Cursed Cleric

by Salvador Mercer

  The dragon opened it maw and prepared to breath fire. When it did so, it momentarily closed its eyes instinctually. During that brief period, Will thrust with all his might into the dragon’s mouth slicing right through its tongue and down through the bottom of its jaw. The fire spewed forth, but it arced to their left as the creature recoiled from the blow by the impudent human.

  Targon leapt to his feet and tried to bridge the gap between them, but he was too late. Will dove to this right but the fire caught part of his body and ignited his clothes and skin on the lower half. Both legs, pants, and boots started to burn, and Will screamed in pain. Salina and Cedric struggled to regain their footing and Targon could not relinquish neither sword nor shield in order to grab Will.

  Khan spoke a spell and a huge wave of snow balled up and covered Will completely. The snowpack continued to the point that the ball of white was as large in diameter as a man standing. With another wave of his staff, the ball started to roll downhill to the east of the ridgeline where they were standing. “Time to go,” Khan said.

  “I agree, but I can’t disengage,” Targon said.

  “We have no where to run to,” Salina added, and despite having her slender sword drawn, she felt it was useless against a creature as massive as a dragon.

  “Slipoi,” Khan commanded, and he pointed his staff directly at the dragon’s head. A ball of inky blackness shot forth and attached itself to the dragon’s face. It took on a spherical shape and covered not only its eyes, but its snout as well. Khan spoke again, “Follow me.”

  The dragon roared in anger at not being able to see its prey and the group ran down the same slope that Will’s snowball did to the east and then immediately north, flanking the dragon who breathed a huge fireball in front of it, moving its head from side to side in order to cover a large arc. They could feel the intense heat even from a distance.

  Khan motioned with his staff and the snowball stopped on a ledge about thirty feet below the dragon and fifty feet north of it. If the dragon had a longer tail, it could have hit them as they basically were behind it now. Another word and the snow melted quickly revealing an unconscious Will.

  “Help me pick him up,” Salina said, and it took her, Cedric, and Khan, all working together to lift the man with his feet dragging.

  “Over there,” Khan said. “I saw it after the dragon arrived.

  He had pointed to a grouping of rocks and boulders that surrounded a very narrow crevice that would allow only a single person at a time to enter. It was so black they were not able to discern how deep it went but in this barren and forsaken land, it was the closest thing to shelter that any of them had seen.

  “What did you do to the dragon?” Cedric asked, curiosity overcoming him despite the near danger.

  The dragon slammed its tail near them. It was blinded but it could still hear. Khan motioned for them to follow his lead and dragging Will with Targon as a rear guard, Khan said, “I cast a spell of Eternal Darkness on the dragon.”

  “It will be permanently blinded?” Salina asked, straining under Will’s weight.

  “Well, not exactly,” Khan said, reaching the crevice and suddenly closing his eyes and murmuring yet another spell. This time on himself.

  “Well, for how long will it be unable to see?” Salina asked, holding Will with Cedric while Khan performed his magic.

  “Better hurry,” Targon said over his shoulder. “It knows where’re here.”

  Khan finished then opened his eyes and looked at Salina saying, “I know it is contradictory to the spell’s name, but it will only last a minute or so.”

  The wizard suddenly picked Will up as if he were a large pillow and entered the crevice sideways leading with his right arm, staff out front, allowing him to carry Will in his left and pass single file. Salina followed without prompting as did Cedric. Only when Targon reached it did he say, “That’s too small.”

  Khan’s voice came to him faintly, “Turn your shield sideways and get in here quickly. We are almost out of time.”

  Targon did as he was instructed and found the crevice went back and down quite a ways. Way down in fact, and he struggled to maintain his footing before a tender hand reached out and gripped him on his shoulder. “That’s far enough.” Salina said.

  Khan responded from a bit further in and to the side, “Actually, that is not far enough. I suggest coming back another ten paces and follow my voice till your out of direct sight of the crevice’s entrance.

  Fire roared over the ground above them in a haphazard manner and when they had congregated around Khan he whispered to them, “Be quiet. Speak not a word.”

  The group stood with Khan holding Will as if he were a child in his left arm. It was dark so that it was almost impossible to see, but the faintest wisp of light came from the crevice and almost nothing reflected off the dark obsidian of the rocky walls where they were standing.

  The dragon roared again and stomped its feet causing small, sharp chips of black rock to spray across their faces. They kept still even when the fire roared down the crevice and came close to lighting them on fire. The area where Salina had stopped was engulfed in flame and for a brief second they could see one another clearly.

  After several minutes they heard the loud beating of leather wings and the wind rushed into their underground sanctuary as if a tornado had passed by overhead. Once they were sure it was gone, Khan allowed the faintest of light from his staff, enough for them to barely see them and he held his finger to his lips.

  They stood for several more minutes and when Cedric was about to speak, the crevice thundered around them as the dragon attacked the very ground above them. Dirt and black rock shards fell down around them and covered them from head to toe. Fire was heard and the heat from it wafted down to them from the outside air. Then, a final roar as the dragon took flight and left again.

  No one spoke for a few moments before Khan finally said, “I think it is gone for good now.”

