Adventure (Dragons & Magic Book 2)

by Dave Higgins

  Daffodil set Edmond down, then patted at him randomly.

  “I’m fine.” Edmond shook as much goo from his hands as he could and scrubbed the rest off on his armour. “Are you?”

  Daffodil nodded. “What are we going to do about it now?”

  The dragon was chasing goblins, but that wouldn’t last long. Over the days to come, it would move from level to level, killing everyone it could find.

  Grew stumbled from the gloom, cloak askew. “What now?”

  “There have to be weak spots.” Edmond waved a hand at the dragon. “Everything had vulnerabilities.”

  Daffodil regarded the armoured dragon. “Where?”

  “Well,” Edmond said. “We tried the belly. Could it have a soft spot on its back?”

  Daffodil frowned, shoulders rounded.

  “Grew, cast flame shield on us when we get close,” Edmond said. “We’ll jump on its back and hack at it. There has to be some way to kill it.”

  “I can only cast it three times,” Grew said. “You’ll have thirty seconds between you.”

  “Let’s make it count.” Pulling out his sword, Edmond charged toward the dragon. The soil tugged at his feet like common sense.

  Daffodil caught up after a few paces, her sword held ahead of her. Both of them threw their shields aside. A piece of wood wouldn’t protect them from the dragon if the flame shields didn’t.

  As they got within a dozen paces from the dragon, its head whipped around to stare at them. Its brow ridges rose into a craggy vee and it huffed lightly.

  At ten paces, Edmond’s flame shield sprang up around him. He felt his gut tighten as the dragon drew a breath, then unleashed a stream of fire.

  Flames washed over him, leaving Edmond running blind.

  When they died, a wall of scales rose up a foot from his nose. Feet flailing, he stumbled to a halt before pulling himself up on a bone spine. Daffodil swung up beside him as he clambered onto the dragon’s back. Swords raised, they both hacked down as hard as they could.

  Pain juddered through Edmond’s arms and spine as his sword bounced off. Struggling to keep his footing as the dragon shifted, his gaze fell on its vestigial wings. Scales covered the ribs but the spaces between were skin like a bat’s. Sword thrust before him, he half-charged and half-fell into them.

  His blade sliced through the folds, then stopped as it hit the scaled body below.

  The dragon roared and twisted around, sending Daffodil flying off into the darkness beyond.

  Edmond clung to his sword. The tear in the skin lengthened, but the blade stayed in. Then, with the flip of the dragon’s wing, the sword came free and Edmond tumbled up into the air. A fanged maw loomed beneath him as he began to fall.

  Everything seemed to be in slow motion. Saliva dripped between razor-sharp teeth. A red tongue reached up, ready to taste him. And the hate-filled eyes of the dragon stared into Edmond’s heart, finding the fear there. Had his Luck finally run out?

  He flung his sword toward the dragon’s mouth and spread himself wide. His head hit the beast’s lower jaw as his shoulder scraped past its teeth. Craning past his other shoulder, he saw his boots were inside its upper jaw.

  Teeth screeched on armour as the dragon started to close its mouth.

  Edmond flailed, but couldn’t push himself free. Pain spiked through his body as his already battered muscles fought the crushing pressure.

  Then the beast’s mouth opened again, throwing him off balance. Ignoring the pain, he straightened convulsively, barely stopping himself before he tumbled into the dragon’s mouth.

  A wall of heat slammed into him as his flame shield fizzled out.

  Sweat boiled from him as the dragon coughed and spluttered, followed by stabbing pains across his exposed flesh as the heat burnt the sweat away. The beast angled its head up and down, jaws twitching but not clamping shut. Wherever his sword had ended up, it seemed to be causing trouble for the dragon; however, the beast ate armour-clad heroes, so that was unlikely to last for long.

  Cool air washed across Edmond for a moment as the dragon drew a deep breath.

  He closed his eyes and waited for the flames that would reduce him to charcoal.

  Light seared through his eyelids as an immense roar filled the air. Yet the only pain he felt was the ache in his limbs. He eased an eye open.

