“Shar Nordar Kilraken
Grenar Lelan Rudesan
Eprewil Aylamguar.”
As his last words were finished, a blinding light flashed before their eyes. Kainan’s eyes automatically turned red in protection, guarding him from the blast, but his wife and brother were not so fortunate.
“Arweyn, Gareion!” Kainan cried as he watched them both unexpectedly collapse to the ground. Jumping down off the fountain and dropping to his knees, he gently lifted her head into his arms “Arweyn wake up,” he begged, gently stroking her brow. She was breathing but unconscious.
“They will be fine,” a deep voice boomed from behind him. Kainan froze in terror, swallowing hard at the loud gruff voice. Carefully laying Arweyn back down onto the ground, he grasped for his sword. Frantically pulling it free and spinning around, he jumped back onto his feet, cursing aloud as the shock of what stood before him threw him off balance. He stared at it in terrified awe. It was no longer cold grey stone instead fierce silvery scales covered the dragon’s body. Its wings that previously been tucked tight into his back, now stretched out wide either side of him and they were an incredible vibrant green. The dragon puffed out his chest. His long barbed tail flickered warningly behind him as it sniffed the air.
“I know who you are,” the dragon said, lowering his head down to him. Kainan trembled as he felt the dragon’s hot breath on his face. “Kainan, King of Malgar.”
“Prince of Malgar,” Kainan dared to whisper back. The dragon took a deep breath, raising himself to his full height.
“I think you will find I am correct.” Kainan frowned and his eyes searched the dragon’s face.
“My father?” Kainan questioned apprehensively. The dragon turned his head sharply bringing his face down to Kainan’s level.
“You will find he is no more,” the dragon whispered sadly. Kainan shook his head.
“No. I do not believe you.” The dragon appeared to shrug his shoulders, if indeed it was possible for a dragon to do such a thing.
“I am sorry my King. Whether you choose to believe me or not is your choice but I speak the truth, your father is lost to the darkness. He will not awake. You must stand once again as King.”
“No!” Kainan yelled angrily at him. “How could you possibly know such a thing?” The dragon shook his head.
“You do not remember?” his voice was sad.
“Remember what?” Kainan cried desperately. How could his father be lost to the darkness, what did that mean? Glancing over to the castle door, he gave a little frown, he wanted to go and find out. He looked down at his wife and his brother unconscious on the ground he could not leave them alone with this dragon. He might harm them or worse, eat them!
Stepping out of the fountain the dragon began pacing around him, stretching his limbs, five hundred years was a long time to be standing still as stone.
“Remember how things were, before the darkness came upon us.” Dropping to his knees, Kainan shook his head. Reaching for his wife, he took hold of her hand and held it tightly she was still warm.
“No I do not remember anything. All I know is I have lived a life before. There is something I need to do, but I do not know what it is,” the young Prince said, looking up. The dragon’s eyes, widened at him.
“There is indeed something that must be done young King. You have a destiny to fulfil.” The dragon knelt down on the ground next to him.
“Do I know you?” Kainan asked. The dragon nodded. Kainan let out a sigh he knew it. He knew there was something familiar about this dragon.
“Near on five hundred years ago the Dark Lord Gemini invaded en mass. He came from a world called Earth.” The dragon snorted and smoked puffed out of his nose. “Using dark magic and black dragons of his own creation, he took the King of Albion’s throne. By taking his throne, he was able to take possession of the Twin Sword. A weapon of great power, Gemini knew it could kill him. The Twin Sword consisted of two powerful swords joined together and in order to stop anyone using it against him, Gemini separated them. One sword, the Gameron Sword is still in his possession, but the other, the Deragan Sword….” He looked down at Kainan side. “That is the sword you possess. Elrone the Great stole it during the battle for Albion and smuggled through the portal to Malgar. Known as the Dark Lord he wanted a world without magic, he wanted to be the only one, the all-powerful wizard. It would be a world where mortal man ruled. Most of his power came from the fear he installed into mortal man, that all races and creatures that were different to them or held the ability to perform magic, were evil. Of course, that was not true, but mortal man was weak and easily led. Elrone knew that there were indeed wizards, and some gifted, who used their powers for their own means, but they were no different to those mortal men who sought power. Tarring the world’s population of wizards, elves and the gifted with the same brush was irrational. The world needed healers and wizards to protect them, but now they were either in hiding for fear of being burned or they were already dead.” The dragon looked skywards. “Elrone the Great stole back the Deragan Sword. Elrone and the five chosen,” he looked down to Kainan, “one of those five chosen being Starre, your first mother, went through the secret portal to Malgar. They were searching for a refuge and a new place to call home. It had been impossible for them to defeat Gemini as his hold over mortal man was too strong, and Gemini and his forces had swept across not only Albion, but also the entire country and even across the seas spreading his poison and his lies.
