by Vic Broquard
“I am Baron Cadfeel Alun, ruler of Anwyn. We have never met your people before. This Fair Wyn oasis — we have always avoided it. Strange spirits dwell there. However, I too wish to thank you for your timely aid.”
“We are descendants of Tudyr and Betrys and the sand sprites. Until now, we have shunned interaction with you humans, but we saw another chance to slay some more browns and took it.”
“We fight the same foe, Rhys, Megan,” Baron Cadfeel seized the initiative. “Let us work together to rid our world of these dragon worms. They have already murdered thousands of my people and now apparently many of your people.”
“Indeed, we fight the same foe. Yes, we have lost some of our people, but now all are safe beyond the reach of any dragon. Anwyn provides, as always,” Megan agreed with him. “We had best be on our way. We need to heal and recover.”
“If you need anything, please let me know,” Baron Cadfeel suggested, hoping to gain two powerful new allies. They nodded and stepped into the Shadows, a clear sign that they were Duska born and trained outside of the Circle of Ascension and its Ceremony of Ascension. How this could be eluded Baron Cadfeel, but Zoran now had a very good idea, thanks to the journals of Bandar Zar. Here was a whole sub-culture that had been unknown until now. He intended to explore it later on.
The group began to inspect the battlefield now, looking for survivors, though that prospect was grim. That’s when Zoran finally noticed that Baron Jan was missing. Quickly, several headed to the top of the Archmage tower, where he was last seen. What was left of his body lay in a pool of the caustic acid. His Rod of Dragon Slaying lay beside him, its charges gone. He had been too slow in reacting to that initial onslaught of dragon retaliation.
“Damn!” Zoran swore. Although Jan was his half-brother, he still had a strong bond with him. While Jarka and Bernard began casting acid neutralization spells, what remained of the two Strike Forces arrived. Dusan was limping noticeably and Jarka made for him as soon as she could. His left leg was badly burned.
“Not Jan?” he said as Bernard levitated the remains to the ground.
“Afraid so, Dusan,” Zoran replied, as Archmage Nadia rushed to Dusan’s side, rather worried by his limp.
“Damn! Bad day all around. Lost five of our fighters and the rest of us are pretty banged up. Got any more healing potions, mom? I’m okay, love,” he added to his wife.
“Back home. We should get you and the others who are hurt back there soon,” Jarka hovered over her son almost as much as Nadia was.
“I’ll take Jan back and Dusan too,” Nadia offered.
“Thanks, Nadia. Okay, I hereby appoint you, Nadia as the new Baroness of Castle Dorumova. Dusan, you are now its baron. I am certain that Reina will want to take their kids back to Gladno for now,” Zoran announced. “She doesn’t like our long, cold winters. Besides, she will want the comfort of her own sisters and brothers right about now.”
“Baron, what about merging the two strike forces into one? Let us go dragon hunting now, once we resupply,” Evsen asked. “Karel wants to come with us as well. This way, we ought to have enough power to take some of the dragons out in their lairs. If we let them mass like they did today, we don’t stand a chance.”
Zoran agreed and the strike force members also departed to get more healing potions and gather their needed supplies. Before long, only Zoran, Danika, and Eliska remained, helping Baron Cadfeel deal with the aftermath. Around noon, at least one baron from each of the other worlds arrived, bringing mages and a few Duska with them. All wanted to see firsthand the destruction and to lend a helping hand. Near dusk, Zoran, Danika, and Eliska finally headed home.
“For once, all the barons are working together,” Danika observed. “Still, I don’t see how we are going to be able to fare much better if hundreds of dragons attack us in Brn. I’m sorry about your brother, Jan.”
“Thanks. He was ill suited to being a fighter. I probably should not have asked him to come along. Yet he upheld the honor of being a leader of our people. I will remember him for that,” Zoran sighed, thinking of the young boy he had rescued twenty-two years ago. Images of how Jan had loved living in a castle swept over him. Yes, those would be the images that he would remember, the childhood innocence and awe.
