The Magic Wakes

by Charity Bradford

  “Why should I help you? Your kind hunted the dragonkin to extinction on this planet. I am the only one left. Convince me, or I will satisfy my empty belly!”

  The voice grated on Talia’s weakened nerve endings. How could she convince a dragon to help them?

  Landry I can’t think. Do you have any ideas?

  Be honest.

  Talia spoke aloud, “Calmalder said only the dragons knew how to defeat the Dragumon. A man from another world told us we can perform an unbinding spell, and the Dragumon will cease to exist. He knows the words but is unsure of some of the materials used in the original creation spell. Without this knowledge, our species will be destroyed.”

  “Once again, why does this concern me?” The dragon rested her head on her front feet.

  A rush of images flooded Talia’s mind. She wasn’t sure where they came from, but she could see hundreds of green dragons lounging on mountain ledges. Soaking up the sun. She saw nesting sites and young dragons playing under the watchful eyes of the she-dragons. Landry’s hand swept up her back, and rested on her shoulder. He watched the images too.

  The pleasant scene changed. Green, red, blue, and silver dragons lined the sides of a massive cavern. A mage and several Dragumon stood in the middle of them. Pleading? It was hard to tell since the image was quickly replaced by another. The dragons circled a mountain top opening a portal in a valley for the Dragumon to walk through. And then the dragons created their own portals and flew out of Sendek’s knowledge.

  A name sounded in Talia’s head.

  “Jewel.” Talia gasped.

  “Yes.” The dragon gazed at the two humans.

  “You knew the Dragumon. What were they like? Can we reason with them, find some way to end this peacefully?”

  Jewel stood and stretched her hind legs, then leaned back to stretch her front legs. She unfurled one wing and stretched, tucked it back by her side and repeated with the other wing.

  “Would you be able to co-exist with such creatures?”

  Talia paused a moment. “I don’t know. I really don’t, but I’m willing to try.”

  Jewel jumped from the ledge and stood in the opening to the cave. Her body blocked the light from the lava, as well as the sweltering heat.

  The sudden cooling was like a last meal before an execution. Landry and Talia clung to one another and waited to die as the dragon’s breath washed over them.

  The jade green dragon stepped over them and disappeared up the tunnel toward the surface. The light from the magma chamber lit the tunnel and the heat engulfed them again as the giant haunches disappeared around the curve.

  “The female is weak and must gather strength, and we have company.” The dragon called back to them.

  “Does that mean she isn’t going to eat us?” Talia asked.

  “I’m not sure.” Landry rolled to his feet and pulled her with him.

  A wave of dizziness overwhelmed Talia and she clung to Landry. He pulled out his light and they followed Jewel away from the draining heat.

  Landry whispered, “I wonder what she meant by company?”

  “I don’t know. How are you holding up?” Talia concentrated on each step up the tunnel. “I couldn’t control the exchange.”

  “Don’t worry about it, although you worried me at the end. I thought you would use us both up.”

  “My cells just took what they needed. Did you block me from closing the connection?” She watched Landry shrug. “What if I had—”

  “Shh, you didn’t, and hopefully we’ll never have to do that again.”

  Talia trembled from head to toe, but let the conversation die. She needed all her concentration just to take another step. When they stepped out from behind the waterfall, Jewel was nowhere to be seen. Talia’s heart sunk when she saw two of the moons directly overhead. There would be no energy for her to draw from.

  Something doesn’t feel right. Landry pulled her back into the shadow of the cave entrance. The tension in his body reminded Talia of the first day they met. He was that tightly wound coil of strength waiting to spring. His training settled on him and for a moment he looked like a stranger as he scanned the moonlit crevice in front of them.

  What is it? Talia asked.

  I’m not sure, but we’re being watched.

  It’s probably Jewel.

  No, there are multiple emotions. They’re not quite human.

  Talia’s heart stuttered before speeding up. The Dragumon were here. There was no way to fight them. Their strongest weapons lay two hundred feet above inside the ship and they were too weak to climb.

