He nodded weakly and ran after his friend, having been too preoccupied earlier to notice his demise. Another crunch told me he too was now dragon food.
“Well,” I told the dragon, like we were two friends reunited, “I said I wouldn’t kill him and I didn’t. It’s not my fault if he’s stupid.”
The ringing of metal signaled my blades’ retreat as I carefully approached the dragon’s side, keeping my hands up to show I meant no harm. The dragon eyed me suspiciously, his lips furled in a silent growl. One wrong step would certainly mean death, but I couldn’t just leave him or her—it was difficult to tell—hurt. I placed one hand upon its wounded hind leg.
“Flames of white, burning bright, heal this wound I hold in sight,” I whispered, reaching for the magic within and feeling it pulse through me, out my hand, and into the dragon’s leg.
White flames licked at the gash until the wound had vanished. The only sign it had been there was a slight glow on the dragon’s scales which faded when I removed my hand. I went around the dragon’s body, avoiding the head, repeating the most advanced healing spell Lesley had taught me called Healing Fire. It wasn’t a very powerful spell, only able to heal non-fatal wounds, but it was strong enough for my purpose.
When I could avoid it no longer, I made my approach toward the dragon’s mouth. I swallowed once to wet my throat and took a deep breath. During that walk I thought I finally understood what a death row prisoner felt in the final moments. Too quickly, the walk had ended leaving me face-to-face with my fanged executioner, my reflection clearly replicated in each of his fiery eyes. I closed my eyes and waited to feel the crunch of death pierce me. I could feel his breath on me. The seconds ticked by. The sensation of teeth sinking into my flesh still hadn’t come.
Opening my eyes slowly, one at a time, I peeked out at the dragon to find it wrapped around me like a snake, without touching me. It seemed to be smiling. Its teeth were inches from my face. Its breath was strange, nothing like I’d expected. The rotting meat stench I expected was completely nonexistent. In its place was the smell of burning hickory. It was like standing around the campfire when I was little and my parents had sent me to camp in hopes that I’d make friends.
“Thank you, human,” I was surprised the dragon could recognize me as a human with my avatar looking like an elf. The dragon spoke to me in a voice similar to Aurora’s, with multiple pitches resonating at the same time. It was like listening to a quartet of soprano, alto, tenor, and bass voices in the sweetest harmonic tones. “My name is Bartholomew.” A male then. “And you would be?”
It was strange how at peace I felt. I was staring into a dragon’s eyes, his teeth inches from my face, and I felt like I was speaking to a friend I’d known all my life.
“You’re welcome, Bartholomew. My name is Valkyrie, also known as the White Avenger.”
“Valkyrie,” he mused, “What a beautiful name. But what is an Avenger?”
“It basically means I protect people from those who’d hurt them.”
Bartholomew thought that through for a few moments and then asked, “Where are you off to, Valkyrie?”
I pointed to the mountains in the distance, but before I could answer vocally Bartholomew growled and commanded, “Do not go there!” He took a few calming breaths and spoke is a softer voice. “I apologize for scaring you. That is one place you shouldn’t go if you value your life. Where you are venturing is Dragon Peaks. It is the mountain range where most dragons make their homes. Queen Fangora, queen of the dragon race, rules those mountains and any non-dragon who steps foot on those mountains becomes food. It is her law; the law she implemented to keep hunters off our lands.”
“If that is your home, why were you all the way out here?” It seemed like a harmless question, and I was curious, so I couldn’t keep myself from butting in.
Bartholomew huffed, smoke billowing from his nostrils, and when he spoke, his voice was dejected, “I met this girl I really like, Vanessa. I did a mating dance for her, hoping that she’d take me as her mate, but I didn’t know she had another suitor, Darian, and he has a lot of friends.
“I’m a reasonably strong dragon, but even the strongest dragon would lose in a six-to-one fight among dragons. Darian and his friends nearly tore me apart. I managed to escape and fly away from the mountain. I was looking for a quiet place to rest and heal when I came upon those five hunters. My wings were too sore, and my energy nearly spent, so I couldn’t fly away like I’d intended. They took advantage of that to try and slay me.”
