Dralin

by Carroll, John H.

  After exiting the ancient academy, Ebudae re-locked the door. Hezzena stomped down the steps with the girls close behind. They followed her while she continued mumbling about how she deserved to die, about disobedient children, how humans were the worst plague ever to be cast upon the world of Ryallon, how she had lost her most valuable treasure, and about little human girls that tried to die just because she tickled their mind a bit.

  After a few minutes of walking through the dark streets with only glowing plants and six orange orbs casting an eerie light to see by, the girls were getting nervous. They were much farther into the depths than would be safe for them without a dragon escort. Neither had a clue whether or not Hezzena was leading them in the right direction and neither was willing to disturb her angry mumbling.

  A pack of yellow-eyed creatures like the ones that had chased the girls the week before appeared from a street to the left. The girls got closer to Hezzena who seemed oblivious to the presence of the monsters. Then one of the beasts let out a high-pitched squeal.

  That drew the dragon’s attention. She stopped and looked at the long, low-slung creatures. There were seven of the monsters. Pelya still had the magical sword Ebudae had given her and the wizardess could do spells, but they just weren’t emotionally capable of fighting at that moment, so they held onto each other.

  It wasn’t necessary for them to fight. In a blur, Hezzena went from where she stood to just in front of the first monster. She backhanded it, hurtling it into the side of the nearest building a hundred feet away. Its body broke from the initial blow. It shattered upon hitting the wall.

  Neither girl had ever seen a singular display of such strength. Then Hezzena shrieked in rage and began tearing apart the creatures. She picked the next one up by the snout and used it to beat the ever-loving snot out of the third. Hezzena grabbed the fourth by the tail and slammed it back and forth against the ground a few times. Everything was done so quickly that the others hadn’t had time to react. The fifth finally decided to try to escape, but Hezzena cast something from her hands that was both fire and electricity combined. The creature exploded within an instant, splattering in an arc away from the dragon. Hezzena’s hands turned into dragon-sized claws that scratched and shredded the sixth one to tatters. She lifted the last into the air and thrust it at violent speed to splatter into the dark ceiling far above. It landed with a thud a distance away shortly thereafter.

  Hezzena’s claws changed back into taloned hands and she stood there huffing in anger. Then she inhaled deeply. The roar that came forth was much vaster than the body it emitted from. It was a full dragon roar filled with rage and anguish. The underground world shook and Pelya wondered if the city above could avoid hearing it.

  A few minutes later, the last of the rumbling ended and Hezzena came back to them with shoulders slumped. There wasn’t a drop of blood or goo on her from the creatures she had killed, which impressed Pelya. “There’s a sewer ahead,” she told them, pointing weakly in the direction they were traveling. Her head was down and she walked at a much slower pace. Pelya came up and took Hezzena’s hand. When the dragon looked at her in surprise, Pelya smiled encouragingly. Ebudae took the other hand and smiled as well. It made all the difference in the world and Hezzena stood straighter, even giving them a toothy smile of her own.

  The sewer was an enormous stone tunnel forty feet high, running through ruins. “This is one of the lower outlet tunnels that go all the way to flood plains in the south.” Pelya explained.

  “If we followed it, we could get out of the city that way?” Hezzena asked suddenly.

  “I don’t think this one goes out of the city, but it connects to others that do. Luckily, it hasn’t rained much recently or it would be full and we’d die before getting anywhere. Even with that, it’s dangerous and stinky,” Pelya told them. She pointed to a shaft going upward. “There are thousands of those leading up to higher levels. They have ladders in them. Once again it’s dangerous.”

  “You learned all that in books?” Ebudae asked, impressed by the knowledge.

  “Yes. Learning the sewers is the single hardest part of the Guard’s education after the Tower District, so I started early. Legally, only the Guard is allowed to enter the sewers, but criminals use the higher levels a lot.” She looked at the tunnel. “I have no idea how to get into them though.”

