Devius stepped into the cave. Clearing his throat, he rolled his eyes. “If you’re not careful, you’re going to swallow each other’s head. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
Junior put Reecah down and stepped aside to allow Devius to hobble toward Nelly; the wizard ducked to avoid being hit by Raver as the bird flew to the open chest and landed on its lid.
Relief beamed from Nelly’s eyes as Devius made his way around the fire. “Isn’t young love grand?”
“Bah! Don’t expect me to lift you like that.”
“Pfft. Come here you old fool.” Nelly met Devius by the fire and hoisted him into the air like a babe, kissing him long and hard.
Devius wriggled and sputtered until she couldn’t hold him any longer. “Come off it, woman. You’re smothering me.”
A hollow thump accompanied by a tooth-rattling screech of scraping rock marked the arrival of Swoop—the brown dragon’s upside-down face filling the cave mouth.
Devius jumped like he had been hit in the back with a warhammer. “Blast it, Swoop. You scared me half to death.”
“Half?” Nelly muttered. “You’re almost there as it is.”
Scowling, Devius instructed Swoop, “Get your friend. We need to get off the mountain.”
The descent from Dragon’s Tooth took longer than Reecah thought it would. Behind them, the lone mountain dominated the landscape. It was hard to fathom just how big it was.
The jagged channels of the Gap passed below; their flight much calmer than the trip up to the summit a week ago. Devius and Nelly, though still intimidated by sitting on the back of a dragon, had found a measure of enjoyment at the exhilarating rush of soaring through the sky. The fact that neither Swoop nor Lurker barely had to flap their wings provided a much smoother ride.
Enjoying the view, Reecah puzzled over the stretch of ground beyond the Gap—nothing but withered trees protruding from a windswept plateau of grey rock. “What’s with the barren land between the Gap and Arcanium?”
Nelly leaned close to speak into her ear. “The result of the Wizard Wars. A mighty battle was waged there. The decisive battle as it turned out.”
Reecah nodded. She had learned a little about the arcane war that had swept the land and brought about the Great Kingdom, from the tomes in Poppa’s collection. Being so young, not much of it had made sense to her at the time.
The walled city of the wizard’s guild loomed on the southern edge of the old battlefield. Not caring whether they were seen, Reecah instructed the dragons to land just out of bowshot from the city gates. She had had enough of hiding and sneaking around, afraid of what people thought about dragons and Windwalkers, and whether or not the king or dark heir wished them harm. She almost hoped the dragons’ presence would draw out Prince J’kwaad if he were still in Arcanium.
As soon as the thought of the prince went through her mind, she shuddered. Perhaps not him. Not yet. Not until she reached Queen Askara and learned what the dragon leader had to teach her.
Swoop and Lurker landed within hailing distance of the cast iron, northern gates.
Helping Nelly from Lurker’s back, Reecah pulled her staff free of its harness and waited for Devius and Junior to join them. “How far is it to your home?”
“What’s left of it? Not far,” Nelly said adjusting her snug-fitting tunic.
They started toward the gate, everyone looking around. There was no way their approach hadn’t been noticed. It wasn’t every day a pair of dragons dropped from the sky. At least not within recent history.
“Let me deal with the gates.” Nelly increased her pace to get ahead of them. “They’ll be warded.”
The old witch had no sooner spoken than a series of clicks emanated from the direction of the city wall.
Junior’s sword was in hand faster than Reecah unshouldered her bow and strung it. Her staff dropped to the ground beside her. The runes had briefly come to life but winked out as soon as it left her hand.
The gates opened outward to reveal a group of men and women draped in dark robes, and a stooped, white-bearded man in white. As one, they stared at the dragons glaring back at them from afar.
Devius placed a hand on Reecah’s forearm, forcing her nocked arrow tip down. “Easy child. That’s Imrynn Carmichael, high wizard of Arcanium.”
“Can he be trusted?” Junior asked, lifting his chin in defiance.
“He’s Thunor Carmichael’s father.”
