The Dragon War

by Salvador Mercer

  The first sign that they were back on Agon other than the observations from Damien and Azor was the undead that they quickly encountered. Walking skeletons and zombie like creatures, some recognizable as former residents of Tannis and others not, shambled around the landscape in copious numbers driven by some unseen force or internal intent. They gave the undead a wide berth when possible and after a long hard march, where the sun had ‘set’ behind the planet Dor Akun around noon time, they eventually reached the edge of the forest and found themselves looking at the outskirts of Tannis.

  “Is that what you were wanting?” Dour asked as the group looked over a brush line at the remnants of the large town.

  Diamedes nodded, “It is, though it looked much different a year ago.”

  “Other than those creatures, I don’t see anything living,” Alyssa noted.

  Zokar motioned to the far horizon so the others could follow his gaze, “That sure looks like it’s living even if it’s not human.”

  The group saw a dark silhouette of a dragon flying overhead far away on the opposite side of the town. It was wheeling in lazy circles in the air a few thousand feet above the ground. The overall sky was soot filled and dirty and Akun glowed around its circumference with their sun backlighting the planet. It gave the sky an eerie, almost surreal appearance as if they were in another world or dimension and not their home world of Agon.

  “Where is this book you want?” Alyssa asked.

  Diamedes pointed lower towards the first real structure visible. It was a walled villa with a large two-story building in side of it. Vines and moss grew on its outer wall. “There, that is the Temple of Astor, or at least one of them. Inside they have a library and the book will be there.”

  “That looks much closer than the demon beast,” Azor said. “By my guess it is a good half league away, probably further. That building you’re pointing to is less than a quarter league from here.”

  “Do we risk it?” Damien asked, chiming in for the first time. “The draconus can see in more spectrums than just visible light.”

  “We don’t know what it can see or not see,” Zokar said. “At any rate, we’ll have to risk it if we’re going to get this book and head to Ulatha. It’s still a good three days away.”

  “I shudder to think of staying in the open for another hour much less three days,” Alyssa said.

  “How do we get over the wall?” Damien asked.

  “I was told that the lower wall to the far right covers a garden and there’s a gate from the garden to the main complex. We should try to enter that way,” Diamedes said.

  “Can you use your magic to get us in?” Azor asked turning to face Damien.

  “I could try a few things,” Damien explained, “but it would draw a lot of attention if my theory on the draconus is correct.”

  “Nope,” Dour said. “No way we gonna draw that foul creature to us. Let’s just do it the old-fashioned way.”

  “Old fashion way?” Zokar asked looking at the diminutive cleric.

  “Yeah, the big guy holds you up and you hold me up,” Dour said with a smile on his face.

  Before Zokar could respond, Azor said, “I can do it.”

  “You look almost skinnier than Damien,” Alyssa said. “You need to eat and rest right now and not overexert yourself.”

  “We have rope,” Zokar said.

  “A small length,” Damien added.

  “It should be enough to use to climb that far wall which looks more manageable than the main walls,” Zokar said.

  “Enough,” Diamedes said uncharacteristically. “Let’s get to the wall and then figure out a way to get in. We’re wasting time.”

  No one else spoke and all sensed the urgency of their companion. The looming presence of the planet Dor Akun also was brooding over them like a ceaseless school taskmaster always reminding them that time was short. With a motion of his arm, Zokar indicated that they should follow him. He took off at a run, slightly hunched over as if to minimize his profile. The others did the same except for Dour who was already fairly short and Diamedes who couldn’t run and bend over at the same time if he wanted to keep up.

  After a run of about five minutes the group gathered at the northeast corner of the complex. They breathed heavily and welcomed the wall as it hid the dragon from view as it flew far to the west. Alyssa was the first to speak being more lithe and quick on her feet the run didn’t task her the way it did the others. “I notice a serious lack of undead around this building.”

  Diamedes breathed heavily and struggled to respond, “Yes… it is a holy place… not welcoming to the… dead.”

  “Sounds discriminative… to me,” Dour managed to say.

  “No need to get into some spiritual or theological debate at this point,” Zokar said. “Let’s work the problem and see if we can get inside.”

  “Come,” Azor motioned to Dour. Zokar pulled their small length of rope from his pack and tied it around Dour’s waist giving him the trailing end to hold in his hands. The wall wasn’t as high as they originally thought, and the Northman was very tall. He grabbed Dour and lifted him overhead so the cleric’s feet could stand on the Northman’s shoulders. Despite the added height, Dour couldn’t reach the top, it was out of reach.

  “Damn the nine hells,” Dour said. “I can see the top. I’m almost there.”

  Zokar whispered something to Azor who then said. “Stand on my hands.”

  “What?” Dour asked.

  Zokar clarified, “Stand on the palms of his hands.”

  “I can just jump and fall if you want me to,” Dour said. “No need to come up with something elaborate if you want my neck broken.”

  “Trust me,” Azor said, holding his hands above his shoulders, fingers pointed away from the wall and his palms up.

  “Your killing me,” Dour complained, but he did as he was asked.

  “Keep a good hold of the rope,” Zokar said.

