Kill the Dragon (Lake of Dragons Book 1)

by E. Michael Mettille

  Cialia pondered these new ideas in silence as Maelich picked up the conversation, “Where does this cycle exist, and how does it strip us of our consciousness?”

  Coeptus stroked their beard, “Well, do you remember the visions you received from the souls lost in the forest?”

  Maelich nodded.

  “Those visions were memories which belonged to the souls who shared them with you. They only shared the terrifying ones with you, but they were filled with so much more you didn’t get to see. Those memories are the strength of the souls they cling to. There are many worlds with beings just like the people of Ouloos. Their souls all carry the same energy from experiences. Upon the death of their physical being, their consciousness is released and returned to the beginning. Imagine a lake with many rivers flowing to and from it. This lake is the beginning. The rivers flowing to it are the portals such as the one you opened by scattering Kallum and freeing the Dragons. These portals, or rivers, carry the spirits or consciousness of humans, and other creatures for that matter, back to the beginning. When they arrive, the energy they carry is returned to the beginning and they are mixed in with the greater spirit which swirls there in the lake. When new consciousnesses form from this mixture and are ready to present themselves, they are carried through portals or rivers flowing back to the various worlds existing among the physical. Then they are born into whatever world they happen to be born to as whatever creature they are meant to be, and the cycle continues. Now, we understand that for you this makes your existence seem quite unimportant, but it’s not. Without the experiences, the energy your spirits possess, the cycle would cease. All would be lost.”

  Cialia was beginning to accept what Coeptus had to say, “I think I understand. Though nothing is what we believed it to be, what it is isn’t as important for us as what our belief is. Our beliefs are what drive us, our experiences make us strong, and that is our role. The fact we are merely a small part of something greater doesn’t diminish our importance. It simply changes our role. For Maelich and I, it changes our role even more as we are to return and begin a new chapter in Ouloos’ history. We are to create a new story, something Ouloos can believe in. Truth will be what we make it.”

  Coeptus smiled, “Exactly! There are still four gods and a whole race of Dragons at your disposal. They will fill whatever role you write them into. The belief of people is for those people who believe in it. Give them something to believe in.”

  Maelich looked confused, “All of that is fine and good, but why all of the evil and despair? Why do Amatilazo hunt men for food? Why are men plagued by disease? What is the point of suffering?”

  “We will explain this and then you must return.” Again, Coeptus became the teacher, “Earlier we told you experiences were what made the spirit strong. Those can be good or bad. Many times, a good scare is much more powerful than a bit of joy, much more memorable too. That is not the only reason. One of the great things about humanity is also one of its greatest flaws. The race of men, and women,” they winked at Cialia, “never seem to find a workable balance with their physical surroundings. You are unbelievably adept at using every little bit of your environment to make your physical experience more comfortable and more rewarding. This fact is wonderful in that invention and discovery do marvelous things to strengthen a soul. However, many of these inventions and discoveries are designed to prolong the physical experience much longer than it was meant to be. This coupled with the natural human desire to procreate would, if unchecked, cause great overpopulation. Furthermore, you use up your resources much faster than they can be replenished. Imagine if there were nothing to challenge humanity. Men would eventually live to be hundreds, even thousands, of your years old. They would continue to spawn more and more offspring. It wouldn’t be long before there was no food to eat, no resources for building shelters, no room to live, and, in time, humanity would die out. You might be amazed to hear this, but it’s always the same with human beings. No matter what environment we place them in, they always seem to conquer their surroundings. Finally, your time away from the beginning would be too long. These…evils you describe exist merely to keep humankind in check.”

  Coeptus turned and pointed toward a light behind them, “Now, we bid you farewell. Good luck, Maelich, Cialia. Your task is great, but we know you are fit to it.”

  Chapter 30

  The Return

  Two weeks had passed since the great explosion which marked the end of Kallum and a new beginning for Ouloos. The Dragons had returned to their posts, and balance had returned to their world. The sky all around the Lake was full of Dragons stretching their wings after centuries of imprisonment. Those not flying were catching up with those they had been missing. There was an energy there, an energy which had been missing for far too long. Among the crowd was Helias. She shared the story of Ouloos with all those of her sisters who listened. She filled them in on what they had missed. Often during her story, she wept. She lost the most tears for Maelich and Cialia and the sacrifice they made to save their world. What a brave act that was, especially for two with human blood.

