Wings of Fire (The Legend of Hooper's Dragons Book 7)

by GARY DARBY

  Sometimes haughty and overly proud

  With fearless courage and never cowed

  Large in body, with a soldier’s brave heart

  Trained to battle in the warrior’s fierce art

  This is the gift I give thee, my friend

  And with the others, it shall surely blend

  To strengthen your hand with sword and blade

  Arise the leader and be not afraid

  And for this, I gladly do my part

  A willing spirit, ready to depart

  Always together, never apart

  To remember ever, the sacrifice of the heart.

  With that, he closes his eyes, sighs out his last breath, and from the corner of one eye, a dark red tear forms and rolls down his cheek before it rises in the air. It hangs for a moment before it hardens into a ruby gemstone and slowly descends into my outstretched hand.

  I choke as I hold the glistening jewel in my palm. A single tear from my eye falls to wash the perfectly formed crimson teardrop. Knowing what I must do, I draw Galondraig from its scabbard and hold it and Bold Wind’s gemstone high.

  Galondraig floats from my hand along with the garnet stone. They rise higher and begin to swirl together, swifter and swifter, growing bright with a radiant crimson glow. Then, there’s a flash of scarlet light that’s so bright that it causes me to turn my head and close my eyes for a moment.

  When I look up again, Galondraig slowly floats back to my extended hand, Bold Wind’s ruby now embedded into the hilt—the last of the dragon tear-jewels. Galondraig’s grip is now covered in the colors of the rainbow. Each gem is a power unto itself, all together they form a force to confront and hopefully defeat Vay.

  Around us, the ring of dragons lift their heads and let out a mighty roar that sweeps over the bleak landscape. As the dragons grow silent, I turn to find the company gathered behind me. One look on their faces and I know that they know. “You heard Bold Wind?”

  As they all nod, Golden Wind swings her head back, looks at them, and then says to me, “Yes, Hooper, they indeed heard.”

  Amil swallows and points. “And her, too.”

  My mouth sags a little as I stammer to the golden, “I don’t understand—” but before I can finish, an aura grows around us. A radiant glow, encircled by the colors of the rainbow appears and through the ring step the three sisters.

  With mournful eyes, they gaze toward Phigby and Bold Wind. “The final gemstone is given,” Osa says, “the promises kept. The fullness of the dragons’ power is now yours to wield, Hooper Menvoran, given by the sacrifice of the heart.”

  Suddenly, there’s a blast of wind and black smoke and noxious fumes sweep over us, setting us to choking and gagging. All but the sisters, who remain serene and calm.

  Out of the churning smoke strides Vay, her face set in a fierce snarl, her scepter pointed at her sisters. You took my portal and I shall take yours, make it my own. Your days are finished here, mine have just begun, sisters!

  Osa flips a dismissive hand towards Vay. Begone sister, you have no place or power here!

  Is that so? You tried to kill my Gem Guardian—I shall kill yours! Vay snarls and swings her scepter around and unleashes a bolt of pure force at me. Without thinking, I sweep Galondraig up and it strikes the scarlet orb, slashing entirely through the powerful shaft. It explodes in a fiery burst that blinds me for a moment and almost knocks me off my feet.

  When I regain my sight, I spin around with my sword in hand, ready to meet Vay’s next attack. The company has its weapons out, too, their faces masks of pure rage that Vay killed our beloved comrades.

  Amil jumps to my side, his ax at the ready. He swings a hand, trying to sweep away the smoke so that he can see. “Where is she? After what she did to Phigby I have a whole lot of mad in me that needs using up.”

  The three fairies take a step forward. Osa raises a hand and the noxious black smoke disappears as if sucked into nothingness. In her soft, melodious voice, Osa says, Do not fear, she is gone and will not trouble you today. You have a short time to mourn, to find what balm you can to soothe your aggrieved souls.

  I take a step forward. “Did you have to take Phigby? Without him, we are so much less, so . . . lost.”

  Osa slowly shakes her head. We did not take him, Hooper Menvoran. It was his choice so that you and the company could become so much more than you are.