  Small flames writhed and flowed across his skin. Grew had raised the flame shield again. It wouldn’t last long though. For a brief moment, the dragon assumed he was dead and flipped its nose down to get rid of his body. As soon as it did, Edmond let go.

  Mostly upside-down, he managed to twist enough that his back hit the ground with whump rather than his head. He scrambled to his feet and ran, shoulders tense with expectation of a sweeping claw or cleared maw.

  However, when he risked a glance behind, the dragon had shuffled around as dozens of goblins shot arrows from the gloom. Edmond made a mental note to thank King Grork and stagger-ran to Grew and Daffodil on the other side of the cavern.

  “Well that didn’t work,” Grew said. “Its wings are vulnerable, but that only hurts it.”

  “It can’t be beaten,” Daffodil said. “We need to evacuate the people of the dungeon and collapse the entrance. By the time it digs itself out, we’ll all be long gone.”

  “It’ll follow us,” Edmond said. “It can track us anywhere we go.”

  “Then what?” Grew said.

  “I need a bow,” Edmond said. “I’m going to have to get really, really lucky to hit its weak spot.”

  “What weak spot?” Daffodil asked.

  “Its eyes.”

  Nodding once, Daffodil sprinted off at an angle toward the nearest goblins.

  Edmond watched the dragon. The goblins had scattered in every direction, the beast lumbering back-and-forth after them. Every time it came close to cornering one, another would shoot arrows at its rear. The distraction wouldn’t work forever, though. He studied its movements. Even when it wasn’t facing away, its head bobbed, never staying still for more than a breath; and its eyes flicked around the cavern, heavy, scaled lids protecting them. It would take more than a little luck to hit them.

  Daffodil returned, a small bow and quiver in her hands. “The best I could do. I got it from King Grork.”

  Edmond took the bow. Intricate patterns of gold covered it and the wood gleamed even in the near darkness. However, it was less than the length of Edmond’s arm. He’d have to get close to shoot it.

  “How lucky are you going to have to get?” Grew asked.

  “Edmond’s no archer. And the dragon is constantly moving.”

  “A million to one shot,” Grew said.

  “Nah,” Daffodil said. “More like a thousand to one. Edmond can do it.”

  Edmond strapped the quiver to his belt and ran toward the dragon. After a few paces, he noticed Daffodil beside him. “What are you doing? You can’t help.”

  “I’m not watching while you go alone,” Daffodil said.

  He’d never persuade her to go back, so he didn’t try. Instead, he stopped further from the dragon than he’d intended. His tiny bow would have to do to the job.

  The dragon turned toward them, brow ridges sunk low over slitted eyes. Its fanged maw seemed even more like a grin than usual.

  Pulling an arrow from the quiver, Edmond aimed and shot. The arrow arced for the dragon’s snout.

  A gout of flame to burnt the arrow from the air. Ashes fluttered to the ground in front of it.

  “Run, Edmond!” Daffodil tugged him toward the other side of the cavern. The ground trembled as the dragon lumbered in pursuit. For a moment, Edmond couldn’t work out Daffodil’s plan, then he saw the white pods ahead. Each bulged with ripeness; they must have grown back with startling speed. They weaved their way between the pods, careful not to hit any of them.

  Edmond glanced over his shoulder. The dragon bore down on them, lumbering replaced with a canter. Then it stomped on a pod.

  White dust burst into the air. Wit
h an enormous sneeze, the dragon gouted flame across the other pods. Clouds of pollen exploded into the air, catching light as they did.

  Daffodil dragged Edmond out the far side of the field of pods before staggering to a halt.

  Burning clouds burst around the dragon, each wave of fire triggering more. The dragon staggered and sneezed, then fell onto its stomach. Its eyes glared and its legs scrabbled as the flames flickered and died around it.

  It wasn’t unconscious, but this was the only chance they’d get. Edmond shook off Daffodil’s grip, pulled out an arrow and raced forward.

  The air wouldn’t fill his lungs. Each gulp felt like swallowing hot sand. But he didn’t stop, determined to take the only shot he might get. Two searing yellow slits focused on him as he stumbled to a halt only paces away.

