Kazin's Quest: Book I of The Dragon Mage Trilogy

by Scheppner, Carey

  “We have the cleric,” announced Adriana. Her tone was stiff but there was respect there as well.

  “Good,” said Amelia. She looked up and squinted at the cleric. Suddenly her eyes opened wide and she raised her arms, shambling forward so fast that Martha lost her grasp of the old lady. Amelia pushed roughly past the cleric and stumbled haphazardly toward Kazin.

  “Amelia!” cried Martha, trailing behind.

  When Amelia reached Kazin she raised shaking hands and gently brushed his cheek with rough, weathered hands. Kazin tried not to flinch.

  Suddenly tears came to Amelia’s eyes. “It is you!” she whispered.

  Kazin blinked. “Do you know me?”

  Amelia lowered her hand slowly. “My wish has been fulfilled!” she whispered. “The price was high, but the wish has been fulfilled!” She awkwardly jumped up and down and clasped her hands together, laughing gaily.

  “Amelia!” cried Martha in shock.

  “She’s finally gone off the edge,” said Adriana sternly. “We should put her to bed immediately.”

  “No!” shrieked Martha. She grabbed hold of Amelia and tried to calm her down.

  Finally Amelia stopped laughing and shrugged off the fussing Martha.

  “You should go to bed,” ordered Adriana.

  Amelia spun viciously on Adriana. “To bed, is it?” She raised her arm and pointed at the slender, blue robed figure.

  Adriana recoiled in horror, crying out even though nothing had happened yet.

  The companions watched the scene unfold with a detached awe and concern.

  At last Amelia lowered her hand and grinned viciously. “No, I can’t bring myself to do it. We have guests. Martha, you and Adriana prepare the cleric. I have something of equal importance to attend to.” The tone of Amelia’s voice was official and to the point. There was no room for argument. Adriana stood red-faced while Martha approached Milena.

  Milena drew back. “I’m not going until I know what’s going on!” said the cleric firmly, but carefully. The old woman frightened her.

  “What?” said Amelia. “You haven’t been told?”

  Milena shook her head.

  Amelia shot the other blue robed ladies a venomous look. Then she turned and gave Milena a soft smile. “My child, you are about to become one of us. You are about to be upgraded to a druid!”

  Milena gasped. “You are druids?”

  Martha came forward and gently rested a hand on the young cleric’s shoulder. “Yes, child! You are about to have a great deal of power and responsibility bestowed upon you. It is an honour few experience!”

  Kazin exchanged glances with Sherman. This was a development he had not anticipated.

  “Wait a minute,” said Milena. “Olag told us this was the oracles’ island. If you are druids, who are the oracles?”

  Suddenly Amelia cackled gleefully. “Oracles? There’s only one oracle, and that’s me!”

  “But you are a druid,” persisted Milena.

  “That as well, yes,” said Amelia, still smiling.

  Milena stared at her in awe. “You can see the future?”

  “Some of it, child. Most of its mysteries, however, lie in the past.”

  Milena paused. “What is the ceremony like?” she asked nervously. “What does it mean to become a druid? How do I prepare for it?”

  “It will be wonderful, child,” said Martha gently. “You’ll see.”

  Milena nodded, turned to her companions, and smiled faintly. “I think this is something I have to do. I don’t know why, but it seems right somehow.”

  “Then I’m going too,” said Sherman.

  “No, you’re not,” said Adriana sternly. It was the first time she had spoken since Amelia had threatened her and she was glad to lash out at someone else.

  “It is forbidden,” said Amelia by way of explanation.

  “It’s O.K.,” said Milena reassuringly. “I’ll be fine.”

  Sherman hesitated. Finally he backed down and threw his hands in the air. “Alright. I don’t understand any of this, but whatever.”

  Milena smiled gently and allowed the two blue robed clerics to lead her from the room.

  The rest of the companions turned their attention to Amelia. She sighed and moved to sit in one of the padded chairs. Kazin sprang to help her seat herself and she nodded gratefully. “Thank you, Kazin.”

