Where Dragons Haunt (The Diaspora Book 1)

by Scott Meaders

  The man remained calm and assured of himself. He stood, came close to Mikael and leaned forward kissing his hand symbolizing his allegiance, “My name is Prodotes. I am the only one out of the group that is not of this place. Yet, my heart is loyal.”

  Sustello spoke on Prodotes’ behalf, “Worry not Mikael; he is no traitor. His wife and kids were brutally killed by the murderous kings of these forsaken cities.” Hatred was the tone of his voice that blinded the man from his senses.

  “Indeed, I know your name and your heart.” Mikael said and turned to the rest. “Indeed all are here for a common goal, the redemption of your land, the freedom of your city, the hope of the boy king!”

  The group in a whispered chant sounded out their hearts cry, “Hail to the boy king! Hail to the boy king!”

  Mikael continued, “The boy is not of age as to come into the kingdom. The time is approaching. You must prepare the city and spread the good news of the coming king. You must be warned though that there are many traitors among you that may be in this very room. Many as you know have turned away from the ways of old and have betrayed the good king. They are in celebration of vile deeds and wickedness. They are mean and malicious men that drink until drunkenness has blinded them from righteousness. They make vile the laws of righteous and have cast in their lots with the wicked. Do not run with them or the gods will see your vile deeds and your life would have been better spent as the foul birds of the air or the vile worm of the earth. Your life’s work is to make way for the king!”

  When he had spoken his last words, a loud thunderous sound had been heard outside. Mikael went to the door and opened it up seeing in the sky beautiful sparkles of fading colors. Another sound was heard and a trail of light was going into the sky with a sudden burst, similar bright colors covered the sky only to fade. Sustello spoke, “The celebrations have begun. It is marked that for every hundred traitors to the kings that are killed, they shall celebrate by lighting the sky!” Another trail of light was seen to go up followed by the explosion of bright colors.

  Mikael spoke with sadness, “They are scum. They are the scourge of the land. I rejoice for the day of the worm and the day of the Jackal!”

  Chapter 41

  When a man dies, will he come back to life?

  If so, I would wait all the days of my struggle

  until my relief comes.

  ~Job 14:14~

  “Raziel, when a person dies, do they come back to life?”

  The wizard was reading a book not paying attention to the boy. He looked over at the child as he lowered the book to his lap. He had a look of mild frustration as he was being interrupted by the child. He knew the child by now never to interrupt unless it was of importance to the boy, “What was it you were wanting?”

  “Oh nothing,” Thanatos spoke back and looked away. A small deviant smile crept on the boy’s face as he knew that his master was slightly irritated.

  The wizard went back to reading his book. He was deep in thought when the mumbling words of the boy broke his concentration once more. He again did not understand the boy’s words, but nevertheless he felt obliged to take a moment to find out what was troubling him. “Did you say something?” A strong irritation could be heard in tone of the man.

  “Me, no, I was just playing over here with the bug I’ve caught.” He had caught a small flying bug and was slowly squishing the life out of the creature knowing that he was causing some form of pain to the little critter.

  “Will you leave me be, boy!” The wizard shot out as he went back to his reading. Only this time a trick was in the air. He planed not to read but wait and trap the boy in his words. He waited and waited and waited, until he realized that the boy was not going to speak to him. He then went back to reading.

  Thanatos had sat a long time enjoying his torturous effects on the bug until he finally squished the bug. He then looked at the Wizard and asked with true curiosity, “When one dies, does he come back to life?”

  The wizard was beside himself in anger as he again was disturbed having not heard the boy. “Confound you boy! I would wish a thousand curses upon you if your life were not already cursed!”

  “I only asked a simple question. Do all wizards act as violent as you?”

  Raziel regained his composure realizing the boy’s trickery, “What do you want?”

  “I want to know what death is like and if there is life upon the other side of the veil.”

  “You Thanatos shall never taste of death until this land is no more. Your curse is to wander the land and take death unto yourself.” He took in air with a big breath, “But as for life after death, yes. Most open their eyes again to see another day in another place.”

  Thanatos pondered Raziel’s words for a moment, “If what you say is true I would end my days unlike all those fools that wait them out in hopes of another place and a better life than the life they live here.”

  “Why?”

  “Because that would make this life only a forgone thought to the one that exists on the other side. That life must be the existence of the true life.”

  Raziel responded, “To live life or to take one’s own life is not of your choice. As to others, taking one’s own life is only misery on top of misery. There is then a chain of pain and suffering never to be broken taken into the next world with them. That death is not a death for a wise man, but of a foolish hope. They are in pain and misery, but they only carry it with them.”

  Thanatos spoke out his thoughts, “Yes, I know, but I would rather die than live forever while all those around me shall know of its flavor and for me to never have tasted of its bitter blade.”

  A sudden sound was heard by Raziel. He became alert like an animal hearing a warning of a sudden noise on the forest floor. No one else in the village heard the noise, but Raziel was expecting something soon. He was attentive to the signs of the times and was ever watchful and waiting.

  Thanatos had noticed a change in his master’s disposition, “What is it; I can see it in your eyes.”

