“The gods be praised! They have come!”
The crowd murmured and the queen rose slowly, eyes moving from one arrival to the next, studying their faces. Ryan didn’t know what to say or do and sensed that little of either was probably best. At last the queen raised her chin regally.
“Welcome,” she began in a clear voice, a smile growing. “Welcome to Olliana, capitol of the Kingdom of Alunia, on the world of Honyn. I am Queen Lorella, ruler of this land, and I have summoned you for a noble quest, to free our land of dragons as before, and return peace to our world.”
While a round of cheers greeted this announcement, Matt leaned over to Ryan and quietly repeated, “Quest?”
“Did she say ‘dragons’?” Anna whispered, wide-eyed.
“Yes,” replied Ryan in amazement, wondering if they were sharing a delusion. He was dreaming. That was it. He was back at their hotel room having a cool dream. He relaxed.
“We are most excited by your return to Honyn,” the queen continued, “and word will go forth at once that the Ellorian Champions have answered our call, for so many worlds depend upon your aid that all will rejoice at your return after these many years.” She paused expectantly and Ryan realized all the important-looking people were staring at him. The queen clearly thought they were someone else but now was probably not the time to ask who. He cleared his throat.
“Thank you for this reception, Your Majesty,” he replied, voice booming off the tall walls as he played a part just like at RenFest. Improvising this sort of thing now came naturally. Why couldn’t all of his dreams be this awesome? “What is the nature of this quest?”
Queen Lorella announced, “You must fight your way to the Dragon Gate, defeat the dragon guarding it, and reseal it. If you fail, every life on Honyn shall perish, as shall each of you.”
Under his golden armor, a sheen of sweat soaked Ryan’s clothes. Kill or be killed? Dream or not, that struck a nerve and brought up old, painful memories. Distracted, he slowly became aware that Anna was urgently whispering his name and that everyone was waiting for his response. He cleared his throat. “We’re honored to answer your call,” he said, projecting confidence, “and look forward to fulfilling your quest.”
That brought happy murmurs from the crowd but not Eric, who whispered, “Ryan, don’t promise anything like that.”
Fingering the lance, the supposed knight murmured, “Well I had to say something, didn’t I? Besides, this isn’t real.”
“Well, maybe not,” Eric began, seeming less confident than usual, “but watch what you say.”
“You are most welcome, Lord Korrin of Andor,” Queen Lorella replied to Ryan. “Please accept our invitation to a great banquet in your honor tonight. While your suite is prepared, my Prime Minister and the Arch Wizard of Olliana, Sonneri, will explain what lies before you. The quest will begin tomorrow.” She regally turned to leave, an escort of pages following.
“Great, this dream will probably end without anything cool happening,” observed Ryan. He pinched himself, surprised that it hurt. It felt real.
As the queen disappeared, a tidal wave of chattering sycophants plunged toward them until guards intervened, cleaving a path for Sonneri and the queen’s Prime Minister. The latter wore golden trousers and a sash over his embroidered tunic – a rectangular piece of cloth slipped over the head and belted at the waist. Sonneri’s pine staff thumped on the floor as he approached, one hand on his prodigious belly, grandfatherly eyes bright. He pulled a pipe from his blue robe and lit it with a snap of his fingers. He looked pleased as he bowed.
“Greetings,” said the wizard in a gravelly voice. “We are most surprised to see you here.”
“So are we,” Matt wryly observed.
“If you, uh, summoned us,” began Anna, coming forward, “why are you surprised to see us. Were you expecting someone else?”
He bowed even lower to her. “My lady Eriana, no one could possibly come in your stead, but you have not graced a world with your presence in many years, and so we did not expect you to come.”
“I see,” she said. Her eyes lingered on a slender figure observing them from beside the empty thrones. As if noticing this, the man turned away, the cloak on his back swirling to reveal an embroidered tree. Fluid, graceful steps carried him away.
