by TJ Reynolds
Despite having compassion for the Earth Core, she and Kai couldn’t help cracking up. Angry and flustered, Ban had accused them all of being savages before leaving his champion’s body for the rest of the day.
When they’d stopped to rest for the evening, Kai had chastised Anatoth for his flippancy.
Never in her life had Rhona seen such a huge thing so ashamed and bowed down.
Now, nearly a week after leaving the Sunken Keep, even the dragonlings were growing bored of travel.
They flew long and hard into the middle of the fifth day. Kai had called out a high ridge ahead that neither he nor the dragonlings had flown beyond in the past.
It stretched east to west, a towering wall that separated the southern portion of the Zargan Mountains from whatever lay beyond.
We’ll have a break after we clear these mountains, Kai said through their mental link.
Rhona’s stomach was knotted in hunger, so she would hardly complain. Sounds good, she replied. But I demand we eat something other than goat.
They started to climb higher and higher, a river of rushing wind causing them to lift up quickly.
She stared below at the distant ground, amazed at how much air poured up slopes.
Starting to gain a stomach for flying, she mused. Not that I want to get used to this lifestyle, but at least I’m not queasy any longer.
At first, swooping about on Kai’s back had been anything but pleasurable.
She’d vomited outright after their first two flights, and had to spend most of the first and second day in mediation to calm her mind and wrestle mastery over her stomach.
But after so many hours, it was starting to feel almost like riding a horse.
Instead of the jarring clomp of the road, however, Kai’s wings rose and fell according to the invisible currents of the sky. And this immense wall of wind was certainly the most impressive that she’d experienced so far.
They flew upwards, Kai not even bothering to flap his great wings. The group soared higher, climbing so high that, for the first time in two days, Rhona became dizzy from the thin air.
We’re almost there, Kai said. Just hold on a little longer.
I’m okay… worst case, I pass out, she teased. I’m strapped in, after all.
Rhona leaned forward over the saddle and took deep, long, steady breaths. She endured another five minutes, shivers starting to shake her core as the cold seeped into her bones.
At last, the gushing wind broke, and Kai teetered forward.
Rhona opened her eyes and glanced ahead.
Below and before them lay a sprawling valley so deep and wide the mountains to either side were lost in a haze.
Far grander than any valley they’d come across so far, this place stirred something inside her.
Rhona took in the sunlit slopes and marveled at the miles of rolling hills below. Three rivers plunged through the valley, joining together far ahead.
By the Fundament, Kai said in awe. Have you ever seen anything like it?
Rhona’s answer was short and honest. No, Kai. Not in all my life.
As the group floated down the immense ridge, Kai spotted a lake tucked below a nearby mountain. He tilted his wing and continued downwards and toward the lake.
Soon, they flew above the deep blue water, and they spotted the first sign of wildlife.
A pack of wolves were running along a game trail, their silver coats reflecting the sun as they moved. Like a stream of quicksilver, the beasts were a marvel to behold.
Not only did they look far larger than any wolf Rhona had seen in her life, but their metallic coats were strange and beautiful.
Biting her lip, she used Inspect in hopes they’d come to the right place.
Mercurial Warg
Elemental Fauna
Emerald 1
Not wolves at all, Rhona thought as she examined their bodies. The beasts were thicker in the forelimbs and chests than wolves, now that she considered it, and their snouts were blunt.
Emerald, Kai! Rhona shouted with her mind. This place will be perfect.
Kai rejoined as well and veered away from the pack to find a place to set up camp.
Rhona had learned that ascension level was an unpredictable way of measuring power. When facing a dungeon boss, for instance, even a Golden 1 monster could present a serious danger.
Packs of monsters with high levels, like the wargs for instance, were obviously dangerous as well. But individually, they would present much less of a threat.
Then again, after fighting alongside the dragonlings occasionally, Rhona’s understanding of ascension had shifted yet again.
Each dragon possessed so much innate strength that the thought of meeting one ascended to Emerald was terrifying. They would hopefully reach that high, but it would be a struggle.
The gods must have slowed dragon Progression considerably to counteract their power.
Otherwise, they would have ruled the world unchecked.
Kai dropped from the sky on the shore of the shining lake. A grassy meadow lay between the lake and the hillside that rose above.
Rhona dismounted and watched the others land one at a time.
Then Kai transformed and walked out from under the gleaming pile of his dragon armor. He dug out a change of clothes from their packs while Rhona stretched her legs.
As she did so, she couldn’t help marveling at the beauty of this place.
Every shade of green and blue and gray existed between the grass, sky, lake, and stone of this valley.
It felt like they were the first people ever to set foot here.
The dragonlings landed as well, and Greg clambered down off of Anatoth’s back.
The lanky dragons walked to the lakeside and filled their bellies with the cold water. Rhona knelt to do the same and spotted large fish darting in the depths, and for an instant, she considered asking Kai if he might dive to catch one.
Then an explosion of water destroyed the pristine lake’s surface as all four dragonlings dove for it.
“I couldn’t be more grateful he decided to drop me off first,” Ban said behind her.
Kai chuckled, walking up behind them in trousers and shirt, boots held in his hand.