  The wizard walked quickly to the door and opened it seeing in the distant sky bright lights illuminating the sky. He knew then that the time had come for what he had been waiting for, “It is time.”

  The boy had seen the bright lights in the sky as he had followed Raziel to see what was troubling him. As he heard his master’s words he watched and saw repeated lights explode in the distant night sky. He watched and counted twelve thirteen, fourteen…and on the lights went exploding in the night. He questioned Raziel, “What do the lights mean?”

  “Thanatos, you have a duty to serve the gods!”

  “Yes, but what of the lights?”

  “You must keep your duty to the gods, you must go to the place of the dragons and owls to honor your brother.”

  Thanatos was surprised by the words. He had never considered such a possibility. In all of his snooping and eavesdropping he had never heard of a brother, “How can this be?”

  “It is of the gods.”

  “I have a brother?” Thanatos asked not needing an answer.

  “Yes! His name is Zoe, and he awaits you with the dragons and owls.”

  “Why have you never told me of him?”

  He looked at Thanatos closely, “You were not permitted to know as the gods have instructed. You will go to him and bow to him as your king.”

  “But I am to rule, I know it as I have read!”

  “Yes, as you have read! You will rule and you will rule with a cruel heart; nevertheless the gods have ordained that he will rule over you as life rules over death!”

  Under his breath Thanatos spoke, “So I have a brother that wishes to rule me. I will go to the place of the dragons, but not for honors sake! As the gods have made me, the gods will deal with me!”

  The wizard quickly gathered his items together realizing there was little time to escape. “We must leave now!” He headed for the door and heard noises outside. The two in the cottage could hear the growing crowd, the rumblings of
the mob.

  “Raziel! Raziel we know you are there!” One in the crowd yelled out.

  Raziel paused for a moment to think, then responded, “What is it, what do you wish?”

  “The boy! He has killed the youth in our town. The skies are on fire because of him! We know it and we want him to have our way with him! He will die this night!” They could hear shouts coming from the crowd.

  Thanatos stepped forward in bitter defiance to them and was going to open the door when Raziel grabbed him from behind and pulled him back. The wizard lifted his staff in the air causing the door to blow off its hinges. He spoke loudly, yelling above the gathering storm, “Gods of our land, Hagious, Chokmah, to the one unspeakable god Ain Soph, I Raziel your servant implore you gods of time to stop the grains of sand and freeze this mass where they stand!”

  The furry was frozen as nothing moved. Even the wind was frozen. The boy heard for the first time what pure noise in silence would sound like. There was a hollow echo in their words, “Raziel what happened?”

  “Quickly, the gods are not patient. While they are frozen we must go!” They grabbed their items and ran for the forest. Thanatos ran by a leaf that was frozen in mid air. He stopped and looked at it hung in the air not moving at all. He wondered out loud to himself, “What power!”

  “Thanatos, come quickly before the sands of time resume!” They made their way into the safety of the forest when they heard the scrambling and shouts from behind. They made their way north westerly toward the dragons. All the while Thanatos thought of two things: the tremendous power the gods must have and what he might do with it, and secondly, his brother’s unfortunate fate.

  Chapter 42

  Passions are generally roused

  from great conflict.

  ~Titus Livius~

  “You will go no further with the boy, but rather you will meet with Tzaphkiel and his twin brother Tzadkiel the servants of the gods. They will instruct you on your future biding.” The god looked upon his subject with a gentle disposition.

  “I will do as you bid me Yesod, the almighty living god among the dead.” But anguish was in his eyes as if flowed from his heart.

  The god knew of his heart and spoke, “But you wish to know something?”

  “Yes, what of the boy? He will not be able to fight against the evils of these men. I have seen with my eyes and beheld their cruelty. Zoe will fall!”

  The god spoke to alleviate his fears, “I am the god of the living not the dead, I speak and have you go as the wind here and there. You will go to Tzaphkiel and Tzadkiel as I have instructed. The god Hagious and the goddess Sophia will do as they wish with Zoe. I know this does not bring you comfort.”

  “No, my gracious god, it does not.”

  “But know this, that these men will do nothing to the boy as the gods will not permit any blood to flow from him by their blade! Now you must go to them and make leave to the south east of the land to your fellow workers.”

  He looked up and saw that his god had vanished with the wind. He walked back to the group as they rested by the stream refreshing their bodies. He stood over the men and, standing a little taller than before. He had his sword in his hand, unsheathed. The men became alarmed but made no movement. He held out his sword and pointed it toward them, “I will take leave of this expedition…”

  Zoe’s heart sank, “No!”

  Continuing, “But I charge you by the god Yesod that not one drop of his blood will fall by your hands!”

  The men stood and found comfort in the fact that the man was not going to attack them while they were off guard. They spoke, “We would not think of such a thing!”

  “No, I am sure you would say the same of Nomisma from Asphaleia!”

  Kruptos shot back having his passions aroused by the conflict that was before him, “I don’t think he is a guide for your thinking as he was a fool from the beginning waiting to be gutted. Zoe is our benefactor and will come to no harm.”

