The Black Egg

by James E. Wisher

  “The light!” Yaz shouted.

  Wicked stopped glowing, shrouding the area in darkness only vaguely lessened by the hunter’s sputtering torch.

  The darkness didn’t last long. An azure glow rose from the pool along with a thick mist. The mist took the form of a giant female figure that towered over the humans.

  “Run!” Yaz shouted.

  They’d barely taken a step when the spirit’s fist came down, crushing the hunter to pulp and sending the black egg skittering across the floor.

  Yaz darted toward it as the blue glow grew brighter by the second.

  The water spirit stomped after the egg, shaking the cavern with every step. Yaz snatched up the egg and darted right just ahead of a massive fist.

  A hunter appeared out of the murk, torch in one hand, club in the other. Yaz threw the egg at him.

  It hit the man in the chest and a moment later, splat, the spirit crushed him flat.

  The egg slid further down the cavern floor and Yaz chased it.

  He had no other weapon and damned if he was going to let it get away.

  He darted a quick look to his right and spotted Brigid and Silas racing toward the exit, a pair of hunters hard on their heels.

  Yaz reached the egg and gave it a swift kick toward the fleeing pair.

  The spirit chased after the egg, sending hunters flying and clearing Yaz’s path.

  He ran after the spirit, never getting too close.

  The egg slid past the two hunters chasing Brigid and Silas.

  The spirit stomped on one man and sent the other flying with a backhand. The egg had almost reached the exit while Silas and Brigid were already out.

  Yaz put on a burst of speed and slid between the spirit’s legs, grabbed the egg, and rolled out into the hall beside his companions.

  The spirit reached for them, but its hand stopped at the doorway. As Yaz figured, it couldn’t leave the temple. A roar shook the complex and Yaz pitied the remaining bounty hunters. The spirit wasn’t going to go easy on them.

  “You actually held on to the book after all that?” Brigid said.

  Yaz must have done it on instinct as he had no real memory of wrestling with it. “Mom taught me books were the most valuable things in the world. I guess I took her lesson to heart. Now let’s get out of here.”

  They picked their way through the tunnels, careful to avoid any traps. It would have been a crime to escape the temple only to fall victim to carelessness. At last they reached the surface and found ten horses waiting, tied to some nearby brush. At least they wouldn’t have to walk back to the village.

  Yaz went over and grinned. “Thunder! Nice of them to bring you along, boy.”

  He patted the pony on the neck and got a thump on the chest in return. Their gear was still loaded on Thunder’s back, including the ironwood staves. Yaz added the book and egg to his pack before digging out jerky and dried fruit. He couldn’t remember when they’d last eaten and he was starving.

  Once they had all eaten their fill, Yaz said, “I think we need to go home for a while, at least until the bounty hunters move on to fresh prey. If you guys want to do something else, I’m open to suggestions.”

  “Home sounds good,” Brigid said.

  “I’ve never been to Dragonspire Village,” Silas said. “I wouldn’t mind paying a visit, especially if bounty hunters aren’t welcome.”

  “Great, now all we need to do is change.” Yaz went to the horses and rummaged through their gear. Hopefully they had some spare clothes.

  “Change into what?” Brigid asked.

  “Mercenaries.” Yaz finally found some far-too-big leather armor and leggings. “The hunters are looking for an individual wizard and a man and woman traveling together, not a group of three male mercenaries. If we do this right, no one will know who we are. Should make traveling a sight easier.”

  Brigid eyed the dirty leathers with distaste. “I don’t know…”

  “This is no time for squeamishness.” Yaz held the oversized clothes out to her. “Don’t worry, they’re reasonably clean.”

  Chapter 25

  Yaz could hardly believe that after two weeks of riding, avoiding bounty hunters and people, they were finally almost home. The sun was low in the sky when they emerged from the forest just outside the valley entrance. He breathed deep of the cool, damp air. It even smelled like home. He couldn’t wait to see his parents again or to show the dragon egg to Master Robotham. Hopefully no one would object to him bringing some guests home. The chief’s house was plenty big enough for two more.