  Helias was deep in describing the great battle with Kallum when she felt something strange, a disturbance in the Lake. It felt unnatural. Her sisters felt it too. The feeling grew stronger and stronger. It felt as if something were coming through the portal the wrong way. The Lake grew brighter and brighter still. Then two shapes looked to be walking on the water of the Lake amid the light. The light was brighter around them. Before long, they were at the shore. When they reached it, the light from the portal shone like the sun around their silhouettes. Then in a brilliant flash, two people stood at the edge of the Lake.

  Helias looked to the two who had come backward through the portal. Instantly she recognized one of them. “Maelich!” she cried out.

  He raced to her, Cialia following close behind. When they reached the Dragon, Maelich flew into her outstretched arms. They had formed a connection, a bond in their short time together. There was a part of Helias in Maelich and a part of him in her. After a moment, Cialia joined the embrace. She was also a part of this union. The three of them stayed in that embrace for some time. As they did, they drew strength from each other. The reunion may have lasted eternity were it not for the group of curious Dragons who began surrounding the trio.

  Without verbalizing, Dragons began expressing their gratitude to Maelich and Cialia, even to Helias. Whole conversations went on without so much as a word being spoken. The Dragons shared a bond. Though they were all individuals, they belonged to one whole. What one felt, they all felt and what one knew, they all knew. Due to the Dragon blood flowing through their veins, Maelich and Cialia were a part of that greater consciousness the Dragons shared.

  As the conversations continued, Maelich learned his efforts had indeed proved quite successful. The war and been stopped, Brerto had been banished to his throne, and the people of Druindahl stood side by side with those of Havenstahl and the dwarves of Alhouim. He further learned that Helias had been deemed queen of all Dragons for her efforts. Not only for her bravery during the final battle, but for carrying on the race of Dragons alone for so many centuries. She was a hero among her sisters.

  The praise and adoration went on for the better part of the day. Finally, Helias spoke with her mouth instead of her mind, “We must get you two weary heroes home to the rest of your family. I will take you there.”

  Neither Maelich nor Cialia responded. They simply smiled, shared one more embrace with Helias and then climbed upon her back. In an instant they were in flight. One mighty flap of Helias’ powerful wings had them air born, and a few more had them high above Lake. The journey to Druindahl would be a quick one.

  The armies of Havenstahl and Alhouim were forming up in the forest, preparing for the journey home, when one of the scouts of Druindahl called an alarm, “A Dragon approaches.”

  Just a few weeks ago, that would have been cause for the warriors of Havenstahl and Alhouim to beat the drums of war.
It would also have been cause for those of Druindahl to race to her protection. On this day, it merely gave them cause to wonder what she might want. Ymitoth, Doentaat, Daritus, and Leisha rode to the edge of the forest to greet her.

  When the small group reached the forest’s edge, Helias had already touched down. Immediately, Leisha saw her two children astride the Dragon. Her eyes welled up as she cried out thanking, Coeptus, Kaldumahn, Moshat, the Dragons, and everything else on Ouloos. Fighting through knees weakened by emotion, she ran to them. Both of her children leapt from Helias’ back and raced to meet her. When they reached each other, they collided in an embrace full of wet eyes and kissed cheeks. Leisha poured apologies on Maelich and praises on both of her children.

  “Oh, my sweet babes,” she cried. “I thought you were lost to me forever. Maelich, please forgive me for the way I damned your name.”

  Maelich soaked up his mother’s affection and replied very simply, “There’s nothing to forgive.”

  “We’re all together now,” Cialia added. “As we always should have been.”

  Then Maelich’s tone became very sober, “Alas, it can only be but for a short time. Cialia, you and I have much work left for us to tend to. Our home will be the road, maybe for all of our days.”

  “Well then, that is where my home shall be,” Leisha replied, cheeks full of tears.

  “As well as mine,” Daritus had walked up to join the embrace.

