Where Dragons Haunt (The Diaspora Book 1)

by Scott Meaders

At the entrance of the side road was a place where a small-bodied individual could slip though some bars. This was fashioned into the dirt. Zoe got onto his knees and proceeded to slip though. He was all the way in when he realized that he would not be able to turn around as the passage was to narrow. It was barely wide enough for his own body. He slowly squirmed his way though the opening. He put his hands and arms into something slimy and gross smelling. He about lost all of the food he had taken in earlier at the camp. He didn’t dwell on it as he slithered over the top of the mess having his entire body saturated with the elements and smells of the sewer.

  About twenty minutes had passed when Zoe finally came to the place were he saw a small amount of light. His tired body ached from his inability to move about and having to squirm along in such a fashion. Now all Zoe could do was wait. As he waited, he thought about the dove. When would he see the dove? He started to doubt that the gods would even deliver him from the men, that the gods were playing a trick on him and would have the men kill him in the end.

  Then out of the stillness of the air, Zoe heard the signal in the distance. He had already twisted around on his back and now pushed up with as much force as he could on the opening. Nothing, it wouldn’t budge. He couldn’t believe that the men had not thought about him not being strong enough. He tried again and again, but no movement. He said quietly to himself, “Great, I am led by the gods to be stuck in a sewer never again to see the light of day. What a way to die!”

  He gave one last push and the opening gave way as Zoe had used all of his remaining strength. Zoe pulled himself out of the hole which was a slow process. He could see that the man at the gate was anxiously waiting for him. Zoe got out and stumbled toward the gate. When he reached the spot where he was to open the gate, he peered through the bars and saw in the distance at the top of a building a weathervane. Zoe spoke out softly, “The shape of a dove.”

  “What?” a voice whispered back.

  Zoe shook his head no indicating that he was not going to respond as he was brought back to the situation at hand. He looked for the way to open the gate. The voice gave directions in a low voice, “There on that crank; loosen the rope.”

  Zoe loosened the rope and the doors swung open magically. The men came rushing in and started for the main door. Mastix took hold of Zoe to bring him in the house with them. But in his excitement he miscalculated the boy’s effort and strength. Zoe pushed hard and unexpectedly on the man’s midsection sending him sprawling to the cobblestone floor. As the others turned to see what the noise was, Zoe quickly made for the gate. He reached the gate looking over his shoulder seeing only Mastix following as the others had started for the palace.

  Zoe tripped the rope for the gate, closing it behind him. This gave him the time needed to escape. He ran with speed and agility towards the dwelling with the dove. He could see it standing above all other abodes. When Zoe thought things were safe he slowed down to catch his breath. He constantly looked around to make sure that Mastix was not following. When he was within direct vision of the building, he turned around to see if the he was being followed. No one was in sight.

  As he turned around he ran into a solid object; Zoe was startled and shocked as it was not there before. Then the voice came, “Going somewhere boy!” Mastix had a tight grip on the Zoe’s shoulder. He took out his knife and jeered at Zoe, “So boy who will save you now?”

  “If I were you, I wouldn’t talk to the future king of all the land in such a tone!” Mastrix turned around to see a man. Zoe saw his face and his heart leapt with joy, Mikael!

  “Stay out of this, it ain’t your business; the boy stole from me!”

  “Sure enough your men are caught this hour and will be hung tomorrow for the crimes they were to commit. But as for you, the gallows you will never see.”

  “What you say?”

  The wizard held out his staff as a bold of lightning shot forth from it, hitting Mastix in the chest. His body flew back as he let go of his grip on Zoe. Mastix hit the ground twenty yards away as his body was spasmodic in the grips of death. Then suddenly his body stopped all movement and was still in the night air.

  Zoe rushed to the wizard and hugged him. The wizard took his arm and patted him on the back giving comforting words, “Safety for tonight, safety!”

  Chapter 28

  There are no secrets

  That time does not reveal.