  He grinned so hard his face hurt. Gods it was good to be home.

  They were returning from the south after an unlucky encounter with some curious merchants forced them to change direction. The caravan had been interested in hiring extra guards forcing Yaz to come up with some random excuse why they couldn’t join up. He’d probably been worried about nothing, but better safe than sorry.

  Yaz guided his horse down the rugged, winding path to the valley entrance. They’d sold all the extra horses at a trading post bringing a nice chunk of coin.

  “I didn’t think we’d be back so soon,” Brigid said. “I’m not eager to return to my parents’ hut.”

  Yaz looked her way. “Your share of the loot will make you instantly one of the richest people in the village. If Mom won’t let you stay with us, you’ll have coin enough to live at the inn for months.”

  “Is that normal?” Silas pointed at the sky.

  Yaz turned back. It was getting darker and a weird white light shot into the sky from where Yaz guessed the village should be. Didn’t look like fire exactly. In fact, it didn’t look like anything Yaz had ever seen.

  “No, it isn’t normal. I’ve never seen a light like that.” Yaz scratched the stubble he’d grown to help with his disguise. “Something’s going on.”

  He wanted to gallop into the village, but the narrow path wouldn’t allow it. Gritting his teeth, Yaz let the horse pick its own path until the pass opened into the valley proper. No guards called out a challenge as they approached. That worried him more than the strange light. There was always a squad of guards on duty at the valley entrance. If anyone was approaching, the dragonriders would warn them so they could prepare a welcome. Yaz hadn’t seen any dragons as they approached either. He figured the branches must have blocked them and thought no more about it. Maybe he should have.

  Coming from the south they’d reach the village in about half an hour at a canter. Yaz gave his horse a kick in the ribs and thundered down the dirt road. Brigid and Silas were only half a second behind him. They rode hard until the walls of the village appeared in the strange light. Speaking of the light, it was shooting out of the top of the tower.

  It was also the only light in the village. Not a single candle burned in any of the windows he could see. A few minutes later it was clear the gates were wide open. If he needed any more convincing that something had happened, that finished the job.

  He rode through the gate and glanced up at the lookout towers. They were as abandoned as the guard post they passed earlier. In front of his house Yaz leapt off his horse, not bothering to tie it to the hitching rail as he ran up the steps and through the open door.

  “Mom? Dad?”

  No reply. The house was silent and empty.

  A stench came from the kitchen. Grimacing, Yaz dodged around the dining room table and ran into the kitchen. The smell came from a pot sitting on the cold stove.

  Mom must have been in the middle of cooking dinner when whatever happened began. When Yaz returned to the entranceway Brigid and Silas were waiting.

  “Yaz?” Brigid asked.

  He shook his head. “They’re gone, without a trace.”

  “I have to find my parents.” Brigid ran back out.

  “Wait!” Silas shouted.

  She ignored him, leapt on her horse and rushed north.

  “We shouldn’t split up,” Silas said.

  He was right, but Yaz had to check on
the tower. His mother might be hiding there.

  They made the short walk to the tower, the weird light providing plenty illumination to see by. Yaz’s hopes rose when they found the door closed and locked, but he forced them down. No sense setting himself up for disappointment.

  He pressed the proper sequence of runes and pulled the door open. The library looked exactly as he expected. As far as he could tell, not a paper was out of place.

  “Anyone here?” he called.

  No response. He sighed and wished he was surprised. A quick look around to make sure wouldn’t take long. Yaz wove his way through the familiar stacks. It felt strange being in the library without the sages around.

  “I’ve never seen so many books,” Silas murmured.

  “There’s over five thousand altogether. The head sage said it was the fourth-largest collection in the world.”

  “I believe it. How much are all these books worth?”

  “They’re priceless for the knowledge they possess.” Yaz reached the center of the library and stopped. A glowing circle with a stylized dragon in the middle filled the space. “This is new.”

  “It’s magic,” Silas said. “I can feel it from here.”