The five succeeded and with the help of the King of Malgar at that time, they brought through survivors from Albion the elves, dwarfs, and the gifted and even the giants and they settled here on Malgar. The King of Malgar gave them lands of their own. Each race elected a leader and each swore an oath of allegiance to the King. In return, the great wizard Elrone gave your grandfather the Deragan Sword. It contained great power and magic from the world of the spirits, it was a protector against evil. The Gameron sword, the one Gemini stills holds is a protector of evil and gives him ultimate power over demons and black magic. Joined together once more the Twin Sword will be a powerful weapon. It will strike and kill anyone or any creature, be it mortal or immortal, demons, and spirits alike. Elrone warned your grandfather that the sword would only work in the hands of the great one. He foretold of a prophecy, of a time in years to come when the Great One will be born and he alone will have the power to wield the Twin Sword and destroy Gemini. If a wizard, who was not the great one, tried to draw on its power, the sword would take from him or her, their magic and power and store it within the sword itself. Many wizards and gifted from Albion had sacrificed their powers to the sword in the hope that they would be the one who would be able to yield it against Gemini, but none succeeded.
Your mother, Starre, married the young prince of Malgar she was one gifted in advanced magic. You and your brother were born and for twenty years, all enjoyed peace and harmony. Then your father died suddenly and you became King. For five more years, you ruled, until one spring the invasion started. Somehow, Gemini found the portal from Albion and he swarmed through the lands with his black dragons. He built a stronghold in the South and made his base there. For months, you and the dragons of Malgar defended these lands, but his dark magic was too powerful. With the Gameron Sword still in his possession, he was invincible. The decision made, you and the Queen were to fulfil the great prophecy. Your brother Gareion and your mother Starre took as many as they could through the portal to Zyon. You took the rest of the people and hid them in the Shankar Mountains where you put them to sleep along with the dragons; frozen in time for the day you would return with enough power and magic to defeat the Dark Lord.” Kainan frowned. Starre was the name Gareion had just given his newborn daughter he knew he had heard of that name before.
“They took a great risk those that stayed behind. How did they know for sure that I could bring them back?” Kainan’s voice trembled as he spoke, he had been right, the Groundling Empire were asleep in some kind of an
enchantment.
“They did not my King, but the alternative was death by the hand of Gemini and his men, or worse, slavery and for the women and young girls’ toys for his men’s amusement.” The dragon’s lips drew back across his teeth as he snarled angrily. Kainan swallowed nervously as he stared at the dragon’s teeth. “He took my mate Amathea and my son Kailan. There was nothing you or I could do.” He stamped his foot hard upon the ground and Kainan felt the tremor underfoot travel up through his body.
“I chose to be frozen so that I may seek my revenge upon the creature and….” he hesitated, looking at Kainan, his huge dragon eyes suddenly showing pain and sorrow. “Maybe find them still alive.” His head snapped up sharply. “You and the Queen sacrificed your lives to the sword in order that you would be re-born.” He took a breath. “If there are any black dragons then Gemini still lives, created by his black magic they would have been destroyed with his death, and for Gemini to still be alive he must have a dragon. That dragon may be my mate or my son. You must get the Twin Sword and join them back together. You must destroy Gemini, it is your destiny.”
