“Father!” berated Della.
Her father looked at her unemotionally.
“He’s right,” said Kazin suddenly.
The elves looked at him curiously.
“Where I come from, there is nothing comparable,” said Kazin. “It’s a shame we aren’t often allowed to have a look at the creations of the elves. We could learn much.”
Della’s father relaxed a little.
“You are right, hum—I mean—Kazin,” said Della’s father. “Our race has much to offer.”
“Your talent, and the talents of the other elves, would be welcomed among my people,” said Kazin. “We have come a long way with the dwarves in the exchange of knowledge and goods. Perhaps one day the elves will be even more open to trade than they are now. Much improvement has been made in the past several decades, and the exchange of herbs and ointments for meat and milk is only a start.”
Della’s father smacked his lips at the mention of milk. “That is one very good trade arrangement,” he agreed. The elf turned to his daughter. “Della, would you be so kind as to fetch me a jug of fresh milk? I haven’t had any for days!”
Della grinned. “Sure, father. The inn down the street should have some.”
“Excellent,” said the elf. He handed her some coins. “Hurry now. I’m thirsty!”
Della looked uncertainly at Kazin and then ran off.
Della’s father turned to Kazin. “Della has told me much about you,” he said. “Is it true that you’re a dragon mage?”
Kazin sighed. Della had told him. “Yes, I am.”
The elf seemed interested. “Then perhaps it is possible,” he mused.
“Pardon?” asked Kazin.
A short smile appeared at the corners of the elf’s mouth. “Nothing. Tell me about this recent battle of yours, Kazin.”
Kazin related the events in the Five Fingers Mountains leading up to the battle in the Waste. Oddly, Della’s father seemed more interested in Kazin’s thoughts and feelings than in the events themselves. He also asked Kazin what role Della played in the events and was surprised to learn of her brave ride through the heart of the enemy camp.
They were just finishing their discussion when Della’s father spotted her across the square. He quickly put a hand on Kazin’s shoulder. “You take good care of her, Kazin, understand? She can be very headstrong.”
Kazin never got a chance the question the elf on that remark.
Della arrived and handed her father the jug of milk. “Here you go, Father.”
“Thank you, my dear,” said the elf. He opened the jug and drank deeply. When he finished, he closed the lid and wiped a hand across his mouth. “Delicious!”
“I bet you haven’t even told Kazin your name, have you, Father?” said Della. She was still somewhat angry with him.
Della’s father blinked. “You’re right! I completely forgot!” He turned to Kazin and held out his hand. “My name is Simon.”
Kazin shook his hand and smiled. Simon smiled back. Della looked back and forth between the two in bewilderment. This sudden change of heart had caught her off guard.
Simon looked at his daughter with a twitch of a smile. “I’d better get to my inn. It’s been a long day. Make sure you see me before you leave, or I’ll have your hide. Your mother is still fuming about your last disappearance.”
“But I told you, I had to bring back the unicorn!” said Della.
“I’ll be sure to tell your mother,” said Simon. “But I don’t think it will help. She wants you to go home and face the music.”
Della grinned. “I like the music from your instruments better, Father.”
Simon laughed and kissed his daughter. Then he nodded at Kazin. “Bye, Kazin. Remember what I said.”
When he left, Della looked at Kazin curiously. “Remember what? What were you guys talking about?”
Kazin grinned mischievously. “Oh, nothing much.”
“Tell me!” demanded the elf.
Kazin smiled but said nothing. He started back in the direction of the companions’ inn.
“You’re incorrigible!” exclaimed Della, sprinting after him.
Chapter 51
The following morning the companions gathered at the front of their inn.
“Are you sure you have to leave us?” asked Kazin.
Frosty nodded. “Yes. Don’t worry, Kazin. You’ll be fine for a while.”
“It’s you I’m worried about,” said Kazin.
“I’ll be fine,” said Frosty. “The pegasi are unpredictable, but not dangerous—unless they are provoked. Besides, I’m obligated to do this.”
“But what about the page of the Book of Prophesy?” pressed Kazin.
“Someone will be filling in for me,” said the unicorn.
“Who?” asked Milena.
Suddenly Perenia came galloping up to them. “I just heard you were all leaving. Is this true?”
“Yes,” said Kazin. “We’re going to sail for the Tower of the Stars, and from there to the Tower of Strength. I suspect it’s time I got involved with the northern effort.”
“Then count me in,” said the centaur.
“It’s going to be dangerous,” said Milena.
“That’s O.K.,” said Perenia. “After the fight in the Waste, I owe you all more than I can give.”
“You don’t have to do this,” said Kazin. “Besides, what would your father say?”
“He can say what he likes,” said Perenia defiantly. “If anything, he will finish his business in the south all the quicker, just to come to my aid. Even the elven king will not be able to stop him from that. And if my father goes north, the elven king will have to join him or he will look like a coward. After all, if my father thinks it’s safe enough at home to travel north, the elven king is that much safer, isn’t he?”
“She’s got a point,” said Harran.
“Her bravery in battle has been proven,” added Zylor.
“She’s ‘swift of hoof’, just as I am,” said Frosty.
