“Have you faced one before?” Amber asked, trying to take her mind off the devastation that surrounded them.
“No, but I’ve spent time among the dragon hunters of the four kingdoms. Most people take their tales as nothing more than exaggerations, but I don’t doubt that most of what they told me is true. Luckily for us, earth dragons are the easiest to fight with small numbers. Precision and speed are the key. We need to strike fast and true.”
Hadrin nodded as he walked closer to the carnage. There was something about seeing the dragon’s handiwork with his own eyes that really brought things home for the Prince. He sighed as he continued to examine the scene. By his count, there were more than a hundred charred corpses. The dragons had attacked without care for whether their target had been man, woman, or child. Hadrin clenched his fist as he thought about his father’s involvement with the beasts. In his eyes, the King was just as guilty of the slaughter as the dragons that had unleashed the fire. Save it for the dragons, he thought as he opened his fist.
*
Obrin took a deep breath before stepping toward the shadow portal. The dragons had begun using them to travel across great distances. He hated the feeling of stepping into pure darkness, but the result was always easier than any other form of travel. The fertile farmlands of the borderlands greeted him upon his exit from the portal. Several elves hailed him as they came down the hill toward him. He raised his hand in greeting. They quickly surrounded him and rushed him back up the hill without a word. Finrul’s camp was quite the sight to behold. The elves had set up large watchtowers on the highest hill within sight. There were small patrols constantly checking to ensure that the enemy couldn’t take them by surprise.
“You seem to have learned from your earlier blunder,” Obrin said as they brought him into the sorcerer’s tent.
“That I have. You see, the humans are a devious people. They will use whatever means necessary to weaken their opponents. We can’t let that happen,” Finrul replied.
“I told the dragons that you would make up for the mistake, my faith was well placed. Ungaroth was hoping that the conquest of the borderlands would be finished sooner. What is holding up our plans?”
“We were told to give Kade as much time as possible in eliminating the dragon hunters. Has that request changed?”
“No, the dragons are also disappointed with how long he is taking. They underestimate the human’s ability to adapt. None of this is why I am really here. The dragons want me to ensure that your men are comfortable using shadow portals.”
“How can we be comfortable using them if we haven’t a clue what they are?” Finrul asked.
“They sent me to teach you how to create and use them. It will be up to you to effectively use these shadow portals,” Obrin replied.
“What do they want us to do with these portals?”
“They want you to use them to surprise the enemy. Shadow portals allow you to travel instantaneously. Because you are new to this type of magic, I advise you keep the distance to within eyesight. Preferably you can find a decent vantage point to open the portals for your men to give them the upper hand in even the most dire of situations.”
*
Kade watched as column after column of troops passed. Something had alerted the four kingdoms, making his mission that much more difficult. The morale of his Knights had taken a significant hit when they spotted the armies on the move. A full battalion of dragon hunters had yet to be seen, but several had been seen interspersed throughout the armies. They are marching toward the elves, Kade told himself as he moved further into the forest. A handful of his Knights stayed behind to keep an eye on their enemies as he headed back into the main camp. He sighed as he looked over his troops. His two hundred Knights were among the best warriors in the land, but the enemy’s numbers would crush them like a bug. They needed to find a way to lure out their targets without bringing the armies into the mix.
“What news, sir?” Attos asked as Kade arrived at the camp.
“The four kingdoms are marching for war. They pass by the edge of the forest. Some of the dragon hunters ride with them, but we are not yet certain where the bulk of our targets reside,” the young leader replied.
“I sent some of our men out to try to get information out of the locals. They will bring us back what we need.”
“While I do not appreciate you doing this without my consent, I am glad that the scouts are already on their way. Well done, perhaps it is time that I give you more responsibility. Would you be interested in taking command of the scouts?”
“It would be an honor, sir.”
