by Sam Ferguson
“And you are here to find the Champion of Truth?” Erik asked.
“I am,” the dragon said. Its large, penetrating eyes locked with Erik’s and the boy felt a chill run through him. The dragon’s stare was more intense than any Marlin had ever given. “Are you ready to begin the test?”
Erik looked behind him and replied innocently, “I thought it already began.”
The dragon chuckled and plumes of smoke spurted out through its nostrils. “That was only a warm up.”
Erik nodded. “So what do I need to do?” he asked. His voice cracked in the middle of the question, but he stood still and tried to display confidence.
The dragon reached forward and placed a claw over the pedestal. A large, brown book appeared before him. “Open the book,” the dragon commanded. “We shall see if you can resist its power.”
Erik stepped close and stared at it. “Is this…” He couldn’t bring himself to finish the question. He could feel the darkness inside, and he had his answer. “If I open it, won’t it affect you?”
“Why would you say that?” the dragon asked.
“A book I read says that the mere presence of the book Nagar’s Secret would warp dragons,” Erik replied. “If the book is here, and I open it, it could destroy you.”
“You worry about me?” the dragon laughed. “If you want to pass the test, you will have to open the book.”
Erik slowly reached forward and placed a hand on the bottom corner of the large tome. The leather felt cold to the touch. He thought to open it, but then he pulled his hand back and stepped away from the pedestal. “I can’t open this,” he said. “I am to destroy the book.”
The dragon leaned down close and its hot breath washed over Erik as it spoke. “You would destroy it?” the dragon asked. “Why would you do that?”
“Because it would enslave everyone,” Erik replied. “It would take away our will and destroy us.”
“Hmm,” the dragon said. “You are wise, for such a young boy.”
Erik then looked at the book and had a strange thought. He reached into himself and used his power on the book. Then he grinned. “That isn’t the book,” he said.
The dragon smiled, drawing its leathery lips tight over its sharp teeth. “I never said it was Nagar’s Secret,” he said. “You only assumed.”
Erik then looked to the large book. “But it is evil,” he said. “I can feel that much.”
The dragon nodded. “It is indeed,” he confirmed. Then he placed a claw under the cover and flipped it open. “It is called the Chronicles of the Spurned,” the dragon said. A ghastly screech erupted from the book and Erik was wrapped in a cold, silver mist. “You must witness its contents.”
Erik’s very soul froze in horror as he watched the pages before him. Instead of words, they held pictures. As the pages turned, the pictures began to move as if a scene was unveiling itself before him. Demons and warlocks appeared, ravaging the countryside and laying waste to entire villages and towns. Behind them came another, clothed in black robes and holding a large jewel with which he raised the dead corpses and bound them to his will. The army washed over the land like a plague of locusts until it reached Valtuu Temple.
“This is what is coming,” the dragon roared above the din of the magical book.
Erik’s eyes grew wide as Valtuu Temple was engulfed in flames and collapsed to the ground. The man with the jewel then pulled a black book from the rubble and opened it. A great red flare erupted from the pages as though it contained a massive volcano and demons and monsters poured out from the pages of the book.
“Now look!” the dragon bellowed.
Erik watched as the pages turned again and a great dragon flew in from the south on wings of fire. His great breath spewed black fire and lightning over the kingdom and all melted away before him until he stood alone atop a glossy black granite mountain.
“He is Tu’luh the Red,” the dragon said. “And he comes to claim this land.”
The boy couldn’t move. His eyes were transfixed on the dragon in the book. At the base of the mountain laid an ocean of corpses. Then the dragon roared and a great crackle of lightning struck the ground. Those who were dead were given their lives back, though now they were all twisted and disfigured, like the demons that had come with the man to the temple.
“He will rule over all in the Middle Kingdom,” the dragon hissed. “Unless the Champion of Truth stops him.”
