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

by Scheppner, Carey

  One minotaur in particular was intrigued by this strange visitor. He pushed through his own warriors (they were indeed his own as indicated by his armour markings—he was an admiral), and managed to reach the front ranks only after Zylor had already passed. Even from behind, he thought the new visitor looked familiar. His proud bearing and large horns were almost unmistakable.

  Zylor calmly walked up to the lizardmage, who lowered his hand. The spell caster was probably thinking he had a message to deliver. Zylor grinned at the thought. The lizardmage misinterpreted his grin and relaxed further.

  “What have you to report?” hissed the lizardmage. “Don’t you see we are about to engage the enemy?”

  “Yes,” said Zylor calmly. The minotaur admiral had moved up within listening distance, but stayed far enough away to give the messenger and lizardmage the appearance of privacy.

  “Yes, what?” demanded the lizardmage irritably. These minotaurs were sometimes so slow!

  “You command this ship?” asked Zylor.

  The lizardmage looked briefly at the minotaur admiral and then back at Zylor. “Of course,” said the lizardmage proudly.

  “Just as I suspected,” said Zylor, more to himself than to anyone else.

  “So what did you come to tell me?” demanded the lizardmage. “I haven’t got all day!”

  “That’s right,” said Zylor. “You don’t.” As he spoke, he drew his axe.

  The lizardmage hissed in surprise, his tongue darting in and out in anxiety. He turned to the minotaurs watching all this. “Seize him!” he hissed.

  The minotaurs looked on but didn’t move. To attack a minotaur by orders from a lizardmage was not something they would consider doing.

  The lizardmage said nothing more as Zylor cleanly severed the creature’s head from its body. All of the minotaurs aboard the vessel watched in stunned silence but did nothing.

  Zylor turned and faced the admiral for the first time. “The ship is now—,” he broke off. “Garad?”

  “Zylor?!” said the admiral, just as stunned.

  Zylor was too stunned to speak. He knew what he was going to say, but hadn’t counted on saying it to his former co-worker and friend. Perhaps this would be easier than he thought.

  Garad was the first to regain his composure. “Would you mind telling me why you just got rid of our spell caster?” He indicated a nearby minotaur vessel with a nod of his head.

  Zylor glanced over and saw a lizardmage watching him anxiously. He grinned and waved, hoping the lizardmage would wait to see what transpired.

  “I’ve come to bring you and others like you to your senses,” said Zylor.

  “I don’t understand,” said Garad.

  “We minotaurs have always achieved our goals on our own strength and intelligence,” said Zylor. “Our present leader, on the other hand, relies on lizardmages—spell casters no less—for advice and support. Now, before we know it, we are serving spell casters, and are relying on them to assist us in our battles—and order us to do what we already do best without their help!”

  “They counter the human’s magic,” objected Garad, “and that gives us a major advantage in the field of battle.”

  “What honour is there in that?” exclaimed Zylor loudly. “We already know minotaurs can overwhelm humans easily in one-on-one battles. Are you saying we cannot defeat them without the aid of spell casters? Are we that weak?”

  Several minotaurs on the ship resented the harsh accusation and grumbled loudly.

  “Certainly not,” growled Garad. “But they are helping us, aren’t they? Why refuse help that is freely given?”

  The dragon shrieked overhead suddenly and Zylor saw the human vessels nearing. He had to work quickly.

  “Since when is help freely given?!” asked Zylor laughingly. “Consider your words! These are lizardmages you’re talking about! Lizardmages always have a hidden agenda!”

  “I suppose you know what that is?” asked Garad.

  Zylor nodded. “They are using us to weaken the humans sufficiently so they can move in and take over. We will be an insignificant threat by then. See how they control us now? Well, without the humans to maintain the magical balance, it will be ten times worse! The lizardmages will be overlords of all non-magic users, including us!”

