Dragon's Blood

by Jason J. Nugent

  “Soon I will be unstoppable. None will be able to oppose my power and live. Who can stop my gray-soul army? Dragons will fear me and people will bow down. When I destroy the weak southerners, all will fall under my power.”

  He pulled Drexon’s tome from its cradle on his desk and sat in his chair, resting the Blood Stone on his lap. He turned to the familiar poem; its words written on his mind.

  From dark crystal once hidden now found

  Comes power unchecked, unbound.

  Fill the onyx with a dragon’s soul

  And own the dream, the dreamer whole.

  Find the crystal among a dragon’s back

  Within a cavern, dark and black.

  Slay the keeper and take the gem

  Power eternal, over dragon, over men.

  The dragon soul you will bind,

  A night-wraith to destroy the mind.

  The living will live among the dead,

  When you control the visions within their heads.

  Vile offspring of a dragon’s lie

  Controlled by the onyx eye.

  Within the fatal dragon fate,

  Power of yours, a night-wraith.

  The words taunted him. They were the source of his power. They unlocked a potential which no previous Magus ever dared to tap into. With the Blood Stone at his command and the wraith locked within, he ruled the dreams of halflings. Devouring their minds turned them into gray-souls completely under his control. With no opposition to his authority, the gray-souls were beholden to his every whim. They’d go where no human would and do what no human dared. They were the perfect instruments of his fury.

  The south allowed unfettered dragon activity, looking upon halflings as a natural part of their world. They were disgusting heathens in need of correction.

  Myrthyd wanted to extend his influence south, to destroy their adherence to Deavos’ laws. They were wrong. They were misguided and in need of correction. With the Blood Stone, he’d see to it. After he unified Tregaron, crossing the mountains with the gray-soul army at his command was his next step.

  The power within the Blood Stone consumed him and he wanted nothing more than to unleash it. In time, he’d allow the full force of his fury to run wild against all who opposed him. They must never know his truth. He’d never allow it.

  It had been days since he met with the wraith. He wanted to know if it found that wretched sister of his. Closing his eyes, he channeled energy into the Blood Stone and soon found himself within a black void.

  “Wraith!” he called out. “Your master is here.”

  Twelve

  They’d been traveling for three days and Ryn still couldn’t change back into dragon form. If he had, they’d be in the Dragon Lands already. Instead, he, Alushia, and Brida were stuck traversing across the dangerous Dragonback Mountains, exposed and uncertain.

  “Ryn, are you sure you can’t change yet?”

  It surprised her how easily she accepted the dragon-man into her life. Only months before, she believed dragons were the scourge of the world. It was their fault Tregaron had experienced such wasting away. Dragons and their halfling brood were supposed to be something to fear and hate. Yet, here she stood with a dragon; herself a halfling. None of it seemed evil. None of it seemed wrong. Who was the liar: dragons or the Order? After a lifetime of accusing dragons, she found it difficult to believe the Order was honest with the people of Tregaron after her recent experiences.

  “I’m positive. I feel I’m on the edge of making it happen, but not yet. Soon, Alushia; I just know it.”

  Brida rubbed her large head against his leg, her soft purr a welcome sound.

  The sun was settling low in the sky and they found themselves in a small stand of trees. “We’ll stay here for the night. No sense in going out there without the promise of shelter,” Ryn said. Alushia had no argument and the dragon-man quickly had a fire going to warm them. After a small meal, Alushia curled up with Brida and soon fell asleep as Ryn watched for dangers.

  ***

  Alushia opened her eyes and found herself standing on a large boulder in the middle of a desert. It was like no place she’d ever been. A dry, warm breeze gently caressed her cheek. There were no trees for shelter and sand dunes rolled like the sea. She squinted, holding her hand above her eyes to see if anything was near.

  A loud roar in the sky caught her attention. When she looked up, her heart was caught in her throat. It was the night-wraith Avess.

