The Black Dragon

by W. D. Newman

CHAPTER 9

  PLAN B

  Although the stars were still glittering in the dark skies above Castle Twilight, the eastern horizon had lightened enough to see the tops of the Faerie Oaks beyond the castle walls. The trees were outlined in crisp black detail against the sky's gray rim. Morning was here.

  Amos and his two dwarven friends were awake well before dawn. Gob and Nob insisted on eating a proper breakfast before traveling, and had seconds and thirds before they were ready to leave. With all of the dwarves that lived and worked here while the castle was under construction, the elfin cooks had become quite proficient at preparing food that was much to their liking. When Gob and Nob finally pushed away from the table, the cook gave each of them a sack that was bulging with their favorite treats for the journey.

  When they finally arrived at the stables, Jonah was there waiting for them. He was in the stable yard, holding the reins to three fresh mounts that were saddled and ready to go. The big black horses fidgeted about the elf, stomping the frosty ground with their hooves and blowing great clouds of warm breath into the cold morning air. They were eager to be off.

  "Good morning," Jonah greeted them. "I hope you have rested well and that you found your breakfast satisfactory?"

  "We are rested," Gob replied, "and the breakfast will stick to our ribs until lunch time. If not, we have graciously been provided with some snacks to eat along the way." Gob patted the sack hanging from his belt and smiled.

  "Heavens forbid we get caught without any food," Jonah teased, "because a hungry dragon would make far better company than a hungry dwarf."

  "Hmph," Gob snorted.

  Jonah laughed. "Let's be on our way, shall we? Are you ready?"

  "Ready as we'll ever be," said Nob, eyeing the prancing horses with a dubious eye.

  "I'm very sorry, but I'm afraid you will have to transform and make the journey on foot," Jonah apologized to Amos. "We haven't any horses large enough to carry you."

  "That's quite alright. These cold brisk mornings are great for running. Even the horses seem to think so."

  "These cold brisk mornings are good for only one thing," said Nob, "hot breakfasts and warm beds."

  Amos helped the two dwarves onto the back of their horses and then shape-shifted. Fascinated, Gob and Nob watched Amos as the transformation took place. The air about the big man shimmered as he dropped to his knees. The furs he wore seemed to expand and began to cover his entire body as he grew and changed. When the transformation was complete, Jonah signaled the guards and, as the castle gates swung open, a giant bear shot out of the courtyard and into the Faerie Oak forest. The elf clicked his heels to his horse's flanks and sped after the bear. Once again, Gob and Nob found themselves clinging to their saddles with white knuckled fists. The ground sped beneath the flashing hooves of the elfin horses and within minutes they were out of the Twilight, loping across the open fields towards the Black Hills.

  Non-stop they ran. Everyone kept an eye open for any signs of the dragon, but, much to their relief and good fortune, they had no encounters. When they began to draw near to the Black Hills, two riderless horses emerged from a dense grove of cedars and sped toward them. They reined their horses to a halt and Amos transformed back into his human form.

  "That is Gabriel's horse," said Jonah.

  "And Gus," Nob cried. "Hob will be so delighted!"

  "I do not know how they evaded the dragon," said Jonah, as he dismounted his horse and handed the reins to Amos, "but I am glad to see them alive and well."

  Jonah examined both animals carefully, to make sure they were not injured. Finally, satisfied they were okay, he whispered into Gabriel's horse's ear. The Twilight horse neighed loudly to Gus, then whirled around and sped across the open fields towards home. Poor Gus kept up as best as he was able.

  "Where are they going?" asked Amos.

  "They are going home to the Twilight. They have seen the dragon and they are terrified, yet they stayed hidden and waited faithfully for their masters to return. While we may be safe from Zoltan, as he thinks we are doing his bidding, our horses may not be. I suggest we hide them in the same grove where Gabriel and Hob hid theirs."

  "That's not a bad idea," Amos agreed. "Those cedar trees will not only provide a dense cover to hide in, they also have a very strong aroma that will mask the scent of the horses."