  “That’s very interesting. Getting into the ruins below the city was extremely difficult. Getting out the way I came in isn’t an option. Let me look for a way to get into the tunnel,” Hezzena said. The rust-colored tendrils filled her eyes again while she looked to the left and right. Purple tendrils replaced them for a moment before going back to normal. “There are iron access doors on top that we can use. They’re protected by runes that will be easy for me to bypass.” She reached around their waists. “Hold onto me.” They did so and she leaped to the top of the tunnel.

  The girls gasped as their stomachs dropped to their toes. The leap was incredibly graceful and the landing on top was smooth. She set them down and headed to a nearby circular access door. Pelya looked at the iron plate set six feet from the left side of the tunnel. It had to be eight feet in diameter. The exterior of the tunnel was thirty feet wide and stretched as far as the eye could see.

  “Why are the doors round instead of square?” Pelya asked. The few trapdoors she had seen were square and made of wood.

  “Because circles hold magic better than squares,” Ebudae answered first. “The round unbroken line is always more powerful than four lines with corners. These doors have wards on them, so it makes sense for them to be circular.”

  “Both of you shush,” Hezzena told them. She gestured with her arms, moving them like snakes while making hissing sounds. The wards Pelya hadn’t seen before lit up and began moving. An instant later, the door opened upward. “Wait here.” Hezzena jumped into the hole, taking half the orange orbs with her while leaving the rest for them to see by.

  It became very quiet without the dragon there. Ebudae wrapped her arms around Pelya who did the same. They stood there for a few minutes, terrified that something would come along while they waited. They let out little screams when Hezzena popped straight out of the hole and landed next to them.

  “I don’t like the smell down there, but there’s a walkway and no obvious dangers. The water level isn’t too high either.” Hezzena wrapped her arms around their waists. They held on to her when she jumped back into the sewer. Pelya was proud of herself for not making a noise while Ebudae squeaked at the sensation of dropping. Once again, the landing was soft.

  All of the orbs came with them that time and spread out in both directions. Pelya pointed to their left. “The Noble District should be in that direction. I’ll know for certain when I see the markings that should be on the walls.

  Hezzena nodded and took their hands. They followed the wide walkway that was fifteen feet below the ceiling on the left side and did their best to ignore the stink that permeated the air. It was bad enough to make the girls’ eyes water. Their dragon friend didn’t seem affected in the least. To the right of them, sewer water flowed steadily on its way down to the southern plains. Dripping water that condensed on walls and ceilings combined with murky water trickling by.

  The water level was just a few feet below the walkway. “When it rains a lot, the water level will be above our heads. If it’s not raining much, the level goes down and becomes extra stinky sludge along the bottom,” Pelya explained. “That’s the marking,” she said, pointing at a metal engraving set into the wall where the shaft came from above. It was a series of numbers and letters that specified where they were. “It says we’re in the Market District on the eighth level of sewers, which is the bottom level.”

  “Is this the way to leave the city?” Hezzena asked.

  “No. There’ll be side tunnels that lead south. Right now, we’re going east, which is the way we want,” Pelya told her. They walked for quite a way, passing numerous shafts and side passages. There were w
alkways over side tunnels that intersected, but a couple were broken. Hezzena jumped them over those. It took them half an hour to reach the area where Lord Uylvich’s manor would be. “The openings to the street will be on upper levels, but this is as close as this one will get, I think,” Pelya informed them.

  Hezzena motioned to another of the circular access doors in the top of the tunnel nearby. The wards on it glowed and it opened. She picked the girls up and leapt through the opening. Pelya was beginning to enjoy the sensation and wished she could jump like that.

  The orange orbs followed through to illuminate the immediate area. They were in another section of the ruined city that looked different from the one they had come from. The ceiling was slightly lower and there were more of the glowing plants. Dripping sounds filled the air and the smell of mold irritated their nostrils.

  “What are those plants?” Ebudae asked Hezzena, pointing at the glowing leaves of one growing on top of the tunnel.