  ~Jean Racine~

  When they entered the Dwelling of the Dove, Mikael took Zoe to the place he had secured for lodging. They walked up to the third story just below the symbol of the dove. Zoe looked out the window and could see the open courtyard of the place he had entered. There in the midst of the courtyard were many torches with what looked like men being carried away in shackles.

  “To be sure they will die tomorrow for their crimes,” the wizard said as he looked over the shoulder of the boy at the growing lights in the distance.

  Zoe turned around to him. “Could you see me the whole time?”

  “No, just when you came running-walking down the street. I came to greet you when the man took hold of you.”

  “Oh, I though maybe you were...um, concerned or something.” Zoe let his disappointment be known that he seemed to have no one watching over him.

  “Don’t be foolish boy; the gods are watching over you, every step of the way. I am here by order of the gods themselves. How else would you suppose I came to you at your moment of need?” He paused for a moment, “Back to our conversation before we were separated. Tell me Zoe what you know. What have you seen of the future? The gods keep such a close eye on you; they must have shown you something! The Well drug you in desiring to test you, and have its way with you.”

  Zoe retold all that he had before mentioned to the wizard giving the same details of the account of the Dragon’s eye and the well. The wizard again took all in. Zoe hesitated again to tell Mikael of his own death, but the wizard sensed that there was more, “Zoe I feel your psyche hiding secrets in the mind, deep dark secrets. Know that all secrets come to be known, even the darkest of secrets will be brought to light. What has been spoken softly in your ear will be shouted from the highest towers.” He examined Zoe for a moment, “The secret you hold is about me is it not?”

  Zoe responded timidly, “Yes, I saw you in the dragon’s eye.”

  “I had already guessed as much. It must be dreadfully terrible,” he said teasingly.

  “Oh Mikael it is so dreadful; I wish to forget it. I begged the gods not to let it come to pass!”

  “Death, you begged for death to pass me by, indeed boy you are a fool. We must all die and find our rest in the ground!”

  “But how did you know that I saw your death?”

  “I knew that this would be the only thing that would be so fearful for you to utter to me. You could tell me of future doom and catastrophes, yet still hide something. Must have been something personal, something that I was a part of.”

  “If you knew, why would you go on as if you needed to know?”

  Mikael smiled, “Ah, you are also clever! It was not my death that I wanted from you, but the fashion in which I am to die. I was told by the gods that my death would not be a natural death. And you were supplied with the rest I presume.”

  Zoe went over to the cot that he was to sleep on and slouched upon it having his head hang low. He spoke slowly, but clearly, “You were alone in a very dark place. There was no light except the light that illuminated you from above. You looked very old. Not like now,” Zoe paused hoping he had not offended the wizard. Zoe only received a patient smile. He continued, “Then out of the darkness a spear or something like it came and shot through your midsection. You were in great pain. I was horrified. Then there were ten dark figures…”

  “Ten you say?” Mikael said being very attentive to every detail.

  “Yes ten. They towered over you and then they came for me.” He stopped to let Mikael process his own death.

  His death is not what concerned
the wizard, but the ten figures. “Only ten and not eleven…I wonder if one remains loyal…Do you remember anything about the ten in black? Where they men? Did they have the Crest of the Kingdom on them?”

  “Um…I guess they might have had some crest or something.” He thought back to the vision and recalled a symbol of one of the men, “I do remember one had a symbol or medallion of a serpent. And they were most certainly men or the ugliest, hairiest women I have ever seen!” Mikael laughed.

  Mikael paced the room for a short time and then spoke to reassure Zoe, “I must tell you what secrets I hold in my mind as you have done for me. The men surely will kill me, but it is not for some time, not in your lifetime. They will rise from the ten kingdoms and slay many. They will seek your offspring, but I assure you, they will not succeed!”

  “How do you know this? What assurance do you have?”