Reecah pulled her arrow free of the string, nodding for Junior’s benefit as he hadn’t met the dragon duke’s resident wizard.
Junior visibly relaxed.
“Pick up your staff.” Devius leaned close to Reecah and said under his breath, “You need to get used to the fact that you’re a magic user. Resort to your weapons only when your magic fails you.” He patted her shoulder and smiled. “Let’s see what he wants.”
Not bothering to wait for Reecah and Junior to put their weapons away, Devius ambled after Nelly, noticeably relying on the support of his staff.
“Ah, Devius. We feared you and Nelly had perished in the fire.” Imrynn stepped forward, embracing first Nelly and then Devius.
Nelly went on to greet the black clad women huddled beside the half dozen wizardly-looking men, embracing each one in turn.
“Bah! Take a stronger wizard than that jester to get the better of me.”
Imrynn released Devius. Pulling a monocle from the folds of his robes, he squinted, giving Reecah a thorough once over. “And what do we have here?”
“She is the reason J’kwaad darkened your doorstep.” Devius stepped aside to usher Reecah in front of the Arcanium high wizard. “Imrynn Carmichael. Let me introduce you to Reecah Windwalker.”
The idle faces of the men and women forming a semi-circle focused their undivided attention on Reecah.
Imrynn tilted his head, examining her through his eyepiece; his pupil disconcertingly large behind the thick lens. He placed a cold hand against her cheek.
It was all she could do not to flinch.
Nodding to himself, he let his hand fall and twisted his stooped shoulders to scrutinize her further. She feared he was on the verge of tipping over, he stooped so low, but as he resumed his regular hunched form, he exhaled a long, “Ahhh. So, it is true.”
Reecah didn’t know what to say. She hated being the centre of attention. Embarrassed, she silently urged Devius to intervene.
“Aye. I’m afraid she’s been more bother than she’s worth.”
Nelly stopped whispering to the witch she stood by and gaped at Devius, matching the stunned look on Junior and Reecah’s faces.
He chuckled. “With any luck, it’ll be worth it in the end.”
“Yes. Yes,” Imrynn answered, oblivious to Devius’ travelling companions’ reaction. “We lost a couple of good buildings last week when the dark heir went on a rampage. Lucky for him, I didn’t realize it was his handiwork until after he fled.”
“He’s gone then? Good. Good. We were afraid he’d stick around to arrest me.”
“Devius. I’m hurt. You know the guild would never allow anything to happen to you while you’re within our walls.”
“Well, it almost did.” Devius’ tone turned serious. “There’s nothing you could’ve done. Any intervention on your part will bring the wrath of the crown upon you.”
The members of Arcanium stiffened.
Devius searched their faces. “What?”
“Our ears in Draakhall report that measures are already underway to bring about our downfall.”
Devius started past Imrynn. “It’s more serious than I thought.”
Imrynn grabbed him by the robes. “Where’re you going?”
“To fetch something I left behind.”
“At the witch’s guild-house?”
Devius frowned. “Yes. How do you know?”
“Save your strength. J’kwaad already found it.”
“My scrying bowl?”
Imrynn shrugged. “We didn’t see what he pulled from the rubble
, but the magic it oozed was palpable.”
“We must get it back.” Devius searched the faces of everyone present, his eyes wild. “Do you know the damage that bowl can do in the wrong hands? If J’kwaad knows the right spell, he’ll bring the sky down upon us.”
“Easy, my friend. There may be a chance to get it back.”
“How?”
“The prince has set off on another one of his insane dragon campaigns—”
Reecah and Junior gasped, interrupting the Arcanium high wizard.
Devius grasped Imrynn by the shoulders and shook him. “Don’t worry about them! Tell me how to get the bowl back.”
Imrynn broke free of Devius’ hold and stepped back with an angry glare. “Get hold of yourself, Misenthorpe, and think. Where would you keep the scrying bowl if you were J’kwaad?”
Understanding gripped Devius’ face. “Draakhall.”
He grabbed Reecah and Junior by the elbow and spun them around. Glancing over his shoulder, he called out, “Come on, witch. It’s time we stormed Sea Keep.”
