DragonStone- Fatal Winds

by M A Bernier

  “Strangers be you?” The rotund and balding small man said.

  “Yes.” Replied Eryyn. “Is that going to be a problem?”

  “Depends.” The bartender said. “You gonna pay for them drinks?” Eryyn reached into his cloak and brought forth a few pieces of the local currency. The bartender smiled and picked up the coins putting them in his apron. “Just needed to make sure, sometimes it’s hard to trust a stranger, especially ones as quiet as yourselves. Kinda makes me wonder if you're looking for someone.”

  “Sounds like we found a nosy bartender?” Said Jaymee.

  “Easy, Jayx.” Eryyn replied trying to sound as if he were talking down a man ready to fight. He turned back to the bartender. “We’re just looking for work is all.”

  ”And what kind of work might that be?” The bartender asked.

  “We’re good with the best kind of work of all.” Ardant leaned forward.

  “I been wondering when you would speak, you look like you’re the one to be in charge.” The bartender sat in the empty chair before him. “Just want kinda work are you the best at?”

  ”Information, especially unusual information, and the type which must be kept confidential, trusted information you might say.” Eryyn was impressed with the way Ardant was acting.

  “I see how ya work then. I seen it before but only by a very few. You come in, listen, and over for a price what you know to the highest seller, is that it?”

  “More or less.” Replied Ardant. “Confirmation is what makes what we sell worth something.”

  “I don’t quite follow what yer saying.”

  “It’s simple.” Jaymee spoke rather quickly and harshly impressing Eryyn with how easily he too could play a role. “You’ve heard something and want to know if it’s true, but you don’t know if others have heard the same thing. That’s what you want to know; if others hear and see what you’ve seen. Do you follow us now?”

  “Your friend is a bit hot-headed and rude. That kinda talk might make it hard to sell what you have or get what you need.” The bartender replied turning back to Ardant. “What did you say your name was?”

  ”I didn’t, and it’s his ears we hired him for.” Ardant replied looking at Jaymee sternly for the bartenders benefit. “Not his mouth.” The bartender chuckled and stood from his chair.

  “I think I like you folks, listen all you want, there is strange talk and rumors. Maybe you find something to sell, or buy, maybe not.” He tucked his arms in his apron and was about to leave, then turned back and leaned closer into the table. “I might have need of information, if you can convince me enough I might pay well for it.” He sat back down and spoke so quietly the Eryyn, Jaymee and Ardant had to lean in to hear him over the noise of the tavern. “There’s been rumors of some kind of important types disappearing without warning. Some say it’s the cause of them mages from the Evergreen continent. You find out for me if it’s true and I might pay ya, my employers would take kindly to know ahead of time of they should feel the need to take precautions in protecting themselves.” He stood and left the four of them at the table to finish their drinks.

  “What would make them think our mages are behind the disappearances?” Eryyn, Jaymee and Ardant were the only ones to notice that Alys had started listening intently to the bartender.

  “I don’t know.” Replied Eryyn. “There has always been a hatred to anyone not from their continent especially the mages and apprentices. It could be nothing more than their own small band of black sorcerers trying to stir up trouble.”

  ”Black sorcerers?” Asked Ardant. “Who are they?”

  “They are mages who practice the kind of magic that is only used to hurt others.” Explained Eryyn. “We were taught about them as apprentices. They get their nickname from the power they summon, if they can summon it. It only appears as a black mist. They seem to have an affinity for black clothing and meeting on the darkest nights. They practiced self-indulgence of vanity and deception to an extreme by trying using most of the power to keep themselves young and nearly immortal. As far as we know it was a futile effort on their part. We have never heard of them living longer than the natural lifespan.” Eryyn paused for a moment as if searching for some memory not his own. “In fact, in the memories of the old council there is the memory of one black sorcerer who reached the end of his power. He aged hundreds of years in minutes dying a horrible death.” He closed his eyes for a moment as if trying to bring himself back to the present. “That’s all I can tell you. They may not be that powerful on the outside, but we should still avoid them.”