  “His choice?” I stammer.

  Yes, Hooper, this is what Ljos Efla, the Maker of Light, whom you called Phigby, chose. With his sacrifice, you have your own light, an understanding of what is needed, what must be done for all Erdron to be free.

  Tavin steps forward, bows his head to the fairies. “Vay took Phigby’s ode book. Does this mean that our quest is done?”

  “Yes,” Amil speaks up, “without that accursed book—uh, err, excuse me, my ladies, I meant no disrespect, but without it and Phigby we’re like a ship without a rudder and sails. You know, sort of drifting along without a port in sight.”

  Osa smiles. The company’s quest is nearly finished, Traveler, but there is more to be done. More work that only this company can accomplish.

  The fairy turns to the dwarves who stand clustered together and to one side. Your hidden treasure must now come forth, not for Vay’s army—

  Osa turns and motions toward me. But for his.

  Amil glances around at the company and grumbles, “Mighty small army if you ask me.”

  The sisters smile as Osa replies, An army yet to come, Traveler, an army yet to come.

  “Oh, good,” Amil nods, “that could be a pretty big army, then.”

  The fairies again smile, with Eskar and Nadia stepping forward to join Osa as she says, No Gaelian Fae ode book do you need any more. They raise their arms and we follow them upward. At my side, both Amil and Cara gasp, for standing in the air above the three sisters, bathed in glorious light are Phigby and Bold Wind.

  Phigby smiles and bows his head as Bold Wind unleashes a rolling roar that seems to fill the air with thunder and pride. Then, the two fade and disappear as the three sisters, with voices soft and low, begin to chant,

  Farther to the east you shall swiftly go

  To deliver new friends from an evil foe

  And wrest for them a treasured hoard

  For the lowliest serf or noble lord

  From deepest caves, their mighty gift to see

  To aid those who come from land and sea

  So swiftly wing, so speedily soar

  To Mount Timbor’s dwarven doors

  The fairies pause their chant and when they begin again, their voices rise, become forceful and strong.

  To usher in the good, to return the right

  We must remove Vay’s most wicked blight

  For no promise is made, no reward given

  Until the shackles of her evil are surely riven

  Fear not which comes, what must be done

  For with each sacrifice you have won

  The time needed for the one to come

  The one of destiny, the cutter’s son

  So with this jewel, the Krigsjuvel rare

  The war stone true, on land, sea, and air

  And battle forth in might to that very day

  You shall destroy her evil, the vileness of Vay

  But with this gift a warning clear

  The jewel is for good and not for fear

  Use this gem for those you serve

  And these gifts for those who truly deserve

  And for yourself, remain humble and true

  Then power and nobility to you shall accrue

  For from these few who follow you now

  Shall rise an army, mighty and proud

  But if you turn as from night to day

  From that which is honorable to the evilness of Vay

  Then from your world, all goodness will depart

  Given to her foulness and love of the evil art

  And in those terrible, most malevolent of days,

 
; When evil triumphs over good with its wicked ways

  Then forever and ever shall they stay apart

  Those who gave their sacrifices of the heart.

  The fairies stop and turn their faces to me. Remember Hooper, they call, it is for you, and you alone, to ride the rainbow.

  With that, they begin to fade, but their voices hang in the air, Ride the rainbow, Hooper—ride the rainbow.

  They disappear into the light, leaving us standing silent. It seems like a long time before I turn, my heart like a lump in my chest at what we must do next. “I guess we need to bury Phigby and Bold Wind.”

  “No, Hooper,” the golden answers, “look.”

  I raise my head and stare. Phigby’s and Bold Wind’s bodies are gone. For a moment, I’m stunned and then in sudden realization, blurt out, “The sisters took them, didn’t they?”

  “Yes,” Golden Wind replies, “they didn’t want to leave them in this filthy place of so much evil.”

  “I’m so glad they did,” Cara sniffs as a tear rolls down her cheek, then falls like a silver pearl to the gritty soil. “I couldn’t stand the thought of them buried even close to this horrible place.”

