Deragan Sword Prophecy: Book 02 - Meladrom

by Rosemary Lynch

“You are so beautiful,” he whispered. Putting the cups down he pulled her to him and began running a hand down her face. She tingled at his touch, he kissed her, and as she pushed her wet body against him as his hands clasped around her bottom. She broke away from the kiss and gazed into his deep dark eyes before grinning at him.

  “You stink,” she then said, with a giggle. He pushed her back from him.

  “Thanks,” he huffed indignantly. She nodded over to the water.

  “Go on get in.”

  “It is cold,” he moaned. She shrugged.

  “You want me, you get in there,” she said, thumbing to the water. He raised his eyebrows at her and she rose hers back at him.

  “Fine,” he replied. She laughed at his disgruntled face as he took all his clothes off and then laughed even harder as he waded into the freezing water, moaning his head off all the way in.

  “Where is the old man,” she questioned, sipping the hot coffee.

  “At the back of his shack tending to his animals, why?” he replied, washing his hair in the water.

  “I just wondered. Are you clean yet?” she probed, putting the coffee down.

  “Yeah,” he replied, lifting an arm and sniffing comically. She pulled her camisole off, laying it on top of the rock, his mouth dropped open as she dived into the water and came up in front of him. Hooking her arms around his neck, she whispered, inhaling him.

  “Much better my dear husband.”

  Nine ~ Ophidian

  Hand in hand, they walked back to the shack. The old man was still not back, so they helped themselves to some more coffee and Arweyn cooked her eggs. He smiled at her as she ate her breakfast.

  “Worked up an appetite did you,” he said. She gave a slight tilt of her head, licking her lips. He laughed giving a shake of his head. Just then the old man appeared.

  “Good, ya back. Enjoy your swim?” Jede asked addressing Arweyn. She nodded.

  “Oh yes, lovely thanks,” she smiled at Kainan and he winked at her. “And thank you for breakfast,” she then added.

  “You’re welcome,” he replied pouring himself a coffee.

  “Well I suppose we had better be off.” Kainan put his cup down and stood up. Arweyn joined him. Reaching his hand forward he shook the old man’s hand.

  “Thank you for everything Jede.” The old man smiled giving a nod of his head.

  “Just you kill that bastard,” he replied with a sniff.

  “We will. Do you know where the old city of Malgar is?” Kainan asked. The old man nodded.

  “When we have destroyed Gemini there is a place there for you should you wish it at my castle,” Kainan offered, patting the old man on the back. Jede thought for a moment and then looked at his shack.

  “Maybe I will come for a visit,” he replied with a smile. Kainan nodded giving a slight dip of his head to him. Arweyn gave him a kiss on his cheek and he blushed. Putting on their cloaks and grabbing their packs they head off, giving the old man a wave as they went. The old man stood waving back.

  “Kill that bastard,” he whispered, before whistling for his dogs and heading inside.

  ***

  By mid-day they stood on the bank of what they hoped was Lake Tamara, across the other side of which was the base of the mountain ranges of Shankar

  “Now what?” she asked, looking at him. He reached inside his pack and pulled out the silver horn.

  “Now we see if this works,” he said. Apprehensively lifting the horn to his lips, he took a deep breath and blew with all his might. Nothing appeared to happen.

  “Try again,” she urged. Nodding Kainan firstly banged the horn on his arm in case something may have been blocking the sound from coming out, and then he then raised it to his lips and blew. Again, there was no noise, not even a squeak!

  “Oh for goodness sake, please do not tell me we have come this far and it does not work!” she said, disappointed. Kainan huffed.

  “Looks like it.” He shook the horn angrily. “Do you think it was the Queen, perhaps she gave us the wrong horn on purpose?” He shook his head.

  “No she would not have done that. Besides, I opened the box myself. There must be something wrong with it, maybe over time it has deteriorated.”