The young leader nodded as he dismissed Attos. Things were beginning to shape up rather nicely. He felt a strange need for eliminating the dragon hunters, but as each day passed the feeling seemed to get further and further away. There were days when he wondered why he served the dragons. He grabbed a paper and quill and began to write out a new set of instructions for his Lieutenant. His hand quivered for a moment, but then stopped as he finished out the first sentence. Whatever fight was going on inside of him, his dominant will seemed to be winning out.
*
“What can you tell me of the spirit world?” Wrotan asked as he rode closer to Bertram.
“Not much. Lamont and Cristoph are the real experts in that sense. They may not always agree, but you can be certain that one of them is right most of the time. I’ve seen them get quite heated in their arguments about the specifics. Lamont believes that there are two parts to the spirit realm, one good and the other evil. Cristoph believes it to be one realm that is neither good nor evil, but rather that it has good and evil beings that reside in it. I am certain that Lamont will be able to give you more information on the topic,” the paladin replied.
“Perhaps you can tell me of the paladins?”
“That I can. The spirit monks were not always in need of defenders in their numbers. They were accepted by the people long ago. That all changed rather quickly. Our monastery was at the edge of the lands of two warring kingdoms. There was no strategic value to our building, but the kingdoms each wanted to use it as a sort of watchtower to keep an eye on their rival. We were forced to defend ourselves. Out of the flames, the order of paladins was born. Ultimately, the spirit order was overtaken. We spent decades under the rule of tyrannical kingdoms. The lands switched hands many times and, one year, we saw an opening. Our paladins lead the rebellion and we were able to win back our freedom. We have been an integral part of the spirit order ever since. It may seem strange that a group that abhors violence has soldiers, but there are times when fighting is the only choice.”
“I hate to interrupt, but we appear to have company,” Hadrin said as he joined the two at the front of the pack.
“It seems that we have found Lamont and the dwarves. Good, they must be in need of assistance against the dragons,” Bertram said.
The dwarves looked battered and beaten, but they still raised their weapons as the group approached. Wrotan watched them carefully as he brought his horse to a stop. They talked among themselves for a few seconds and then one of the dwarves started running back toward the makeshift camp that they had set up. The lone dwarf returned with a human and several dwarves. They made their way past the line of dwarven defenders and hailed the travelers. Bertram raised his hand when he spotted the man. The hunter followed the paladin’s lead and dismounted as the dwarves approached. He was surprised to see that even the dwarven leaders looked battered. The main difference that he noticed was that their leaders still had the fight in them.
“Hail, humans. Lamont has informed us that one of you is Bertram. The paladin and his order are welcome here, but not the others,” one of the dwarves said.
“While I understand your apprehension, I do not think it is wise for you to turn away help,” Bertram replied.
“We have no choice. Our enemies will do anything to defeat us. This could be another of their tricks.”
“I can assure you that Wrotan and his a
llies are not in league with the dragons.”
“Why are the elves here?” Lamont asked as he approached the paladin.
“We would be glad to tell you the story once those dragons are dead,” Wrotan replied.
“How did you know there was more than one?” One of the dwarves demanded.
“I’m a hunter, I was conditioned to know my prey.”
“You’ve hunted a dragon before?”
“No, I’m not crazy. Every hunter worth his weight in gold knows the basic rules of hunting a dragon, the first of which is not to hunt them. I’ve lost enough friends to those beasts to know not to hunt one, but that doesn’t mean I can’t do it.”
*
“Why exactly are you traveling with them?” Lamont asked as he pulled Bertram aside.
“You know how Cristoph does things,” the paladin replied.
“We both know how you operate. You wouldn’t go along with his plan unless you agreed with it.”
“One of them survived a trip to the spirit world. He might just be the one we are looking for. Cristoph wants me to keep an eye on him and see if he would be willing to assist us.”
“What else?”
“They are on the hunt for a young man that may hold the key to defeating the shadow dragons and their allies. His mind is being controlled by the dragons.”
“What is the significance of this?” Lamont asked.