Sonneri continued. “If you’ll come with us, the Prime Minister and I will answer your questions about the quest.”
Ryan gestured for the others to precede him as they stepped off the dais. Dreams always centered around him and yet the others seemed focused on everything but him. And he had to admit that this felt real. He felt the heat of the sun each time he stepped into it. The voices around him had an accent he couldn’t have imagined if he’d tried. He took a deep breath through his nose and caught a subtle but acrid smell of sweat, as if those nearby didn’t bathe often. If this was a dream, his senses were far more alive than usual. A nagging feeling told him something was wrong and he began to frown.
“After this meeting,” he started, addressing Sonneri, “we could use some time alone to discuss matters, if that wouldn’t be too much trouble.”
“Certainly,” agreed the wizard.
Ryan brought up the rear, noticing that his finely carved, golden plate armor fit perfectly and was well adjusted despite the number of straps holding it together. Even the underlying chain mail was the right size. A golden sword sheath hung from one hip, where a helmet held fast to his waist, tightly tied to keep it from bouncing. That’s when he noticed how quiet the armor was. His RenFest made all sorts of noise, chain mail clinking and straps squeaking, but not this one. It seemed designed for stealth and actual usage.
As the throne room disappeared behind them, he cast a glance back, wondering if stepping onto the Stonehenge-like dais would send them home. That’s when the similarity between it and the monument struck him along with a suspicion as to the real nature of England’s most famous archeological site. Maybe they’d learned what it was really for after all.
Chapter 3 – The Quest
Eric entered the War Room behind the wizard Sonneri and Prime Minister, the others trailing him. He had already noticed that his comfortable black leathers were supple and well worn. Metal studs designed to deflect swords dotted both the tunic and the arm bands that covered his black linen shirt. His fingers discreetly picked his own pockets, discovering coins, an unworn ring, some small tools he guessed were lock-picking aids, and a hidden knife. Other blades were scattered about his person, some in view like the dagger and sword on opposite hips and the bandoleer of throwing knives across his chest, but smaller ones lay along his forearms, thighs, and even the back of his neck. He suspected more knives were in places he couldn’t reach now, like the soundless black boots that fit better than any he’d ever worn. A pouch at one hip held a white powder that reminded him of the chalk he used when rock climbing.
As he moved to a large table, he was caught between wanting to study every last item he saw, playing a part that he sensed required more nonchalance and confidence than he felt, and blurting out questions to his friends about their opinion of what was happening. He knew this was no dream, and yet how could it be real? Now appeared to be a chance to get answers from those who’d brought them here, so he focused on that. Getting reactions from his friends would have to wait. In fact, he hoped their own sense of decorum kept them from saying the wrong thing. Ryan in particular looked like he wasn’t taking this very seriously up until now, when Eric saw him frown and look concerned. He fixed each of them with a stern gaze, wishing that more than he and Matt understood sign language. He took the opportunity to sign a few comments to his supposed wizard friend.
He signed, I don’t know what’s going on but take this seriously until we’re alone, okay?
Yeah, no problem.
Try to influence the others with demeanor, etc.
Especially Ryan.
Exactly.
Eric saw Anna watching him intently, a question in her serious eyes, and h
e sensed she was on board.
They stopped around a large hexagonal table where Prime Minister Diam spread several maps of Olliana, in Kingdom Alunia, and nearby kingdoms. Along the walls hung swords, lances, other weapons, and tapestries of battle scenes. The standing suits of armor showed signs of use and suggested historical significance. Glass cases lined the room and presented peace treaties and other scrolls. Ryan leaned his lance against one wall, gazing up at the banner tied to the end. Eric wondered what was on it.
“It’s been some time since your last visit,” began the Prime Minister.
Eric tried to hide his surprise. If they were thought to have been here before, didn’t anyone recognize this wasn’t true? Did the four from Earth look enough like whoever had been expected that no one could tell the difference? That was a question he couldn’t ask.
“Yes, it has,” Eric said. “Can you remind us of the situation then and since?”
