by T G W Becker
The path off the main track was so overgrown, they almost missed it. Deciding to check before blindly entering the clearing, they walked a little further down the track and pulled the ponies into the undergrowth, tying them securely to an old, darkwood tree.
“At least if we leave them here, they won’t draw any attention to us by neighing,” Rossa patted her mount. She had been very vocal for the last half day, whinnying a little. “Poor girl is probably more tired than we are.”
So, mountless and with weapons drawn they crept back to the narrow pathway and, quiet as a pair of field mice, crept into the clearing.
It was rather a surprise to come across Drake so easily; unguarded and apparently unprotected. The small ruins of a house filled the area where he slept. To one side of the clearing, Rossa and Nethalie crept closer, not believing their luck at finally having caught up with the golden eyed man they had been following for almost two weeks now. Now that they had finally caught up with him again, he seemed somewhat a disappointment. He was sleeping out in the open, just like they had been. There was a brief moment where Nethalie wasn’t sure whether to wake him or shoot an arrow at him; he seemed suddenly so human and vulnerable.
“There must be some kind of trap or something. Surely he’s not just sleeping out in the open like this?” Nethalie whispered, “though I haven’t seen anything that could be a physical trap.”
“I haven’t noticed anything magical either. Maybe he’s just relying on his pony over there for his warning,” she nodded toward the tied up beast of burden.
Silently they crept around the perimeter of the clearing, keeping well away from the pony, so as not to startle it. It seemed as though Drake was just sleeping in the open.
“I guess why wouldn’t he? He doesn’t know we are following him and I doubt anyone knows about what he has stashed away.”
Rossa crept closer, Nethalie lingering back at the edge of the pathway, listening intently for any sounds of movement or a change in his breathing. It was then that Rossa spotted Drake’s pack, just to the side of the sleeping man. “I’m going to check it..,” and without a second for Nethalie to object, she was off. As silent as a whisp of cloud, she glided across the ground. Reaching the pack, she slipped her hand behind the clasp and slid the leather band from around the metal loop. The flap opened silently.
Looking over to check there were no signs of movement, Rossa made a quick search of the pack. Food, camping supplies and clothing. Nothing that felt remotely like the Ecliptica pieces.
I expected as much, she thought and then looked back over to Nethalie and shook her head to let her friend know the pack didn’t contain what they were seeking. Looking at Drake, she knew what she had to do next. A quick glance toward Nethalie and the half-elf knew exactly what she was planning. Nethalie shook her head frantically, mouthing ‘No, no, no’. Rossa only smiled with her cheeky grin, turned back towards Drake and took a step closer.
~ 21 ~
Drake stirred in his sleep. He was dreaming of days long past. The comforting touch of a mother’s hand brushing through his hair; stroking his cheek...down his chest and inside his robe.
He had grabbed the hand before his eyes and voice had time to catch up.
“At least this time you could buy me a good meal first,” he said, expecting to see the mage standing over him again. He was, instead welcomed with a pair of large, beautiful, sunflower coloured eyes. “Definitely not what I was expecting,” he finished, slightly loosening his grip, which was a mistake as it turned out.
The hand was quickly free of his and gave him a swift clip across his ear, sending his head ringing. The hand then dove back inside his robe.
“Ep’so,” Drake spoke, visualising a small area around him. The success of his spell was rewarded with the sound of the intruder falling to the ground some five paces away.
“E’lit,” he continued, sparking a small light in his hand. Before him on the ground was a short young woman, her bright eyes glaring up at him. Towards the edge of the clearing stood another woman; taller, slender, with pointed ears. An elf? Definitely not the types who he expected to be attacked by in the middle of the night.
From behind him he heard an arrow notched on to a bow string; he gave a silent thank you for his heightened senses, then spun and ducked just in time to see an arrow fly through the air where his shoulder had once been.
“Not the most polite of people we have met are they?” he said to Zeek as he got back to his feet and dashed towards the Elf.