  “They grow in the dark places of the world,” she explained absentmindedly while going to the right side to scan the area after having scanned the left. “If you go lower into the world, they grow everywhere and there are glowing animals and insects as well. There are also creatures as dangerous as anything above ground . . . except dragons of course.” Hezzena turned to Pelya. “Where do you think we might find the secret passage?”

  Pelya had been thinking about that very question. “I’m trying my best to remember. There were a lot of turns, but I think it’ll be ahead another thousand feet or so and then to the right.” Pelya looked at the dragon apologetically. “It’s a lot different down here than it is up there, so I’m guessing a lot, but I’m doing the best I can.”

  Hezzena came over and patted Pelya’s head. “I know, child. I’m very proud of you.” She crossed her arms. “I’ll be more proud when we find the passage and you rescue my son.” Then she turned and began walking the thousand feet along the top of the tunnel. The girls quickly followed, not willing to be left behind in the dark.

  Suddenly the dragon stopped, holding up a hand with its sharp tips. “Hold still,” she commanded quietly. The girls did as she said. They didn’t make a sound while their new friend searched the plant dotted darkness to the right. “There’s something there,” she said in low tones.

  The girls stared into the darkness, but couldn’t see anything. Hezzena picked them up again and leapt to the ground in that direction before setting them down gently. “Follow me, but not too closely in case I have to fight.” Once again, they did as she told them.

  More crumbling buildings lined the long-forgotten street. Pelya had a desire to explore them, but not so much that she was willing to leave Hezzena’s protection.

  Two magically lit blue lanterns hung from a large set of double doors set into the side of a building on the right. Hezzena stopped short and sniffed the air. What might have looked perfectly normal in a dragon looked very odd with her being in human form. She crouched low over the ground and let out another of her rumbling growls. “I can’t smell him. He must have been carried in something that hides his presence.” Hezzena distractedly clawed the ground in front of her, digging furrows into the broken cobbles. Her voice had become the hissing sound that echoed off the walls. It caused Pelya and Ebudae to cling to each other again.

  “Is this the exit?” she asked Pelya.

  “I think so,” Pelya told her nervously. “Everything about it seems right, the height of it, the location, and the look of the runes.”

  “Yes, I think so too.” Hezzena straightened and turned to them. “We’ll go back to the library and finish the details. Then I will come back here and wait for you to bypass the runes to let me in so I may rescue my son.” Without waiting for a response, she picked them up and carried them back to the academy.

  Chapter 22

  “We need to get some rest before we try to do this,” Ebudae protested. Hezzena had gone over every detail with both girls for three hours in the library and was insisting they leave immediately to begin the rescue.

  “No!” Hezzena slammed her fist on the table, cracking the stone that had survived a millennium of ruin. A chunk of the corner fell off and the girls hugged each other desperately. Hezzena ran fingers through wavy, metallic-orange hair to regain her calm. “My son is dying. They will drain his life and use his body for ingredients. Every moment counts.” She began pacing back and forth. “You must save him immediately no matter how tired you may be. You have the plan and you’ll succeed. The necklaces I loaned you will help with stealth.”

  Pelya touched the silver linked necklace with a circular pendant that had three onyx stones set in it. The girls could each use theirs to go invisible for a short while. They were powerful enough to hide sound and smell too. Hezzena made it clear that the necklaces were only on loan, being a very important part of her treasure and she had already used the most valuable piece she owned to save Pelya’s life.

  “We know what to do,” Pelya said. She was a little tired, but not bad since the healing tooth had fully restored all of her energy along with health. “We’ll meet you at the doorway as quickly as possible.” Ebudae sighed, but agreed reluctantly.

  “Go then!” Hezzena moved behind them in a blur, put the lanterns in their hands and pushed them toward the door. “Go on. Save my son. Don’t let him die!” The girls stumbled out of the library. Not wanting to be pushed anymore, they ran up the hallway.

