by Ben Hale
Still confused, Siarra gasped, “Why didn’t his spell work?” Her gaze lingered on Zorik, who had begun to withdraw the blades and heal the small wounds.
“They aren’t metal knives,” Jack said, his voice smug, even now.
Her head swiveled back to face him, her expression incredulous but he shrugged and kept pulling her away. “What did you expect? Of course I had something.”
Resisting the insane desire to laugh, she looked back at Zorik, already healing the second wound. In perfect clarity she understood that Zorik would find a way to hurt her friends or delay their quest, unless he was defeated.
She needed to focus.
She yanked herself free of his grip. “No,” she said. “His time in Lumineia is at an end.”
“He almost killed you!” Jack yelled.
Her gaze flicked to him and he let go as if she was a branding iron. Pulsing with focus and energy, she turned and gathered the energy around her, fashioning a spear of lighting in her hands. Zorik must have sensed the danger, because his head snapped up. Desperately, he lifted the stone into a shield as she had done, but the spear of crackling energy had already left her fingers . . .
***
Taryn cast about for something, anything to get them out of the trap. The parapet behind them was too tall and thick to get through in time, even if he cut it with his father's sword. To the left and right, the top of wall was blocked by giant open claws, which he might be able to jump, but only by leaving Liri behind . . .
—A dark light was already sparking in the dragon’s mouth—
Beside him, Liri was launching arrow after arrow at the dragon, fearless even with only seconds left . . .
—Sparks in the dragons throat ignited, and tongues of dark flames leapt across the intervening space towards them—
At the last second the great beast stopped its fiery breath and reared back, bellowing in pain. Grateful for the extra time, Taryn morphed the bow and sheathed it as he exploded into action. Snatching Liri’s hand, he yanked her down the wall towards one of the great claws that had lifted off the battlements. Below, he saw Kell bring his great sword up and down, sending it biting into the hind leg of the dragon, slicing deep a second time.
A rush of gratitude washed over Taryn as he saw the massive rock troll, out of his appointed hiding place to protect them. Then he saw the claw in front of him shift direction.
Lifting overhead, the armored claw sank towards Taryn and Liri's sprinting forms, dropping far faster than he would have thought possible. Then he caught sight of a wall of stone that had fallen against a pillar. Diving for the slide, he yanked Liri after him as he jumped, feeling the rush of air as the sharp claws crushed the stone where they’d been running.
The dragon’s breath reached out towards them, melting the stone slide behind them as they skidded downward, mere feet ahead of the torrent of flames. Stone scraped their backs as they clung to each other, sending clouds of dust puffing away from their boots.
“I got left!” Liri cried, her tone a mix of desperation and determination over the roar of the dragon's breath.
“I got right!” Taryn shouted, trying in vain to ignore the searing heat and the acrid smell of melting stone.
The next instant they struck the bottom and dived in both directions, barely managing to roll away as the raging inferno detonated against the bottom of the makeshift slide. The explosion of black flame sent a geyser of stone and shattered rock in every direction. His heart thundering inside him, Taryn sprinted away, glancing back to ensure that Liri had made it. Relief flooded him as he saw her lithe figure leveling out into full speed.
—Out of nowhere, an enormous spiked tail whipped towards him, scraping the ground as it snapped. Bellowing for Liri to look out, Taryn leapt towards a piece of stone. Using it to launch himself, he flew over the dragon’s tail, twisting in midair to avoid the sharp shards of bone. Landing in a roll, he came to his feet and spun to see the very tip of the tail smash into Kell, crushing him through a stone wall in a blast of dust and gravel.
Then the tail reversed direction. Streaking back towards him, it gouged lines in the courtyard—but this time Taryn felt rage course through him. Drawing his father’s sword, he sprinted towards the barbed tail. Roaring a battle cry, he dived to his knees and slid under the tail, raising the enchanted sword as the black armor sailed above him.
