Firestorm Mountain

by Raymond L. Weil

  “We can fight them,” grated out Karl as he formed a powerful red energy ball. “We can’t just surrender!”

  Joshua was tempted but seeing the bright glow from several of the amulets he had his doubts. The woman who looked similar to Cathy had an amulet glowing nearly as bright as the blue one Cathy wore. The new girl who had just arrived was wearing a brightly glowing amulet as well. There were also Kristi and Braedon to consider. Joshua knew without Gilmreth he and Karl were outmatched. With a deep sigh, he knew what he had to do.

  “We surrender,” said Joshua, removing his amulet and laying it down. He could still perform some spells even without it but the amulet allowed him to focus and furnished most of the power.

  Karl looked over at Joshua in disbelief. “What are you doing? We can’t give up.”

  “We have no choice. If we fight them, we’ll die. Is that what you want?”

  Karl looked at the other sorcerers standing determinedly in front of him and Joshua. Karl had been involved in duels between sorcerers in the past and they almost always ended in the death of one or both of the sorcerers involved. Shaking his head he slowly removed his amulet and laid it upon the temple platform.

  Braedon stepped quickly forward and picked up both amulets, putting them in one of his pockets. When they returned to Firestorm Mountain, the amulets would be put in shielded boxes.

  -

  Cathy looked upward at the battling dragons. Lynol was next to her and she noticed Ashley was now at her other side. All three of them were watching the dragons.

  “We can’t let anything happen to Snowden or Braxam,” said Ashley, holding her amulet tightly with her eyes focused on the white dragon. “They have been through so much and deserve some peace in their lives.”

  In the air, Snowden slammed into Gilmreth’s back, nearly knocking him down to the temple platform. With a shriek of anger, Gilmreth beat his powerful wings and rose back into the air. Using his talons he ripped a large jagged cut in Braxam’s right wing.

  “We must stop this,” pleaded Ashley, her eyes wide with worry. “Braxam isn’t going to be able to fight as well with that cut in his wing.”

  Snowden flashed past Gilmreth and used his talons to make a shallow cut across Gilmreth’s belly. Gilmreth cried out in pain and set out after Snowden. Braxam, his wing bleeding, chased after the two.

  Cathy’s mind was racing. Both Snowden and Braxam could kill Gilmreth but they needed an opportunity to strike at his heart. “We must focus our powers. Lynol, Ashley join with me. We’ll allow our amulets to combine in a spell and blast Gilmreth. Hopefully it will stun him long enough for the other two dragons to kill him.”

  “I’m ready,” said Lynol, taking her mother’s right hand.

  “So am I,” said Ashley, stepping closer to Cathy and taking her left hand.

  “Now focus on your amulets and I will cast the spell.” Cathy closed her eyes and began speaking the words of a spell she had never thought she would dare to use. It was one Jason had taught her and told her it was to be used only in desperation.

  A brilliant blue glow built up around the three women as Cathy recited the words to the spell and used all of her willpower to focus on her amulet. It began glowing brightly and suddenly linked to the other two amulets with a narrow beam of blue light. All three amulets began to pulse like a heart joined together.

  -

  “What’s happening?” asked Kristi, shielding her eyes from the brilliance.

  “I don’t know,” replied Braedon, staring at the three women in rapt fascination. “I never knew it was possible to link amulets. This is far beyond anything I was taught.”

  In a sudden blast of blue light a radiant beam of energy shot out, striking Gilmreth in the chest. Gilmreth screamed in pain as his skin was burned away. He writhed in agony as his still beating heart was burned from the heat. Seeing his opportunity, Snowden darted forward and dove beneath Gilmreth, reaching up and tearing the dragon’s chest wide open. Using his talons, Snowden grasped Gilmreth’s still beating heart and tore it from his chest.

  In that moment Gilmreth realized his death was imminent and sent one last final thought toward Snowden. “Thank you.” With that Gilmreth plummeted downward to crash into the large square before the temple. His tortured life was over. He lay upon the square, just as impressive in death as he was in life.