  Kazin started. “How did you know my name?”

  Amelia reached up and clasped his hand. “I am an old friend.”

  Kazin was about to ask her what she meant but the door opened and Olag entered, leading a group of skink warriors laden with a heavy trunk into the room. He nodded respectfully at the druid as the skinks placed the trunk on the floor and then departed as quietly as they had come. Olag followed them out and closed the door after him.

  “These are your weapons,” said Amelia, finally releasing Kazin’s hand. “You will need them on your next little journey.”

  “We were already on a journey,” objected Kazin, “when we were ambushed and brought here. We are pressed for time as it is. Perhaps if we returned after—.”

  “No, Kazin,” said Amelia gently. “You will regain that time after you have performed this task. I will see to it.”

  “How?” asked Harran. “We can’t go back in time.”

  “Yes, you can,” responded Amelia. “As a matter of fact, this journey I am sending you on will do just that.”

  “Impossible!” exclaimed Sherman.

  Amelia chuckled. “Guardian, you will be proven wrong at least twice in your lifetime.”

  Sherman shook his head in disbelief.

  “Why should we go along with this?” asked Harran. “What do you want?”

  “I want you to find what you seek,” said Amelia cryptically.

  “What do you mean?” asked Kazin.

  Amelia turned her gaze to the mage standing beside her. “You don’t yet know the power you will wield, Kazin. You must go back in time to know the truth. You will not do so otherwise.”

  “What do the rest of us get out of it?” asked Harran.

  “You will find what you seek, Harran,” repeated Amelia. “To say more could be dangerous. I will say only this: with that which you find, you will also discover the truth.”

  “What about me?” asked Sherman.

  Amelia sighed. “You will not find the truth in the past, I’m afraid. Your truth will blossom in the future. But you will find in the past that which will allow you to aid your companions in the future.”

  Finally Amelia turned to the minotaur. “You, Zylor, are more obscure in my visions. I see a great duel before you. There will be many trials before that, but one thing remains certain, the duel will not take place without the aid of your present companions. Persist in the course you have taken and do not abandon them, for they will be there for you when you need it most!”

  “Who are you?” asked Kazin quietly. “How do you know us?”

  Amelia smiled. “I am an old woman and I will never see you again, yet you will see me as I was. Everything will be reversed and you will understand. I cannot tell you more. Rest assured that I will not harm you or your companions. Do this task and you will benefit. One day you will even return the favour.”

  “What about this quest you’re sending us on?” asked Sherman. “Is it dangerous?”

  Amelia nodded. “Getting to your destination will be hazardous, but you must have faith in yourselves. Unfortunately, your cleric will not join you until after the quest is over. Her invitation into our guild is far too important to interrupt. However, I will send five of my own servants to assist you in your journey. They will have to suffice.”

  “How soon will we return?” asked Harran.

  Amelia sighed and glanced a
t Kazin. For a moment she said nothing. “You will be back before it begins. I wish you could stay and visit longer, but you must leave immediately.”

  The druid rose shakily and Kazin helped her to her feet. “Thank you,” she murmured. Amelia raised both her arms and chanted a spell Kazin could not even begin to comprehend. A blue aura left her fingertips and radiated throughout the room they were in. Sherman braced himself but when the aura engulfed him, he felt refreshed and relaxed.

  “A little refreshment before your journey,” explained Amelia when the spell was complete.

  The door opened and Olag appeared. “You called?”

  “Ah, Olag,” said Amelia. “Lead our guests to the ship and prepare to set sail. Then contact Shawna and Sheena. They’re to join you on this journey, along with two others of their kind.”

  Olag frowned. “Why, my lady? What do we need them for—if you don’t mind my asking?”

  “They have their orders,” said Amelia stiffly, “as do you.”

  Olag shrugged resignedly and nodded to the companions. “Pick up your weapons, fellas. We’ve a ship to catch.”

