“Impressive!” Rerry shouted up to his bother.
Ben half emptied his quiver.
Thirty minutes of furious fighting later, the battle to secure the portal was over. Dead wurmers sizzled on the floor, but dragons of all sorts lay dead or wounded too.
Rerry wiped the stinging sweat from his eyes and said to Ben and Samaz, “Let’s get back.”
Down at the Chamber of Murals, Grahleyna waited. With a wave of her wing, she led many of the wounded dragons through the portal to distant sanctuaries. But some refused to leave. They were ready to fight. One of them was Slivver.
“We’ll lead the chase in the corridors,” Slivver said. “We need to find that titan. He’s the key to it all. If we can lead them into the columns, we’ll have them all.”
“Slivver, you need to make sure all of you, as many as you can, come back. This entire mountain will come down. You’ll all be trapped down there. The mountain will be your tomb.”
CHAPTER 35
“Mother is down there. We have to save her.” Rerry started out of the chamber. The doors shut by an unseen power. Rerry spun around. “What’s the meaning of this?”
“Your mother insisted that you stay,” Grahleyna said, “both of you. I need you both here to help evacuate,”
“We’ve already lost one parent. We won’t lose another. If we die, we die together. Besides, we all need one another.” Rerry wedged his sword in the door. “I’m going.”
Samaz hit the door with the Elderwood Staff. The doors parted. “We both are.”
“We’re a long way from the bottom,” Slivver said. “It’s going to take some time to get where we need to be. Everyone needs to ride a dragon.”
“If you must go,” Grahleyna said, “you must find them. They have another way to escape.”
Rerry and Samaz climbed on the back of a crimson dynamo. Without a huff, Brenwar got on the back of Waark. Ben joined him.
“Lead the way through this giant catacomb,” Brenwar said. “We don’t have all day.”
***
Much to Selene’s surprise, the dragons were extremely helpful. Two winged red rock dragons the size of small horses scooped them up from behind and carried them swiftly toward the tunnels. They moved down where chambers and roads crisscrossed and spiraled. There were still dragons among them, clawing at the walls and forming barricades.
“What are they doing?” Sasha asked.
“It’s part of the fortifications. The dragons’ objective is to seal as many wurmers in the lower tunnels as they can. The barricades are designed so the titan army thinks we’re seeking escape from below and not above.”
“I don’t suppose there will be a way out for us?”
“That’s why Grahleyna gave me this.” A rope chain of gold hung over her neck. A small gem twinkled in the center of the golden amulet. “It’s supposed to take us back to the murals in case we get trapped in the columns.”
A wicked cry of triumph howled in the tunnels. The ree-rah sounds of the wurmers became louder.
“I really hate that sound.” Sasha ducked. A lone wurmer flew right over her head. A green lily dragon knocked it out of the air with its tail. A moment later, a weird dragon appeared. The feline fury was built like a lion with scales. Bigger than a horse, it tore the wurmer to pieces.
“Where’d he come from?” Sasha said with wide eyes.
“The fury is seen when he wants to be seen. A good ally to have.”
They came to a barricade of heavy stones between a set of tunnels. Dragons gathered in small numbers. A surge of the titan army came at them, running along a sea of wurmers.
Sasha covered her ears. “There’s so many of them!” she yelled.
The titan army came within a few dozen yards of the barricade. The dragons unleashed their fiery breath. The entire tunnel went up in a whoosh of flame. Men and orcs screamed. Giants battled through the wake of fire.
At the barricade, two fierce forces collided with one another. The dragons—quick, cunning and powerful—beat back the first wave of soldiers. Bodies piled up on the floor, making a second barricade of flesh and bones.
Beyond the mangled fracas, Selene spied the next wave. A huge giant with a flaming head was coming. His eyes caught hers. “Isobahn,” she said.
“What?” Sasha said, trying to yell above the roars and the clash of battle.
Selene turned Sasha’s chin with her fingers toward the titan.
“Oh. That’s another level of ugly. For Nath, Selene. For Bayzog. We’ll avenge them!”