“That’s horrible! You should go to this Queen Fangora and tell her what happened.”
A growling noise echoed in the clearing. It took a few seconds before I realized Bartholomew was laughing bitterly.
“It doesn’t work that way, Valkyrie. The queen doesn’t interfere in mating affairs. Nobody does…or at least nobody should.” Bartholomew’s voice grew darker as he spoke and anger flashed in his eyes. It was clear he was thinking about Darian’s friends and their interference. “The stronger candidate wins. True, Darian didn’t fight fair and I’m sure I could have taken him in an even battle, but it’s still a personal matter.
“Anyway,” Bartholomew interjected, trying to appear casual as he changed the subject, “You don’t want to go to Dragon Peaks. What is it you’re looking for? Maybe I can help you.”
I still wanted to discuss Bartholomew and his troubles, but it was clear he’d put a cork in that discussion, so I decided it wouldn’t hurt to share something of myself in return.
“I lost a good friend of mine a few weeks ago. He was also my mentor. He taught me all I know about magic and jewelry crafting, but I want to know more.
“I guess part of the reason I’m out here is to leave the past behind me. I didn’t want to stay in Melodia. Being there reminded me too much of Lesley so I went on a journey. I wasn’t really sure what I wanted at first. I was just walking around aimlessly, helping people whenever I had the chance, but when I finally let the grief recede, I realized that what I wanted, what I was really doing this journey for, was to become the best I could be. Lesley believed in me. Now I need to do the same so that I don’t disappoint him.
“I’m on this journey to learn everything I can. I want to learn more about magic, the people from this world, the cultures it houses, the languages, the crafting skills...anything like that. I want to fully immerse myself in this world, to feel like I really belong here, like I have a purpose.”
Bartholomew nodded in understanding. “It makes sense. I can’t help you with most of that, but I can take you to some people who might be able to help. The elves are a careful people, much like the dragons, they won’t let outsiders on their lands. If you head there, you’ll be pierced by an arrow before you ever get a chance to see one. Perhaps the dwarves will be willing to give you the insight into magic that you seek.
“Come. Climb on my back and I’ll take you there.”
The Dwarven Empire
Flying with Lesley’s pendant had become second nature to me. Flying on the back of a dragon was a completely different and wondrous experience. It was a rollercoaster ride without a safety bar, only without the need for fear. The twisting and turning of Bartholomew’s muscles rubbing on my thighs was unsettling at first, but soon became silent commands telling me when and how to shift my weight. After a few minutes we became perfectly synchronized, moving our bodies in unison as we slithered through the sky.
Bartholomew’s wings were silent, sinister, and as beautiful as a hawk advancing on its prey. He was truly the greatest aerial predator. I felt no jerking motions as his wings flapped, forgetting on many occasions that he was using them at all. Only the gentle massaging sensation on my inner thighs told me his wings were moving as ferociously as mine would be.
His speed was incredible. Bartholomew must have weighed at least five tons, but he streaked through the sky like a jet. In less than half an hour the
immense mountains of Dragon Peaks had vanished, to be replaced by dense forest.
“Look down!” Bartholomew shouted loud enough for me to hear over the pounding in my ears. “Below you is Tetherwood Forest. Home to the elves, forest nymphs, and many other magical beings. It’s a very fascinating but dangerous place. Dense magic permeates the earth, affecting all life that resides there. The elves would shoot you on sight. The forest nymphs would try to corrupt you before they ate you. There are many other creatures that would love nothing more than to rip you to pieces.”
“Oh,” I teased, “so there are dragon nests there too, huh?”
Bartholomew growled in contempt. “Funny.” The ire which oozed from that one word was almost toxic. I quickly apologized.
“As soon as we get passed Tetherwood, we’ll be entering dwarven territory. I’ll have to drop you off at the edge of the forest and have you traverse the rest of the way on your own.”
