United Dragons

by Calista Lambrechts

  There I was, dangling in mid-air, all tangled in the parachute ropes with my foot where my arm was supposed to be. Even my special flight goggles were dangling from another separate branch somewhere nearby and I’m pretty sure I lost my cap.

  I hung in the bed of ropes, beautiful shafts of warm dusk light raining down through the trees, caressing my skin and dancing on the waters.

  Elimor had never looked more beautiful.

  Terrowin looked shaken. He was sitting with his back against one of the massive ancient walls. He had stood the moment he saw me dropping through the ancient rafters. He looked even more startled than I was myself.

  “Oh, hey!” I greeted with an innocent grin, “Just dropping by to say hi.”

  Terrowin remained speechless, gradually approaching me step by step.

  “So…” I chuckled, “Hi!”

  Terrowin didn’t find my little joke amusing. He was too busy being perplexed, tilting his head as he raised his gaze.

  “Carlaylin?” he asked, almost unable to believe it.

  “No, it’s your loving grandmother!”

  Terrowin frowned as he read my new shirt.

  “Kiss the pilot?” Terrowin was a real spoilsport. My cheeks flushed. Either it was slight anger, embarrassment or all the blood rushing to my head again. Seeming as Nemtris was busy chatting with Fendril over in the distance, I wasn’t ready to pass out just yet.

  “Yeah, yeah, now get me down from here.”

  “How?” I shot him a slight livid stare, my eyes narrowed, saying, seriously?

  “I might be able to assist!” Latham was all too happy to help. He enthusiastically withdrew his bow and one arrow. He aimed it with that deadly accuracy of his and got ready to shoot. I was happy that someone could help my case, but I soon realised the flaw of his plan. My eyes widened.

  “Wait, no!”

  It was just a second too late. The arrow was released and darted through the air with a whistle, piercing through the ropes and sending me dropping to the ground just as I had feared.

  Luckily, Terrowin broke my fall, though as unintentional as it was. I might’ve broken his ribs. I was in pain and my body felt stiff.

  I could only imagine his pain!

  We both groaned, eyes screwed up with agony. Terrowin’s stomach was pinned to the ground, my back pinned to his.

  “That’s the last time I go skydiving!” I groaned.

  CHAPTER 15

  STARRY NIGHT

  JUSTIN

  THAT SAME NIGHT CARLAYLIN returned, we found ourselves gathered around a small short-notice campfire on the platform.

  Elimor was clothed in darkness and the streams and waterfalls had gone silent for some unexplainable reason. I could see parts of the starry sky peering through the branches, looking down on us. It was a silent and very peaceful night. There was nothing but the chirp of crickets and the crackling of the fire.

  Ramses was lying near the fire, his nose tinkling with delight of the warmth.

  My master was lying with her back against him, enjoying the comfort of his soft hair. And even if I have to say so myself, her hair was still pretty messed up after her drop by, adorned by numerous twigs and leaves, but that seemed to be the last thing on her mind. She looked rather tired, but I can’t say I blame her.

  Goodness knows what happened up on those mountains.

  Nemtris was sitting close to Carlaylin with her prized deer leg nearby. Further down the circle was Roberts, roasting himself a marshmallow on a thin and frail stick, looking as though he appreciated the fire’s heat that gently caressed his face.

  Next to him was Ulric, leaning on his sword whose blade was stuck into the stone of the platform. He bore no expression, but I dare say he looked at ease.

  Fendril and Kilmore couldn’t join us around the campfire. They were on the steps, looking as though they might be discussing something deep. And I should know because Kilmore looked as though he was about to cry as Fendril tightly held his one hand, giving him a sympathetic gaze as he tried to comfort the poor fellow.

  That only leaves Terrowin and I.

  Terrowin was sleeping next to me. Poor guy looked even more exhausted than Carlaylin, but I can understand why. He made for a suitable landing as Carlaylin fell on him earlier this evening.

  He had been complaining about backaches for the past few hours. Not only that, but it may as well be the sickness, probably eating him alive or so.

