Wizard in the Woods

by Jeffrey M. Poole

  Bad habits are hard to break.

  Mikal saw, in his peripheral vision, Captain Pheron open his mouth to ask a question but his father held up a hand, signaling quiet. His father must suspect he was once again talking with Pravara.

  What can you tell me about this ‘Athanaus’ creature?

  The Athanaus feeds on jhorun, regardless whether it’s from human, wyverian, or any other being where jhorun is found.

  Do you know what it looks like?

  My father says it can take other forms, but will frequently be seen as a cloud of mist. It is said that it will sometimes take the shape of various creatures.

  You said this thing had been imprisoned, right?

  Aye.

  Who imprisoned it?

  Unknown. Its incarceration predates the wyverians. My father is attempting to find out as we speak.

  Mikal reeled in shock. This thing was older than the wyverians? A hundred years was no more than a blink of an eye to a dragon. He knew the dragons had been around for thousands of years. This thing was older than that?

  Much older than either you or I could imagine. Remember, I can still sense your thoughts.

  Yeah, yeah. What do we do now?

  You must inform your father that his suspicions are correct. Jhorun is in danger. An ancient creature that feeds on it has escaped and must be dealt with lest all life as we know it change for the worse.

  But that would mean I’d have to admit that we were eavesdropping. He isn’t going to like that.

  He must know, Mikal.

  Mikal sighed and looked up at his father, who was staring back at him, expectantly.

  “Your suspicion about jhorun was correct, father. It is disappearing.”

  Mikal cringed as the look of pride and compassion on his father’s face quickly turned to scorn. “You were eavesdropping on us.”

  “You are right to be worried. A creature that had been imprisoned has escaped. It…”

  Recently escaped, Pravara interrupted.

  “Umm, hold on a second.”

  How recently?

  It is believed the Athanaus escaped its prison late last year and has been feeding ever since.

  Got it. Thanks.

  “It recently escaped. It apparently feeds on jhorun. That’s why some people are reporting that their jhorun isn’t as strong as it used to be. This monster –”

  Athanaus.

  Whatever.

  “This Athanaus will keep draining jhorun until there’s nothing left.”

  “Then what will happen?” Captain Pheron all but whispered.

  It will move on until it finds another source. Presumably neighboring kingdoms.

  Mikal relayed Pravara’s answer.

  “And we’re first,” Kri’Entu softly muttered.

  “The Athanaus,” Lissa quietly moaned. “That’s where I’ve heard it.”

  Mikal turned to his girlfriend.

  “You’ve actually heard of this thing?”

  “A week ago, had you asked, I would have said that I hadn’t,” Lissa admitted. “Thanks to your father I get to spend a lot more time in the Archives than I would have ever dreamt possible.”

  “Why would you want to spend more time than necessary in the Archives?” Mikal asked, frowning.

  “Believe it or not, son,” his father dryly answered, “there are people genuinely interested in conducting research on a great number of topics. Our Archives are equal to none. It is an honor to be granted access.”

  “To which I am eternally grateful,” Lissa agreed. The king flashed her a smile, setting the poor girl’s face aflame. “While researching phytochemical properties in local pontal last week I came across a book of folktales. One of them was about the Athanaus.”

  “Do you remember what it said?” the king gently asked her.

  Lissa’s brow furrowed as she tried to think.

  “I only remember it being something about a supernatural water horse.”

  “A water horse?” Mikal chortled, earning him an instant disapproving frown from both his father and his girlfriend.

  The king reached for a piece of paper on his desk and slid a bottle of ink closer. He hastily wrote several sentences, folded the piece of paper, and handed it to a guard.

  “Would you deliver that to Miss Andra in the Archives? She will fetch a book or two and give it to you. Return here once she does.”

  The guard bowed. “Aye, sir.”

  I have called for my father. He assured me he will initiate contact as soon as he’s able. He needs to know the humans are just as concerned as he is.

  Good idea.

  “Pravara has asked to speak with her father about this. She said that he needs to know we are just as concerned as they are.”

  The king sat back in his chair, stunned.

  “So it’s true.”

  “What’s true?” Commander Rhenyon asked. “The existence of the Athanaus?”

  The king leveled a gaze at Rhenyon.

  “Obviously. However, I was referring to the wyverians. I had heard rumors that dragons used jhorun but I passed it off as fanciful gossip.”

  It’s no rumor. It is true. We use jhorun just as much as the humans. In fact, many would say we use it more.

  “Yes they do,” Mikal told him. Noticing Rhenyon had just given him a skeptical look he tapped the side of his head. “Pravara just said that. She also said that she thinks they might even use it more than we do.”

  “If the dragons rely on jhorun as much as Pravara suggests,” the king began, “then does that mean the Dragon Lord is planning on doing something about it? Mikal, would you please ask Pravara?”

  “I will as soon as she tells me her father is in contact with her. She said that he would be with her as soon as he could.”

  The doors opened and the same guard from before returned, holding a thin leather bound book out in front of him. The king nodded his thanks, took the proffered book, and set it on his desk. With a sigh, he opened it and began flipping through the pages.

  “I never thought I’d consider a volume of bedtime stories as a credible source of information.”