  “What’s it do?” Yaz asked.

  “No idea, and figuring it out could take weeks even if I had a proper catalyst. Whatever it is, I suggest keeping your distance. Strange magic is almost always dangerous.”

  Yaz didn’t need to be told twice. They retreated and sealed the door behind them. He’d worry about the glowing circle later. There was one more thing he needed to check.

  The dragons’ aviary was only a short run across the street from the tower. Yaz’s throat tightened. The main door was wide open. Inside, all the stalls were empty, even pregnant Soto had left.

  Brigid!

  The dragons wouldn’t have gone far, not with all the livestock around to provide easy hunting. They generally weren’t active at night, but generally didn’t mean always. Brigid could be in danger.

  Yaz spun on his heels and ran back out past a staring Silas.

  “What’s going on?” the wizard asked.

  “The dragons are loose. We need to find Brigid and warn her.”

  Yaz barely heard Silas mutter, “I knew we shouldn’t split up.”

  Brigid raced out the north gate, slapping her horse on the rear to get it to run faster. She’d been so eager to leave them behind the weight of her fear came as a shock. Her chest clenched so tight she could barely breathe. Despite their arguments, Brigid loved her parents. Even as she ran away with Yaz she always intended to return, hopefully rich enough to build them a nice house and maybe hire someone to help her father tend the flock.

  All she wanted now was for them to be okay. She might have even agreed to marry bloody Owen Chase if she found them safe.

  The path home was as familiar as her face in the mirror. Even in the dim starlight she had no trouble navigating it. A few hundred yards out from the hut she heard the bleating of sheep. They never made a fuss like that. What could have them so worked up?

  The outside of their hut looked okay. She dismounted and ran to the door. “Mom!”

  The inside was empty, like they had just turned into puffs of smoke and blown away. She backed out of the single room and fought to keep from crying. Tears wouldn’t do any good now.

  She crossed the dirt yard and went to the pen. Fully half the flock was lying on the ground dead. The bleating survivors were thin and panting. She guessed they’d been locked in there for over a week. She opened the gate and leapt aside as the sheep raced out towards the pasture where they could find food and water.

  Brigid watched them until they were out of sight. Poor things. She sighed and scrubbed a hand across her face. It wasn’t far to the Chase farm. Brigid held out little hope of finding anyone, but at least she could free their stock.

  She started for her horse when a bark brought her up short. She spun just in time to get tackled by a furry form that set to licking her face. She hugged Rum, glad beyond reason that her dog had survived, probably by hunting rabbits and drinking at the creeks.

  “Good to see you too, boy.” Brigid scratched him behind the ears.

  She finally stood, dusted herself off, and mounted up. With Rum jogging along beside her, she rode to the Chase farm. She set a slower pace and twenty minutes later pulled up in front of Owen’s house, a single-story cabin with a slate roof. She tended the sheep first. At least Owen had a small pond in his paddock so none of his sheep had died. They stampeded out to find something to eat with Rum barking at their heels.

  Brigid went to the house and found it empty. Owen and his boys had vanished without a trace, just like her parents.

  What could have happened? It defied Brigid’s imagination to think that the entire valley had been emptied of people.

  There was nothing more she could do here. Maybe Yaz had learned something useful in town. Either way she wanted to get back. Being out here alone set her nerves on edge. A piercing whistle brought Rum trotting up beside her.

  They’d barely left the farm when her horse shied. She made soothing noises like Yaz taught her, but the horse refused to calm, rolling its eyes and bucking in an attempt to throw her.

  As she fought to keep her seat Rum started growling.

  Finally, her horse leapt and kicked, launching her from the saddle before running off as fast as it could. Brigid landed hard on her butt.

  Rum’s growling got louder. “What is it?”

  She turned to see a huge red dragon stalking toward her. Its eyes glowed with an inner light. Brigid’s heart raced as she scrambled back. She gave no thought to fighting. Even if she had her staff, how could she fight a dragon?

  The beast’s lips peeled back revealing long white fangs.

