Gilmreth the Awakening

by Raymond L. Weil

  Kalvin kissed her lips tenderly, not wanting this moment to end. Their future could be so bright. With Lynol’s powers, she could do so much for the world.

  Pulling herself gently away, Lynol looked up into Kalvin’s eyes and whispered, “Goodbye Kalvin. I love you!” Lynol turned quickly and walked determinedly into the dark passageway, not daring to look back at Kalvin. It was the first time she had ever spoken those words.

  -

  She felt the turmoil of emotions running rampant in her heart. Pulling a glow bulb out of her small backpack, Lynol used her sorcery to cause it to glow brilliantly. With the light held before her, she walked rapidly down the wide tunnel with Gilmreth’s lair as her ultimate destination.

  It was early afternoon outside, and there was a big question in Lynol’s mind as to whether she would ever see the light of day again. If Malcon had failed to survive the incantation of the sleeping spell, could she? Mentally, she began going over the intricate spell, making sure she could weave its potent pattern when the time came. Behind her, the entrance faded from sight.

  For days now, since Jalene and Grayson’s deaths, she had been keeping a careful watch on Gilmreth. She had used her powers to spy routinely upon the dragon’s sleeping mind. The huge creature was still satiated from feeding upon Jalene, but for the last few days, Lynol had sensed the dragon gradually beginning to stir. In a short time, perhaps in just a few more days, Gilmreth would rise and more helpless people would become his victims.

  Without Jalene and her promise of steady sacrifices, the dragon would go on a murderous rampage, killing and destroying everything he could find. With so many people living in Draydon, the city would become a massive killing field for the dragon. The world as Lynol knew it would cease to exist. With the destruction of Draydon and all the people it now contained, the human species in all probability would die out. When the sleepers finally came out of stasis they would find no one to greet them; just an empty, desolate world. The dragon must not be allowed to leave his lair; not now, not ever!

  At last, Lynol came to the fork in the tunnel, the smaller tunnel leading off toward the waiting sleepers and the part of the immense underground complex that remained under the protection of the stasis field. Lynol paused for a moment, almost tempted to take the smaller tunnel and gaze upon the sleepers one last time before she faced Gilmreth. To look upon long lost relatives and her mother’s friends. However, Gilmreth waited and, fortifying herself, she started down the larger tunnel.

  The sleepers could wait. If she survived her confrontation with the dragon, she would have plenty of time to visit them later. Her steps echoed hollowly in the silent, empty tunnel. The last human to walk here had been Malcon Sylvar, and he had never walked back out! Her glow bulb lit the dusty passageway before her. The white light barely reached the far walls and tall ceiling. Walking determinedly forward, Lynol continued down the large tunnel. She had a meeting with the dragon and an ancient prophecy waiting to be fulfilled.

  The tunnel continued to descend deeper into the mountain. The air became cooler the deeper she went. Occasionally, Lynol saw other tunnels branching off from the main one disappearing into the darkness. The stench from Gilmreth’s lair was already nearly overpowering, and Lynol knew she was getting very close.

  Up ahead she saw two large metal doors, their massive hinges bent, the doors shoved back against the sides of the tunnel. Some huge force in the past had struck the doors, making them useless. Perhaps the dragons had done this in their original escape from the complex, Lynol thought, amazed at the power it must have taken to break through them. Stopping, Lynol could see that a large cavern had been excavated on the other side. Her light failed to reach across the impenetrable darkness. This must be Gilmreth’s lair! In the distance, she could hear the occasional faint sound of dripping water.

  Stepping through, Lynol used her sorcery to increase the light from the glow bulb. More of the huge cavern became dimly visible. She could see that a series of large pens extended far into the distance. These must have been the dragon pens, she thought as she gazed at the shattered ruins. All that remained now were broken, crumbling walls. In the distance, a dark pool of water stood its quiescent surface smooth as window glass. A drop of water from the distant ceiling struck it, sending shallow ripples racing across its surface.

  Looking around the edge of the cavern, Lynol could see the remains of what must have been the offices, labs, and possibly the living quarters of the people who had once worked here. High up on the cavern walls several unbroken windows still looked out over the ruined pens indicating more hidden, mysterious passageways and rooms.