  “How can you tell?” Salina hissed back at him. They now spoke in barely a whisper.

  “I can feel the dark energy around us dissipate. I think it flows faster and in greater power when a dragon is nearby.”

  “Khan, that was amazing,” Salina said. “I don’t know how you did it but thank you. Now what can we do for Will?”

  “Get him some water and take him from me,” Khan said. “My strength spell was for a short duration as I have almost no energy left in my body.”

  The pair, mother and son, took Will’s body and gently laid it down where Cedric had unrolled a bedroll for him from his pack. Looking at Targon, the large, Ulathan woodsman could only shrug and say, “I think I left both our packs up there.”

  “There will be nothing left of them now,” Khan said, matter-of-factly.

  “Well, I’m glad you found this place anyway,” Salina said again. Her voice barely audible.

  Khan spoke slightly louder within the cramped confines of the narrow passageway. “This was not here when the dragon arrived. I think… No, I know that she made it.”

  “She?” Targon asked, weapon pointing towards them and the shield was literally stuck behind him. Will laid on the floor at their feet and it was awkward to say the least.

  “The priestess warrior,” Khan said.

  Cedric asked, “How can you be so sure?”

  “At the commencement of combat, I saw a glimmer come from the location where the crevice is located. The dragon’s fire distracted me but for a split second I am sure I saw a large, warrior priestess suddenly stand and look upon us from this very same entrance as if she had sprung from the ground itself.”

  “That’s not possible,” Salina said.

  “Neither were dragons and wizards a year ago, correct?” Khan asked.

  Salina shook her head, “Alright, Khan. So you saw this woman we are tasked with meeting. That is a good thing, right? She has to be close by?”

  Khan waited for a moment then chose his words carefully, “After seeing her I would not c
all it a good thing.”

  That sobered the group considerably and they stood within the narrow confines of a crevice like trail that was barely as wide as a person was from shoulder to shoulder. The top of the subterranean passageway was barely taller than Targon. Will was at their feet and they were in various poses straddling their friend and companion trying not to step on him.

  It took a moment before Cedric speculated aloud, “If I didn’t know better, I’d say this crevice was made by the priestess’ own body.”

  “What do you mean, son,”

  “I mean,” Cedric explained, “that she walked through the ground itself causing it to open up. The dimensions are exactly like a human.”

  “This is much bigger than a human,” Salina said. “Even Targon fits well enough in here.”

  The group looked at Targon then their eyes tracked to Khan. Cedric asked the wizard, “What exactly did you see?”

  “Do not ask. It was not natural.”

  “Why is it so hot in here?” Cedric asked.

  Khan shrugged, “I would venture to guess that the lava from the volcano is nearby. The heat would be intense even from a distance.”

  “Well, it’s hard to breath down here but anyway, what do we do now?” Cedric asked.

  There was a pause before Salina took over. “Cedric, you stay here with Will. He’s hurt badly and may not make it. We will follow this passageway and see where it leads.”

  “What about the dragon?” Cedric asked.

  “I believe it’s gone,” Salina said, laying a hand on her son’s shoulder in the darkness and raising her voice to speak normally, no longer in a whisper or hushed tone. “At any rate, it shouldn’t be able to reach you and Will down here. If there’s trouble, follow us as far as you can. We’ll leave signs for you if there are any forks in the passageway.”

  “Alright,” Cedric said. “Be careful though… All of you.”

  Targon smiled at him in the dim light of Khan’s staff and the Kesh wizard nodded at him as a token of appreciation. The group gathered themselves and then with a farewell to Cedric and Will, they headed deeper into the chasm. The direction, one that most of them noted, was directly towards the volcano.

  “It’s gone now,” Malik said, peering out from their hiding place near an outcropping of black rock.

  The dragon was seen flying towards the volcano after its battle with the other group of humans. Bran nodded grimly, “We need to follow it.”

  “Whatever for?” Malik asked.

  Bran reached into this tunic and pulled out the brush that belonged to his wife. “Because this is drawing me there.”

  “How is that possible?” Malik asked.

  Bran shrugged, “Either you have faith in that creature’s magic, or you don’t, but I’m telling you its tugging me strongly now in that direction.

  Malik looked over the rise again and scanned the flat, black, lava plain. “I see nothing moving at all.”

  “Then make your choice,” Bran said.

  Malik paused for a moment and eyed his companion suspiciously for a second before saying, “Maybe they found a canyon or hidden valley allowing them to travel without being seen.”

  Bran maintained his gaze on Malik, “Like I said, your choice.”

  “We go then but stay with me. It’s dangerous to be in the open like this. Keep your cloak pulled tightly around you and your hood on. The black will blend in best against that landscape.”

  Bran put the brush away and pulled his outerwear tighter around him and then poked his head above the rise to look across the plain. While snow covered ground ruled everywhere else, the plain seemed to be heated from below and was barren and dark. No snow survived the remains of the volcano. With as much courage as they could muster, the pair leapt out and trotted towards the volcano.

  The figure following them pulled off its white cloak and neatly tucked it into a pack, pulling out a black cloak and following suit. It gave the pair a good head start since the lava field was barren and open to view for a long distance. There were still irregularities in the landscape and the cloaked figure intended to use everyone to its advantage.