  He roared again, his large tattered wings beating in the blazing sun. Smoke trailed from his eyes along his body. He circled in the sky several times and landed in front of her, folding his wings behind him.

  “Avess—” she began. He cut her off with a snort.

  “I have little time. If he finds out, all is lost. All!”

  “What is it? Where have you been? I’ve seen creatures…gray-souls…that somehow come from you?”

  Avess hung his head, the eerie, smoky eyes unable to meet hers.

  “The truth stings, but I cannot hide. What you speak is real. They are our doing, though not by my will. It’s his will. We’ve tried to defy him, but…but he’s powerful and we cannot resist. Our will is his to control.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  Another loud roar caught her attention and Alushia spun on the rock, her gaze to the sky. Crossing the sun was another night-wraith. Though its wings were torn, it didn’t look as old or tattered as Avess. It was similar, but something about it was different.

  “There’s two of you?”

  “Another soul trapped within. Release. That’s all that matters now. If we remain, others may join us and his powers will grow immensely. Dark times are ahead. It must end.”

  “What are you talking about, Avess? I’m with a dragon, Ryn, and we’re going to the Dragon Lands to find my mother Etain.”

  Avess looked up at her when she spoke the name. “So you accept? You see reason? That’s why you are in danger. Not that you believe, but that you are.”

  “I’m confused.” She wrinkled her face at him, unable to comprehend his cryptic words.

  The night-wraith in the sky circled and suddenly the scene changed from a sandy wasteland to green fields with mountains in the distance, their snowy peaks rising into the clouds.

  “Etain can mend this. She knows what must be done. She was there. At the beginning, she was there. Of all present, she is the last. She can stop her son. It must be so.”

  “Her…son?” Alushia asked. Elk ran across the field. A farm materialized from nothing. Long rows of wheat and barley extended as far as she could see. None of it was rotten.

  “His evil permeates everything. He is the source. He is the reason for it all.”

  “Who? Who is this you speak of?”

  The night-wraith roared above and Avess looked upward. “No time. I must go before he finds out. I’ve done all I can to keep him ignorant of you. I fear I may not be able to continue doing so.”

  Avess leapt into the air and joined the other night-wraith.

  “Wait! Come back! Avess, who is it? Who do you speak of?”

  The two night-wraiths roared as they flew away to the east, not turning back to look at her.

  ***

  When Alushia woke, it was still dark. The fire had died down and she felt a chill. Inching closer to Brida, she tried to use the snowcat’s warmth.

  Avess’s words replayed in her mind. She didn’t know what he was warning her about, but maybe Ryn would.

  Across the dying fire, the dragon-man slept sitting against a tree. He must have fallen asleep while on watch. It didn’t bother her and she didn’t feel less safe. Something about having him and Brida nearby, even asleep, comforted her. She soon fell back to sleep until approaching footsteps woke her.

  “Hey, are you ready?” It was Ryn. Her groggy mind barely registered his face.

  “Huh?”

  “We need to get moving. Gray-souls are nearby. Several of them too. Seems like they’re going someplace
as a group. I’d rather not have to deal with that today.”

  Alushia stirred and stretched, Brida doing the same.

  When they finally got up and moving, Ryn pointed at a gray-soul to their right.

  “See, over there. All morning they’ve been on the move. I don’t know what’s happening, but I fear something terrible is going on.”

  “Have you tried to change today?” Alushia asked, hoping to gain the advantage of flight to get them out of the mountains and far away from the gray-souls.

  “I doubt it’ll work.”

  “Just try. For me,” she said, winking at him.

  He shook his head and closed his eyes.

  A bright flash of light erupted in front of Alushia. She had to shield her eyes from the brilliance. Then it vanished and before her stood a tall Garnet dragon. Ryn in his natural state.

  That feels amazing! He said to her in her mind. She still didn’t understand how the connection worked and how she could hear him speaking to her in her head, but she didn’t care. He was his dragon self again. Never in her life had she ever wanted to see a dragon as badly as she did right then.

