“I like that analogy. Did you make that up?
No, I read that someplace. I’m not even sure if it works.”
“I think it’s time to head to the King’s castle. We have to check the place out so we can develop a plan. We’ve been here for almost eight hours, so this would be a good time for you to renew the cloaking spell.
* * *
We morphed into Mist and made ourselves invisible before slipping under the castle gate. The guards looked bored, so I knew the cloaking spell was working. It was very quiet except for the sound of swords clashing in the courtyard.
“I think we should limit our conversations to thoughts, Wade. We can’t take a chance of someone overhearing us.”
I hear you loud and clear.
There were several Demons paired off against each other in the courtyard. They were sharpening their fighting skills and I sensed the adrenalin flowing through Wade’s body.
I bet you’d like to get in there and mix it up, wouldn’t you, Wade.
Boy would I ever. It’d be worth it just to get the kinks out of my bones.
We drifted pass the courtyard and made our way into the castle. The castle was much larger than the one in Cayland Town. We floated down a nearby stairway and investigated the dungeon area first.
All of the cells were filled with Rens. They looked lost and abandoned, but they appeared to be well fed. Wade offered his opinion. I bet the Rens are used for food. That’s why they’re so well fed.
I bet you’re right, I replied sadly. Maybe we can do something about this later.
The air reeked of burning flesh when we passed the Demon’s eating area. Your first hunch was right, Wade. The prisoners are used for food.
I sensed Wade wanted to attack the Demons. Slimmer down, I said. We have to take our time. We’re just here to observe and learn.
We floated down another stairway and came across what appeared to be an area used for business activities. We even came across a counting room. The taxes and fees paid to the King were neatly stacked behind a huge iron gate. Tabia was a very rich man.
We left the counting room and floated up to the top floor. There no doubt that this area was reserved for the King and his brothers. We heard the sound of women and drifted under the door. What we saw could only be described as a harem. There were six beautiful young girls dressed in flimsy bright colored dresses. It was obvious that these girls were the property of one of the brothers.
We came across three more rooms with harems. The last room was the largest and it contained a dozen girls. I figured this room belonged to the King.
We floated out into an open meadow. The first thing to catch my attention was several cages filled with dragons. Scanning the cages, I saw four magnificent dragons that stood out from the rest. I assumed these dragons belonged to the King and his brothers.
I looked the four dragons over very carefully. I was disturbed when I saw several large scars running up and down their necks. The scars were too severe to be caused from a normal whip, so I assumed they were made by a whip that was electrically charged. My thoughts drifted back to the Portal of Darkness and the four skeleton dragon riders with energy power whips. Could the King and his brothers be the same creatures? We heard voices and the sound of laughter coming straight toward us. The stench of evil filled the air.
The four men were definitely the King and his brothers. They looked like Torks with unusually crude features and all four of them were wearing necklaces that contained a large green crystal. One crystal was larger than the others, so I assumed it belonged to the King.
“Today will be a good hunt my brothers. The young dragon has a lot of spirit and will provide us with great sport.”
“I hope so, brother Tabia. That last dragon wasn’t worth my time. I was pulled away from the arms of my favorite maiden to kill that miserable excuse for a dragon.”
Several Demons were standing off to the side. I assumed they were servants of the King and his brothers.
Wade’s thoughts were frantic. Janis, the king and his brothers are Warlocks. They must have found the crystals and increased their powers.
My thoughts flashed back to Ezra and Ezell the twin brothers from Nevada. They were extremely powerful and they didn’t have the advantage of the crystals to enhance their powers. We would also dealing with four Warlocks instead of two. I knew we had a problem on our hands.
I watched as the King and his brothers cracked their energy powered whips. They sounded like lighten bolts, freighting the caged dragons into a frenzy. Adding to the frenzy, the four brothers transformed their bodies into skeleton creatures. Now I knew for sure that these were the same creatures I had battled at the Portal of Darkness.
The Demons rushed forward and opened the cages that housed the four magnificent dragons. The dragons were snorting smoke and making loud sounds as the King and his brothers mounted them for flight. Another cage was opened and I watched a small dragon fly up into the sky.
The King cracked his whip and shouted. “Follow me, the chase in on my brothers.”
Let’s stay close behind them, Wade. Maybe we can save the small dragon.
Let’s morph back to our human forms and remain invisible. We can’t use our powers in Mist form.
Good idea, Wade. You know what I always say.
I know. I’m the brains of this outfit.
We morphed into our human form and followed the dragon riders into the sky. I was surprised at how fast the little dragon could fly. He was also very smart. He’d catch an updraft, and then swoop upward, allowing his pursuers to fly right under him.
The brothers were closing in fast when I felt a huge gust of wind coming toward me. It only took a matter of seconds and the wind had turned into a powerful windstorm. The dragons the brothers were riding were floundering like kites as they swerved all over the sky.
“Back to the castle,” I heard the King shout. “The wind is too strong for the hunt.” The King and his brothers turned around and scurried back to the castle as fast as their dragons could carry them.