“Certainly,” the Prime Minister replied. “While both good and evil dragons exist on some worlds, only the latter existed here on Honyn. They long terrorized villages and towns in all kingdoms, but they generally acted alone, so the threat was manageable if not entirely satisfactory. Trouble arose years ago when a strong leader coerced coordination from the others. A female named Nir’lion rose to power and was the most aggressive we’ve ever seen. The resulting campaign of terror was so fearsome that when we last summoned you, you determined they had earned a banishment from Honyn.”
Eric saw his friends look surprised. They needed to control their expressions better. He tried to divert attention to himself by asking, “And is that what we did? Banish them? To…another world? It’s been a while. Please refresh our memory, almost as if we’ve never been here before. We won’t be offended if you tell us something we remember.”
“Yes, Andier.”
The martial artist cocked his head. “How did you say that name?” he asked as if it wasn’t pronounced correctly.
The Prime Minister looked concerned. “Did I not say it right? I beg your pardon.”
“Well, let me hear it again and I’ll tell you.”
“Andier of Roir, the Silver-Tongued Rogue.”
Great title, Eric thought. “And do you have my companions’ names learned so well, too?”
Matt discreetly made signs with his fingers at him. Nicely done.
“I would certainly hope so,” the Prime Minister replied. “The knight is Lord Korrin of Andor, the Golden Knight, whose charming smile dazzles the ladies more than his gleaming armor. The Dragon Slayer, the Lord of Hearts, the Pride of Andor. A man whom women want, and whom men want to be.”
On hearing this, Ryan raised an eyebrow and began to grin until catching Eric’s eye and receiving a subtle but stern shake of the head. The supposed knight pursed his lips in amusement.
The Prime Minister turned to Matt. “Soliander of Aranor, the Majestic Magus, the Flaming Hand, the Lord of Power, a wizard so potent that whole armies have been known to balk at your name. Few have dared challenge you, and none have been the victor.” Matt nodded as if unimpressed.
With a nod at Anna, the Prime Minister said, “The lovely Eriana of Coreth, a golden-haired beauty whose healing touch brings life to the dying and hope to the lonely. Said to be favored of the gods, perhaps even a lover, for the strength that flows through the Blessed One is unmatched among mortals. The Lady Hope, you’ve left many a warrior smitten by your healing hand.” He bowed and then turned back to Eric, who tried not to grin at the atheist Anna, who wore an expression of muted annoyance.
“And finally, Andier of Roir, the Silver-Tongued Rogue. With a mind full of tricks, an ear for the unsaid, and a knack for entering places uninvited, the Slippery Serpent can learn more about you than your own mother.”
“Very good,” replied Eric, thinking they were in an awful lot of trouble. “And you refer us as the champions, not by any other name? Some places give us nicknames.”
“Not here, Andier. You are, of course, the Ellorian Champions, from the world Elloria, though most simply call you the champions. With your permission, we may continue?” The Prime Minister pointed at the map. “You recall there is an old castle, Castle Darlonon, nearby in the mountains. It’s a ruin and therefore largely forgotten, and so it was here that you created a device with a dual purpose.”
Sonneri interjected, “As you no doubt remember, this device, the Dragon Gate, would not only remove the dragons from Honyn but prevent them from returning. The details of how to operate it were not revealed to us, and only Soliander knows how it works.” He looked at Matt, who looked uncomfortable with the revelation.
“Or so we believed,” added the Prime Minister. “Two weeks ago, a dragon was seen flying over the peaks east of here. Investigation revealed there is great activity at Castle Darlonon when there should be none, and that the gate stands open. We believe the escaped dragon is Nir’lion, and it’s a certainty that she intends to release the remaining dragons, which must be prevented.”
“Only one came through?” Ryan asked.
“We think so,” admitted Sonneri. “We suspect that whoever released her has a plan that requires only Nir’lion for now and that the others continue to remain behind, but that is conjecture. Suffice it to say that if the rest had come through, we’d be battling for our lives.”