  Mikael realized that he had none, just a feeling, “Why would the gods permit it? To what purpose would the gods allow evil to run its course when they have the power to stop the vile wickedness?”

  Zoe thought for a moment and could see no reason why the gods would not stop them. But he wondered to himself why they also would not stop them from getting to the wizard. He also wondered why the gods allowed those monsters to attack the Twin Cities if the gods cared to stop evil. Zoe’s conversation switched to the Twin Cities, “How did the battle go? I don’t know anything about the Twin Cities.”

  “I’m afraid not well. The King fell in battle, and the Twin Cities took many casualties. But worry yourself not about such things.”

  Zoe was reminded of the inscription he read, “Do you know of the inscription at the gates’ entrance that read of the king and his sons?”

  Mikael smiled, “Yes I do, why do you ask?”

  “Who is the prophet of the gods?”

  Mikael’s face changed as a look of remembrance came upon him, “I have not heard that title in many rising of the seven moons.”

  “Who is he? The inscription said he wrote it?”

  “Yes he did,” the wizard paused, “I am that prophet”

  Zoe thought for a moment and realized that he must therefore know the meaning of the words, “What do the words mean?”

  He smiled and shirked his shoulders, “Just a poem, with little meaning really.” A glimmer of light could be seen in his eyes.

  They were in silence for a moment when Mikael remembered something of little importance, “Oh, by the way, I have a gift for you. He took it out of his robe and handed it to the boy.”

  He took the short wooden object in his hand and looked at the wizard, “What is it?”

  “It is a Fife, a musical instrument mainly played in military music for battle.”

  “Oh. It’s so beautiful.”

  Mikael continued to speak of the Fife, “I made it of Rose Wood from the Yellow Forest. I had been working on it since we met. You will find that it is a shrill sounding little noisemaker. I am sure you will master its beauty.”

  He placed the tip of the instrument in his mouth blowing fiercely. A horrendously shrill noise came out which both of them cringed at. “Maybe I should learn to play it during the day when people are not trying to sleep.”

  “Good idea!”

  They took to their respective beds and closed their eyes, each with a secret. Zoe kept back the dragons and owls part of his vision not wanting to talk about those things, which scared him most. In similar fashion, Mikael kept back the dragons and owls part not wanting to talk of Zoe’s death.

  Chapter 29

  To take revenge halfheartedly

  Is to court disaster:

  Either condemn or crown your hatred.

  ~Pierre Corneille~

  Nipto reached down and picked up the perfect walking stick. The stick was body length and the right height for him to walk with. As he walked along he pretended that he was a great wizard battling orcs and beastly demons. He fought off a whole hoard with a fiery blast from his wand and the demons fled from before him.

  He was making blasting noises and fierce action movements, not noticing that anyone was around. Thanatos was amusing himself with the boy’s playfulness. “What are you doing?” Thanatos called out in a mocking tone.

  The boy felt humiliated that he was caught in a playful fantasy. “Nothing…surprised to see you out so soon,” Nipto shot back bringing to surface the beating him and his friends gave to Thanatos only a couple of days earlier. Thanatos still had marks from when each in turn kicked him in the head.

  “Yes, I certainly did enjoy your playful game.” He had a smirk on his face, a devilish smirk of playfulness. He looked like he was sizing him up for something or trying to figure something out when Nipto turned to leave without saying a word.

  “Wait,” Thanatos called out. “You don’t know what its like.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “What its like living with a wizard.” He exposed his master for his own purposes.

  “He is not. He is just some old fool!”

  Thanatos waited until the boy turned to go again, “That is exactly what he wants everyone to think, but he is a wizard. I can prove it!”

  This intrigued Nipto as he, along with all children, had a fascination with wizards. Nipto walked over to him, “Prove it, but you had better not do anything that I don’t like or I will get all my friends next time!” He bumped into Thanatos to prove his point that he would not go easy on him if Nipto ended up looking like a fool.