  -

  The glow around the three women faded and their amulets turned dark.

  “It’s over,” said Cathy, breathing out a tired sigh of relief. “Gilmreth is finally gone.”

  Cathy watched as Snowden landed next to Gilmreth and laid the now unbeating heart next to the defeated dragon. Braxam landed next to them and both let out a keening wail of sorrow. While Gilmreth had deserved to die, it now meant there was one less of the ancient dragons. Only Snowden and Braxam remained.

  “Gilmreth is dead,” sent Snowden, his thoughts full of triumph and sorrow. “It was necessary. In the end, even Gilmreth recognized it was time for his reign to end.”

  “What now?” asked Kristi.

  Cathy looked over at Joshua and Karl who were standing in shock at the edge of the temple platform looking down at the dead dragon in the square. “We’ll return to the complex. Braxam’s wing needs to be healed and we must build proper lairs for our dragons.”

  “Why aren’t our amulets working?” asked Ashley as she held hers in the palm of her right hand. “It seems to be dead.”

  Cathy nodded. “It was the result of the spell I used. All three of our amulets have had their internal crystalline structures destabilized. Once we return to the complex we can awaken Loraine and she can restore them.”

  “What about us?” asked Joshua. He had no intention of going against Cathy even if her amulet was not working. She had two dragons which seemed to be hers to command. Besides, Braedon had his amulet as well as Karl’s.

  “That will be determined when we reach the complex,” answered Cathy.

  Braedon looked around and then spoke. “We’d better find Gail. We don’t want her causing any mischief.”

  “She’s supposed to be waiting for us at the bottom of the temple,” said Cathy. “But I have a suspicion she fled along with everyone else.”

  “We also need to make sure the priests and temple guards are dealt with,” added Lynol. “They were told before never to return to Draydon and they did.”

  “I think I know,” said Cathy, looking at the blood stained temple platform. “They can tear down this temple. I’m sure the stone blocks can be used for something more constructive. We can have a few of our people from the complex come to Draydon to ensure they follow their orders.”

  “A new archives and school,” suggested Kalvin. “Our people need to become better educated and this might be the opportunity to begin that process. We have lost so much knowledge since the Golden Age. Perhaps now is the time for us to begin a new path.”

  Cathy nodded. “I like the sound of that. We have teachers in the complex who would be able to help, only this time we’ll be careful not to make the mistakes of the past.”

  Damon stepped forward and put his arm around Cathy. Let’s find some rooms at one of the inns. Tomorrow we can straighten out what needs to be done here in Draydon.”

  “What about the dragons?” asked Ashley as Todd came up to stand next to her. “We can’t just leave them out like this.”

  “We’ll be fine,” answered Snowden in his child like voice. “We’ll feed on some of the older cattle to replenish our strength and then wait for you at the foot of Firestorm Mountain.”

  Cathy took Damon’s hand. There was so much that would need to be done. She was ready to return to the complex and get started. But first, she had a question. “Ashley, where did you come from and where did you find Snowden and Braxam?”

  Ashley smiled. “That’s a long story.”

  “Let’s get some rooms at one of the inns and then Ashley can tell us,” suggested Lynol. “I’m curious to hear about other survivors.”


  “We all are,” said Kalvin. “It’s nice to know we’re not the only ones here around the mountains.”

  With that the group left the temple platform. Joshua and Karl had been relieved of their amulets and all that was left was to find Gail. However, that could wait until morning. For now, Draydon was safe and Gilmreth was no more. The threat from the greatest of the ancient dragons had been come to an end.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The group left Draydon after ensuring the temple would be torn down and making sure the former temple priests and guards would not be a problem. Braedon had volunteered to stay behind to oversee everything until more help could come from the complex. Gail was with the group as she had been found cowering in Jalene’s former quarters. They were well into the mountains and had already gone through several passes.

  “What are you going to do with us?” asked Joshua. His hands were bound and he was riding in the back of the wagon between Karl and Gail.

