It was midday four days later when the ground began to grow slippery and muddy, slowing their progress considerably. Damion, who had ridden ahead to scout the way with Snowfeather gliding above, reined his enormous warhorse to a stop to allow the others to catch up. “The ground is beginning to grow rather marshy.” He commented as they approached.
“Yuck!” Kariah exclaimed, covering her nose with a horrified expression. “What is that smell? It's horrible!”
“We’re getting close to the Dead Swamp.” Dar explained, his face etched in worry. “The stench you smell is that of centuries of death and decay.” He turned to Damion. “We need to make it through the swamp as quickly as possible. They come out after the sun has set.”
“They?” Kariah asked timidly. “Who are 'they'?”
“The dead.” The childlike sprite answered grimly. “They rise to haunt the swamp at night. Every creature that has ever died inside of the swamp is cursed to be one of the undead, never to find their peace in death, or so it is said. It is a horrible place. Few ever try to pass through its boundaries, and even fewer actually succeed.”
“Have you ever ventured through it?”
Dar shook his head. “I always detour around, but that takes weeks. We haven’t that kind of time.”
Sly cursed, then stared up at the sky. “There are only a couple of hours of daylight left. Let's try to find somewhere dry to make camp, and we can set off at dawn. I'd prefer to spend as few nights as possible in that unholy place.”
They found a dry clearing and quickly set up camp. There were virtually no living trees or shrubs of any significance to break the wind, which grew steadily colder as the sun set. There was no fuel to feed the fire in the damp marshy area, forcing Damion to use his magic to set a pile of stones aflame.
Garth stared at the flaming stones in awe. “I don't think I will ever get used to magic.” He stared at Damion with wide eyes. “Is there anything that you cannot do?”
“Not that I have found, no.” The huge warrior replied with a shrug.
They huddled near the fire in an effort to fend off the cool breeze, and munched on some tasty moss that Garth had brought from the caverns. The moss had a fruity flavor, and was very filling.
“It is called Kipa.” The stocky dwarf explained quietly as he passed it among the companions. “It contains properties that relax the body without fogging the mind or reflexes. It is considered a delicacy among my people.”
The gentle flutter of feathers drew their attention to Snowfeather, who appeared from the night sky with a large rabbit clinched in his talons. He landed just out of fire light, panting heavily.
“Is something wrong?” Damion asked with some concern. “Did you discover something?”
“Just the opposite.” The huge owl replied irritably. “There isn't another living creature within twenty miles of this place!” He ruffled his feathers in disgust. “It took me hours to find this rabbit!” He ripped into the carcass voraciously.
Later that night, after the others had drifted off to sleep, Dar quietly made his way over to Damion's side. “May we speak?” He asked a bit hesitantly.
Damion stared at the childlike Alena for moment, then nodded. “Of course.”
The freckle-faced boy took a seat, then took several moments to gather his thoughts. “I wish to speak with you about the Dragon Sword.”
“What about it?”
“That sword is the key to freeing the dragons from that cursed gem.” Dar’s tiny face was serious. “With that blade, my friends can finally be released from their prison.”
Damion's face grew stony. “From what I have witnessed, I'm not sure if they should be released. Look at the destruction just one of those beasts has caused. You wish me to release an entire race of them into the world?” He shook his head firmly. “I don't think I can do that.”
“But you don’t understand!” Dar pleaded in frustration. “Tempest is being controlled! She would never willingly harm anyone!” He grabbed Damion's arm in a fierce grip. “You have found the sword! You are the one destined to join it with the gem, and release the dragons! It is your destiny!”
Damion snorted at the word 'destiny'. “I will not release a plague of fire breathing death upon the world! I will not be responsible for the destruction of mankind!”
“The dragons are a wise and ancient race!” The tiny Alena said in an outraged voice. “They are magnificent creatures that were wrongly imprisoned, by a human!” He emphasized hotly.
Garth, who was awakened by their conversation, rose from his bedroll and stumped over to their side. “My people remember the dragons. I have heard the stories many times over the years. Most were about how they were invincible fire breathing creatures that ruled the skies.” He grumbled in a low voice. “But it was always said that they were honorable creatures, greatly respected by the dwarven people.”
Damion shook his head stubbornly. “I can’t take the chance. We don’t know if the Dragon Gem has changed them into mindless creatures that are now bent on destruction. Look at what’s happened so far! That dragon has killed thousands!”
Dar fixed Damion with a stern glare. “I have known the dragons for over two thousand years! I’ve spent the last four hundred years trying to find a way of freeing my friends!” His voice held a towering anger. “Tempest is not in control of her own actions! She is a gentle creature that was wrongly imprisoned! I won't rest until she and her kin are released!” He took a deep steadying breath, then continued in a controlled tone. “The dragons were imprisoned for their magical essence. They have done nothing to deserve this cruelty! If you don't release them, you will be just as guilty as Kaviel or the sorcerer that imprisoned them!”
Kariah sat up in her bedroll and fixed them all with a dangerous look. “Why don't you three just shut up about it?” She snapped in exasperation. “We haven't stopped Kaviel or recovered the Dragon Gem yet, and you are already arguing about what we are going to do with it! Grow up and quit being so childish!” She said it quite scathingly. “Let’s worry about it when the time comes! Now lay down, shut up, and get some sleep!”
“Hear, hear!” Sly agreed without looking up from his pillow.
They all stared at the young elf maiden in shock as she calmly curled back up in her bedroll, then gave one another dubious looks.
Finally, Dar murmured. “She’s right. Let's concentrate on one thing at a time. Let's get some rest. It's going to be a long day tomorrow.”
Damion nodded, then laid back in his bedroll, his thoughts conflicted. Dar’s passionate plea on the dragon’s behalf forced him to wonder if the beast Kaviel controlled truly was a monster, or if it actually was the wise and gentle creature that Dar and Garth described. He finally forced the question from his mind, then rolled over and fell asleep.