Crystal eyebrows furrowed. “Dragons Breath? Is that a flower or something?”
“I don’t know,” Markus replied with a shrug. “It is probably a riddle. It doesn’t matter really. This map will lead us right to it. When we find it, we can figure out what it means.”
Kiin put her bow on her back and walked over to get a closer look at the map. “So, where are we? Are we far from the path?”
Markus got up from where he had been sitting and walked to the ledge outside the alcove. He observed the terrain, lining it up with that of the map. “I think we're right on track. The path leads along the river and then turns up a little ways.”
“Are you sure we are on the right path?’ Treb asked. “There are many tributaries of the North River.”
Markus looked down the river had already passed. “Yes, you see...what is that?” He noticed something crawling along the mountain.
Kiin grabbed her bow. “Imps?”
Just as Markus was about to describe what he saw, a green blur appeared out of nowhere and punched him right in the face. He fell back as Kiin shot at it, but only hit the air as the arrow plunged into the ground.
A Shlan stopped and smiled at them. “Sssstupid dogsss. Can’t hit anything with your poor little arrowsss.” He pulled out his sword and attacked Kiin.
She swung her bow at him and connected against his head, sending him tumbling away. Treb released an arrow and hit the creature’s sword, freeing it from his hand. The Rakki were great aims, but Shlan were quick fighters and it quickly regrouped and jumped at Treb, trying to sink his fangs into his neck. His bite was filled with venom that could prove deadly to the Rakki. Treb caught him by the throat and launched him through the air.
Markus pointed his wand, yelling, “Flar Fugl!” producing another firebird illusion that nearly filled the cave, and charged straight for the Shlan fighter. Markus smiled, quite pleased with himself as he directed the bird to scare the attacker. But the celebration was short-lived as the Shlan fighter burst through the flames and rammed into Markus, sending him across the floor.
The Shlan warrior’s eyes brightened. “You are the boy!” it said, pointing. It slithered in Markus’ direction, fangs exposed. Just as it lunged an arrowed sunk right in it’s eye. The creature screamed reaching for his face.
Markus had a strange feeling come over him and he pointed his wand at it. “Hrinda!” A strong magical force hit the man and he was blasted out of the alcove and over the ledge.
Crystal trembled, watching her parents as they prepared more arrows for other attackers. “Who was that?”
Treb slowly lowered his bow. “I don’t know. But I bet he was sent by Morris.”
Markus picked up the Codex and held it close to himself. “It tried to kill me.”
“Me too.” Treb snarled. “That man was sent as an assassin. They're getting desperate.”
Kiin ran to the edge of the mountain and looked down. “It’s dead!” they were in the clear. “He’s gone, I think we should… ” She snapped her head to the side and grabbed her bow, aiming an arrow at something in the distance. “He wasn't alone!”
Crystal gasped. “What do we do?”
Treb grabbed her hand and ran. “Get out of here!”
Markus stuffed the Codex into his bag, slid it on his back, and followed. He noticed two more Shlan crawling over the mountains, heading right for them. There was someone else with them: a man on a horse riding up the river. “It’s Morris!”
Kiin shot an arrow at one of the Shlan, only to have him dodge it. “He's coming fast! Move!” She shot another arrow aimlessly in their direction to slow their approach.
They ran down the path as fast as they could, but the Shlan were getting closer. Kiin released several more arrows at them, only hitting one in the tail. Markus shot two fireballs in their general direction, but he was no marksman, especially when dealing with things that moved like this. He shot once at Morris, but on the horse he was too difficult to hit.
“Get around that corner!” Treb screamed, pointing ahead where the path diverted from following the river.
Just then, one of the Shlan came up over the edge, and grabbed Crystal’s foot. Treb shot him in the head with an arrow, as Kiin planted two more arrows in it’s side. He shrieked with a smile and tightened his grip on her leg. The Shlan fell away from the ledge pulling Crystal with him. Crystals dragged her hands along the ground frantically looking for something to grab. She snagged a thick tree root hanging from the ledge, just as the Shlan lost his grip and fell down to his death. Markus jumped down to catch her but released his wand in the process. It slipped over the side and vanished in midair.