Erik felt a hot wave as the dragon in the book roared again and its eyes locked onto Erik. Somehow, Tu’luh the Red could see him. At that moment, Erik recognized the dragon’s eyes. It was the same pair of glowing eyes that he had seen in Bracken’s house, in the warlock’s secret chamber.
The boy’s fear melted away, replaced in an instant by a visceral anger that welled up inside of him until he yelled in anger. The power of his spark shook the room and the light blasted into the evil book and burned it to ashes. The silver mist dissipated and Erik was left kneeling on the floor, gasping for breath.
He looked up to see the golden dragon smiling and looking into his eyes. “You are strong indeed,” he said. “Perhaps you do have the power to change what is coming.”
Erik huffed and sucked in a couple of breaths before nodding. “That cannot be our future,” he said.
“There is another way,” the dragon said.
Erik pushed himself up and looked to the dragon.
“Let me show you the alternative.” The dragon waved his massive claws before Erik’s face and Erik was swept back. The temple fell away around him and he found himself on a green mountain looking down at the temple. The ground shook beside him and he turned to see the golden dragon standing next to him. “The power of Nagar’s Secret is not necessarily evil,” he said. “It can be used for good.”
“What do you mean?” Erik asked.
“Look down,” the dragon said.
Erik looked and a great army came out of the forest. Their gleaming armor reflecting the sunlight as they marched to the temple. From the temple emerged ranks of priests and warriors, as well as a sizable army of dwarves. The two forces clashed together and within a matter of moments the green valley was stained red.
“You have seen this kind of scene before,” the dragon said. “I know of the battles you suffered.” The dragon snaked his neck around to look at Erik. “Even if you destroy Nagar’s Secret, this kind of war will continue. Mankind has never been a race of peace. They are, and ever have been, petty, jealous creatures that take by force what they cannot earn by virtue.”
“What are you saying?” Erik asked.
“Isn’t it obvious?” the dragon replied. “I am showing you the true nature of mankind. You would risk everything you are, everyone you love, to destroy a book that has the power to prevent this.”
Erik shook his head. “But there would be no choice,” he said. “I cannot abandon everyone to become what I saw in that first book you showed me.”
The dragon sighed. “There is more to this,” he said. “Watch the sky.”
Erik looked up and saw four pillars of fire descending quickly. One went to the far east, another went to the west, and one streaked overhead, fire roaring and sparks trailing behind. The fourth dropped far to the south. A moment after it disappeared beyond the southern horizon a great plume of smoke rose up and a wall of fire grew like a tidal wave.
“Are they dragons?” Erik asked.
The dragon shook his head. “They are worse than dragons,” he said. “They are worse than anything this world has ever seen.”
Erik watched wide-eyed as the wave of flame rushed toward them, devouring everything in its path. A moment before the fire crashed into them, they were back in the temple. Erik was still standing in front of the pedestal, and the dragon was behind it, looking at him intently.
“What you saw, is the end of Terramyr. If the world continues as it is, it will be destroyed by powers greater than anything that has ever walked this plane.” The dragon hung its head low and a
single tear emerged from its right eye. The great, sparkling droplet fell and crashed to the floor.
Erik looked down at the small puddle and then back up to the dragon’s eyes. “So, you are saying it is better for the world to be overrun by demons?” Erik asked.
The dragon shook his head. “No,” he said. “But the power of Nagar’s Secret can be used for good as well. Someone with a pure heart can alter it, and use it to create peace.” The dragon leaned in. “An everlasting peace that will save the Middle Kingdom, and the world, from both of the fates you have just witnessed.”
Erik thought for a moment, trying to understand everything he had just seen. “But I thought the Champion of Truth was meant to destroy Nagar’s Secret.”
The dragon nodded. “That is true,” he said. “But I have had many years, centuries actually, to meditate upon our future.” The dragon turned his head so that his right eye was only a few inches away from Erik. “What would the Champion of Truth do?” he asked. “Would he save the kingdom only to condemn the world? Or would he rise above them all to save everyone from a doomed future?”