Kainan stared at the dragon in silent thought. Arweyn had been right to be scared all those months ago. There had been worse to come than the Gorzars. He shook his head.
“Surely this cannot be the same Gemini? He would have to be nearly five hundred years old. That is impossible.” Kainan leapt abruptly to his feet and began pacing.
“It is not impossible if you have found a way to become immortal.”
Kainan stopped and turned to him.
“Immortal, how?” he asked.
“By drinking the blood of a dragon,” he replied, looking down into his eyes. Kainan’s eyes widened at the dragon horrified.
“Long ago before the overthrow of his brother, Gemini made a pact with a dragon and in so doing the foolish dragon gave him the gift of eternal life, by allowing him to drink his blood.” The angry dragon’s nostril flared. “A dragon may live for hundreds of years, maybe even a thousand if it is in good health, but taking its blood will shorten its life. This dragon who so foolishly gave his life to Gemini had also given him his magic enabling him to drink dragon’s blood.” The dragon rose to his feet, stamping on the earth. “No mortal can drink dragon’s blood it would burn your insides away. The dragon had given him his magic so that he may absorb the blood, so he still lives on destroying and taking whatever he desires. Gemini came through the portal to Malgar searching not only for the lost races but also for fresh dragon’s blood. Mortal man had all but destroyed the dragons on earth. Even the dragons of Malgar could not defeat him. He had his own race of black dragons created using dark evil magic. Their blood was not good for him as it is not pure. These dragons are ferocious, bred only for destruction.” Kainan nodded.
“We have fought two of these dragons on Malgar. They came through the boundary when the magic failed. Arweyn and I killed them.”
The dragon snorted. “You killed a black dragon?” He nodded. “Then maybe there is hope after all, and the prophecy was indeed true. You have returned as the Great One, destroyer of Gemini.” Kainan stared at him then shook his head looking to the ground.
“Why do I not remember any of this?” The dragon suddenly nudged him hard with his nose. Kainan stumbled forward then spun around to him.
“What did you do that for?”
“Do you still not remember who I am?” Kainan shook his head.
“Think my King, remember.” the dragon, insisted.
Kainan thought hard, there was something about that nudge. Then he remembered the name he had first called the statue all those months ago when he had first arrived in Malgar and then again, in the writings in the book they had found. He looked up to the dragon.
“Meladrom,” he said, the dragon threw back his giant head and laughed.
“Finally!” Meladrom exclaimed. Suddenly a commotion of noise came from behind them. The dragon roared loudly as men approached. Their lances rose in front of them, their swords drawn in frantic panic. Atop of the battlement, the archers had gathered, their bows drawn ready. In the light of the early morning, they had the Prince and the dragon surrounded.
“My Lord,” Drew cried urgently, standing alongside his men, his sword drawn in a shaking hand. Turning to him, Kainan waved them down.
“No all of you stand down it is alright, I am okay.”
“Sire your wife, Prince Gareion?” Drew called, his sword pointing to where the two lay. Kainan shook his head.
“They are fine really, just sleeping that is all. Drew, stand the men down, this dragon is a friend he will not harm us. Trust me,” he urged turning to the archers above and waving his hand at them.
“Stand down that is an order. This dragon is not to be harmed,” he yelled forcefully. Drew stared at him for a moment undecided, and then with a wave of his hand his men stood down. Taking a breath of courage, he marched towards the Prince.
“Prince Kainan?” he questioned approaching with caution, one eye fixed permanently on the dragon. Kainan looked up at the dragon.
“Meladrom reil et Drew, herar reil et dosdoranca,” Kainan said. The great dragon leaned his head towards the King’s bodyguard. Drew leaned back as he felt the warmth of the dragon’s breath on his face.
“Ectorie mor teram carnor Drew,” he growled. Drew swallowed Grabbing Kainan’s sleeve he whispered.
“What did it say?”
“You cannot understand him?” Kainan questioned, looking at him surprised, he had heard him perfectly. Drew shook his head and whispered.
“No. Nor what you said to it.”
