The Howl of Avooblis

by Charles Streams

  Dagdron turned to scowl at him, but then the five other enchanters in the room cast fetch spells directly at him. The sparkling rings latched onto him, tugging him toward the statues in the center of the chamber as the combined spells of Rance, Kas, Wally, and the Backer overpowered the headmaster’s.

  Earl and Lita sprinted forward, grabbing Dagdron and using their enchanted swords to dissipate the fetch rings. Wendahl and Elloriana joined them, casting spells at the approaching enchanters. Dagdron glanced to his left, but the headmaster had disappeared back into the boys’ tower, no doubt returning to his office to secure the Arches of Avooblis, Dagdron guessed.

  Wendahl, lifting his hoe, stepped in front of the young adventurers and cast magenta-colored spell after spell. Rance retaliated with lightning spells, while the Backer launched blast-bolts that whizzed across the entrance hall. Kas and Wally added their own spells to the mix, but Kas’s blast-bolts were nothing compared to the Backer’s, and Wally’s fireball spells fizzled compared to the brightness of the others.

  “Go out the back,” Wendahl called over his shoulder. “I’ll hold them off.”

  Dagdron led the sprint toward the corridor leading to the back door of the academy, but a blue spell zoomed by them, exploding in the passageway and creating a barricade. Dagdron plunged his dagger into the barrier, but the force field thrust him backward to collide with Earl, Lita, and Elloriana.

  “In the eating hall,” Earl said, gasping for breath.

  But, as they turned to run, all they could do was watch as barricade spells sealed off the doors to the eating hall, the entrance to the classroom tower, and the entrance to the boys’ tower.

  “Let’s crush some Backer bones!” Lita yelled. She gripped her sword tightly and led the charge back to join Wendahl by the statues of the enchanter, rogue, and warrior.

  The Backer, seeing that he had prevented escape, focused his spells directly on them. Wendahl did his best to deflect the blast-bolts with his own spells, but having to deal with Rance, Kas, and Wally, too, he was unable to stop all of them. Dagdron, Earl, and Lita used their weapons to deflect what spells of Rance, Kas, and Wally that they could, but each time one of the Backer’s spells came toward them, their only choice was to dodge or be blasted. Elloriana, mustering up all her magical stamina, cast her own array of flame, blast-bolt, and even a few lightning spells.

  In the midst of all the spell casting, the front doors to the academy opened, and Byron, Landon, and Gordon rushed in, leading Grady and what could only be the army of unfulfilled adventurers. The Backer glanced over his shoulder, but, seeing they were his allies, gave them no more notice.

  As Byron led the army forward, it was obvious they were unskilled, but the vast number of them still caused problems. Dagdron, Earl, Elloriana, and Lita changed their focus to combating the unfulfilled adventurers, while Wendahl did his best to defend them from the enchanters.

  Rance, Kas, and Wally maintained the focus of their spells on the center group as well, only occasionally glancing at the Backer, watching his moves to make sure he didn’t make a play to capture Dagdron without them knowing it.

  The distraction of the army allowed the Backer to move closer little by little as he used them as a shield against Wendahl’s spells. But before the Backer could get within ten feet, Dagdron noticed a hooded figure creep through the front doors and slink up behind the dark enchanter. Dagdron watched as the figure leapt into the air, landing on the Backer’s back and placing a dagger against his throat.

  “I’ll slit your throat!” Grizzard’s voice cackled across the hall.

  The Backer, taken completely by surprise, grabbed Grizzard’s arm, fighting to pull the dagger way from his gullet.

  The lull in the spell casting permitted Wendahl to properly focus his magenta spells on the invading army, forcing them to back up and giving Dagdron, Earl, Elloriana, and Lita more breathing room. Earl and Lita instantly took to the offensive, swinging and bashing their swords at anyone in their path, knocking the overmatched unfulfilled adventurers to the ground without cutting them with their blades.

  In the meantime, Elloriana focused on Grady.

  “You tattled on me!” she screamed as she cast lighting spells at Grady’s face. “I’m going to burn those disgusting freckles off your ugly red face!”

  Grady, having no way to defend himself against the magic attack, raced behind a couple of other unfulfilled adventurers, where Byron, Landon, and Gordon were already ducking in fear.