  “Oh, no; I learned my lesson. I wouldn’t do that to you, ever!” Thanatos smiled.

  They walked outside of the village to a remote place, a place of some distance from the towns’ people. Thanatos led the way. He made sure to pick a way that would not be discouraging to the boy as he wanted him to follow. They walked along in silence until Nipto spoke out from behind, “Hey, I’m going back. You just led me out here to make a fool of me.”

  “No, I led you here to show you wizard’s magic.” He pulled out a container that looked much like the type that would contain some beverage for a midday meal. “This my friend is the proof that you asked for.”

  “How is a jar full of sand proof? And I’m not your friend.”

  “I know you’re not my friend. I know.” He paused for a moment as the two stared at each other. Then he continued, “I stole this from Master Raziel. This is not ordinary sand. It is flying sand. When one pours it on the ground it magically turns into flying sand. All’s you have to do is walk on it, and it will obey your command!”

  “Yeah, right!”

  “I’ll show you! But I get to fly first!”

  “No way, if this works, I want to do it first!” Nipto bit back with his sharp sounding words.

  “Ok, if that is how you want it.” Thanatos took off the tightly fastened lid. When it was taken off, a popping sound was heard and a dark green gas came from the bottle. The odor was ghastly, even Thatatos had to pull his face away in repulsion. “Oh, I wouldn’t want to drink this stuff!” He smiled.

  Nipto was getting anxious to get this over with, “Hurry up.”

  “Stand over there so that you can do the proper things. Now I have only seen it done by my master once, so you need to do as I say. When I pour it out, the sand will spread even though I only pour out a little. When that happens, you need to wait until it is finished. Once it is done, then you need to jump into the middle. It will then rise into the air. Don’t speak, but think where you want to go, and your desire shall be granted.” With that Thanatos poured a very small portion of sand onto the ground, only about three granulates. Just as Thanatos had predicted, the sand spread upon the open ground of the forest.

  The sand came to a stop and Thanatos spoke, “Are you sure you want to go first? I really would like to be the one flying over the village and letting them see me.”

  “You think I am going to let you do that? To be the first one, no way!” He ran and jumped expectant of nothing, hopeful of everything. Magic was his hope, but not trickery
. When he hit the sand, his body plunged down into it up to his chest. The sand was moving as his body struggled to get out, it was like a think liquid substance. He shouted out to Thanatos, “Help, help me; I’m sinking!”

  “Oh, no, I am terribly sorry, this is not floating sand, it is sinking sand!” A huge smile spread across his face.

  “Help! Help!” The boy repeated as he squirmed and sank down with only his head above the surface.”

  “No, I don’t think so. I could help you, but then my revenge would be halfhearted, what would you and your friends do to me then. I chose not to condemn my hatred, but to crown it with your death.”

  Nipto shouted out as he struggled, “You can’t leave me here! You can’t let me die.” He was crying in utter terror.

  “Oh, but I can. You see we are to far away from the village for anyone to hear your voice, and well, to put it simple, I don’t like you. Hope you’re not too dirty!” Thanatos left the boy as he cried out in fear after him.

  Thanatos could hear his screaming for a time while he was headed back, until it instantly stopped without warning. Thanatos said to himself, “One in the sand and two to go.”

  He made his way back to his abode and entered finding Raziel frantically looking around. When he came in the wizard immediately questioned him, “You haven’t seen a jar of sand have you? It is very important!”

  “No, but I can help you look.”

  They continued to search when Thanatos burst out, “Here it is. I bet you looked there a thousand times and didn’t see it.” A smile was on his face.

  The wizard came over to it and examined it. He looked at the spot where Thanatos had said he found it. The wizard knew that he had looked there previously and that the container was not there. He also noticed that the lid fastener was pried. He looked at Thanatos with eyes wide, “What have you done?”

  “Nothing, its just sand isn’t it? Why are you getting so worked up as if it has special powers or something?”