The Dragon’s Price (The Sorcerer's Saga Book 4)

by Rain Oxford

  The young sorcerer’s name was Ueme, a ten-year-old who was taken by the Namahage because he refused to let his younger brother be sold by his family. The other boy, Denor, was a twelve-year-old warlock who didn’t want to learn his family’s trickster ways. Rusty, only seven, and Endra, who was six, had no idea why they were taken.

  “How did you defeat the monster?” Berry asked on our second day at sea.

  “I don’t know. Merlin, you never told me what the monster was.”

  “Fear, young sorcerer. The monster was nothing more than fear.”

  “What do you mean? How can fear attack everyone?”

  “Caldaca is a world of magic, flooded with raw power, which is why there are so many magical and mythical creatures here. On any world, if enough people share a strong emotion or belief, it can imprint on items, such as a weapon or charm. For example, if thousands of people believe that one certain talisman will protect them, magic could infuse it and make it effective. For Caldaca, this phenomenon is accelerated. In this case, the shared fear of the children combined with excessive magic and manifested as a monster. That is why it was different for each of them. The only way you could defeat it was to not fear it.”

  The potion was still working well on him, but we had used up our supply. That night, when he started to feel sick, I tried to fly the ship… and again, I threw up. When I nearly fell out while emptying my guts into the sea, I had to give in and land the ship in the water. Merlin agreed it was best, even though he was lying on his back with his paws over his eyes.

  The further north we traveled, the colder the weather became. I was hoping to see snow again, but at the same time, I didn’t want to encounter any icebergs.

  * * *

  Using my mirror to guide us, we finally arrived. Kalika was the name of the cluster of islands. At the center was a tight knot of massive snow-covered mountains. Even before we delved into the islands, I sensed great power.

  As we sailed towards the central land, we passed many extravagant ships. One of them, a black ship with golden sails, slowed to a stop beside us. When the men on the deck waved their hands in gesture, I directed my wand to stop the ship. Fortunately, it was in an agreeable mood, and we halted easily. I didn’t want to anger the natives if they were peaceful.

  “Good evening!” I said, speaking only loud enough for them to hear me. I didn’t want to encourage them to come any closer until I knew what their intentions were. “Is this Kalika?”

  “Good evening,” one man answered. He was a large, hairy man with a dark tan from being out in the sun for too long. “Yes, this is Kalika. It appears your ship consists of children.”

  “Yes, but it’s not weird or anything. I found them on an island. Do you have any room for some new residents?”

  “As long as they’re hardworking, responsible, and follow rules.”

  I glanced at Berry. “Never mind, then. Can they stay until they find new homes? I’m looking for the Rynorm family.”

  He frowned with suspicion. “Are you a rival or friend?”

  “I’m a… friend… of Kille Rynorm.”

  “You’re not a Dracre, are you?”

  “Of course not.” I indicated my disguised robe. As important as my robe was to me, there was no doubt that I was sometimes better off without it. “The Dracre robe is green and has a gold emblem.”

  He pointed to the mountainous island. “The Rynorm family is at the northern shore of the Moaning Mountains, but you should be careful, because the dragons are angry.”

  “Angry? All of them?”

  He shrugged. “The Rynorms say nothing is wrong, but we can feel the mountains shaking, hear its roar, and see smoke rising from the farthest island.”

  “Oh, this will not end well.”

  “Has anyone lost magic?” I asked.

  “Lost magic? Do you mean tools of magic?”

  “No, I’m asking if any magic users are losing the ability to do magic.”

  “Are you ill? People don’t lose magic.”

  “That’s strange. Why are people in other parts of the world losing magic, but not here? What does Kalika have that the rest of the world doesn’t?”

  “Dragons,” Merlin answered weakly, trying not to vomit. Rusty tried to help Merlin, but he didn’t know enough about his own magic.

  “I don’t want to go near the dragons,” Berry said. The other boys agreed quickly.

  I turned back to the strangers. “Can you take the children?”

  “Sure.” They laid a plank across the railing, connecting his ship and mine. The children didn’t hesitate before going to the other ship.