The sun sat low on the western horizon, the steely waves of the Unknown Sea awash in a blaze of orangey-yellow. Lurker and Swoop swung far south of South Fort, flying dangerously close to the choppy surface as they wheeled offshore and glided to a spot halfway between South Fort and Sea Keep.
Reecah embraced Nelly and waited for Devius to stop instructing Junior on how he needed to take care of the last Windwalker.
Junior held a hand up. “Don’t worry, High Wizard Devius. If anyone wants to get at her, they’ll have to kill me first.”
Devius accepted Junior’s hand, but wouldn’t let it go until he said. “See that you keep that promise or I’ll kill you myself.”
Reecah laughed, but neither Junior nor Devius saw the humour.
“Kill you! Kill you!” Raver squawked from overhead. Reecah had asked him to keep watch to ensure the safety of the dragons.
She shook her head at the bird and stepped up to Devius. “Come here.”
Devius held out his hand, but she wrapped him in her arms and gave him a tight embrace. “We’re more than just acquaintances. You remind me of my Poppa. No matter what happens, I’ll never forget you.”
Devius’ return hug was stiff at first, but as she spoke, he pulled her in close. His choked voice whispered in her ear. “And you’re the grand-daughter I never had. Take care of yourself out there. I wish I could do more. I need more time to delve into the extent of your human magic but you must get to Queen Askara without delay.”
She pulled her head back but didn’t let go. His cheeks were wet. “You’ve done more than enough. You released my gift. Without you, I would never have known it existed. I owe you my life.” She looked around at Nelly and Junior and the dragons. “We all do.”
Abashed, Devius struggled to put on a brave face. He lowered his eyes and stiffened as Reecah kissed his forehead.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay? If the king’s men recognize you, they’ll have you in irons.”
Devius smiled through his sadness. “That’s what Nelly’s for. You’ve never been as confused as someone caught up in one of her illusion spells. Ask J’kwaad when you see him.”
Reecah grinned. “I will.”
“On second thought, just kill the bastard.”
“Ha! I’ll do my best.”
Junior stepped beside her and put an arm around her back. “We’ll do our best.”
“See to it that you do for the dragons’ sake.” Devius’ light blue eyes fell on Lurker and Swoop vigilantly watching the roadway in either direction.
“Now go before it’s too late and make me proud. Show the world that the Windwalkers have returned.”
Reecah followed Junior back to the dragons. Pausing at Lurker’s side, she said, “When this is over, I’ll be back. I promise.”
Without another word, she climbed aboard Lurker, and with the subtlest movement, impelled him into the sky.
Squinting in the brilliance of the setting sun, she wondered if she’d ever see the old wizard again. As Lurker banked over the sea she looked to where they had left Devius with the kindly old witch—their tiny forms insignificant against the grand backdrop of the isthmus that separated the eternally crashing sea from the glassy waters of King’s Bay.
Valiant Wyrms
Desolate landscape for almost as far as the eye could see. To the west, the verdant flatlands of the vast swamp stood out between the blue sky and the dull brown of the Wilds they flew above. A black ridge of mountains dominated the southern horizon, but Lurker estimated them to be another day’s flight from their present position.
Reecah and her four companions purposely kept their distance from the swampland. After passing over the Lake of the Lost, they had espied the unmistakable path of destruction Prince J’kwaad’s army had left in is wake. Instead of travelling around the southern shore of the Lake of the Lost to where the Wilds encroached upon the northern reaches of the great marsh, and striking south toward Draak Home, for some reason, the army had cut a swath through the heart of the endless swamp.
The plight of Devius and Nelly were never far from Reecah’s thoughts as mind-numbing leagues of desert landscape slipped past. She fretted they should have accompanied Devius, and yet, she knew in her heart, that would have been the wrong decision. The king’s army marched on the Draakvuur Colony and she didn’t have time to waste. With any luck, Aramyss and Tamra had found the last colony and informed them of their impending peril. Until she found out, however, she had to assume that Queen Askara was still in the dark.