  “Sometimes I am still amazed at people.” Remarked Ardant.

  “In what way?” Asked Jaymee.

  “They are deceived by their own vanity.” Replied Ardant. “Assuming this still happens, how vain must they be to keep trying to stay young? To what point will they stop deceiving themselves?” No one had an answer for him.

  “Were you able to pinpoint the descendent yet?” Eryyn turned to Alys being careful not to use her real name openly.

  “He’s nearby, probably less than a day or two away to the west I would say.”

  ”He?” Asked Jaymee.

  “Did I say he?” Alys paused briefly. “I guess I did. As we get closer I should be able to narrow down the choice of which he in the Barren Continent.”

  “I hope so.” Replied Ardant. “Or we’ll be deceived by our own vanity if we think we can find him soon.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Unity and Chaos

  “It is time.” Koth stated flatly as he looked at Jyn-Taa and Odien who had just returned to the temple. He paced back and forth in front of the four pillars while he waited for his master to return. “My spies have confirmed that even now the army of the Barren Continent is on the move. In less than a week they will be at the land bridge then a few days after that they will make their way to the Evergreen continent. Since the enemy now seems to be aware of whom we are looking for the masters have decided to send forth all the shadow walkers to look for this descendent. Those we have captured may not be the true heirs, but they will serve to open the gateway and allow our masters to come through.” Koth stopped pacing and looked at Jyn-Taa with a smile that held contempt. “Because the true heir has not yet been found you are still of use to us. Your blood will channel the souls of those we have captured, but only the full heir can truly open the gateway to the under-realm so that our masters may come forth with all their power.”

  “Do we know where Eryyn and his friends have gone?” Asked Jyn-Taa.

  “No, we only know they have left the EverGreen Continent in search of the heir.”

  ”We should find him, he may know something we do not.” Replied Jyn-Taa.

  “Of course we should, do you think I have not already considered that!” Koth snapped. “Even now the shadow walkers have begun searching every nook and home of the Barren Continent. If he is here we will find him.”

  “And if he is not?” Asked Jyn-Taa.

  “Your him, you should have the answer to that!” Koth stepped close enough for Jyn-Taa to feel his breath. “You were brought from the void only because no other would know how he thinks and where he would go.”

  “He is here.” Jyn-Taa replied and smiled as he looked around the chamber room absentmindedly. “The Barren Continent is where I would go if I wanted to find something out of the ordinary, or suspected an enemy may be hiding something of value. I am actually surprised he did not do so before.”

  “Really?” Said Koth. “You are as of a slow mind as Eryyn, only now you has it crossed your mind to come to these lands, therefore it must have only recently occurred to him.” Koth resumed pacing with his hands behind his back. “It begs the question then," he spoke to no one particular, “how long will it before he comes here?”

  “Not until he has found the heir of Eriflen. He can be quite single minded at times.” Jyn-Taa took a step closer to Koth. “We will not find him easily if he is here. Like myself he can change his appearance fo
r the sake of others.”

  “He cannot deceive the shadow walkers.”

  “I would not make that assumption; I have his memories even if I do not have all his power. I understand the power of the Rootsource. If he becomes a full master of that source there is nothing he will not be able to do including bringing the very mountain down around us if he chooses to do so.”

  “I bet you feel you have the same potential to that power and that is why you want his body and soul.” Koth sneered at him. “You may know the Rootsource from his memories but my kind knows of it from a time before your kind even walked upon this earth. It may not be so easy to control or harness as you think.” Koth stepped closer lowering his voice. “I shall enjoy watching you try to harness it if you defeat Eryyn.”

