Faith Of The Dragon Tamer (Book 2)

by Cole Pain

  Zorc cleared his throat and looked at each in turn. “The Eyes contain the extremes of the Quy, one holding good, the other holding evil. Long ago they resided in the Oracle, kept by Choice, Chance, and Fate. The Oracle guarded the Eyes from all who would covet them. As you know, the Oracle appears to who it will, but it wasn’t always so. The Oracle used to be a temple where everyone could go for answers. If questions were asked without malice or greed the guardians of the Oracle gave direction to those who entered. At one point they were deceived and the Eyes were taken. It was then the Oracle disappeared and was only accessible as you know it today, guarding its knowledge and its power to all but a chosen few.

  “When the Eyes were taken a mage named Magnus went after the one who had betrayed the Oracle. The Silver Eye was recovered and given to the wizard leader for safekeeping. The Red Eye was hidden until the time of the Wizard War, when the Red Eye was given to the Maritium for protection.”

  Zorc’s words were hypnotizing. Even Grauss remained silent. It felt as if Choice, Chance, and Fate were watching them, ensuring the story was told true.

  “Ista was an avid follower of Barracus. She knows about the power of the Eyes and has probably been searching for the Red Eye since the Wizard War.”

  The wizard creased his brow and gazed into the crystal. There was a sizzle as the ball began to glow with a brilliant light.

  “Yes, Zorc,” came a monotone voice.

  Ren blinked in shock. Grauss wrote a hurried note on his parchment, mumbling to himself. The crystal sent a sheen of milky light over Zorc, but as Ren gazed into the crystal he didn’t see an image as he expected. All he saw was swirling mercury, billowing as if a mass of clouds were trapped beneath the surface.

  “Krov, you’re in the Silver Eye. Can you detail its function?”

  “It’s called the Dragon’s Eye and was forged in ancient times. It can be used to create life.”

  Zorc mumbled something under his breath. “Can you use it for anything else, Krov?”

  “Yes. Whoever controls the Eye can call good spirits into the Eye and speak to them, but the Maker forbids this. It can also seep goodness into the Lands. It can do so in a slight way or in a great way. If used incorrectly or by someone weak or untrained in magic the crystal could drown the world with moral righteousness. It’s so powerful it would change everyone in the Lands. Evil would be defeated forever.”

  “That doesn’t sound too bad to me,” Neki said.

  It didn’t sound bad to Ren either, but as he looked at Zorc he knew the wizard wasn’t satisfied.

  “Krov, how would the crystal drown the world? Describe in detail please.”

  “Those inherently good would become better, those bad would become good,” Krov replied. “All would agree. No pain would ever be felt.”

  Neki raised an eyebrow and looked at Ren. “Looks like we’ve found a solution.”

  Zorc stepped closer to the Eye. “Do you mean there would be no killings, no picking of crops, no work, no lust, no sin, and no leadership?”

  “That’s correct.”

  “So, no one would eat, no one would be born, and in time all would die?”

  “Correct.”

  Nigel’s smile withered. Ren felt the hairs of his neck stand on end. Neki gave a low whistle and mumbled that it wasn’t the solution after all.

  Zorc raised a bony finger. “But you said if it’s used incorrectly. If someone is powerful enough he can control the Eye and not release this destruction. That is, if someone is powerful enough he could use the Silver Eye to create life or release what goodness they desire?”

  “Yes.”

  “So the Silver Eye could release destruction, but it doesn’t have to be so?”

  “Correct.”

  Zorc began to pace. He turned back to the Eye after a brief span of thought. “Are you guessing this time, Krov?”

  “No.”

  Ren glanced at Nigel and Neki, unsure of what had just passed between the crystal and Zorc. Neki shrugged and turned back to the wizard, undisturbed. Ren felt a little uncomfortable. Guessing?

  “Tell me about the Silver Eye’s twin, Krov. What can the Red Eye do?”

  The crystal grew a shade brighter as Krov began to speak. “For the Silver Eye to be formed, the Red Eye had to be made. The Red Eye is the Dragon’s Fire.”

