“Yeah, just getting worn out. I had to send Wicked further away. That crazy bard tried to take control of him. Did you get the slaves out?”
“Yeah, they’re on the ridge with Brigid. I’ve got an idea.”
“Don’t hold back. Nothing we’re doing is making a dent.”
“When I killed a zombie, I noticed that purple energy field around her wavered for a moment. I thought if we could time it right maybe you could sneak a spell through the gap and take her down.”
“Not a bad idea, but my magic doesn’t really work that way. Maybe Tonia’s bardic magic could do something.”
“Hey,” Yaz said. “What happened to the alchemist?”
Silas nodded to his left at a lifeless body half crushed in a claw print. “I don’t think she has much control over that thing. If anything, it seems to be running the show and using her as a power source.”
“Is that good or bad?”
“Your guess is as good as mine. This is all new to me. I can distract the dragon with a Lightning Hornet spell while you tell Tonia what you told me. Hurry though, I’m almost tapped out.”
Yaz clapped him on the shoulder. “Thanks.”
He waved to Tonia while Silas began to chant. The instant tiny golden bugs appeared and began slamming into the dragon’s skull and exploding in a burst of sparks she landed beside him.
“What?” she asked.
Yaz went through what he saw a second time. “Can you do anything with that gap?”
Tonia looked thoughtful. “When you destroy the zombie, her bardic power is returning to her. The gap will be tiny, but I can send a wind spirit through at the same time as the energy. Once it’s inside I can affect the air around her. Kind of an iffy plan, but I’m out of ideas. Give me a ten count to get my spirit in place then do it.”
Yaz nodded and picked out a nearby target. He moved slowly closer, counting as he did. The zombie noticed him at three.
It raised a rock above its head at two.
At one Yaz struck, pulping its skull and sending power rushing back to Mel. He immediately spun and ran back to Silas who had gone gray in the face and looked near collapse. Yaz caught the wizard a moment before he hit the ground. If his plan didn’t work, without Silas, they were in big trouble.
“You okay, pal?” Yaz asked.
The wizard nodded. “Tired. Even with a catalyst, a drawn-out battle like this is difficult. I’ll be okay in a day or so.”
Their conversation was cut short by a loud crash. Yaz shifted toward the dragon. Mel clutched her throat as pieces of bone came crashing to the ground. Bone by bone the monster fell apart until Mel came down from her perch and lay still on the earth.
Yaz gave Silas a final squeeze of reassurance and went to join Tonia as she walked toward Mel. “Is she…?”
“Dead? Yes. I ordered the wind spirit to stop her from drawing breath. It’s an ugly way to die and I hate asking the spirits to do things like that. They’re such playful little things that ordering them to kill feels wrong.” They crouched beside the body. “I don’t know how she got so strong. Before, Mel never would have been able to animate something this big.”
There was a piece of jewelry around her neck. Yaz pulled out a gold chain with an amulet on it set with a large, black stone. No, it wasn’t a gem, it was a calcified dragon energy generator. Probably something they dug up in the quarry.
“Here’s your answer,” Yaz said. “Amulets like this can be used to increase the power of certain types of magic. This one I suspect is connected to necromancy and came from a black dragon.”
Tonia eyed the black stone with distaste. “How do you know so much about it?”
“My village was home to one of the leading experts on dragons and dragon magic items. I read the same books and listened to his lectures. I’ve never actually seen a completed amulet before, so this is a rare treat.”
Yaz held on to the item for a few seconds, waiting to see if Tonia would make a claim on it. When she didn’t, he slipped the amulet into his pocket. Silas could probably make good use of it when he recovered.
Tonia had her head bowed over her dead former comrade, so he left her to mourn. There might be something of value on what was left of the dead alchemist. His torso was totally crushed and some noxious liquid oozed out from under his ruined body. The combinations of stinks nearly convinced Yaz to turn around. Only his determination to make this as worthwhile as possible kept him moving.
Quick as he could, Yaz collected a trio of gold and silver rings along with the black rod he’d been holding. He also found an iron key. Hopefully to the slaves’ manacles.
Smoke started billowing up from the puddle of ooze. Yaz’s eyes stung and he scrambled back.
That couldn’t be good.
He left off looting and rushed back to the others. “We need to move!”
Tonia looked up at him and Yaz waved her toward the ramp. He angled toward Silas and helped the wizard to his feet.
“What’s going on?” Silas groaned.
“The chemicals from the alchemist’s vials are mixing and smoking. I think we need to put some distance between us and them.”
That bit of information put a kick in Silas’s backside. Together they made their way toward the ramp at a far-too-slow pace.