  They equipped themselves, leaving only Milena’s staff in the trunk.

  “I’ll take care of that,” said Amelia.

  Kazin nodded and smiled uncertainly.

  “Do not fear,” admonished Amelia, immediately comprehending Kazin’s expression. She smiled sadly as she watched the four companions follow the skink warrior from the room.

  When the door closed behind them her smile slowly vanished and she sighed. She wearily dragged her frail old body to the fireplace and cast a spell on the hearth, causing it to erupt into a roaring fire. She held her wrinkled hands over the hearth and rubbed them together rapidly. “Ah! It is so difficult to keep warm in this ancient body!” she said quietly.

  Her gaze swept up the contours of the fireplace and finally rested on the painting of the wizard shooting his lightning bolt. Amelia raised both her hands and gently stroked the painting. “Such power!” she whispered. A tear came unbidden to her eye and she brushed it aside furiously. “No! No tears! My wish has been fulfilled. That is enough.” She paused. “Isn’t it?” Her heart welled up inside her and she kept the rest of her thoughts to herself as her eyes filled with tears once again.

  Chapter 35

  Shadows loomed in the forest as the companions followed Olag and the treemen back to the ship. The sun was now near the horizon and the shadows danced playfully in the woods around them. The trip was the same as before except that all of them could have sworn they were going back by a different route than they had come. The gathering dark and the uncommunicative treemen didn’t help matters any. Nevertheless the companions followed willingly, eager to get off the island.

  “I sure hope Milena’s alright,” said Sherman.

  “I think she’ll be O.K.,” assured Kazin.

  Harran harrumphed and stomped doggedly onward.

  Zylor said nothing. He seemed to be content with warily watching the treemen both ahead of them and behind. Though they were tall and emotionless, they seemed to be giving the minotaur a wide berth. They even kept their distance from Harran. The minotaur wondered if it was because of the weapons they carried; axes versus tree men. He grinned inwardly. It was a possible weakness. He restrained himself from experimenting with his theory.

  It was not long before they arrived at the dock where the magical ship was moored.

  As they reached the ship’s plank, Zylor pulled out his axe as if to examine it. Instantly the tree men nearby sprang back a step. Kazin and the others looked at him questioningly. Zylor grinned back at them. Satisfied with his discovery, he re sheathed his axe and followed them aboard the vessel.

  On the starboard side of the deck was a small swimming pool that was not there earlier. How it got there was unknown. In the pool lounged four beautiful mermaids. They smiled sensuously from their temporary home and waved in open invitation.

  “Ughh!” said Olag in revulsion. “I wish we didn’t need them along on this trip.”

  “Why are they coming?” asked Kazin.

  “How should I know?” spat Olag. “I’d just as soon have left them behind. The oracles have their own reasons for allowing them to come along.”

  “Did you know that there is only one oracle on this island?” asked Kazin.

  “Oracles, druids, they’re all the same if you ask me,” said Olag. “Better not to be mixed up with them in the first place.” He led them away from the mermaids and toward the captain’s quarters. “We’ll make ourselves comfortable inside. The ship will take care of itself.”

  As if in response, the ship silently glided away from the dock. With remarkable speed, it churned through the water and soon the bay in which the dock was located was only a hazy outline in the twilight. The entire island disappeared from sight not long afterwards.

  “What about the mermaids?” asked Sherman as he followed the others inside. He glanced back over his shoulder at the smiling girls.

  “Bah!” said Olag. “They can sit out there and rot for all I care! Leave them be. You’ll be better off for it.”

  Sherman closed the door behind him and turned to face the skink warrior. “How can you say that? If the druids trust them, why can’t we?”

  “Because I know them, warrior. Once they have you, you belong to them—permanently!”

  “I don’t know,” said Sherman, unconvinced.

