by Ritu Ghosh
“Billy!” cried Aaron. He recognized Billy with his long blond hair.
Billy was dressed differently now. He looked bigger and was wearing armor and holding his shield. Billy rose against the Dragon. He withdrew his shield and raised his sword.
Brandon ran towards Aaron.
“The Defenders are not made to give up!” he said and with his sword he jabbed the Dragon in the eye.
Mordok went crazy with pain. He roared and tried to fly, but he couldn’t see anything clearly.
From above, they heard another roar. The White Dragon came towards them.
“Why don’t you fight someone your own size?” said Alfadon and pulled Mordok by his tail. Alfadon thrashed him against the rocks many times till Mordok gave up.
Mordok fell in front of them. Breathing shallow, he said “The Dark Lord will avenge me. None of you will be able to stand against him”
Aaron walked up to Mordok. Mordok was slowly changing back into his human form.
Aaron drew his sword and plunged it into Mordok’s chest. “This is for my Mother” He said with anger.
Mordok gave out a howl and finally died. Mordok was now just another dead man, fallen on the grounds of Arktor.
As soon as the Dark Wizard Mordok fell, the Lurgs started to fall too. They were terrified. They dropped their weapons and ran in the opposite direction. They ran like rats into the tunnel from where they came from.
The Giants cheered. Ony hugged Dan so tightly that Dan couldn’t breathe for a moment. Flynn came forward to hug Aaron. Brandon joined them too. The soldiers of the Giants dropped their axes and finally took a breath of relief. Thodin was cheering for Arktor.
Aaron looked for Jane, but she was not seen anywhere. Aaron looked in the corridor. He saw Jane kneeling down close to Mordok.
“Jane, what are you doing here?” Aaron said as he ran towards her “Are you alright?”
He saw her crying. Alfadon was lying next to her on the ground. He was badly hurt all over. He was bleeding and could hardly speak. Aaron sat next to Alfadon and held one of his hands.
“You are no doubt the greatest wizard ever” Aaron said looking at Alfadon.
“Didn’t I tell you everything will be fine?” Alfadon smiled through his pain.
Ony, Dan and Thodin came running to Alfadon and took him inside the Palace.
Chapter 25
The Journey Ahead
The Giants sealed the tunnel with heavy rocks so that the Lurgs could never come back again. But even they knew that it wouldn’t be too long, before Zorath would come back to this world again.
Alfadon was kept under strict supervision by the Giants. They took great care of him and brought all the ingredients that Jane asked for; so she could make special medicines for Alfadon. But still, Alfadon did not show any signs of improvement. Aaron and Jane would sit next to him for hours and Alfadon would sometimes tell them stories of their mother and father.
Finally, when Alfadon became slightly better, Aaron asked him “What do we do now that Zorath has acquired the Sicil stone of Merthyl? Will he be back now to wreck more havoc in the world?”
“Ah, you see Aaron. It’s not that simple” said Alfadon “Zorath always has ruled over his Dark Kingdom through the kings he had made immortal. In each of these kings, he put a part of his soul. They are Zorath’s real strength. Even when his physical body perished, Zorath was alive through these kings and continued his evil deeds through them. Now, to come back to his human form again, he cannot simply use the Sicil of Merthyl alone. He would also have to sacrifice the kings he had made immortal. This, the kings do not know of”
“So he will not be able to come back if he can’t kill these kings?”asked Aaron.
“Yes! That is right” Alfadon agreed.
“Then, we should capture these kings and keep them hidden while we find the Sicil of Merthyl” Aaron said after thinking for some time.
“That is a great plan Aaron. But it might not be that easy though. Each of these kings have exceptional magic powers and they stand by Zorath. They will never give up what they have.” said Alfadon.
“Then we will fight them and bring them to Kron” Aaron said boldly.
“Well, there is no other choice; if the Sicil has reached Zorath he will immediately kill these kings one by one. I think what you said is the only thing we can do now.” said Alfadon. “Bring me Dan and Ony, I wish to speak to them immediately”
Aaron got up and analyzed a few things in his mind before leaving. He told Alfadon about his mother’s letter and what she said about the Sword of the Heavens and the rest of the riddle. Alfadon nodded his head in praise of both Aaron and his mother. Aaron brought Dan and Ony back with him. They then had a big discussion with Alfadon about the plans ahead.
They decided to go to the Dark Kingdom of Zorath as soon as Alfadon could go with them.
Aaron stayed in Arktor with everyone else for a few months. They had the best to eat and enough rest. But everyone was worried about Alfadon’s health. There was not much improvement in him, he seemed very weak.
Aaron’s training along with Jane and Flynn continued under Thodin’s supervision. Belster remained sour for the rest of the stay. He didn’t help them train. He didn’t talk much to anyone and stayed in his room for most of the days.