  “Nice dragon,” Brigid said. “There’s some sheep down in the pasture. Wouldn’t you rather go eat them?”

  It took a couple more steps toward her then stopped and lifted its head. Brigid heard the pounding of hooves a moment later. Yaz and Silas must have come looking for her. Now they were going to run into a dragon. She cursed her helplessness.

  The horses stopped behind her somewhere. She didn’t dare look away from the dragon to see what the others were doing.

  The next thing she knew Yaz was standing between her and the dragon. Hope and terror fought inside her. What would she do if something happened to him trying to save her?

  “Easy, Soto,” Yaz said. “You remember me, don’t you?”

  He reached out with an open hand, drawing a hiss from the dragon.

  “Stop that,” he said. “Be a good girl and I’ll find a nice sheep to cut up for you. Where are the others? Not too close by, I hope.”

  The dragon lowered its head and inched closer.

  “That’s right.” Yaz cooed at the dragon like Brigid would a nervous sheep. “I won’t hurt you. Come on.”

  It finally let Yaz rub its head and Brigid let out a sigh. The threat appeared to be over for the moment.

  “You okay?” Yaz asked without looking back at her.

  “Yeah, though your friend gave me quite a fright.”

  “Soto’s a good girl. I don’t think she would’ve hurt you, she’s just not used to strange people, plus she’s going to lay an egg soon. Aren’t you, girl? She’s probably hungry. We don’t teach our dragons to hunt so she might not know how. I’ll have to cut up a sheep for her. Hopefully it’ll draw the others then we’ll know where they are at least.”

  Brigid shook her head. She wanted nothing to do with any more dragons. “Half our flock died of thirst in their pen. Would those work? I can’t believe I’m saying this, but they wouldn’t make her sick, right?”

  “No, dragons can eat any kind of meat, fresh, rotten, you name it. Where’s your place?”

  “I’ll show you. My horse ran off somewhere when the dragon showed up.”

  “I’m not surprised. Horses and dragons don’t get along. Silas, could you round up Brigid’s horse pleas
e?”

  Silas had kept his distance with his and Yaz’s mounts. At least one member of the group had some sense. “Sure, no problem. I’ll meet you guys back in the village.”

  Silas rode off and Brigid said, “I think your friend makes him nervous.”

  Yaz smiled and patted the dragon’s neck. “They do take some getting used to. Once they know you there shouldn’t be any trouble, unless they get really hungry.”

  They started walking back to Brigid’s farm. She was careful to keep Yaz between her and the dragon. Now that he was here, the beast seemed content to trot along beside them the same as Rum, who was keeping a good hundred yards away. Yaz held a hand on the dragon’s neck, murmuring nonsense to it every so often.

  After a tense walk, they reached the farm. Yaz frowned. “I don’t have my butcher knife.”

  “Dad keeps one in the shed. You can use that.” Brigid edged around Yaz and the dragon, making her way to the little shed where they kept their tools and retrieved a long straight knife they only brought out during harvest time. “Will this work?”

  “It’s perfect, thanks.” Yaz accepted the knife and led the dragon to the sheep paddock.

  He went through the gate and started cutting up the nearest carcass. One leg then another went down the dragon’s gullet and soon the entire sheep had been consumed. As he started on the second sheep rustling came from the north. Five pairs of glowing eyes appeared in the dark and soon enough the remaining dragons came trotting up. Probably smelled the sheep blood.

  They ignored Brigid and ran up to Yaz, who smiled and patted each of them before handing out more treats. For most of an hour he cut up sheep and fed the dragons until each of them had eaten two full carcasses and only a handful remained in the paddock. With their meal finished the dragons curled into balls like a bunch of cats and went to sleep.

  Yaz cleaned the knife on some grass and left the paddock. “Is there somewhere I can clean up?”

  “The well’s this way.” Brigid led him to the pump and worked it while he scrubbed the blood from his hands and the knife. He dried the blade on his shirt and handed it back to her. “Thanks.”