  “Do you think you can fly?”

  Only one way to find out!

  Ryn unfolded his large wings and leapt into the air. He soared high into the sky. Yes! This is wonderful! I’m me again!

  Ryn traced random patterns in the sky, fire erupting from his mouth. It was a spectacular display of flame and dragon, something her father would’ve been excited to see only for the hunt on his hands.

  Are you ready? he spoke in her mind. Brida sent a sensation of fear.

  “Don’t worry, girl. He’s our friend. It’s Ryn. You like him!”

  Alushia looked up to the sky. “I am, but Brida’s not so sure!”

  Oh, so now she doesn’t like me? I’ll remember that when she needs someone to snuggle up to! He laughed as he flew down toward them.

  Alushia climbed up his wing to sit on his neck just behind his head. “Brida, he’ll have to carry you, girl. Like before? It’ll be fine. Ryn won’t let you go.”

  Brida snorted but remained steady, waiting for the inevitable.

  Ryn flew into the air and scooped up the snowcat in his large claws, careful not to injure her. Got her! Now we can go.

  Alushia clung to his neck as Ryn flew higher into the sky, the air growing colder the higher they went. He flew into a cloud, water droplets covering them. He then burst from the whiteness into the blue sky.

  I’ve missed this so much! You have no idea what it’s like to be free and alive like this! I wish you could. You’d love it!

  “This does well enough for me,” she shouted back, trying to speak over the rustle of his flapping wings.

  Ryn circled the trees where they left. I want to see where the gray-souls are going. Something’s not right.

  “There!” Alushia said pointing to the ground as if Ryn could see her motion. The dragon’s head swiveled back and forth, scanning the ground underneath until he saw what she pointed at.

  Several shambling bodies were forcing themselves through the forest toward a narrow pass. Ryn flew above them, following the direction of their line. It was scattered with gray-souls, many more than they expected.

  “I thought there were only a few of them! What’s going on?”

  I fear the night-wraith has been unleashed by the Blood Stone. Dark times are ahead. You must refrain from the night-wraith.

  “How do I do that? I have no control over my dreams.”

  You must resist it. Your life depends on it. Do you want to be one of them?

  Alushia looked over his shoulder at the gray-souls below. “No, not at all.”

  Find a way to avoid the night-wraith. It is the only way.

  Ryn followed the line into the valley and she heard him gasp in her mind. She did the same, holding a hand over her mouth. “By Meanos,” she said. “Look at them.”

  There were a mass of gray-souls packed into a small valley. It was as if they were herded together like animals in a pen.

  “Look!” Alushia cried out, pointing at men in black armor. “Down there around the gray-souls!”

  Ryn’s head turned to the left. It’s begun. He’s growing an army.

  “Who? Who’s doing this? What do you know that you aren’t sharing with me?”

  The Kull Naga Myrthyd. He’s done this. He’s unlocked the night-wraith. This is worse than I thought. Etain must know!

  Ryn circled the valley, roaring and spitting flame. The men in black turned upwards, shouting something they couldn’t hear. Alushia felt a sense of anger from Brida directed at Ryn’s flying or the gray-souls below, she wasn’t sure.

  We have to go. The longer we stay, the worse it is for you. If we can keep you away from the night-wraith, you’ll be safe.

  Once more, Ryn raced across the sky then left the gray-souls behind. Alushia turned as they flew away, studying those below. There were so many of them! What if there were more? How were they going to stop all of them? It was a problem she had no answers for.

  “I hope my mother knows what to do. I’m sure father is fuming right now if he’s with her.”

  Ryn chuckled. Yeah, I can’t imagine the greatest dragon slayer of all time is happy knowing his missing wife is a dragon and his daughter is a halfling.

  Alushia clung to his neck, feeling his muscles move as he flew from the horrific sight below.

  Thirteen

  For two days Jor led the small group westward, sticking close to a stream that seemed to traverse the land heading for their final destination: the land of dragons and hopefully Lailoken. They were fortunate enough not to encounter any of those gray-souls or griffons, though several dragons flew overhead.