  Dour snorted then replied, “I got my end of it.”

  “I wasn’t talking to you,” Zokar said.

  “Then who in the nine hells are you talking to?” Dour asked.

  “Us,” Damien and Alyssa said.

  There wasn’t much warning, but Azor pressed his hands over his head and Dour rose precariously in the air. Despite his malnourishment, Azor literally pressed Dour high overhead and he exclaimed, “I’m almost there.”

  “Now,” Zokar said.

  Azor bent at the knees and arms which lowered Dour from the top of the wall. Seeing this, Dour exclaimed, “Hey, you’re taking me away from—”

  “Be careful,” Damien said.

  He never got to finish. Azor pushed off the ground with his knees and gave a huge push with his slightly bent arms propelling Dour over the top of the wall. The small man arched over the top and his horizontal momentum was arrested by the rope which suddenly went taught, held by the firm hands of Zokar, Alyssa, and Damien. The kinetic energy then swung the cleric in a circular, downward motion at the wall. Dour managed one long scream before hitting the inside of the garden wall with an audible thud.

  “Sounds like he made it,” Diamedes noted casually.

  The muffled sound of Dour came from the other side of the wall. “I’m going to kill somebody when I get down from here. One of you responsible is going to meet the Father personally.”

  “Calm down,” Zokar ordered. “You said you could get over the wall.”

  Dour protested, “I said I could get to the top of the wall. Hitting the inside of the wall was not something I planned.”

  “Well, it’s going to get worse,” Zokar commented. “We’re out of rope and I don’t think we can lower you to the ground.”

  “If ya can’t lower me than what are you gonna—”

  He never finished his question instead falling several feet and landing on the ground below. Alyssa spoke first, “I thought you had hold of the rope, Azor.”

  “Were you handing it to me?” Azor asked.

  Damien ignor
ed both of them, Are you alright, Dour?”

  Dour yelled back, “No, I’m not and now I’m gonna kill two of ya for this.”

  “Kill us later,” Zokar said. “You need to pull the rope over and then throw it back at us after you untie it. It’s too short to reach ground to ground.”

  Dour harrumphed but did as he was told. The rope ended up dangling just over Azor’s head, though he could grab it and did. The large Northman started to climb by pulling on it when Dour yelled, “Stop you big oaf. You’re pulling me back over.”

  “What?” Azor asked confused.

  Zokar took the line, reaching high overhead to grab it from Azor. “I think Dour’s holding it with his own weight and it won’t hold against yours.”

  “Then how do I get over?” Azor asked.

  “You go last,” Damien said. “Alyssa, grab the rope and climb over, please.”

  “Hold on tight,” Zokar said to Dour.

  “I got her,” Dour said. “Come on over, lassie.”

  Alyssa nimbly jumped up and grabbed the rope scaling the wall both quickly and gracefully. She disappeared over the top and she said, “Clear. I’ve got hold with Dour so who’s next?”

  Zokar answered, “Diamedes is on his way.”

  “No really, I can’t—”

  Azor picked him up and held him high overhead till he grabbed the rope. “Go on, you can do this,” Zokar said.

  With great effort, Diamedes pulled himself over slowly and then down the other side taking three times longer than Alyssa. “I’m clear,” he said.

  Damien didn’t wait and took the rope in his hands, since he was tall enough to reach it easily, after giving his staff to Zokar for safe keeping. Once on the other side he said, “Throw me my staff.”

  Zokar complied and launched it. Without waiting he took the rope and climbed over with ease saying, “Now you, Azor.”

  Finally, Azor took the rope and with everyone else holding it, the Northman pulled himself over and jumped to the ground below landing on his feet with a thud. “Children’s play.”

  He got a sigh for that but no one commented except for Damien after the rope was pulled over the Kesh said, “You are still strong despite not eating properly for weeks. Well done.”

  Azor grunted and Diamedes said, “Let’s go, this way I think.”

  No one spoke further and the group headed in a southerly direction walking around the many weeds and plants that were overgrown in the once luscious garden. They eventually reached an iron gate that was attached by only one of its two hinges and hung awkwardly off the stone wall that separated the garden from the main temple complex.

  Pointing to a small door at the rear of the building, Diamedes now led the group as they ran across the open rear of the compound. They could see the dragon still flying overhead and the historian was at least wise enough to time their run for when the dragon circled with its back to them. They reached the door and pressed themselves against the wall of the building on either side. Having reached it first, Zokar tried the door but it was locked. “Alyssa,” was all he said.

  Alyssa nodded then pulled out two special tools that were tucked in in a secured pocket under her blouse. She knelt at the door and quickly used both metallic implements to pick the door’s lock. It took under a half minute and the door opened slightly on its own weight once free from the constrains of the lock. “Entry granted,” Alyssa said mockingly.

  Zokar motioned to the others that he should go first. He had already drawn his sword and he entered with it point first. The others followed in quick succession until they were all inside and visibly relieved to be out of sight of the dragon. It was darker inside and no light or heat source was present. Damien held his staff up looking at Zokar who shook his head, “Not yet. Diamedes, do you know this place?”

