Dragon Rise

by D. K. Holmberg

  “What do I have to do to prove that I’m not?” Fes pulled the dagger back and took a step away from the fire mage. “I don’t want to hurt you, and I do need your help. Whatever they are doing—whatever spell it is that’s building from those dragon pearls—needs to be disrupted or I suspect they will destroy your temple.”

  “They can’t…” She tipped her head to the side. One hand came forward, and he realized that she gripped a dragon claw. The claw was enormous and sharply curved, likely coming from some massive dragon. The tip of the claw glowed, reminding him of the way the dragonglass sword had glowed in the forest. When the glowing faded, she looked over at him. “How did you know?”

  “Like I said, I can feel it.”

  And what he could feel was that the magic coming from the Damhur and their dragon pearls was continuing to push inward. It was enough that it was crashing backward through the city. How much longer before it reached the temple? Already, that power had built dramatically, and he doubted they would have much time to do much of anything.

  All he needed to do was disrupt the spell enough for the fire mages to regain control. That meant reaching the dragon pearls, and from there he would see what else he might be able to do.

  “Here’s what I need from you. I need you to press outward, using the most powerful spell that you can summon.”

  “And what makes you think that I will do that?”

  “Because I intend to disrupt their spell. You’ve seen what I can do, haven’t you? You saw the way that I cut through your spell. I intend to do the same with theirs.”

  “Why?”

  “Like I said, they intend to destroy the temple.”

  “And you broke into the temple.”

  “I broke in, but I made no attempt to destroy it. I wouldn’t have harmed anyone had I the opportunity. Ask the mage I let live. I could have easily killed him.” He wished that he knew the man’s name, but there hadn’t been time to find that out. Jayell had recognized him, but they had been more focused on getting out of the temple than on her sharing the name of any of the mages within.

  “Rolan. You let him live.”

  Fes nodded. “I don’t want to hurt any fire mages not trying to hurt me.” He needed to put that caveat in because it was possible she knew what he had done to Reina and Elizabeth. Both of them had been powerful fire mages, and both of them had attempted to harm him.

  What had they lost because he had killed them?

  Could he have disrupted the empire’s ability to defend itself?

  That would be giving himself far too much credit. And both Reina and Elizabeth had wanted power for themselves, not so much for the empire.

  “What do you intend?”

  “Use your most powerful relic, hold a spell out from you, and give me a chance to disrupt what they’re doing.”

  “Why do you need me?”

  That’s wasn’t about to let her know that the Damhur could control him. That would open up a different set of questions. Though it was possible she already knew, the fact that she asked suggested that she didn’t know the way that the Damhur could use the Deshazl.

  “It requires too much strength to counter their magic. I need to reach it with as much of my strength as possible.”

  “And you would expend all of mine in the process. If you are with them, you would weaken us.”

  “I will have to trust that you will help much like you have to trust that I intend to help.”

  She studied him for a long moment.

  When she didn’t answer, Fes breathed out. “Would it help for you to know that I’ve served Azithan?”

  Mentioning Azithan could go one of two ways. Either she didn’t care for him, as Elizabeth had not, or she respected Azithan as a powerful fire mage.

  “I collected relics for him in the capital. Please. I can do this, but I need you to get me there.”

  “It seems as if we will have to trust one another.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  A part of Fes didn’t know whether he could trust the fire mage, but she pushed out with the spell, holding the magic as it emanated from her. She used the dragon claw, and Fes could feel the power as it pulled through that claw and created a bubble around her. He wasn’t sure what the intent of the bubble was, only that he felt it.

  Nick kept pace with him, although he’d been silent ever since they had grabbed the fire mage. Fes glanced over, noticing the tension in his eyes. “You don’t have to come,” he said.

  “You need my help,” Nick said.

  Fes sighed. He wasn’t sure if he really did need Nick’s help or not. He wasn’t sure how much of this he would be able to do on his own and how much he really did need someone like Nick to be with him. It was possible that he could do it without Nick helping, but having an extra set of eyes, and someone else who was sensitive to the Deshazl connection, had value.

  They reached the outskirts of the city. From here, nothing but empty land stretched in front of them. The line of the Damhur stood on the hillside, the dragon pearls glowing softly against the night, their power pushing through Fes. No longer could he feel the barrier as it struck against the fire mage spells. They had gone too far and now were beyond the borders of that.

  The fire mage looked over at him. “Is this really what you intend?”

  Fes nodded. “We need to reach them, disrupt what they’re doing, and then—”

  He heard a sound behind him, commotion that was all too familiar.

  Dragon Guards.

  Fes spun, keeping the fire mage in front of him.

  “Have them stand down,” Fes said.

  “And why should I do that?”

  “You won’t be able to defeat them without my help.”

  “I think you’re mistaken, Fezarn.” She looked over at him, a gleam in her eyes. “Yes. I know exactly who you are. I don’t know what you’ve brought to the city, but I have no intention of allowing you to pull me into it.”

  “You’re a fool,” Fes said. “If you know anything about me, if Jayell has told you anything about me”—Fes had to believe that was how this mage knew him—”you would know that I don’t do well when confronted like this.”