Blue flame erupted along the swords length as it touched the dragon’s skin, splitting it and cutting deep. Once again, the dragon thundered its pain and fury. Dark blood spattered the dust as the nearly severed tail flailed. Then the deep dragon leapt off the stone, diving into the abyss and out of sight.
Taryn raced towards Kell, anxious to see if he had survived the incredible blow. Skidding to a stop at the same time Liri arrived, he saw the large rock troll’s hand burst from the rubble. Snagging an unbroken section of wall, he dragged himself into view. Blood coursed down his thick skin from multiple lacerations, darkening the dirt as it pooled below his crouched form.
“Give me my sword,” he wheezed, sounding like he had at least one broken rib.
“Kell, you can’t—” Liri began, but the rock troll grabbed his chest with one arm as he dragged himself to his feet.
“Where’s my weapon!” he bellowed.
Taryn crouched and lifted the glittering great sword, surprised by its lightness. Striding forward, he placed it into the troll's hand.
“Taryn . . .” Liri said in a worried tone.
“I know Liri,” Taryn said.
A thundering roar reverberated throughout the cavern, and the dragon reappeared in sight, soaring upwards before alighting back on the long bridge that was their only escape.
“You two distract him long enough for me to get close,” Kell growled, leaning against the shattered wall. “The plan is useless now, so just buy me time.”
Taryn nodded, and dragged a reluctant Liri away, heading towards a defensible spot where they could strike.
***
Siarra’s energy spear struck the shield of stone, detonating in a storm of crackling magic. Chunks of rock exploded outward, and Zorik was knocked sprawling. Skidding to a stop, the old man struggled to his feet and brought up another shield. Once again, his body went tumbling backward as another energy rod tore through it. Sliding to a stop with his back against a broken wall, Zorik raised a trembling hand and gathered another metal spear. Bent and weak, it flew towards her.
Siarra reached out and caught the metal magic, drawing the power into her before throwing it straight back at Zorik with an angry flick of her wrist. It struck his shoulder, and plunged through it to embed into the stone behind him. Zorik screamed, but Siarra had closed the distance.
Reaching out, she grasped the end of the spear. Using it as a conduit, she began to withdraw Zorik’s power. His evil gray eyes flew wide as he realized what she was doing. Then he began to resist. Ancient will fought against youthful determination, with each refusing to yield. The conduit of metal shimmered as the power radiated out of it, throbbing and pulsing as they fought for dominance. Then the magic began to flow out of Zorik and into Siarra. Faster and faster it moved, draining Zorik for several seconds before his eyes began to dim. At last the magic was gone, drained into Siarra and leaving Zorik nothing but a shell of an old man.
“What . . . have you done?” Zorik mumbled, clawing feebly at the smoking shaft.
Crouching down to face him, she said, “I have only done what you intended to do to me. Now your castle will be your grave, and you will die knowing that your power will be used against your master.”
“You can’t do that!” he coughed, anger making his voice sound raspy. “Not without my yield!”
“Perhaps an oracle has power you are not aware of,” she said, unable to keep the grim satisfaction from her tone.
Zorik began to cough, deep and hacking as he fought to speak again. “You fool!” he managed to wheeze. “My fiends will no longer answer to me. They will even now be returning her
e.”
“Then we will leave you to them,” Siarra said, rising to her feet and stepping away from his horrified expression. Directing her path eastward, she hurried towards the sound of battle. Joining Jack, she spotted Trin and Mae running ahead of them. Together, they sprinted towards the roaring black dragon.
***
Taryn and Liri were out of time. Down to their last few arrows, they sent each streaking missile towards the furious dragon, but the flailing of the ancient beast left little opportunity. Many arrows stuck fast, but few did significant damage. Despite their inability to hit anything vital, Kell had worked his way halfway across the bridge, moving slowly as he readied himself for the charge that would bring him close enough to strike.
Then the black dragon caught sight of the rock troll.
Its deafening challenge shook Taryn’s bones, and a split second later, its head dropped to the surface of the bridge, sending a deadly inferno streaking out of its maw. With nowhere to turn, Kell touched something on his arm and an enormous oval shield shimmered into place. Bellowing a battle cry, the giant rock troll charged into the flames.
