Chapter 5
They set off early the next morning after a hasty breakfast of bread and cheese. The enormity of their plight had finally begun to sink in, casting a depressing aura over the small group. They kept moving as quickly as they could, seldom stopping for rest, though being extremely careful to avoid any further ambushes. It took them two days of hard travel to reach the familiar little valley. They carefully made their way down the cliff sides, then carved their way through the thick underbrush of the forest that surrounded the cottage.
When they finally broke through to the clearing in the center of the valley, they found Damarius and Lady Skie waiting in front of the cottage, obviously alerted by the magical enchantment that surrounded the valley. They ran forward to meet Damion and the others as they approached the cottage.
“What’s happened?” Lady Skie asked, rushing forward to meet them, her face clouded with concern. “Why have you returned so early? Where is your father?”
Damion shook his head gravely. “Let us all go into the cottage first. A lot has happened since we left. We'll need some time to explain everything.”
Lady Skie started to argue, but was silenced by the grave tone in his voice. She looked at Kariah curiously for a moment, then led everyone to Damarius’s study. Once everyone had made themselves comfortable, she quickly fetched a platter of cold deer meat and a large pitcher of milk.
Sly glanced at the milk doubtfully. “I don't think milk is strong enough for what we have to say. Do you have any ale?”
Lady Skie glanced at momentarily at her father, then nodded.
“Then you'd better bring the entire keg. We are all going to need a drink.”
She hesitated a moment, then quickly left the study, only to return a minute later with a small barrel of ale. After handing each of them a tankard of the foaming brew, she settled down in one of the overstuffed chairs, her face apprehensive.
Damion took a long pull of the bitter drink, then took a deep breath. “I guess I should start at the beginning.” He was his voice grim. “It began when we stopped to rest near a stream, a half day's hiking from the valley. Snowfeather was flying overhead to keep a watch for danger when he spotted a large party of goblins and dragonspawn a mile or so downstream.”
“Preparing to slaughter one another, no doubt.” Damarius said, nodding his head sagely, causing his long brow lock to fall into his eyes.
“I’m afraid not.” Sly said, shaking his head. “They were traveling together as a pack.”
“Dragonspawn and goblins?” The elderly wizard snorted in disbelief. “Traveling together? Impossible! Those creatures could never coexist together as a pack!”
“There’s more. They were being led by a human.”
The old man looked shocked. “Are you sure that it was a human? Dragonspawn and goblins hate humans even more than they hate one another. They'd never willingly follow a human’s orders!”
“He’s human.” Sly grumbled, draining his tankard, then refilling it from the barrel. “His name is Kaviel, and he's one of the lowest forms of scum that exists.”
“I shifted forms,” Damion continued. “and tracked two parties of the creatures down and took care of them, but I couldn't find any sign of Kaviel anywhere, so I went back to where I left the others. When I got there, I found them under attack by another group of dragonspawn. We managed to fight them off, but the creatures killed all of the castle soldiers.” He refilled his mug and took a long drink. “We were preparing to set off again for Sevria when Kaviel appeared out of nowhere with a crossbow.” His voice wavered slightly. “Father was struck in the heart. He didn't make it.” Tears began to flow freely from his eyes.
Lady Skie gasped, her hands flying to her mouth, then she began to weep. Damarius put his arms around his daughter consolingly, then looked to Damion. “I’m very sorry, young one. I liked your father very much. He was a good man.”
Damion nodded, then took a deep breath and continued. “I’m afraid that isn't all. We were forced to bury father in a small clearing not far from where we were attacked, and we were trying to decide what to do next, when Snowfeather noticed a disturbance to the southwest. He flew over to investigate and discovered that Sevria and Castle Rosewood have been completely destroyed.”
“No!” Damarius and Lady Skie screamed as one. “How? What happened?”
“Well...” He hesitated a moment. “We believe it may have been a dragon.”
“A dragon?” The old man scoffed in disbelief. “That’s not possible! The dragons disappeared over four hundred years ago! They don't exist anymore!”
“I saw it.” Kariah said in a quiet voice, her eyes haunted by the memory. “It flew down from the sky, breathing fire over everything. It destroyed the village, then ripped the castle apart. I am the only one that survived.” She looked at Damarius, her face pale. “It was a dragon. I have no doubt about this.”
Sly nodded. “And that's not all. According to Kariah, there was a human riding atop the dragon. By her description, I am positive that it was Kaviel, the scoundrel that murdered Lord Michael.”
“We have reason to believe he is using a strange blood red gem to control the dragon.” Damion continued. “I saw the gem for a moment before he disappeared. It radiated with a power unlike any you have ever taught me to recognize.” He took another long drink of the bitter tasting ale, then refilled his tankard. His senses were becoming numb from the drink, something for which he was immensely grateful. He suddenly understood Sly's almost unnatural obsession with drinking. “Kaviel grabbed the gem just before he disappeared, and Sly says he has never known him to use magic before. It may also be how he is controlling the dragonspawn and goblins. They seemed to be terrified of him.”