  “Desperate times call for desperate measures,” Rhenyon jovially remarked.

  The king grunted but didn’t say anything else. Nearly halfway through the thin book he stopped, leaned forward for a better look, and then thoughtfully tapped the page. He looked up at those present.

  “Your memory is excellent, young Lissa. I have found the passage about the Athanaus.”

  “What does it say, your majesty?” Pheron wanted to know.

  The king cleared his throat and began to speak.

  The Athanaus was a creature that lived many years ago. It was a thriper, the last of its species.

  Pheron raised a hand.

  “Pardon me, your majesty, but a thriper? What’s that?”

  “Perhaps if I could finish then I could tell you.”

  Pheron’s face flushed beet red.

  “My apologies, your majesty. Please continue.”

  The thriper was a wonder to behold. It was strong, powerful, and magnificent. It often appeared as a simple equine but the true nature of the creature could always be determined by looking at its mane. A thriper would always have water dripping from its mane, regardless of how wet or dry it was. The skin was smooth to the touch, but cold. Cold as death.

  Pheron cleared his throat.

  “This Athanaus creature is a simple horse? That’s all? That’s easy enough. We could send out…”

  “We will do no such thing,” the king snapped. He gave the tall captain a dark look. “That’s twice you’ve interrupted me, Captain. May I continue now?”

  “A thousand apologies,” Pheron murmured as his gaze dropped to the floor, but not before noticing the disapproving frown on Rhenyon’s face.

  The thriper was known to take other forms. It is said they could dissolve their bodies into mist and reform them into something else. A favored form was said to be a jet black pony.

/>   Mikal watched his father look up from the book. His father’s eyes found his own.

  “Apparently thripers can also take the form of a young woman.”

  A deafening silence invaded the Antechamber. Every person present in the room turned to look at Lissa, who tentatively took a few steps back.

  “Don’t look at me,” Lissa sputtered. “I’m a girl, not a horse.”

  Rhenyon pointed at the book in front of the king.

  “Does it say in there if all thripers were to be considered a threat? Or were we lucky enough to get the only thriper that is dangerous?”

  The king returned to the book. He continued to skim through the pages. Eventually he reached the end and shook his head.

  “It does not mention whether or not all thripers were considered evil. This one, the Athanaus, was, I’m sorry to say. According to this story, the Athanaus nearly wiped out all jhorun the last time it had escaped.”

  “How long ago was that?” Mikal asked.

  “It doesn’t say. What it does say, though, is that it was driven into the sea and imprisoned. It also says it cannot be killed, only captured.”

  “How?” Mikal demanded. “How was it driven into the sea?”

  His father sadly shook his head.

  “It doesn’t say, son.”

  “It must fear something,” Mikal decided. “We have to figure out what and soon.”

  Mikal? My father has initiated contact. I am speaking with him now. I am relaying your question.

  “She’s talking to Kahvel right now,” Mikal quietly told him. “She’s asking him that question.”

  The entire room fell silent as they waited for Kahvel’s response.

  I have my father’s response. I will relay to you much the same way as you, Mikal, are relaying what I say to your father.

  “She’s ready with his answer,” Mikal announced to the room. “She’s going to relay to me exactly what he’s saying, so I’ll do the same for everyone here. Pravara, are you ready?”

  I am ready.

  A few moments of silence passed, presumably as Kahvel relayed his message to Pravara.

  Greetings, Kri’Entu. I should have thought about communicating like this long ago instead of relying on messengers.

  “I agree,” the king automatically responded. He briefly looked around the room before returning his gaze to Mikal. “Can he hear me?”

  I cannot directly hear you but your words do reach me, through your offspring and then through mine.

  “Excellent. I am told you are aware of the existence of the Athanaus.

  I am.

  “You are aware of what it can do?”

  Aye, only because we asked our seafaring brethren what it was. They reluctantly confirmed its existence and the location where it had been incarcerated.

  “The sea dragons,” Kri’Entu breathed, amazed. “So little is known about the wyverians living under the sea. Sightings are incredibly rare.”

  They prefer to keep it that way.

  “I understand. I am told you depend upon jhorun as much as we do. Is that true?”

  We use it, although I disagree with your notion we rely on it as much as you humans.

  “Are you prepared to live without its influence?”

  No.

  “Do you have any idea what we should do?”

  At this time, no. I would like to discuss the matter in detail, but not like this. I request a face-to-face meeting.

  The king stared at his son as if he had misheard Kahvel’s last message.

  “You wish to meet? In person? Where? When??”

  The cavern you created will suffice. Myself and three others will be there tomorrow at sunrise.

  Everyone turned to stare at the king in wonder. Four dragons were going to visit the castle tomorrow? A visit from a single dragon was enough to spark conversations for months to come. A visit from four of them was unprecedented. Never had that many wyverians ever visited a human settlement. Any human settlement.

  “We look forward to your visit. We will be ready. Kahvel, I can’t thank you enough for your willingness to look into this matter with me. Thank you very much for proposing this meeting. Is there anything else you can think of that I ought to be doing?”

  Aye. You can send three humans to our valley.

