Dragon Charmers: #1 Mountains of Fire

by Linda McNabb

CHAPTER TEN - QUEST OF FOOLS

  ‘I’d like to wait for my master to come back first,’ Logan said, looking nervously at the door and hoping Zared would come through it soon.

  ‘We don’t have time to wait,’ the prince snapped. He gave Logan a push towards the workroom and followed one step behind.

  I think it’s a good idea to wait for Zared, the white dragon commented dryly as it followed them, slamming the door with its arrow-tipped tail. I’m sure you will have far more success if you do.

  Logan glanced at the white dragon as it settled itself onto the old chair in the corner and proceeded to blend into the worn fabric. He caught a glimmer of humour in the golden eyes as they faded away. Logan turned to his spell book. How did the white dragon know his spells rarely worked?

  ‘No. We can be off again in a matter of just a few minutes if we do it now and then be back before nightfall with my brother,’ Myles insisted. The prince stood next to the window, leaning against the wall and looking expectantly at Logan.

  Logan gulped. He looked one last time at the workroom door but did not see his master coming to save him. He picked up the stone bowl and set it next to the spell book then reread the spell. A trickle of sweat ran down his temple and his hand began to shake. He couldn’t do it.

  ‘Here, let me help you check the ingredients,’ Alyxa said, coming over to the table and calmly checking the jars with him. ‘And now the last one is the dragon’s heart.’

  Logan took the jar with the dragon’s heart out of his cloak pocket, then took the cloak off and laid it carefully across the ornate chest. He put the stone jar at the end of the line of ingredients.

  ‘You can do it,’ Alyxa said softly, giving him a gentle smile. Logan nodded his thanks at her encouragement, took a deep breath and started to speak the spell. At each ingredient he paused, added it, and then continued. He was less than halfway through the spell, and about to add the silver medallion, when the stone bowl suddenly exploded with a huge bang.

  ‘What happened?’ the prince asked, covered in white dust and looking more than a little startled. ‘Was it supposed to do that?’

  ‘Not really,’ Logan muttered, wiping dust from his eyes and shaking his head to clear the ringing.

  ‘I’m sure the bowl had a crack or something,’ Alyxa said reassuringly. ‘We’ll just get another one and do it again.’

  ‘Make sure it’s a good strong one then,’ the prince said irritably as he brushed the dust from his sleeves.

  Logan was sure he heard a gentle laughter coming from the direction of the old chair, but since the dragon had blended in completely it was impossible to be sure. Even the white dust hadn’t disrupted the white dragon’s disguise.

  ‘It’s not the bowl,’ Logan whispered to Alyxa as they bent down to get another bowl from the cupboard under the bench.

  ‘It’s just nerves. I’ll say it with you to help you keep the rhythm right. It won’t hurt the spell if I say it as well, will it?’

  ‘I guess not.’ Logan doubted the second attempt would be any more successful, but if his friend wanted to help then he wasn’t going to tell her not to. After one more botched attempt, surely the prince would want to wait for the wizard to return.

  Alyxa stood the jars back up, set the bowl in front of them, wiped the spell book clear of dust and looked at Logan to see when to start. They spoke it together, falling into a comfortable rhythm. Alyxa had each ingredient ready for him as they spoke and they reached the point of putting in the medallion without mishap. The silver chain dropped into the powders and liquid, sinking out of sight. Logan’s eyebrows rose as they continued the spell, and his heart was beating so loud he could barely hear himself speak by the time they got to the final ingredient. He knew they would get only a couple of shots at this part — there was only enough dragon’s heart for two attempts.

  He cast an enquiring glance at Alyxa, silently seeking if she thought it was worth the chance. In answer she handed the final jar to him and they spoke the last of the words as he uncorked it. With a gentle tap, Logan let half of the small dragon’s heart flakes drop gently into the stone bowl, then stepped back, half expecting the bowl to explode.

  After a second of silence, the ingredients began to smoke. Logan stared in amazement as the smoke changed colour from white to blue, and then evaporated with small pops of silver light. He corked the jar and slipped it into his back pocket just in case the spell exploded and damaged the remaining dragon’s heart.

  ‘Did it work?’ the prince asked impatiently.

  Logan leaned forward to stare into the stone bowl. Alyxa was at his side and the prince rushed forward to look as well.

  The bowl was full of a clear liquid with the silver medallion lying at the bottom of it. It didn’t look likely to explode now and Logan grinned broadly at Alyxa.

  ‘I think it did,’ Logan replied, feeling a ripple of relief wash through him. For once his spell had gone right. Zared would be so proud of him.