“He said, he is pleased to meet you.”
“My Lord, where did it come from?” he whispered again.
“It was the statue in the middle of the fountain,” Kainan told him.
“But that was made from stone,” Drew said puzzled, staring warily at the dragon and then at the empty space in the water fountain.
“I know I brought him back to life.”
“You brought him back to life?” he said frowning disconcertingly, glancing quickly back at the dragon.
“How is that possible?” Drew asked scratching his head in disbelief, his eyebrows rising in question.
“With magic,” Kainan whispered, giving him a grin and raising his eyebrows back. “I know it sounds incredulous Drew but it is true. Arweyn and I have lived a life before and this dragon was part of it. We have both been re-born to complete a prophecy. Beyond the boundary there is an evil man called Gemini who five hundred years ago destroyed my people and my Empire.” He stopped looking at Drew’s face and he was staring at him as if he was completely mad. “It is now time for me to find my people and destroy Gemini.”
“Come with me my King and I will take you to the rest of the Dragons. You will need to awaken all fourteen of them and from there shown the way to the next clue. We shall return for your Queen, as you will need to take this journey together, but for now she and your brother will sleep for a few more hours.”
“What did he say?”
“He wants me to go with him; he wants to show me where the other dragons are and wake them up.”
“My Lord I do not think you should do this, at least not alone. Let me come with you.” Drew placed a hand on his shoulder. Kainan shook his head.
“No thank you my friend, I need you to take care of Arweyn and Gareion, they will wake in a few hours. Tell Arweyn I will be back to get her, ask her to prepare our belongings for a trip. We are going beyond the boundary. She will know what to do.” Drew’s face showed the concern he was feeling. He looked behind him, his men remained, their eyes fixed upon the dragon, hands upon their weapons.
“But my Lord,” his voice lowered into a whisper. “It is a dragon!”
“Drew I will be fine. I know it is hard for you to understand but I feel I know this dragon, I can trust him. Can you please check on the King for me, make sure he is safe.”
“Do you think something is wrong?” Kainan shook h
is head.
“No, it is just something the dragon said. Please make sure his is okay.” Drew bowed his head and said reluctantly.
“Yes my Lord.”
Kainan turned towards the dragon and he looked at him a little nervously. He knew he was taking a great risk, but he did feel in his heart that he knew this dragon, Meladrom. The dragon’s head swung down low to him.
“Do not tell me that you are afraid. Once long ago you and I soared in the skies together, there was no greater dragon and his rider than us.”
“I am not afraid,” Kainan replied indignantly. He glanced over to Drew and a brief reluctant smiled curled on his lips. The dragon moved his knee forward in order for Kainan to climb up onto him. Hesitantly, he reached forward and taking a courageous breath, he grasped hold of the dragon’s scales and heaved himself up onto Meladrom’s back.
“Now my King, hold on. When we reach the boundary you will need to make an opening for us to go through.” Kainan gripped tight.
“What do you mean?”
“Use the Deragan Sword and you will see. The dragon’s lair lies beyond the boundary. We will have to be quick otherwise Gemini may sense my presence.” The great dragon bent his knees and then pushing off at great speed, he soared up high into the sky. The crowds below that had gathered as news spread of a dragon, gasped in disbelief as they watched their Prince and the dragon soar off into the sky. Drew ordered his men to take Arweyn and Gareion to their chambers. He watched, hands held firmly upon his hips, his head shaking, hoping that he had done the right thing and this was not the last time they would ever see their prince. There was a bright light, a break in the boundary and he was gone. Taking a deep breath, hand on the hilt of his sword the King’s bodyguard re-entered the castle, now he had to tell the Queen. He muttered to himself as he wandered down the long corridor and up the crystal staircase, she was going to go mad, she would tell him he should have stopped him. Drew stopped and then huffed before continuing. No one could stop that young man when his mind was set on something, Drew stopped in front of the door to the Queen’s chamber, and taking a steadying breath, he knocked.
Deragan Sword Prophecy: Book 02 - Meladrom Page 10