  Fes glanced at Nick. “Be ready.”

  The Dragon Guard arranged themselves in front of Fes. There were five of them, enough that they would pose a significant threat. Thankfully, Jaken wasn’t among them.

  “What do you intend?” Nick asked.

  “Keep an eye on her,” Fes said.

  He darted forward, unsheathing his sword and crashing into the nearest of the two Dragon Guards. The anger that seethed within him, the emotion that boiled there constantly, burbled to the surface. Fes kept a tight rein on it, holding on to it, not wanting to release it entirely. He didn’t know whether or not doing so would pose a danger to himself when facing the Damhur, and didn’t know whether it would weaken him. He needed every bit of strength that he might have when he eventually faced them. If he had to use up his strength, forced to draw too much energy, he might not be strong enough when it came time to confront them.

  The Dragon Guard surrounded him.

  He didn’t want to hurt them. They were serving a purpose, serving on behalf of the empire, and as far as he knew, they might be necessary if these others attacked the city.

  Fighting them without hurting them was more difficult.

  Fes blocked the first attack, slamming the dragonglass sword through one of the soldier’s swords, cutting it to little more than a hilt. He twisted, jamming his elbow into one man’s sternum, and kicked, his boot sending a third flying.

  Still they came.

  Even though he attacked, the soldiers righted themselves, getting back to their feet and coming at him again and again.

  The anger within him continued to boil. There would be no stopping the Damhur, no delaying their attack, if the stupid Dragon Guards continued to press in upon him. Couldn’t they see that the fire mages needed help? Couldn’t the fire mage see that he didn’t
intend to attack?

  As one of the Dragon Guards got close, Fes kicked again and threw his hands up, the sword pointing outward, and screamed, “Enough!”

  Rage exploded from him, and power erupted, streaking away from him. The men who had been attacking were thrown backward, and they collapsed against one of the nearby buildings.

  Fes looked around. The street was empty other than him and Nick and the fire mage, and Nick had to shake himself before getting back to his feet. The fire mage rested on her knees, looking up at Fes with shock.

  “What was that?” Nick asked.

  “I don’t know.”

  “You used fire magic,” Nick said.

  “I don’t think it was fire magic. I didn’t have a relic.”

  “You can use fire magic without a dragon relic?”

  Fes shrugged. “I’ve never used it before.”

  “Deshazl,” the fire mage whispered.

  “What was that?” Fes asked.

  The elderly fire mage looked up at him. “There have long been rumors that the Deshazl do not need relics to draw upon the power of the dragons.” She stood, ignoring Fes’s outstretched hand to help her up. “Most have dismissed those as little more than rumors, tales that have grown through the years, much as many rumors have grown over the years.”

  “Such as how the empire slaughtered the dragons?”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Where did you hear that?”

  “I know what happened,” Fes said. He wasn’t entirely certain that he did, but he had a better idea about what happened over a thousand years ago than he had even a few months ago. Had anyone asked him then, he would have stated that the empire was responsible for removing the dragons, that they did so to protect the people of the growing empire, but now? Now Fes believed there was a very different purpose for the dragon bunkers, and that perhaps the empire had somehow managed to push back these others, using the fire mage magic to do so, but at the cost of the dragons.

  “I intend to stop them,” Fes said, looking up at the hillside again. “I don’t care whether or not you intend to help me, but know that is my intention. It will go easier if you do help.”

  “Why?”

  “Because of the way they use their magic. It influences those who have any sort of Deshazl connection.”

  Nick watched him. Fes could see the frustration in his eyes. It might be too much, but Fes needed to share, if only to gain the mage’s trust. They needed her if he intended to reach the Damhur without using too much strength.

  The fire mage looked back into the city, her gaze drifting up toward the top of the tower. “You broke into the temple,” she whispered.

  “We broke into the temple because I didn’t understand. I still don’t, but I begin to realize that there probably aren’t that many who do.”

  She watched him for a long moment. He didn’t know what she might do or say, but it was true. There might not be that many people still living who understood everything that happened centuries ago. It was the nature of time. Stories grew, truths became obfuscated, and the narratives that sure people wanted known became truth.

  Fes didn’t have to think too deeply to know who would be invested in keeping the empire in power. Making the claim that the empire was responsible for removing the dragons—a feat that seemed impossible—would have kept them in power.

  The fire mage reached under her cloak and pulled a large object out. It took Fes a moment to realize that what she had removed was a dragon pearl. Had he not seen the dragon pearls surrounding the city, he would’ve considered it a large pearl. It was nearly the size of her palm, and faint streaks of color worked within it.

  She held it out, and slowly the pearl began to glow. Fes could feel the power pulsing from it, was aware of the way that it pushed outward, whatever spell she was working radiating, sweeping away from her, and she directed it at the Damhur.

  The fire mage took a step, and Fes followed. He kept his sword unsheathed as she held the pearl out in front of him. Next to him, Nick did the same.

  No one spoke as they continued to walk.