  In front of them, the water on the lake began to stir, first in gentle little ripples. Arweyn was the first to notice the movement and by the time, she caught his attention it was a giant swirling whirlpool. Something rose from the centre; it was a huge might water-dragon towering above them, his long snake-like body thrashed through the water as he came towards them. His face was that of a dragon with massive jaws but his body was like a snake, but with thick-scaled skin. He was both beautiful, his colour a mixture of sea greens and deepest blues and purples, and at the same time awesomely terrifying.

  “Who dares call the mighty Ophidian!” the creature boomed. Arweyn felt her legs almost buckle under her, at his ferocious roar and she grabbed hold of Kainan, cowering behind him. He was the most terrifying and marvellous looking creature that she had ever seen, and by the stars, they had seen some creatures these past few months.

  He glided towards the bank. Although Kainan had understood him quite clearly, his voice seemed to be stuck in his throat. Arweyn shook him hard.

  “Say something,” she whispered, her eyes widening as she looked up at the water-dragon. Kainan took a breath.

  “Ophidian?” he managed. The water-dragon lowered his head towards them; he cocked it to one side as he recognised the voice.

  “My King you have returned,” he said joyfully. Arweyn listened, but much to her dismay could not understand him.

  “It is has been a long time my King. Have you awakened all the dragons?” he asked. Kainan smiled as Arweyn emerge from behind his back, although still clinging tightly to his arm. Ophidian turned to her he lowered his head.

  “My Queen it is good to see you again,” he said.

  “Kainan I do not know what he is saying,” she whispered shakily into his ear. He glanced at her, before looking back up at Ophidian.

  “She does not understand you Ophidian,” Kainan informed him. Ophidian looked at him and then back at the Queen. He moved his snout in close to her, and then to him.

  “Your memories have not yet returned have they?” Kainan shook his head.

  “No Ophidian they have not. I am afraid we cannot remember anything of our past lives. It is only by clues left by my previous self and my brother Gareion that we have been able to work out these clues that have led us to you.” The dragon moved back and swirled about in the water.

  “It was thought that such may occur, therefore we made a plan to store your memories within my mind. Step forward my Queen,” he said. Kainan turned to her.

  “He wants you to step towards him.”

  “Why, what is he going to do?” she asked, nervously.

  “I am not sure, but I think he is going to help us remember. Go on, it is okay I promise.” She stepped towards the water-dragon. He moved closer to her as she moved to the edge of the water. He lowered his huge head towards her, she stood very still as she felt his hot breath on her face. She swallowed, and although she knew he was their friend, she still could not stop herself from shaking.

  “Close your eyes,” he whispered.

  “Close your eyes,” Kainan translated. She closed her eyes. Ophidian lent his giant forehead against hers. She felt the roughness of his scales on her skin, and her breathing quickened fearfully. Her mind became scrambled and her head spun like crazy, then it stopped and she felt calm.

  “Do you understand me my Queen,” Ophidian’s voice said. She opened her eyes and smiled.

  “Yes Ophidian I understand you,” she said grinning. He turned to Kainan.

  “My King, step forward,” Ophidian, asked, Kainan stepped forward, and Ophidian lowered his head towards him. Kainan closed his eyes, his mind became scrambled, and his head spun crazily and then was calm. Ophidian moved back as Kainan opened his eyes.

  “It will take som
e time, but you will begin to remember, not everything, but what you need to fulfil your prophecy. Now do you wish to see your people my King?” Ophidian asked. Kainan nodded. “Very well.” The great water-dragon swirled in the water rising high above them. “Pendora Cartona Espetta,” he hissed. Arweyn grabbed Kainan’s arm tighter.

  “Look,” she cried pointing across the lake. A huge swirling mist was coming toward them, gliding effortlessly across the stillness of the water. As it came almost before them, they both gasped astounded. Hidden within the mist was a large wooden boat, it looked like it would easily hold around a hundred or so people. As it banked alongside them, Ophidian turned to them.

  “Climb aboard my King and Queen and I shall take you to your people.” Taking Arweyn’s hand, they both climbed aboard the boat. It glistened with a strange sparkling light and as Kainan felt the wood of the boat, it tingled beneath his fingertips he could feel magic emanating from it. Ophidian suddenly dived under the water and a whirlpool began to swirl quickly in front of them. The boat began to move, still hidden within the mist, towards the swirling whirlpool.