  Jaron should have taught us how to defend ourselves, Talia lamented.

  Landry searched through every option he could think of for a plan of escape while Talia tried to follow his thought processes. The best option was no longer available. If the suns had been up, Talia could have gathered energy to focus into a weapon. The thought made her cringe. Could she really do that?

  The battery to Landry’s cloaking belt was charging in the ship. He was too weak to carry Talia anyway. They had nothing to help them. No knowledge about the Dragumon weaknesses, and even Jewel had abandoned them.

  At the thought of weaknesses, a file in Landry’s brain opened. Jaron knew of a weakness. His people had fought the Dragumon. They lost in the end, but they did find a way to kill them.

  Landry and Talia watched as a scene opened up in their minds. A vast army of humans grappled in close combat with the Dragumon. They fell by the thousands.

  Despair engulfed Talia and Landry as they watched. But then, the scene zoomed in to one man. He swung a heavy broad sword upward to block the grasping hand that reached for him. The tip of his sword caught the edge of the scales on the Dragumon’s chest.

  These scales were not as closely knit as dragon scales, and they sloughed off with the pressure of the swing. A thin line of blood seeped from the pale gray skin that lay bare. The Dragumon’s eyes grew wide, but the man seized the moment to thrust his sword through the weak area.

  The scene faded from their minds.

  How does that help? We don’t have a sword or anything comparable. Defeat laced Landry’s thoughts.

  “I can use it.” Jewel’s voice startled the couple.

  She had been listening to their thoughts the whole time. Landry and Talia stared out into the open night trying to see where Jewel was in relation to the Dragumon. The moonslight flirted with the shadows along the mountain side. Talia found Jewel clinging to the side of the cliff halfway between the ship and the crevice floor by the rappelling ropes. The dragon moved smoothly from the silvery glow of light back into the shadows.

  She moved diagonally down the rock face toward another shadow. Movement within revealed a Dragumon in hiding. Landry and Talia sensed more than heard the sound of talons scraping against scales.

  The thundering water masked the sounds of the Dragumon’s death, but they watched its body fall to the ground in front of them. The green scales glittered in the moonslight, but a dark area slashed across its abdomen. Blood drained out onto the rocky ground. Paralyzed, Talia stared at it until another body fell from the cliff face.

  Talia hid her face in her hands and didn’t see the third Dragumon run toward her, but Landry did. He shoved her out of the way and met the mass of muscles and scales head on. Talia scrambled up, watching helplessly as their hands locked around each other’s throats in a death grip.

  It would only be a matter of time before one of them lost consciousness, and she had little hope Landry would come out on top. Talia searched the ground for something she could use as a weapon. All she found was the flashlight. Its weight felt heavy and solid in her hands.

  Talia tightened her grip and approached the Dragumon from behind. She raised the metal light high and brought it crashing down on the green head with all her strength. A satisfying crack, vibrated up through her arms, rattling her teeth. Her relief was short lived as the flashlight shattered in her hands. The Dragumon let go of Landry and turned its
attention to her.

  The moonslight flashed off its eyes, paralyzing her. It reached out with large hands, grasped her shoulders, and flung her against the cliff face.

  The air rushed out of Talia’s lungs. Her shirt and the skin on her back shredded as she slid down the rock to rest on the ground. She panted for air and her eyes watered. A sharp pain in her chest dulled the ache in her back. The tips of her fingers tingled and sparkles danced at the edge of her vision. A blurry form stalked toward her.

  Talia willed her muscles to move as she struggled to suck in more air. Her body was spent and there were no reserves to pull from. She watched death approach and wondered that it was different from her dreams.

  The Dragumon reached down, wrapped its hand around Talia’s neck, and pulled her to her feet. Sharp talons pierced the sides of her throat. Talia grabbed hold of its arm as her feet left the ground. She tried to wiggle her fingers between the vice-like grip.

  She needed air.