  “There it goes,” Baku said, pointing at the volcano where the red dragon flew and then entered into a large, cavernous opening that glowed red from what could only be active lava inside.

  “Thank the nine that it did not hear you,” Hermes said in a barely audible tone.

  “What did you say?” Baku asked.

  “Nothing,” Hermes responded. “I assume your leaders are still insistent on tracking the red dragon to its lair?”

  “Of course,” Baku said, moving his mount closer to Hermes so they could converse easier. “Especially if the foul creature refuses our call of honorable combat upon the black plain.”

  “Of course,” Hermes mocked, but the man paid him no heed.

  “How will you kill it?” Baku asked. “You can burn it as it burned us?”

  Hermes shook his head, “The dragon is immune to fire so I will have to use something else.” Seeing the man’s confusion on his face, he added, “Something more lethal.”

  “Ah, excellent,” Baku said. “We will stand against the beast and engage it to allow you time to destroy it.”

  “Wonderful,” Hermes mocked again.

  The march came to a halt and the men began to dismount. A small group of younger men took the reins and started to secure the horses to several outcroppings of rock where they tied their mounts to rope that was in turn tied around rock.

  Kaz came over to Hermes and motioned for him to dismount. Hermes complied and Kaz said, “You think you keep staff before dead?”

  Hermes sighed then asked, “Can you speak in your tongue please, that made no sense.”

  Baku had dismounted and Kaz whispered to him. Baku turned to Hermes and asked, “Kaz wants to know if you can use your staff on the creature before it kills you.”

  “What kind of question is that?” Hermes asked, slightly offended, “and why are we dismounting?”

  Baku translated then turned back to Hermes. “Our Chieftain says you lose your staff often and a wizard without his staff is no man at all. He also said we must approach the dragon’s lair on foot. The ground is too dangerous for steeds.”

  “You mean for horses, but I understood you,” Hermes corrected. “Inform Kaz that I will not only keep my staff, but if his men can hurt the dragon I may be able to kill it.”

  Baku didn’t translate but asked, “May?”

  “There is nothing certain when it comes to dragons,” Hermes said.

  Baku spoke to Kaz and then after receiving a response Baku’s tone was less polite and less optimistic. “Lord Kaz informed me that we’ll most likely die here since you are a wizard apprentice.”

  “Well, I never,” Hermes said, offended at the remark. “I thought Kaz said that I would use great Kesh magic to kill the dragon?”

  Kaz stepped close to Hermes and kept his voice down, but Baku, who was sworn to secrecy, could hear him. Kaz spoke directly to Hermes, “I not stupid. You distract dragon, we kill it. You no lose staff before you do job.”

  “Why am I distracting?” Hermes asked. “I thought you would distract, and I would kill. Isn’t that what you said to your men?”

  Kaz nodded, “I tell men what they need hear. They no know you weak. You weak dragon no know this. Dragon attack you first, I kill dragon.”

  Hermes nodded, understanding that Kaz expected him to sacrifice himself to allow them to kill it. The odds of the Kesh surviving the dragon was much lower if he was attacking it first and out front. Surrounded by a hundred warriors or more, Hermes simply nodded and said, “Fine, carry on.”

  Kaz eyed him suspiciously then barked orders in his own language and the group started out before Kaz made one more adjustment. Baku was called to translate, and the man called back at Hermes and his twenty soldiers. “The great Kaz said you and your men will have the honor of leading the hunt.”

  “Which means?” Hermes asked.
>
  “It means, you get in front and take us to its lair.” Baku pointed at the volcano.

  “Damn,” Hermes muttered.

  Chapter 19

  Redemption and Sacrifice

  The passageway was narrow though the solid, black rock of obsidian that led them directly to the volcano. They could feel the heat of the lava as they neared the mountain top. The heat came not only from the volcano itself, but from the ground beneath them. The lava was, most likely, not far from the surface and its heat radiated out from Agon itself. When they had traveled at least a league, the crevice like corridor opened up into a chamber that was lit with an orange-red glow from a nearby lava pool. There were archways on either side of them and they would have to decide which way to go.

  “Well, which way?” Salina asked, looking left and then right. “I need to mark something to show Cedric which way we go.”

  “Since we approached from the eastern side of the volcano, I venture we should go left and take a more westerly approach. It would lead us to the heart of the volcano.” Khan pointed with his staff.

  “We don’t want the heart of the volcano,” Targon said. “We only need to find the cursed priestess and plead for her aid in our struggle.”

  “Who should do the talking?” Salina asked. “Do you want me to talk to her?”

  Khan shook his head, “It may be better if I consult with her. She may know things from a thousand years ago and only I can answer.”

  “Good idea,” Targon said. “You speak to her and I’ll keep guard.”

  “What do I do?” Salina asked.

  “You guard my back,” Khan said. “Targon, with his shield, guards both of us from in front.”

  “Fine,” Salina said, moving to pick up several rocks and lay them in an arrow pattern forming a symbol <- to indicate their direction. The volcano rumbled and the ground shook as a tremor hit them. “What in Agon?”