They’d covered half the distance when an explosion lifted them off their feet and sent them soaring through the air. At the top of their arc, an invisible force caught them and carried them gently to where the former slaves waited.
He nodded to Tonia. “Thanks for the rescue.”
She smiled. “My pleasure.”
Brigid ran up and hugged him. “You scared me to death. Is it over?”
“This part is. We’ve made a start and that’s no small thing.” Yaz dug out the key. “Want to do the honors?”
She grinned. “I’d love to.”
While Silas rested and Brigid freed the slaves, Tonia nodded off to one side.
When they’d moved a few feet away she asked, “What will you do now?”
“If you were serious about Rend offering us shelter, I think I’ll make for the border. Any chance of you joining us?”
“I’m headed back that way. No reason for us to not travel together. I want you to know I appreciate your help. Without you and Silas, I never would have completed my mission.”
“The help was mutual and I’m sorry it didn’t end better for you.”
“Mel made her choice and I did my duty, no more, no less.”
Tonia was a tough woman. Yaz was glad to have her as a friend rather than an enemy. It was going to be a long walk to the border and having a bard as powerful as her along would make the trip much easier.
For the first time since finding everyone in the village missing, Yaz felt like maybe they had a chance to save everyone.
Chapter 24
After losing his prisoners, Moz spent a long night resting in one of the flying ships. He was so mad at himself he could hardly fall asleep. He’d been so surprised and eager to question Rondo that he forgot that his compliant prisoner was still a lying, murderous bandit. A sore back and shoulder were a small price to pay for such a stupid mistake.
When he woke up, the sun had barely risen. Moz went through the central ship from one end to the other but finding little beyond the map which he folded up and stuck in his satchel. With nothing left to hold him, Moz set out back through the ruins. He’d always had a knack for directions so finding his way out shouldn’t be a problem.
A few hundred yards from the tower he found where Rondo and Alva had taken a wrong turn. Their tracks were clear. They paused, debated, and made the wrong. Hopefully that damn snake ate them both.
Something shifted in the long shadows. A moment later the snake appeared, a forked tongue as long as Moz’s arm shot out to taste the air. If the snake was still active it meant it hadn’t eaten, more’s the pity. The thing shadowed him along the path for a quarter mile before finally slithering off to find more accessible prey.
Abou
t an hour after sunrise Moz exited the ruins and headed toward where they’d left the horses. Hopefully nothing had made a meal of them. When he reached the grove and found it empty, he swore long and loud. The sons of bitches stole his horse.
He couldn’t honestly say he was surprised. Even an idiot like Alva wouldn’t have had any trouble finding his way back to them and neither him nor Rondo was apt to leave his mount behind out of the goodness of their hearts.
Now, should he turn south at once and resupply at the settlement or head north to the free cities to buy a new horse? South for sure. South was on his way and rangers weren’t exactly beloved outside of Rend.
He sighed. It was going to be a long walk, but at least he’d never trust another prisoner.
Rondo’s grin finally faded as he and Alva rode up to the Dark Sages’ fortress a few hours before sunset. Stealing Moz’s horse and riding it to escape the ranger had been an absolute delight. That bit of amusement had sustained him for the long ride home. Now, alas, he had to report to Lord Black that Moz had found the city and their flying ships. The most high was not going to be pleased.
Beside him, the bandit leader had remained mostly silent on the ride east. The few times Rondo had glanced his way he appeared lost in thought. Whatever private musing kept the man quiet, Rondo was grateful. Idle chatter with idiots didn’t interest him in the least.
At the gate a familiar pair waited. The guards looked from Rondo to Alva and back, shook their heads, and waved them through. Apparently, Rondo didn’t even warrant a snide remark. Either that or now that he served in Lord Black’s cadre, they didn’t dare mouth off to him. It would have been nice to believe that the latter and not the former kept the guards quiet.
They dismounted at the stable and the young man on duty led their horses away. When he’d gone Alva said, “I’m not sure who I report to now that El-Kalim is dead.”
“I’m a member of Most High Black’s cadre. Everyone reports to him, one way or another. Just stick with me and he’ll decide where to put you.”
Alva looked dubious but nodded.
It was a short walk to the main keep. The most likely place to find Lord Black would be his office. Rondo had been there only once, but figured if they got lost, some servant could point them in the correct direction.
They padded silently, side by side, down the carpet-covered hall. The place seemed deserted. The other high sages must be away doing whatever they did in their spare time. That was fine. The fewer ears to potentially hear what happened in the ruined city the better.