“Unlike the others, he is human and never came into direct contact with the scourge before contracting it. We believe that this will reveal much about our enemies. My turn now, why are you helping the dwarves?”
“I’ve told you about my theories about the shadow people, yes? I believe they have an enemy or had an enemy. You see, the dwarves had recently discovered what they thought was an ancient dwarven stronghold. I think that the dwarves were allied with the spirit people. This is our chance at finding the enemies of the shadow. If I could just examine the ruins, I might be able to find a way to contact them.”
“An unknown enemy appears and threatens the known world and you are chasing ghosts?” Bertram asked.
“The shadow dragons and their ilk were just ghosts until recently. Isn’t it possible that spirit people are real as well? They could be valuable allies in the coming struggle.”
“Their existence could also provide you with the means to take over the spirit monastery. Cristoph’s credibility would be damaged by such a revelation.”
“That’s just the tip of the iceberg, my friend. From what I gather, the spirit warriors are gearing up for a conquest of their own. If we assist them in taking the four kingdoms and sending the shadows back to wherever it is they come from, they would make us Kings!”
“You know I’m not one to take sides, Lamont. What happens to me and others like me?”
“War always has casualties, but if people like you don’t get in the way of the spirit warriors, you should survive. Were the shadows to win, I am not so certain.”
*
Finrul extended his arm as he opened the shadow portal. It wasn’t necessary, but sometimes the small things helped when trying new spells. He tried his best to stay calm as he watched the men disappear into the swirling darkness. Too much excitement and the spell could spiral out of his control. Too much apprehension and the spell could fizzle out. For all he knew, either of those could cause casualties. The dragons had ordered him to master the technique no matter the cost, but he knew there would be consequences if he lost more than a few soldiers. He pushed aside all thoughts not relating to the portal itself. The mind was a mage’s most powerful tool, but it could also become the source of catastrophic failure.
“One more squad and then we break,” He yelled to the nearest Captain.
“How much longer do we have to master this?” Revin asked as the last of the groups entered the portal.
“They never told me, which means the sooner the better. I’ll let them rest for a time and then we will begin with a new group.”
“What about you?”
“What about me?” The magician turned toward Revin as he closed the portal.
“Magic takes a toll on the user, you know that better than I.”
“I haven’t even come close to mastering the spell, there is no way for me to tell what will happen to me. Obrin seemed unaffected by it, that is a good sign.”
“Is it wise to place this much faith in the dragons?”
“Perhaps not, but this spell is powerful. It is worth whatever cost is incurred.”
*
Kade rubbed his eyes as he sat up. He shivered as he glanced around to gather his bearings. The Knights of Ardevale were gone, replaced by a massive dragon and a lone warrior. He tried to move his legs, but they wouldn’t respond to his commands. His body slowly floated toward the two beings. The warrior altered his grip on his spear as he stepped toward the dragon. His opponent reared back and snarled. Neither of them paid Kade any attention as he floated in for a better look. The warrior was tall and thin. Taller than any human he had ever seen, but with a significantly smaller frame than the giants of legend. There was something familiar about the figure. He pivoted to the side as the dragon unleashed a swath of flames. The two combatants continued their dance. Neither could manage to get the upper hand. The massive beast clawed and whipped its tail to and fro, but each time the warrior was too quick. He darted around the dragon, stabbing with his spear. Several times he made contact, but the spear slid off the dragon’s hide.
“Where am I?” Kade shouted as he floated in-between the two of them.
“This is most unexpected,” said the dragon.
“I’m not certain that either of us can properly explain that,” the warrior said.
“Who are you?” The young man asked.
“The beast’s name is unimportant. All you need to know is that it is indeed a dragon as you already suspect. I am Tychran of the Kelimar. We are an ancient race that opposes the shadow at every turn. With your help, I can defeat this creature. Now is hardly the time for that, though. You must awaken,” the warrior said as he reached out and touched Kade’s forehead.