  Cathy was sitting across from them with Kristi and Kalvin next to her. “That depends on what the others in the complex decide. You will have to pay for your crimes both past and present. Sacrificing a young girl to Gilmreth is not going to go well with the others in the complex.”

  Joshua shivered from the cold. “How many are asleep under the mountain?”

  Cathy grinned. “There are hundreds of us. Jason arranged for us to go into stasis and awaken far in the future. That time is now.”

  “I should have known, particularly after finding so much of the complex protected by stasis fields.”

  “It is why Adam fled the complex and never returned,” said Cathy, recalling the videos she had watched of Adam moving carefully about parts of the complex. “When he realized how much of the complex was shielded he must have realized there were others in stasis. He went to Draydon to try to set up his little empire before anyone else awakened.”

  Cathy looked up, seeing a familiar form. Snowden was circling the wagon high up in the air. “Hello, Snowden.” Cathy still couldn’t believe her friend was alive and here.

  “Hello, Cathy,” replied Snowden, sounding happy. “Braxam is resting at the bottom of the mountain. His wound is already starting to heal.”

  “Where have you been all of this time? Why did you not return years ago?”

  “I was asleep for most of it. There are other humans in small villages in distant parts of the world. I spent some of my time with them though much of it was spent in the large valley where Ashley and her people live. That’s where I found Braxam.”

  Cathy nodded. “It sounds as if you have many stories to tell me when we have the time and I want to hear all of them. I’m so happy to have you back.”

  “I am happy to be back,” replied Snowden. “I’m going to go hunt for a while. I spotted some goat-like animals on one of the slopes near here.” Snowden flew off and quickly vanished in the distance.

  “Snowden is amazing, isn’t he?” said Ashley. “He taught me so much about sorcery.”

  Cathy looked over at Ashley. “I can’t get over how much more mature Snowden has become. When he was in his pen beneath Firestorm Mountain he was very childlike. Our conversations were done mostly with projecting images. Now he speaks with actual words as well as more complex projections. He has learned much.”

  “What will happen with Snowden?”

  Cathy could tell by the question that Ashley had a strong attachment to the dragon. She smiled and replied. “Dragons can fly long distances. There’s no reason why he can’t come to visit you in your valley on occasion.”

  “I would like that,” replied Ashley, looking over at Todd. “He has a very nice lair back in the valley.”

  “We’ll be at the foot of the mountain early in the morning,” said Damon as he flicked the reins to the horses, encouraging them to move a little faster.

  Cathy nodded. She wondered what the others in the complex would say when they discovered they had two dragons to take care of. She was sure they were all going to be very much surprised.

  -

  Lynol was leaning against Kalvin; she had traded places with her mother. She looked down at her dormant amulet feeling lost at not being able to tap into its power. Her mother had mentioned that Loraine could restore the damaged crystal matrix when they reached the complex beneath Firestorm Mountain.

  “It’s finally over,” said Kalvin, squeezing Lynol’s hand. “No more Gilmreth and no more threat from any of Adam’s people.”

  “I still find it hard to believe. Gilmreth is actually gone.” Snowden and Braxam had carried off Gilmreth’s body and left it somewhere in the mountains. Lynol looked at the front of the wagon seeing her mother and father talking to one another. It was going to be wonderful having another sorceress in the house.

  “I wonder if they will let me examine some of their machines?” Kalvin had always been interested in the equipment in the rooms beneath the complex. Lynol had always prevented him from prying too much.

  Kristi laughed. “We have a number of technicians who would enjoy answering your questions. I think you’ll be surprised at what we have stored beneath the mountain protected by stasis fields. Remember, we thought when we awoke there was a chance we would be alone with no other humans. We placed everything we thought we might need in large bunkers beneath the complex under stasis.”

  Kalvin grinned excitedly. “I can’t wait!”

