Dragons Shining

by Michael Sperry

  Dragons Shining

  By Michael D. Sperry Sr.

  Copyright 2013

  Prologue

  Deep in early morning light of Dragon Wood, with the first golden rays of dawn beaming through the early morning mist, fourteen huge Redwood trees rose from the verdant forest floor surrounding a mythical place known as the Dawn Glade. These were the largest of the ageless heart trees standing long before man, elf or dwarf walked upon the land. Here and for miles in all directions, giant trees were testament to an age long past when only Angels of Light and Dragons roamed, before the fall. The count of fourteen is twice seven, considered to be a lucky number. Only here in Dragon Wood and in the Elf Woods many miles to the West could these virgin forest trees also be found. In this area of the deep wood, fairies stand guard. For ages they have wielded powerful magic, hiding the Dawn Glade from all others. Wildflowers and short grasses covered the glade, except for a polished, white marble platform in the center, standing on a square white pedestal with white dragon bone legs fitted into each corner of the pedestal. The legs had been carved into the shape of front dragon legs with dragon claws set into the footings. The platform’s polished white surface was veined with red, and shone as if lit from within by a slowly pulsing power. Humans had never ventured here before now. Dwarves and Elves came here rarely so that none living now remembered. Only a few humming birds, bees and other insects dared enter. Wisps floated in the misty air, muting the bright sunlight into visible streamers. Huge mountains rose high above, looking down on this glade from the northeast. These mountains formed the Dragon Mount range, home of large Dwarf colonies, and male Dragons among the peaks on high. Men rarely entered the mountains, and only to mine for precious metals and gems on the southern slopes of the northern range, which the Dwarves do not claim, past the great abyss and the Pit of Darkness.

  The greatest and oldest of all human wizards had received a message from Michael, the Hand, highest and most powerful archangel. That message had led him here, after gathering those to be captains of the Maker’s preparation, along with a number of strange infants born to the nobles of the three races.

  As the sparkling eyes of Fairies watched from the dark woods, two archangels, Sarathiel and Aniel were first to arrive, appearing with wide spread wings from opposite sides of the glade. They were handsome and muscular, especially where their wings attached. They were white as snow, each with a baby in its arms. They shimmered with light and then blurred into Elf seeming. Aniel held a girl child and Sarathiel a boy. The infants had been named Briana and Owen. They were kept well apart, though the infants reached toward one another, fully aware of each other’s presence. They appeared to be twin infants, and looked like elves, with pointed ears and slanted eyes, although their eyes were not Elven, being large and golden, with a second set of transparent eyelids and diamond shaped pupils. Few mortals ever had been close enough to a dragon to examine their eyes, but if they had would know that these two infants had the eyes of a dragon.

  Six female angels appeared overhead and flew down into the glade, all carrying young babes, three female and three male. They changed into Elves as they touched the ground. The angels with a male child moved next to Sarathiel, and the angels with a girl child moved next to Aniel. Some infants were Elf, some Human and some Dwarf. The infants were all quiet and content. And their eyes were those of a Dragon.

  The sound of horses and armor in the woods came to the angel’s acute hearing. Eventually, a train of riders entered the glade, led by the ageless old wizard Baird on a white stallion. Beside him rode Salece, the sorceress. Both carried staffs that glowed with power, parting the Fairy illusions and allowing entry into the Dawn Glade. Noticed only by the Angels, a Raven flew through this Gap, to land in the trees above. The Magi paid no attention to it. Behind the two eldest mages there came four other human magi: Melinda, Tarlie, Tolsen and Albrite. All were powerful magicians or sorcerers, once human but now immortal by a highly dangerous magic spell that kills far more often than not. These six comprised mankind's speakers on the High Counsel of Magi. Their horses were actually familiars, created by magic to be companions, protectors and beasts of burden. The familiars could take other forms, depending upon the wizard’s power.

  Behind the mages came three groups of riders, most unlikely companions except perhaps in war. The signs portended a darkness coming. There rode twelve armored knights guarding humankind’s King and Queen of Kanley in the South, twelve more to guard humankind’s King and Queen of Sangley in the North. Queen Mary of Kanley held a boy infant, as did Queen Gennette of Sangley. Their husbands, the Kings Kirklan of Kanley and Paul of Sangley, rode by their side.

  Kirklan controlled his anger with a strong will. The Queen had named her child Justin. The child was not his, so she had recently revealed. Only the Queen and the great wizard stood between him and his sword on that day. He owed Baird much, so he took this counsel because the wizard had said this was the Maker’s will. He loved Mary with all his heart, and was hurt deeply. And as King, he could not permit another’s blood to challenge his son Bruce, could he? Only Baird’s certainty and Mary’s tears restrained him. An Angel had seduced her, Mary had said. Well, the child did have those freakish eyes. Only now as he entered this glade was his doubt quelled. There was great power here, roiling in the air above what looked like a glowing altar. He could see the angels behind their disguise for a second, as they allowed him to. “Archangels in our realm”, he thought in surprise. “What great calamity could bring them here? The wards in this place must be powerful beyond kin.”