  Ren glanced at Zorc. The Adderiss had wanted his fire. Could she have meant the Red Eye? Zorc held his gaze for a few heartbeats before turning back to the Silver Eye, but Ren didn’t miss the worried glint in his eyes. Although they didn’t have the Red Eye now, they would.

  “What can the Red Eye do?”

  “The Red Eye holds the power over death. It can call forth evil spirits. Again, this is forbidden by the Maker, but many who use the Red Eye will care little for the Maker’s commands.”

  Ren knew that to be true. Ista’s entire plan hinged on calling to evil spirits. He shivered. It amazed him how much one person could affect an entire race, but Ista’s disobedience could be the Land’s undoing.

  “Unlike good spirits,” Krov continued, “evil spirits want back into this world. The Red Eye can release them into a vessel. Hence it can create death.”

  “If all the Red Eye’s power was released what would happen?” Zorc asked. Ren didn’t want to hear the response. If the Silver Eye could destroy the Lands the Red Eye should be able to do so as well, and its destruction wouldn’t be as kind.

  “As the Silver Eye is good to the extreme, the Red Eye is evil to the extreme. If used improperly, the Red Eye could wreak havoc on the Lands. It calls to evil and can twist righteous minds to be suspicious and jealous of others, causing brother to rise against brother. Evil would prevail. There’s no love in a world controlled by the Red Eye, only lust and desire for more. Soon all would be destroyed by their own destruction.”

  “But this Eye is also like the Silver, is it not? If someone is powerful enough it can be used for its true purpose. In other words, the Red Eye’s power can be controlled?”

  “Yes.”

  “If someone were to release either crystal’s power to the extreme,” Zorc said, phrasing his words carefully, “is there any way to stop the destruction?”

  “There’s no controlling what happens if an Eye’s complete power is unleashed. There’s only chaos.”

  Zorc began to pace again. Ren knew what he was thinking. If Ista used the Red Eye would she be powerful enough to control it?

  Grauss stepped forward and cleared his throat. “If I may,” he said to the wizard. Zorc waved his hand in frustration, indicating for Grauss to ask what he would. The sage stepped forward and bowed to the crystal.

  “Grauss the Sage at your service, Krov the Silver Eye.”

  The crystal didn’t respond.

  Grauss smiled, unaffected by the crystal’s silence. “If someone unleashed the chaos you described, could the other Eye be used to counterbalance the destruction?”

  “Yes.”

  Zorc glared at the crystal. “Krov, why didn’t you say this before?”

  “It’s impossible.”

  Zorc’s eyebrows furrowed as he stepped closer. “Why?”

  Grauss’ blue eyes sparkled with his newfound discovery as he answered for the crystal. “When one Eye’s power is released the world is all good or all bad. Therefore, all would be good or all would be bad and no one would be whole enough to release the other crystal’s power. No one would want to.”

  Zorc nodded in respect to Grauss. “Is this correct, Krov?”

  “Yes.”

  “If, for the sake of argument,” Grauss began again, “two were at play together, would the threat neutralize completely or would there be repercussions?”

  “It depends on who is in control of the two crystals,” Krov said.

  “Describe,” Zorc said, still visibly irritated.

  “Once together the twin magic will work automatically. The good and evil of the two Eyes will balance each other, neutralize each other. But they can’t go
on forever. Soon the Eyes will begin battling for power. If the person controlling them is strong enough he can shut off their power. If the person can’t control them anything can happen. One or the other or both Eyes’ power could be released.

  “The person in control of the Eyes is who you need to fear, not the Eyes. Together the Eyes can capture or release whatever you wish if used by someone powerful enough, but before you use them you must think through your wish carefully. Things wished for may not be as they appear.”

  Galvin let out a low whistle as Grauss muttered something under his breath. Ren just stared at the crystal, unsure of how interpret the response. How could they prepare to fight something they didn’t fully understand?

  Zorc continued. “If a spirit passes through the Red Eye, does it have its own strength, or does the Eye magnify it in some way?”

  “On the first passing the Eye makes the spirit stronger.”

  Zorc closed his eyes. “May the Maker have mercy on our souls.”

