Five Kingdoms: Book 06 - Evil Tide

by Toby Neighbors

  Night was falling when they took to the air again. Zollin had slept briefly while Ferno hunted. The big dragon needed substantial food at least every other day to keep flying with Zollin on its back. Zollin was content to eat the dried meat and stale bread in his pack. His mind was always on the danger that he felt was coming. It was as if someone or something was watching him with evil intent. He had to get to the Northern Highlands and recruit the magical peoples he had encountered on his journeys there. Whatever the vile witch Gwendolyn was up to, he knew it would be deadly unless they were prepared.

  They flew through the night and saw no more bands of the centaur-like creatures. The next morning, Zollin was groggy. He had dozed fitfully on Ferno’s back, but it was not a restful sleep. It took him several minutes to recognize the feeling that seemed to pulse toward him. At first he thought it was just dizziness from lack of sleep, but soon the repeated waves of magic took shape. They were unlike anything Zollin had experienced before, and they coaxed Ferno toward the source of the magical power.

  Soon, they were passing over ruined villages and burned farms. Zollin could see the destruction, and Ferno sent regular mental images of what the dragon could see with its superior vision. The land seemed deserted, almost as if war had already reached the Kingdom of Ortis.

  Zollin grew more curious as they approached what looked to be a massive battle and beyond that lay an incredible forest. Ferno circled high in the sky and below them they could see a huge camp. There were tents and fire rings, wagons and what appeared to a throng of captives. There was also a tall, stone watch tower, which was surrounded by warriors with the intent on knocking the ancient structure down.

  “Why on earth are they tearing down the tower?” Zollin wondered aloud.

  Immediately, the image of a man popped into Zollin’s mind. The man looked like a living statue with muscles bulging under his sweat slick skin. The man had two swords and was brimming with a strange magic that was unfamiliar to Zollin, but obviously the source of magic he had been sensing all morning.

  “Get us closer,” Zollin said.

  Ferno dove down in a tight spiral. As they flew closer, Zollin could sense the danger. The watch tower was starting to lean. It would collapse soon; he knew that. He let his magic flow out toward the battle. It was a strange sensation. Hundreds of men were focused on the destruction of the tower, and there were no other combatants. The man on top of the watch tower had taken on the entire army camped below.

  Then, the final support beam shattered, and the tower started to fall.

  “Save him!” Zollin shouted, but Ferno was already swooping low.

  Just as the man on the tower jumped in a vain effort to escape the wreckage of the tower, Ferno’s dive leveled and the massive dragon caught the man in its powerful talons. Zollin felt the thrill of terror, and then the man’s body sagged as he passed out.

  Ferno landed between the army who had destroyed the watch tower and the massive forest. Zollin roused the man.

  “Hell of a fight,” Zollin said. “I hope we saved the right person.”

  “Who are you?” the man asked.

  “I’m Zollin, Wizard of Yelsia. And this is Ferno,” he said, waving to the dragon, who roared so loudly that it shook the ground. Zollin grinned as the man instinctively covered his ears.

  “And you are?” Zollin asked.

  “I’m Lorik.”

  “You from Ortis, Lorik?”

  “I’m from Hassell Point in the south; on the coast, past the Marshlands. I just volunteered to help guard the border when the king’s troops went south.”

  “So, those are Norsik you were fighting?” Zollin asked.

  The army had followed Zollin and Ferno, coming into the clearing between their camp and the forest before they hesitated. They were staring at Ferno in awe, too afraid to continue the attack and too mesmerized to flee.

  “Yes, they’ve invaded and taken a lot of captives. My friends and I rescued a group of nearly a hundred women and children.”

  “They’ve got five times that many in chains on the far side of their camp,” Zollin said.

  “I’ve got to save them,” Lorik said.

  “By yourself?”

  “If I have to.”

  “Well...” Zollin said, smiling, “don’t make me ask twice.”

  “Would you help us?” Lorik asked, the doubt evident in his voice.