*****
Jaleal used the shadows of the giant clouds above to cover his tracks. It proved useful in evading the dwarves, but he knew that it would provide little protection against the temple guards. As he neared the southern wall he glanced around. He didn’t see any guards nearby. He slipped his tiny, agile fingers into the spaces between the rocks and went up and over the temple’s outer wall as skillfully as a lizard. He dropped down into a soft fern and flattened himself against the ground. A pair of guards came around the western corner and started walking near him.
The gnome used his magic to expand the leaves, effectively shielding himself from their sight. After the guards passed he sprinted for the temple and ascended up. Occasionally he would glance back, ensuring there were no guards looking his way, but he doubted anyone would be looking for a gnome climbing the outside of the temple.
Just in case, he hurried up the side as quickly as he could, pausing underneath awnings or behind window shutters as guards passed by below. After a few minutes, he reached the second floor from the top. He moved to a window and slowly poked his head around to look inside. Seeing the room was empty he put his hand to the glass and gently slid the pane up just enough to slip inside. He crept to the door and bent low to look through the space underneath. He couldn’t see anything, so he put his ear to the door and listened for footsteps. He heard nothing. He softly turned the knob and pulled the door open enough to peer down one side of the hall.
He spied the room where Lepkin was laying, but there were a pair of guards standing in front of the door. Jaleal jerked his head back and pushed the door closed. He scrambled back to the window and went back outside. He quickly worked his way around the temple building until he was on the north side. His hands moved quickly, finding grooves just big enough for him to dangle from as he climbed sideways to the window where he supposed Lepkin’s room was.
The gnome climbed above the window, then turned himself upside down and slowly lowered his eyes down to look through the window. He saw a pair of men standing over Lepkin, with their backs turned to him. He moved one hand down and tested the window. It was locked.
He pulled himself back up. “You made it before,” Jaleal told himself. “There are only two of them this time.” He climbed up and grabbed hold of the beams in the awning above him and thought of a plan. He positioned his feet against one beam with his back against the opposite beam to let his arms rest. Then he pulled a small flute from a pouch around his neck and wet his lips. He put the instrument to his mouth and worked his fingers as he blew into it, but no sound came out. He continued to play vigorously, as though he was playing for a royal court, but no music emitted from the end of the bone flute.
A few minutes later a red-headed woodpecker flew up and lighted on his knee.
“Hello there,” Jaleal said as he took a short break. “I have a task for you.” He cupped a hand to the bird’s head and whispered to it. Then he went back to playing the bone flute. The bird flew down to the window sill and began tapping on the wood below the window.
Tap tap tap. Tap-tap. Tappity-tap-tap.
Jaleal grinned and played the flute while the woodpecker continued his rhythm below. A minute later the window flew open and a man shouted at the bird.
“Be gone, pest!” Jaleal saw the man sweep his arm at the bird. That was his opening. The gnome dropped down from his hiding spot, landing on the man’s forearm. He sent a deft kick to the man’s jaw, knocking his head back. Then he came in with a series of quick strikes to the man’s temple. The healer lost consciousness and fell backward.
Jaleal sprinted forward, fast as the wind. The woodpecker flew in above him, landing on the other healer’s head and pounding the man’s skull for all he was worth.
“Argh!” the healer cried out as the bird pulled out bits of hair.
The door flew open and in rushed the two guards. They ran in toward the healer, but never saw the gnome coming. Jaleal mentally called out for his spear and it magically appeared back in his hand. He spun the weapon around and cracked the first guard’s nose. Then he spun it back around and jabbed the blunt end into the base of the man’s neck. He grunted and fell to the side. The gnome then flicked the spear and whacked the guard across the back of the man’s head and he fell to the floor.