“Why?” I wasn’t ready to part ways with Bartholomew yet. It felt nice to have someone to talk with again.
“Dragons and dwarves don’t get along too well,” he explained. “Dwarves are constantly trying to sneak onto Dragon Peaks to get at the gemstones beneath the rock, but most get eaten.” Oh yeah, the dragon queen’s law. “We kill them for entering our territory and they do the same to us. I’m safe in Tetherwood, none of the creatures there would dare harm a dragon. The elves would slaughter anyone who tried. The elves think of us as their celestial guardians, not gods per se, but more like angels who protect this world’s magic. I’m not sure how we got that label because we don’t usually protect anything except our own hides.”
The wind on my face told me we were beginning to descend. The ground beneath us darted forward way too fast. I closed my eyes in fear of crashing just in time for vertigo to hit as we came to a jarring stop. The jolt locked my jaw and forced my eyes open. The earth was firm beneath us. Bartholomew crouched down to ease my descent as I climbed down his back, onto his hind leg, and jumped the remaining distance to the ground below, massaging my jaw to loosen the still-tight muscles.
When Bartholomew had said the edge of Tetherwood he'd meant it. The trees were thin enough here that I couldn’t even tell we were near a forest. It seemed like just a spattering of trees in a field. Only a few trees stood between us and the open hills of dwarven territory.
“Will I see you again?” I asked, not wanting to part company just yet. I had finally felt I’d made a new friend, one I cared for as much as Lesley and I wasn’t willing to give it up.
A bright white glow enveloped Bartholomew in place of an answer, a light which radiated from every pearl-textured scale of his body. The light wrapped around Bartholomew and began to shrink, taking him with it. When the light was roughly my size it dissipated, leaving what appeared to be a human in its place. Bartholomew had used some strange magic to take on the appearance of a human, but the transformation was incomplete. He had incredibly pale skin which was almost as white as his scales and his ears were still long and pointed.
“If you would like,” Bartholomew answered. “I can’t return home for a while. If I do, Darian will kill me, so I’ll hang out here for a while. I’ll be just a little further in the trees where the dwarves won’t see me. This is actually where I was heading to recover when I was ambushed. The elves here would have taken good care of my wounds and helped me recover, but thanks to you, Valkyrie, it won’t be necessary.”
“I’ll come back here to see you as often as I can,” I promised.
“That may not be very often,” Bartholomew warned. “The dwarves wouldn’t like it if they discovered you’d been communicating with a dragon. I can hide myself from dwarven eyes easier in this form, but if one of them comes looking for you they’ll recognize me almost immediately. If you want to learn from them it would be best not to mention our meeting.”
With that final warning, Bartholomew smiled his fierce, beastly grin which hadn’t changed at all, even in his human form, and walked deeper into the forest. I turned away from him, a feeling of loss heavy in my heart once again, though not as strong as when I’d lost Lesley. I knew this parting wasn’t permanent. One deep breath steadied my resolve and I headed toward the open hills.
The dwarven territory was incredible. The hills rolled over one another like a fine tapestry, covered in vibrant grass and wildflowers of every color. The only mar in this beauty was the occasional hole in the side of a hill with railroad tracks leading into it, the dwarven mines. The outer mines were empty of life, but as I continued deeper into the hills, I began to notice the occasional dwarf dressed in brown, dirty overalls. Many had pickaxes in their hands, a few shovels, while some used their bare hands to lift rubble and drop it into mining carts.
Most of the dwarves were too busy to notice me, but a few gave me quizzical glances before returning to their chores. I continued through the natural maze of hills until the mines disappeared. In their place were hills with chimneys growing out of them. A few houses were built on top of the hills, but most of the dwarves lived inside them. It was just like in the novels I’d read as a kid, dwarves who not only worked, but lived in the earth. I was beginning to get a little disappointed in the cliché aspect of dwarven life, but then I came upon the main city. The dwarven city was so beautiful. Buildings made entirely of stone rose from the soil as if they were a natural part of nature itself. The buildings were mostly made of ordinary stone, but there were patches of precious stones to hint at the wealth of the dwarves.
