Nath lengthened his stride and caught up with the hermix. “Ruffle, you aren’t being honest with me.”
“Oh, why do you think that? I haven’t lied to you about anything.” Ruffle scratched his chin. “At least, I don’t think I have. We haven’t had very many conversations.”
“I don’t know what a hermix is, but you don’t seem powerful, yet you are. And how did you know about the Black Hand?” Nath grabbed Ruffle by the scruff of the neck and stopped his advance. He spun the hermix around. “What are you, really? A wizard? Some demented woodland enchanter? I want to know!”
“When you finish this quest, I’ll answer your questions. Maybe.” Ruffle twisted free of Nath’s grasp with uncanny agility. “Now, keep up so we can get this over with. I’ve been waiting a long time.”
“I don’t care for all of the mystery, Ruffle. You haven’t even told me where we are going or why.” He slapped a branch. Snow fell, covering his head and shoulders. “Gah! That’s cold!”
“Tee-hee-hee,” Ruffle joyfully chuckled. “If you think it’s cold here, wait until we get to the tip top.”
CHAPTER 31
On the way up the mountain, Ruffle led them into a cleft in the rocks that formed a cave. Nath had gathered twigs and small branches. He insisted that they stop and make a fire. It wasn’t warm inside the cave by any means, but it took him out of the stiff winds that whistled outside of the opening. On his knees, Nath started grinding sticks together to make a fire. He’d watched Prawl the slaver make a campfire, and he used the same tactics.
“You are wasting time,” Ruffle said, pacing back and forth with his arms folded over his chest. “It’s not that cold. It’s not even winter, and there isn’t even a foot of snow out there. You are acting like a child that needs the warmth of his mother. Nanny, nanny!”
“Whatever you need to have done can wait,” Nath said, rubbing the sticks faster. Smoke started from the wood. “Yes!” He rubbed faster. The smoke faded. “What? No, give me my fire!” Nath chucked the sticks at the cave wall. “Blast it!”
Ruffle looked at him. “Good, now we can get going.”
“We aren’t going anywhere until you tell me where we are going.” Nath hugged himself, rubbing his shoulders, which felt like frozen hams. “What is this all about?”
“You must follow. You gave your word.”
Standing on one knee, and looking down slightly at Ruffle, he said, “Let me tell you something, you talking rodent.” Nath shoved him. “If you were a good creature, and found me when I was entangled, then you would have freed me anyway. Instead, you made me make a promise under duress. What sort of trickster does that?”
Ruffle blanched, shuffled back, then retorted, “You speak wise words for one that was ignorant enough to wind up enslaved.”
Nath walked up on him, backing the hermix toward the wall. “You need to tell me how it is that you know so much. How can you see where I’ve been and where I go? And if you needed me, why didn’t you just take me out of Slaver Town sooner?” He stabbed his finger into Ruffle’s chest. “Huh, you deceiver? Explain that!”
Ruffle’s lips tightened. His eyes narrowed. “You will do what you promised to do, Nath Dragon. You said you would help me, so you will help, the same as I helped you.”
“I shouldn’t have to help you at the expense of others. That is wrong!”
“They are nothing in the grand scheme of things. You will forget them. Let their troubles be their troubles.” Ruffle pushed Nath in the leg. “Let’s get moving. All of this hot air you are blowing has warmed it up enough in here.”
Nath held the sledgehammer out in front of him. “No. I’m not going to budge until you tell me what it is that you want me to do.”
“Then you will be there a very long time, and you will never see your worthless robber friends again.”
“How do you know that?” Nath shook his head, slung the hammer over his shoulder, and started out of the cave. “Never mind, I’ll find them myself.” He started out of the cave, not really wanting to face the harsh wind that swirled the snow just outside. At the same time, he wondered if Ruffle would just snatch him back like he did before.
I don’t care. I’m not going to do something I don’t want to do. My word or not. That would be foolish.
“Nath, wait,” Ruffle said urgently. “Come back and I will quickly explain.” He made a little grumbling sound. His feet scuffed the dirt. “I’ll even make a fire, but a quick one. We must move. Time is pressing.” He fluttered his fingers over the fire. The twigs and branches ignited. “There.”
