by LJ Davies
Even though she didn't know I could understand everything she said, she'd always treated me as her equal. Even now, she’d no idea if I was listening or understood, yet she knew exactly what to say. If I went back neither of us may see each other again. I'd thought that once before, I'd fought my way across a new world to prove it wrong. Now I’d fight to create a better world without Acrodan or his master.
Tarwin expressed her understanding by giving me one final pat on the head, resuming her position at the front of the group. She turned to thank me one last time before continuing into the labyrinth. Ember glanced back at me in the same thankful way, her eyes showing her appreciation before she assured me she'd keep Tarwin safe. Boltock remained still for a few seconds, the shock of Tarwin's actions having seemingly freed him from his emotional stupor.
It must seem conflicting to him to see a human act like that towards one of his kind.
He looked over at me briefly, then his sister, his eyes no longer hidden from view.
"Sorry," he admitted.
"No, I'm sorry," Risha replied, lifting her head. "I knew what this was about, I should have told you... It's just... Well, if we hate, we're no better than them."
A small smile broke his muzzle. "If only every dragon could be as sweet as you."
Her look softened as she rolled her eyes. "I do what I have to, always have. You know that," she assured, placing a wing over his back.
"I know where you're going," he told her quietly.
The emotion of Tarwin’s farewell had stunned me, and now a new confusion consumed my mind at the siblings’ exchange of words. I’d no idea what they were talking about – why didn't they just follow Tarwin and Ember? Boltock turned to me, and without a word he nodded before following the others.
I blinked, then glanced at Risha. I'd seen that look in her eyes before, they were filled with the same determination I'd witnessed that night on the cliff, weeks ago.
"I'm coming with you."
Admittedly it didn't come as a complete shock, after everything we had been through together it wasn't a surprise that she wouldn’t allow me to face my destiny alone. She’d already done so much for me, by risking her life and those of her friends and family. Now it was time for me to repay her for that by saving hers.
"I have to do this alone."
"You don't have to do anything alone," she countered softly.
The look in her eyes and the smile on her muzzle told me that no matter what I did or said, there was no stopping her. She glanced towards the corridor, where the others had departed.
"Besides, you still have nothing to hold me to," she joked.
"I'll cross that bridge when I come to it," I retorted with a warm smile. "Thanks."
I glanced down the corridor and for a moment I thought about all that I may never do and how, in only a few moments, it might all be extinguished. I raised myself up, took in a deep breath, swallowed my fear, and looked back at my unrelenting companion.
"Let's go," she declared for me, before moving off with just as much determination.
*
Corridor after corridor, staircases and ice bridges went by, with every turn we met an identical sight; the icy labyrinth looked the same.
The whole world is relying on me, and I can’t even find my way through these stupid halls! Regardless, determination forced me on.
The moment I sensed something out of place I slid to a halt, Risha skidding to a stop at my side.
"What is it?" she asked, her eyes darting about the new chamber.
We had arrived at a junction where four corridors met, each leading off in opposite directions. Tall, shimmering pillars of ice stood just a few steps proud of each wall, engraved with runes.
Spirits curse this place; everything down here looks the same!
My head spun as I glanced in every direction, seeing only mist and endless ice. Then my attention piqued.
"What's wrong? What is it?" Risha demanded again.
Looking down to the floor, I could see her paws were motionless, and her expression became more perplexed.
"We're not moving," I noted.
She appeared even more confused as she cocked her head.
"If we’re not moving, then…" I listened for a moment, reassessing our surroundings, "then where's that coming from?"
The rapid tapping of claws echoed through the corridors. Glancing in every possible direction, I could see nothing in the misty depths. Even so, the sound was getting closer. My initial instinct was to run, while another part of me thought to fight; both ideas were quickly dismissed in my unorganised urgency.
We need a plan, a way to find Acrodan.
"Quick, behind there," I whispered.
There was just enough space for us to hide behind one of the pillars. Squeezing in, we ducked down, the low-lying mist masking my pale scales. Risha remained slightly higher, her sapphire coat more camouflaged against the blue of the ice as the two of us peered out into the open hall.
I don’t want to fight. I'm not like Acrodan, I’ll avoid killing no matter what the gods tell me.
Before I had time to dwell on my thoughts, the source of the sound revealed itself. Travelling at speed it slid to a halt in the centre of the corridor, sending up a veil of fine mist. It didn’t smell of anything, its body bore no flesh, but it was instantly recognisable as a ghaul. I'd almost forgotten about them; this certainly wasn’t a member of the pack that had been hunting us. It was nothing more than long-dead bones suspended by dark magic.
I lowered myself further, only stopping when my view became shrouded by mist. The skeletal beast scanned the area, its hollow eyes hovering across the scene like pale-blue candles. I sunk down further as they passed overhead before I rose to see it staring down one of the corridors. It snarled in a vociferous, unnatural tone and unexpectedly swung its large skull round to face me. I ducked down again; the undead beast let out another gravelly snarl.