  “I think we could,” Zollin said. “Go ahead; show em’ what you’re made of, Ferno.”

  The dragon roared again and jumped high in the air. Then, the great green beast’s mighty wings flapped hard and propelled the dragon even higher. Zollin watched Lorik, who in turn, watched in awe as the dragon dove and bellowed flame. It took only one pass to scatter the Norsik. Most fled toward the huge forest and some came close enough that Zollin felt compelled to act. He let his magic flow out and sent invisible walls of magical power smashing into several small groups. Most of the Norsik warriors fell and didn’t rise.

  “Are you doing that?” Lorik asked.

  “Yes,” Zollin said, focusing on the fleeing raiders.

  Zollin had to fight down the feeling of anger that kept creeping into his subconscious. With every warrior that he battered down, he felt the sharp tang of disappointment. He was supposed to be recruiting help to stop Gwendolyn’s hordes, not killing Norsik warriors. Still, the groups of captives gave him all the cause he needed to join Lorik’s fight. He had heard of the Norsik; they were slavers who raided across the North Sea into Baskla and Ortis, sacking villages and taking captives to sell to the Borian people farther east. He couldn’t stand by and let the Norsik take innocent people as slaves from the Five Kingdoms. Neither could he recruit such an army to fight against the witch’s forces.

  It took less than five minutes to clear the plain of raiders. Ferno turned the field between the camp and the forest into a charred plain, but the fierce dragon didn’t fly too close to the massive trees of the forest. It was almost as if Ferno feared something in the dark woods.

  The Norsik broke and fled; there was no sign of any resistance. They abandoned everything; all they had pillaged and all the slaves they had captured. Lorik looked at Zollin.

  “I can’t thank you enough,” he said.

  “I have news, and most of it isn’t good,” Zollin said. “Why don’t you rest here while I go see about freeing those captives?”

  “All right,” Lorik agreed.

  Zollin turned and then began to rise up into the air. He could sense the surprise from Lorik, but he ignored it. Ferno swooped down underneath Zollin and they flew back across the wide camp toward the captives, who were mostly women and children.

  “Better not get too close,” Zollin said. “We don’t want to frighten them.”

  An image of Ferno circling overhead while Zollin floated down came into his mind.

  “Good idea. Make sure there isn’t anyone else who might try to hurt these people nearby.”

  Zollin gathered his legs under him and then Ferno turned, tiling the massive, scaly body so that Zollin could jump away from the dragon. For a second, Zollin felt the terror of falling, and then his magic formed an invisible bubble around him and slowed his descent. He landed gracefully on the ground near the captives who were obviously in shock. He let his magic flow out until he could feel the ropes and chains that held the women in place. It took a massive effort to affect the bonds of all the captives at once, but he succeeded in shattering them.

  “You are free,” Zollin shouted. “You are free and safe. The Norsik have fled. Find yourselves food, water, and shelter.”

  There were nods and few of the women managed to say thank you, but Zollin was already rising back up in the air. The women and children watched in awe as Ferno swooped under Zollin again. They flew back toward the forest and Zollin sensed there was more in the massive trees than just birds. He couldn’t see anything and he was tempted to let his magic flow toward the forest, but then he remembered what had happened when he let his ma
gic into the ocean and decided not to take the chance.

  He soothed Ferno who wasn’t anxious to get any closer to the massive forest. At first, Zollin thought the size of the trees to be so intimidating. The trees were huge, both is in girth and in height. Zollin had never seen such massive trees, and he couldn’t help but wonder what his father could make with wood milled from the huge forest. They came back to where Lorik stood and found that there was another man and woman with him. Zollin studied Lorik, taking in the light-colored clothing and the strange swords. Lorik had the beginnings of a beard and shaggy hair, but he also had kindness in his eyes. Zollin could tell that Lorik would do anything to protect the people around him, and a large group of wide-eyed women and children were emerging from the forest behind Lorik. They watched as Ferno landed. The dragon growled and then curled itself up, resting on the ground behind Zollin. The women and children behind Lorik were fearful at first, but slowly they came out of the trees to get a better look.

