her. Talila landed on the balcony and she too, transformed to her human form. She lingered, admiring the view of Taranath from the outside. She marveled at the wonder of the floating city, so far underground, in the massive pocket in the earth. Talila had never been to the balcony before and did not know it existed, or where it led. It was self-illuminated, bathed in a soft white light. At the end of the hall was a smooth round wall, no turns, no doors, just a round wall. Venalina stopped, facing the wall, and waited. Talila approached tentatively, anticipating Venalina’s voice to break the silence between them. She said nothing.

  “Venalina, I-” Talila started in common tongue.

  “There are secrets, about being the Queen of the Vordalyn.” Venalina suddenly said, still looking at the wall.

  She waved her hand in front of her and the wall became a window. Outside that window was the city of Qinkas. The view was from so far overhead it could only be magical, but Talila recognized it instantly. She could even see her home.

  “I am a mother, Talila, but more than that, I alone have the power of ascension. A power I can undo.” She turned to Talila behind her, “Do you want to go home, Talila?”

  Talila’s eyes went wide and her mouth dropped open, fear filled her. Venalina waved her hand in front of Talila, dropping her to her knees. She felt like the life had been sucked from her body. She hardly had the strength to put her hands up to stop her face from hitting the floor. She felt so weak. Venalina grabbed her by an arm and lifted her, easily, like a child. “Do you feel that weakness? That insignificance that flows through you?” She asked in a growling whisper, “That, is what it is to be human.” She let go of Talila’s arm, letting her fall back to the floor. Venalina faced the wall, then waved her hand in front of it. The view changed. It was Talila’s room in her father’s house, the room she grew up in. “You can go home, Talila, right now, step through and return to a life of weakness and slavery.”

  “Venalina…” Talila panted, breathless. She could hardly speak; she was so weak. Venalina spun around and knelt in front of Talila.

  “Above all others, I love you, I envy your will, your inner strength, your ability to adapt to any situation, and master it! And now…” Venalina stood up, turning again to the view of Talila’s old bedroom, “My heart is broken.”

  “Venalina…” Talila wept.

  Venalina closed her eyes, overcome by the sound of Talila’s tears. She spun and swept Talila up in her arms, embracing her.

  “Even now, I cannot bear to see you hurt, I cannot let you go. I forgive you, but you must obey me.” Venalina could feel heat emanating from Talila, she pushed her back, “It’s not possible!”

  Talila’s face was in an angry snarl.

  “Fíeda!”

  Heat exploded from Talila, before Venalina could bring her hands up to protect her face. Her hair caught fire and instantly vanished, leaving only her bald, charred, skull, her skin flaking and peeling off in burnt chunks. She tried to transform but her wings and horns turned to dust as quickly as they appeared. Venalina teleported away from Talila, but not before she was burnt, like a piece of meat that fell in the fire. She reappeared in Taranath, at the calming Pools of Pythia, a screeching scream on her charred lips. The Vordalyn in the area recoiled in fear at the sight of her. Diama recognized her and rushed to her side, by the time she arrived, Venalina had fully healed, but was naked on the large crystal she appeared upon. She leapt to her feet, naked, enraged, then screamed.

  “Talila!”

  Kalla and Diama were at her side, sheltering her from the others with their wings. Venalina shoved free of them, then transformed back to her winged, Vordalyn self, and flew off as fast as she could. Kalla and Diama followed after her, ordering the others to remain where they were. They returned to the white hall outside of Taranath. Talila was gone, Venalina screamed again in her anger.

  “We know where she is going, your highness.” Kalla said, after quickly surmising what had happened.

  Venalina was silent, shaking her head, thinking.

  “I took everything from her! I stripped her of all her power!”

  “Did she still have the elemental within her?” Diama asked.

  “I took it all!” Venalina shouted, turning to face them, “Somehow, she took it back!”

  “We need to kill her.” Kalla said making Diama take a step away from Kalla in shock.

  “No,” Diama said, “it is not right, we do not kill our own, Kalla?”

  Venalina calmed herself.

  “She’s right let her be. Talila knows she could not kill me. She just wanted to escape.” Venalina relived what happened between her and Talila.

  She stripped her of her power, all of it, even the fire elemental within her, threatened to send her back to Qinkas. She pushed Talila, frightened her by threatening to take her whole life away, and for what? Because Talila loved Dracon so much? Was she jealous of Talila? Still, Talila lashed out and was no doubt returning to Dracon’s side. Venalina couldn’t help but think of how proud she was of her fiery little Chamaeleon, in spite of what happened between them. She had grown, beyond expectations.

  “Banish her then.” Kalla offered as an alternative.

  Venalina looked into Kalla’s eyes.

  “No. She is forgiven. We will speak of this no more. I will go to Dracon and retrieve her. It’s time that I face his ire in any case.”