I held back, especially when it showed no obvious sign of attacking. Gazing deep into the ghostly flames of its eyes, I saw nothing but a soul exploited and misused by a dark master. Snapping its gaze away, it peered down another of the corridors. Moving on as quickly as it had arrived, the tapping of its claws, combined with the rattling of its bones, echoed through the corridors, signalling its direction.
"Has it gone?" Risha asked.
"I think so," I responded, double-checking the area. “Let’s go," I whispered.
Withdrawing from our hiding spot, I sliced my tail through the low-lying mist, just in case the beast had secretly hidden a trap beneath its veil. I still had little idea of how to proceed, every direction still looked the same.
"Best try that way," Risha suggested, pointing in the direction the skeleton had taken. "It can't have gone nowhere," she reasoned.
Without a better suggestion, I took off in the same direction. After only a few minutes, a feature I recognised emerged. Two ice grooves filled with imprisoned skeletal remains on either side of the hall – we were at the place where the others had been taken.
If we're here, then there's a split in the passageway ahead and on the left is the sphere's chamber.
I continued in the same direction and found the left turn. This was it, I was before the chamber from which the darkness would emerge, if it hadn’t already done so.
"Told you this was the best way," Risha announced boasting a weak expression of pride.
Despite her confidence she fell silent, her veil of joy fading as the two of us peered up at the foreboding doors.
"Are you ready for this?"
"Are you?" she asked in return.
A weak smile broke out across her face, and I shared what courage I could muster with the same frail gesture.
"Ready to the end," I said, with a subtle nod before turning towards the icy doors.
Right now, my doubt didn’t really matter. Either the world ended, or I did, and I wouldn’t let either happen without a fight. I took a deep breath and with Risha by my side, ch
arged into the chamber.
An explosion of colour filled my vision, its sudden intensity forcing me to stop, sending me sliding across the slippery surface. Risha skidded to a halt beside me; using our wings as shields, we both fought to look forward. Without warning, the light vanished, replaced by a subdued glow, albeit still enough to be visible through the transparent membrane of my wing. Before I could lower my shield, the luminous ball surged upwards, emitting a ring of orange fire, illuminating the rounded chamber walls before disappearing into the distant heights of the spire.
In addition to the fire, a strong wind swept along the floor. Drawn up into a circular motion, it sent the amulet around my neck into a frenzy and ruffled my wings like paper. It sucked up the frozen dust littering the floor, sweeping over my paws to form an upward spiral. With the burning light subdued, I lowered my wing, to see a glowing vortex, swirling around the sphere as the ring of fire began to charge again.
The dark orb hovered in mid-air, unaffected by the turbulent storm swelling around it. A deep-purple fire lapped across its surface before dripping to the floor like some strange, molten liquid. The maelstrom of ice, frost and light was strongest at its base, where a frantic whirlwind spun close to the floor, ripping at the ice like monstrous talons. As the ghostly whirlwind grew higher it formed a cyclone around the orb, before closing in to create a thin, rotating beam of pulsating purple and orange light, repeatedly shooting up into the heights of the chamber.
Even from the edge I could feel the wind grow with each flash of the baleful ray. I clenched my claws firmly to the floor, digging in the best I could as icy dust battered my scales. My eyes locked on the sphere.
This can't be it, the ancient evil – it has to be more than this? Maybe there is still time.
"Wait here!" I shouted to Risha over the deafening howl of the supernatural hurricane. "If there's any soldiers still around you'll have to hold them off!"
She looked back with disapproval, pausing for a moment, before shouting above the howling gale. "Be careful!"
I battled my way towards the sphere, protecting my eyes with a wing. With each pulse I felt wind hit me like a wall, my footing slipping with each slam, until inevitably, I lost it completely and my legs slipped from under me.
"Blaze!" Risha called, lurching forward, only for a blast from the sphere to shove her away.
Glancing back at her I fought to regain my footing, while the wind smacked at me like a war hammer. With all the strength I could muster I thrust my talons deeper into the ice, sheering away frost as I shoved myself up.
Limbs stiff as stone I trudged up to the sphere, where the maelstrom was at its strongest. Positioning myself before the source of the swirling hurricane, I dug my claws in further, anchoring my position. My body swayed from side to side and my amulet swung wildly about my neck. Every part of my being screamed at me to give up, but after all of this, I would never!
I closed my eyes tight as another fiery blast seared my gaze. I could do it with one burst of my power, I could destroy it and end it now, achieve what had been foretold.
I drew in a breath as the sphere expelled another pulse, the intensity so bright it ambushed my eyes even though they were closed. I lifted my wing until it receded, and when it did Acrodan's shadowy form materialized beside the sphere.
This time there's not going to be any negotiations.
The cloaked figure edged towards me, his shadowy robes and flaming features lashing in the wind.
"You're too late!" his ghostly voice announced, flames spitting from his mask. "My master will be free once more, you can't stop it, no one can!"
His voice reverberated into a low growl, as the purple glow in his empty eyes intensified into a bright-red flame. "This world will burn!"
He lifted a robed arm, stretching out a metal hand from beneath the layers of black cloth.
"You still believe you can save them?" he laughed, his voice echoing through my mind despite the wind's howl. "You’re so ignorant of the truth. The impurity of the gods will be their downfall, their fear will destroy them." Words broken by a growl, he looked right at me.