  Really? The white dragon regained his natural off-white colouring and stepped closer to look. It looked in surprise from Logan to Alyxa and then back to the bowl. Take it out then and we’ll see for sure.

  Logan picked up a wooden stirring stick and was about to fish out the medallion when the dragon slapped it out of his hand with a scaly claw.

  Haven’t you worked out by now that whenever dragon’s heart is used it can be touched only with silver? the dragon reprimanded, then pointed to Logan’s short-sword.

  Logan coloured with embarrassment as he withdrew the sword and extracted the medallion from the bowl. It dripped for a second and Logan laid it on the table to dry.

  ‘Can I touch it now?’ Logan asked, half-excited to see if it had worked but nervous that he might have wasted half of the dragon’s heart.

  The dragon nodded, but as Logan was about to pick the medallion up, Myles pushed him out of the way.

  ‘Let me see,’ the prince said, snatching up the medallion and staring at it. He frowned, turned it over and then glared at Logan. ‘It didn’t work. I don’t see anything at all except my own reflection.’

  Give it to Logan. Only the owner of the medallion can see the spell, the dragon said softly. I assume this medallion is yours, as is the sword?

  ‘I don’t think so,’ Logan replied hesitantly. He looked over at the cloak covering the chest. ‘I don’t know who it belongs to.’

  We’ll see, shall we?

  The prince slapped the medallion into Logan’s palm with a glare that said it had better work.

  ‘I don’t see anything,’ Logan said, feeling his heart drop to the pit of his stomach. The cold silver was numbing his fingers as he looked up in dread and met the prince’s furious glare.

  Turn in a circle, the dragon said calmly.

  ‘Pardon?’ Logan said, not really hearing as he stepped back from the angry prince.

  ‘He said to turn in a circle,’ Alyxa said, taking Logan’s arm and giving him a push.

  Slowly, the dragon added. And hold up the medallion so we can all see.

  Logan did as he was told — and nearly dropped the silver medallion as he saw a picture appear on it. It was only a flash of red which vanished as he turned, and he looked at the dragon to see what he should do now.

  Turn back until you find the spot that holds the image, the dragon suggested.

  Logan turned, holding the medallion a little closer so he could see it easily. A blurred red and brown picture appeared, and he slowed until it cleared into a perfect image. He was about to exclaim that it had worked, when he realised just what he was looking at; the medallion slipped from his hand and clattered to the stone floor.

  ‘What was it?’ Alyxa asked, staring at Logan’s pale face. She bent down to pick up the medallion. She turned it over, but it was empty again.

  The city of the red dragons is that way, the dragon said, raising one clawed talon and pointing in the direction that Logan was facing. If we use the medallion, it will keep us on a true course to Radolk Fal
ls.

  ‘But what did he see?’ Prince Myles asked bluntly. Logan was still staring straight ahead with a dazed and horrified look on his face.

  ‘He saw what faces you on your quest,’ a voice said from the doorway.

  Logan managed to drag his mind back to the workroom and saw his master watching from the doorway. Zared looked completely sane as he walked over and took the medallion from Alyxa. He let it hang from its chain and grinned at the white dragon.

  It’s been a long time, Zared, Silverhorn said. We have a few things to discuss. Your apprentice has just cast a spell that was impossible for him to do — among other things.

  ‘Logan did this?’ Zared asked, also seeming to think it was unlikely. Then he looked at the dragon with a sad and apologetic expression. ‘I never got a chance to say I was sorry.’

  You did what you had to, Silverhorn replied a little shortly. Their safety was more important in the end.

  ‘I still shouldn’t have done it,’ Zared seemed genuinely ashamed and Logan wondered just what it was his master had done that was so bad.

  Saving royalty seems to be a habit of mine, Silverhorn said dryly. Maybe this time I’ll be able to remember what happens.

  ‘Surely you don’t think they should be going on this foolish quest?’

  They have a prince, the white dragon remarked simply.

  ‘But it is for the best.’ The old wizard seemed keen to explain his view. ‘They will know he is royal, and then they will try to finish their charm. It will fail and they will give up. They might even abandon the city.’

  Are you willing to bet the freedom of every human and dragon in this land on that? How do you know they can’t use another royal family?

  ‘But they can’t... can they?’ Zared didn’t sound quite as sure of himself now. He sighed. Silence fell for a few seconds before Zared shrugged. ‘I guess we’re going back to Radolk Falls then.’

  ‘What did the apprentice see?’ the prince demanded. ‘We have the right to know.’

  ‘Yes we do,’ another voice added and they turned to see the king striding through the doorway.