  Once he was across, Berry said, “Thank you for your help, Ayden. If you need anything, let us know.”

  “You’re welcome. You know where to find me if you need a curse broken.”

  “At a wizard’s castle on Mokora.” He looked at the other children and scoffed. “That’s never going to happen.”

  “Good luck with the Rynorm family,” the captain of the other ship said.

  “Thank you.” They retracted their plank and we parted. Merlin, the monkey, and I made the rest of the trip in silence. We soon reached the northern shore, but there was no way to dock. The towering mountains were covered in snow and caves that expelled smoke.

  “Merlin, I think we’re going to have to---”

  “No,” Merlin interrupted.

  “But we have to---”

  “No.”

  “You don’t want to get off the ship, then?”

  “Just throw me over and I will figure it out.”

  The monkey picked him up carefully. Merlin was limp. My magic guided the ship forward until it hit sand gently. Fortunately, the monkey set Merlin on the beach and returned for me before I had to get out and swim.

  As soon as he set me down, he flew away. I sat beside Merlin to wait for his stomach to settle. When I heard a rustle in the bushes behind us, I jumped up and aimed my wand at it. “Is there anyone there?”

  He didn’t look. “There is too much magic here. I can sense dragons near and nothing else.” I figured it was more than that; his seasickness was getting worse every time he got on a ship.

  I focused my mind and magic, but before I could unleash it, bright red light filled the air and I felt like I was punched in the chest. I tried to break my fall, but my body was paralyzed. I couldn’t even turn my head. “Merlin! It’s a sorcerer!” I would have warned him aloud if I could open my mouth.

  “I know. Try to break the curse.” I saw from the corner of my eye that he was standing between me and our foe. He wasn’t as steady as usual.

  I focused on my power until Merlin growled. “Run, Merlin! If they capture us both, you can’t save the egg!”

  “Run away, wolf,” the sorcerer said. “You don’t need to die with the trespasser.”

  Merlin stopped growling, but he didn’t run away. “Malaki?” He sounded more confused than worried. “Ayden, break the disguise.”

  “I can’t speak!” This curse was a lot stronger than the ones I normally faced. Merlin backed up, kicking my staff towards me. “I can’t even move my fingers.”

  He ducked an attack and kicked it right into my hand. Obviously, the crystal was aware of the danger I was in, because it pulsed blue and filled me with strength, confidence, and serenity. I had only felt this a few times and I still didn’t understand it. Merlin’s theory was that I was summoning the power of a dragon. Although it enhanced my magic, the impact on my energy was greater. The strangest part, however, was that I felt removed from myself, as if I was in a different body.

  It also shredded the powerful sorcerer’s curse instantly. I stood. The man I faced was nearly identical to my father. He wasn’t burly like a warrior, yet everything about his posture warned of danger. His rust-colored eyes were a stark contrast to his short black hair. Although his deep blue tunic was dirty and sweaty, it was high-quality.

  He pointed his wand at me. “How did you break my curse? What family are you fro
m?”

  “I’m a Dracre.”

  “That’s not the Dracre robe.”

  Says the man not wearing a lineage robe. “Ohwha tahjer kyam.”

  Despite the seriousness of the situation, Merlin laughed. “You must say it faster in order to break the disguise.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I am quite certain.”

  “Ohwhatahjerkyam!”

  Black smoke flowed out of me and into the air. Startled, the sorcerer struck again with his magic. The dragon power inside me, however, was ready. Energy shot out of me, through the staff, and formed a ward around Merlin and me. The sorcerer’s power reflected off of it and hit a tree. Instead of striking again, he gaped at me. “You’re a wizard!”

  I aimed my staff at him.

  “Wait,” Merlin warned. “He is only protecting his family. He is Malaki Rynorm, eldest son of Shaerl Rynorm.”

  I lowered my staff. Dragon power made me confident, not cruel. “It’s nice to meet you, Malaki. Take me to your mother.”

  He gaped. “How do you…” His eyes widened. “You must be Livia’s son!”