The second guard had caught on and was now running toward Jaleal, leaving the other healer to fend off the angry bird. The gnome slid on his knees under a sweeping halberd and then lashed out stabbing the guard’s right wrist with the tip of his spear. The gnome then jumped up and kicked the guard in the groin as hard as he could. As the guard fell, face twisted in agony, Jaleal slammed the side of his head with the blunt end of the spear.
After the second guard fell the gnome went to the healer. He agilely ran up the man’s backside and reached around his face to cover his mouth while he used his left arm to pinch a nerve in the man’s neck. The healer twitched and convulsed, but ultimately he too fell to the floor.
Seeing that his obstacles were now out of the way, Jaleal saluted the bird and then closed and locked the doors to the room. The bird flew away without another sound, leaving Jaleal to his task.
The gnome bounded atop the bed where Lepkin lay and crouched in close, placing his left hand on Lepkin’s chest, exactly over the man’s sternum. Then, he pointed the tip of his spear into Lepkin’s skin just between where Jaleal’s thumb and forefinger rested.
“Forgive me,” he whispered to Lepkin. Jaleal raised the spear high as his hand would go and then closed his eyes. A moment later he brought the spear down to Lepkin’s chest. At the exact moment the tip pierced Lepkin’s skin a bolt of lightning coursed in from the window and struck the end of the spear. Jaleal and Lepkin were bathed in silver, shimmering light for a blinding instant and then a crack of thunder ripped the two apart from each other. Jaleal careened through the room, crashing to the floor with his spear tumbling after him.
The gnome struggled to lift his eyes and looked at Lepkin. A blue, silvery flame rose up from Lepkin’s chest for just a moment and then it flickered and died. Lepkin’s body convulsed and his back arched up as he gasped and choked. Then his eyes opened and he slowly turned to his side, moaning. The man coughed and sputtered for a few seconds and then his eyes met Jaleal’s.
Jaleal smiled. “Nice to meet you, Keeper,” he said.
Lepkin shook his head and pushed himself up, looking around the room. “What happened? Who are you?”
The gnome chuckled through gasps for breath and then nodded. “We’ll have time for introductions later. We need to get to Erik.”
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
Erik stood in front of the dragon. He could see the merit in the dragon’s words, but he couldn’t believe that everything he had been through, all of his training, and the suffering that the others went through, would lead him to this.
“You hesitate,” the dragon said, breakin
g the silence. “Do you not understand what I have said?”
“I understand,” Erik said.
The dragon breathed in deeply and let out a small spark of fire with his next sentence. “You have the power to use Nagar’s Secret for good. You can prevent this world from perishing in a lake of fire.”
“The book is evil,” Erik countered. “It can’t be used for good.”
“You misjudge,” the dragon said. “Think of a sword.” The dragon waved his claw and a great, shining sword appeared on the pedestal. “Is a sword good or evil?”
Erik thought for a moment. “It is neither. It is only a tool,” he said.
The dragon nodded. “As a sword may either hew down the weak if wielded by an evil hand, so to it might protect the same if wielded by an honorable hand.”
Erik shook his head. “There is no honor in this magic,” he said.
“Not so,” the dragon said. “Even the wizard Allun’rha saw this. How do you think he stopped the power of Nagar’s Secret during the battle of Hamath?” The dragon paused for effect. “He turned the spell against itself. Just as those who seek the book would use it to warp men’s souls, it can be used to perfect them. By so doing, you can create an everlasting peace and end all suffering on this world. It would become a paradise.”
“Paradise?” Erik echoed. He thought for a minute and then the conjured sword before him vanished. He looked up to the dragon. “If that is true, then why didn’t Allun’rha do that at the battle of Hamath?”
“He did not understand the full potential of the power he had,” the dragon replied simply. “But I do, and now I present the opportunity to you.” The dragon reached forward with a single claw and gently pressed it to Erik’s heart. “You are pure,” he said. “You have the power to use this for the right reasons. You will be hailed as the greatest of kings for all generations to come. All will know that it was Erik, the Champion of Truth, who finally dispelled all evil from Terramyr.”