They passed the intricately carved door of the council chamber and Rondo turned down the hall to Lord Black’s office. He’d barely taken a step in that direction when Shade’s voice called from behind him. “Rondo! What are you doing here?”
Rondo turned as Shade hurried up to him. The assassin didn’t give Alva more than a passing glance. “I ran into some trouble in the ruins. I wanted to report in as soon as I could.”
“The boss isn’t going to like that. He’s in his private chambers, not his office. Follow me.”
Shade led the way down a passage Rondo had never explored. It wasn’t far to yet another carved door. Shade rapped once and a gem glowed green. He pushed the door open and inside Lord Black and Domina sat together on a small sofa. Jax Umbra stood in a shadowed corner, only his glowing yellow eyes visible. Now the whole cadre was assembled. That didn’t strike Rondo as an especially good thing.
Lord Black gave Rondo a hard look. “I thought I ordered you to remain behind at the tower.”
“Yes, Lord Black, but I ran into Moz, the ranger I mentioned. He found his way to the tower and discovered the ships. I escaped and came here to report as soon as I could.”
Lord Black shot to his feet. “Impossible! How did the cursed ranger even know to look there?”
“I believe I can answer that, my lord,” Alva said.
“And who, by all the watching gods, are you?”
“Alva, my lord. I worked for El-Kalim on another project. Moz captured me after a fierce battle. When we neared the fortress, he spotted a cloud moving against the wind then falling from the sky. Later we saw you and your companions coming from that direction. When we investigated we found the ruined city. Moz followed your tracks to the tower where we encountered Rondo.”
Lord Black stroked his chin. “It seems I overestimated the difficulty in finding the safe way through the city. Thank you for your information. Shade, see that our guest is made comfortable until we can find a new place for him.”
There was a brief pause before Shade said, “Right you are, Boss. Let’s head to the lounge and get a drink.”
“I could use one.” Alva followed Shade out of the room and the door closed behind them.
Lord Black’s lip curled. “You brought one of Kranic’s stooges back with you, Rondo. Well no matter. Shade will deal with him. If the ranger has found our base, then I must assume he knows enough to potentially stifle my plans. We’ll need to adjust and begin the next phase sooner than I wanted to. Jax, send the Shadow Blade after the ranger. He’s proven far too much of a problem. Matters have advanced to the point that his death will no longer be a problem.”
“As you wish,” Umbra said, his golden eyes vanishing into the darkness.
“Is the circlet ready, Domina?” Lord Black asked.
“Nearly. I’ve awoken the final rune, but only partially. Another week, possibly two at most, should see it done.”
“Good. We’ll need at least three weeks to gather supplies and forces anyway. We’re so close I can taste victory.”
Domina’s smile was predatory. “Soon the world will be ours.”
Rondo didn’t fully understand what was going on, but he didn’t appear to be in trouble and that was all he cared about. He trusted he would share in the rewards if things went well and if they didn’t, well, he doubted anyone would survive.
Afterword
Dear Readers,
* * *
I hope you enjoyed The Dragons’ Graveyard. Things only get more dangerous for our hero’s going forward. The adventure continues in The Slave War.
* * *
See you next time,
* * *
James
Also by James E Wisher
The Dragonspire Chronicles
The Black Egg
The Mysterious Coin
The Dragons’ Graveyard
The Slave War
The Sunken Tower
The Dragon Empress
The Dragonspire Chronicles Omnibus Vol. 1
The Dragonspire Chronicles Omnibus Vol. 2
* * *
Soul Force Saga
Disciples of the Horned One Trilogy:
Darkness Rising
Raging Sea and Trembling Earth
Harvest of Souls
Disciples of the Horned One Omnibus
Chains of the Fallen Arc:
Dreaming in the Dark
On Blackened Wings
Chains of the Fallen Omnibus
* * *
The Aegis of Merlin:
The Impossible Wizard
The Awakening
The Chimera Jar
The Raven’s Shadow
Escape From the Dragon Czar
Wrath of the Dragon Czar
The Four Nations Tournament
Death Incarnate
Aegis of Merlin Omnibus Vol 1.
Aegis of Merlin Omnibus Vol 2.
* * *
Other Fantasy Novels:
The Squire
Death and Honor Omnibus
* * *
The Rogue Star Series:
Children of Darkness
Children of the Void
Children of Junk
Rogue Star Omnibus Vol. 1
Children of the Black Ship
About the Author
James E. Wisher is a writer of science fiction and fantasy novels. He’s been writing since high school and reading everything he could get his han
ds on for as long as he can remember.
To learn more:
www.jamesewisher.com
[email protected]
The Dragons' Graveyard Page 18