Nath hurried toward the warm caress of the small flames. He sat, letting the heat warm his cheeks as he rubbed his hands together. Within a few minutes, he was warm. “I’ve had the sun beating my back for two years, and thought I’d never miss a fire, but I was wrong. I’ll take the hot over the cold any day.”
“It won’t matter to you over time. You are a young dragon. Eventually, you won’t notice such trivial things.” Ruffle sat down across from Nath and crossed his legs. “The birds and the critters do not wake wondering why it is cold or hot. They do what they are designed to do. So will you.”
“Even varmints like a warm fire. If they like the cold so much, they would not hibernate. Now, tell me, Ruffle, what is it you require of me?” Nath put his warm hands on his neck. “Oh, that feels so good.”
“I need you to retrieve an object of my affection,” Ruffle said, closing his eyes. “You see, in these northern peaks, there is a small temple city. It has no name; hence, people call it Nameless, but it was a sanctuary for a private and peaceful people that thrived there for centuries. Perhaps longer. It was not a grand group, but a mixed lot of all of the races, seeking a place to prosper in the quiet, sworn to never shed blood and to always abhor violence.” He cleared his throat. “Sorry, but I’ve not spoken so much in a very long time.”
Nath smirked. “So, I’m going to a place with no name called Nameless. This isn’t very encouraging.”
“Heh, these people didn’t care for names or titles. They were very humble,” Ruffle continued. “And private. Being a very private people, and casting themselves as far away as they could from trouble, they believed that no problems would come their way. But there is always trouble in the world. None can escape it.” His voice became a dark whisper. “Especially when you try so hard to avoid it; it will find you and your secrets.”
CHAPTER 32
Nath dropped a few more twigs and a couple of pinecones on the fire. “So, Nameless was more than a sanctuary? It was a sanctuary of secrets? What were they doing, mining gold and diamonds and then they woke a dragon? Hah.”
“You are closer to the mark than you realize.” Ruffle’s bushy brows wiggled. “You see, even though the nameless society rejected violence, they still needed protection. They created an artifact of great power called the Star of Unity. It is a brilliant stone shaped in a smooth oval that was found in outer rocks already perfectly formed. They believe it came from the heavens, long ago, and they filled it with enchantments.”
“What sort of enchantments?”
“If any transgressors came to Nameless with dark intentions, their thoughts would be changed, and they would be turned away. In some cases, it was rumored that the wicked stayed. Also, for those that would attempt to steal to fulfill their own selfish intents, they could be turned to stone.” Ruffle looked upward. “Perhaps rays of power shoot forth. I’m not for certain. Much of it is legend, and legends are often forgotten.”
“Am I to understand that you want me to retrieve this stone for you?” Nath rolled his eyes. “I’m not going to rob this nameless society. It’s their stone; they can do what they want with it. I’m not going to meddle in their affairs.”
Ruffle shook his little hands. “No, you misunderstand. I don’t want the Star of Unity. For all I know, it is not even there. I want you to retrieve something far more precious than that.” His eyes watered. “I need you to rescue my son, Nath.”
“Your son? What are you talking about?”
“Listen to me, there aren’t any people left in Nameless. It is abandoned. They either fled, died, or turned to stone. My son went there against my wishes, but he was a man with his own free will. I warned him. In life, there will be trouble, no matter where you go, but he did not listen. I’ve lived long, Nath, centuries, but all I have left is my son. I know he lives, and I need him back, but I cannot overcome the guardian of the Star of Unity.”
“Maybe the star or this guardian is protecting your son from you?”
Ruffle sniffled. “I’ve worked too hard at this to be insulted, Nath. For decades, I have been trying to find a way to save him or at least find one that can. The one that can is you. The moment you left Dragon Home, I knew you were the one. The world quaked the moment you crossed the moat of lava.” He clutched hands over his heart. “I knew then my hopes had been answered.”
“And you knew this how?”