  Edmond drew back and fired.

  The arrow plinged off a scaled eyelid. Muscles twitching, the dragon’s left hindquarter rose slightly.

  Then Daffodil appeared, climbing up the dragon’s head to sit astride it. One hand yanking at its eyelid, she plunged her sword deep into the beast’s eye.

  The dragon roared and rose to its knees.

  Both hands wrapped around the hilt, she leant her weight on it, driving the blade deeper and deeper, until her arms vanished inside the dragon’s eye.

  The dragon shuddered, then went limp. With a disgusting sucking noise, Daffodil pulled her arms out. Ichor and goo oozing from her arms and sword, she waited for the dragon to twitch.

  But she didn’t need to be cautious. The dragon’s other eye stared out, the hate gone from it. The enormous beast was dead. Edmond walked over and helped her down, managing to avoid her goo-covered arms.

  “I think we might be heroes now,” Daffodil said.

  With a start, Edmond realised she was glowing. “You levelled up.”

  “I should hope so too.” Daffodil pulled Edmond into a huge hug, rendering his efforts to avoid the goo useless. Somehow, he didn’t mind so much.

  All around them, glowing goblins stepped out of the darkness, looking down at their skin.

  “What’s happened?” King Grork asked.

  “Let me explain,” Grew said.

  Chapter 26

  The Economics of Success

  It took Melinda a few hours of research to figure out how to change her appearance back. During which time, Edmond, Daffodil, and Grew cleaned up.

  Edmond felt half-a-lifetime lighter without accumulated gore, goo, and detritus that had stuck to him during their quest. When they all felt presentable again, they gathered in Ashley’s former living room. Melinda seemed overwhelmed by the whole thing. “I don’t know what to do. Ashley’s gone. She was supposed to train me.”

  Edmond smiled. “You have all these books to help you.”

  Melinda looked around at the stacks piled on every table, eyes flicking from shelf to tottering stack. “I know, but I’ve never been much of a reader. It’d be so much easier if she was still here. How am I meant to run a dungeon on my own?”

  Edmond undid his charm from around his neck and held it out to her. “This has always helped me. It’s a reading charm. You take it, I won’t need it any more.”

  “Ooh.” Grew raised his arms and sashayed back and forth. “Listen to him with his new stats.”

  Edmond grinned. They hadn’t just levelled up once when they’d killed the dragon, but four times. And all eight of Edmond’s points had gone into Intelligence and Wisdom, giving him 8 in each. He had enough to rival all but the greatest of scholars.

  Daffodil, meanwhile, had gained two points in Luck and six points in the hidden skill. Edmond resolved to find out just what that was when he had the chance. Maybe in a few years, after he’d finished his study of the effects of kissing Daffodil. Grew had gained all of his points in Wisdom, Willpower, and Perception, making his spells even more powerful than they’d already been.

  Melinda took the charm gratefully and tied it around her neck. “I’m not sure how all this will turn out, but thank you for helping.”

  “You’re welcome,” Daffodil said.

  “Now, about those heroes...” Edmond said.

  “I’ve got that,” Grew said. “Once we’re out, I’ll make sure they don’t come down here until you’re ready for them.”

  Edmond nodded. “And we’re going to tell any adventurers up there we cleared this place out. As far as they know, there’ll be nothing down here worth coming for.”

  Melinda grabbed a bag from the couch nearby. “I don’t have much to give you, but you’re welcome to this.”

  Taking the bag, Edmond opened it and frowned at the feathers inside. “Feathers? You shouldn’t have.”

  “They’re dodo feathers,” Melinda said. “Ashley said they’re worth their weight in gold.”

  Edmond weighed the bag and figured that—unless it was a trite metaphor—that might not be much, but he nodded his thanks. True wealth lay in the journey, and the people who took it with you.

  “Now, you should get out of here,” Melinda said. “I’ve got a dungeon to run.”

  Edmond leaned in and gave Melinda a hug, followed by Grew. Even Daffodil hugged Melinda. The three of them made their way through the already less-musty apartment and climbed the hidden stairs.