  A woman appeared behind him and put her hand on his shoulder. He froze. She had the same rust-colored eyes, but her facial structure was softer. Her long, braided black hair was draped over her shoulder, accented with a ruby necklace that was no doubt as dangerous as my mother’s rings. She wore the brilliant red Rynorm robe, which I had always admired. She even had the same aura of strength and power as my father.

  “Is that any way to speak to your nephew?” she asked.

  He blanched. “You’re the Sjau?” he asked me, both in awe and disbelief. He obviously wasn’t expecting a person of my stature to be a Sjau. “How did you come from my brother?”

  The woman smacked him in the back of his head. “Shame on you. All Sjau deserve our respect.”

  He nodded. “I’m sorry. Your name is Ayden, right?”

  “You know about me?”

  “Of course we know about you,” the woman said. She stepped around Malaki and approached me casually. Merlin didn’t growl. She patted his head. “It’s good to see you again, Merlin. You were a little taller last time.”

  “You haven’t aged a day, Shaerl.”

  She hadn’t heard him, but before I could tell her, I recognized the name. “You’re Shaerl Rynorm? You’re my grandmother!”

  She smiled warmly. “Yes. I’m glad to finally meet you, Ayden Dracre. Come with us. I’m sure you could use a rest.”

  “Actually, Merlin and I are in a hurry.”

  “You’re looking for the dragon egg.”

  “You have it?”

  “Come with me, and I will explain. Humor me, Ayden; I have looked forward to meeting you for years.”

  “Ayden, this woman is far more dangerous than your mother and you need to be extra polite to her.”

  “In that case, Merlin and I appreciate your hospitality. I have always wanted to meet you, too.”

  She laughed. “You only wanted to meet our dragons.”

  “Well… I can meet them, right?”

  “Of course. I’m sure you have many questions.” She led us towards the trees at the base of the mountains.

  The closer we got to the dragons, the more the dragon’s spell faded. Because of that, I lost confidence and grew tired with every step. “Are you sure the others are going to be as… accepting as you?” I asked.

  She frowned. “They will do as I say. Besides, the Rynorm family respects the Sjau, no matter what you look like.”

  “Ask them if the volcano is active,” Merlin said.

  “What’s a volcano?”

  He stopped. “How do you not know what a volcano is? The primary mountain is a volcano, and the rumbling and smoke means it is active. Someday, maybe today, maybe in the distant future, it will explode and molten rock will flood this valley. The atmosphere will fill with ash, killing most if not all of the population of Kalika.”

  “What?!” I shouted out loud. Shaerl stopped and turned to me, surprised. “Merlin says the mountain will explode and ash will fill the air.”

  She laughed, a surprisingly warm sound. “Don’t worry. A volcano has never erupted in a populated area of Caldaca because dragons protect us.”

  “But dragons are almost extinct, aren’t they?”

  “Their numbers are nowhere near as great as they once were, but they will continue to protect the people of this world until the last one dies.”

  “Ask her if she knows about the black star.”

  I did, and she answered easily. “Yes, but that will be explained later.” We reached a small cabin in a valley between two mountains. It was of comparable size to my mother’s, but that was where the similarities ended. There were no dead trees around it, only massive rocks. It was made of thick logs and had a large, covered front porch. Windows on either side of the door were completely black, telling me the cabin was larger on the inside, as that was a common effect of such magic.

  I was surprised when Malaki opened the door. Inside, the Rynorm home was larger than Vactarus’s mansion. We entered into a massive living area with arched ceilings and heavy wooden support beams. Everything was made of sturdy wood and metal. A candle candelabrum hung high, but it was covered in dust from neglect. Instead, a fireplace that was taller than I was crackled on the east wall. Above the fireplace were rows of paintings, each with one or more members of the Rynorm family. That was a lot of red robes.

  I’d always liked the red Rynorm robes more than the green Dracre ones.

