Dragonvein - Book Three

by Brian D. Anderson

  Lylinora nodded. “Of course.”

  Renald slid down and crossed over to David, stopping when he was a few yards away. “There is nothing to fear, lad. Come. We have much to talk about.”

  “We have nothing to talk about,” he shouted. “Send me back. You had no right to bring me here.”

  “First of all, we cannot send you back,” Renald told him. “And even if we could, we would not. The fate of this world depends on you being here. That alone gives me the right.”

  “Are you insane?” David shot back. “I know why I’m here. You want me to fight Shinzan. Well, you can all just go to hell. I won’t do it.”

  “Then you will die,” Renald told him flatly.

  “You bastard! Why are you doing this? You can’t beat him. No one can.”

  “Who was your family?” Renald asked, ignoring the rant. “You look familiar to me.” Not receiving an answer, he scrutinized David for a few moments, then raised his right index finger and waggled it. “No need to tell me, I know who you are. You are Jeric Lauben. Your father was killed during the first assault on the Emperor. I remember him well. A brave man. But your mother was the better mage, I think. Almost as powerful as Praxis Dragonvein himself.”

  “My name is David Roberts,” he insisted. “And my father was a fool.”

  “As you wish…David. But whatever name you choose to go by will not save you. If Shinzan is not defeated, he will eventually find you and kill you. And though you may feel our bringing you here is unjust, that doesn’t help your situation one bit. You are in Lumnia, and nothing can be done to change this. So your choices are to either fight or die.”

  David glared hatefully at the old mage. “And who are you?” he asked.

  “Renald Dragonvein, brother of Praxis.” He gestured for David to follow him.

  After a lengthy hesitation and without any other options open to him, David did as suggested and joined the others on the platform. After introductions had been made, they sat down in a circle. Markus did not attempt to hide his contempt, nor did David conceal his.

  “I would say that I’m sorry I shot you,” remarked David. “But I’m not. If my aim had been better I’d still be home right now, instead of getting ready to die at the hands of Shinzan.”

  Markus felt Specter rising again. “If you’re not careful, you'll die long before you ever meet Shinzan,” he growled.

  “Enough,” warned Ganix. “Whatever happened with you two, it needs to be left in the past.”

  “Agreed,” said Renald. “You live. Which is more than I can say for poor Jonas. So let us move on and not squander his sacrifice.” The pain in his eyes when speaking Jonas’ name was clear for all to see. The two men may have constantly bickered, but there was no doubting they had grown close in their own strange way.

  “I think it might be best if we told him exactly why we brought him here,” Lylinora suggested. Hearing no objections to this, she began to give David an account of what had been happening in Lumnia since he was sent to Earth. David listened silently, occasionally glancing over at Markus, but looking away before their eyes could actually meet. It was getting late, but Lylinora pressed on until bringing him up to date on the situation.

  “Let me see if I understand this,” David said when she had finished. “You are thinking about challenging Shinzan just because of an elf prophecy you happened to hear? Are you stupid, or just plain crazy?”

  “Not simply because of the prophecy,” Ganix corrected. “We are doing this because if we don’t, all life on this world will be extinguished. And you should not discount the wisdom of the elves so easily.”

  David threw up his hands. “And I’m supposed to care about this? Listen, I’m thirty-six years old. This hasn’t been my world for a long time. My family is dead; slaughtered by the very person you want to pick a fight with. I have nothing here.”

  “So you would allow the murder of your family to go unanswered?” said Markus. “Then you are a coward.”

  “Fuck you,” snapped David. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “My family was killed as well,” Lylinora interjected. “Everything I once knew has been ripped away. I never met your father, but I knew of him. And you are right. He was a fool. He, along with the rest of the Council of Volnar, failed to act when there was still time. They allowed Shinzan to grow powerful. And when they did finally do something, they did so blindly. In the end, they paid dearly for their folly.”

  She leaned in, compelling David to meet her gaze. “We will not be so foolish. Nor will we walk blindly into danger.” She raised her hand in an exaggerated sweeping motion. “Look around you. The dragons are keeping Shinzan at bay. The son of Praxis fights with us. Even the spirit of Martok the Destroyer has joined our cause. I do not think you a coward. But you would be a fool not to fear the Emperor. I know I do. But he can…no...he will be defeated. I know you would avenge your family if you believed there was a chance for us to win.” She reached out and took his hands, squeezing tightly. “There is a chance. I swear to you – there is.”