Another pulse of light silenced him, shoving me back as I took refuge behind my wing. I dismissed his threats and any desire to question those who had guided me towards this peril. Manipulation was his only weapon; his proclamation was ludicrous.
No there's no time to debate the truth. Gods' agendas or not, I must stop him!
Another pulse of light ascended into the tower’s upper reaches, and as it had done before the glow momentarily dulled. I looked up to see Acrodan stood directly before me, slightly elevated by the steps.
His robes writhed like black serpents; his silhouette illuminated from behind like a black mountain. I clenched my claws as the wind intensified, whereas he remained completely unfazed.
"Do you even know the truth?" he continued. "Even the gods lack purity within their hearts, and so the transgressions of their creations will lead to their ultimate demise."
"You're insane, all of you!" I countered. "I'm not going to let you do this!"
"War is coming – you know of what I speak – and the beings of the world should feel uneasy. Even if you succeed, you’re doomed!" the mad disciple proclaimed.
I maintained my focus, attempting to break the neurotic influence of his lies.
Don’t believe any of it! I repeatedly told myself, struggling to deny it. Don’t believe it!
Tormented by his suggestion I glanced back at Risha standing on the rim of the storm, battling to stay on her paws. If his words held any truth, then so be it. I had all the truth I needed to justify what I had to do.
I didn't do this for the gods, I came all this way to save my friends, all of them!
I spun to face the blazing heart of the storm; wind, snow, fire and ice obscuring my view of the sphere’s molten core.
The world around me slowed to a crawl, falling silent. I glanced into Acrodan’s fiery eyes. He thought me weak because of my friends, family and all the things my godly brethren didn’t possess? Maybe he was right, or maybe such motivation had been intended all along, he was wrong to underestimate it.
I positioned myself into a firing stance as time rushed back to greet me. Fire bubbled up in my chest, welled in my throat and I opened my mouth wide. Another explosion burst out from the vortex, accompanied by the same deafening screech, the sheer force throwing us both spinning helplessly into the raging storm.
The sphere’s whirling wall of energy intensified and the whole chamber shook violently, throwing me to the ground as I struggled to regain my footing. The ice above started to break up as more tremors shook the whole place, walls groaning as they destabilized. More fragments started to fall like icy spears, impacts sending shards of frozen shrapnel across the quivering floor.
Fearing that this was my last chance I turned once more to face the sphere, dug my claws firmly into the ice, hid my eyes beneath my wing and stood strong against the whirling vortex.
The storm’s screeching resonance synchronised into a roaring hum, increasing in volume with every bolt of energy sent surging upward. I battled my way back to the top of the stairs, focused my mind, coiled back my neck, opened my mouth and called upon my fire.
Acrodan’s metal boot struck my jaw, forcing my mouth closed and my head up. The flaming breath meant for my enemy misfired into my throat, puffing my cheeks and blasting smoke from my nostrils. A nauseous sensation of intense heat, along with a foul, sooty taste, instantly filled my chest, and with my lungs burning I stumbled to the floor, both foreclaws clutching at my sides as I gagged.
O–okay... That's one disadvantage of breathing fire... Not doing that again!
I swallowed hard and fought to raise myself up again. In the time I took to recover, another blow struck my side, dislodging my grip and throwing me across the ice, my claws scratching deep furrows into the frozen surface as I skidded to a halt.
"Even now you are blind! My master cannot be silenced by anyone or anyth
ing!" Acrodan shouted.
This time his voice was weaker, whatever telepathic method he'd used before seeming to fail him. The fire dancing in his eyes rose up beneath his hood, erratically thrashing about in the wind as he thrust his staff towards me, and I narrowly avoided a bolt of purple lightning as I leapt aside.
The purple light around its top flashed in a burst of glowing embers as he thrust the menacing weapon forward and tried again. His clumsy efforts were easily avoided as I instinctively ducked beneath the staff, coiled my hind legs and prepared to lunge. Seizing the first opportunity, I leapt at the shadowy base of his robe, colliding with nothing more than woven material and the metal boots. In a shower of purple flame and black dust, he was sent tumbling over the stairs, a stream of shadows transforming him into a blur as he crashed to the floor.
I managed to steady myself, when in an explosion of contorting black vapour, he unbelievably rose to his feet.
"Is this all the slave of the false creators can conjure?" he challenged. "I expected more of a fight!"
His words were growing tiresome, and with another lunge I flung myself towards him; foreclaws outstretched. The sudden intervention of his staff sent me crashing to the floor, and I looked up to see him battling his way to the top of the collapsing stairs.
My legs were almost ready to give up, yet regardless of how they quivered I lifted my paws, fighting back the pain. As soon as I did, the influence of an invisible force crushed me against the ice. The glowing flame of Acrodan’s staff pointed towards me, a magical weight crushing me like a bug under his boot. The flames in his soulless eyes flashed red and he let out a menacing laugh.
"Your heroism is wasted," he croaked, his voice barely audible above the roar of the wind. "Your efforts are in vain, as they always were. As long as you are blind to the truth, you will fail!"