  It was here that the ancient sorcerers had created the dragons, had dared to play God. Lynol took a deep breath and then slowly let it out. For a moment, she stood at the entrance, trying to slow the racing of her heart. She tried to calm herself and finally succeeded when she placed her hand upon her amulet. An inner strength seemed to flow from it, giving her a sense of calmness and confidence.

  Walking into the cold depths of the cavern, Lynol walked gingerly toward the pens, making her way around the crumbling walls and threading her way through the virtual maze of rubble. Occasionally a still standing wall had writing on it, names, she suspected, of the dragons the pens had once held. She read the names of Fireheart, Braxam, Snowden, and others too dim to make out or crumbled away. She paused briefly, remembering that Snowden was the dragon her mother had mentioned in her diary as the dragon she had become friends with. Her mother had come here numerous times to visit Snowden before Adam destroyed everything.

  Coming to the next partially standing wall Lynol paused, reading the name Gilmreth set into the cold stone. Her heart pounding, she stepped around more rubble and into the ancient pen, setting her eyes upon the sleeping, motionless dragon.

  Gilmreth lay upon the ground, his body curled, his head resting upon his partially outstretched wing, his fetid breath coming in long, drawn out heavy breaths. For a long moment, she stood transfixed, gazing at the slumbering dragon. She wondered how Malcon had felt when he had stood in this same cavern before Gilmreth. Now, a thousand years later, she stood in the same spot looking at the dragon, the second Sylvar sorcerer to attempt the sleeping spell. The last one had not survived! She laid the glow bulb down upon the floor of the pen. Taking a deep breath, Lynol grasped her amulet and closed her eyes, trying to focus.

  Gilmreth’s eyes suddenly sprang open as he sensed a presence near him, a source of energy so pure and intense that it sent pains of hunger and desire burning through his body. Looking about he saw a human woman, his dark pupils focusing on the glowing blue crystal she held. With a loud bellow of rage, Gilmreth struggled to his feet, hurling an intense jet of orange-red dragon fire toward the crystal. Gilmreth recognized the human who had inflicted so much pain upon him such a short time ago. Always in the past, the glowing crystals had meant pain and danger. This human had dared to accost him here, in his lair!

  Lynol easily deflected the rancid dragon fire away with a simple protective spell. She was closer to the dragon than any time in their two previous confrontations. Lynol gazed into Gilmreth’s large eyes, seeing only hate and madness. She felt the strength of her crystal flowing into her. When she felt she was ready, she reached out with her mind, drawing upon its nearly limitless power. Grasping the pulsing blue crystal tighter with her left hand, she began weaving the intricate sleeping spell.

  The spell was long and complicated, and her blue crystal began to glow brightly as energy was drawn from it, creating the complex pattern necessary to place Gilmreth into a deep-enchanted sleep. Lynol concentrated as Malcon had trained her to do, her eyes gazing unwaveringly into the eyes of the dragon.

  For long moments, Lynol felt her crystal grow warmer and warmer as energy was drawn from it as well as her to power the potent spell. Her crystal grew fiery hot in her hand as the flow of energy increased. The cavern became lit by a brilliant blue radiance that flooded the cavern with pulsating light, illuminating
it brightly for the first time in many long, dark centuries.

  Gilmreth bellowed fire again and again at his nemesis as the spell slowly began to take effect. A loud roar of rage and anger reverberated through the cavern as the dragon tried in vain to strike down his adversary. He staggered back, knocking a weakened, half-crumbled wall to the ground.

  The dragon remembered another human who had once stood in that precise spot causing him to feel the exact same way. In the back of Gilmreth’s primitive mind, the dragon began to know fear. Gilmreth shook his head, trying to resist the powerful spell. A bestial roar echoed once again through the immense cavern as Gilmreth breathed dragon fire at this human before him. The fish in the small pool dove protectively toward its depths as the cavern reverberated with Gilmreth’s anger.

  Lynol’s crystal protected her from Gilmreth’s fiery breath as the deadly flame played all around where she stood, the stench from it nearly overpowering her as it blackened the ground and the walls behind and around her. She felt weakness begin to assail her. The amulet was draining her strength! She was finding it nearly impossible to stand upon her feet. She stepped back until she felt the wall behind her, using it for support so she could maintain her footing and face the still standing dragon.