  “With the power of the demons unleashed, Vuuaan’s creations, Zelyth’s companions and the army of the Barren Lands Eryyn and his friends will never know what hit them. Your demons will see the fall of EverGreen forever and the heir of Eriflen will be no more.” Eryyn replied while complete ignoring statement. Koth was about to speak when he heard the familiar sound like the rustle of leaves behind him as the demons coalesced within the four columns. Koth and Jyn-Taa turned and faced the hazy forms of the five demons before them.

  “All is set to begin.” The Demon Wind said as he turned to Jyn-Taa. “Go to the catacombs below the temple and wait for the arrival of Zelyth and the others. Once they have arrived stepped through the portal it will then take you and Koth to the gate where the first ceremony is to be performed.” Both individuals bowed before the five demons. Jyn-Taa dismissed Odien asking him to keep watch on errant clerics and witches while he and Koth traversed the paths to the lower depths of the mountain temple. It took more than an hour to reach the lower catacombs, the demons needed time to prepare their power so there was no need for the two of them to make haste.

  Within the lower catacombs was a large, domed chamber. Koth and Jyn-Taa stood in the center. The chamber’s ceiling was thirty feet high. It’s diameter almost 200 feet with several entrances and exit points that led to sleeping and eating chambers. The demons grudgingly recognized the need that Zelyth and his comrades might need rest so most would remain actively trying to block the senses of the dragons while a small portion slept and ate as necessary and rotated their rest and eating with each other. Almost another half hour passed as the two stood in complete silence waiting for the sound of the shadow vortex that appeared before them without warning. Zelyth and the others began to file through. Zelyth stood before Koth.

  “You know what to do?” Asked Koth.

  “Yes, I have no need of your presence, I will instruct my kind on their task.” Zelyth replied. If his words were acid Koth would have been ashes in an instant. Koth looked at Jyn-Taa and then the two of them stepped through the portal.

  Jyn-Taa could see only red and blackened sky and desert in all directions from with the gate. Four pillars reached upward as if trying to touch what appeared to be a sky. The smooth black pillars bordered a circular stone or granite. The stone measured almost fifty feet in diameter. It was in the center that Jyn-Taa saw the palm sized, circular image of the symbol that only the heir of Eriflen bore. Only the spilling of his blood could completely free the demons so that they would once again to wreak havoc upon the world of mortals.

  “Take this.” Koth removed a small pouch from his robes. “It is dried blood of those we have captured so far, it must me mixed with yours and placed upon the key. Use the power inherited from Eryyn and from our masters to prepare the opening.” Jyn-Taa took the small pouch and walked to the center of the stone platform, then he knelt down setting the pouch on the stone floor. He carefully opened the pouch containing the dried blood. He removed a small, ordinary knife from his robes and made a small slice upon his left palm causing blood to appear. He placed the knife back within his robes and then took the pouch and poured its contents into his bloody palm. Letting the pouch drop he clasped his hands together and reached out with his soul to those bearing the partial mark of the key. He felt a portion of their souls beginning to pour into him and he channeled them into the gate to prepare the opening. The part of him changed by Vuuaan's power craved for the taste of their souls. He wanted to devour all of them but, could not lest he be discovered. Jyn-Taa concentrated on the dried blood as it intermingled with his soul and the souls of the descendants of Eriflen. He felt as if he could see through all the eyes of those captured, to cause them to move at his command. Each one of the those souls could be his to command as easily as he caused an arm or finger to move. A bolt of lightning flashing above and striking one of the pillars brought his thoughts back to the present. He lowered his hand that had been cut and pressed it upon the symbol before him. His hand became immobile; the symbol beneath began to radiate heat followed by a burning sensation. He realized his flesh was being branded but there was nothing he could do as he knelt with his hand frozen in place.