  “Yet the druids think we might need them,” said Kazin objectively. “They are probably as dedicated to fulfilling the druids’ wishes as you are, Olag. Obviously the druids have a hold over them as well. Otherwise, we would all be victims of the mermaids by now. Not to mention, we have no reason to trust skink warriors any more than mermaids anyway.”

  “He’s got a point there,” said Harran. “What’s your part in all of this, Olag? Why are you under the druids’ spell?”

  “I told you before,” growled Olag. “I’m paying a debt for a wrong I’ve committed. Our feud with the mermaids flared up one too many times.”

  “Have you ever tried a peaceful solution?” asked Zylor, who had been silent until now.

  Olag stared at him as if he had never seen him before. To hear this from a minotaur had caught him off guard. The others were surprised as well.

  “You cannot reason with a mermaid,” said Olag at last. “They’re the ones who are striking at our villages for no reason!”

  “Have you talked to them about this?” asked Kazin.

  “With our weapons!” stated Olag contemptuously.

  “Next time try words,” said Kazin. “Tell them your situation. Maybe they’ll leave you alone.”

  Olag hissed in laughter. “Surely you jest?”

  “No,” said Kazin. “In fact, why don’t we talk to the mermaids in the pool and see what they have to say about the subject?”

  “Never!” hissed Olag.

  “It doesn’t hurt to try,” said Sherman. “Come on, we’ll protect you if you’re worried about them.” He clasped the skink by the shoulder.

  “Nooo!” shrieked Olag, wrenching away from Sherman’s grasp. “I will not go near those creatures!”

  “What are you afraid of?” asked Sherman, grasping Olag’s shoulder again.

  The skink warrior hissed and twisted away from the warrior again. Suddenly he found himself up in the air.

  Zylor held Olag in a firm grip and grinned at him evilly. “Let’s give it a try, shall we?”

  “Nooo!” Olag screamed. He squirmed but couldn’t free himself this time.

  “This hold is one of many I will teach you, warrior,” said Zylor, addressing the warrior. “See how he squirms but cannot break free?”

  Sherman nodded.

  “Let’s go,” said Harran. He opened the door to the deck. The sun was now beyond
the horizon and the sky was beginning to darken. The night would be a mild one.

  They went over to the mermaids who were overjoyed to see the company had changed their minds and accepted their invitation to join them. They glanced at the skink warrior with distaste only once and then turned their entire attention on the humans and dwarf. They even smiled at Zylor, although it was obvious they were not particularly interested in him.

  Zylor didn’t mind. He was holding the squirming skink warrior and he took that task seriously. The others would have let their resolve weaken in the presence of the mermaids, thereby letting their captive go; but not he. They brought Olag to confront the mermaids, and confront them he would.

  Sherman was already undressed to his shorts and he climbed swiftly into the pool. Harran was not far behind. The mermaids swarmed around the two and called for Kazin to follow. Kazin smiled and declined the offer. His disciplined mind gave him a greater resistance to their overwhelming allure.

  Finally they resigned themselves to the two who were in the pool with them.

  Kazin glanced at the minotaur, who nodded. The mage looked back at the mermaids and cleared his throat. One of the mermaids glanced hopefully in his direction.

  “We came here to talk about something,” said Kazin uncertainly. It was hard to keep his thoughts coherent while looking at the mermaid’s beautiful face, large brown eyes, and shiny red hair flowing over a sensuous upper body. Even in the twilight, she looked beautiful and vibrant.

  “Come into the pool and we’ll talk,” said the mermaid seductively. The other mermaids were playing and splashing with the warrior and dwarf, oblivious to their surroundings.

  “No,” said Kazin unconvincingly. “This is important. It concerns your on-going dispute with the skink warriors.”

  “You mean that stink?” said the mermaid, pointing at the squirming Olag. “Stinks are evil. They must be destroyed. They stink!”

  Olag hissed. “Abominable creatures!”

  “Why do they have to be destroyed?” asked Kazin, almost ready to laugh at these outbursts. “What makes them so evil?”

  “They invade our homes!” said the mermaid. “We share with no one!”