  Her spell wrapped around all of them, even more powerful than the one she had used before. It was almost something solid, and as Fes was aware of it, he felt as if he could reach out and touch it. Doing so would likely disrupt the power within her spell, and Fes knew better than to risk that, but he marveled at her control. Rather than pushing it infinitely forward and letting it stretch away from her, the spell ended just in front of them. There was only enough power to hold that spell.

  Had he not been so nervous about what he was about to do, he might have paused to ask her what she was doing. He could imagine other fire mages wanting to know. Instead, a different question came to him.

  “What level are you?” Fes asked.

  “I am a first-degree fire mage,” she said without looking back.

  Fes blinked. “First degree?”

  With the question, she did look back at him, and she met his eyes. “Does that impress you?”

  “I guess I am surprised I was able to cut through your spell.”

  “Yes. I was as well.”

  They took a few more steps. With each one, there came the sense of the power radiating from the Damhur, pushing outward and trying to pierce the spell the fire mage held. So far, they failed, but how long would that last? How long would it be before the sheer power that the Damhur had access to was more than they could withstand?

  Fes had to believe that it wouldn’t be long.

  And when that happened, would he be able to ignore the Calling?

  That was his greatest fear. Given how many of the Damhur were now here, he worried that he wouldn’t be able to resist the Calling. And if he couldn’t, would he attack?

  How would they use him?

  He had been used enough already, and he remembered all too well how he had felt when compelled to attack Nick, his mind seeking only to please the other who held the Calling.

  Would he feel the same? Or would there be any way to be protected?

  “What does it mean that you’re a first-degree fire mage?” Nick asked.

  “It means that she is one of the most powerful fire mages,” Fes said.

  “Most powerful?”

  “I am Elorayne, first-degree fire mage, and Guardian of the Sacred Flame.”

  Fes blinked. He understood what it meant to be a first-degree fire mage, but the other sounded important, though he didn’t know what it meant. “I’m sorry that we had to attack you,” he said. It seemed as if he should say more, that he should offer more, but Fes wasn’t sure how to apologize, especially as he still felt as if what he had done had been necessary. They had needed to get away from the Dragon Guard, and he needed her help as they fought their way to the Damhur.

  A few more steps carried them into the middle of the space between the city and the Damhur. Now they stood openly, and Fes worried that they would be detected and attacked.

  “They’re going to see us, Fes.”

  “They will not see us. They might detect our presence, but they should not see us,” Elorayne said.

  “Your spell?” Fes asked.

  The woman nodded.

  “What did you do?”

  “I have concealed us. I feel a great pressure against me, but if this works and is effective, they should not be able to observe us.”

  It would buy them time, though how much? Fes had little doubt that the Damhur had talents with their fire magic. The fact that they had as many dragon pearls as they did suggested that they were competent, and their willingness to attack the fire mage temple suggested more than mere competence. They didn’t fear the fire mages.

  “Why now?” he whispered.

  Elorayne glanced back at him. “What was that?”

  “I’m trying to figure out why they would attack now.”

  “Because they can,” she said.

  That didn’t seem quite right. There was timing involved, but he didn’t know what it would be. If these others
could attack, why would they have waited? What would have prompted them to delay until now?

  There had to be some answer, but what?

  Would Azithan have known?

  Azithan had freed him, going against the empire, but Fes doubted he worked with these others. But then, Fes had detected the way that he attempted to influence. Azithan had already tried to use his powers of persuasion, trying to coerce Fes into doing things for him, and only through the fact that he had his daggers had he been able to ignore it.

  As they approached, his heart hammered. He had to be ready for whatever they might face, even though he didn’t know what it would be.

  He focused on the task at hand.

  Reach the dragon pearls. Disrupt their spell. And then…

  Fes didn’t know what he would do then. He didn’t know whether or not there was anything that he could do.

  “It is beginning to be a bit much,” Elorayne said.

  “What is?” Nick asked.

  Fes didn’t need to ask. He could feel her magic quivering. It was a strange sensation, and it seemed to come from deep within her, as if whatever it was that she was holding had begun to fail. How much longer would she be able to hold onto it before it crumbled entirely?

  “They are pushing with incredible strength.” She sounded impressed, and he suspected that these others could even teach the fire mage something about their abilities.

  Why would it be that they shared the same capabilities?

  That didn’t make much sense. If they could use dragon relics, were they somehow related?

  “Fezarn,” Elorayne said.

  She reached under her cloak and pulled out another item. It flickered for a moment before another dragon pearl began to glow. The spell stabilized, solidifying once more, but he could feel the uncertainty in it. How long would it last before it crumbled much like the others?

  “How long can you hold it?”

  “Not long now,” she said.

  Fes glanced over at Nick. As soon as her spell failed, they would have to act, and what would Nick be able to do? Would he be able to withstand the effect of the Calling?

  Maybe there wasn’t going to be a Calling. Maybe the purpose of these dragon pearls wasn’t to perform a Calling but was for something else entirely. He already began to suspect that the intention of it was to destroy the fire mage temple, and it could be that they wanted nothing more than that.