“I fear we may have missed it,” Lurker’s voice interrupted her reverie.
That was her silent worry as well. She scoured the landscape. Everything looked the same from high in the air. Ridgeline after ridgeline, snaking in all directions without end.
“Surely, we must have seen something by now. How do you hide a dragon colony?”
“Dragon Home would be fairly inconspicuous back in Dragonfang Pass if there weren’t any dragons flying around.”
The implication of that statement hit her hard. That was exactly what Dragon Home would be now. Devoid of life. She hugged his neck, pressing the side of her head against him. “I’m sorry my friend. If only I had discovered my gift years ago, I might have been able to save them.”
A long silence followed.
Comfortable on Lurker’s shoulders, Reecah leaned back and stretched her neck, taking a moment to ensure the safety of her gear.
Lurker craned his head to look on her. “You can’t think that way. Had you known of your gift from an early age, there’s a good possibility that High King J’kaar would also have known about it. If that were the case, I would never have met you. You would have been killed long ago. Just like…”
He left his last words unspoken, but she knew who he meant. Leaning back in to give him another hug, she whispered. “It’s okay. We’ve both lost our parents.”
Enjoying the feel of his cold, hard scales against her face, she found herself wondering why the king had killed her parents and Uncle Davit, but hadn’t killed her. It was the first time it had crossed her mind, but now that it had, it didn’t make any sense. It didn’t stand to reason that the king would leave anything to chance when it came to eliminating the dragon threat. Why had he gambled with her heritage?
Raver squawked twice from somewhere high overhead.
“Someone’s tracking us.”
Reecah sat upright in shock. Even if they were spotted, there was no way anyone could hope to follow. “Where?”
“To the west.”
Reecah scanned the ground but her gaze was diverted by what she had assumed was a bird in the distance. Studying it closer, the way it flew told her different. It dawned on her that Junior and Swoop were nowhere to be seen. She had been so deep in thought she hadn’t noticed their absence. “Where’s Swoop?”
“Coming in from behind.” Lurker dipped his right wing and started toward the approaching newcomer.
She was about to ask what that meant when from out of a cloud, Swoop fell from the sky like an arrow. They were so far away, Reecah could barely discern Junior’s bulk on her shoulders.
Swoop levelled off behind the newcomer, her sudden appearance causing it to rear in the sky.
“What’s wrong with its front legs?”
“That’s no dragon. It’s a wyvern.”
“What’s a wyvern doing out here?”
“Don’t know. The only ones that I know of lived near the Draakval Colony.”
Reecah swallowed, nodding in comprehension. “J’kwaad must have destroyed their home as well.”
“Makes sense.”
As they came together, Lurker slowed his flight and made a wide circle to come alongside Swoop.
“Recognize him?” Swoop asked.
“Yes, actually, I do. You’re Flea.”
“You remember me.” The brown wyvern kept flying. “I assume you’re looking for the Draakvuur Colony.”
“You know where it is?”
“Follow me.”
Flea’s voice seemed weird in Reecah’s head. She had gotten used to the incursion of the dragon voices, but a new voice seemed out of place. “Hi Flea. I’m Reecah.”
Flea’s head whipped around to stare at her, affecting his flight path. “You’re the one they’re talking about. Wait until Fly and Cricket find out I escorted the Windwalker.”
Reecah had no idea who he was talking about. “Are we far?”
“Less than half a day’s flight. We should reach Draak Home before darkness. I was just on my way in.”
“Ah. So, you haven’t been there before either.” Reecah felt her hopes drop.
“Been there? I work for the queen. Well, Lightburn, actually.”
Swoop fell in on the wyvern’s far side and Junior asked, “I thought your home was in the Altirius Mountains?”
“It was until the Dragon Scourge destroyed it.”
“J’kwaad.” Reecah named the scourge.
“What are you doing way out here?” Lurker asked.
“I’m an advance scout. All of the wyverns are. Well, those that weren’t hurt too badly in the raid on Sea Keep.”
Legends of the Lurker Box Set Page 88