  “What about your kingdom?” Cialia asked. “What about Druindahl?”

  “They’ll have to be governing themselves,” Ymitoth piped up, “just as the people of Havenstahl.”

  Maelich turned and hugged his father. He didn’t say a word and neither did Ymitoth. Both knew what the other had to say. No words were necessary. As they embraced, Maelich noticed Doentaat, looking quite lonely all by himself, away from the love fest. Maelich put an arm around him and pulled him into the group.

  “We’ve always room for the great king of the mightiest city of dwarves,” Maelich chuckled as he planted a kiss on Doentaat’s head.

  Doentaat chuckled as he pulled his head away from the less than masculine display of affection. “Knock it off, you big oaf.”

  The conversation ended just as the sun dipped below the horizon. They decided the cities of Havenstahl and Alhouim would stay one more night in Druindahl. In the morning they would depart for their homes. Maelich would join them. Leisha would pass down her crown and make sure all was right in her city, and then she, along with Daritus and Cialia, would meet them in Havenstahl a few weeks later. Beyond that, none of them new what the future would bring for them. Maelich and Cialia had been charged with the task of leading Ouloos into her future. The rest would follow them on that path.

  Chapter 31

  A New Beginning

  Hagen addressed a great gathering in the courtyard at Havenstahl. He stood at the top of the steps where Maelich had received his crest so many years ago. Maelich stood before him, dressed in similar princely garb to what he had worn on that day. Horns blared out a triumphant song in the background. From the crowd, Perrin appeared adorned in a long, flowing white gown. A veil covered her face and frilly bows decorated her dress. She clung to Kendal’s arm as he led her toward the man she would spend the rest of her days with. Haleen stepped from the crowd and lifted Perrin’s veil to kiss her cheek. Leisha did the same on her other side. Then Cialia kissed the bride’s hand while Daritus and Ymitoth shook Kendal’s. They mounted the stairs. Maelich descended meeting them halfway up the staircase. He shook Kendal’s hand as he took Perrin’s. He and his bride took the rest of the stairs together and stood before Hagen.

  Hagen spoke, “Love is an emotion which has no equal. Love is an emotion which must be shared. When two people find each other and become one, that love consumes them. The two become one. Today we celebrate the love Maelich and Perrin share. On this day, these two make a vow to share their love and their lives with each other. On this day, they become one.”

  He looked to Maelich, “Maelich, do you vow to care for Perrin, to love her, to cherish her, to share with her in all your experiences? What say you?”

  Maelich smiled, “I do.”

  Hagen looked to Perrin, “Perrin, do you vow to care for Maelich, to love him, to cherish him, to share with him in all your experiences? What say you?”

  A lone tear trickled down her cheek, “I do.”

  He addressed them both, “Maelich, Perrin, you have made a vow to each other before all of Havenstahl. You have made a vow which shall bind your destinies for the rest of your days. It is a duty you share to honor this union and nurture your love for one another. Now you may seal this vow with a kiss, a symbol to all of the love you share for one another.”

  Maelich stepped closer to Perrin. He gently raised her veil and pulled her into his embrace. She fell into him as they kissed. The crowd cheered as the kiss lasted perhaps a bit longer than it should have. They both were filled with dreams and plans, ready to begin their life together.

  Hagen looked to the crowd, “We have all witnessed the union of this man and this woman. Let no man or woman interfere with the vow they have made to each other.”

  The crowd spilled up onto the steps to congratulate the new couple. All in Havenstahl looked on this union as the beginning of something new, not only for the bride and groom, but for all Ouloos as well. It was a brand new world.

  The End

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  E. Michael Mettille is the author of Kallum’s Fury (Lake of Dragons Book 2), Kill the Gods (Lake of Dragons Book 3), and Hell and the Hunger (as Mike Reynolds). He has also written numerous short stories and poems. Mike has spent the last twenty years in direct marketing, print, and communication. He is fascinated by history, belief systems, the human condition and how all of those things work together to define who we are as a people. The world is a wonder and, based on the history of us, it is a wonder we have a world left to wonder about. Mike lives in Milwaukee, WI with his wife, Shelia.