  Earl saw the cowards, so, leaving Lita to fend off the rest of the army of weaklings, he sprinted to confront them. Grady was bawling, looking down at the lightning ball burns, so Earl ignored him. At Byron’s bidding, Landon and Gordon turned to face Earl first. Earl slapped the flat of his blade against Landon’s shoulder, knocking him to the ground. Gordon turned in fear, so Earl kicked him in the backside, tumbling him on top of Landon. Byron backed up, shakily unsheathing his sword. Earl brought his sword down with great force and crashed Byron’s sword out of his hands. Byron squeaked fearfully as he raised his arms. As Earl raised his sword to strike, he was distracted by a figure striking a manly pose of flexed muscles in the front doorframe. Byron turned to look, and Earl bashed him over the back of the head with the hilt of his sword harder than he meant to because of the excitement that had filled his body.

  “Egon’s here!” Earl yelled as Byron crumpled to the ground.

  Wendahl didn’t say anything, but Dagdron noticed that his spells shone an even brighter magenta from then on. He also saw his father race into the entrance hall behind Egon.

  In the meantime, the Backer had been turning in circles, fighting the pressure of Grizzard’s dagger. When the dark enchanter saw Egon and Dugan, he dipped his right shoulder and succeeded in flipping Grizzard off his back. As Egon sprinted forward, the Backer gave up his distance attack and strode toward Dagdron, using his spells to defend himself from Wendahl’s incantations. Rance, Kas, and Wally joined the Backer, closing in from the right side, now trying to reach Dagdron first.

  When the Backer was in close range, he began his blast-bolt spells again, even blasting any unfulfilled adventurers out of the way in order to clear a path directly to Dagdron. Earl saw what was happening, so he ran to Dagdron’s side. As he went, he tripped over an unfulfilled adventurer who was groaning in pain on the ground. His stumble crashed him into Lita, who was clutching her sword with both hands above her head, ready to strike. Earl’s fall carried him and Lita into Dagdron, and together with the rogue, they knocked into Wendahl’s injured leg as they fell to the ground. Wendahl flailed his arms and hoe, accidentally casting a spell at Elloriana’s back and blasting her on top of the rogue-warrior-and-lady warrior pile.

  Dagdron had felt a rush of confusion as he was taken to the ground, but, finding Earl’s boots in his face, everything was clarified. Tilting his head back as the weight of Earl, Lita, and Elloriana struggling to get up pushed down on him, Dagdron saw the Backer and the three purple-robed enchanters only a short distance away. Dagdron wrestled with Earl’s boots, twisting them and shoving them out of his face.

  Dugan ran in front of Rance, Kas, and Wally to waylay them, and Egon headed straight for the Backer. The Backer lifted his right hand and cast a lightning ball that was crackling with energy. Egon swung his sword to deflect it, but the spell shot a bolt of electricity down the sword to his arms and throughout his body. The masculine warrior didn’t yell, but the shock brought him to his knees.

  Dagdron made one last struggle to shove Earl off him, but the Backer reached him before he could get free. Dagdron was pulled by his shoulders, his legs being ripped out from under Earl. Then he was pulled to his feet, where he was hit by a magenta spell as the Backer used him as a shield against an attack from Wendahl, who had regained his feet.

  The Backer pulled Dagdron’s cloak over the young rogue’s head and began frisking every part of his body. Dagdron wiggled as best he could, but he was unable to free his arms, which were tangled inside his cl
oak. As the Backer reached toward his pocket, Dagdron stomped his feet, making it more difficult, but the Backer succeeded in emptying the contents.

  “He’s got it!” Dagdron shouted. “Stop him!”

  The Backer, feeling the magical object surge in his hand, pushed Dagdron toward Wendahl and then sprinted toward the front door. Wendahl used his hoe to cast spells at the retreating back, but the Backer exited the academy without being hit.

  Rance, Kas, and Wally abandoned their three-on-one attack on Dugan and chased after the Backer as Byron, Landon, Gordon, and all the unfulfilled adventurers, seeing that their magical support was gone, stumbled toward the exit.

  “We have to go after him,” Earl said. He, Lita, and Elloriana had finally gotten to their feet in front of the three statues.

  “Let’s go,” Elloriana added. “We can’t let him win.”