The acid flames, so intense they could melt stone in seconds, burst apart on contact with the wind shield, cascading in every direction as the troll picked up speed. Charging into the dark blaze, Kell split the fire like a stone in water.
Liri rose to her feet, her voice ringing with resolve as she said, “Give me an arrow Taryn.”
“It’s my last one,” Taryn yelled, plucking the arrow of solid green light and tossing it to her.
Catching it deftly, she notched it and drew it to her ear. With a snap, the wind bow launched the enchanted arrow, sending it curving towards the dragon’s fierce head. Flying true, it pierced a great eye, eliciting a tremendous roar of pain. The flame cut off as it arced its neck skyward. Struggling to dislodge the biting shaft that had blinded it, the massive dragon raised its fore claw in an attempt to reach its eye, exposing the spot behind its fore leg . . .
The moment the dark flames evaporated, the giant troll came into view. His shield was misshapen, melted and steaming. His skin boasted burns in dozens of places, leaving red welts and raw wounds dotting his body, but he was still driving forward.
With sheer willpower keeping death at bay, Kell stumbled close and raised his greatsword high. Roaring the ancient battle cry of his people, he plunged it deep into the dragons’ side. Sparks flew as the shimmering weapon sank to the hilt, scraping the powerful scales as it delivered the killing blow.
In an instant, the earsplitting roar shifted to a high pitched keen, rending the air with its intensity. Then the death knell cut off, and the great dragon sank downward, slipping from the bridge as it plunged into the dark abyss. Several seconds later, the tumbling crash at the bottom signaled the final resting place of the black dragon.
Taryn and Liri bounded together towards the courtyard, and caught sight of the rest of their friends. Joining them, they raced towards the body of Kell. Unable to restrain his fear, Taryn sped ahead, reaching the bridge first. Sprinting onto it, he had to dodge pools of licking flame and melting acid as he sped towards the still form. Skidding to a halt beside him, he crouched, relieved to see that the rock troll was still alive.
Then he began to see the extent of the great warrior's wounds, and despair flooded him as he saw the truth written in the troll's dark eyes. Pounding footsteps surrounded him, and a moment later Siarra slid came to a halt beside him.
“Can you heal him?” Taryn asked, desperation thick in his voice.
She shook her head, her voice soft. “Dragon’s breath is damaging enough, but the acid will prevent healing.”
Kell coughed, the sound deep down as he struggled to speak. “Did I . . . did I . . .”
Liri crouched by his side, choking on her words. “You did it Kell. You slew the deep dragon.”
Mae leaned over and whispered something into Siarra’s ear. With a nod, she bent forward, her finger reaching out to the trolls’ right cheek. Touching it, she traced a fierce dragon, leaving a dark tattoo shimmering on his tough skin. In a soft, yet ringing tone, she exclaimed, “Kell of the tribe of Tryton, you will forever be known as Dark Dragonslayer, protector of the races.”
Trin reached for the weapon that still lay in the trolls grip. With a grunt of effort he drew it to Kell's chest. “You will be remembered for centuries my friend.”
Kell smiled one last time before slipping into death.
The remaining six stood rooted in place, frozen in silence until the faint sounds of snarling fiends began to echo from the other side of the cavern. Without a word, Siarra indicated for them to cross the bridge. Reluctantly, Taryn moved away until he stood at the entrance to the eastern tunnel.
As he looked back at his sister, she picked up the twisted shield that had kept the rock troll safe. Touching it with a hand, it flattened and stretched, wrapping around the still form until it became a smooth, rounded coffin. Lifting her hands, a small tornado of wind picked it up, sending it soaring upward until it embedded into a giant stalagmite at the very top of the cavern. Dropping her arms, she worked her way over the bridge until she joined them.
“Shall we go?” Trin asked.
Siarra shook her head. “There is one more thing to do.”