  Two large couches and three chairs, all built for durability, faced each other around the fireplace. On the northern wall was a door and a massive table. A staircase to the right of the front door lead to a balcony and more doors. Four men were sitting around the fire, chatting. When Shaerl stepped inside, the four men stood and turned to us. They clearly wanted to ask who I was, but they remained silent. Like my brothers, they were all very similar, only differing in their hair length, build, and scars.

  “This is your nephew, the Sjau,” Shaerl said. “Ayden, this is Lodeki, Kaemon, Kador, and Krain.”

  “Do all of your sons except for my father live here?” I asked. I had heard of wizards staying with their mothers, but I’d never heard of sorcerers doing it. The mother was the center of the family, so when the son got married, he normally moved in with his wife’s family until they were ready to have children and move off on their own. Since my father was the youngest of his family and already had seven sons of his own, it was strange that the other Rynorm sons were single.

  “Dragon trainers are different than other families. We have a responsibility to protect dragons and their secrets. Your father was sent away from the family because Ilvera was harmful to us. My other sons all have wives and children living on the outlying islands so that the Rynorm sons can take care of the dragons and still fulfill their family duties.”

  “I’m surprised you don’t have any daughters.”

  “That is rude, young sorcerer,” Merlin said.

  “Sorry.”

  The Rynorm sons gaped. “Are you sure he’s Kille’s son?” Kaemon asked.

  Kador elbowed him. “Don’t insult the Sjau. You remember how Livia looked.”

  “They probably have a lot of stories about my father,” I told Merlin.

  “Now is not the time. We can return after we save the egg.”

  “Right. Many years ago, Merlin came to Caldaca and asked questions about a dragon egg. Later, he returned to hide the egg. Do you know where he hid it? It’s extremely important that we find it.”

  “What does Merlin have to do with the Sjau?” Lodeki asked.

  “Merlin is teaching me magic.”

  “Is Kille not a good father?” Krain asked, angrily. Merlin growled and Krain made a gesture of peace. “I’m not angry with the Sjau, wolf, I just want to make sure my brother is fulfilling his responsibilities.”

  “My father taught me to read, work hard, and respect dragons. Merlin taug
ht me to be true to myself and be confident. He’s also teaching me the magic of other worlds. Please tell me you know where the egg is.”

  Shaerl gestured to one of the couches and I sat hesitantly. She sat beside me and Merlin climbed onto the couch on my other side. The sorcerers sat in the other seats. “Merlin, you came to me with the egg and told me that you were going to hide it and use a spell to forget it,” she said. “Did you defeat your enemy?”

  Merlin shook his head.

  “How did you know he’s Merlin?” I asked.

  “I would recognize his magic anywhere.”

  Krain stood. “He’s Merlin? What happened?”

  I felt a furious blush bloom on my face. “I… cursed him… I mean… it was to save…”

  Krain sat. “You cursed him? Wow! I’m impressed.”

  “Anyway, I’m afraid I don’t know where it is,” Shaerl said. “Merlin came here for advice, but he met Ilvera and decided to hide the egg somewhere far away from us.”

  “Did he leave a clue?”

  “Actually, he made sure to confuse his trail. He asked us about all of the other dragon trainers on Caldaca.”

  I looked at Merlin. “Is this helping you remember anything?”

  He shook his head. “I came to Caldaca to hide it, but that was the last thing I remember until I had already erased my memory. Ask her if she can return my memory.”

  I did, but Shaerl shook her head. “There are too many different kinds of amnesia spells and the wrong one could hurt him.”

  “We were told if we didn’t find the egg before the black star comes and protect it, Caldaca will die. Can you tell us what the black star has to do with the egg?”

  “I’m afraid I don’t know. I know that the black star is the death of magic just like the white star brought magic to the people of Caldaca. I also know that dragons and Sjau will retain their magic. And last, I know that the Sjau are the only ones who can stop it.”

  “Why us? Why can’t dragons stop it?”

  “Why would they? When the people of Caldaca lose magic, they will rule once more.”

  Merlin tried to speak aloud, but as always, it came out grumbled. “He says that we can’t survive without magic, and I think he’s right. We rely on magic for food, water, good health, and---”