  Lynol knew things were going to change. She could hardly wait to tell Dresdia. She would be immensely relieved to find out Gilmreth was dead. She had come so close to being sacrificed to the dragon. If Lynol would have arrived just a few minutes later her best friend might very well have become one of Gilmreth’s many victims. She was also curious to hear what Malcon would say about all of this. Looking up she could see the towering peaks of Firestorm Mountain. For some reason they no longer looked so frightening.

  -

  The next day they reached the entrance to the underground complex. They were surprised to find massive temporary doors in place as well as several heavily armed guards.

  Corporal Edison was on guard duty and instantly recognized Cathy and Kristi. “Wait here. I’ll call Jacob and tell him you’re back.”

  A few minutes later Corporal Edison opened the massive doors. “Jacob says to come on in.”

  “We have two others coming with us,” said Cathy with a smile on her face.

  Instantly the two dragons appeared and landed on the snowy ground just behind the group. Corporal Edison’s eyes bulged as well as those of the two privates standing behind him. “Dragons!”

  “Friendly dragons,” explained Cathy, indicating for the privates to lower their weapons. “They’ll be coming inside with us to the dragon pens. Braxam needs one of his wings treated. Please notify Jacob we need a person familiar with treating dragons to meet us in the cavern at the pens.”

  Corporal Edison nodded, his eyes never leaving the dragons.

  “Let’s go inside,” said Cathy. “The dragons can walk behind us.”

  The group went inside with the dragons following closely behind.

  -

  “So, you’re Lynol, Cathy’s daughter,” a strange childlike voice said in Lynol’s mind. “You look much like her.”

  Lynol froze, a look of shock on her face.

  “What is it?” asked Kalvin concerned.

  “It’s Snowden. I can hear him.”

  Cathy laughed. “I wondered why you looked so shocked. I’m not surprised you can hear the dragons since I can too.”

  Lynol stopped and looked up into Snowden’s large eyes. “I want to be your friend.”

  Snowden nodded his massive head. “I would like that. I’m so happy there is another human who can hear us. Braxam is thrilled as well.”

  They continued on down the corridor passing several men and women who acknowledged Cathy but gave the dragons a wide berth. Lynol noticed most of the lights in the ceiling were now working and as they neared the tunnel which led to the dragon pens the
vile stench was gone. Lynol saw the large doors originally designed to keep the dragons in had been repaired.

  “There must be a lot of people awake,” commented Kristi, seeing the work that had been done. “Jacob’s been busy.”

  It took them a few more minutes until they reached the large cavern holding the dragon pens. A lot of cleanup work had been done here as well. Jacob, Eva, and several others were waiting for them.

  “Dragons,” said Jacob, shaking his head. “Why does that not surprise me?”

  “It’s Cathy,” answered Eva grinning. “Things like this just happen around her.”

  Jacob looked at Joshua, Karl, and Gail. “I’m not sure what we’re going to do with the three of you. There were atrocities you committed in this complex which cost many people their lives.”

  “It was Adam!” said Joshua, his eyes narrowing sharply. “We were just following his orders.”

  “It was war,” uttered Karl. “People die in wars.”

  “And whose orders were you following in Draydon?” countered Cathy, her eyes turning cold and gazing directly at Joshua. “You sacrificed an innocent girl to Gilmreth.”

  “I never killed anyone,” said Gail in a pleading voice. “It wasn’t my idea.”

  Jacob folded his arms across his chest. “Martin, take these three to the holding cells; we’ll deal with them later. If the three of you know what’s good for you it might be wise for you to be on your best behavior.”

  Martin tapped his green amulet and led the three away.

  “So, what’s wrong with your dragon?” asked Sharon Burns. She had spent a lot of time with the dragons attending to their health and feedings when they were younger.

  Braxam stepped forward and extended his damaged wing.

  Sharon looked surprised and then stepped up next to the dragon and began examining the wound. “I can fix this. I’ll stitch it together and put a healing ointment on it. The wing should mend just fine.” Sharon stepped in front of Braxam and spoke directly to the dragon. “Braxam, you will not be able to fly for several weeks while your wing heals. Once it heals you will be back to normal.”