  I nod and slowly turn to face the company. “I—” begin in a stammer but Amil holds up his hand to stop me. He stands beside me and faces the company. “It’s time we take care of some business that we’ve held off for far too long. I’m only saying what we all know in our hearts and minds.

  “We’ve held back for any number of reasons, none of which make any sense now. The sisters said it as plain as day—well, as plain as anything else they say. It’s time we make it official. Hooper Menvoran, Gem Guardian, friend of Golden Wind and more than a friend to us is the rightful captain of this outfit—our leader from this moment forth.”

  He takes a step forward, a glare on his face. “Anyone want to challenge me on that or tell me different?”

  Tavin smiles, steps to Amil’s side and lays a hand on his shoulder. “Not I, my stalwart Traveler.” He turns to the company. “All in favor say aye!”

  The company raises a thundering shout, their fists thrust into the air while our dragon friends erupt in roars that seem to shake the air. The golden’s booming bellow overshadows even Regal’s and sounds like a hundred trumpets blaring across the dusky land.

  At the company’s front, the pixies dance a jig, wildly swinging their hats while Scamper and Silky go around and round as if chasing their tails.

  I turn to Cara, whose, “Aye!” seems loudest of all and whose smile is so wide I’m afraid it will split her lips.

  When the shouts die down, I glance around, see not one face of indecision, none whose eyes betray alarm or opposition. With a voice that’s stronger, more forceful than what I supposed it would be, I say, “Thank you, my friends. You have my word that I shall not betray this honor, nor ever betray you.”

  To the dwarves, who’ve stood silent off to one side, I ask, “Pegli, we sky to the east. Can you lead us to your home?”

  “Even if I were blind, Hooper Menvoran,” he answers.

  “Good,” I reply, “let’s get ready to sky then, we have work to do.”

  At a hand on my shoulder, I turn to Cara. “It’s obvious the mantle has descended,” she speaks low and with a gentle touch squeezes my shoulder, “and you wear it well, just as I knew you would.”

  I breathe in deeply, feel the weight but oddly enough, I don’t feel weighed down. Even in this terrible and sad spot, it feels right, as if I had been brought to this place—this time—to become the leader of the Company of the Golden Dragon. Cara squeezes my shoulder again, turns away and heads toward Wind Song.

  Golden Wind pushes her muzzle close. “Before we go, there is someone you should speak with.”

  I turn slightly to her. “Who?”

  “Someone who can give you the answer to the question you have.” She juts her muzzle out and my eyes catch Wind Walker gazing at me. After a slight nod to her, I stride over to the big emerald. As I walk up, I say to Marce, “May I have a word with Wind Walker?”

  “Of course,” she replies. “But after that, I intend to have a lot of words with him.” She smiles at the big green and runs a hand over his neck scales. “And all of them good.”

  As Marce moves aside to give us a little privacy, Wind Walker lowers his head so that we’re eye to eye. “Golden Wind, said that you could answer a question I have.”

  He doesn’t answer, just waits for me to voice my request. “Why,” I begin a little hesitantly, “did Phigby ask me to forgive him? Forgive him for what? Phigby never did anything to hurt or harm me.”

  Wind Walker’s outgoing breath is a deep rumble. “Hooper, how many of us were there to watch over you, your home, your family before that terrible, terrible night?”

  “Why, three.”

  His eyes are sad as shakes his head. “No. There was a fourth.”

  Even in the oppressive heat, I’m frozen in place. Then it hits me. “Phigby!?”

  “Yes,” Wind Walker nods, “only you knew him as Joaquim the Woodcutter, and, like my brothers and me, Vay deceived him too. It’s been like a searing, hot coal in his mind and heart ever since, a failure for which he never forgave himself.”

  “He’s the one that brought me to Draconstead,” I state.

  “To hide you from Vay. He could never reveal himself to you—that would endanger too many others. So he took up a former guise in the form of Professor Phineas Phigby, Book Master, and Maker of Potions—By Appointment Only.”