  “Did we do it?” Grew asked. “This all feels like a dream.”

  Daffodil pinched Grew on the arm.

  “Ow,” Grew said. “Okay, so it’s not a dream. It’s still incredible, though. How did a bunch of teenagers beat a dragon? One that the greatest heroes in the kingdom couldn’t.”

  “By not being heroes,” Edmond said. “At least, not the way the other people who tried were. We weren’t the strongest, the smartest, or the most dexterous. We got lucky.”

  “No,” Daffodil said. “Not just lucky. We stuck together through it all, relied on each other, and kept going when anyone else would have given up. That’s worth more than any random stat.”

  Edmond smiled and squeezed her hand.

  * * *

  They reached the surface in an hour. A hidden lever opened a hidden door into the cave where it had all started. Now he had the stats to think about it, Edmond realised it was obvious there was a secret passage the height of the dungeon; the archway down was narrower than the dragon. He took a last look at the steps down, then walked out.

  From the bare glimmer of dawn, it was early enough that Reg was still having breakfast. Edmond peered into the newly repaired welcome booth just to be sure, then turned to Grew. “All right. Do your thing.”

  Grew danced, spinning and sashaying through the cold morning air. With a whoosh, a fireball slammed into the cliff above the cave. Rocks crumbled and rushed, a torrent of stone burying the cave mouth.

  “What are you doing?” Reg hurried up the path toward them, his gaze on the cave.

  “Covering it up,” Edmond said. “No one needs to go down there any more. We killed the dragon, and the witch is dead. We don’t need any more heroes going into the dungeon.”

  “You what?” Reg scowled and pointed his index finger at Edmond. “You killed the witch and the dragon? Edmond, Daffodil, what were you thinking?”

  “That’s what it’s all been about, hasn’t it?” Daffodil said. “Isn’t that why we’ve been bringing heroes here?”

  “Well, at first.” Reg’s finger sagged. “But now it’s how the town makes money. We need the gold the heroes bring with them. Especially now, after all the money was stolen.”

  Edmond was glad the predawn hid his blush. “Stolen?”

  “Yes. Some no good ogre broke into the stores and stole it all. We’ve called for more heroes to track it down and finish it.”

  Edmond and Daffodil exchanged a glance.

  “Don’t do that,” Edmond said. “I took the money. I needed it to resurrect Daffodil.”

  “Resurrect Daffodil? You mean on that altar in there? So the money is gone?”

  Edmond shrugged and nodded.

  Reg’s finger stiffened again, along wi
th his expression. “You both need to leave before anyone else hears about this. They’ll tear you limb from limb. All that money, gone. The dragon and the witch, gone. What are we meant to do now?”

  “Go back to pig farming?” Edmond asked.

  Daffodil hurried Edmond away before Reg could punch him. The headman was angry enough without hurting his hand. They led Grew back to the town as quickly as they dared.

  “We should gather our things and go,” Edmond said. “We won’t be welcome here any more.”

  “I should go too,” Grew said. “My parents will be wondering where I…”

  Edmond followed Grew’s gaze. Several people waited on the edge of town, all wearing flowing scarlet robes. From the way they glared at Grew, they had to be his family.

  “I’ll see you later.” Grew jogged toward the group, cloak fluttering like a nervous bat.

  Edmond took Daffodil’s hand again as they stroll toward the town, swinging it gently to see what it felt like.

  He decided he liked it. But not as much as kissing.

  “Why are you so happy?” Daffodil asked. “I’ve no idea what we’re meant to do now.”

  “Don’t worry,” Edmond said. “Something will turn up. It always does. I’m lucky that way.”

  Edmond’s tale continues in:

  Sorcery

  Peony has a lot to live up to. Daughter of the legendary heroes, Edmond and Daffodil, all they've ever wanted for her is a safe life. One as far away from dragons and monsters as possible. But, like a lot of children, that only draws her closer to danger.

  When Peony is kidnapped, it seems like her chance at adventure has finally come. But is she ready for it?

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