  “Kainan,” Arweyn cried alarmed and grasping hold of him. Taking hold of her, he pulled her close to him, and placing a comforting arm around her waist, he held her tight.

  “It is alright. I am certain this boat holds some kind of magical spell about it. We will be fine, I am sure.”

  The water-dragon reappeared from the centre of the whirlpool and with a nod of his head began to descend back down into the water the boat began following him. Arweyn shook with fear as the boat headed directly into the whirlpool. It began swirling around and around, following the water-dragon down into the depths of the lake.

  They both stared with disbelief at the underwater world before them. Safely entombed inside a giant air bubble, it completely contained them and the boat allowing them to breath. Effortlessly the giant bubble-enclosed boat travelled under the water following the swishing tail of Ophidian. Shoals of fish darted past them, clearly shocked by the underwater invaders coming towards them. They travelled a short distance and then the lake bubbled white as water from above the surface pounded into the lake above them. Moving steadily underneath this, the boat began swirling around and around once again as it slowly began rising.

  Breaking the surface of the water the magical air bubble that had prevented them from drowning, disappeared and once again, the boat rested silently on the surface of the water. All around the edge of the boat torches illuminated, lighting up the entire area. They were in an enormous cavern. To the front of them, they could just make out another entrance to a tunnel or another cavern. Behind them, there was a narrow tunnel, too narrow for the boat, where the water from the lake flowed into the cavern, and beyond that, they could hear the roar of a waterfall pounding into the water below, masking the entrance to the narrow tunnel. The water-dragon drew alongside them.

  “Where are we?” Kainan asked, yelling above the noise of the falls.

  “The caves of Parendaar, home of your people,” Ophidian hissed,

  “How did you do that, with the air bubble?” Kainan asked.

  The water-dragon moved closer to him, his face lowered.

  “It was not I my King. It is you. You hold the magic that enabled the protection of the air bubble and your people to hide.” Ophidian nodded his head towards the depths of the cavern. Suddenly the whole area illuminated and there, floating one after another tied to a walkway, were row upon row of boats, similar to the one they were on now.

  “Oh Kainan, look!” she cried in wonder. “Did they all come in those?” she asked, glancing up to the water-dragon. He nodded.

  “How many were there?” Kainan asked.

  “Thousands, I do not know exactly.”

  “And they are all here, within this mountain?” he asked. Ophidian nodded.

  “Yes my King, just as you left them, sleeping.”

  Kainan took Arweyn’s hand, helping her off the boat.

  “Follow the tunnel into the third chamber, there you will find them.” With that, Ophidian began to withdraw back into the water.

  “Where are you going?” Kainan called to him.

  “Use the horn when you need me and I will return,” he hissed before disappearing back into the depths of the water.

  The cavern was plunged into darkness.

  “Illumanartry,” Kainan whispered, holding his hand forward. Instantly a flame appeared on the end of his index finger, giving a gentle glow of light to their worried faces.

  “Kainan, over by the entrance to the tunnel there was a torch, I am sure of it.” Arweyn said, indicating with a nod of her head in the direction she thought the tunnel to be. Moving cautiously, her arm locked into his, they moved forward using the light from his finger to guide them.

  “There,” she said spotting the torch on the wall to the right of them. Reaching forward he lit the torch sending a fiery glow all around them. Ahead was the tunnel. Ominously they proceeded. Kainan was unsure what he was expecting to find, his memory of events in his previous life, still remained a mystery: Arweyn too, could recall nothing except her intense bond with him, which she had felt from the first moment she had seen him in the market square on Malgar, months earlier. Ophidian had said their memories would return. Well he wished it would hurry up.

  The tunnel continued on deep within what they could only assume was the mountain ranges of Shankar. It was cold, and they both simultaneously pulled their cloaks tighter around themselves and shivered. The tunnel suddenly opened up into a small cavern, and it looked like it was a dead end.