  The cedars were, as Amos had said, extremely dense and the trees actually concealed a deep depression that might have once been a small mountain lake. Once their horses were safely out of sight, the party began making its way up the rocky slopes. It was now mid-morning and, though the sun was shining brightly, thin wispy mare's tails were slowly advancing across the skies from the north and the temperature was falling. Amos watched the clouds with a worried eye. Snow was on the way and he could feel it in his bones; it was going to be a big one.

  By noon time, they reached Zoltan's resting place and they were dismayed at the destruction they found. The entire hillside had collapsed into the cavern and the terrain above had been pulled down on top. All of the vegetation was burned to ashes and the rocks were scorched an angry black. The strength that it must have taken to pull down this mountain side gave Jonah pause. Was the Keeper's plan wise? Was there any way possible they could physically subdue a creature so powerful? One thing was certain. He did not need the expert opinion of any dwarf to inform him that excavating this mess would take longer than a week. Still, hoping for a miracle, he turned to the dwarves and asked.

  "Can you open this entrance?"

  "Yes," Gob answered, "without a doubt. But, it will take at least a month with a full crew of dwarves and ponies."

  "Maybe two months," Nob added.

  "Then, it is as I feared. There is nothing left to do but return to the Twilight."

  As the two dwarves argued over how long it would take to excavate the collapsed cavern and the proper procedures for removing the debris, Jonah quietly shook his head and turned to leave. Amos called to him.

  "Might there be another way in? One that is close by?"

  Jonah paused and the two dwarves ceased their squabbling.

  "Actually, there is another entrance," said Nob, who had a fistful of Gob's beard.

  "Yes, the Crystal Cave," Gob exclaimed, "and it's not too far from here."

  "I know of this place," said Amos. "I have been there myself a few years ago."

  "Is it safe?" Jonah asked.

  "Reasonably safe," Nob replied. "It is an abandoned entrance, much like this one; a natural formation. It hasn't been used in many years though, because of a farming village that has sprung up near the river."

  "Does Hob know of this Crystal Cave?"

  "I'm quite sure he does."

  "Then he and Gabriel are probably trying to make their way to it. So, now is a time of decisions. Do we go back to the Twilight for help or do we leave at once for the Crystal Cave? I have an ill feeling that I cannot explain; a feeling that if we do not hasten to their aid, we may never see them again."

  "Then we should be off at once," said Nob, releasing Gob's beard.

  "Yes," Gob agreed as he straightened and smoothed his long whiskers, "but we must have a quick bite to eat first. Although it is close, we will not get there until late this evening and I cannot ride on an empty stomach."

  "Great idea," said Nob, untying the sack from his belt. "I saw a nice place, just over there, where we can sit in the warm sunshine while we eat. Follow me."

  "Do you and Amos care to join us?" Gob called over his shoulder. "We have plenty to share."

  "Where do they put all of that food?" Amos marveled.

  "That is what I love about them," said Jonah.

  "What? That they eat so much?"

  "No," Jonah laughed, "that they can eat so much and enjoy it so. Even in the worst situations, they find joy in the smallest things. It is something we all could learn from them."

  Amos looked over at the two dwarves who were
sitting on a sunny spot of winter grasses that had somehow escaped the dragon's fire. They were enjoying their food and having a very animated discussion. Jonah was right. Their indomitable spirit was something everyone could use right now. He turned back to Jonah.

  "When they are finished eating, take them and strike out for the cave. I will run to the Twilight to inform Marcus, and then I will meet you there with reinforcements. It is not too far out of my way and I should be able to arrive at the cave by nightfall."

  "That is a good plan," Jonah remarked. "I would ride to the Twilight myself and send you with Gob and Nob, but I do not know the location of this Crystal Cave. Come, we have a long, fast ride ahead of us. Let's join our friends and eat. If we do not hurry, I fear there will be none left."