  King Paul on the other hand was not upset in the least. He was elated. He was older now, and to have an heir gave his heart joy. He had feared his wife was barren, after trying so long. Queen Gennette had agreed to “try other means” if no heir came soon. An angel had apparently solved this problem for them, requesting only a small boon in this extra infant. Gennette was already pregnant again with what he knew from his magi was his child, a reward he was convinced. The Magi Tarlie told him it was a boy child, healthy in the womb. He would pay any price the Maker could ask, for this boon. Tarlie had also told him what the eyes meant. “It will actually be exciting to raise a Dragon Lord and a Prince, together. The Dragon Lord could wish to protect his brother”, he was thinking. He had already started making plans for their upbringing to ensure this. His kingdom would be safe for a long time if it only could survive what he feared was coming soon. “The best chance would be to have a sympathetic Dragon Lord!” he thought.

  Behind the humans came Elven warriors, the Elder Onadath and other Elf magi on their Fenri mounts: to guard the Elf King Ovine, his wife Ensle and his sister Glendel. Ensle and Glendel each carried a female Elf infant. King Ovine was pragmatic after two thousand years. He had other children and elves were very long lived. To have his wife and sister seduced by angels was somewhat unusual though. Their long life together bred a few transgressions. It was condoned and even expected in the Elf society. What concerned him greatly though was why this was necessary. He had gazed into an old Dragon’s eyes once, so he knew them without doubt. “Offspring of these unions will be so powerful in time that they could become a truly dangerous force.” He was thinking. “Why would the Maker allow this, unless war was coming? Only a great and disastrous war indeed could warrant return of the Dragon Lords, and there had never been lords such as these - with dragon blood. And where there were Dragon Lords, there must be a Dragon King strong enough to control them, also another with a strong and pure heart to influence their King; but if there were not?” The great Ovine shuddered at that thought, looking more closely with his elven sight at the apparently twin infants in the Archangels arms.

  Behind the Elves came dwarves, on their longhaired ponies, carrying axe
s, bows and staffs of power to protect King Brant, his Queen Dafney and her sister Wegan. Dafney held a male and Wegan a female dwarven infant. Dwarves live almost as long as Elves, and Brant had many other children. To have his queen and her sister knocked up by Angels amused him. His amusement vanished however, upon entering the clearing. He too could see the Angels through their glamour for a second, and the infants with dragon eyes. To have archangels present indicated a very serious matter at hand, for he knew they were forbidden, except in a place such as this perhaps. His normal joviality paled to think upon why they had taken such a risk. Like Ovine, he became worried. One of his deep tunnel scouting parties had gone missing last week. Rumors of Goblin and Ghoul droppings were the reason he had sent them down there. “If so, they had grown bold and crossed the boundary, and now this.”

  Looking skyward, they could see a swarm of dragons circling, watching and guarding as they passed beneath the full moon above. A host of Fairies gathered in the smaller trees just back from the Glade, their glittering eyes like fireflies in the darkness.

  Baird dismounted and approached the platform. “Please do not speak as long as we are in the Glade. Place the infants in a ring upon the stone. Alternate male and female. Do not be concerned. They will not fall, I promise you.” This instruction was for the Humans, Elves and Dwarves. The Angels needed no instruction. They placed Owen on one end and Briana on the other.

  Soon the fourteen strange infants were sitting on the stone in their swaddling, and everyone backed away from it. The races were mixed on the platform, yet remained apart on the grass.

  A swirling light played upon the infants in a hypnotic pattern, making their large golden eyes glitter. The infants reached out and grabbed each other’s hands like puppets. As soon as they did, the swirling lights intensified, growing almost painfully bright. In their center a figure formed, of a large and handsome Archangel with white wings laced by red, just like in the marble platform.

  “Greetings Champions, I am Michael”, he placed his thoughts directly into their minds. “This meeting was necessary because Darkness will rise here on Cotera, and the angels cannot intervene directly. Even by coming here now we have stretched the fabric of existence. To do more would open the gates of Hell upon your world, so we give you our blood instead. We do this not lightly, for you see here upon this alter gifts so precious that Heaven itself will suffer from their loss. The Maker’s love for this world and its peoples knows no bounds. Take these children to succor and protect them with your very lives. They will be your salvation. Fear not the dragons, for in their blood is our own. Beware Belaros, the son of Darkness, who spurns all law. He will escape Hell and endeavor to enslave all races of Cotera. His blood will flow within his darkened slaves. Prepare yourselves. Baird, take Owen, and Salece take Briana. Guard them and teach them all you know. Keep them apart until puberty, at all cost. You will understand why in time. Proceed as though darkness knows and will hunt these children. You will know when to act. Never forget that we love you all”.