  Zylor spoke loudly enough for all the minotaurs on the ship to hear. They turned to growl and shake their fists at the lizardmages on nearby vessels in open defiance. The lizardmages stared back in confusion, obviously disturbed.

  “Is this really true, Zylor, or are you working for the humans?” asked Garad.

  “I work for the good of my race!” growled Zylor. “As for proof, I know the elves were prevented from aiding the humans by a distraction in the south which is somehow linked to the northern war. The dwarves are being kept holed up in their realm no doubt by a similar situation.”

  “So that’s why we never encountered any elven ships thus far,” mused Garad. “And dwarves should have come running long ago to attack our armies from behind. The lizardmages claimed they had the dwarves held up. I always thought that was a little fishy. Dwarves don’t usually back down from a fight.”

  “They might be under the influence of magic, too,” said Zylor. “They’re as susceptible to magic as we are. The point is, the forces of humans, elves, and dwarves have been separated for a reason. What that reason is, I don’t know, but I aim to find out.”

  Garad looked around. “So, if we have to fight back, how do we begin? There are still lizardmages on the other ships.”

  “I’ll take care of them,” said Zylor. “As for the rest, it’s your decision. You’re the admiral. Just remember, I have a dragon up there that doesn’t take too kindly to seeing humans die.”

  Garad eyed the dragon warily. Then he looked at the human vessels, which were close enough now that he could see the soldiers pressed together, bracing for the attack. “Get rid of the mages, Zylor,” said Garad finally. “I’ll do the rest.”

  Zylor signalled Kazin. The dragon shrieked and swooped down on the minotaur vessels. Humans, minotaurs, and lizardmages alike cowered at the sight of the swooping dragon.

  Garad barked orders and blew a horn to signal the other ships and they veered away from the approaching human vessels. Kazin simultaneously singled out the lizardmages and roasted them on the spot, taking additional care not to harm the minotaurs as Zylor had requested. Secretly he hoped he was doing the right thing.

  The humans cheered at the chaos aboard the minotaur vessels and turned their ships in pursuit. Unfortunately, they had heavier loads and no mages aboard to support the sails with additional wind, so they quickly fell behind.

  The minotaurs, meanwhile, fought the flames that resulted from Kazin’s blasts of fire while others followed their admiral’s command to change course. The fires were extinguished quickly and the minotaurs looked around in confusion. What was their admiral doing? Why were they running?

  Garad gave orders to some of his crew and they made preparations to signal the rest of the fleet to continue their present course. The lead ship slowed for the others to catch up and word passed from ship to ship on what had just happened and why. Growls of discontent at the hasty retreat on the eve of a grand battle were replaced by growls of outrage at the lizardmages’ manipulation.

  Zylor interrupted Garad as he was issuing orders to his crew and explained that he had to return to his own ship shortly.

  “I doubt the ship is still under the humans’ control,” said Garad. “While we clash with the vanguard of the human fleet, another minotaur fleet waits to ambush the undefended supply ships. It was originally my idea,” added Garad proudly. “It was why I was promoted to admiral when the other one was killed in combat.”

  Zylor’s eyes widened. “We have to stop them!”

  “It’s probably
too late,” said Garad. “We’ll never get there in time.”

  Zylor signalled Kazin frantically. Kazin spotted him and landed on the ship’s bow, amid some nervous minotaurs.

  Zylor grabbed Garad’s arm. “Come on!”

  Garad pulled free of Zylor’s grasp. “Hey! I’m the admiral!”

  “That’s why you have to come with me!” cried Zylor.

  “What’s the hurry?” growled Garad.

  “It’s a matter of honour!” exclaimed Zylor. “Any lives we save now can be used against the lizardmages and their allies!”

  Garad groaned. “I’m going to be demoted within two weeks of my promotion!” Despite his complaining, he followed Zylor to the dragon.

  “Not after I retake the throne,” muttered Zylor.

  Garad turned from issuing an order to his first mate to rendezvous in a given location. “What did you say just now, Zylor? Did I hear you right?”