“You don’t know who released her?” Anna asked. The men shook their heads.
“What about the Dragon Gate?” Matt asked. “What condition is it in?”
Sonneri replied, “We believe it’s intact.”
“You haven’t seen it, then?” Eric confirmed.
“Not directly, no, nor has anyone else. The castle is guarded by members of the Dragon Cult and mercenaries they’ve hired. No one has been able to get inside except a magical spy I sent.”
“Who is this cult?” Ryan asked with distaste. Eric knew he didn’t care for them because the ones on Earth often perverted God’s word, according to his friend. He couldn’t disagree. They were typically nut jobs.
Sonneri sighed. “They are fanatical dragon worshipers who believe this world rightfully belongs under the rule of dragons. The banishment outraged them and they vowed to release the dragons and seek revenge on not only you four, but Olliana, as well.”
“Perfect,” said Eric wryly.
“So do you think they’re the ones who freed the dragons?” Anna asked.
“Doubtful,” replied Sonneri, puffing his pipe. “They have some wizards among them, but none powerful enough to unweave the spells Soliander wrought.”
“Then who?”
The wizard Matt answered, “We’re hoping you’ll discover this.”
How are we supposed to that? Eric wondered. Unless whoever did it was standing there at this Dragon Gate when they arrived, how would they know? It wasn’t like they even knew anyone here to begin pointing fingers.
“At this time,” the Prime Minister began, “we believe Nir’lion doesn’t know we’re aware of her return, and we intend to keep it that way.”
“Probably wise,” Eric interjected.
“She seems intent on staying out of sight,” the Prime Minister continued, “and if she’s openly discovered, she may hasten the release of the others. We also have an advantage if she doesn’t know we’re prepared. However, a secret of this magnitude is hard to keep, and word has spread across Honyn. Some foolish men have tried to reach Castle Darlonon in a reckless attempt to kill her, but we’ve stopped everyone who’s tried with a force of men guarding the castle road. Doing so is precarious due to the danger of being detected, however, so time is of the essence. Another factor is that other kingdoms have concluded that we’re responsible for her release and are in collusion with the dragons to attack their lands.”
Eric frowned. Another kingdom getting involved only worsened things. “Why would they believe that?”
“Because they are fools,” muttered Sonneri, glaring at the map.
The Prime Minister sighed. “When Olliana last summ
oned you and you completed the quest on our behalf, great attention and praise were heaped upon us. The stature of Kingdom Alunia rose considerably and we became a more powerful and influential kingdom. This was not viewed favorably by all.”
Sonneri interjected, “In short, they became jealous and have assumed that Alunia is power mad, and madness it would be if they were correct. They believe a wizard of Olliana freed the dragons at the request of Queen Lorella, who subsequently made a deal with Nir’lion that Alunia is not to be attacked. Instead, we will wage war with the dragons upon the rest of Honyn.”
Looking confused, Anna observed, “But that doesn’t make sense. Why would you have summoned the, uh, four of us before to banish the dragons if this is what you wanted?”
Sonneri replied, “Banishment was your decision, not our request. If you remember, the previous quest’s requirement was to control the dragons so they could not work together against our world, and to nullify them permanently.”
Tall order, thought Eric. The four we’re impersonating must be really powerful.
“Also,” continued the wizard, “the assumption is that Alunia became power mad after that quest and only now made a deal with the dragons.”
“I see,” said Anna, looking concerned.
The Prime Minister pointed at a region on a map. “Most recently, a neighboring kingdom, Rokune, has threatened action against Olliana and this hastened our attempt to summon you. They are not the only kingdom preparing for war, but they are the nearest. Since you have not answered a summons in many years, our announcement that we would try was considered a shallow, empty gesture. However, now that you’ve arrived, the queen’s messengers are quickly sending out the news.”
The Dragon Gate (The Dragon Gate Series Book 1) Page 3