Kazin looked around. “Are there any other comments?”
There were none and Kazin sighed. “I guess you’re coming along, Perenia.”
The centaur beamed. “You won’t regret it.”
Just then Della came running up. “Sorry I’m late,” she panted. “I had to see my father once more. If I got on his bad side, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.”
“You really don’t have to come with us, Della,” said Kazin. “You did what you set out to do. The unicorn has appeared to your people and your king is going to act. You can remain safe here at home. I’m sure your parents would want you to stay.”
“We’ve been through this last night,” said Della angrily. “I’m going and that’s final.”
Frosty gently nudged Kazin with his nose. “The page of the Book of Prophesy says that you will need her, Kazin.”
Kazin sighed. “Everyone is against me today. O.K., Della, you can come.” He gathered his pack and hoisted it onto the horse the king of the elves had prepared for him.
While he loaded his horse, Sherman went over to the elf and whispered, “He’s glad you’re coming, but he’s afraid to show it. I know him better than he thinks. Every time you’re around, he’s relaxed and happy.”
Della looked at the big warrior and he winked at her. She nodded knowingly and smiled. Without a word, she took her pack over to Kazin’s horse and strapped it beside his.
The king had originally offered the companions a ship, but Kazin told him of Rubin’s ship, which probably had its repairs completed by now and was docked at the guard post unloading its supplies. The king’s sentries patrolling that area confirmed reports of the human vessel’s location and a message was promptly sent to Captain Durango to wait for his passen
gers to arrive the following day.
The companions said farewell to the unicorn and rode hard for the guard post on the Silver River. Della knew all the shortcuts and within a day’s travel, they reached the Lady of the Sea.
“About time!” complained Captain Durango. “I lost a whole day just waitin’ for ye all to traipse along when ye felt like it!”
“Sorry,” said Kazin.
“We can easily make up for it,” said Milena. “When you are underway, I’ll give you a tailwind that will speed us along at a good pace. Once we get to the Bay of Barlin, I’ll get us moving even faster, if you like.”
Durango nodded appreciatively. “I’d be much obliged if ye could do that fer us. The sooner we get to Star City, the sooner the boys’ll get paid. They’ve had a long break, loafin’ around on shore in the middle of nowhere. A good fast pace’ll get ‘em in shape again. And that goes for you too, Rubin!” added the captain, glaring at his first mate.
“Aye, captain,” said the sailor.
“Untie the ropes!” ordered the captain. “Raise the plank! What’s wrong, ye bunch o’ landlubbers?! Where’s the muscles?” He stalked off, giving orders everywhere he went.
The sailors navigated by the stars that night and, with Milena’s tail wind, had entered the Bay of Barlin by mid-afternoon of the following day.
More than once the captain offered Milena a job aboard his vessel and more than once she declined.
Milena rested during the afternoon and then resumed her wind with more gusto that evening. The others kept their heads below deck, preferring to stay clear of the powerful wind.
By evening of the third day the companions arrived at the port of the City of the Stars.
“I’ve never known a ship to fly,” said Rubin, “but this sure came close! Too bad nobody’ll believe me when I tell ‘em the Lady of the Sea sailed from the elven guard post to Star City in three days! Uh, with the help of a druid’s magic, of course,” he added, bowing to Milena.
Milena smiled weakly. “Thanks. I’m going below to get some sleep. I’m exhausted.”
“I’m going to talk to my Uncle Red,” said Harran. “Maybe he has the latest on the dwarven situation.”
“Good idea,” said Kazin. “I’m going to the Tower of the Stars to see if Krendal has any specific orders for me.”
“I’ll go into town with Zylor and see if we can pick up any information on the war in the north,” said Sherman. “Della, do you and Perenia want to join us?”
The elf shook her head. “I think we’ll split up and scout around in the squares to see if we can find out anything important there.”
“O.K.,” said Kazin. He transformed Zylor back into a human warrior and the amulet flared to show the spell had worked. The minotaur was permitted to be himself on the voyage with Captain Durango’s permission, since he knew he could be trusted, but now they were in new territory so it was necessary. “Let’s all meet back here in a few hours.”
“Take your time,” said Rubin. “We’ve got elven goods to unload and then chances are we’ll have to load up on supplies for the war. I’ll know more for certain when ye all get back.”
The companions separated to attend to their various tasks.
Kazin looked around at the warehouses along the waterfront and noticed how busy they were with food and supplies being loaded onto vessels destined for the north. A few of the ships docked nearby were laden with soldiers. Kazin was shocked to see some of the young men on board dressed in armour and chain mail. They appeared to be youths even younger than he. What kind of toll was this war going to have on everyone, he thought? He shuddered at the thought of these young boys losing their lives and quickened his pace to put the youthful faces behind him.
He passed some local residents on their way to and from their destinations and on each face was etched the lines of worry or loss. No doubt they had relatives in the war who were fighting or already dead.
Many shops were closed, and the few that were open had no customers to speak of. Anyone that could be enlisted for the war was, and those who were left tended to their everyday chores without enthusiasm.