“I’m a hermix, born of the earth where we stand. A little of everything is in us. We do have special powers, like the druids and pixies, but we must store them up a long time in order to use them.” He sighed. “I exhausted what I had to take you here. And I cannot fight what lies in the temple either. It will sniff me out.”
“The Star of Unity will sniff you out?”
“No, the basilisk.”
“What? A basilisk.” Appalled, Nath said, “You never mentioned a basilisk!”
“I did mention one!”
“No, you mentioned a guardian, not a basilisk. A basilisk! That’s different. Entirely!” Nath came to his feet and started pacing. He knew a lot about the creatures of the world, particularly ones with scales. A basilisk, for all intents and purposes, was a wingless dragon that no respectable dragon would ever claim as a dragon because they were so vile. There was no beauty in the basilisk. They were horse-sized scaly brutes with eight powerful legs, and sharp ridges and scales on their backs. Their bite and claws were lethal. A single stare from them was lethal. Nath wrung his hands. “What is it doing in there?”
“As I said, trouble will find you no matter where you go. The basilisk, they say, came upon them in the dark of the night. It wanted the star. It seemed to fall in love with it.”
“Who said this again?” Nath asked.
“There were survivors, and I found one. It was a half-elf who outlived the rest. He resided outside of Narnum, near the rivers, and was difficult to reach. He lived in Nameless over a hundred years. He knew my son, Blust, who is very distinctive in appearance, the same as me. He was there when the basilisk came, clipping petunias in the gardens, he said. The moment the screams started, he fled.” Ruffle sniffled and wiped his nose. “That was almost a hundred years ago, and the half-elf has died.”
Taking it all in, Nath asked, “How do you know your son isn’t dead?”
“Because, I would have felt it. And if he had escaped, he would have found me. We are very close. I’m certain that he is a stone. I know it. I at least have to know for myself.”
“Can’t you use your power to pop in and pop out? Couldn’t your son have done the same?”
“If he had the chance, I know he would have, but my son would have protected the others. I’m certain of it. And he might have been surprised.” Ruffle gave a sad shrug. “He was very young and little. I should not have let him go with those odd people trying to create their own utopia. All they did was attract more evil, not realizing their mistake until it was too late. Besides, I cannot go in. The basilisk will smell me, but it will pay no mind to one of its own kind, like you.”
“It’s not one of my kind, but I understand what you mean,” Nath said. Even though he looked like a man, he had the blood of a dragon running through his veins. The basilisk wouldn’t feel threatened by him or any other dragon for that matter, unless they came after it. It was the first thing that Ruffle said that made any sense. He picked up Stone Smiter. “I’ll try to get in and out without any trouble. We’ll see. So, Blust looks like you?”
“More like a hedgehog, but about half my size. He is very small for a hermix.” Ruffle stood and approached. He touched the irons on Nath’s wrists and ankles. The bolts cracked away. The cuffs fell to the floor. “Bend down,” he said. Ruffle did the same to the collar on Nath’s neck. “Nath, I am sorry it has to be this way, but I had to do what I thought was best. I hope you will understand one day and forgive me for it.”
Nath turned his back and walked out of the cave. “Save it for the basilisk.”
CHAPTER 33
Nath had tired of the talking. He’d tired of the cold too. Ankle deep in snow, he trudged up the slopes, wanting to get it over with. The higher he went, the scarcer the trees became. The snow started coming down in large flakes. He came upon a road half covered in overgrowth, almost a wagon wide, winding upward, toward the mountain’s peak. He gazed up.
Why would anyone live in such a place? There is nothing up here but snow and ice.
With his eyes fixed on the road ahead, he moved along with an ache in his side, in his back, his jaw, ribs, and legs. Everything ached, and when his heart beat, he felt it in his fingertips. Calypsa had healed him some, but that had faded. Ruffle’s words didn’t fade, however. The hermix said that the dryad and the bugbear were robbers. He said they were setting Nath up to get his magic items, the birthday presents from his father. At the same time, Nath couldn’t help but wonder why they would go to all of that trouble to save him. In his heart, he felt Calypsa had changed, but Ruffle’s words echoed in his mind.