  “What now, this cannot be right?” Arweyn questioned, looking at him. Walking around Kainan raised the torch, checking every corner. He shook his head. Why would the water-dragon have sent them this way if it were wrong?

  “Keep looking, there must be a way out,” he urged, running his hands along the edge of the cold walls. Arweyn looked at him, and then at the torch, it was flickering.

  “Kainan, the torch is flickering there must be something near you, an air gap.” She hurried to him, and together they search.

  “Here, here it is!” he cried. “I can feel the air. Look for a lever or something.” Then his hand found a small hole. Pulling his sleeve up, he put his hand into the hole. Arweyn looked on nervously. Suddenly he started screaming, grabbing at his arm, his body shaking.

  “Kainan,” Arweyn screamed hysterically, grabbing at him and shaking in terror. He started laughing.

  “Only kidding,” he said, pulling a lever. Part of the cavern wall began to open.

  “Kainan, how could you!” she screamed at him, shoving him hard. “I thought your arm was being ripped off for goodness sake!” He wiped from his eyes tears of laughter.

  “I am sorry, really. I just could not resist it,” he said, still laughing.

  “Well please resist it in the future Kainan, I am scared enough as it is for goodness sake.” He cupped her face in his hand and smiled.

  “It was funny though, your face,” he grinned, desperately trying to refrain from laughing. She shook her head at him, and he kissed her brow.

  “Come on, let’s go.” Taking hold of her hand, they proceeded into another tunnel. This tunnel too led into another chamber.

  “The second chamber, Ophidian said there would be three. Look for another lever.” She frowned at him. He held his hand to his heart.

  “I promise, no more messing around.” She nodded at him and they began their search. This chamber was larger than the last one and it took them longer to find the next lever this one was hidden in the floor, underneath a rock. Once again, Kainan released it and the wall of the cavern began to open. Walking forward the pair gasped in astonishment. They stood on the edge of a parapet the cavern was vast but incredibly dark. Arweyn noticed that positioned all around the cavern were torches. Taking a deep breath and with a flick of her hand, she cast a spell, sparkles of magic cast itself upon them. One after another, the torches enflamed until the wave of light sprea
d itself around the entire cavern.

  “By the spirits,” Kainan whispered, dazzled by the sudden brightness as he stared from the parapet. Looking below them was a great chasm hundreds of feet deep and it appeared to be bottomless. A pathway wound around the descending chasm and at each level was another opening.

  “Do you think….” she turned, looking at him, wide-eyed and a little apprehensive.

  “The people are down there in chambers?” he interrupted and she nodded. “Yes I do.” She grabbed his arm.

  “Kainan, I have been here before, I can feel it!” Kainan too, felt that he knew this place.

  “Me too, come on,” he agreed, taking her hand and they began the ominous descent. On reaching the first cavern entrance, he hesitated, frowning.

  “There is a force field, we cannot just walk through.” He squeezed her hand and she nodded. It was quite strange how they both knew. He let go of her hand and handed her the torch.

  “I know what to do.” Pulling the Deragan sword from its sheath, he held it up in front of him.

  “Alora kespara melctackaya,” he whispered knowingly, and he lifted the sword striking at the invisible force stopping them from entering the cavern. Dragging the sword in a downward motion, sparkles of magic flew off the steel blade, tearing a rift in the force field and creating an opening for them to pass through. Arweyn watched amazed at how he knew what to say, what to do. It was scary too, stepping into the unknown. With the force field now open, he placed the sword back into its sheath and reached for her hand.

  “Ready?” She nodded passing him the back the torch. Lifting it up in front of him, they stepped through the entrance and into another vast cavern. It was dark, so once again, Arweyn waved her hand, casting her spell, and the cavern illuminated within seconds from the array of torches hung all around them.

  The two stood, staring, neither sure of what words could describe the scene in front of them. There were hundreds of people, sat on the floor of the cavern, silent and motionless. It was the most eerie sight either of them had ever seen in their entire lives. The people were not as stone like Meladrom had been, cold and grey. They still looked alive, like a row upon row of china dolls. They half expected someone to step forward and say something to them, but of course, no one moved.