  Her heart raced and she found herself counting each beat.

  How many do I have left? The roar of the waterfall faded to the background.

  A great weight fell from above, knocking Talia to the ground once more. Talia watched as Jewel pinned the Dragumon down with her strong back legs and sliced upward with her front talons. The Dragumon’s scales fell to the ground in a glittering shower. When Jewel brought the clawed front leg to her mouth, something dangled from it. Long and white, the coiled intestines uncurled as she slurped them down. Jewel paused, part of the entrails caught in her teeth. She popped her head upward and the stringy material bounced, landing in her mouth.

  No one should die that way. Talia’s stomach churned as the smell of warm blood washed over her. She tried to stand, but found it harder to breathe with each move she made. The darkness closed in and she no longer fought it back. Before losing consciousness, Landry’s arms slipped around her followed by the comforting presence of his mind.

  I’m sorry.

  Talia’s entire body ached. The metallic smell of blood filled her nose, and she tasted it on her tongue. Water thundered somewhere nearby, but it didn’t sound as loud as her last dream.

  Was it a dream? A shudder ran through her body and she squeezed her eyes tighter. Not a dream. She still couldn’t breathe. Her face was pressed against Landry’s chest, which didn’t help.

  He hovered around the borders of her mind. We need to get you into the autodoc.

  How am I alive?

  Jewel. I thought I had lost you, but she did something and you came back to me.

  Why? Talia took shallow breaths and tried to look for the dragon.

  “I have my reasons.” Jewel’s voice vibrated through their bodies.

  Thank you. Talia and Landry breathed the thought as one. He held her tighter, but backed off as the pressure sent a new wave of agony through her.

  Each shallow breath sent shooting pains through Talia’s chest. Her arms and legs tingled as they lay limply by her side. Through their connection, she could feel Landry’s weariness. There was no way they could climb up to the ship.

  What are we going to do? I can’t heal us before dawn.

  “Jewel told me how to create our own energy.” Landry spoke close to her ear, but she could barely hear him over the thundering water.

  “That’s impossible.”

  “Nothing is impossible,” Jewel corrected.

  Talia, do you trust me?

  Yes. And she did. Completely.

  Landry kissed her gently. When his lips covered Talia’s, the flow of oxygen disappeared. Her heart raced. Her lungs screamed. She tried to push him away, but Landry held her firmly. He kissed her more insistently.

  Use the connection. See the energy and gather it to heal your lungs. Landry’s voice was calm, but his kiss intensified.

  Talia tried to push the fear of suffocation to the back of her mind. She closed her eyes and looked inward. Searching for the energy. Fire bursts exploded behind her eyelids. Instinct told her to pull away, but Landry concentrated on slowing her heart rate.

  Stay calm. Pull air from my lungs, but concentrate. Landry coaxed Talia into the open room of their minds. You’re safe and whole here.

  Talia stopped struggling and moved her spirit into the mental space. She relaxed and then she could see it. A soft glow deep in her core pulsed like the center of the suns. It was weak, but it flared when Landry bit her upper lip. Talia absorbed the flash of energy and understood. She grasped Landry’s shirt and pulled him closer. His core flared and she grew stronger.

  Blood pumped through their bodies carrying life from deep within. Talia concentrated on accelerating the healing process. Breathing grew easier and she moved her spirit back into her body.

  Talia’s body ached all over, but it was manageable enough for her to enjoy the feel of Landry’s lips against hers. Strength filled them both. It wasn’t a full healing, but it was enough.

  Landry broke the kiss, but left his forehead leaning against Talia. They breathed in rhythm and waited for their hearts to calm.

  Jewel soared through the air above the mountain. After a few loops and diving spirals, she landed softly beside them.

  “Much better. You can breathe, and I’ve stretched and filled my stomach. You are a descendant of Elvin Thule. I can smell his presence in your blood.” Her great head angled so one giant eye focused on Talia.

  “Is that a good thing?” Talia tried not to cringe, but she kept seeing those talons ripping the Dragumon open.