  Zylor never answered. He climbed onto Kazin’s back and pulled the reluctant Garad up behind him. “Our friends are in trouble, Kazin!” cried Zylor to the dragon. “We have to help them!”

  Kazin needed no further urging. He sprang from the bow of the ship and streaked for the supply ships.

  Garad hung tightly to the minotaur in front of him. “Take it easy, Zylor. I—I’m not used to this!”

  “Too bad,” said Zylor.

  After a while Garad relaxed somewhat and took advantage of the proximity of the other minotaur to ask him some questions.

  “You disappeared the day they came to recruit warriors for the army,” said Garad. “How come? Some of the others said you were a coward and ran away—not that I thought that for a minute!”

  Zylor stiffened. He knew that those he worked with would consider him a coward because of his absence on the recruitment day.

  “I had to prepare for the election battles,” said Zylor. “Being in the war would have drawn me away from that goal.”

  “How so?” asked Garad. “Battle is the best way to prepare yourself for the election battle.”

  “Only if you’re close enough to the arena to attend,” said Zylor. “Anyone the emperor considers a threat is hired for the army and sent far away so they won’t be a problem in the election battle.”

  “So that’s why they put me in fleet service,” mused Garad.

  “No doubt,” said Zylor, though he didn’t believe it for a moment.

  “You said earlier you were going to retake the throne,” commented Garad. “I never knew you had it in the first place.”

  “I did for only a few moments,” said Zylor, “after my father was poisoned and before my uncle seized it for himself.”

  “What do you mean your uncle—?” Suddenly Garad gasped. “You mean—you mean YOU’RE the son the rumour claims the former emperor had?”

  “Now you see why I had to avoid going into battle,” said Zylor. “I absolutely have to attend that election battle.”

  “I don’t believe it!” exclaimed Garad. Then a thought occurred to him. “Zylor, if you want to attend that election battle, you’d better hurry. It starts in three days.”

  Zylor started. “What?!”

  “It starts in Grawn in three days,” repeated Garad. “The usual full week of continuous one-on-one battles is being replaced by a free-for-all battle where the top 16 combatants qualify to fight in one-on-one competitions with each other. It all happens in the same day to speed things up. Minotaurs from miles around are going to Grawn to see the event.”

  Kazin caught the entire conversation and looked back at his passengers. Zylor’s face was set and determined. The only way he would reach the election battle in time was via the mode of transportation he now used.

  “Don’t worry, Zylor,” said Kazin. “I’ll get you there on time. But first we help our companions.”

  “Naturally,” said Zylor. He owed the mage much and was grateful Kazin had offered the help without his asking for it.

  They spotted the supply ships’ crews grappling with the heavily armed minotaurs. A gigantic, blue kraken struggled in the water nearby with a large number of mermaids armed with spears. Flashes of magic sparked between two magic users and Kazin homed in on the one aboard the minotaur ship.

  “Let us off!” yelled Zylor after Kazin had incinerated the lizardmage before he could cast another spell at Milena.

  Kazin dropped to the deck of the minotaur vessel and Garad jumped off and pulled out his horn. He blew a note signalling his warriors to pull back. Kazin flew off to attack the lizardmages aboard the other three minotaur ships.

  Of the four supply ships that were attacked, one was sinking due to several large holes courtesy of the kraken. The others were severely damaged as a result of heavy fighting. The Lady of the Sea fared the best, having the strongest forces to overcome, along with the spell caster to hold back the assault with magic.

  Captain Durango shouted for his remaining sailors to pull back when he saw what Kazin and Zylor were up to.

  Just then the kraken moaned one last time and sank beneath the waves, dragging two unfortunate mermaids down with it. The others dove to attempt to rescue their sisters. A few minutes later, all fighting aboard the ships ceased.