Kade awoke in the forest where his Knights were camped. He squinted as he glanced around the camp. Everything was quiet, almost too quiet. He listened for any sound and was rewarded with the soft crunch of a twig. The sound was immediately followed by a shushing noise. Kade sprang to his feet and thrust his hands toward the noise. A shadowy tentacle shot out from his left palm and grabbed hold of one of the soldiers that was attempting an ambush. His right palm began to glow before emitting a beam of silver energy. The beam took another of the attackers in the chest and knocked him back several feet. Both the beam and the tentacle took on a life of their own as Kade spotted the rest of the enemy squad. His eyes were transfixed on his victims as the tentacle smashed bones, crushed windpipes, and cracked skulls. The beam tore through the opponents that the shadow tentacle had missed.
“What’s happening?” Attos asked as he scrambled to his feet.
“These fools were under the impression that they could sneak up on us. I proved them wrong,” Kade replied as the tentacle retracted into his left palm and the beam died out.
Dragon Hunting
Mariah nodded to Wrotan as he finished assembling the final ballista. She wanted to say something, but the timing didn’t feel right. He waved and she waved back before turning away. A small squad of dwarves was awaiting her orders just down the tunnel. They were among the few that had survived a run-in with a dragon and dared to face one again. She was the only member of the group that didn’t have experience facing off against one of the creatures, but nobody else had volunteered to lead the small squad into the dragon’s lair. Besides Wrotan’s task of actually killing the beast, Mariah had taken on the most dangerous mission. One of the dwarves joined her at the front of the column as they began to march.
“Nothing to be afraid of, lass,” he said.
“There is plenty to be afraid of,” she said.
“A
ye, but we’ll get the beast. That hunter has the real difficult task. Friend of yours?”
“Yes, maybe something more, I don’t really know. Do you really think we can do this?”
“As crazy as it sounds, I truly believe we will succeed.”
The dwarf nodded as he drew his axe. Mariah pulled the shield off her back and drew her sword. The exit to the dwarven tunnels wasn’t far from where the dragon had taken up his position. She took a deep breath as she wrestled with the reality of fighting a pack of smaller dragons just to get the attention of the full size creature. Hadrin, having the most experience dealing with dragons, had insisted that they keep from engaging the earth dragon until they had it cornered. It seemed to disagree with common sense, but it was the only way to ensure the beast’s death. The former guardswoman cleared her mind as she spotted the drake.
“Take out as many of the smaller ones as you can,” she ordered as she pointed her sword toward the drake.
“The others said to focus on the big one,” one of the dwarves said.
“We won’t be around later to kill the drakes.”
“You’re the only non-dwarf here.”
“Wrotan’s focus may be on the earth dragon, but he will do his best to kill as many drakes as possible.”
The conversation ended as the drakes spotted the oncoming attackers. Mariah reached the creatures first. She dodged to the side and sliced at the beast’s wing. Her sword tore through the drake’s wing, sending it bellowing in rage. The dwarves swarmed the wounded creature and finished it off as the former guardswoman moved on to the next target. They fought off the initial wave of drakes until the ground began to shake. Mariah called the dwarves back in to formation. She stayed at the front as the entire squadron slowly backed away. The ground shook even more violently as the earth dragon burst out of its cave.
“This is it. Make sure it stays on us until Wrotan can get to it,” Mariah said.
*
Wrotan stood with a spear in hand, waiting on the squad to return with the dragon. He heard a low rumble in the distance. The dwarves began loading up the ballistae. His other companions stayed back and watched. The hunter took a deep breath as he spotted the first of the dwarves to return. Several other dwarves were right on his heels and just behind them were a few drakes. Wrotan dropped his spear and drew his sword. He sprinted toward the first of the creatures and leaped toward it. His sword dug into the drake’s neck. He grabbed hold of the sword and dragged it down, tearing the beast’s throat open. The creature crashed to the floor as the hunter pulled his sword from the corpse.