  With that, the image faded. Michael, the Hand had pointed to Owen and Briana, and had placed his thoughts into the minds of those he had addressed. No words had been spoken for watchers to hear. They had all felt the deep concern and the tough love he had conveyed. The children were quickly retrieved and dispersed among the Champions. Owen and Briana were kept separate. No one spoke. The Angels vaulted into the sky and vanished, leaving the infants they had brought. Before long, the clearing was empty and the Fairy glamour restored. The Dawn Glade removed all traces of those who had entered there, as if they never had. There had been another watcher though, beside the fairies and the dragons; the raven black as soot and with blood red eyes flew low in the trees, but not too low. He had eluded the Fairies below and the Dragons above, leaving the same way he entered. He had not heard the thoughts of the great one, or heard a single name, yet this bizarre meeting with the spirit of a great one in such a protected place was worth relating to his master.

  Chapter One – Young Owen

  “Owen,” called Sophie, his older sister. “Father and Tom are on the corn harvest in the back fields. Father says stay clear because the serpents will be running from the harvesters. He wants you to milk Elsie, muck the stalls, and get the fresh eggs under the hens. I am taking the wagon with mom to town, so make your own lunch”.

  “I will take care of it, Sophie”, called Owen. “Get me some chocolate if you can!” She smirked and ran off to where Mom was waiting on the wagon with the team of horses he had hitched up for her not long ago.

  Nothing new, he thought. He was twelve years old, still too young to help with the larger chores, but strong enough to do the “easier” work. So Paw thought anyway. He didn’t really mind. Paw, or Mr. Ben Hodgens and Angie, his mom, were very good to him, especially considering that Owen was adopted. He was considered a member of the family, if not by blood then by love. He could not remember a time when he was not living at the farm. Mom told Owen that at dawn one morning they found an infant in swaddling on the doorstep, with a note and fifty sovereign gold pieces in a pouch. Angie had shown him the note and the fifty gold pieces she had so far refused to spend, saving it for him. It was more than enough to buy a farm and livestock someday. The note said, “Please take care of Owen. Any of his needs will be met upon request. We will be watching and will contact you from time to time. For his safety, please simply pretend he is yours.” Signed and sealed: “Mary of Kanley”. It was signed by the young Queen no less.

  So far, the Hodgens had asked nothing more of the Queen, even though each quarter when a contingent of Royal Guard passed, they would stop at the Hodgen Farm “for water”. The Captain would always manage to speak with Ben or Angie alone, and inquire about Owen. The Hodgen’s answer was always the same. “Owen is a son to us, and we are doing fine without any help. Thank the Queen for us, please.”

  Farming offered a good life. Owen tried hard to get along well with everyone in the farms nearby, and in the town as well. He was happy here. He often wondered who his real parents were and why the Queen was “providing” for him.

  Owen was very good with the animals now. Initially they feared him, or what was buried inside him, but he could sooth them with a spell the old teacher had taught him. He couldn’t let the others know about that. He had secrets to keep. His mind wandered as he was milking Elsie the cow, remembering when he discovered how different he was.

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  Old Baird taught all of the children in town their reading, writing, numbers, history, faith and other important lessons, in the one room schoolhouse halfway down the road to town. After school, he taught Owen lessons he did not teach the others. Dafford handled the sports, weapons training and physical training basics. Owen could still remember the first time he learned what he was deep inside, when he was only seven years old. He had no trouble with school, absorbing everything like a sponge. When he sensed jealousy from others he learned to make mistakes, just like them.

  Baird had given the kids a challenging puzzle to solve when trying to teach the children logic. “Consider this”, he said. “Three prisoners were given a chance for release, except only one of them was to go free. One was blind. The jailor put a small hat on each of their heads and said if you take your hat off you lose. The men could only see the hats on the other two men, and not the one on their own head. They were told there were three blue hats and two red hats in all, before three were selected and placed on the three men’s heads. The men were asked one at a time if they could determine the color of their hat by logic alone, to win his freedom. The jailer asked the first man, who said, “I cannot tell”. He asked the second man who said the same thing. He then asked the blind man, and the blind man said, “I have a ‘What Color?’ hat on and ‘this’ is how I know”.

  Baird had then asked for a show of hands of who could say what color hat the blind man had on and also tell him logically why. No one raised his or her hand.


  After class, as Owen was leaving, Baird said. “Owen, I would like you to stay a while today.” The rest of you can go.

  After the other kids had left, Baird asked, “Owen, I know you solved that puzzle. Why didn’t you say so?”

  “How do you know?”

  “Because I can use a little magic.” He then held his hand over his pipe and said “Flamar”. A blue flame shot from his hand to light the pipe.

  Owen jumped back and said, “Wow. Oh how neat. Can I do that?”

  “If you let me teach you, yes. But you must be honest with me at least. Don’t hide things from me, because I am your friend.”

  The way he said that caught Owen’s attention. Suddenly he has a suspicion, but he only said, “The hat was blue. Logically the first man did NOT see two red hats or he would have known his was blue. So, the first man saw either two blue hats or a blue and a red hat. The blind man’s hat could not have been red because: If the blind mans hat was red then second man would have known his hat was blue, or else the first man would have seen two red hats and would have won. Therefore the blind man’s hat was blue.”

  “This boy will have a powerful mind when mature”, thought Baird.

  “Very good”, said Baird. “Now I will teach you a spell. Not the fire spell just yet, but one to calm animals. I think you need that one first”.