Wade and I turned visible as we watched as the little dragon flew away as fast as his small wings could carry him. “That was your windstorm, wasn’t it Wade?”
“I thought the little guy could use some help, so I placed a windstorm between him and his pursuers. It worked pretty good.”
“It sure did. I bet the little dragon thought he just got lucky.”
“It doesn’t make any difference, just so long as the little guy is safe.”
“Let’s head back to the city. We still have to work on a plan of attack.”
* * *
We were sitting in a pub enjoying a beef steak, potatoes, fresh strawberries and ale. “My ale could use a chill,” said Wade.
I picked up Wade’s mug, pretending like I was going to take a sip. I hit the ale with a quick blast of cold air, chilling the ale on the spot. I gave the mug back to Wade, who took a large swallow of his ale.
“That’s just right, Wade said with a smile. “You know, Janis, if the men in this town knew you could chill their ale, you’d have more dates than you could count.”
“Oh boy, just what I always wanted.” Wade was laughing as he took another sip of his ale.
We finished eating and I became serious. “Let’s lay the facts on the table. The easiest way to capture the King and his brothers would be to catch them together and throw a quick force field around them.”
“What about the crystals? How do we disarm them?”
“I could use a laser and cut the chains from their necks.”
“I like that idea, Janis, but it would have to be done quickly before they could react.”
“Timing is everything, so we’ll have to be on our toes.”
“Now that we have that settled, what do you think will happen when the dragons are no longer controlled by the King?”
“They could just fly away, but dragons are very proud. They’ve been treated as slaves and they might want revenge.”
“That could be a problem. We also have to consider that a Demons first duty is to install order. If the dragons are set free, we could have a war on our hands. The dragons are vastly outnumbered and some of them are very young. I liked your earlier idea to use the dragons on Kazanza Island to keep the local dragons in check.
“It’s a good plan. I think we could fly to Kazanza Island and discus it with the dragons?”
I looked at Wade with a warm smile. “What would I do without you? Now I know why the Supreme Entity picked you for my partner. You’re not only brave, you’re extremely intelligent.”
“Why is it you never mention my good looks?”
I reached across the table and touched Wade on the cheek. “Okay, you’re beautiful, too.”
Wade smacked me on the arm. “You just can’t stop teasing me, can you?”
CHAPTER 67
We arrived at the castle the next day to study the King’s schedule. When we flew over the arena, it was filled with several thousand Demons. I knew immediately that this was the Kings army.
The Demons had gathered for a mass rejuvenation ceremony that takes place every ninety days. We watched as the King and his brothers walked to the edge of the raised platform, overlooking the floor of the arena. The King raised his hands over his head and it got very quiet.
“This is your time of rejuvenation. It is also a time to celebrate the wonderful gift that has been bestowed upon you. You are all brothers and you are the finest warriors on this world.”
The Demons roared as the four brothers held up their crystals. The light from the four crystals bonded together, forming one bright green light that spread itself over the entire floor of the arena. The Demons began taking long deep breaths, relishing the power they were receiving from the crystals. When the ceremony was finished, the Demons roared again and beat their fists against their chests. The light from the crystals diminished and the King and his brothers left the arena.
“That was really something,” I said. “The combined power of the four crystals is awesome.”
“Yeah, but not too powerful for the Changeling Princess and her trusty companion. I can’t wait to get those guys alone and put them out of commission.”
“It sounds like you’re spoiling for a fight, Wade.”
“Not really. It’s just that I envision all the harm the brothers have done and I get mad.”
“I feel the same way. You’re just more vocal than I am.”
We were checking the interior of the castle when we made an important discovery. The four brothers had a secret ritual that took place every afternoon when the Sun was directly overhead. The daily ritual took place in the King’s quarters with all four brothers forming a circle. The purpose of the ritual was to use their crystals to renew their powers to maximum strength.
“This is perfect,” I told Wade. “If the ritual takes place at the same time and same place every day, it’s the perfect setup to grab all four brothers at the same time.”
“I agree, but let’s not forget that the dragons are vastly outnumbered by the Demons.”
“I’ve been thinking about that. We should make that trip to Kazanza Island as soon as possible and ask for their assistance.”
“Do you think they’ll help?”
“I don’t know why not. The King and his brothers have enslaved the dragons from Kazanza Island for centuries. I’m sure they’d love the chance to put a stop to that.”
We spent several days familiarizing ourselves with the brother’s every move. The ritual of renewing their powers at noon never varied. That was going to be their downfall.
* * *
I was given directions to Kazanza Island by a dragon who was waiting for his rider. From what the dragon had told me, I estimated the distance to the island to be around a thousand miles. We could make the trip quickly if Wade morphed to eighteen feet tall and we flew at maximum speed.
“What if the dragons won’t help?” asked Wade.
“Then we’ll have to come up with a new plan. Keep your fingers crossed.”
Wade stared at me. “Isn’t crossing your fingers an outdated superstition?”
“Maybe, but we need all the help we can get.”