You can’t trust anybody, Nath. Ever.
Taking his eyes off the road, he glanced over the mountain and caught another surprising sight. “Whoa.”
Far away, the sea began and continued as far as the eye could see. Massive waves crashed against the rocky banks, splashing sea-foam into the air. There were settlements along the beach and back into the high green-blue grasses that hugged along the coast. Far out, he saw birds in flocks, diving for fish in the waters. At that moment, he felt as far away from home as he’d ever been.
I wish I had wings. I’d take to the winds and fly back.
He looked up the road and shook his face in the winds.
There will be no flying today, however.
Upward the road went, turning at hard elbows, zigzagging up the hill. The stretches between the bends became shorter the higher up he went. Finally, he made the last bend, the climb crested, and he stood face-to-face with a temple entrance covered in frost and ice. On a small portion of the face of the mountain, a temple of stone had been chiseled out. Eight round pylons twelve feet tall made a fence on both sides of the entrance. One the other side of the entrance, the daylight bathed the ground. The winds howled through the opening. There were steps leading up to the entrance. Its design wasn’t anything remarkable. The fashioning was simple but elegant, with the face of a humble home.
Nath scanned his surroundings. Natural overlooks faced the sea and the cold grasslands, creating a beautiful view. Even though it was cold, it was peaceful.
Perhaps, in the summer, it wouldn’t be so bad.
He glanced at the ground. The snow surrounding him had not been disturbed. The snowdrifts made layers of soft white waves. Not seeing any signs of the basilisk, Nath headed up the snow-covered stairs. The arch in the entrance had rows of long icicles at the top, giving it the appearance of a fang-filled mouth. He crossed to the other side and discovered a courtyard. A natural skylight in the rocks gave Nath full view of the oval courtyard, about fifty feet long and half as wide. Eyes sweeping the area, Nath’s blood froze in his veins.
Oh my!
A statue of a woman with a look of horror in her wide eyes stood twenty feet away. She carried a clay jug in her arms. The pottery had cracked. The robes she wore were tattered by time. Nath approached her. She wasn’t the only one in the courtyard. There were several more, standing, or in the motion of running. The woman had gentle features, now contorted with terror. Like the petrified men outside
of Riegelwood, she seemed so real. He fanned his face in front of her eyes, expecting her to blink. He touched her. The skin was hard as stone.
“That is an awful way to go,” he muttered to himself.
There was an elf on his knees with royal-blue robes peeling away from his back. His stony hands were held up inches from his face. A heavyset woman lay on her back, half covered in snow, with her knees drawn up and mouth wide open in a silent scream.
Nath’s stomach turned upside down. He’d never seen such terror on a person’s face. A part of him felt that they were still in agony. He bent down and touched the woman’s cheek. “I’m so sorry.”
There was another man, standing with his back straight, holding a lute over his head, poised to strike. His lips were pulled back over his teeth. With his back to the entrance, Nath stood in the courtyard. Smaller stone pylons seemed to hold up a rocky overhang, but they were only chiseled out. He could see that there was more than one entrance leading inside. He advanced, passing by one of the many stone urns in the courtyard that he assumed burned on a regular basis. There were stacks of wood beside them. Cold logs lay within the bowl, mixed with dark ash.
What I wouldn’t do to light one of these up.
As he approached, a few feet from the rocky overhang, he stopped in his tracks. A foul odor wafted into his nostrils. He covered his nose. The musty smell of death was a slap in the face. “Pew,” he said under his breath. His neck hairs rose. On the far side of where he was standing, something slunk out of the temple. Nath’s heart jumped. It was a basilisk.
CHAPTER 34
A pry bar couldn’t have peeled Nath’s fingers from the handle of his hammer as he stared at the basilisk. It was a huge monster, covered in dark blue and red scales. Bigger than a horse, it slunk forward on eight powerful legs into the courtyard. Its long black tongue flicked out over the ground like slithering snakes. The spiny ridges on its back were folded backward as it moved over the grounds slow and low.
Enslaved: The Odyssey of Nath Dragon - Book 2 (The Lost Dragon Chronicles) Page 10