The modified clothes were still strange-looking, but Rhona understood their utility. Without the clever ties that released the pants at the side of the legs and hip, and the slip up the backs of the shirt’s sleeve and back, Kai would tear all of his clothing to ribbons.
With a grim smile, Kai said, “Anatoth learned a great deal by almost killing your champion, Ban. It was good for him.”
Ban scoffed. “He can learn those lessons on his own, thank you very much. I don’t feel the need to take such an active role if it can be helped.”
Rhona patted the dungeon champion on his armored back. “Understandable. Best part is that we should be on foot from here on out.”
She sat on a nearby boulder and watched the frothing lake.
Countless bubbles rose as the dragons swam about in search of their prey. Long moments passed until finally Freya burst out of the water.
She hobbled up onto the shore, an enormous trout clutched in one clawed foot.
Anatoth came out next, and then Calreem.
They fished for ten minutes, making a slippery pile of lake trout that were all two to four feet long.
Then they claimed their prizes and stalked away to feast alone.
Showing wisdom, Calreem dropped a trout at Kai’s feet. For you, Greg, and Rhona, Elder Dragon.
Kai grinned as he watched the white dragon flap a short distance away and begin to savage his meal. “And here I thought I’d have to shout at one of them to catch a fish for us.”
“I was about to,” Rhona admitted. “This is more convenient, however. Come, Kai, help me get a fire going.”
Kai briefly transformed and dug up a wide patch of grass. Then they gathered wood from a nearby stand of trees. After making a large pile of the fuel, Kai set to cleaning the fish whi
le Rhona took out their tinder kit.
An hour later, they were licking fish grease from their fingers, bellies full and hearts content.
The young dragons had fallen asleep some time ago, and their mountain lake was quiet.
Rhona sprawled out on the sun-warmed grass and closed her eyes.
Ban had departed a while ago, intent on handling business back in the Sunken Keep for the rest of the day. He’d agreed to check in at least once each morning and evening, however, which seemed more than fair.
Kai lay down beside Rhona and sighed. “I’m excited to see what the dragons’ abilities do in combat. Should be quite the show.”
“Right? Though I doubt most monsters can withstand Anatoth and Freya’s spells alone.” She lifted her head and adjusted her braid. “You never did tell me, by the way. What does Calreem’s spell do? Heavenly Harvest.”
Kai propped himself up on an elbow. “I’ve been so intent on our travel I all but forgot myself. I’ve never heard of a spell like it, Rhona. It apparently has two effects. The first is that any ether given off by a fallen enemy is increased. That means faster Progression for everyone!”
Rhona glanced over at Kai. “You serious? Sweet Andag, that’s incredible!”
“Right? Well, we don’t know how effective it actually is, so I’m trying to keep my excitement in check. But it should help us advance faster no matter what, even if not as quickly as we wish.”
“And the other?” Rhona asked. “What else does the spell do?”
Kai gave her a savage grin.
He did so occasionally, reminding her that he was half-dragon, voracious and power-hungry in his own right.
“It is what Jakodi called an execute spell,” Kai explained. “When an enemy is near death, Heavenly Harvest will rupture their core, killing them instantly. What’s more amazing is that it works on any number of enemies that are standing in a one-hundred-foot radius of Calreem.”
Rhona tried to picture what that might look like but failed.
Disturbing for sure, but the spell gave her some degree of hope. If they could manage to use it on the army of abyss creatures, there might be hope for victory.
“Well, I suppose I’m just happy that Calreem got the spell,” she said at last. “The others are sweet in their own way, especially Hazel… but if I were to grant such a brutal spell to any of them, Calreem would be a fine choice.”
Kai nodded. “True enough. He has a gentle heart.”
The man sighed and made to lay down, then sat up bolt upright.
He sniffed the air a moment, and his eyes widened. “Wargs!”
Kai and Rhona got to their feet and scanned their surroundings. Nothing but waving grass could be seen all around them. But Rhona sensed some presence from the stand of trees they’d gathered wood in.
Turning that way, she spotted golden eyes staring out at her.
“In the trees, Kai,” she whispered.
Kai found the beast with his own eyes. Then he took three quick lunges in that direction and burst into dragon form.
Rhona ducked as his long tail swung over her head.
Dragons, to wing, to wing! Kai bellowed in his mind. We have wargs to slay!
Rhona thought Kai might charge ahead to confront the beasts himself, but instead, he flared out his wings and growled, head held low in warning.
He was protecting her.
The stubborn half of Rhona’s heart balked at the display. She was a warrior who’d fought with and against Brintoshi soldiers.
She was a monk on the Path of the Bleeding Tiger.
But the shadows of the gathered wargs gave her pause. Each beast looked to be near the size of Honor, and there were more than a few.
A dragon standing between her and the wargs wasn’t exactly a bad thing.
Rhona suppressed the fear in her heart and prepared for the fight ahead. If it came to it, she was prepared to use her skills.
The wargs suddenly burst from the trees.
Their metallic hides glistened like liquid steel as they streaked toward Kai.
