Dragon Wish

by Judith Leger

  “My mother.” This time, the words came out stronger,

  almost a shout, the force behind them struck the dragon

  again, shoving it deeper into the desert floor. The two beasts

  on either side of the one who’d threatened Seren, slithered

  several feet away, their heads dipped in submission, touching

  the rippling ground.

  Deep grunts came from the beast before him. “Arcane

  instructed us to find this woman and bring her to him.”

  A breeze fluttered over her son’s image, lifting and

  moving the illusion of clothes and hair. “Arcane? You think

  he is so strong he will stand against me? You would follow

  death, my brother?”

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  “Humans have long sought to destroy our kind. Do you,

  human that you are, seek to carry through with their

  desire?”

  “Dare you question me?”

  Magic circled her son’s form, visible to the eye with tiny

  particles of power. Each one glinted in the hot sun. Another

  magical blast struck the beast, but instead of forcing it lower,

  it drew the dragon closer. “My mother has named me. Do

  you desire to know that which is bestowed on me? It is

  appropriate for who I am.

  “I am Legion. Many in one. An unstoppable force to rule

  over Avaris with a mighty fist, conjoining the clans. In my

  veins, there flows even the blood of your clan leader, Karia.

  Think you, she would approve of your actions this day?”

  For the first time, the beast wavered in its angry resolve.

  Its gaze flickered, and then the thickly lashed lids closed.

  A low laugh came from Legion. “I think not. Your actions

  of this day, the one against my beloved mother alone, have

  sealed your fate.”

  The air around the dragon shimmered like the heat waves

  across the desert. The beast opened its mouth in a soundless

  scream. Its body, starting at its nose, dissolved into a black

  mist. Sparkling light flickered among the vapor and

  separated from it, sucked in by her son.

  Sudden pressure built in Seren’s abdomen. Power flowed

  into her from her son’s image. The baby rolled, kicked, and

  struck against his confines, drawing in the dragon’s magic.

  The remains of the dragon disappeared. Having trouble

  pulling a deep breath, shocked by the dragon’s death, she

  glanced at her son.

  He stared at the second beast which cowered a short

  distance away.

  “Be gone. Hie yourselves to Arcane. When he moves, you

  will send word, even at the cost of your lives. Go. Now!”

  Both remaining beasts answered the order by leaping into

  the air. Neither looked back from their path leading

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  northeast. Legion’s form, held together by his magic, fell

  apart before Seren’s eyes. She cried out, one hand reaching

  for her son. He disappeared.

  A sob escaped from Seren. Paladin reached her and she

  faced him. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her

  tight against him. She buried her face in his chest and

  whispered, “I didn’t want him to go.”

  “I know, love, but his time will come. And soon. Have no

  fear of that.” He placed a hand on the back of her head,

  stroking her hair. “Come, we must hurry before any others

  decide to join us. It is only a little ways more.”

  She sniffed and nodded, struggling with need to see her

  son again. Paladin steadied her. With her feet planted firm in

  the sand, she glanced over at Ren. The wizard studied her,

  his eyes narrowed in speculation.

  He met her gaze and asked. “Has he ever displayed his

  might like that in the past?”

  “No. I’ve seen him only one time in a vision, but never in

  such a way.”

  “It’s good he manifested to the dragons. Word will spread

  through the clans and beyond of his power. This will cause

  many to reconsider going against him.”

  “I suppose. I’m still scared even though he protected me.”

  Ren grunted in response. He pivoted and started walking

  in the direction of the rock formation again as though

  nothing had happened. “Come, it’s best to reach the place

  before the sol descends.”

  Paladin kept an arm wrapped around her shoulders,

  giving her strength. Without a word, they followed Ren.

  The sun moved toward the horizon. Perspiration coated

  Seren’s face. She swiped it with the sleeve on her cloak. She

  tried to swallow, but the dryness in her mouth stopped her.

  Her lips cracked in fine lines. Paladin passed her a water

  pouch several times, stopping, and letting her drink a little to

  restore the moisture she sweated out.

  Legion’s actions against the dragon played out in her

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  mind. He’d physically sucked the life from the beast until

  nothing remained.

  So, Arcane’s comment held truth. He’d gained power by

  drawing the magic from others. She glanced at Paladin,

  needing to question him, but deep in her heart she feared

  what he would tell her. Was this how the dragons increased

  their magic, by devouring the very essence of weaker ones?

  She found no other explanation for the sudden increase of

  strength in her body and womb after the dragon evaporated.

  Up ahead, Ren reached the formation. He stopped not far

  from it. The small party trailed behind him. So near, Seren

  sensed what Paladin had spoken of earlier. Energy surged

  around the huge slabs protruding from the desert, coating

  the stones with a glistening layer.