“Crystal!” Treb screamed, reaching for the both of them. Helping them up, he noticed two more Shlan coming, as well as Morris. “Get her up here! Now!”
“I’m trying!” Markus said, struggled to keep her from falling, but he was making no head way in getting her over the ledge. “Help!”
“I'm going to buy us some time,” Kinn said, leaving the group as she released another arrow.
Treb followed the arrow as it slammed into a large hornet-like nest. “Oh no!” As the arrow hit it’s mark, instantly a horde of imps poured out. “What did you do?They'll come after us!!”
Kiin nodded. “Exactly! They'll go after everyone. Now get her up here before they get to us.”
Treb and Kiin slid their bows over their backs and helped Markus get Crystal to safety. To their delight, they watched as the imps swarmed Morris and the Shlan. It seemed the ploy worked.
Just before they got Crystal to safty, a loud noise erupted behind them as the face of the mountainside shattered, cracking the ground beneath their feet.
Kiin noted the source. “It’s an imp.” She turned to Treb. “Kill it before it kills us!” Kiin yelled out.
Treb released Crystal’s arm and pulled out his bow. He ducked another blast and pummeled the beast with an arrow, plucking one of its wings, sending it on a downward spiral towards the ground. One last blast slipped from it’s hands as it plummeted down the mountainside.
Markus instinctively produced a magical barrier that repelled the blast but sent the energy into the rocks above. The already crumbling rock face exploded around Markus and Crystal. The ledge dipped off the side taking Markus and Crystal with it. Treb caught Kiin by the arm.
“No!!!” Kiin yelled as she watched helplessly.
***
Hundreds of citizens gathered in the Royal Square of Thendor. Most were dressed in black and many were crying. The Royal Orchestra played a dirge that normally was only for royal burials. But the people asked for this music and the King had insisted their wishes be granted. Around the square the Guards on duty for Thendor province all stood at attention, with their swords held high in salute.
The Royal Historian stood at the top steps to the Palace and spoke clearly to the gathered citizens. “Lord Hallond the bold was a diligent officer of the court and master of magic. His work to secure the peace and prosperity of all Gallenor will be remembered for generations. For fifty years he worked skillfully to maintain a wise presence beside the throne as Chief Adviser to King Anthony. All Gallenor can count themselves blessed by the wisdom and guidance of this noble wizard. As darkness swept across our great nation and fear gripped all the attention, Hallond remained vigilant to restore hope and peace. Though his last actions were spurned by the evil darkness of the dragon statue, we will all remember him for who he was before the madness.”
The Palace Guard banged their spears on the ground and signaled the procession to begin. The historian walked down the steps of the palace followed closely by a team of six officers acting as the pallbearers for Hallond’s casket. Behind the procession came the King and his court, all dressed in black with mournful looks across their faces.
The crowds bowed when Hallond’s casket passed. The historian continued. “By order of his majesty King Anthony, Hallond the Bold will be buried with the king
s in the Royal Crypt. All sing praises of Hallond the Bold, all mourn in sadness for Hallond the Bold.” He repeated this last statement over and over as they slowly made their way toward the waiting burial crypt: a noble procession only fit for a king. Not even a queen was afforded such honors, but the king decreed it and so it was.
King Anthony stopped at the top step while the others of his court followed the procession. He observed the crowds of people crying and bowing for the fallen hero. He knew they would now have to put all their trust and faith in him. He smiled wickedly at the thought of a kingdom blindly following his lead.
Chapter 6: Descent into Darkness
Markus let go of the falling rocks and grabbed Crystal by the arm. “WAND!” he yelled, just as they were about to hit the riverbed below and thrust it into the air screaming, “FJUKA!” A flight sent them speeding through the canyon, out of control; but a far better option than slamming into the shallow river below.