  “But-”

  “No more!” Venalina shouted, her horns glowed a bright red, making both Kalla and Diama drop to their knees, performing the hand gesture of respect.

  Venalina left the two women in the hall and flew off. Kalla and Diama exchanged glances. Diama shook her head at
Kalla.

  “Why must it always go to extremes with you, Kalla?” Diama asked, “Have you never loved?”

  Kalla raised an eyebrow and smirked.

  “I’m afraid there is no such place in my heart.”

  “You are a liar,” Diama chuckled, then looked over her shoulder to where Venalina had flown off to, “You love her?”

  “I do.” Kalla answered with a smile, “Why do you think she told that lie, about dying when her mate dies? That only happens to Kina?”

  “I don’t know, but she must have her reasons and we should respect them.”

  “Of course, we will, she is our beloved everything, we will support any and all whims, without question.” Kalla smiled and took Diama’s hand.

  “You caught on to her ruse quickly, it would have been a disaster if you had said otherwise.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Dracon and Um’Vec became separated almost immediately after the fighting began. The overwhelming odds against them shoved them apart with their sheer numbers, rather than by any skill of battle. Um’Vec was loud with his growls, even over his own kind, who took personal offense that he stood at Dracon’s side against them. They meant to show him the errors in his choice of Dark Lords. Dracon managed to disarm one of the first few attackers, retrieving a sword and turning it back on his enemies. At first, he kept them at bay, in a circle around him. Those among the living chose to attack Um’Vec, leaving only the dead to continue the attack on Dracon. The dead had no fear of death, nor of Dracon’s skill in battle. It was a matter of minutes after Um’Vec and Dracon were separated that Dracon was overwhelmed by a wave of the dead. The dead who felt no pain from his blows, no sting from the thrust of his sword, through their unfeeling bodies. They covered him like a wave, burying him under their weight. He struggled valiantly at first, but ten became twenty, twenty became thirty.

  Dracon squeezed his eyes shut, trying to avoid the rotten fingers clawing at his face. He growled and bit, trying to clear them from around his face. They felt nothing. Dracon chose to stop biting after his first taste of rotten fingers. He could hear Maurn Khon, speaking but could not understand what he was saying. Dracon had no doubt he was reveling in himself, celebrating his seemingly quick victory. Dracon knew he was premature in his celebration, just like the Gyona leader who gloated over him, thinking they were about to eat him. Like then, Dracon did not have any doubt he would find a way, albeit, he had not come up with one just yet. He felt a searing pain. It came from his ribs, the same spot the skeletal warrior clawed him. Dracon could feel he was bleeding from that spot. Instantly, he was concerned he was vulnerable again. His concerns were quickly addressed when a sword stabbed him in the chest but did not break his skin. Dracon called forth his armor again, hoping whatever magic that dispelled it had waned, at least then, he would gain some protection from the clawing fingers around his face and mouth. It did answer his call, but the Unholy Reaver did not. It did speak to him, however.

  “Embrace me!” it pleaded, “Let me take control, give in to me, become one with me and all will be well!”

  Those words echoed to Dracon. All will be well. He heard the words over, and over, again, but it was Venalina’s voice that spoke them. Dracon pulled his arms and legs in close to his body and twisted to face the ground, swimming through the undead bodies around him until he reached the floor. He put his feet on the ground and pushed up with all his might, tossing dead bodies off, with a war cry. The dead soldiers surrounded him in piles so high he could not see Um’Vec. Maurn Khon suddenly appeared before Dracon, throwing bodies out of his way with his magical staff. He eyed Dracon, once again in his armor of fear. Dead soldiers rose from the ground readying to cover Dracon once more. Maurn Khon aimed the head of his staff at Dracon, and again, a green light emanated from the staff’s head, dispelling the magic of Dracon’s armor, making it disappear. It had another, unexpected affect. It also dispelled the magic that gave the dead soldiers life. Bodies crumbled to the ground around the two men. Maurn Khon’s face revealed his distress over his unexpected mistake. Dracon watched closely, the distance around them the dead fell, measuring the breadth of Maurn Khon’s power. It was the span of a fifty-foot circle. Dracon wasted no time and ran at Maurn Khon as fast as he could, gathering a sword from the fallen dead on his way. He was like lightning. Maurn Khon was barely able to bring his staff up in time to parry Dracon’s first few furious blows. Maurn Khon retreated backwards deflecting Dracon’s attack, seeking to escape rather than counter. He was outmatched by Dracon’s strength and speed, and he knew it. Maurn Khon cast a spell augmenting his own speed and strength just to survive Dracon’s attack. The added speed was just enough to keep him out of Dracon’s reach. It gave Maurn Khon pause, that he may have underestimated Dracon.

  “We don’t need to fight, you and I.” Maurn Khon said trying to get Dracon to talk and buy himself time enough for his denizens to come to his aid.