“It is really all my responsibility. I brought the golds to our world in the first place. The other barons felt pressured to bring other dragons to their worlds to counterbalance my golds.”
Danika nodded, adding, “Yet, had you not done so, as I understand our history, Adapazan would still be a slave state to your despot father’s ruthless whims. Focus on all the good your decision has brought not only to we of Adapazan but to many other worlds.”
“True, Danika, but now it has also brought death and maiming to tens of thousands as well. I must find a solution and stop this war before it consumes us all.”
Danika reached a decision. “Count me in on helping find that solution, Zoran. Let’s put our heads together. There must be something that we can do other than this continued killing. I know Archmage Karel is now on a killing-dragons rampage. I think he took the death of Baron Jan personally somehow. We must be overlooking some tiny fact that might be the kingpin to ending this war.”
“Help accepted. Let’s get back and clean up. Meet in my study in say an hour,” Zoran proposed.
An hour later, Jarmila and Danika, now bathed and wearing a fresh dress, joined him in the study. They found him staring at his huge maps of the Federation of the Sixteen Planets. He’d cleaned up as well and had brought a fresh pot of tea and biscuits for the women. “Evening. Nadia is conducting a funeral for Jan tomorrow morning. Help yourselves,” he said solemnly.
“Want me to pour your cup?” Jarmila asked Danika. The Archmage had canceled her Morph spell and was in her true form.
“Please, I tend to spill too much using my feet to pour a cup when the pot is full. Thanks,” Danika replied, scooting a chair out with her foot and sitting down.
“How come no arms?” Jarmila asked.
“This is the way my body really is. Besides, my Morphed form never ages. I’m comfortable with myself now, Jarmila. I only use my magic when it is really needed.”
Jarmila flashed her a smile as she poured two cups, positioning Danika’s where her foot could best reach it. “Use magic when it is really needed — that is admirable, Archmage. After all, I think far too many of us depend utterly on magic in our lives. Perhaps there can be too much of a good thing.”
“What’s that? Use magic when it is really needed?” Zoran broke in on their chat. That phrase echoed in his mind, sounding a chord within him.
“Oh, I was just telling Jarmila that I only really use my magic when it is really needed. I have learned to do many things with my feet now, so why depend upon magic when my feet can suffice?” Danika replied.
“Jarmila! What was Bandar Zar’s notes about using some magic of his machine when needed? I remember you telling something about it. A secret feature or something?” Zoran asked rapid fire.
His daughter thought for a second and then remembered. “Oh, he said that Kazimir’s machine had a secret feature. Once it was focused upon one of the dragon home worlds, by using a special hidden lever, he could activate his Power Attraction spell to pull the unsuspecting dragons from their worlds to Voss, dragging them through the Shadows, whether they desired it or not. Is that what you meant?”
“Ah ha, he used magic to drag the dragons from their original worlds to Voss. Danika, you might have just given us a way out of this mess!”
Chapter 40 Death and Destruction
The next day amid a furious snowstorm, Zoran had High Priestess Jarmila Zar conduct the funeral services for his half-brother, Baron Jan Vavrin. Walking the halls of Castle Dorumova brought back memories of his mother’s funeral and her Ceremony of Passing, so similar to Jan’s. A solitary chime sounded. Then a choir of two dozen voices singing a religious chant was heard as they solemnly entered from the main doors, headed by the High
Priestess Jarmila.
His daughter spoke clearly and solemnly, “We are gathered here today to honor Baron Jan Vavrin, baron, husband, and father. Our wishes, dear Jan, are to see you safely off on your voyage to the hereafter.” She spoke about the highlights of his life, the joy that he brought to his children, and so on. Then, she began the official last rites, little of which Zoran could understand, even though this was the second time that he heard them. At last, the choir began another song and pushed the floating coffin slowly out of the Great Hall. Magical fires and lights seemed to issue forth from his coffin as it moved, symbolic of Jan’s passing from one realm into another. After several minutes, the sounds finally died down as the choir moved on down the long halls, taking his body to its final resting place outside the castle.