  My knees are weak and I feel a need to sit, only there’s nothing fit to sit on. I shake my head in wonderment. “I would sometimes pester him to tell me who he really was, as it was obvious to me that he was more than a Book Master.”

  “Oh yes,” Wind Walker sighs, “he was so much more than a Book Master but that is for another time and discussion.”

  He shoves his muzzle close to me. “The important thing is that now that you know, what will you do about it?”

  Tears come to my eyes as I reach up to stroke Wind Walker’s muzzle. “You want to know if I forgive him. Of course, I do. How could I not? He was my friend when I had none, my teacher who opened up a world that I never knew existed, nurtured my spirit, and saved my life how many times?” I take in a deep breath. “Helped prepare me for this moment.”

  Wind Walker sighs deep in satisfaction. “And that is the right answer, Hooper Menvoran.”

  “I appreciate you telling me, Wind Walker.” He gives me a small head bow in acknowledgment and I turn to make my way back to Golden Wind. Scamper is already aboard and chitters for me to hurry! As he doesn’t like this stinky place.

  Smiling a little at his insistence, I call up, “Give me a moment.”

  I walk around to face Golden Wind and reach up to scratch her between her eyes. “Thank you, for having Wind Walker tell me the rest of the story. I appreciate knowing that Phigby, or Joaquim, or Ljos Efla, or whatever his name is has been watching over me from the beginning.”

  “And he still will,” she answers, “as much as he can—and that is part of the story that you need to know too.”

  I nod, give her another scratch before I climb up to her neck saddle. I raise a hand to signal the company and all answer with raised hands telling me they’re ready. “All right, Golden Wind, sky!”

  The golden spreads her wings, catches the breeze and skys upward. I glance up and say, “The Shadow Sheath, it’s thinning out, being blown away.”

  “Yes,” Golden Wind replies as she turns us east. “This land begins to heal but it will take many, many seasons to rid itself of Vay’s vileness.”

  After a glance over my shoulder assures me that all the company is aloft, I smile to myself as I turn back. “What I wouldn’t give to be a sprite and be able to flit among the company to hear all the conversations that are going on between rider and dragon. They should be most interesting.”

  Twinkle flutters up and in a squeaky voice asks, “Do you want us to do that, Hooper
? We can, you know.”

  Grinning, I reach out and rub her between the eyes. “I appeciate the offer, but you three need your rest. However, if I ever need any spies, I know just where to go.”

  She flits away to settle next to Ember and Dazzle on the golden’s back and soon enough, the three are asleep.

  I take in a deep breath, let it out in a long sigh.

  “Troubled, Hooper?”

  “Troubled? No, it’s just that I miss him so much already.”

  “As do we all, but life goes on, as does this company.”

  “Indeed,” I reply and then add, “Golden Wind, is it just me, or did you sense something among the company? It was as if there was a renewed sense of purpose—no, that’s not right, it was a sense of . . . of—”

  “Power?”

  “Power. Exactly. A force, a new strength in the company as if Phigby’s and Bold Wind’s deaths has bonded us together in a way that Vay could never break.”

  “Yes, and Vay felt it too. Across Erdron those who seek light instead of darkness feel that same power and their hearts and minds rejoice. But tonight, Vay frets and broods. Her portal is destroyed and with it, the otherworld army she hoped to bring forth.

  “Her demon is wounded and as he’s an extension of herself, she’s wounded also. In her rage she mistakenly killed the Fire Elementis, sending it back to the netherworld where she knows she cannot call it forth with her portal gone.

  “Worst of all, she realizes that she’s achieved the exact opposite of what she desired —Hooper Menvoran, Gem Guardian has come into his own.”

  A small, self-satisfied smile lifts up one corner of my mouth. “She frets and broods, eh? Maybe, she’s even a little afraid of the future?”

  “Indeed she is, Hooper.”

  “I think Phigby and Bold Wind would be very pleased at that, don’t you think?”

  “More than pleased, Hooper, they rejoice. But do not forget, Vay is still very powerful, still has armies on the march, and her wickedness is still strong among many on Erdron.”

  I nod as I reply, “I understand. Yet, we have her worried, yes?”