“That may be so, but they are skilled enough to have not disturbed you as you slept, and clearly they are not magic users or I would have felt the disturbance,” he seemed almost impressed.
“I shall make sure to congratulate them both on a job well done once they skewer me shall I?” he landed a swift hand on the Elf’s bow, twisted his grip, and wrenched it from her hands. “Es’pa,” he said as he touched the Elf’s arm, instantly freezing her to the spot, if only temporarily. He turned again to check on the other who had been checking his pockets; she was nowhere in sight.
“You think it’s going to be that easy to stop us?” a disembodied voice spoke.
Not this again, he thought. “Well, I had just hoped you would rather surrender now. Clearly you’re skilled, but your friend here is rather more inclined to stick around at the moment, take in the sights.” A grumble behind him confirmed she was still there and not in danger of going anywhere soon.
“I can take you on my own,” the voice had moved, “you can’t stop what you can’t see!,” and again to a new position.
“I would beg to differ. Ep’so” he muttered the spell under his breath. He turned slowly on the spot, straining all his senses for any sign of the second assailant. She was good; it was as though she had completely vanished.
“Ha!” was all he heard as she collided with his chest, hard. Drake could do nothing to stay upright, but the small barrier of space he had cast around himself did its work and took most of the force. He fell backwards onto the ground, looking up into those sunflower eyes again.
“This feels somewhat familiar,” she mocked as she sat over him, a hungry looking assassin’s blade lay flat, mere millimetres below his neck. “As much as I enjoyed the first lesson in flying,” she tapped the blade against him, “let’s not do that again shall we?”
“I do feel like there is a strong incentive to keep you where you are right now,” he smiled. From behind him, came an exaggerated sigh.
“Rossa Lunabelle, and you…are Drake”
There were several moments of silence, where Drake was stunned into silence. It seemed his name was becoming known; he would be interested to know what for. Tucking his hands behind his head he looked up at Rossa.
“Since this situation is not the most comfortable I have ever been in, why don’t you tell me how you know my name and why you have come all this way to sit on my chest with a blade to my neck.”
“My friend and I have come looking for something you took from her. It’s small, but rather valuable, silver in colour,” she looked down at Drake then up to her still paralysed friend “I believe the collection are part of something called the Ecliptica,” She smiled as the look of surprise returned to Drake’s face, “care to hand them over?”
. . .
Hours had gone by when Zeek finally began to get impatient with Drake trying to explain his reasons for hunting down the Ecliptica, without divulging the existence of the Great Dragon’s core.
“The six pieces need to be collected together and returned to the Elves for safe keeping. Who knows what would happen if they were all reunited in the wrong hands,” Drake tried to reason with Nethalie and Rossa.
“And are we supposed to take your word that your intention is to return the pieces to Re’ashar? Who’s to say you’re not just going to sell them to the highest bidder?” Rossa countered.
“A skilled thief I may be, but I am true to my word. You can ask...” Drake paused, thinking.
“We ca
n ask...no one...Oh dear, a little slip up in your defence there. Why don’t you just hand the pieces you have so far over to us? We will take them to the Great Library where they will be safe.”
“I’m afraid I can’t just hand them over to two strangers I’ve just met. One of whom was either robbing me or propositioning me in the night!” he was getting annoyed.
“You should be so lucky!” Rossa snapped back at him.
“I think you’ll find that one of those pieces is rightfully mine,” Nethalie jumped in, “you took it from my father’s shop. That makes at least that single piece mine to do with as I please. As for the other pieces you’ve stolen...”
“Because your piece was so safe and secure sat on a shelf for the entire world to see?” Drake had a good point there, it had not been safe, but that’s only because she hadn’t known what it was.
“It was safer there than it is here. Of all the places to bring them. Why not simply hand them over now. I’m sure some mage round here would be happy to thank you for them by offering you your own head on a silver plate!” Rossa was now getting rather riled up.