One house had window frames made of rubies. Another had a front door made of jade. The list went on and on, displaying the richness of the dwarven kingdom in small details here and there. Then I came upon the dwarven kingdom’s greatest achievement, a castle made from silver and gold. The castle ground was marble, and the walls were ordinary stone plated on both sides with silver. The roof was gold-plated, and the castle turrets were a swirling pattern of pure gold and silver. The peak of each turret housed an enormous diamond that reflected like a prism, basking the castle in rainbow glory.
I walked straight up to the castle gates before the stinging sound of metal woke me from my admiration. Standing in front of me, each coming barely past my waist, were two guards.
“State your business, giant one,” the guard holding the pike addressed. “You resemble an elf, but your aura tells otherwise.”
I resented being called a giant, but I couldn’t argue with them. From their perspective I was.
“I’m here to ask your ruler if I may stay among your people for a time. I have come a long way to ask for guidance from your people.”
“And how did you manage to get through Tetherwood?” The guard with the spear’s eyes burned with suspicion.
Of course, it would have to come to this. I’d momentarily forgotten what Bartholomew had said about the elves killing me on sight. I needed an excuse that would work, but I was too flustered to think straight so I went with the truth.
“I flew over Tetherwood.”
This rallied the two guards like I’d just told them I was here to slaughter them all.
“You dare to enter our lands like this, dragon? Shed that facade and show us your true nature.”
Why did I say that? I had to think fast, or these guards would attack. Though, I couldn’t help thinking in the back of my mind that these guards were brave to challenge what they suspected to be a dragon in human form by themselves. The two dwarves were advancing on me with their pike and spear pointed at my chest. I had only a few seconds before they would strike, and I didn’t want to fight them. I came here in peace. How would it look if I slaughtered a few guards mere minutes after arriving?
Then it hit me. I was being stupid. In a moment of terror I’d forgotten that I didn’t need to be a dragon to fly. If only I could convince them I wasn’t a dragon before they struck me down. I crouched low, my face never leaving the guards’ fierce expressions as I took a
swan-like posture and activated my wings. In the instant the guards dove for me, I pumped my wings with full force, lifting off the ground just in time to avoid a fatal attack, but not in time to fully dodge the blades.
My only option was to attack, but I couldn’t hurt them. That left only one point of attack, their weapons. I lifted my legs and kicked downward, my boots connecting with the back of the pike’s blade and the wooden shaft of the spear. The pike’s blade sent sparks across the marble floor as it dug itself deep into the stone. The spear shattered into four pieces from the impact, sending one jagged-edged piece straight into my left shoulder.
Blood trickled from the wound, droplets colliding with the marble below, as I ripped the splintered spear shaft from my shoulder. I wasted no time in healing the wound, letting myself soar just out of the dwarven guards’ reach as I cast the spell. When the wound had closed, I looked down to see that I wasn’t the only one who’d gotten injured. Another splinter of the spear had embedded itself in the owner’s leg, just above his knobby knee.
I kept my wings at the ready as I lowered myself to the floor, preparing to fly off yet again if I was attacked a second time. When I reached the floor, I knelt on one knee so that I could reach the guard’s wound.
Before the guard could back away, I pulled the splinter from his leg and recited, “Flames of white, burning bright, heal this wound I hold in sight.” The incantation was for the Healing Fire spell I’d used on myself only seconds before as well as Bartholomew’s wounds.
I directed my words at the guard I’d injured. “I do apologize for injuring you. It was never my intent. I was merely trying to stop your attack.” I then addressed both guards. “I am no dragon, but a newcomer to these lands. I fly using a magical amulet,” I let my wings disappear and placed my hand on the pendant now resting against my open skin, “that was given to me by my former magical instructor and friend before he died.
Virtual Me- Valkyrie Page 8