“It’s a good thing you weren’t on my side, way back when. Gorn Grattack may have won. You’re a warrior!”
As soon as Isobahn crashed into the sea of scales, fire, and armor with arms pumping like mighty hammers, the dragons shot out their flames.
Selene unleashed a blast of fire of her own. The bolt stuck Isobahn square in his face.
A dragon jumped into his chest and clamped its jaws onto his neck.
Isobahn grabbed it with two hands and broke the gray scaler’s back. He slung it aside, pointed at Selene, and said, “Get them!”
“Retreat!” Selene said to the dragons, who followed her command. “Retreat to the column cavern! They’ll never take that!”
On the backs of the red rock dragons, they burst out of the intersection so fast the wind whistled in her ears. They jumped another barricade of rocks that more dragons were building. It was all part of the design. The dragons built one barricade after the other, hoping the legions would follow them right into the trap.
Selene was worried, however. Isobahn was no fool. He might take the bait, or he might not. One thing was for certain. Either way, she would bring the mountain down.
For Nath!
CHAPTER 36
“Sultans of Sulfur!” Brenwar exclaimed. It was an odd thing for him to say. “Where do so many come from!”
They’d made it to the halfway point in the mountain when they encountered a flock of wurmers buzzing the tunnels. The dragons made quick work of the first batch, only to encounter hundreds more to follow.
“Quick, this way,” Slivver said.
They darted into another corridor via a strange concealment in the wall. Even Waark managed to push through it. The magic veil covered them as the flocks of wurmers passed. Before long, the loud voice of the army sounded out in the caverns.
“They’re going up,” said Slivver.
“They should be going down,” Brenwar said. “So many. We need to distract them. Take another turn.”
“What about the murals?” Ben said. “It’s the only way out of here for us or the dragons.”
“We’re at the point of no return now,” Brenwar said. “Time to execute Nath’s final wishes. It’s the only way.”
“I’m not going anywhere without Mother.” Rerry stroked the tail of the ivory slider latched onto his back. “Can we get back down to the columns from here?”
“Yes,” Slivver said. “There’s more than one way to everywhere from here. Dragon Home is countless miles of tunnel. Follow me.”
“Say, I’m not sneaking around when those vile things take over. We need to lead them down below,” Brenwar said to Slivver. He started toward the tunnel they’d just departed where the titan army now roamed. “I don’t plan on letting the dragons do all the fighting.”
“We aren’t going to do much fighting. We’ll be doing more running.” Slivver signaled to the silver shade in Dragonese.
The slick-backed dragon snaked up the tunnel they were in, sending word to the dragons who trailed them. The orders were simple. ‘Slow the titan army’s advance to the top. Force another chase down below.’ For now, the golden flares would have to guard the Chamber of Murals before it was destroyed.
“Do as you must, Brenwar.”
Brenwar tapped Waark on the horn. “Tell them hello.”
Waark stretched his great neck out of the concealment and into the adjacent corridor. His great horned head startled the ogres marching up the walk w
ith stone hammers. Waark’s mouth dropped open. Flames spilled out, lighting the tunnel up like a chimney stack.
The wurmers screeched and sizzled. The ogres danced in the agonizing flames. Many died. Many more came.
“The chase is on,” Brenwar said. “For Morgdon!”
Behind Brenwar, Ben fired arrows at their pursuers. Samaz shot balls of energy from his staff. Some of the dragons—particularly a pair of orange blazes—made a final stand. White-hot foam spewed from their mouths, coating the front ranks of the enemy. It slowed the army little, but it was enough for the company to stretch their lead.
Which didn’t last. Slivver led them into another tunnel filled with the enemy.
Ree-rah! Ree-rah! Ree-rah!
Rerry cried out, “They’re everywhere!”
Taking a split in the path, they ran down the winding tunnel, passing another opening where a distinct cry went up. All of them—dwarf, men, and dragons—skidded to a halt. A flare of magic and power lit up the middle of the monstrous hallway. Selene and Sasha were in the thick of it, fighting for their lives.