  For the second time everyone in the room stared at Mikal in shock. The king cleared his throat.

  “Er, what was that? Could you repeat that, please?”

  You and I will deal with the reemergence of this thriper. Our offspring have a dilemma of their own to solve, do they not? They are searching for someone, are they not?

  The king nodded. “Aye. What of it?”

  Send me three humans. I have three dragons here that have requested riders.

  The entire room, Mikal included, gasped with astonishment.

  “You’re allowing the riders to return?” the king whispered, shocked. He stared at his son as though he as staring at Kahvel himself. “To what do we owe this honor?”

  I have observed Pryllan and Steve for quite some time. He cares for her and protects her as she protects and cares for him. They have demonstrated time and time again that each compliments the other. Three others have expressed interest in experiencing the benefits of having a rider. It occurs to me that Pravara and her rider, Mikal, could cover more area if there were more riders actively searching. If we…

  “Wait,” Mikal interjected, interrupting himself, “I haven’t ridden Pravara. You’re making me her rider?”

  Aye, young human. I have silently observed the interactions between you and my daughter. I trust you. I know Pravara yearns for a rider. Who, then, should I allow as her rider? That would be you. This would make you the second known rider.

  “And Lissa?”

  And she can be the third, provided she rides Pravara alongside you. My daughter has no objections to this and neither do I.

  Lissa swallowed nervously as all eyes found hers.

  “Hey, we’re dragon riders now,” Mikal whispered to her as a huge smile split his face. “That’s so awesome! Isn’t that cool?”

  How soon will you be able to send three humans to me?

  “I’m ready to go right now,” Captain Pheron instantly announced, smiling sheepishly at the king, “provided I am one of the people chosen to accept this great honor.”

  The king smiled and inclined his head at the tall captain.

  “I have known of your fondness for the wyverians for quite some time, captain. You are one of the three. I will leave the selection of the other two up to you. Do you have any idea who you will select?”

  Pheron nodded. “Aye. Lieutenant Darius and Lieutenant Andreas.”

  “Excellent choices” Kri’Entu said, nodding his head in agreement. “Brief your men and be in the portal room before sunrise tomorrow.”

  Pheron bowed. “Aye, your majesty.”

  Once the captain departed the room the old noble, who up until now had refrained from saying anything, gave a hearty chuckle.

  “What I would give to be fifty years younger. I would volunteer in a heartbeat.”

  The king turned to the octogenarian and smiled.

  “I know what you mean, Mister Kern. I am sorely tempted to volunteer, too. I know, commander. You can close your mouth. It wouldn’t be proper.”

  Rhenyon, about to lodge a formal protest, quickly closed his mouth and managed to keep the smile from forming on his face. Kri’Entu turned to his son.

  “Kahvel, are you still there?”

  Aye.

  Mikal confirmed that he was.

  “If you’re coming here tomorrow at sunrise, and I’m sending people to Verdayn so they can be in your valley at the same time, who is their point of contact?”

  Rhamalli.

  “Is he one of the dragons that will be participating in this endeavor?”

  Aye. The other two are Selendran and Malthryp. Have your people in the valley, any part of the valley, by sunrise tomorrow. My dragons will fin
d them.

  “Understood. Thank you, Kahvel.”

  You give thanks? For what?

  “For giving us the chance to prove ourselves as effective riders once more. I know it has been a long time since there have been officially sanctioned dragon riders.”

  Eight hundred forty seven years, to be precise.

  “We won’t let you down,” the king vowed.

  See that you don’t. Until tomorrow.

  Mikal waited for a few moments more to see if Pravara relayed anything else. When she failed to say anything Mikal blinked his eyes a few times and looked at his father.

  “That was weird.”

  “Weird? Son, that was remarkable!” His father walked around his desk and grabbed his shoulders to give him a friendly shake. “There will be dragon riders again and we’ve been openly invited by the Dragon Lord himself! On top of which he has volunteered to work with us to solve this dilemma with the Athanaus. And that reminds me…” His father’s expression darkened. “I have told you many times that it’s considered rude to eavesdrop on a private conversation.”

  “It wasn’t me!” Mikal protested. “It was Pravara! She’s the one who said that she heard you using my ears.”

  O-ho! Tattle on me, will you?

  Ummm…

  Fear not. I am in a good mood. I have been given a rider. You.

  I’ve been ‘given’ to you? What’s that supposed to mean?

  It means that you will be at my beck and call. A rider is responsible for the health and well-being of the dragon. If something becomes lodged in a fang, or if a talon needs to be filed then it will be up to the human to take care of it.

  You’re kidding.

  Of course I am. I am dependent upon no one.

  What?! Why did you just do that to me? I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown.

  That was for tattling on me to your father.

  Very well. I guess I deserved that. I’m sorry, Pravara.

  You are forgiven. Until tomorrow.

  “Did Pravara just chastise you?” his father mildly inquired.

  Mikal sighed. “Aye. She accused me of tattling.”

  “Well, she was right to do so,” his father told him.

  “Did you want me to lie?” Mikal asked, incredulously. “Because that’s what it sounds like you want me to do.”

  “She is your friend. Respect her as you expect her to respect you.”