Taryn waited, his gaze lingering on the final resting place of Kell. For several minutes the sounds of fiends became louder, until a piercing scream echoed throughout the cavern.
“Zorik, the servant of Draeken, is no more,” Siarra said. Raising her hands, she clenched them each into a fist. The sound of snapping stone boomed loud, and a moment later, the bridge in front of them crumbled, falling into the abyss. By the similar sounds, he could tell that Siarra had dropped the western bridge as well.
“Zorik’s fiends are trapped in his tomb,” she said, her voice sad rather than triumphant. “They won’t be able to hurt anyone else.”
For several minutes they stood, until finally the red lights of Zorik’s fortress began to dim. Casting an orb of white light above them, Siarra muttered, “Let’s go.”
One by one, they followed her into the tunnel, knowing they had just four days to reach Draeken and destroy him. Taryn brought up the rear, glancing back one last time at Kell’s grave.
Day 4
Chapter 15: Breach
“The landslide on the Lake Road has been cleared,” Thacker said, his dawn report sending chills down Braon’s spine. “They are moving to assault the fifth wall.”
Please don’t let Famine or Plague attack them. Braon thought, rubbing his forehead. “How long can they hold out?”
A moment later Golic’s reply came. “A few hours with his current forces. Should he bring in the first reserve?”
“Not yet. They must hold out as long as they can,” Braon replied, furrowing his brow as he struggled to find any way to hold the Lake Road.
If he called in the first reserve, they could last through the rest of the first watch, but at eight when the first reserve replaced them for the second watch, they would have little strength, causing him to bring in the second reserve ahead of their time. The effect would just mean he would lose more troops, and lose the wall either later today, or tomorrow. Drawing extra forces from any other battalion would have the same result.
But he would have no other choice soon enough. If the Lake Road fell, he would have to withdraw his entire army into Azertorn, and he doubted they would last longer than a day once they were surrounded. It was imperative that he find a way to fortify the Lake Road for at least two more days.
“Do any of the other commands have forces to spare?” Braon asked. Even a few might make a difference.
Turning to the map he slid it from group to group as he listened to the reports. Nodding to himself, he enhanced the view to each section of troops and issued appropriate orders to redistribute what he could to the Lake Road.
Suddenly a piece of the map shimmered.
Braon withdrew his hands like he’d touched live coal
s, his expression frozen in horror, but the section of the magical map flickered and went dark. Rokei and Thacker were immediately by his side.
“What happened?” Thacker asked, his voice laced with worry.
“The receiving plants must have been damaged,” Rokei exclaimed. “Should I send someone from the mage guild to attempt to repair them?”
Braon nodded, fighting to alter his expression to not betray his fear. Swallowing hard he slid the map to a different division, ashamed that his hands shook.
“Inform General Onix that the west side of his area has gone dark. He will need to post watchers.”
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Thacker nod and return to his post while Rokei departed to send a messenger to the mage guild. Fear rose like bile in Braon’s throat, but he forced himself to return his gaze to the map. Shifting it back to the dark spot, he again felt a sliver of terror claw up his spine and stop his heart.
If I go blind, we are lost.
Before despair could take root, he flicked the map to another break. Despite his rigid self control, doubt managed to plant itself deep within him.
Another piece went dark an hour later.
***
As the telepathic link to the dwarves, Brynn mentally listened to her father’s orders and passed on the request to General Onix. “Another piece of the commanders map has gone dark, so from now on you are under strict orders to report any breach on the cliff, no matter how small.”
The taciturn dwarf grunted and passed on the orders to his lieutenants in his own gruff tongue. Brynn suppressed a sigh as she listened to him direct the dwarves in his command. Intelligent in strategy and smithing, General Onix commanded respect from every member of his race, and his bluntness was legendary.
“We are moving our command tent closer to the front lines,” General Onix said, and began marching in that direction. Brynn caught an amused expression from her personal bodyguard, Murai. “Something funny?” she said, sidling up to the katsana wielding elf.