* * *
We were up at sunrise and had a delicious breakfast of fresh fruit. We morphed into Mists and then we flew until we sighted an island that was twice the size of Hawaii, the largest island in the Hawaiian Islands. I knew we were in the right place because the sky was full of dragons circling the island.
There were two smaller islands in the area. We spotted several herds of cattle and numerous farms growing vegetables and fruit. I picked up the scent of Rens on both of the islands.
Kazanza Island had three mountains. The largest was located right in the center of the island and it was covered with caves. We landed at the mouth of the largest cave because I was positive that this was where the leader of the dragons lived. Wade morphed into his human form and I morphed into the Changeling Princess.
We were met by a large dragon guarding the entrance to the cave. He fired a huge ball of flames in our direction as soon as he saw us. Wade surprised the dragon by firing a wall of flames right back at him, neutralizing his fire ball.
I imprisoned the dragon in a force field from his neck down, holding it motionless. “Who are you?” asked the dragon.
“We come in peace,” I said. “We are warriors who plan to destroy the evil king who rules the Kingdom of the Dragon Riders. All we want is a peaceful audience with your leader.”
“You are frail young creatures to be talking of destroying King Tabia.”
“We are frail, but we possess powers that have been given to us by the gods. We could destroy the Kingdom of the Dragon Riders, but we will not do so because innocent Rens and dragons could be killed. That is why we need the help of your leader.”
The dragon paused. “Release me and I will take you to the Great Kazanza. He is the ruler of Kazanza Island.”
I released the dragon and we followed him into the cave. We traveled almost a mile before we entered a magnificent cavern. There were several waterfalls and the floor was covered with pure white sand. Rays of sunshine filtered in through an opening in the mountain and the walls contained colorful crystals that gave the carven an enchanted glow. At the far end of the cavern sat a majestic dragon. This was the Great Kazanza and this cavern was his royal chamber.
Kazanza looked as if he had been sculptured by Michelangelo, the famous artist of the sixteenth century. His entire body was magnificent; all the way from his spinney tail to the horns above his deep piercing eyes. Kazanza was the most magnificent dragon I’d ever seen.
There were two smaller female dragons sitting beside Kazanza. My senses told me the larger dragon was his mate and the smaller one was his daughter. I couldn’t help but noticed that the daughter’s left wing was broken. To show our humility, we kneeled in front of Kazanza.
“Oh great ruler of Kazanza Island, I am the Changeling Princess and this is my companion, Wade. We are warriors from a faraway place who come in peace.”
Kazanza leaned forward. When he spoke, his voice filled the cave like thunder on a stormy evening. “I have heard stories of two young warriors collecting the magic crystals across the face of our world. It is said that these warriors defend the innocent and destroy those who are possessed with evil. Are you those warriors?”
“Yes, but we do not collect the crystals. I have the power to draw the life force from the crystals and render them harmless. Our goal is to eventually reach the Kingdom of Vadraza. Then we will destroy Subaza and Nardo, the evil siblings who want to rule this world.”
“Do you have that kind of power?”
“Yes, but our next mission is to destroy King Tabia and his three brothers in the Kingdom of the Dragon Riders.”
“That will not be a simple task. We are powerful dragons, but we cannot defeat the King and his brothers.
“Wade and I have the power to destroy the entire ki
ngdom. We will not do that because we have no desire to harm the peaceful Rens and dragons that live there. That is why we have come to you for help. If we destroy King Tabia, I’m afraid a war will break out between the Demons and the dragons. The king has an army of Demons and they have the power to destroy the dragons.”
“What you say is true,” said Kazanza. “What do you propose?”
“What I propose is for an army of dragons to be placed in secret over the city. That will put them in a position to partner up with the dragons on the ground when the fighting starts. I calculate we will need two hundred dragons to cover the city. Wade and I will join the battle as soon as we dispose of the King and his brothers.”
“I will need more detail,” said Kazanza. “How do you plan on bringing two hundred dragons into Tabia’s kingdom?”
“My companion has the power to cloak the dragon’s scent. We also have the power of invisibility. We can lead a fleet of dragons into the kingdom without anyone knowing they are there.”
“I need a demonstration,” said Kazanza.
I stood near the dragon who led us into the royal chamber. Wade invoked a cloaking spell as I placed my hand on the dragon’s leg. We both turned invisible.
The Great Kazanza straightened up and looked around. “I am impressed. I cannot see you and I cannot pick up your scent.”
I morphed into a Mist and then I floated the dragon to the other side of the cavern. When we turned visible, Kazanza made a noise that sounded like a laugh. “I am impressed even more. You moved to the other side of my chambers and I could not detect it. You have great powers and we will definitely consider your plan.”
We spent the rest of the day touring the island. The younger dragons were no different from the children of other species. They loved playing games, especially tag because it was such great fun to soar through the air. Kazanza’s daughter looked sad because all she could do was watch. I approached her and asked her name.
“My name is Vita and I am four years old. I loved to play games before I broke my wing. My father told me that I must be patient until it heals.”
The Changeling Princess Page 37