  “Yes. I had great respect for Elvin, even though he misjudged his own people. He meant well, but the Dragumon were a mistake. I was young, with no pull in the clan. I supported Thraned and the unbinding. Unfortunately, he did not trust the mage to perform the ritual. We sent the Dragumon into exile instead, but I had seen into Kansisi’s soul. Dark hatred filled him. I knew he would find a way to return if he could, so I stayed behind and waited.”

  “So you’re on our side?” Landry questioned.

  “Yes. I will help you gather the items you need for the unbinding. Then I will be free to join the dragonkin in the place they have gone.” Jewel snorted and then sneezed. “You should not worry about the Dragumon’s deaths. It was quick and almost painless for them.”

  “Oh.” Talia ducked her head and let her hair cover part of her face. Having a dragon read your thoughts was worse than a man reading them.

  “Climb on my back, at the base of my neck. I will carry you to your ship. Use your legs and arms to hold on.” Jewel hunkered down to the ground, curling her body around the space between mountains.

  Landry helped Talia up and then climbed on behind her. Jewel’s neck was too broad to reach around, so Talia gripped with her knees and arms. In her weak state, it was a pathetic attempt. Her arms shook from the effort. She was grateful when Landry leaned into her as he searched for a place to grab hold. His body acted as a harness, and Talia felt more secure as Jewel lifted off the ground.

  Jaron paced along the border of the clearing. There had been no word from Landry or Talia for hours. Their absence meant adding another day before they could attempt the unbinding spell. He listened to the relative quiet, as the new mage slept. His com finally beeped.

  “Yes.”

  Landry said, “We’re on our way back.”

  “And?”

  “We woke the dragon. She’s coming with us so you may want to prepare everyone.”

  “Excellent. We will be ready. We will perform the unbinding at sunsrise in two days. Talia is strongest at that time.”

  “That may be too soon. The Dragumon attacked us and she received the brunt of it. She’s resting in the autodoc.”

  “Good. That will heal her body, and there will be time for her to prepare. It will be enough.”

  Chapter 33

  Talia’s body healed quickly in the autodoc. There was no bruising left and it had minimized her dream scars. She could still feel them by running a finger along them, but Talia had never looked better. Jaron and Landry
were both waiting when the cover slid off. Neither one smiled.

  Landry informed Talia that a small group of Dragumon had wiped out the nearby city of Bryllton while they were gone. Jaron’s enchantment protected the mage’s camp, but everyone knew time was growing short.

  Jaron argued. “We need to know how much time we have. A dream search is the only way to talk with a Dragumon safely.”

  “I understand that, but she’s been through so much already,” Landry countered.

  “What is it you want me to do?” Talia sat up.

  “It’s called dream casting.”

  “You don’t have to do it,” Landry interrupted.

  “Landry, its fine. Look, all better.” Talia turned to Jaron. “What am I trying to do?”

  “Make contact with one of the Dragumon. Some of them will share the same blood you do. That connection will draw you together in the dream realm.”

  “And it’s safe?” Talia walked to the metabolizer for a drink.

  “You cannot be harmed in the dream realm, but you can lose your way. Landry and I will stay with your body to call you back if needed.”

  A shiver ran down Talia’s spine. “What do you mean lose my way?”

  Jaron waved his hand dismissively. “Don’t worry about it. We will keep you safe.”

  “Answer her question.” Landry stood with his arms crossed over his chest.

  “A weak spirit can lose track of the thread that leads back to their body. Your spirit is strong. I’m not concerned and you should not be either.” Jaron waved toward a side room. “Please, this way.”

  “Talia,” Landry reached for her arm. “You don’t have to do this.”

  She caught his outstretched hand. “I know, but I’d like to try. Maybe we can come to an understanding. End this war before more people die.”

  She raised his hand to her face and leaned into his palm. The memory of his willingness to fight for her burned within her. She knew he would not let her get lost. Bring me back.