Billy stayed in the palace with the rest of them. The Defenders avoided him. Aaron was very thankful to Billy for saving Brandon’s life. He had many things he wanted to ask Billy but whenever he tried to speak to Billy, Dan would come in-between. Dan warned Aaron about Billy and asked him to keep a distance from Billy.
Aaron was reluctant to do so but he didn’t want to go against Dan’s wish. He waited for a chance to speak to Billy when none of the other defenders were around.
One day, after their training; Aaron, Flynn and Jane were sitting around and chatting. Suddenly, they heard many voices coming from the inside. They could hear the doctor in Alfadon’s room yelling at someone. Aaron rushed inside to see what was going on.
A lot of little Nomes were at the step of Alfadon’s bed trying to climb on it. The doctor was trying to keep them away. Some of them were even on the doctor’s feet. Bo was there too, he looked equally worried but stood still next to Alfadon
“What’s going on?” asked Aaron.
The Nomes saw Aaron and gathered around him.
“It’s the boy, it’s the boy” they stared to say and jump.
“How come you are all here?” asked Aaron shaking off a Nome off his hands.
They stared to speak at the same time. Aaron covered his ears.
Jane came in and put a spell on the Nomes. They began to float around in the air. Flynn watched with amazement.
“You can ask them now, they will tell you” said Jane keeping her sword wand back.
The Nomes hanging in the air, stared to speak one by one.
“They came to our house”
“They came to our house”
“And they chased us away”
“They were looking for Alfadon”
“Who are they?” asked Aaron.
“The Lurgs of Kora”
“They cannot be The Lurgs of Kora” said Alfadon who had regained consciousness and was now trying to sit up. Jane helped him.
“They were, they told us.”
“And they destroyed our home on the Blue Mountains”
“We escaped with our lives, but we didn’t tell them where Alfadon was”
Then all of them started to cry together. Everyone had to cover their ears again till Jane shut them up with magic and made them stand in a row silently.
“That is not good” said Alfadon looking very worried.
“Why, what’s going on?” asked Aaron.
“Kora is part of Zorath’s Dark Kingdom. It is the home of one of the immortal kings. The king is probably looking for me since he wants to know how to use the Sicil stone. We have to do something to stop him soon” said Alfadon “You have to leave right now, no matter what�
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Aaron looked at Alfadon and then at Flynn.
“I will tell the others” Aaron said and walked out.
Jane put Alfadon to bed again and drove the Nomes to another part of the palace. The Nomes looked everywhere in awe.
Aaron told Dan and Ony about what Alfadon had just said.
“We should move immediately. We have to stop the King and his Lurgs before they come here looking for Alfadon. We will need all the help we can get, gather everyone, we will leave tomorrow” said Dan.
“But Alfadon is not in a condition to travel. What do we do?” Aaron said in concern.
Dan thought for a second and then exchanged glances with Ony.
“Alfadon will be safe here. The Giants will protect him well” said Dan finally.
“We have to get to the Lurgs of Kora and stop them before they go far from the Blue Mountains” said Ony leaving for his room to pack for the journey.
Aaron did not argue further. He knew Alfadon’s condition and it would be better if he is with the Giants. He slowly went back to Alfadon’s room and informed Jane about the group’s decision to leave. Jane sighed and remained silent.
The next day with the rise of dawn, Dan, Ony, Belster, Jane, Aaron, Flynn, Bo and Billy left for the Blue Mountains, leaving Alfadon and Brandon at the palace of Arktor.
The Giants had arranged some of their best horses. Thodin and the others bid goodbyes to them. They sent them off with food, supplies, clothing and weapons for their journey.
-End of Book 1-
Table of Contents
About the Author
The Map Of Kron
Chapter 1 Home Sweet Home
Chapter 2 The Village Market
Chapter 3 Weather Wolves
Chapter 4 The Search Party
Chapter 5 Two Strangers
Chapter 6 The Silent Captive
Chapter 7 Hunter Village
Chapter 8 The Second Attack
Chapter 9 The Blue Mountains
Chapter 10 The Sicil Pendent
Chapter 11 The Ghost Town
Chapter 12 Lion’s Inn
Chapter 13 The Enchanted Castle
Chapter 14 The Witch Valley
Chapter 15 In the Underground Market
Chapter 16 Travel to the Troll Mountains
Chapter 17 Troll Dungeons
Chapter 18 Mordok
Chapter 19 Escape from the Dark Prison
Chapter 20 The Krigan’s Lair
Chapter 21 The Palace of Thodin
Chapter 22 The Training
Chapter 23 The Black Dragon
Chapter 24 The Final Flight
Chapter 25 The Journey Ahead