  Dracon was no longer in the mood to talk and the dead at their feet gave the other, still animated dead, a barrier that slowed their progression to save their master. Dracon was able to dispatch, into pieces, any of the dead soldiers that did manage to reach him, while also attacking Maurn Khon. The fighting was feverish, Dracon punched, stabbed, and sliced anything between him and Maurn Khon. He heard Um’Vec’s unmistakable roar. It made Dracon smile, at least the beast still lived. He would not have to explain its death to Talila… yet. Maurn Khon was an expert with his staff, deflecting Dracon’s blows in his retreat. Dracon whipped alternating blows to behead any of the dead soldiers that came between him and Maurn Khon, all the while he kept trying to recall his armor, gauging how long it took before Maurn Khon’s spell was no longer in affect.

  Um’Vec kicked a goblin with such force, it flew up and over the monsters attacking him. Um’Vec smashed and destroyed anything that came his way. Unlike Dracon, the numbers did not overwhelm Um’Vec, they feared him. He was a powerful beast, and the other, living creatures knew it. He killed with extreme efficiency. The living army, made up of monstrous creatures, surrounded him and attacked from behind, in groups, seeking any weakness or advantage they could. Um’Vec reveled in the fight. Even the wounds he sustained were a badge of honor to him. Seeing the apprehension in his foes emboldened the bugbear to a defiant stance. He marched in Dracon’s direction swatting away anything that stepped in his path. Maurn Khon saw Um’Vec coming, towering over his minions, tossing everything in his way aside. He was an impressive beast. Other bugbears attacked Dracon and, in that respite, Maurn Khon spun his staff in Um’Vec’s direction, a blast sent Um’Vec back. It lifted him from his feet and sent him head over heels through the dozens of creatures behind him. Um’Vec landed hard, sliding into the far wall, taking out several bugbears, orcs, and goblins along the way. Maurn Khon had dispelled most of his undead army in his attempt to weaken Dracon’s defenses. The majority of his forces that still existed, were the living, bugbears, orcs, and goblins, who were growing more reluctant to fight the likes of Um’Vec. When Um’Vec was sent reeling, most turned their attentions to Dracon, joining the dead soldiers to try their luck against him. Maurn Khon was grateful more creatures interjected themselves between him and Dracon, who was fighting at a furious pace. Maurn Khon swung his staff back in Dracon’s direction, a flash and a wave of force, burst out, in a circle from around Maurn Khon knocking all the creatures, and Dracon, to the ground. Maurn Khon performed the attack a second time, sending the downed combatants flying backwards. Dracon hit the wall hard, knocking the breath from his lungs. He was pelted with the other bodies smacking against him and the wall. Some of the bodies exploded upon impact against the wall. Maurn Khon pointed his staff at Dracon again. Magical energy grabbed Dracon from the wall and lifted him up, twenty feet off the ground. Maurn Khon whipped his staff flicking it toward Dracon and slamming Dracon back against the wall, hard. Dracon gasped as the air from his lungs was forced out by his collision against the wall a second time. Maurn Khon whipped his staff again pulling D
racon off the wall closer to him.

  “Save yourself from suffering anymore and release the Unholy Reaver to me!” Maurn Khon hissed.

  Um’Vec grabbed a dead soldier and smashed his head to pieces with his bracer covered forearms, then grabbed its body by one of its legs and whipped it at Maurn Khon, end over end, from some distance away. Maurn Khon did not see it coming and was knocked to the ground hard, his staff was sent flying in the opposite direction than he went. Dracon fell to the ground, free of the magical energy that held him up. He hit knees first and was instantly flattened against the ground, the blunt force hurt. Dracon shook his head, regaining his senses when he heard Um’Vec roar, fighting once again against the monstrous army of Maurn Khon.

  Dracon climbed to his feet and so did the creatures around him that still lived, and the dead soldiers, who did not. He scanned the ground and spotted a sword, then sprinted to it, grabbing it up as he passed. He used the sword immediately, cutting off a goblin’s head, who had just climbed to his feet. Other goblins scurried away screaming in fear of Dracon. The dead soldiers regrouped and made their way to surround him. Dracon looked around for Maurn Khon but couldn’t find him. He turned his attention to the fighting around Um’Vec, who was hard to miss. Dracon fought his way through the dead soldiers, and the living monsters, that served Maurn Khon. He reached Um’Vec, joining the bugbears fight against a pair of trolls, Dracon had not seen until then. He hacked into one of the trolls who was in mid attack against Um’Vec, hacking repeatedly into its outstretched arm until he cut it completely off. The creature screamed and grabbed what was left of his arm while its dismembered limb wriggled on the ground still clutching its hand open and shut trying to grab at something. Dracon swung his rusty sword into the creature’s face, hitting it full in the forehead. The old sword shattered. Um’Vec shoved the other troll into a group of goblins, sending the entire lot back several yards.