“ENOUGH!” Zeek suddenly spoke, allowing all of them to hear his voice “I have heard more than I can bear about who should take what is rightfully mine. Drake has been searching for these pieces under my request and guidance.”
“Great little trick there Drake. A great booming voice to persuade us to give up,” Rossa chuckled. “I can do quite a light show to go with that you know.”
“That wasn’t me,” Drake said quietly.
Rossa turned to look at Nethalie. “Don’t look at me!” she said.
“Young Bluecap; you are speaking with the last Great Dragon of the kingdoms of old. The Lord of the Dragons. I am Zeek, the Ecliptica pieces you seek belong to me. Drake is the one who prophecy foretold would reunite the six pieces.”
Both Rossa and Nethalie stood in silence for a few moments. Not sure if this was the truth or if it was an elaborate hoax.
“Well, Mr Great Dragon,” Rossa started, looking all around “if that were true then golden eyes here would have the core piece. Oh yes, we did our reading, we know all about the seventh piece.”
“You may show them youngling,” Zeek spoke softly in his usual tone.
Drake reached inside his robe to one of the deep hidden pockets. Slowly he drew out Zeek’s core, still wrapped tightly in its purple cloth. Making sure to stand out of reach of any hands, Drake unfolded the cloth and revealed the core.
“Dear Gods,” Nethalie gasped, “It’s exactly like in mother’s journals. That’s the core, the core she helped to save.”
“That would therefore make your mother Luciar. She was the only female elf present after my core dispersed. Entora, Re’nlie and Zo’rte were the other three that accompanied her.”
In Nethalie’s mind there was now no doubt about who she was speaking with.
“Rossa, those are the others who helped my mother to retrieve the core of the Ecliptica. This has to be him, the Great Dragon himself. I have so many questions; did you know my mother? How was she injured?” Nethalie was stumbling over her own words in shock.
“I shall answer these questions all in good time. What of you young Bluecap? Are you still in doubt as to the legitimacy of my claims?”
“I still think this could be a trick,” Rossa said sceptically.
“Then place your hand upon my core. You have nothing to fear. If you are indeed correct and I am not as I say, then you will be touching nought but a replica.”
Rossa cautiously took a step toward Drake and the cupped Ecliptica core cradled in his hands. Reaching out a tentative hand, she placed two fingers upon the cool exterior. As she did, Zeek reached out and touched her mind with his own. He shared images with her, of his incarceration, his death and then images of Bluecaps outside the mines she grew up in. Then, a strong memory of Bluecaps looking up at the mountains above the mine. High up were great lofts of roosting dragons.
Rossa stood motionless as Zeek withdrew his presence.
“Rossa..,” Nethalie was quickly by her friend’s side, her hand on her shoulder.
“I’m okay,” she whispered, “I’m fine... It’s true that is the real core of the Great Dragon.”
Collecting herself she turned away from Drake. Nethalie ran a hand up and down her friend’s back reassuringly.
“This changes things quite a bit,” Nethalie said as Rossa composed herself. “So what happens when you reunite all the pieces with the core?”
“Zeek hasn’t told me. I’m not sure if even he knows what will happen.”
“Never in the history of my race has a core been so disrupted as mine. I know not what will happen once the pieces are all reunited. I do feel the pull from them and the desire to become whole once more.”
Drake tried to expand on what Zeek had said as best he could.
“Zeek’s entire being, his memories and knowledge are contained within the six pieces. When we gain another, all the knowledge and memories that are within that piece are once again part of Zeek.”
It was Rossa who spoke next, her voice quiet yet decisive. “Since we are all searching for a common goal, to collect the six pieces and to keep them away from those who would misuse them, it would make sense for us to help each other. Surely three...sorry four...would be better than two?”
“Indeed it would Rossa. Drake and I have already encountered a Shadow mage who was skilled in utilising magical energy. Though he was not very skilled in his knowledge, the use of it is still a concern. Perhaps a joint effort would be of benefit to us all.”