  ‘Logan, show them what awaits them in the Radolk Falls,’ Zared said, handing the medallion to Logan who took it reluctantly. A shiver ran through Logan as he held it up for them all to see, and then turned slightly so that the image cleared.

  Not a word was said by anyone as they all stared at the medallion. Before them was a vision of dozens of red dragons, all gathered closely together, angrily howling with flames licking from their nostrils. Logan was sure he could even hear their howling as the ice-cold medallion stung his palm.

  ‘What does this mean?’ the king asked after a full minute of utter silence. He was looking more subdued than Logan had ever seen him.

  ‘This is what your son sees,’ Zared answered. ‘We are seeing through his eyes.’

  ‘We’re going to need all the blues and fighters we can get,’ said Prince Myles, stirring into action.

  No, that won’t work, the white dragon said with a shake of its head.

  The king turned to stare, as if suddenly noticing that there was a dragon in the room. He didn’t appear to believe what he was seeing; ‘It speaks?’

  ‘Let me introduce my old friend, Silverhorn, Your Majesty,’ Zared said, suddenly remembering his manners.

  ‘It has a name?’ the king replied, clearly unsettled. ‘And it doesn’t appear to be charmed.’

  ‘It won’t hurt you, father,’ Myles told the king dismissively. ‘We have a mission to plan. We have to get Erik away from those creatures.’

  ‘I’ll call the blue riders together within the hour,’ the king said, nodding his head but still glancing at the white dragon uneasily.

  As I said before, it won’t work if you charge up there with an army of dragons. Silverhorn waited until he had the king’s and Myles’s attention.

  ‘They would see you coming — and besides, the blues won’t hold their charm long enough to get there,’ Alyxa added.

  ‘So how else are we supposed to fight that lot?’ Myles asked, pointing at the medallion.

  Logan closed his palm over the medallion and slipped it into his pocket. He couldn’t bear to look at it any longer. If Erik hadn’t saved him it would have been him faced with that throng of red dragons, and he doubted anyone would have organised a rescue mission for him.

  ‘There is a road that leads there,’ Zared suggested. ‘We could go by horse and cart.’

  That will take too long. We need to get there before they realise they have a prince. One dragon may have a chance of slipping in, Silverhorn told them. I will go.

  ‘I will come with you,’ Zared said. ‘I know the city well and should be able to find him easily.’ The years seemed to drop off the wizard, as he reached his decision. Gone was the querulous old man; in his place was a determined man with more vigour than he had shown in years.

  ‘Well, I’m not sitting here waiting. I’m coming,’ Myles said firmly, glaring at the white dragon.

  The girl must come also, Silverhorn said. Zared looked surprised. I think her charms might come in useful.

  ‘Logan stays here, though,’ Zared said with a serious tone to his voice. ‘I don’t want him going there.’

  He has to come, Silverhorn replied with a shake of his head. Only he can use the medallion.

  ‘No,’ Zared insisted. ‘He can’t go. It’s not safe for him there.’

  Logan frowned as they discussed him as if he were not in the room. He had no intention of staying behind, even if he had to go by horseback or walk.

  I see I was right about him then, the white dragon said with a look of satisfaction. How did you manage to turn him into a wizard? Didn’t he fail the tests of magic as a baby?

  ‘He did fail them and I didn’t turn him into a wizard. He didn’t inherit any of his mother’s magic.’ Zared was clearly annoyed that the dragon was changing the subject. ‘This is the first spell that has ever worked properly.’

  ‘So who is going?’ the king asked bluntly. ‘And when will my son be home?’

  ‘We’re all going,’ Logan answered before Zared could argue the point again. As soon as he got a chance he was going to sit the old man down and demand some answers to questions.

  We will be back before nightfall — or we won’t be coming back at all, Silverhorn said solemnly.

  ‘I will await your return at the castle,’ the king said, looking very uncomfortable to be addressing a dragon, then turned and left the room. A few seconds later a blue dragon lifted off and sped off towards the castle.

  ‘Zared, I think we need to talk,’ Logan said, looking from the dragon to the old man and seeing them exchange a look that Logan couldn’t decipher.

  ‘When we get back,’ Zared promised, and by the firmness in the wizard’s tone Logan knew he would get no answers just yet. The old man went into the other room and came back with his staff.

  ‘Shouldn’t we get going?’ Myles said, pacing the floor impatiently. ‘We’re wasting time here.’

  Yes, it’s time to go, the dragon replied, but he looked distracted and even a little worried.

  Logan clutched the silver medallion and felt a shiver run through him. Going to fetch a dragon’s heart, even a real one, seemed like a simple task compared to the one they were now about to set out on.