  The cave filled with a tense silence. Although Barracus’ name had yet to be spoken it seemed the very walls of the cave whispered it.

  Zorc tapped the bridge of his nose. “What do you do to defeat a spirit who tries to merge with you?”

  “Banish it.”

  Zorc’s eyes narrowed in concentration. “Describe this banishment.”

  “Once a spirit is called to the Eye it must merge with life or it can’t exist. If the vessel fights the spirit, weakens it and refuses the spirit, the spirit can be banished back into the Eye. Depending on how much strength it has left it may or may not be able to leave the Eye again. If it can’t leave the Eye, it will become part of the Eye.”

  “So the spirit can’t be destroyed once it’s in the world but if it’s weakened and banished back into the Eye, the Eye could claim it?” Zorc asked. Ren stepped forward with growing hopes.

  “Yes.”

  “So if someone were to banish the spirit back into the Eye, the spirit may forever remain inside the Eye to never threaten the world again?”

  “Yes.”

  “For all time?” Zorc asked.

  “For all time.”

  Ren recalled the painting in the Oracle. Now he knew what the Oracle meant. If he wanted to defeat Barracus he would have to become Barracus. It was the only chance to destroy the mage. He had to let Barracus inside, drain his strength, and put him back into the Eye. The Oracles words burned in his mind. Take heed our warnings. Both you will be. One you will become. Which on depends on thee.

  The Oracle’s warning about hate was real. He would have to battle a spirit carrying profound hate. The Oracle had warned him pain couldn’t be felt in complete hate. When Barracus’ spirit entered him he would be seduced by hate, beseeched to give away his pain.

  “Krov,” Zorc said, “how can you awaken an Eye’s power? I’ve been using the Silver Eye to speak to you for centuries and I’ve never touched its true power.”

  “The Eyes contain powerful properties. They were formed by the most powerful elements. Only the most powerful can awaken them or close them. Only those with the Eyes’ dominant element can awaken them. Only those with the counter element can close them.”

  Zorc tapped his chin. “You mean a mage. And that mage has to have love to open the Silver Eye and hate to close it, hate to open the Red Eye and love to close it?”

  “Correct.”

  Zorc’s face twisted in confusion. Ren understood. Ista was a sorceress. It was impossible for her to have a mage’s power. Zorc waved his hand in frustration.

  “Once the crystal’s destructive power is released, how fast does the second crystal have to be put into play?”

  “Quickly.”

  “Quickly, as in heartbeats or days?”

  “Quickly.”

  Zorc rocked forward to his toes. “If one Eye is put into action first, will it affect the equalization of the two?”

  “No, but things can escape permanently from the first Eye played before the other is there to neutralize the threat.”

  “There?” Zorc asked, furrowing his brow. “Do the crystals have to be together, or can they be separated by distance?”

  “They have to be side by side.”

  Ren sighed. Even if they were in the city of Zier itself there may not be enough time to reach the Red Eye if Ista tapped into its power. He looked at the crystal with sinking hopes. “Is there a way to tell if the Red Eye’s power is released?”

  The crystal pulsated with bright force and then settled back into its wintry glow.

  “The sky will turn to blood.”

  Ren hung his head as the main prophecy came back to him: The world will drown in blood.

  - - -

  Ramie walked from camp and gazed toward Zier. He had been on edge for far too long. He needed to relax. Ista wasn’t coming, just as Lazo said. She thought his army a mere irritation.

  Bostic had joined them last night at the base of the Sierra Mountains. Ramie hadn’t allowed Bostic’s army to mingle with his until they had searched Bostic’s soldiers. They had found two more crystals. Presario had begun intense training of the newcomers as soon as the search was over, while Lazo continued with the old.

  Lazo and Presario had become fast friends and Lazo had begun to learn the patoi of magic as soon as Presario had shown it to him. With the intelligence of a triplet, Lazo’s learning had shocked even Presario. Although Lazo’s abilities had diminished because of the twins’ deaths, he was in no way less intelligent, and his power far surpassed most in the army.

  Even if their magic didn’t stand a chance against Ista’s, Ramie was glad Presario had come. His skill and training had given everyone confidence, and confidence was something they desperately needed. The men were now eager to march and use what they had learned.