Travellers were few and far between, and those Kazin saw kept to the side streets to avoid being detected by the town’s few soldiers, who would surely stop them and inquire why they were not already enlisted for the war.
Kazin approached the path leading up to the Tower of the Stars and even here it seemed bereft of people. Even the wealthier families had sent their sons and daughters into the war.
He reached the tower some ten minutes later and entered the open gate where a young black mage apprentice greeted him solemnly.
“Welcome to the Tower of the Stars,” he said officially. “Please state your business.”
“I’d like to speak to Master Mage Benjamin, or whoever’s in charge at the moment,” said Kazin.
The boy smiled. “O.K. Follow me.” He led Kazin into the tower and up to an alcove with three blue circles etched on the floor.
“Just step on one of those,” said the boy. “One of the other mages higher up in the tower will take you to the master mage.”
Kazin complied and was whisked to another part of the tower. He appeared in another alcove positioned near the center of a large hallway. He entered the hallway and looked down to each end. No one was present. Light filtered in from many windows and Kazin paused beside one to look outside.
He was indeed much higher in the tower. Looking down from the dizzying height he could see many ships in the port. Far in the distance he saw Ten Star Reef, and was once again reminded of Max and the dragon—which he now was. For the first time, he realized that a part of him was what had killed Max.
He shuddered at the thought and turned from the window. He walked down the hallway and reached a corridor off to his left. Not knowing which way he was supposed to go, he chose the corridor. He walked with echoing footsteps and passed many empty rooms on both sides whose doors stood ajar.
Kazin was beginning to despair of finding anyone when he nearly passed a room that had an occupant sitting up in bed.
Thinking to ask where to find Benjamin, Kazin entered the room and cleared his throat.
The figure sitting on the bed raised his head to look at his guest. He had a long, grey beard, and a drawn face. His eyes looked full of despair. Then the figure’s eyes widened. So did Kazin’s.
The figure sitting on the bed was Sandor.
“Sandor!” gasped Kazin.
Sandor opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. With a shaking hand, he reached over for a glass of water on his night stand. He drank shakily, spilling most of the water on his clothing. Then the mage put the glass down and turned his attention to the mage before him.
“Kazin—must listen!” gasped Sandor. “Danger—north—tide of dead—.”
“I see you haven’t changed much,” said Kazin stiffly.
Sandor shook his head. “No! Must listen! North—!”
“I know there is a battle to the north,” said Kazin. “That’s why Star City is empty. Everyone’s gone to—.”
Sandor shook his head again. “No!” he rasped. He reached for his glass again and tried to drink but it was empty. He looked at it in confusion for a moment and then returned it to the stand.
“The north! Don’t you see? Not the east, or the west—the north!” pursued the master mage vehemently.
“You’re not making any sense,” said Kazin angrily. He turned to leave.
“No!” wailed Sandor. He got up to follow Kazin but fell down heavily.
Kazin turned but made no attempt to help the mage.
Sandor grasped the bed and hauled himself up to sit on it once again. He turned to glare at the young mage standing in the doorway. His gaze was suddenly clear and coherent.
“I always th
ought you were the best listener in any of my classes,” growled Sandor. He shook his head sadly. “I would trade in all my important lessons just to have someone listen to me now!”
“Fine,” said Kazin sourly. “I’m listening.”
“I’ve already told you!” snapped the mage. “Weren’t you listening? The north! The north! The north! How many times do I have to say it?”
“I don’t understand!” growled Kazin. “The minotaurs are to the north. That’s where the war is. I already told you that! Weren’t YOU listening?”
“Not the minotaurs!” insisted Sandor, waving his hand irritably. “That’s only a distraction! The Tower of Sorcery is exposed! Don’t you see? No one is left! No one!”
Kazin scratched his head. “I still don’t understand. The only thing north of the Tower of Sorcery is the old dwarven mountains and the Spike Ridge. Are you saying the threat will appear from—?” Kazin stopped.
“At last!” exclaimed Sandor with a sarcastic grin. “I thought you’d never figure it out.”
“A portal,” murmured Kazin. “It’s got to be another portal.” Then he remembered the portal just north of the Tower of Hope. Other than that one, and the one he had sealed in the Five Fingers Mountains, how many others were out there? He could only guess.
“How do you know this?” asked Kazin suddenly. “What are your motives in all of this?”
Sandor growled, his voice filled with anger. “I have done many things for the Tower of Sorcery, young man. I have served there for over thirty years. My loyalty lies there as it always has. Does yours? If it does, you will tell the fools in the Tower of Sorcery what I have said. How do I know all this? Consult that infernal Book of Prophesy. It will confirm what I have said!”
“I can’t,” said Kazin. “They’ve all been stolen or destroyed.”
Sandor blinked distractedly. “Of course!” he murmured. “It all makes sense now!” He chuckled, his eyes glazing over once again. “Why didn’t I see it?” Then he snorted and giggled insanely, his body shaking precariously. Then he shrieked with laughter and fell back on his bed, his mad laughter uncanny in the strange silence of the tower.
Kazin's Quest: Book I of The Dragon Mage Trilogy Page 52