  “It’s too late,” Dagdron said, glancing over his shoulder at the unfulfilled adventurers still tottering across the entrance hall. “We can’t beat the Backer anyway.”

  Dugan stepped to Dagdron’s side, patting him on the shoulder. Wendahl hobbled over as Egon stiffly stood up. They glanced at each other before taking their places facing the group, acting as if they didn’t have pain in any part of their bodies.

  “We’ll form a plan,” Egon said. “We can go after him.”

  Dagdron shook his head.

  “Dagdron, please,” Wendahl said sincerely. “We’ve come too far to abandon the quest now.”

  “The Backer’s too powerful,” Dagdron said.

  The front door closed as the last of the unfulfilled adventurers left the academy, and a cackle sounded across the chamber. Everyone watched as Grizzard’s hunched form approached, stopping between Wendahl and Egon.

  “Oh, sonny,” Grizzard said, letting loose another cackle. “I saw you. The old key-in-the-boot trick got them again.”

  “What?” the group mumbled looking between Grizzard and Dagdron.

  Dagdron couldn’t help smiling as he bent down and pulled the key out of Earl’s right boot.

  “Earl’s boots were in my face, and it was about time they did some good,” Dagdron said. “And if your boots ever touch any part of my body again, I’ll slice you.” He looked at Earl, but his friend barely responded as he stared blank-faced at Wendahl, Grizzard, and Egon.

  “Phew,” Elloriana said as Lita gave a grunt.

  “Are you saying we won?” Wendahl said.

  Dagdron nodded, and Wendahl twirled his hoe around in grand fashion.

  “Thank goodness I got here to distract the Backer,” Egon said, flexing his muscles.

  “I held him off long before you got here,” Wendahl said, taking a step forward.

  “You would’ve been done for if I hadn’t showed up.” Egon advanced, flexing even more.

  During the entire scene, Earl had been silent.

  “Are you all right, Earl?” Dugan asked.

  Earl gasped, placing his hand over his chest as he looked first at Wendahl, Grizzard, and Egon, and then glanced over his shoulder at the three statues. He did this at list five times, his breathing getting more labored with each twist of his neck.

  “Earl, stop it,” Dagdron said. “That sounds worse than your snoring.”

  Earl gasped a few more times before he was able to speak. “Dagdron,” he said, his voice trembling. “We’re witnessing history.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I can’t believe I didn’t realize it sooner, but I knew I had seen Egon before. It’s them,” Earl said. “We’re the first adventurers to ever learn who the legendary enchanter, rogue, and warrior are.”

  The rest of the group looked at the statues behind them, then back at the three old men. Wendahl stepped forward, this time twirling his hoe so it sent off magenta sparks. Egon moved next to him, placing his hands on his hips in his most masculine pose and blocking Grizzard from view in the process.

  “The statues are Wendahl, Grizzard, and Egon,” Earl said, an enormous grin breaking out on his face.

  Chapter 31: Enchanter, Rogue, & Warrior

  Wendahl, in response to Earl’s revelation, whirled his hoe even more haphazardly, showering magenta sparks over the group. Egon, furrowing his brow as the sparks rained on him, bulged out his muscled even more.

  “We’re part of a historical event,” Earl said, smiling at Dagdron, Lita, and Elloriana.

  “That’s it!” Grizzard said, first jabbing his dagger into Wendahl’s side and then switching to Egon’s. “As long as old Grizzard’s alive, he never wants to see another grand entrance and he never wants to see another manly pose.”

  “You know these two?” Dagdron asked.

  “Yes, sonny, they’re my younger brothers,” Grizzard said. “Unfortunately.”

  “You don’t have to say it like that,” Wendahl said.

  “Grizzard’s your brother,” Dagdron said, this time to Wendahl. He didn’t care about the statues, but he couldn’t hide his surprise about the rogue, enchanter, and warrior being siblings.

  “How do you think I’ve put up with your dagger threats for the past two years?” Wendahl said. “I had plenty of experience growing up with Grizzard.”

  “You?” Egon said. “He threatened me far more times than he ever did you.”

  “He just pretended because you were the youngest,” Wendahl said. “He was way more scared of my magic than he ever was of your sword.”

  “My sword would dominate that hoe of yours!”