Drake looked the two new companions over. Rossa, though small in stature, seemed adept in sneaking around and appeared to have a rather appropriate set of assassin spikes strapped to her waist. Nethalie was blessed with the grace of the elves, with a keen eye and a short bow.
“It would appear our party has now grown to four then,” he smiled.
~ 22 ~
Kalisle stood in the centre of the long dusty track that led to Isimir. The journey so far had been quite lucky in taking him in the direction that he needed to go.
Upon leaving Port Gol, he had met a strange man on the outskirts, who talked in a very strange way and talked about himself as if it was someone else. The odd stranger, who named himself Besky, had greeted Kalisle and began discussing the events on the road well travelled. The luckiest part of this encounter was that Besky had met an interesting pairing on his journey; a half elf and a funny short creature named Rossa. Besky told Kalisle he had met them heading towards Isimir some seven days ago.
Patting the flank of the pony that was taking him and his small pack of belongings from Port Gol, Kalisle stood in contemplative silence. Then gave several long coughs. From all the dust that came off the animal.
“We will both need a good wash when we reach Isimir,” he commented between spluttering.
The sky was overcast and dark with heavy clouds that looked as if one small excuse would cause them to burst and send a tidal wave of rain down onto the world below. It had been this way for three days now and it was most unusual for this time of the year. Usually there would be hot sun and pleasant sea breeze’s rolling in across Kelsach.
Looking further down the road, the banks of cloud seemed to be rolling in and down upon what he hoped would soon be Isimir.
“Not much further, I hope,” he muttered as he swung himself back into the saddle.
. . .
Kalisle’s mind played through the events of the last few days as he sat swaying gently in the saddle. He thought over the events that he led to him deciding to follow Nethalie, it had been an easy and quick decision on his part.
The fishing boats moored at Port Gol bobbed to and fro in the early morning wash. Kalisle stood on the grey stone wall looking out across the great sea beyond. Beneath his feet, glistening seaweed of red and green clung to the stone, having a few hours ago been bathed in the high tide. Kalisle’s gaze wandered back and fourth to an incoming boat. I
t had a pair of great sails flapping above a harshly curved hull. The dark wood of the boat was stained green and white from algae and salt. As he watched, the bow gracefully rose and fell as she made her way into port.
A nervous energy surged through Kalisle; that was his father’s boat coming back to dock and he had many things to talk about, as soon as possible. Only two days before, Kalisle had gone in search of Nethalie at the shop, only to find she had left on the grand adventure they had talked about without him. Tre’larr, Nethalie’s father, had told him how a strange blue cap had come to the shop and that a piece of Ecliptica had been stolen, not by the blue cap but by a mysterious person who she was tracking. Nethalie had accompanied the blue cap in search of the stolen item.
At first, Kalisle had wanted to completely dismiss the idea of Nethalie leaving without him, they had been friends for years after all. The more he thought about it however, the more it sounded like something she might do; leaping at the chance for an adventure away from Port Gol. Many times the two of them had talked about some grand adventure that they would go on; travelling the realm and discovering some ancient treasures. If had however, seemed like neither of them would ever get that chance; what with Nethalie already being embedded in the day to day running of the shop and Kalisle being groomed by his father to follow dutifully in his footsteps.
“There has to be more than taking over the family business,” Kalisle had told Nethalie once as they had thrown knife after knife into their makeshift targets.
“Maybe, but who would you want to take over instead. Would you be happy to see someone else in charge; making decisions that you don’t agree with?” she raised a good point, but he still itched to see what else was outside their home.
~ 23 ~
The next morning Nethalie awoke to the smell of cooking. It could only be Rossa with her usual early morning rising and need for a good meal to start the day. Remembering the rather odd events of the night before and how their adventure to find the Ecliptica piece for themselves had turned into one of finding them for their original owner, she rolled to see what Rossa was cooking. She was surprised to see that it was not Rossa in fact who was cooking, but their mysterious new companion: Drake.