  Either way, I felt sorry for the man.

  Sitting around the campfire with my colleagues made me feel like one of those boy scouts. It made me give a little absentminded grin.

  “You’re still keeping that hideous shirt, are you?” Nemtris asked Carlaylin with a look of disgust. Carlaylin saw no reason in facing her. Instead she kept her eyes closed, trying to relax.

  “Leave me to my business.”

  Nemtris gave a hateful snort as she returned a watchful eye to her precious deer leg. It was like her own special little child. If I’m not mistaken, she was actually stroking the thing like a mad woman, though that she was. I kept quiet, knowing better than to interfere with their conversation, even though I found what she did to that severed leg pretty disgusting.

  After a long while of silence, Nemtris finally said, “Are you sure you’re not intending on burning it?”

  “Nemtris!” Carlaylin warned, her calming smile turning to a slight frown. The master clearly didn’t want to be disturbed.

  Terrowin was still sleeping soundly next to me, on the floor with no comfort. I shot him a quick glimpse before returning my eyes to the fires, swirling around the logs of wood like some sort of magic all of its own.

  Ulric finally put his sword to rest and gently rested it on his lap as he shot an eye at Roberts.

  “It’s getting awfully silent. Roberts, care to tell us a tale?”

  Still deep in thought by the roasting of his marshmallow, Robert raised his gaze and met Ulric’s. He remained silent, still not able to find his words. There was a vacant look on his face saying, ‘Nobody Home’.

  The moment soon turned awkward and Ulric tried to change the subject. “Yes, of course,” he said hesitantly, “Well then, I believe we have important business to discuss.”

  He shot an eye at Carlaylin who was still lost in her own thoughts.

  “Carlaylin,” he said formally, trying to attract her attention.

  With a sigh Carlaylin opened her eyes, reluctantly sitting upright whilst saying, “Eh, I guess you’re right.”

  As she sat crossed legs she leaned in closer, eager to hear what Ulric had to say.

  “So, what did you want to discuss?” she asked, not thinking twice.

  Ulric was caught in a slight moment of outrage and somewhat disbelief.

  “What did I want to discuss? You’re joking! What else is more important than the uprising of Thorodan?”

  Trying to think, Carlaylin’s eyes scanned her surroundings. “Uh, the shortage of marshmallows?” She now had her eyes set on Roberts who was busily stuffing his mouth with the last few roasted ones.

  Ulric’s mouth nearly dropped open. He slightly shook his head as he wiped over his eyes, trying to keep his posture. Carlaylin was just one too many at this state. Ulric looked frustrated. Carlaylin had to watch her step or she would be done for in the next few seconds.

  “I am going to pretend that you never said that,” he said solemnly. Respecting his word, Carlaylin gave a nod.

  “Okay,” Carlaylin started cautiously, “I want to know how much time we have left to collect all of the fires before Thorodan is resurrected.”

  “Well, I cannot say precisely, for without the Artemilis, Zeldin’s ritual is postponed. He may have the body, he may have the shadow, but no being is complete without a soul.”

  “I have heard countless tales of soulless beings. Please do explain.”

  “Yes, Zeldin could resurrect Thorodan without a soul, but that would only lead to his own downfall and no sorcerer is that foolish. Without a soul,
Thorodan will be uncontrollable and would rampage the lands, killing absolutely anyone and absolutely anything in his path, even Zeldin, whom I believe would be the first to go.”

  “Fair point.”

  “Although time is considered dealt with, we still need to deal with the fires.”

  “I don’t see why that needs explaining.”

  “We need strategy, Carlaylin. You think you are traveling the land safely?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Dark spirits.”

  “Dark spirits?” Carlaylin repeated, almost with a half laugh worked in between her words.

  “The same that possessed my men and I. They roam the lands in search of the Artemilis, which contains Thorodan’s soul. They are merciless, soulless creatures obeying the gloom of the night. Once they were no more than lost beings from the void, but demons tore through their flesh, tore through their souls and left no more than lost shadows. Zeldin has learned a spell to use them since they are no more than mere small beings, though dangerous all the same. They now do his bidding.”