Markus fought against the chaotic magic to direct them around one cliff and under a natural archway. When they came dangerously close to a wall he banked hard and they skidded along the side for a second or two before diving towards the water below. With all the strength he could muster, he struggled to level out the decent as they crossed the river and hit the ground rolling. He shook his head, shaking freeing the cobwebs, grateful to finally came to a stop near the bank of the river.
Sprawled out on the ground, looking up into the blue sky, Markus caught his breath and said, “Well, that was better than hitting the ground. Not by much I admit, but we’re still alive.”
Crystal did not respond.
He looked in her direction. Her lifeless body sent chills down his spine. “Crystal?” He ran to her side, kneeling and gave her a shake. His heart sank at the sight of blood coming from the side of her head. She was out cold.
***
Treb fought Kiin’s grip, threatening to go over the side after Crystal. “No!” Kiin screamed. “Are you trying to get killed too?”
“Crystal!” He cried out in a desperate plea, filled with deep anguish.
Kiin brushed the back of his neck as he finally settled down. “No, you can’t. You'll never get down there before the imps or the assassins find you.”
Treb’e eyes filled with tears. “My little girl,” he whimpered.
“They didn’t hit the ground,” Kiin said. “We both saw them fly off. Right now we have to get moving.”
Treb closed his eyes, his chest shaking with the fear and sorrow that filled his heart. After a moment of gathering himself, he opened his eyes and pulled out his bow. “We will find them or die trying.”
Kiin smiled at him. “Of course we will. You took the words right out of my mouth.”
Treb pulled an arrow from his quiver and launched an it into the sky nailing an imp that was coming at them. It burst into a green flash, but another imp was not far behind. Treb launched two more at them at once, dropping one that was charging and another that wasn’t even coming approaching.
Kiin was shocked. “Wow, honey that is some of your best shooting.”
Treb stepped back up against the rock wall to get into the shadow a little more. The look in his eyes was sheer determination. “I'll not let any imps, Shlan, or that damned Morris get in between me and my daughter this day or ever.”
“Precisely… now, let’s move. We have to get to a good place to avoid being seen. Markus was right about one thing, we don’t have an unlimited supply of arrows and I don’t want to be running through these mountains unarmed.”
Treb ran down the path keeping in the shadows of the mountain. “Come on, we need to get around that bend.”
Kiin followed behind, her bow at the ready. “We have to find that Citadel, or at least the location according to the Codex’s description. We find the Citadel, we find the kids.”
Treb thought, if they are alive, but kept it to himself; though the idea that they had died on the descent hammered at his the back of his mind. The idea of Crystal being dead was like a stone of ice in his soul, and he would not let that stone bury him.
***
Captain Morris waited at the base of the mountains with his horse standing in the shallow river that bisected the area. He did not fear the imps that swarmed around above him as they were are easily scared and distractible. None would dare attack him while being threatened by whatever had stirred their nest. From where he waited, he could see the two Shlan fall to their deaths while observing two other bodies glide away. He was losing his patience in this trivial game of cat and mouse, expecting this to be quick and easy and it was not working as he had hoped.
“Morrisssss, two of my men are dead,” the leader of this unit of Shlan reported to the Captain.
Morris stared off in the distance. He didn’t want to show his annoyance with the obvious failure of the others. Plus he absolutely hated listening to their hissing speech. “I don’t care. You have a job to do, so do it. Bring me the hides of the Rakki and the wand of that boy. I will not return to the King a failure.”
“Sssir,” he started with a pause, “why do you ask usss to kill children?”
Morris kicked his horse and it started walking through the shallow waters of the river, heading toward the enemy. “The King has ordered us to do this. We do not have the right to question that.”
“But…” The Shlan was silenced by Morris’ stare.
“If I go home empty handed, I will hand the King your hide as well as the others of your warriors that fail me.” Morris’ anger was growing every moment that passed without success.