  “Stop!” Grizzard growled. “I threatened both of you more times than I can count.” He turned away from Wendahl and Egon and looked at the others. “They’re the reason old Grizzard became such a good rogue. I had to threaten them, sneak away from them, and hide from them. All to get away from their constant bickering and one-upping each other. I was happy to leave Lushmere and become an adventurer for that reason alone.”

  “But, Grizzard,” Wendahl said. “You know I started doing grand entrances first. His flexing showed up because I was amazing everyone, and he felt left out.”

  “I know, but younger brothers are meant to pester their older ones. I’ve told you for years that there’s nothing wrong with both of you having your own absurd habits.”

  “But Egon would be nothing if Mom and Dad hadn’t forced me to enchant his sword.”

  “You would be nothing if I hadn’t let you experiment on my sword. You begged me to let you for your own benefit.”

  “I’ve never begged you for anything in my life,” Wendahl said.

  “Name one thing you have that I don’t besides your ridiculous magic.”

  “I have a garden with a garden rogue to protect it! Ha!” Wendahl winked at Dagdron.

  “Then maybe I’ll plant a garden so I can get one!”

  “Enough!” Grizzard roared deeply.

  Wendahl and Egon stopped arguing, alternating between glances at each other and at Grizzard’s dagger.

  “You guys are legends,” Earl said, finally stepping forward. He shook Egon’s hand then turned to Wendahl, who cast magenta sparks around their handshake while he gave a stiff nod in Egon’s direction. Grizzard smiled as Earl stopped in front of him, then the old rogue embraced him.

  “I wouldn’t call us legends,” Grizzard said.

  “Yes, you are. Headmaster Gwauldron built the academy based on you guys. You three are the ones who got rid of the spumasaur in front of the Shrine of Avooblis all those years ago. You rode off on the spumasaur. That’s how you knew how to tell us how to deal with him.”

  “Old Grizzard has faced many a spumasaur over the years,” Grizzard said.

  “I have too,” Wendahl said, but then Grizzard’s dagger lunged in his direction, so he fell silent.

  “It’s nothing, rich sonny,” Grizzard said. “Spumasaur riding has always been one of old Grizzard’s favorite sports. Not many do it, though.”

  “I certainly do it,” Egon said, looking at Wendahl.

  “You?” Wendahl said. “You ne
ver dared to ride a spumasaur until you saw Grizzard ride the one in this very spot when we first made it into the shrine.”

  “That was really you?” Dagdron asked Grizzard.

  “Yes, sonny. Old Gwidy called in our help a number of times back in the day.”

  “Why did the headmaster choose you as the rogue, enchanter, and warrior?” Elloriana asked as Earl nodded his head vigorously.

  Grizzard pointed with his thumb toward Wendahl.

  “Me and Gwydion grew up together in Lushmere,” Wendahl began. “We were both interested in magic from a young age. He had a…” the enchanter paused in thought “…rough childhood. His troubles made him want to rid the land of all that was evil. While he and I only practiced magic, over the years, he noticed the variety of skills that Grizzard…and even Egon possessed and how we each excelled in certain areas because of our different skill sets. He always referred to us as the enchanter, rogue, and warrior, and his ideals of adventurers of the three types helping to rid the land of evil began long ago in Lushmere.

  “The academy came later, though, as you saw in that short scene in the shrine,” Wendahl continued. “Gwydion and I went to study in Lordavia, where we met Rance, and our research led us on the long pathway we are still on at this moment. In spite of his obsession with the arches, Gwydion never forgot the enchanter, rogue, and warrior from his childhood, calling on us whenever he needed assistance the three of us could provide. When the arches didn’t pan out, he established the Adventurers’ Academy, and that’s why you guys are all here today.”

  “Wow,” Earl said, shaking his head. “Inspirational.”

  Dagdron elbowed him in the side.

  “What? We’re witnessing a historical event. Even you should be excited,” Earl said.

  “Why didn’t anyone know who you are before?” Elloriana asked.

  “Grizzard didn’t much want the fame,” Wendahl explained. “And I was more into the adventuring and quiet life, which is why I live in Coastdale. I’m sure Egon was upset he didn’t get the fame, but Gwydion liked the legend. He felt it inspired the students.”