  “Wait here. I will open a way,” Ren told them, moving

  closer to the barrier. Streaks resembling colored electricity

  ran through the air before him. A multitude of colors, reds,

  blues yellows and greens, mingled together to manifest into a

  rainbow effect.

  The wizard stopped. Winds coasting along the desert

  increased, lifting his cloak away from his body, flashing

  crimson on the inside and the deep navy on the outer side in

  the waning light. Ren raised his arms, his staff, tipped with

  the yellow dragon stone, held tight in his right hand. He

  chanted—the words unclear and carried away with the

  breeze.

  Seren’s heart accelerated with the magic generated in the

  domed barrier. Electricity spiraled in the air, sending tingles

  through her body. She reached out and slipped her fingers

  into Paladin’s hand, seeking security in his touch.

  He pressed against her fingers, tightening his arm about

  her shoulders, pulling her closer to his side. “Do not be

  concerned. He will open a path. We will be safe for a time.”

  “Hope so. My chest is starting to hurt, like there’s a heavy

  weight on it,” she said, leaning against his side.

  “This will pass once he secures an opening. Watch, love,

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  he will soon move to the cavern’s mouth.”

  The easy way he spoke the endearment brought a smile to

  her
lips. He appeared assured with Ren’s actions. Sucking

  back a fear-laden laugh, she hoped Ren Murdock didn’t do

  anything to blow them away.

  Several minutes went by, the sun slipped further over the

  horizon’s edge. Ren, hair tossed about on his head, took a

  slow step forward. Seren straightened and stared, amazed at

  the man’s power. Another step and another until he stopped

  some feet from where he’d started.

  Paladin squeezed her lightly. “He’s done it. A gate is open

  to the safekeeping.”

  “Good, I’ll feel better knowing there’s something to slow

  Arcane when he decides to attack.” She gave him a quick

  one-sided hug. She moved from under his protective hold

  and stepped to the gateway through the barrier.

  “It will stop him dead.”

  She glanced at him. “Dead? Don’t we wish?”

  “Shh, do not ever say that word. It is forbidden.”

  Surprised at the strength in his quiet comment, she

  studied him. The way his brows drew together, and the tight

  brackets on either side of his mouth revealed he believed

  this. She shrugged, hoping to put him at ease. “It slipped out.

  Sorry, but the word is no big deal on Earth.”

  “Big deal?”

  “Not important.”

  “Ah, I see. Here, the dragons hear through magic what

  each person, human, dragonseed, even Felerians say. With

  dragonseeds, the connection also goes to their thoughts.” He

  moved nearer and took her hand. “The night I found you, I

  made one simple wish. They heard and responded. Because

  of this, your life and mine have been irrevocably changed.”

  She smiled, draping her arms around his neck. “For the

  better I hope. One thing we do know, this will come to an end

  and I will go home. To Earth.”

  The same strange shuttered expression from earlier

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  crossed over his features, renewing the question inside her.

  He hid something from her. She felt it clear to her bones.

  “Paladin...?”

  He stopped her with a brief passing of his lips over hers.

  “Come, we must move on. I’m not sure how long Ren can

  maintain the opening for us.”

  Deciding to let the matter sit until they had time to work

  it out, she nodded and let him guide her through the

  gateway. She eyed the wizard when they moved past him. He

  frowned, concentration evident on his features. Once

  everyone in their party entered, he moved past the spot he

  stood and in the direction of the entrance to the cavern. The

  barrier slipped into place, leaving no exit for the dragonseeds

  within unless Ren opened another passage for them.

  This did little to relieve her though. Doubts concerning

  the barrier and Arcane’s power to break through stayed with

  her. She glanced over at Paladin. He appeared so calm. Was

  he? Again the doubts about his reasoning in coming to this

  place rose. She wanted to believe in him, but too many

  questions popped into her thoughts, making her question his

  reasoning.

  Trying to shove the negativity aside, she followed him to

  the triangular shaped entrance into the cavern. Paladin

  stopped. She came to a halt behind him, and Ren joined

  them. At her side, the wizard raised a brow at her. “Welcome

  to your new home.”

  Paladin shook his head and glanced over his shoulder, a

  slight smile on his lips. “Only for the moment.”

  “If you wait here, I will continue to the living area and

  clear out the dust and debris.” Ren offered.

  “I’d rather we go with you. You’re going to use your spells

  to do the cleaning, right?” Seren questioned, glancing at the

  wizard.

  “But of course, it is the only way to keep everything

  organized and in its proper place.” Ren grinned at her. She

  smiled in return. It pleased her that he appeared more at

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  ease in her company. His good looks came alive with the

  smile.

  “If we go with you, we won’t be in the way?”