  For a quick passing moment, Ulric seemed distracted, looking as though he could feel the very presence of one of those creatures here amongst us in Elimor. I can only hope that we hadn’t led one to follow us here or we might, maybe, possibly regret it. Within this eerie moment I noticed Roberts to be gobbling on another two marshmallows.

  As Ulric’s eyes returned back to the campfire, away from the dark landscape behind him, he said with a deep breath, “They wander the lands unnoticed and take what they can get their hands on. Their eyes are everywhere.”

  “So you mean we have been kept under surveillance this whole time?” Carlaylin replied, “Gee, that could have been useful to know before we dragged a tone death singing bard along, caused utter chaos in Ysellian and freaking broke through a mountain security system!”

  It was an open secret that Ulric felt a bit guilty, trying to force back his worries.

  “I tend to forget. Nevertheless, they haven’t yet discovered Elimor, or so I hope. I have been praying ever since you slipped into Elimor that they have not spotted you. If they did, we are all as good as dead.”

  Ulric paused to take a breath before finally continuing this dire, solemn, conversation. He could also notice Roberts stuffing another three marshmallows into his mouth, his cheeks now resembling these of a squirrel.

  “We would never be safe wherever we- By the six dragons, Roberts!” Ulric shouted right after he saw yet another marshmallow fly into Roberts’ mouth. “Carlaylin’s right! Stop hogging the marshmallows!”

  Roberts was startled and promptly faced Ulric with big bulgy eyes, curious to see how Ulric’s temper would unfold this time. Robert’s cute round ears were flared, his cheeks still puffed, now even larger than before.

  Before Roberts could feel Ulric’s full wrath, there was another abrupt sound coming from the opposite side of the pavilion. Everyone redirected their gazes towards the noise, only to see Kilmore trying to choke Fendril by automatically crushing his windpipe whilst he pounded his head into the wall. Kilmore seemed even more exasperated than Ulric. Poor Fendril, worrying more about his hair than death by his fellow undead companion.

  The pounding was so loud, so abrupt, that it even awoke Terrowin, startled with a set of tousled hair. All eyes were now trying to make sense of the current conflict, everyone wondering if they should try to stop it or not.

  “Do you know…?” Carlaylin asked, her voice trailing off.

  “Rather leave them to it,” Ulric replied.

  Nemtris was just as distracted, but perhaps not as much. Her thoughts dwelled off towards precautions of our journey.

  “My dear Ulric,” she started, full of self-confidence, “you said we might be trailed by those dark spirits. How long before they find the Artemilis? They will surely alert Zeldin of its presence here in Elimor and there is no doubt that he will send a raiding party.”

  “Then perhaps I was wrong. We do have a limited supply of time on our hands. Carlaylin, I do hope you have a plan.”

  “Yes, but it will have to wait until tomorrow morning. Everyone’s tired. I think it best we settle down for the night. I don’t know about you, but I have had enough of evil, bards, dwarves and dragons for one day.”

  “Very well, we shall continue this at first light.”

  With that they enjoyed the warm hospitality of the campfire before finally settling down.

  CHAPTER 16

  PIERCING THE VEIL

  CARLAYLIN

  “LOOK, I HATE TO ADMIT IT, but we’re running out of time. I’ll get the fire from Tarauntis while you deal with Thorodan’s,” Nemtris stated, her words carrying more truth than I could argue against. Even though Zeldin needed the soul… he could still resurrect Thorodan without it and to be frank, the scary thing is that we didn’t even know how far he was with the resurrection spell. All I knew was that we had to finish this whole destroy-the-soul thing before Xalvor or we were all a little bit screwed. And Xalvor is when? In about a week or so?

  “Are you sure?” I asked, my mind flickering between possible options.

  “Of course I am.” She seemed sure enough of her choice and I couldn’t argue. I didn’t have the time. I personally just want to get this over and done with.

  “Very well, but word of notice: You won’t be able to talk to him. Only Drachems can.”