  Koth watched as Jyn-Taa mixed the dried blood with the cut on his hand, Koth become nervous when Jyn-Taa appeared to pause, as if second guessing what he needed to do. Almost as soon as the hesitation appeared it was gone. Koth watched him placed his hand on the symbol that almost immediately began to glow red. The desert around them erupted with lightning and thunder, Koth could not tell if it was the thunder causing the quaking or if the quaking was independent. Hundreds of sand funnels formed along with twisters of black from the clouds rolling and broiling high above. The desert shortly became an impenetrable barrier of wind and sand. If Koth stepped outside the outer edge of the four pillars he was certain his flesh would be ripped from his body in seconds. When he thought the desert could become no worse than it was he saw flames and water form in the shape of twisters. Rocky explosions rocked the landscape flying upward into the air. As each chunk of rock landed it exploded upon impact with the desert sand. He looked up at the thunderous noise of the clouds above having to hold his hands over his ears to keep from going deaf. The shadow part of him reveled in the chaos around him while the body he inhabited shrunk in fear at the sounds and sights. From the clouds above a vortex made up of the four elements formed. From each of them bolts of lightning emerged sporadically striking the tips of the pillars. The large mouth of the reverse vortex drew closer and the bolts of lightning became continuous. The cascade of lightning climbed down the columns; at the base of each he could see it take shape as if something was pressing through a wall of lightning. The vague shapes became hands, arms and then bodies. Koth recognized the four forms of the elemental demons as they stepped forth breaking through the barrier from one world to the next. Each of the demons stepped forth then immediately looked toward Koth.

  “Come forth our brother.” They said in unison as they held for each hand. Koth fell to his knees in agony and ecstasy, his own master, aided by the others, was breaking the barrier through him. He looked down at his chest as a black hand, followed by an arm, emerged yet did not break his ribs or rip through his flesh, instead his master was ripping through his soul. The other demons each in turn grasped the hand and forearm drawing the shadow demon forth. Koth, frozen in place, was suddenly thrown backward as his master pulled free of him. While his body screamed in pain Koth’s shadow soul screamed pleasure. There before him were the four elemental demons and his own master the demon of shadows.

  Zelyth paced impatiently back and forth in the center of the chamber. He and the others had noticed the shadow watchers appearing from time to time as if peeking in upon them.

  “Zelyth, this better be worth the risk!” Kreken hissed at him. “Our allegiance to you forces us to endure the punishment of being trapped in these human bodies. We cannot take flight, sleep in the lava chambers or bask in the desert sun as the dragons we once were.” Several others stepped in closer with Kreken. Were it not for the curse placed upon them they would have disposed of Zelyth many times over if they could have. Zelyth was about to retort when he and his brothers and sisters heard what sounded like the rustlin
g of leaves coming from the center of the chamber where they stood. All of them backed up as the sound increased and an intense cold radiated outward from apparently nothing, Zelyth was more than familiar with the feeling and did not back away as the others did. In the exact center of the chamber a black vortex appeared, it was three times as high as he was and three times as wide, it had width and height, but no depth. A large hoofed and charred foot emerged and almost stepped on Zelyth. He stepped back several feet but remained apart from the others. Two large horns followed by a face with red eyes and a mouth dripping with a black mist that evaporated as it dropped in the air. The rest of the massive body of the demon Shadow emerged followed by Earth, Fire, Water, and then Wind. Zelyth hardly even noticed the two small figures of Koth and Jyn-Taa who emerged from the vortex even as it was fading from view. Zelyth and the others looked on as the demons, each bearing a resemblance to their elemental name, looked at one another then at the demon Wind. He spoke to the demon Shadow in a tongue not recognized then turned and began to walk in the direction of the largest opening in the chamber. Had they not moved those that came with Zelyth would have been trampled by the lumbering, ground shaking, steps of the four largest demons they had ever seen. As the four demons walked passed the very quickly made path cleared by Zelyth’s followers each felt presence of each demon passing by, as Wind walked the air seemed to push outward from him, he apparently was the leader, Earth’s steps caused cracks in the chamber floor and cause it to shake. Fire radiated a heat so warm that many began to perspire profusely, lastly walked Water, the air became thick with a blanket of humidity.