  Fortunately, their canteens were full, because the noon day meal consisted of dry biscuits, salt cured ham, a couple of thick wedges of cheese, and some fragrant yellow apples that were just beginning to shrivel. Gob and Nob relished every bite and then licked their fingers clean. While they were finishing their meal, Jonah inquired about the cave.

  "Tell me more about this Crystal Cave."

  "The cave is several miles downriver from Brown's Ford," said Gob.

  "I'm afraid I do not know of this Brown's Ford. What river are you speaking of?"

  "I do not know what the elves call it but it is known by most folk as Hawk River."

  "Ah, the Hawk River I know. It is a mighty river, indeed. In the spring when the mountain snows are melting, it is un-crossable for several weeks. But the Hawk does not go underground. It is a tributary of the Great North River and runs for many hundreds of miles before joining The Great North."

  "You must be thinking of another river, one known to the elves as Hawk River."

  "Or maybe the Hawk has changed since you've last visited it," Nob offered.

  "Maybe," Jonah pondered. "It has been many long years since I've travelled the Hawk yet, still, it is strange that I have never heard of this cave before now."

  Gob shrugged his shoulders. "It is nothing great; just a small hole in a hillside where the river goes underground. The gnomes used it occasionally, but they completely abandoned it when the town of Wrightsville sprang up near the ford."

  "Why is it called the Crystal Cave?"

  "Just inside the entrance, the cavern is lined with quartz. It's very pretty. When the sun shines on the river, as it enters the cave the light is reflected off the rippling waters onto the ceiling. Because of this at noon the whole place glitters and sparkles like diamonds."

  "I should like to see that one day."

  "Will we pass through any inhabited areas while we are looking for Gabriel and Hob?" Amos asked.

  "Oh, yes," said Nob. "Kahzidar is immense. It stretches from the Black Hills to the Iron Bones. There is no doubt we will pass through inhabited areas. As a matter of fact, the main city lies not far from the entrance to the Crystal Cave."

  "What do you know of the city," Jonah asked.

  "Not much. The city is built into the walls around a great chasm. At the bottom of this chasm lies the dreaded slave mines. The city itself rises from the edge of the chasm all the way to the ceiling of the cavern. The upper levels of the city are the palace areas where the king and his family live. I have heard that their king is quite mad."

  "Oh yes," Gob agreed. "He is definitely insane. It is rumored that most of the slaves in the mines are gnomes; ones that have crossed him or have tried to cross him. Actually, it is said that anyone he even suspects of plotting against him gets sent to the mines. But these are rumors, rumors so old that no one even remembers where they came from."

  "What will happen to Gabriel and Hob if they are captured?" asked Amos.

  "Hob will be sent to the slave mines and we will never see him again. He will die there. Gabriel, being an elf, will be put to death. It is no secret that gnomes and elves share no love of one another. The gnomes hate all creatures that live above the ground and go about in the sunlight, but above all others they despise elves."

  "Why is that," Nob asked Jonah.

  "It is a long story, one that goes back to the days of Mordred and Merlin."

  "Will you tell us? I have often wondered where the gnomes came from. Have they always been here in Camelot, or did they come from another world as you and I have?"

  "They have not always been here in Camelot nor did they come from another world."

  "Exactly the kind of answer I would expect from an elf," Gob grumbled.

  "Jonah will tell you the story some other time," Amos interrupted. "For now, we must be leaving. I do not know what plans Marcus might have, but I will meet you at the Crystal Cave by nightfall. Farewell."

  Amos transformed in a flash as he whirled around and then plunged into the cedar trees. Jonah tightened the cinches on the three saddles and tied the packs down across the cantles. They led their horses out of the cedar grove and onto the open fields. Once they were out of the trees, Jonah slung the reins across the horse's necks and then helped the two dwarves up onto their mounts.

  "Oh, no," said Nob, grabbing onto the saddle horn and clamping his eyes tightly shut. "Hang on, Gob! Here we go again."

  *****