  “Yes, I am well aware of that. I know my mythology, thank you very much.”

  “Like me.”

  “What?!” Nemtris shouted. What? I had to tell her one way or another. When she noticed that I wasn’t about to say anything else, she turned back to the matter at hand.

  “Never mind,” she said, trying to calm herself and change the subject, “We have duties to attend to.”

  “Very well,” I said nonchalantly, eyes constantly focused on Nemtris’, reaching down to my belt, my fingers folding around the leathery grip of my dagger. The sword was a bit too threatening for this situation.

  “Forgive me,” I whispered.

  Nemtris frowned.

  “What?”

  Without another moment’s delay and or giving Nemtris the time to figure out what I meant and what’s about to happen, I struck the dagger into her chest, its sharp blade piercing through her skin. Nemtris was in deep shock as the moment caught up to her. There was no time to experience the pain, it all happened so fast. I even heard her final breath. Dark, thick red blood welled from the gaping wound.

  Before I knew it, Terrowin yanked me away, ripping me from Nemtris.

  “Carlaylin, no! What the hell were you thinking?!”

  Nemtris slumped and fell to the ground, completely paralyzed. Even Justin took action, kneeling down by her side.

  “For once, I agree! Why? Why did you do it?” Those puppy eyes always get to me. Poor elf was consumed by momentary depression, even if it’s about the same woman who tried to experiment on him numerous times before.

  I pulled myself from Terrowin’s grasp and scanned the two’s expressions as I said, “It was the only way I could send her to the Realm of the Void.” I knelt down by Nemtris’ motionless body and ripped a piece of cloth from my clothes as Justin gave way.

  “By killing her?!” Justin enquired with a face that already looked seven shades paler.

  “Relax,” I started as I bound the cloth around her chest, acting as a quick last-minute bandage, “It didn’t pierce her heart. I only needed to give her a near-death experience.”

  Terrowin leaned in closer, looking rather apprehensive.

  “How sure are you?”

  At the thought I froze, looking out in front of me as I thought to myself. Almost instantly my thoughts jumped back to Murray as I sat motionlessly. I couldn’t help but give a slight grin. I continued helping with the bandage, withholding that passionate grin.

  “About sixty-nine per cent.”

  My heart played a joyful song the soon as I said it.

  The boys, on the other hand, remained app
rehensive, panicking as I tranquilly continued wrapping the cloth around Nemtris’ bleeding wound. I actually did feel rather guilty, but there was little choice, because I certainly wasn’t going back to that place.

  “We set for Thorodan,” I said as I stood, referring to my second home town, or is it third? My history is really confusing, I give you that.

  “We can’t just leave her like this!” Justin said with a hand gesturing at Nemtris.

  “We won’t. That’s why we’re bringing her with us.”

  “Or ya can always leave her here with us,” Kilmore said, approaching us as he ascended the stairs leading to the stone platform.

  “No offence, but I don’t trust you guys as much as to watch over a human being.”

  “Suit yerself, but if not us, who?”

  “Us,” I stated firmly.

  “What?” Kilmore scratched his head. This was clearly too much thinking for him.

  “We’re taking her with us.”

  “Yer problem, not ours. Roberts! Get me a sandwich and some headache herbs. I think I might have a migraine by tha hairy brain demons themselves.”

  With that he strode away. We were wise enough as to not disturb and left him to his own devices. As for Nemtris, well, we lifted her onto Ramses’ back. He was kind enough as to lend us some aid with the matter. Nemtris was gently rested onto his back, lolling over the neck of the tiger.

  “Come on, boy. There’s an extra piece of meat in it for you if you do the job swiftly.”

  Of course I was referring to the newfound meat still rotting away at the bottom of my satchel. Nevertheless, it sure as hell got Ramses on his paws.

  CHAPTER 17

  NECROMANCER VS DRAGON: READY. FIGHT.

  NEMTRIS

  WITH A SHARP STING in my chest I gasped and my eyes flew open. For a moment I was frozen, memories flashing through my head in an array of images.