After the brief ceremonies, a weeping Baroness Reina Matous Vavrin bade them all farewell. She took their two children, Lilia and Vilem, back to Gladno, where she could stay with her brothers and sisters there.
“Okay, Dusan, Nadia, I proclaim you are now Baron Dusan Dragon and Baroness Archmage Nadia Vladislov Dragon. Will you both accept the duties and responsibilities that come with running Castle Dorumova and our original Circle of Ascension here beneath the fortress?” Both agreed and the task was done, except for the fact that Dusan was leading Strike Force Two and Nadia was teaching magic to numerous women here at Brn.
“Since everyone is here, let me tell you what Archmage Danika and I are about to do,” Zoran explained. “We are going back to Voss and to see if we can get the machine of Mage Kazimir to work. If so, we may have a way to remove all of the dragons from our worlds. She and I will be gone for some time. In my absence, Baron Tomas will run Adapazan in my place. If there are further massive dragon attacks, send all that we have and try to eliminate as many dragons as possible, but above all, avoid getting yourselves killed. I don’t want to come back to another funeral.”
“Hey, dad, I’m coming too,” Jarmila broke in. “I’ll be bringing Bandar’s notes, which may give you some more clues. Besides, Tomas, Nadia, and mom insist. I’ll do the cooking too,” she added with a wry grin. She knew that the mention of cooking would seal the deal. Zoran was all thumbs in the kitchen. The three headed off to say goodbye to their families and to pack.
Dusan and Nadia quickly headed over to their new huge castle and fortress. “What an ill time for Jan to die. I should be out fighting dragons and you’re swamped with your students. How are we going to be able to be in two places at once?” Dusan exclaimed, running his hands through his hair.
Just then Tomas stepped out of the Shadows. “Hi sis, I came to help get you both hatted up on your new duties. Plus, now that dad’s going to be gone for a time, I’ve got a few ideas of my own that I want to try out — a possible way to reduce the dragons numbers without any danger to us. First, we must see to the Circle and Castle security. Come on; let’s be swift about this. Ah, here comes Kate now.” Archmage Marek and Duska Akira’s eighteen year old daughter stepped out of the Shadows. She was engaged to Milan, Archmage Karel and Duska Chika’s son.
Tomas explained, “I’ve asked Kate here to take over the Circle and castle duties for you so you are free to deal with the dragons and the women students. I hope this is all right with you sis and you, Dusan.”
“Perfect! Yes, very much so. Thank you Kate!” Dusan replied, quite relieved. “Let’s get the security protocols altered quickly.” The four set about the lengthy task of re-establishing the security guards and wards on the primary Circle of Ascension of Adapazan and the huge castle. That took until suppertime.
Over dinner, Tomas explained his latest idea. “I remembered something that dad told us. When the dragons are moving through the Shadows, they can’t see us if we are there too. Remember, dad told us that he cut a dragon with his sword as it moved through the Shadows as it came to Adapazan. What if we take a whole lot of Duskas and we position ourselves around the planets. When we spot the dragon swarm coming to raid another village, we inflict as much damage as we can while they are still in the Shadows. We’d be perfectly safe from any counterattack. Plus, it might spook them, making them afraid of moving through the Shadows.”
The next day, the two strike forces met as a group, along with Honani and his group and Archmage Karel. Tomas outlined his plan. Dusan then took over, “Look, they are not likely to bother Adapazan now, because the snow depth is at record levels. I think that we can rule out Rehor, Dietmar, and Gerde as well. Both of those are mountainous or snowy planets and are in the middle of their winters.”
Evsen added, “We can rule out Asami too, nothing there but oceans. The dragons decimated Anwyn, which is a desert world. I don’t think that they will be launching another major strike there. Similarly for Jing, since there’s not much to be gained there either. That leaves nine planets that could well be facing the dragons’ next assault. We should focus on them.”
Honani volunteered, “You know, on Isi, there are quite a lot of us who can Shadow Walk. If they could be armed with magical weapons, they could help protect their world. Plus, why not get all of the other barons to round up some of their Duskas, arm them with magical blades, and have them do the same thing. If Zoran is right about this, they will all be safe as long as they remain in the Shadows.”