“Mother!” Rerry screamed. He led the crimson dynamo forward, plowing a path through the wurmers and army ranks. Samaz created a shield that pushed the enemy on the other side of the barricade back. Selene and Sasha, drenched in sweat, waved them away. “What?”
“Go, Sons! Go!” Sasha was screaming.
A spear passed right through Sasha’s body. A giant wielding an iron mace smashed Samaz’s shield. The horde piled on the women. Their bodies passed right through them.
“Guzan! An illusion!” Rerry said. “I don’t think that was meant to fool us. We need to get out of here!”
The crimson dynamo let out a blast of cover fire, pushing the army back. Turning around with a lash of its tail, the dynamo busted up another wurmer. They joined up with the rest of the party with Rerry saying, “If that wasn’t Mother, then where are they?”
Ben pointed. “There!”
Farther down the corridor, on the backs of dragons, Selene and Sasha waved them on. They followed in a rush of speeding dragon feet. Seconds later they caught up with the women.
With the fury of battle gleaming in her eyes, Sasha said, “Rerry! Samaz! What are you doing down here? I told you to stay back!”
“The family that stays together, dies together!” Rerry replied.
Still racing down the hall, Sasha said, “I want grandchildren, whether I’m dead or alive.”
***
Selene led them into the subterranean levels of the mountain after minutes of riding through and over the enemy’s wake. After being besieged from all directions, relief came once she hit the tunnel into the column cavern. The party poured inside—men, elves, dwarf, dragons, and all went into the expansive and wide-open chamber of the miles of underground arena.
With Slivver’s help, the dragons stopped up the main pass leading into a corridor where a vicious battle raged. Dozens of other dragons formed a circle of protection around Selene and her friends.
“This is it,” she said to all of them. Chests were heaving. Faces showed exhaustion. They’d all fought and scrapped to get down into the mountain tomb. With her hand on the amulet, she added, “Once they pour in, the only way out is with me. Everyone, stay close. Brenwar, how do we do this?”
“Believe it or not, it all starts with the center column.” He marched up to the main support in the middle of the chamber. It was a little bigger than all the rest. He rubbed his palm on the arcane dragon symbols. “A solid strike right here should do it.”
“Then what?” Selene asked.
“It’s supposed to fall. They’re all supposed to fall. Like dominoes. One at a time. I hate to miss it.” Brenwar warmed up with Mortuun, making light swings from side to side. That was when Ben came forward with a frown on his face.
“There’s a way out for us, but what about the dragons?” He patted Waark’s tail.
Grim-faced, Slivver said, “They made this choice, Ben, to protect us and their brethren.”
The titan army overcame the dragons and spilled inside, hundreds at first, then thousands. They filled the chamber in all directions, spreading out and encircling the party. Giants, men, orcs, and wurmers one and all made for a frightful sight. And then the most frightful of all came.
Isobahn entered with a smile broad as a river on his burning face. “That battle is over. Dragon Home is mine. In a great feast, I will suck your bones dry tonight.”
“The only bones you’ll be chewing on are your own!” Brenwar fired back. He uncorked a mighty swing into the heart of the main pillar with the sound of a thunderclap. Marble and stone chipped and flecked away.
Everyone looked at Brenwar.
He shrugged. Nothing happened. Studying the pillar, his eyes enlarged. “By Mortuun, I hit the wrong one!”
CHAPTER 37
“Brenwar, we must go now!” Selene ordered. She held the amulet in her hand. “It’s the only way out of here.”
“I’m not leaving until all of those columns are down and the misbegotten enemy is dead.” He climbed on the back of Waark. “Get me over there, dragon! We’re taking down a pylon!”
Claws scraping over the stone, Waark lurched forward toward the pillar with his horns lowered and rammed it. The jarring blow shocked the room. Stalactites fell.
“No! No! Waark! You have to hit the sweet spot!” Brenwar jumped to the ground with Mortuun cocked behind him.
“Brenwar, look out!” Selene yelled.
A small boulder hurled by a giant collided with Brenwar. Mortuun fell from his grip. He wasn’t moving.
With the titan army closing in, Selene tossed the amulet to Sasha. “Get out of here. Now!”