  “Not at all. Come, mother to our unborn king. Let me see

  if you care for my cleaning methods.” He proceeded to stroll

  down the darkened corridor leading underneath the flowing

  dunes of the desert.

  Once inside, the blackness closed in around them, thick

  and impenetrable. Ren’s footsteps, crunching the sand on the

  stone floor echoed in the high ceilinged passageway. A flash

  streaked in front of her followed by a flood of luminous light

  from the yellow dragonstone on Ren’s staff. The eerie circle

  of light from the stone carried across the space between and

  several feet about them. On the walls on either side,

  engraved designs flowed over the surfaces, etched by human

  hands.

  Seren moved closer to the wall on her right. She studied

  the pictures carved there. Dragons amassed in the skies

  above fleeing humans. A thrill surged to life in her veins.

  “This is why they made this place?” she asked, reaching

  up to lay her palm on the wall.

  “Do not touch,” Ren’s order came too late.

  Images and sounds entered Seren’s body through the

  pictures. Humans screamed in terror, their clothes, hair,

  even their very flesh burned under the dragons’ flames.

  Compassion for the lost lives released her from the vision.

  She slid her hand down and away, balling her hands into

  fists.

  “The marks were magically encrypted so their

  descendants would never forget the tribulation they

  suffered.” The wizard stepped to her side. “This place was the

  sanctuary of the golden dragon so the magic in the walls is

  more intense.”

  Both she and Paladin faced Ren, shocked at the wizard’s

  answer. Paladin stepped closer to the wizard. “Is it safe for us

  to come within its boundaries?”

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  The wizard frowned at them. “The beast no longer exists

  except for its bones and scales. I’ve been here many times. I

  have never seen any signs of a live golden one. Nor have I

  sensed its presence.”

  More than a little surprised, Seren stared at him. She’d

  seen the dragon at her purification. Paladin had too. “That’s

  not true.” She motioned to Paladin. “We saw one.”

  Ren shook his head and motioned with his head, “So he

  has said, but until the time I can see with these eyes of mine,

  I will continue to believe it is a hopeless cause. Mind you, I

  will never cease my search, but I admit freely it is a useless

  one. Come, we’re almost there.”

  Confused by Ren’s attitude, she nodded. She reached and

  took Paladin’s hand. The touch gave her strength to continue

  after the wizard.

  Ren moved deeper into the cave. The faint sound of water

  dripping further into the cavern echoed, and soon, mingled

  with their steps. The wizard halted. He tilted his head,

  appearing to listen for something while he waited. Sere
n’s

  heart picked up speed.

  “What? Is there danger?” Paladin let go of Seren’s hand

  and slid his hands over his sword handles.

  The wizard turned and faced the wall on his right. He

  lifted the staff so the dragonstone’s light extended to reveal

  the bottom half of the wall.

  Reddish brown worms, their many hairy legs swishing

  back and forth, poured from a crevice in the stone.

  She swallowed, wrinkling her face in disgust. She moved

  closer to the two men so she stood between them. “I hate

  worms.”

  A frown flashed across Ren’s face as he glanced at her.

  “Don’t we all?” Without waiting for her to answer, he began

  walking again.

  The path descended then rose to curve one way then the

  other. At the end, stone steps rose to such a height they

  disappeared into the outer edges of the light from the

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  dragonstone.

  They climbed the steps and came over the last one. The

  rounded rock stretched out a good distance across. An

  intricate design covered the entire surface. It reminded Seren

  of a strange type of a pentagram. Then a thought came to

  her. Years ago, she’d seen circles with marks similar to this

  in a magazine article about alchemy. She glanced at Ren. Did

  wizards here use a form of alchemy?

  Dust-coated debris lay scattered over the surface. Ren

  kicked a petrified board out of his way as he walked to the

  center of the circle. Once there, he knelt, digging the sand

  out of a groove. Once he appeared satisfied with his efforts,

  he stood and placed the end of his staff into the slot.

  He glanced at their small group. “Everyone, step back

  onto the stairs. Stay against the walls. This will only take a

  moment to finish.”

  Doing what he asked, Seren caught Paladin’s gaze. She

  lifted a brow in question. He grinned and nodded at Ren.

  “Watch. You’ll see. It’s a simple spell.”

  Releasing the staff, Ren brought his hands together in

  front of his face. He closed his eyes and a look of total

  concentration crossed over his features. A vortex of air

  encircled the staff, widening until it streaked outside the

  circle’s boundaries. The wind picked up every bit of debris in

  the area. With a rush of air, it traveled to the shaft leading

  out of the caverns.

  When the current disappeared, Ren relaxed, bringing his

  hands down to his sides. He grinned. “There now, we’ll be