  It was becoming increasingly difficult to deflect Gilmreth’s fiery breath away from her while she wove the sleeping spell. As her crystal became weaker, it drew more precious life energy from her body to complete the spell. This was the same thing that happened to Malcon, she thought sorrowfully, accepting her fate and realizing that she wasn’t going to leave this cavern alive. The pattern for the sleeping spell was too consuming. The last haunting line from the prophecy at the altar wall ran through her mind. Only through great sacrifice can the Great Dragon be conquered.

  The spell continued to suck energy into its intricate pattern, dangerously draining the crystal and Lynol. She knew with deep sorrow she would be that sacrifice, that the prophecy would have its way. Her skull was now throbbing as if a thousand drums were beating within. Her skin felt cold and clammy beneath her clothes. So this is what it feels like to die, she thought as weakness continued to assail her.

  Gilmreth suddenly fell to the ground; his head weaving sleepily back and forth, as he fought the spell trying to stay awake. The dragon’s yellowish red eyes filled with hate.

  Lynol’s legs were like sacks of wet sand. Her breath came in ragged gasps. A sudden spasm of intense weakness passed through Lynol, causing her to slide down against the wall and fall helplessly to the hard ground. She no longer had the strength to complete the spell, she realized in despair. Gilmreth would be able to free himself from the uncompleted spell and escape. She'd failed! She tried to get back to her feet, but she was too weak. As she slid back to the ground, she heard something drop from the pocket of her white blouse.

  Turning her head, she saw what had fallen. Lys’ amulet lay next to her extended hand, glowing dimly. Reaching weakly out, Lynol grasped the ancient amulet, clenching it tightly. Renewed energy flowed into her as the powerful amulet directed its awesome power into the nearly completed sleeping spell. Lynol struggled back to her feet as the crystal’s invigorating strength flowed into her. I may survive after all, she thought as Gilmreth suddenly laid his massive head down upon his extended wing and closed his yellowish red eyes.

  The spell, however, continued to draw power, draining Lys’ amulet. Lynol began to feel weaker and weaker, scarcely able to keep her own eyes open. She could feel her heart fluttering, fighting to continue to beat as her body weakened. For a moment, a stab of anger against fate and prophecy made her clench her teeth. I’m so sorry, Kalvin, she thought sadly.

  A great weight seemed to settle on her chest. A huge hand gripped her heart and squeezed. She felt the hard, cold wall against her back as a long swirling tunnel with a brilliant white light at the end opened before her eyes. In the distance, she could see her mother standing with open beckoning arms, smiling, showing pride and compassion for Lynol. Then Lynol was falling, falling! She tumbled into the depths and everything vanished in all encompassing darkness!

  The sleeping spell was complete; Gilmreth was once more held captive under its captivating power. In the huge cavern, the glow bulb dimly cast its fading light upon Gilmreth and the last human sorceress who lay unmoving so close to the sleeping dragon. In moments, the cavern was once more in darkness. The occasional falling water drops striking the pool, the only sound other than the shallow, labored breathing of the sleeping dragon. The small fish at the bottom of the pool returned to its surface, the cavern now silent. The final verse of the ancient prophecy had been irrevocably fulfilled.

  -

  Upon the slope of the mountain, Kalvin waited impatiently. The sun was already fading behind Firestorm Mountain. Lynol should have been back by now. Several times Kalvin had started into the entrance of the tunnel only stopping because he remembered Lynol’s last words. If she could not prevail against Gilmreth, he knew there was nothing that he could do. He listened intently for a sound of her presence in the tunnel, but all he could hear was the ominous howling of the chill wind.

  Night finally settled in, covering the mountain and the land around it in darkness. A light snow began to fall. The temperature dropped, forcing Kalvin to take shelter in the tunnel entrance. He built a small fire inside from the scattered dead plants and the few small branches from withered trees he had found upon the slope. With growing heart-sickening acceptance, Kalvin knew Lynol wasn’t going to come back. Like Malcon before her, the sleeping spell had claimed another precious life. Kalvin only hoped that future generations would remember the sacrifice of Lynol Sylvar. New stories would have to be told so future generations would know of the waiting dragon that slept deep within the mountain and the sacrifice that had been made to keep them safe.