The old man's face was grave. “This is grim news indeed. If this Kaviel is in control of a dragon, he could wreak havoc over the entire continent. He has to be stopped.” He brushed his brow lock from his eyes absently, then looked at Sly. “What exactly do you know of this man?”
Sly shrugged. “He’s the worst kind of scum. A mercenary for hire. He has no morals, and is extremely unbalanced. He kills just for the pleasure of killing. He's capable of anything.” He drained his tankard, then belched loudly. “But I do know this, he will cause untold destruction wherever he goes with such power at his command.”
Damion nodded his agreement, then glanced over at Kariah, who had succumbed to her exhaustion, and was sleeping soundly in the overstuffed chair in which she sat. “I think it’s time that we got some rest. We'll finish this discussion in the morning.”
“That is a good idea.” Damarius said, rising to his feet. “Get some rest. You have had a very trying experience. In the meantime, I'll pour through my library and see if I can discover anything about the gem that he carried.”
Damion nodded, then gently lifted Kariah into his arms and carried her to the guest quarters, where he tucked her into the large feather bed. He turned to leave, but felt a gentle touch on his arm.
“Can you stay for a moment?”
He glanced down to see the young elf maiden staring up at him with a strange look in her eyes. She motioned for him to sit, then said. “I would like to apologize for the way I treated you when we first met. I treated you so horribly, yet you still protected me and brought me with you. I owe you my life. I will always be in your debt.”
Damion coughed uncomfortably. “There is no need to apologize or to thank me. I couldn't have I left you alone to fend for yourself. It is way too dangerous out there. Besides,” His face flushed a bright crimson. “I enjoy your company.”
Kariah smiled at him sweetly, then closed her eyes.
Damion stumbled to his own room in a daze, and lay awake for quite some time, confused by the strong attraction he felt for the elf maiden. He lay awake for quite some time before finally falling into a fitful sleep.
The next morning, Damarius led Damion and Sly to the small clearing in the center of the orchard to discuss what he had been able to learn
during the night.
“I have discovered a few things that may of some use.” The old man said, taking a seat atop a large boulder. “I discovered an old legend detailing the disappearance of the dragons. According to the diary of a young boy who was the apprentice of a very powerful sorcerer, his master had devised a way to trap the entire race of dragons inside of a large ruby that was enchanted to draw the magical essence from the enslaved beasts, and focus it to the will of the one who possessed the stone. It is called the Dragon Gem.”
“That has to be it!” Damion exclaimed. “The gem Kaviel carried, it must be the Dragon Gem!”
The old wizard nodded. “It would seem so. Anyone who possessed the gem would have untold power, and control of the great serpents trapped inside.”
“It certainly fits.” Sly agreed. “I have never known the scar-faced dog to use magic before now, and our paths have crossed on several occasions.”
“There is some good news, though,” Damarius continued. “It seems the full power of the gem cannot be released without the gem's counterpart, the Dragon Sword. Without it, he can only use a fraction of the Dragon Gem's true power.”
“Even if he can only use a fraction of the gem's power, Kaviel can still cause vast destruction.” The little man grunted. “As long as he controls that dragon, he's almost unstoppable.”
“Where is this Dragon Sword now?” Damion asked, though he already knew the answer.
Damarius shrugged. “The last entry in the apprentice's diary said that they were to make a journey to a small valley in these very mountains, where his master, a sorcerer named Balik, would perform his magic. He never made another entry. The date in the journal closely matches the time when the dragons suddenly disappeared. We can only assume that this sorcerer was successful. But since no one has been able to locate the Dragon Gem or Dragon Sword, most believe the story to be just a legend.”
“Well, we now know that the gem is real, so that also means that the sword isn't just a legend.” Sly theorized. “That must be what Kaviel is searching for. He must be tearing the continent apart looking for the Dragon Sword. And if I know him as well as I think I do, he isn’t going stop until he finds it.”
“We have to stop him.” Damion said fiercely. “We cannot let him find that sword. No one will be able to stop him once he gets his hands on it.”
“What do you suggest we should do?” The little man asked, although he already knew what Damion’s answer would be.
Damion was silent for a moment. “I’m going after him.” He said finally, his mind made up. “I have to get that gem away from him somehow. Then,” His eyes flashed red with anger. “I will make him pay for what he’s done.”
Damarius looked dubious. “I’m not sure that's such a good idea, young one. We haven't any idea of the power that gem possesses. And there is still that dragon you must get through to get to Kaviel.”
“There isn’t any other choice.” Damion told him grimly. “I may be the only person that would have a chance of stopping him. I must get that stone away from him, even if it costs me my life.” His expression was grave. It was obvious he had made up his mind.
“Well,” Sly said, climbing to his feet. “I guess we had better start preparing. I have the feeling this is going to be a very long journey.”
Damion gave him a confused look. “What do you mean, ‘we’?”