  Slowly, David’s face betrayed the deep sorrow he'd been concealing. Tears welled in his eyes, threatening to burst into a flood. “I saw what Shinzan can do,” he said. “I watched him raze my home to the ground and slaughter every one of the innocent people who lived nearby. They weren’t even soldiers. Just farmers and craftsmen. It didn’t matter how old or how young; he killed them all. How do you fight against that? With words and hope? My mother sent me away to protect me. She knew I would never be safe so long as Shinzan lived.”

  He pulled his hand free of Lylinora's grip. “I was happy on Earth. I was safe. And now, here I am again. You want to know the truth? I don’t give a damn about revenge. My family is dead and there is nothing I can do to change that. So I don’t give a damn about Lumnia, or the elves, or the dragons, or you and your useless war.”

  With a flash of anger, Renald rose to his feet. “Then care for your own life. If you need a reason to fight, your own survival should surely be enough. Because if you choose to run and hide, Shinzan will find you, wherever you flee. He will certainly kill you, but very, very slowly. You will be begging him for death long before it ever arrives.” He loomed over David, his bent frame suddenly straight and menacing. “Or perhaps I should save our despised Emperor the trouble.” His hands began to glow green.

  This time, surprisingly, it was Markus who became the voice of reason. “Enough of this. If you want me to apologize for what I have done, then I will say that I'm sorry it was necessary. But bringing you back here could save millions of lives. I don’t blame you for being afraid - I really don’t. But you’re just going to have to find a way to get past it.”

  There was a long tense pause while David considered his situation. Eventually, he nodded. “Okay, you win. If there's no way back to Earth for me, I don’t really have a choice, do I?” He laid his head in his hands. “What do I need to do?”

  “Learn. Learn as much as you can, as fast as you can,” Renald told him. “I assume that you were well taught by your parents.”

  David looked up. “Yes. But I don’t remember most of it. Only a few spells. I was only fifteen.”

  “I am sure it will come back to you,” said Lylinora.

  They decided to spend the night in the canyon and head out in the morning. They talked for a time. It turned out that David was an engineering professor at M.I.T. After arriving on Earth, he was adopted by a couple who found him wandering the streets of Boston. Both were academics, and they'd seen to it that David was given the finest education.

  “It was difficult at first,” he said. “Learning English was hard enough, but learning to live without magic was something I couldn’t possibly have prepared for.”

  “Did you ever tell your adoptive parents the truth about where you are from?” asked Markus.

  “Once,” he replied. “After I graduated high school, we sat down together and I told them everything.”

  “And did t
hey believe you?”

  “I don’t know. They just said that none of it mattered any longer. Earth was my home and I shouldn't worry about Lumnia.” He let out a derisive laugh. “I guess they were wrong about that. Anyway, they died a few years ago in a car accident.”

  “So you have no wife or children?” asked Lylinora.

  David spread his arms wide. “Hey, look at me. I’m not exactly a dashing hero. Not many women go for the skinny professor type.”

  Lylinora laughed. “Well at least here on Lumnia being a mage might turn some heads.”

  David huffed. “Being a mage here will probably get me killed long before that happens.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Ethan’s heart pounded wildly as the elf and dwarf armies hurried to form ranks. Apparently unwilling to simply wait any longer to be attacked, the Imperial soldiers had taken the initiative. They were now moving with great speed: far more than anyone expected of them. This had sent waves of alarm throughout the dwarf ranks, though the elves appeared to be far more relaxed about the situation. The fact remained that they still outnumbered the enemy two to one. Their scouts had reported that no Imperial reinforcements had arrived, and none were advancing from anywhere nearby.

  On the surface, it still looked as if this would be an easy victory. The battle plan would remain unchanged. They would punch straight through the center of the Imperial lines with all their strength and split the enemy in two. The elves would then close in around them.

  Ethan pleaded to be allowed in the fight, but Halvar stood fiercely against it. They would not put him at risk unless there was no other choice. Keira agreed, as did all but a few of the commanders.

  “There will be time enough for you to fight,” Halvar had told him. “Your battles will be upon you sooner than you think, I would imagine.”

  This was true. Ethan actually only needed to fight one battle – one that he was nowhere near ready to face just yet. Though the lessons Martok passed to him through Kat had increased his knowledge tremendously, he was still a long way short of being powerful enough to face Shinzan.