  Pelya looked back to see Hezzena in the glow of the orbs, staring at them with her swirling eyes. They turned the corner and headed back along the halls, through the theater and up the stairs until they reached Ebudae’s secret room and flopped to the ground in exhaustion.

  Their breathing settled few minutes later. Ebudae lay on her back and asked, “What do you want to do?”

  Pelya turned to her side. “What do you mean?”

  “Are we really going to save the dragon?” Ebudae also turned to her side. “If we’re caught, they’ll kill us even if we are children.”

  “That makes it that much more fun and exciting,” Pelya answered with a grin. She quickly became somber. “You don’t have to go.”

  Ebudae jumped to her feet and pointed a finger angrily at the young warrior who scrambled to her own feet. “Don’t you ever say anything like that to me again. We do this and every other adventure together even if we die!” She folded her arms and lifted her chin. “Besides, you know you can’t do it without me.”

  She was right and Pelya knew it. The wizardess was surprised when Pelya wrapped her in a fierce embrace. They hugged for a few minutes before breaking. “Shall we go?” Pelya asked.

  “I really think we need sleep, but Rizzith could die, so I say we go,” Ebudae answered. She began moving back and forth between tables, shelves and drawers to gather magical items. “Grab that pouch on the wall by my workbench,” she told Pelya pointing at the bench where she did most of her experiments. “It has rune balls that cancel out wards. There’s only four and I don’t know if they’re strong enough, but they’ll make it easier if they work.

  Pelya grabbed it and a few other things Ebudae directed her to. They gathered the items in two backpacks, the heaviest of which Pelya took. Most of it had been planned in the library, but the wizardess grabbed a few extra things she thought would be useful. Pelya kept the magical sword at her waist instead of leaving it. They both wore black cloaks that would help disguise their age, though not their size.

  Instead of leaving through the front door, they went back into the secret passages with lanterns held in front of them, turning the other direction toward the manor proper. Steps down took them underneath the main hall. A hundred feet later, it turned toward the backyard. “This goes to the rear wall. There’s a secret door to the alley there.”

  They exchanged worried glances. Alleys were never good news for children even in a moderately safe neighborhood. It didn’t slow them from continuing and they were soon at steps that went up into the wall. There was a small chamber
where Ebudae pushed a button that opened a peephole. It was big enough to see through, but not big enough to figure out if anyone was in the alley. The girls stood quietly for a moment to listen. When they didn’t hear anything, Ebudae pulled another trigger that caused part of the wall to come into the chamber and slide to the left. Thankfully, it did so quietly. Pelya went out first with sword in hand, all the while desperately hoping she wouldn’t have to use it.

  There was no one around, much to their relief. Ebudae quickly closed the secret entrance while Pelya put away her sword. Then they turned and headed to the Noble District. The sun was up and people were moving about by that time. The girls held hands to keep from being separated. Neither had ever been in the city without an adult before. It was both frightening and exhilarating.

  Crowded streets actually made it easier to go unnoticed. Nobody tried to grab them, nobody asked what they were doing and nobody noticed the two little girls going to rescue a dragon. By the time they reached the estate of Lord Uylvich they were smiling at their boldness.

  They walked beside the high side wall around to the back, but there were workers talking next to the rear entrance. The girls went to the front and walked casually past the front gate. The guard saw them and frowned so they continued walking. Both side walls were tall with few footholds, too many witnesses and spikes on top, so they wouldn’t be an option.

  The girls nodded at each other and walked back to the front corner. They paused for a moment, waiting until they were certain nobody was looking at them. Then they activated the invisibility pendants at the same time.

  Finding each other’s hands, they went to the low front wall and climbed over. The girls were able to sneak through the grounds to the side kitchen entrance, moving carefully even though their sounds were hidden as well. There was a guard sitting next to the side gate, but he was sleepy and didn’t notice the invisible girls even when the kitchen door opened and closed.