She anticipated a fire spell erupting from his mouth, but Kai was no longer the impulsive young man she’d met in the swamps outside of Mindonne town.
A sphere of purple ether leapt out at the wargs instead, striking the leader in its chest. The spell, Confounded Core by the looks of it, splashed off and struck three more wargs.
Two of the affected beasts veered off at random angles, slowing down and looking completely baffled.
One more stopped in its tracks entirely.
The alpha, however, continued toward Kai as if nothing had happened.
Leathery wings beat the air above her, and the four dragonlings descended on the warg pack like birds of prey.
Kai’s voice rang out in her mind with the steely edge of command. Freya, release Forge Storm now!
The green dragon swooped low over the beasts and her mouth split open, revealing her fangs. Then a plume of Fire ether sprayed down over the backs of the monsters.
Initially, the spell seemed potent enough, but when the secondary effect took place, and a gust of ethereal wind charged the fire, the grassy field erupted in intense flames.
Three of the hulking wargs caught the worst of it.
Their coats melted away, and they writhed in pain as their bodies were incinerated in seconds flat.
Winter’s Wrath! Kai commanded after, and Anatoth unleashed his own devastation.
The plume of Water ether fanned over several more wargs, some already damaged by the previous spell. Turning two of the beasts into blocks of immovable ice, Winter’s Wrath froze the limbs or tails of many others.
Already running at full speed, this proved disastrous for the wargs.
Rhona shuddered as she saw limbs break free, the beasts’ momentum carrying their bodies forward even if their legs were frozen to the ground.
By then, the lead alpha had reached Kai.
It ran around Kai, perhaps trying to gain an advantageous position to attack from.
Kai’s serpentine neck swiveled round, following the creature.
Only when the warg committed, jumping in the air to snap at Kai’s neck, did the dragon respond.
Kai snaked out and took the warg in his jaws. With a crunch and shake, he finished the monster off in a single attack.
His younger charges were taking the rest of the fight in their own talons.
Rhona relaxed a little and admired how brutal and efficient the dragons were. Hazel crushed a warg’s spine between her taloned feet and tossed the limp beast into the lake.
Anatoth landed among the rear of the pack, cutting off any chance of retreat. The powerful Azure knocked three sprawling with a swing of his tail before advancing with fang and claw.
Freya remained in flight, swooping down and snatching up a warg. She would angle up, gain altitude, and drop the beast at her zenith.
Even little Calreem managed to pin down a warg who had tried to snap at Anatoth’s exposed flank. The Ananri dragon ripped his prey open, causing a fountain of blood to paint his white scales.
The battle was impressive to see, and it only lasted sixty seconds start to finish.
Kai only killed the alpha. When he did so, he sat upright to observe. Rhona walked to stand beside him.
No other spells were used.
They simple weren’t needed.
As the dragons finished the slaughter, they panted and growled, absorbing the cloud of ether that rushed out of the fallen wargs.
They’ve grown strong, Rhona said as she rested a hand on Kai’s foreleg.
Kai transformed back into a man. Clutching his cloak around his shoulders, he responded, “They certainly have. Calreem didn’t even have time to use Heavenly Harvest. We’re going to need to find stronger monsters.”
Rhona sighed beside her friend, shaking her head in disbelief. “I’m sure we can manage that much. Crazy to think that each of those dragons was tucked in an egg near Ban’s hearth just months ago.”
> “It’s fortunate they grow quickly, though,” Kai replied with a sad smile. “We’ll need them to fight a lot worse than wargs.”
“True enough, Kai,” Rhona admitted. Then, seeing her friend’s handsome face become worried, she pulled him away at the shoulder. “Come on. Let them feast. We have a shelter to make.”
12
Makeshift Mansion
Rhona
With only a few hours of daylight remaining, Rhona assumed they would prop up a tent and have the dragons sleep in a circle around them that night.
But then Kai reminded her they could command the dragons, and that each beast was capable of much more work than any mere horse.
“I think it sounds great,” Rhona said, then pointed up the hill a quarter-mile. “See that depression? Where the slope levels out for a ways?”
Kai grinned. “Looks perfect. Any suggestions on what we should make?”
Rhona chewed her lower lip, tipping her head side to side as she thought. Then she glanced at the stand of trees behind them. “Yes, Elder Dragon Kai. I believe I do.”
Having helped construct a dozen different versions of field shelters had given Rhona some perspective on the matter.
Kai, always happy to defer to another’s wisdom, let her take the lead.
As the two walked up to the area in question, they got a good measure for it. The depression was fifty feet wide and twenty deep.
There was no reason to make such a massive shelter, but it was good to have excess room.
The ground was almost completely level, which would make for a comfortable night of sleep.
Rhona asked first for some forty logs.
Presented with a challenge, the dragons crashed into the stand of trees and wreaked havoc. The sound of four dragons knocking down and stripping forty trees was no less impressive than one might imagine.
Rhona and Kai chuckled as they watched on, and the Kai dismissed himself to go and move his discarded dragon armor and baggage toward camp.
He did so relatively easy. The armor could not be secured without assistance, but Ban had designed it so Kai could stand within the peytral and transform.