“Good idea. Even if the Duska numbers are small, as long as one of them spots where the dragons enter that world, they could Message the others and make a good strike when the dragons exit. I’ll bet anything that they leave by the same route that they enter a world,” Dusan suggested. “Gang, this way we would finally be able to kill dragons in quantity.”
“As long as we are in the right place at the right time,” cautioned Evsen. “Let’s make this happen!” Their teams cheered.
Archmage Karel grumbled. This plan would leave him high and dry. “You don’t need me then,” he muttered and left, teleporting back to his lab. He began making preparations of his own.
“So how did your meeting go?” his wife, Akira, asked him. She had sensed him arriving home and came to see him.
“They’ve got their own plans that leave me out. So I’m going to go to Anwyn and help out those deadly spell casters that we discovered. Between the three of us, I think that we can wipe out all of the Brown dragons on Anwyn. Dear, I’m going to need you to take me there, once I make all my preparations. If I am lucky, I might learn their fancy Sand Spike spell.”
“Dear, that’s terribly dangerous,” she replied, her voice trembling a little.
“I know, but we all have to do our part. See if you can round me up several dozen of Jarka’s healing potions to take with me.” He continued to pack a bag with what he thought that he was going to need for his extended stay on that desert world. Two hours later, Akira kissed him goodbye and left him on Anwyn.
Baron Cadfeel personally teleported him to the oasis of Fair Wyn, where he met up with Rhys and Megan. Both were still slowly healing from their burns from the last battle and Archmage Karel endeared himself right away by giving them several more healing potions.
Soon, they made an effective team. He used his power spell, changing into a giant falcon. Flying high in the sky, he systematically located dragon dens. Once found, the three joined forces and eliminated them. The brown’s powerful electrical bolts didn’t harm Rhys or Megan and Karel managed to protect himself with his rod. Still, it was slow going. They were lucky to find a dragon a day.
The Shadow attacks began to work almost at once. Within a month, all the dragons left Isi. With something like a hundred Duskas taking turns hovering just above their world in the Shadows, every time any dragon attempted to arrive or depart, they were attacked and wounded by these unseen men and women.
Unfortunately, the damage inflicted upon the smaller towns of the other worlds was growing. In that month, twenty were raised. Approximately forty thousand men, women, and children perished. Still, the barons were reluctant to spread their Archmages out over their worlds. One alone could not stand against a raiding pa
rty of thirty dragons.
The 1st of April, the dragon leaders met in secret, high in the mountains of Gerde. This was their Spring War Council. Donatello, the brown, spoke first, “Well, that’s that. All of we browns are now relocated to the deserts of Chana. There are no dragons left on Anwyn, thanks to those three illusive dragon killers!” He was referring to the deadly strikes of Rhys, Megan, and Archmage Karel. “At least their three fortresses are mostly destroyed. That’s something anyway.”
“Yes, but now we know for sure that we were not facing Baron Zoran’s Ultimate Weapon there on Anwyn, just powerful Archmages,” Werner, the black, pointed out. “Plus, we have now figured out how to avoid the Shadow Assassins who struck our forces as they made their raids on the planets. Again, we were all fooled into believing we were facing that Ultimate Weapon of his. Instead, a simple Invisibility spell has nullified those treacherous attacks.”
“Yes, but,” interjected Dario, the red, “we still have not gotten them to spread their Archmages out so that we can pick them off one by one. The humans are sacrificing all of their smaller villages. Plus, where have all the humans in the larger towns gone? We don’t know that either.”
Wenzel, the black, spoke up, “They’ve have gone underground. That’s the only answer that remains. Look, we have seen in town after town the absence of humans. They have to have gone somewhere and the only possibility that remains is underground.”
“Ah, if so, then we can starve them out,” Werner, the black, picked up on his master’s conclusion. “They have to eat. Once they’ve eaten up all of their supplies, then they will have to surface and we can get them then.”