The Shlan bowed to his commander. “Yesss, ssssir. We will not fail you.”
“We shall see about that. Now, go and do what I've asked.” Morris watched the serpent man rush off and scurry up the wall with an uncanny ability to cling to the surface.
***
“Asja…..asja……asja….asja…” Markus held Crystal with one hand and used his wand to cast the spell. He had been doing this for quite a while and although the blood and open wound on her head were gone, Crystal still hadn’t awakened.
The water of the river ran by them making a soft trickling sound. The battle above had gotten considerably quieter. The light beaming from the morning sun grew further and further down the mountainside, beating back the shadows and bringing warmth to the cold canyon ground.
Markus dropped the wand and looked into Crystal’s quiet face. He had never felt like this in his life… so helpless, so afraid. She was barely breathing and terribly still. He wanted dearly to feel her getting stronger as he cast the spell over her. Looking around for Crystal’s book, he realized it must be in the other packs. Unfortunately, Donna’s book didn’t contain any detailed healing spells or instructions. In fact, the only spell she had was the very one he’d been repeating over and over.
Markus didn’t know if it would do anything for such a serious injury, but he had nothing else to try. She was slowly slipping away and he could only hold her in his hands and beg for life to return to her body.
“No Crystal… no… please don’t leave me. Come back!” With tears spilling down his face he held her up against him and wrapped his arms around tightly around her. “Crystal! Crystal! Don’t leave me! I….I love you.” He laid her on the ground, leaned over her body, closed his eyes, and pressed his lips against hers. In the darkness he saw something; it was like a spell, but more than a simple one. His body warmed and his hands felt like they were on fire. Or was it her? He couldn’t tell, but a blinding light burst from both of them as he cast the most beautiful spell his soul had ever felt. Crystal stirred, arching back and gasping for air. He could feel her life returning. It was a part of his heart for a flickering moment of time.
As he finished the spell, he sat up beside her and waited for when she would open her eyes again. But she didn’t and her body began to cool. This last, strange, desperate maneuver hadn’t worked.
His body shook as sorrow washed over him, f
ollowed by a wave of anger, hatred, pity, and fierce love. The idea of losing her poured through his veins.
He wanted to scream.
“Get him! It'sss the boy!” The Shlan commander came rushing down the wall of the canyon with one of his subordinates converging from another direction.
Markus looked up and cast a spell in an unfamiliar language even he didn’t understand. The anger and pain poured out in a moment of earth shattering brilliance as he stood; realizing the spell came from a place buried deep within his dreams.
Before the Shlan could get to him, Markus lit up with a golden glow and vanished. In his place a translucent golden dragon appeared and screamed an unholy shout. It was huge, three times the size of a house, with monstrous fangs, giant wings, and massive claws. It reached out, swiped at the subordinate Shlan and cleared it from the wall, flinging it off into the distance. The last few Shlan approached, but before they could attack, the dragon roared, loosening a ball of magical fire that consumed the Shlan commander, turning him into a smoldering pile of ash.
The Dragon turned and locked eyes with Morris as he approached. It opened and closed its wings at a break-neck speed, forcing a tidal wave to rise from the river, swallowing Morris and carrying him and his horse out of sight.
A soft voice cried out, “Markus?”
The Dragon looked down and exploded into gold dust, carried away in the wind. Only Markus remained. He dropped to his knees, light headed.
“Markus?” Crystal called out.
At the sound of her voice, a smile split his jaw as her eyes finally opened. Then he fell over from exhaustion.
A pair of warm hands lightly nudged his shoulders. “Markus?”
He rolled to his back and looked up at her. “Crystal, you’re alright,” he said weakly.
“Yes, I think so. Are you?”
“I'm okay. I think I just need to rest a moment.” He maintained a comforting grip on her hand.
Legacy of Dragonwand: Book 2 (Legacy of Dragonwand Trilogy) Page 4