  “Nevertheless, I will be leaving and offer everyone a safe passage back with me if they are willing to leave this very day,” Gabriel said coolly to the group knowing their response.

  Zoe spoke first in a dejected tone, “I will not go back, even if all of you decide to return. I will have the gods with me.”

  “But things have not gone as planned,” Gabriel pointed out.

  “The gods care not about our plans, and as they have told me to go to the dragons and owls, I will obey!”

  Gabriel then put the question to the two men, “And you two. Will you go on with Zoe?”

  Tapeinosis spoke for them, “He is our benefactor, and we have not gone this far to go home empty handed. The boy will lead us to unsearchable riches.”

  Kruptos nodded in agreement with scorching red eyes toward Gabriel. He had hated Gabriel before, but now there seemed to be a deeper growing of hatred brewing, “What keeps you here?”

  “Nothing keeps me here but your words of hate.” He turned and walked away. Zoe kept his eyes on the man and was shocked to see a transformation overcome him in the distance before he left Zoe’s field of vision. Gabriel became bright with light as if engulfed in flames. As the flames dissipated, his garments had changed to a robe and his sword was now a staff. Zoe shook his head in disbelief while he closed his eyes, and when he looked again, Gabriel was gone.

  At the disappearance of Gabriel a burning sensation was felt on Zoe’s back. He took off his carrying sack and looked inside. He found that there was a scroll that was not there the last time he had looked inside. He looked at the other two men that were ahead a little distance talking something over. Zoe took out the scroll and unrolled it reading the words of the wizard:

  By the hand of Gabriel I write

  To Zoe my dear companion in trials of wind and ice, of hunger and want, of discomfort and distress I write. Let it be known to you and all the gods that I would have taken you with me by the power of my hands if the gods would have permitted it so. But the will of the gods is against me and I must submit to their bidding.

  I am as Mikael, we are the same, wizards. You have seen me do things in your presence and wondered greatly about them, now you may understand that I have done these things by the hands of the gods and for your safety and protection.

  I write to comfort you while giving guidance and to comfort myself as I wish to stay by your side. The men that remain with you will try to kill you, but will be unable as the gods will protect you. Take heart young Zoe. The gods favor you and will not let their blade cut your flesh. Take courage my friend. Be mindful of this last thing, when the ground opens, go in as it will be your safety.

  By my own blood I write.

  After reading the scroll it burst into flames and was consumed by fire. He dropped it being surprised by the wizard’s magic and his words. Zoe saw the scroll completely consumed and turn to an ashen gray. Zoe’s thoughts turned to the words of the wizard as he had wondered about the man, but was not sure. Now he wondered for the first time if the gods had his best interest in mind and if they had plans for his return to safety. And what of the ground?

  Chapter 43

  Passions spin the plot:

  We are betrayed by what is false within.

  ~George Meredith~

  Zoe kept a watchful eye on the two men as he walked purposefully behind them keeping his distance. He would see them peer over their shoulders with an evil eye at him. When they did this, he would look down to the ground or to the side as if he were always looking in that direction. He wondered what the two men might be speaking about.

  In a whispered hush Kruptos spoke to Tapeinosis in secrecy, “Now. We need to act now!”

  “Shhh! The time will come. I think we should wait until it is ripe. Tonight when the boy sleeps.”

  Kruptos went on with Tapeinosis looking over his shoulder. He saw Zoe’s eyes dart away from him and look to the ground. Kruptos turned his attention again to Tapeinosis, “The boy knows.”

  “Knows what?”


  “That we are planning something, that we will do him in.”

  “And what of it?” An evil smile spread upon Tapeinosis’ broad face. “He has no one and is alone. We are in the midst of the wilderness. What is the boy to do? Cry for help?” A slight chuckle was shared by the men. Tapeinosis peered over his shoulder as well seeing Zoe’s eyes dart away again, “Lets stop to eat and when night falls upon us, sleep will come to Zoe, then we will move.”

  “Agreed!”

  They turned to Zoe, “I am exhausted; let’s take rest here.” Kruptos pointed to a location that by any means of a normal mans resting spot would have been a bad choice. There was no water, the forest was dense, there were no places to sit but upon the ground, and the area was filled with bushes and jagged rocks.

  Zoe looked around him and did not feel a compulsion to stay, “Why don’t we continue on for a better spot?”

  “I said I am tired,” Kruptos responded with a stern angry voice having his words flow through his clinched teeth.

  Zoe did not feel confident about what was happening. He planned to keep going even though he was unsure of his authority and power over the situation; he let the men know his plans, “As I am, the person that is funding this journey, I will continue on.” Zoe looked at their faces and saw a stern aggression on their wrinkled faces. “I will go on and if you want you can go with me. But I will not stay here.” Zoe said all of his words very well aware that his voice was becoming weak showing his frail disposition. He feared for his safety. He turned to go knowing he had turned his back on the men he should be keeping a watchful eye upon. Zoe went to take a step when he felt a sudden crashing thump on his head, and he started to fall to the ground as everything around him became blurred.