  Those with the Quy would be the first to approach Stardom. Those without would remain behind until the first division had cleared a path with magic. If Renee had touched any hearts many of the Collective would be dead when they arrived. Some citizens may even help them open the gates. Ramie smiled as he pictured the queen’s defiant gaze. Ren had some very good people on his side.

  Although Lazo said the Collective were grains of sand on the shore they couldn’t be as many grains as the armies of three nations. The armies had to outnumber them at least three to one. Even though someone with magic could do a great deal of harm, someone untrained with magic couldn’t fight off three trained soldiers with a sword all at once. Sooner or later the sword would win. At least that’s what Ramie was telling himself.

  Ramie turned and looked in the direction of Fraul’s tent. Sure enough, Fraul was deep in a lesson with Manda. Ramie had to close his eyes when his gaze brushed Manda’s form. He had never seen someone with so much determination, so much energy and life, but also with so much brash disregard for customs and traditions. Even Nigel was more covert with his feelings. But Manda? Manda was a bonfire.

  She laughed when he demanded silence. She teased when he had no humor in him. She screamed when he tried to tell her he wouldn’t allow her to ride to war.

  And he wouldn’t. The battlefield was no place for a woman. Even Marva and Renee seemed to realize that. They weren’t planning to fight with a sword, they were planning on entering the city through the passageways, and if the army needed help on the inside they would be prepared.

  But Manda glared at him when he made any mention of her remaining behind, and Fraul wouldn’t help him. His captain only laughed, insisting Manda was a better fighter than his own king.

  That comment always made Ramie’s anger rise to new heights. A few days prior, he had flown into a rage, grabbing Manda by the arm and shaking her almost senseless.

  She had slapped him. The shock of that slap had knocked him out of his fury, and when he found himself looking into her fiery green eyes he realized why he was so infuriated with her.

  He was in love with her.

  She was not only defiant, she was beautiful, and it drove him mad.r />
  Ramie wiped his brow. He couldn’t stop thinking about her, and that really infuriated him. He was married for the love of the Maker! He had never so much as looked at another woman! But his eyes sought Manda more than he would care to admit. He was petrified she would come to harm.

  Ramie forced his eyes from Manda and as his eyes caught a movement in the distance.

  A brigade of soldiers marched toward them from the west. Shouts of alarm sounded in the camp, but almost as soon as the cries went up they turned to cheers. At first Ramie didn’t understand, but when he heard Manda’s burst of unrestrained laughter and saw Crape’s colors of green and gray, he smiled.

  Leading the army was none other than Chris Kahn himself, and next to him, dressed in black and donning an ornate sword, was the Avenger.

  When Fraul had relayed what had happened to the Kahns, Ramie had been furious. If he still had breath after the battle in Zier he planned on marching to Crape and relieving Alezza of the throne himself. Now it seemed he wouldn’t have to do that unpalatable task. Ramie couldn’t quite understand how Chris had returned, but he wouldn’t question the Maker’s fates.

  Now they had four armies.

  Ramie chuckled under his breath.

  In his peripheral vision, he saw Manda mount her black stallion and gallop to meet her brother. Ramie watched with a mixture of joy and jealousy as she embraced both Chris and Aaron. Even from his distance he saw the love Aaron held in his eyes as he looked at Manda, but Ramie couldn’t tell if that love was something with which he should concern himself.

  Ramie guffawed. Concern himself! He was married, for the love of the Maker!

  Cursing, he turned and walked back toward camp as Chris, Manda, and Aaron rode to meet him.

  When Chris stopped before him, Ramie had to consciously keep from flinching. Chris’ gaze was apathetic and cold.

  Ramie inclined his head. “Welcome to the resistance.”

  Chris’ lips twitched into a slight grin. Scant humor lit his eyes. “It’s a pleasure.”

  “We march tomorrow at dawn. Will that give you enough time to prepare?”

  Instead of answering, Chris looked to the sky. Ramie followed his gaze to the triangular-shaped constellation he had read about multiple times before. A large dark spot in the sky was almost touching one of the points of the triangle.