  Zollin walked slowly, favoring one leg as he moved over to where Lorik waited with the other man and woman. The man was smaller than Lorik, not short but thin and wiry, much like Zollin’s father, Quinn. He wore twin sheaths slung low on his hips, although there was only one knife visible. Zollin could feel the pain radiating from the man’s knee, although he showed no outward sign of injury.

  The woman had an air of confidence and pride. She was pretty in a way, with knowing eyes that seemed to see deep inside of Zollin. She had an open, friendly look, but there were traces of pain and fear in her face too. Her clothes were tattered, and there were marks on her wrists from where ropes had worn the skin raw.

  “Zollin, meet Vera and Stone, my very best friends,” Lorik said.

  “It’s nice to meet you both,” Zollin said. “I wish I were here under more pleasant circumstances.”

  “You’re a wizard, huh?” Stone said, his voice cynical.

  “Liam!” Vera said.

  Zollin just smiled and raised his hand, letting his magic flow out and engulf the smaller man. Stone rose slowly into the air and began thrashing and shouting.

  “Hey!” he roared. “Let me down! Put me down!”

  The children watching from the trees laughed as Zollin lowered Stone gently to the ground. Stone hobbled to keep his balance on his injured leg. Zollin focused his magic on the injured knee. He could tell at once that the ligaments in the knee were severed, although enough time had passed that they were beginning to grow into the surrounding tissue. Zollin knew that if he didn’t do something, the smaller man would be crippled for life. He began to repair the damage, melting the scar tissue and reconnecting the tendons and ligaments.

  Stone grabbed onto Lorik’s shoulder, obviously expecting the pain in his knee to intensify, but instead it dulled and after a moment, it disappeared altogether. It was a relatively quick fix for the young wizard, but one that took all his concentration. When he was finished, Zollin took a deep breath, as if he were coming up out deep water.

  “Believe me now?” Zollin said with a smile.

  “I never doubted you,” Stone said, trying to smooth his clothes, but there was a look of excitement and relief on his face. “What did you do to my knee?”

  “Try it out?” Zollin said.

  Stone put his weight on the leg, but instead of pain it felt strong. He bent the knee and then lowered his body down into a squat and straightened back up.

  “It’s fine,” he said. “I can’t believe it. You did something to my knee.”

  Zollin just smiled.

  “We are very pleased to meet you,” Vera said. “And it is a great honor to see your dragon, no matter what the circumstances.”

  “Oh, that’s Ferno, but he isn’t mine. I’m more of his pet project. It’s a long story, but one for another time. Right now, I need to tell you what has happened in Osla.”

  “Osla?” Lorik said. “How does that concern us?”

  “Well, for one, your King and most of his army were destroyed there. I’m afraid King Oveer came under the power of a very evil witch. She led your King away and forced him to bring along all his troops, which is why your border was left unprotected, I suspect.”

  “Why?” Vera asked. “What is going on?”

  “When King Belphan and King Zorlan attacked Yelsia, Osla was left undefended,” Zollin explained. “Your King Oveer was supposed to lead his army north, join with the Basklan army and attack Yelsia from the east. Along the way he fell under the witch’s spell. I went south to confront the Master of the Torr, and we were both attacked by the witch. She has delved into some very dark magic, and I’m afraid she’s unleashed a terrible horde of monsters on the Five Kingdoms. I’m looking for people to fight this evil and help those who need it. The Yelsian army and what’s left of the army from Falxis are going to make a stand at the Walheta mountain range. I’m going to try to convince King Ricard to bring his troops south and hopefully stand with you here, along the border.”

  “What about the people in the southern part of the kingdom?” Lorik asked.

  “I’m afraid many of them are already lost,” Zollin said. “The creatures that the witch unleashed are capturing people and carrying them back to Osla, where she is building an army.”

  “And you think that army will come here?” Vera asked.