  For a long time, Kalvin sat beside the glowing fire, his head down, not moving, his heart numb with sorrow. The dragon and the ancient prophecy on the wall of the altar site had stolen Kalvin’s dreams of a bright future with Lynol. Kalvin sobbed quietly, knowing his dreams had come to a tragic end. In the morning, he would try to recover Lynol’s body; he needed to recover her blue crystal. The crystal would allow him entrance to the section of the complex where the sleepers were if it ever became necessary to awake them. Lynol had seen to that.

  If Lynol hadn’t succeeded in putting the dragon to sleep he would throw the switches and awaken the sleepers, and then they would deal with Gilmreth. Kalvin wished Lynol could be there with him to greet the sleepers from the Golden Age.

  Kalvin didn’t know how much time had passed. Several times he got up, feeding more dead wood into the hungry fire. His heart felt cold and lonely; his body numb and not just from the cold. The chill wind blew and howled like a banshee outside the tunnel, almost seeming to announce to the unknowing world that the final Sylvar sorceress was gone. Kalvin sat huddled by the fire, his heavy cloak wrapped tightly around him, staring blankly and unseeing into the fire. There would be no sleep tonight!

  The day after tomorrow he would have to face Damon and Dresdia. They would take Lynol’s death very hard. The coming days would be difficult, if not impossible, for all of them. His own life would mean very little without Lynol. He waited, wondering how long it would be before the sun would come up.

  He suddenly heard quiet, tentative footsteps behind him. His heart pounding, he stood slowly and turned around, looking down the tunnel. There stood Lynol looking haggard and tired.

  “Lynol!” he breathed, rushing forward and grabbing her, holding the pale woman in his arms. “I thought I had lost you! What happened?” Kalvin couldn’t believe she was standing before him. He’d given up all hope of ever seeing her again. He held her, afraid to let go lest she disappear and he would awaken to find this only to be a dream.

  “The dragon is asleep,” replied Lynol in a tired and weary voice.

  “The sleeping spell worked!” Kalvin spoke, relieved.

  “It was Lys’ amulet,” Ly
nol replied weakly. “I’d forgotten it was in my clothes, in one of my pockets. I collapsed and nearly died, and then her amulet fell out of my pocket. I used its stored up energy to complete the spell. I passed out afterward, too weak to move. Malcon was right. The weaving of the sleeping spell is too consuming. If not for Lys’ amulet, I wouldn’t have survived. I would have died as the last verse of the prophecy predicted. Kalvin, I’m not sure I didn’t die, at least for a moment. I thought I saw my mother. It all seems so hazy.”

  “Your mother!” Kalvin replied, taken aback, and then continued softly. “Perhaps you did, Lynol. She was a powerful sorceress, perhaps in your moment of need she was there.”

  With surprise, Kalvin noticed that Lys’ amulet lay between Lynol’s breasts and not her own. “What happened to your amulet?”

  Lynol sat down by the fire, trying to get warm. Kalvin placed her heavy cloak around her shoulders and then sat down next to her, putting his arm protectively around her.

  “I put the Stone of Loraine back in its crypt and closed all the doors that lead to it,” Lynol replied in a tired voice. “It will be centuries before its crystal matrix stabilizes again. I also put mother’s blue amulet and her diary, along with an explanation of what happened back in the chamber with the sleepers. They’ll need to know about Gilmreth when they awaken. That’s what took me so long. With their ancient knowledge, they should be able to deal with the dragon once and for all.”

  “Then it’s over,” said Kalvin, realizing that he and Lynol did indeed have a future together. His eyes wide, he looked at Lynol with growing hope. “But why didn’t you keep your amulet?”

  “It’s too powerful. Mother’s amulet and the Stone of Loraine were designed to be used by the ancient sorcerers in their world, not in ours. It may serve them when they awaken. Lys’ amulet is powerful enough for what we still need to do,” Lynol replied, a hint of a smile crossing her face. “It’s over, and we have nothing left to fear. Jalene is gone, Adam Grayson has met his end, Draydon is returning to normal, and Gilmreth is back in a deep sleep. Everything is back as it’s supposed to be, with one notable difference. With the power stored in my mother’s amulet and Lys’ amulet, it wasn’t necessary to harness the energy around the mountain. I only used the energy the two amulets contained. Sorcery will still work!”