  Garad rapidly assembled his warriors aboard his ship and had the other three vessels pull close. The lizardmages were dead, courtesy of the dragon. Garad quickly outlined what he had learned from Zylor and why he had pulled them back. There were some grumbles and curious glances, but in the end the minotaurs were in agreement. The lizardmages and their allies were the real threat here.

  Most of the minotaurs were bored with fighting the young, inexperienced humans of late. There was little honour to be gained here. As Garad explained the situation further, the minotaurs realized how they, too, had been greatly depleted in number. One minotaur pointed out that he was with the land army less than a week ago and that the minotaurs numbered less than one third of the total army assembled against the humans. Lizardmages, orcs, goblins, and zombies of many different races including dwarves were more numerous than those they were attempting to help. In fact, the honour-bound minotaurs were often the first to charge at the human enemies, becoming the first to fall as well.

  Many minotaurs grumbled loudly at this. Garad’s point had merit. They were being used.

  “Our leader has a lizardmage as his advisor!” yelled one minotaur. “He allows this to happen to us!”

  “That will hopefully change three days from now,” said Garad. He looked at Zylor. “Shall I tell them?”

  Zylor nodded.

  “This minotaur,” said Garad, indicating Zylor, “will attempt the election battles and will attempt to overthrow our present leader.”

  “That is all well and good,” said one minotaur. “But to attempt and to do are two very different things. How do we know he will succeed?”

  Zylor stepped forward. “I will because I must. My honour to my father and to my people demands it.”

  “Who is your father that you challenge Traygor to a duel for leadership?” demanded another minotaur.

  “My father was Trogor,” said Zylor proudly.

  “The former emperor?” asked a minotaur in front incredulously.

  Zylor nodded.

  There were muttered grumbles. One large minotaur stepped forward and addressed Garad. “Is this some sort of a joke?”

  “It is true,” said Zylor.

  The large minotaur looked Zylor up and down with a critical eye. Then he laughed. “You are merely a young, boastful warrior. Do you really think you have the strength and expertise to defeat the fighters in the arena? I doubt it!”

  Zylor stood staring at the large minotaur for a moment. The minotaur was larger than he, and his battle scars indicated a certain experience in combat, but his horns were somewhat shorter than Z
ylor’s. Zylor pulled his axe out of its sheath and put it on the deck behind him.

  “Anyone who thinks I am not worthy to fight in the arena may take this opportunity to prove it,” said Zylor in a low voice.

  The large minotaur looked around at his buddies and then grinned wickedly at Zylor. “I’ll have you know that I am the fleet’s champion in combat. If you can defeat me, I’ll support you in your quest for the throne, as will the others. Agreed?”

  “Agreed,” said Zylor.

  The sailors aboard the Lady of the Sea watched in interest. Kazin had returned to the Lady of the Sea and transformed back into a human. Milena, who didn’t like watching fights anyway, contented herself with tending to the wounded. Captain Durango chewed his pipe curiously but gave no commands to set sail and flee.

  The other supply ships were tied together a short distance away. Sailors on board worked to unload the sinking vessel and salvage what they could before fleeing north.

  The large minotaur threw his axe aside and faced Zylor. “Ready, youngling?”

  Zylor growled angrily. Youngling was a term used to describe young minotaur children. He lunged at the large minotaur and the two beasts grappled viciously.

  The large minotaur viciously swung a hairy fist at Zylor but Zylor dodged the blow easily using techniques he had learned from Sherman.

  “That’s it, Zylor!” called the big warrior loudly. “Use your advantages!”

  Zylor threw a few well-placed blows of his own and the big minotaur fell back a few steps. He wiped blood from his mouth and grinned. “You’ve got some decent strength, youngling! I’ll give you that much.” He lunged at Zylor but the young minotaur sidestepped the attacker and used the larger beast’s momentum to shove him into a bulkhead.

  The large minotaur spun around angrily. “That does it! No more games!” He threw several vicious punches at Zylor, his fists whistling through the air. Air was all he made contact with as Zylor ducked under the beast’s reach and landed some punches to his mid-section.