The scruffy little man snorted in amusement. “You don't think I'm going to let you have all of the fun, do you? Besides,” He grinned impishly. “You're going to need someone to help keep you from getting lost.”
Damarius looked at them both as if they were crazy. “You cannot be serious about doing this! How are you going to stop a dragon?”
Damion shrugged. “We’ll figure something out when the time comes.”
The old wizard shook his head in disbelief. “Facing a dragon head on is suicide, even for one with your powers. You need to have an edge when you face it. You need to find the Dragon Sword.”
“I thought you said it was lost.”
“It is, but finding it is your only chance on defeating the dragon.” The old man quickly withdrew a map from his robe pocket and unfolded it. “The sorcerer who created the sword and gem supposedly hailed from the area around Crete, in foothills between the Godstear Mountains and the grasslands of the Deola. That would be the most logical place to start your search.”
“We’ll begin our search there, then.” Sly decided with a nod.
“You know Skie is going to have a fit when she finds out what you're planning.” Damarius warned them in a serious tone.
Sly chuckled, then clapped the old man on the shoulder. “That’s why we are going to let you break the news to her.”
The old wizard groaned loudly. “I hate having to break bad news to Skie. She once screamed at me for four hours straight after I told her that her pet rabbit had died. And in case you didn’t know, my daughter can scream unnaturally loud when she is upset.” He shot them another dirty look, then sighed in resignation. “Well, I guess I’d better just get it over with.” He grumbled, shuffling off towards the cottage.
They found Lady Skie and Kariah in the kitchen area putting the finishing touches on a stunning blue dress to replace the tattered rags the young elf maiden had been wearing.
Damion was struck dumb by the pure beauty of the elven girl. Her long golden hair cascaded down her back and shoulders, framing her tiny face artfully, and the new dress she was wearing revealed a lushly endowed body that instantly caused him to begin blushing. He couldn't seem to tear his gaze away from her angelic form, and had great difficulty keeping his mind on the task at hand.
They were surprised to find the ladies had already gathered together most of the supplies that they would need on their journey.
Looking up from her sewing, Lady Skie gazed at Damion and smiled sadly. “I already know that you are planning on going after him, and I know there isn't any way for me to change your mind.” Tears began to well up in her eyes. “I always knew you would eventually grow up and leave this valley, I just never imagined the day would come so soon.” She looked to her father. “Will you be accompanying him?”
Damarius shook his head. “I’m afraid not. I'm forty years past my prime. These tired old bones are far too frail for such a journey. I would just slow them down. But I'm sure Sly will be able to keep him from getting into too much trouble.”
Damion turned to Kariah, who smiled at him shyly. “You may stay here as long as you like. It is probably the safest place on the entire continent just now, and I'm sure that Aunt Skie and Damarius would enjoy having such a beautiful house guest.”
The young elf maiden blushed at the compliment, then her face suddenly fell. “You’re not planning on leaving me behind, are you?” She said with sudden heat. “You had better think again!”
“Huh? He asked in confusion. “What do you mean?” You’re not planning on accompanying us, are you? It's going to be far too dangerous! I don't want...” He stopped, his face blushing a violent shade of red.
“You don't what?” She asked archly, her hands on her hips, and her eyes flashing dangerously.
Damion stammered for a moment, then blurted out. “I just don’t want you to get hurt, that's all. It’s going to be very dangerous, and I don’t wish to see anything happen you.”
Damarius and Sly exchanged knowing glances.
Kariah seemed slightly aback by the statement. “Well, I'm still going with you, and there's nothing you can do to stop me! That horrible, wretched man killed my family, killed my friends, and destroyed my home! I have nothing left because of him! I will not rest until he pays for what he has done!” Her eyes suddenly grew soft. “I'm touched that you are so concerned for my safety, but this is something that I must do.”
Damion sighed in resignation, seeing it was impossible to change her mind. He had seen the exact same look in Lady Skie's eyes countless times before, and knew it was useless to argue. “Well, we will have to find y
ou some suitable traveling clothes, although that dress is very becoming.”
The young girl blushed prettily.
Damarius snorted in amusement, then glanced at his daughter, whose face was still grief-stricken. “Skie, dear? Will you please take this lovely young lady and see if you can find her some suitable traveling clothes?” After the ladies had left the room, he turned to Sly and Damion, a surprised look on his face. “I can't believe she took that so well. I was sure she was going to have a fit.”
Damion grinned. “Perhaps I'm beginning to grow a little predictable.” He sighed heavily. “Is there anything more we should know about the gem or sword? Do they have any weaknesses? Can they be destroyed?”
The old sorcerer scratched his beard in thought. “I don't think it would be advisable to try and destroy them. The power that would be released would kill you, and quite possibly destroy the entire continent.”
“Oh, that's encouraging.” Sly grunted sarcastically. “I feel so much better now that I know that.” He shook his head in resignation. “I think I'll go finish gathering the supplies. I don't think I’d be able to handle it if you decided to try and give us a pep talk.”