  “Yes,” Diamedes said, also keeping his voice low, almost in a whisper. “I’ve stayed here more than once. This is the kitchen area where servants of the temple come and go. We need to head to the front of the building where the library and reception areas are located.”

  “You follow me and tug when we need to go in a certain direction. Left arm for left and right arm for right.” Zokar explained.

  “And if I want you to do straight?”

  “I’ll be going straight no matter what,” Zokar clarified. “Just turn me when necessary and do not speak outside of this room till I tell you to.”

  The others nodded as well understanding the need for stealth. Zokar headed out of the kitchen and into a large corridor with Diamedes tugging on his left sleeve. Turning left the group walked as silently as they could with Alyssa bringing up the rear. Azor had shaken his head at her but she had made a face indicating that inside a building he was louder than she and she cupped a hand at her ear to indicate that she wanted to hear behind them. The large Northman eventually relented despite his code of honor.

  When they reached another corridor perpendicular to their own, Diamedes gave another tug but this time on Zokar’s right sleeve. With a barely perceptible nod, the assassin walked quietly down the larger hallway until they reached a set of double doors that were almost fully shut. Looking back, Zokar noted that Diamedes motioned with his head at the doors. Looking for Azor, the assassin held up his sword while Azor showed his own hammer.

  Together, the two men opened each door inwardly and moved quickly into the room each one taking a flanking position while Alyssa had her bow aimed into the room straight ahead. The room was immense and multi-storied with a balcony running completely around it while the center was open and arched to the ceiling that was two stories overhead. Bookcases were everywhere and they partially blocked the view from the edges of the room.

  With hand motions, Zokar took the left wall and Azor the right with Alyssa heading straight in. The rest remained at the doorway with Damien in front and Dour tending to their rear. The pair of men came around full circle till they met in front where a large lobby area was vacant, and the outer doors were closed and barred. Once sure that the place was secure, the pair walked back to the center of the room.

  Looking around, Zokar brought the group together with hand motions and whispered, “The place is secure. Can you find your book in here so we can go?”

  Diamedes nodded, “I think so. Last I remember the book was right above us on that balcony there.”

  The others looked to where the historian pointed, and they saw the ends of bookcases on the second-floor balcony that overlooked the center of the room. They heard steps and readied their weapons when a figure came into view holding an iron bound book with a small locking mechanism on it in the crook of one hand, and an all too familiar looking metallic staff in his other hand. “Looking for this?”

  Everyone gasped except for Damien who replied, “What are you doing here, Amsel?”

  The Kesh mage raised a brow saying, “I could ask you the same thing, Kedam, except the High Mage predicted your arrival weeks ago. He knew those weak, feckless, scatterbrained, mercy-loving dryads would betray their word and release you early.”

  “So he sent you to take our book?”

  “What, this old thing?” Amsel said, holding up the ancient text.

  Damien nodded, “Yes.”

  “This is why you were never admitted into the order, even though you showed promise,” Amsel began. “You are too stupid sometimes. It is amazing that you managed to live this long.”

  Damien laughed weakly, “I did not manage. In fact, I have died numerous times. Now give us back the book.”

  Amsel laughed in turn, but it was hearty and filled with confidence and humor. “I did not come here to take your book.”

  “Then what?” Damien asked.

  Amsel took a moment to respond and the gemstone atop his staff started to glow when he did finally speak. “I came here to kill you. To kill all of you.”

  Chapter 18

  Arch Mage and Handmaiden

  Damien didn’t wait for the mage to attack first. He held his own staff out and utter
ed words of the arcane and caused a large stream of steam to issue forth. The charged particles in the air were drawn into the staff and then forced out turning the natural humidity of the region, which was quite high as it was located near the Kero swamp, into steam. It billowed harmlessly towards the mage though the white mist was difficult to see through.

  “What no fireball?” Dour asked as he pulled his weapon and readied a combat stance, not able to engage at such a distance.

  Damien shrugged but did not look at his friend. He kept the steady stream going and both Zokar and Alyssa hurled small hand-bolts and larger arrows at the mage who quickly summoned a field of force in front him deflecting the missile attacks with ease. With a yell, Zokar said, “Azor, Dour, flank him.”

  Azor nodded and headed left while Dour took the right staircase. Both started to ascend to the second level when the mage unleashed his first attack. A bolt of lightening issued from the mage’s staff directly at Damien who was expecting it. His own spell of steam, while crude and unconventional, was planned for exactly this scenario. Without a clear location, the mage could only estimate where the source of the steam was and thus the expelled, outlaw wizard’s apprentice.

  The blast struck close to Damien, but he had his staff out at arm’s length and he also side step once he heard the words of the arcane being uttered by the mage. The electrical strike missed by a large margin but the stone floor where it struck sent out a wave of shrapnel much of which lodged into Damien causing him to bleed from a half-dozen lacerations and punctures.

  Despite the protection, both Zokar and Alyssa continued their missile assault in the hopes of keeping the mage occupied long enough for Dour and Azor to arrive and melee attack their adversary. The missiles continued to ricochet harmlessly off the invisible globe, but their attacks had an intended effect. It got the mage’s attention.