“No, wait,” Sasha said, catching it in midair. But as soon as her fingertips touched the amulet, she vanished, along with Rerry, Samaz, Ben, Slivver, and a handful of other dragons.
Now Selene and Brenwar were trapped. She dashed over to Brenwar.
Groggy, he started to his feet.
Isobahn laughed. “You tried to trap us! You failed! The mountain is ours, Selene! You’ll never spring the trap now. It might have slain us, but now it would kill you too!”
Around her, the remaining dragons fought back the horde with powerful fires and energy. Waark continued ramming the column.
Jaw set, Selene picked up Mortuun. She eyeballed Isobahn, cocked the war hammer back, and said, “Prepare to eat mountain, monster! I’m going, and you’re going with me!” She swung Mortuun into the spot on the column.
Krang!
Powerful reverberations resonated all over the chamber. The titan army jumped backward as if hit by a forceful wind. Their eyes darted. They cringed and scrambled. The column Selene struck split in four great seams. The broken pylons fell in four perfect directions, striking the others adjacent to them. One pillar crashed into another, knocking all the columns over in a domino effect. The chamber collapsed fast.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
“Nooooo!” Isobahn bellowed with eyes stricken with fear. “Nooooooo!” His flaming head went out as a huge hunk of ceiling bounced off the top of his skull.
“Waaaaaahooooooooo!” Brenwar yelled. “Take them down, mountain! Take them all down!”
Waark huddled over Brenwar and Selene. Hunks of falling stone rained down on them. Brenwar stroked the dragon’s neck. “It’s been an honor, friend.”
With the world shaking all around them, Selene handed Brenwar Mortuun. “It’s been an honor for me as well.”
Selene teared up when Brenwar said, “You gave all. You did well.”
With the world crashing down around them, she hugged Brenwar tightly.
“Wait, wait, wait,” he said. He revealed two potion vials in his hands. “Take this.”
“What is it?”
Brenwar held his orange vial up. “A little something from the chest to ease the pain.”
She clinked her vial with his. “To the end.”
“For Morgdon.”
&n
bsp; CHAPTER 38
Grahleyna ushered all the dragons through the murals then closed the doors to the chamber. The magnificent and noble creatures had fought off the hordes of wurmers as long as they could. Now, she paced the floor, waiting.
Her heart ached. She’d lost Nath and now many others. Guilt settled in. Perhaps she hadn’t made the best decision when she sent the dragons away. She wasn’t certain. Matters of warfare had always been Balzurth’s department, and now the decisions she made had lost her son as well.
What have I done?
A radiant wink of light flashed. One by one, Sasha, Samaz, Rerry, Ben, Slivver, and a half-score dragons appeared.
“Grahleyna, send us back. You must send us back!” Rerry demanded. “Selene, Brenwar, and many dragons are trapped down there!”
“I cannot. I will see to your safety.”
“No!” Rerry screamed.
The ground shook. Everyone froze. The entire mountain trembled.
“It begins! There can be no hesitation. Slivver, aid me.” Grahleyna’s tail slid across the floor and snatched Rerry around the waist. “Forgive me, child, but you must go now.” She slung him through a mural image of lightly covered snow fields. “He’ll be safe there.”
Samaz’s body flared up with a glow of purple magic. He started to shimmer. “I’m going back.”
Slivver locked his arms around the part-elf, walked him over to Rerry’s mural, and hurled him through. “No, you’re not.”
“I implore you to go now,” Grahleyna said to Sasha. “Watch over your children.”
“What about you?” Sasha said.
“I’ll manage.” Grahleyna stepped aside. The floor cracked in a foot-wide seam. “You and Ben go now, please.”
Ben took Sasha by the hand. Into the mural they went.
“Slivver, you and the dragons go. That’s an order. Protect them.”
With a nod, Slivver said, “As you wish, Mother.” The metal doors began to grind and buckle. “Don’t get trapped in here and die.”
Wrath of the Dragon: (The Chronicles of Dragon, Series 2, Book 8) (Tail of the Dragon) Page 12