  “Aye, if only we had the drop on that miserable beast,” Jor said as an Opal dragon soared above them. It was mid-afternoon, and if they weren’t under the cover of the forest canopy, they’d be exposed to the fierce sun and the dragon.

  “But it’s out of reach and nothing we can do will bring it back. It’s heading where we are, so my instincts tell me we’re on the right path,” Tozgan said. Ori grunted his approval.

  They moved out from the forest into a large field with tall grass swaying in the breeze.

  “Look there!” Belthos shouted, his youthful exuberance in full display. He pointed ahead. “See there? The line rising from the horizon. It’s smoke!”

  “By Meanos, the lad has it!” Tozgan replied.

  Jor shielded her eyes to the harsh sun above. “Do you think it’s an isolated settlement, or have we come across our first city in these lands?”

  “It’s hard to tell. I wouldn’t mind if it was a village. I could use some decent rest, a warm meal—”

  “And a mug of ale!” Jor said, interrupting Tozgan.

  “Aye, especially that!”

  “Shall we proceed, then? Maybe see what lies ahead for us?” Jor asked.

  None objected so they carefully headed toward the streaming smoke.

  As the approached, it was clear they had stumbled upon a small city. More streams of smoke rose in the sky and buildings dotted the horizon, spreading out to either side. The forest was cleared all the way to the city and rose once again beyond it.

  “Anyone have an idea what this place is?” Jor asked, looking at Tozgan.

  “How would I know? My travels are in Tregaron, not out here!”

  Jor smiled. “Thought I’d ask.”

  A faded dirt road led from the wide field into the city, flanked to either side by small houses. As they entered the city, dogs barked at them. Startled by the dogs, chickens inside wooden pens at the house on their right came alive and created a loud cacophony. The door on the small wooden house slammed open and an old woman ran out with a straw broom. She swatted at the pen.

  “Shut up, you infernal things!” She raised the broom again and noticed the group on the road.

  Jor waved a hand. “Greetings!”

  “Bah! Go about, would ya?” the old woman r
eplied. She swatted at the chickens once more, then scurried back into her house, slamming the door.

  “Nice greeting,” Ori said.

  “I’d be cautious if I saw us, too,” Belthos said.

  Jor noticed his stone glow faintly.

  “Hey, you may want to hide that under your shirt. Remember, we’re in dragon lands. If they see a Magus using a stone infused with dragon blood, they might not take kindly to us.”

  Belthos nodded and buttoned his shirt over the stone.

  “Do ya suppose they got an inn here?” Tozgan asked.

  “I hope so. What city doesn’t?” Jor replied.

  The city spread out in a circular pattern, the dirt streets radiating outward from a central building ahead. The closer they got, the more it looked like a place of worship to Jor.

  “Look there,” she said. “You think that’s one of their dragon-loving shrines?”

  Ori giggled at her comment, forcing a grin across her face.

  Dusk was settling in and oil lamps were lit along the streets by young boys wearing bright red tunics. Women in similar tunics marched in pairs with short swords at their hip.

  “Guards?” Ori asked.

  “Aye, my dracs be on that,” Tozgan said. “Best if we stay clear of them.”

  They drew closer to the black building in the city center. It had two large spires piercing the sky and several of the red-clad women guards slowly marched around it.

  “Whatever it is, they feel it’s important,” Jor said, “so maybe for now we leave it be. I fear no dragon, but I’m no fool. In a strange land, we must be careful.”

  “Over there!” Belthos said a little too loudly. One of the guards near the building looked their way. She watched them for several moments and then continued her vigilance.

  Belthos pointed at a small two-story building where several people congregated out front with mugs of ale in their hands. A sign hung from the side of the building with a picture of a dragon wing.

  “Ah…the tavern!” Tozgan said. “Better than an inn any day! Shall we?”

  Jor clapped him on the back. “A man after my own heart!”