  “I fear so,” Zollin said. “I can’t be sure of who or what exactly is coming this way, but I am certain the witch intends to rule all of the Five Kingdoms. I’ve got to stop her, but I can’t do it alone. Can you help?”

  “Of course,” Lorik said. “You saved us today. The whole of northern Ortis owes you a debt we cannot repay.”

  “No,” Zollin said. “I think you could handle the Norsik. I’m hoping that with a little help you can fight whatever the witch sends against you. But you don’t owe me anything. I would stay and help you, but I have to move on. I have to warn King Ricard, and then I’m going to the Northern Highlands to find more help.”

  “I’m not sure what we can do, but we will spread the word,” Lorik said. “If King Ricard will join us, we’ll make a stand here at the Wilderlands.”

  “That’s good enough for me,” Zollin said. “If I get a chance, I’ll come back this way.”

  “We would like that,” Lorik said.

  “Very much,” Vera added.

  “Consider it done,” Zollin said.

  He walked over to where Ferno was waiting and rose up in the air in one smooth, effortless motion and then descended gracefully onto the dragon’s back. He waved and then they were in the air, Ferno flapping its leather wings in powerful strokes that carried them high up into the sky just as the sun cast orange light across the massive forest. Zollin looked and in the distance saw a tree that rose above the others in the massive forest. It was a mountain of a tree, and Zollin felt magic radiating out from it like a bonfire shining in the night. The magic was different than his own, more protective, more secret. He could tell right away that it was the same power that filled Lorik, but it wasn’t welcoming to him, so he decided to fly around the forest.

  “Why don’t we go around these woods,” Zollin suggested.

  Ferno growled a reply that Zollin recognized as affirmation. Then they sped away from the scene of the battle toward the setting sun.

  Chapter 3

  Brianna fought to keep the frustration she felt from the dragons that still remained with her. She was glad that Ferno had gone with Zollin, but she felt as if the pride of dragons was vulnerable split up as they were. She worried about the reception Gyia would have in Orrock as well. She didn’t know Prince Willam well, although refusing to allow Gyia to go with the crown prince never entered Brianna’s mind. She didn’t control the dragons and would never dictate what they could or couldn’t do, but she couldn’t help but worry about them the way a mother worries about her children. The pride wasn’t the only issue on her mind; she was concerned about Mansel. She knew her old friend could take care of himself in most instances, but with the creatures from the
abyss spreading across Falxis like a wildfire, she worried that he would get overwhelmed.

  She had searched for Mansel as she traveled north, but even with her Dragon vision she didn’t see him. She knew Mansel was taking Nycoll somewhere to start a new life, and she had hoped that she would run across them so she could warn them. However, once she crossed the Walheta Mountains, she knew she had missed him.

  Selix, the huge golden dragon she was riding on as they flew toward Felson, shook slightly and then let orange and yellow flames roll back over both dragon and rider. The heat felt good to Brianna, even though it singed her clothes. It would have burned anyone else, but Brianna was dragon kind; she could produce fire at will and was impervious to the heat. Unfortunately, her clothes were not, but Tig, the much smaller blue dragon carried a pack that contained food and extra clothing for Brianna. They flew together, swooping back and forth playfully. Selix could carry Brianna throughout the day, but they stopped occasionally in isolated areas, so the dragons could hunt and rest.

  It was nearly ten days since she had left Zollin, and Brianna missed him more each day. Her heart still pounded when she thought of him, just as it had done the day he revealed his powers to her in their small village. She wondered what he was doing, as she urged the dragons to fly higher into the sky. In the distance, Brianna could just make out the watch tower in Felson, and she didn’t want anyone to see the dragons as they flew.

  Felson was a major city on Weaver’s Road with the King’s Calvary stationed just outside the city where they could easily be deployed in any direction. Brianna wasn’t worried about the army or the people of the city, for that matter. They weren’t a danger to her dragons, but she didn’t want to alarm them for no reason. She didn’t have time to explain her powers or the nature of the dragons, but she did need to stop. She wanted to speak to Zollin’s father, Quinn.