  The mood of the elves was one of excitement and anticipation. Ethan was now keenly aware that his connection with them was far deeper than he first realized. They could not only feel the will of Lumnia and use its power to give them strength, they could actually share their thoughts and memories with each other. It was how many of them passed down learning and history from one generation to the next. However, not all chose this method of communication. Some elves found it far too personal an experience. The longer he was around them, the more Ethan was coming to realize that they were not as different from humans as they thought - or would care to admit. Elves were not some race with a single mind. That they were all connected to Lumnia did not mean they were without individuality. All the same, even the most reserved amongst them did not care for prolonged periods of solitude - not that most humans did either – but theirs was an almost fundamental need for the company of their own kind; as essential as food and water.

  Ethan glanced behind him. The battle would be fought within the shadow of the dwarf kingdom. The tall jagged peaks loomed ominously like the broken grin of some ancient god, there to witness the petty squabbles of mere mortals. It occurred to him that, should they have underestimated their foe, retreat would be incredibly difficult. The only road leading to the interior of the mountain was far too narrow. A withdrawal would take many hours.

  The vast open field in which they would clash was uneven and littered with large boulders. This would give the elves a marked advantage by providing plenty of cover.

  A hand touched Ethan on the shoulder. He looked to see Kat smiling at him.

  “Are you nervous?” she asked.

  He nodded. “It’s different from what I’ve seen before.”

  “Yeah,” she agreed. “I've seen the old films about World War II. They used to come on after cartoons on Saturday morning.”

  Ethan chuckled. The thought of Kat watching events on television as if they were ancient history, when to him they had occurred only a short time ago, was oddly amusing. “This is more like something out of the King Arthur stories,” he said, grinning.

  “So I guess that makes you Merlin,” she added playfully.

  Ethan cocked his head. “Didn’t Merlin die in the end?”

  She poked him hard in the ribs. “Not funny.”

  She had only just finished speaking when the blare of trumpets sounded in the distance. This was accompanied by a rhythmic deep thudding of drums. Both armies fell silent for a moment. The enemy was coming and soon the battle would be joined.

  King Halvar and Keira approached. Halvar’s gleaming plate reflected the morning sun, giving him a slight aura. He was armed with a massive war hammer strapped across his back and a short sword on his belt. He walked with even, confident strides, eyes burning with deadly intent from beneath his helm. Every bit the warrior king, Ethan thought.

  In stark contrast to Halvar, Keira was clad in modest leather armor. Though plain and unadorned, Ethan knew that it would be functional in battle. Elves fought with speed and cunning rather than brute force, which made steel armor impractical for them. She carried two long knives, one hanging on each side of her belt, while a thin silver crown rested upon her brow.

  “They will be upon us within the hour,” Halvar announced. “I would have you two join me and Keira at the rear.”

  Ethan saw a look of displeasure appear on the elf's face. “What’s wrong?” he asked her.

  “King Halvar would have me cower like a frightened child while my people risk their lives,” grumbled Keira.

  “It is the price of leadership, I’m afraid,” Halvar told her. “Your value rests not in your arm, but in your mind. Even your own commanders agree on this point.”

  Keira sniffed. “My father never hid while others fought.”

  “Your father never fought in this kind of war,” Halvar pointed out. “No one has for hundreds of years. I assure you, I am as distressed as you are about not being in the thick of the battle. But I must sacrifice my pride to ensure the well-being of my people. As leaders, we can provide reassurance and comfort to those who are afraid and uncertain. We can give them the courage to fight on. But only if we are alive.”

  “My people are not afraid,” she said quickly.

  “Yes they are,” Ethan cut in. “They just hide it better than a human or a dwarf.”

  Keira glared at him for a moment. Her expression then relaxed and she nodded. “I will have to remember that you are now a part of us.”

  “There is no shame in fear,” said Halvar. “It is a test. One that I hope we shall all pass this day.”

  The four of them watched as the first of the enemy soldiers came into view. They were divided into three sections, with an unbroken wall of shields and long spears at the vanguard. The cavalry and archers followed at the rear. It was assumed they would possess a large number of dwarf weapons, but it was unclear how they intended using these. The elves, skilled archers that they were, considered bows to be just as effective when in the right hands, and Ethan knew they would not be underestimating the danger that human arrows might pose. The Imperial drums grew ever louder as the ranks slowed their march. Black and crimson banners attached to long poles fluttered in the stiff north wind. It was an impressive sight. Though outnumbered, they would not make the battle easy.

  Even the elves were affected by the spectacle. Ethan could feel this. As for the dwarves, they remained silent, though their tension was clear. The rapid beating of drums continued for more than a minute, increasing in tempo all the time. Then, after reaching a powerful crescendo, they abruptly stopped. All that could be heard was the wind and the creaking of leather on steel.

  Kat took his hand and squeezed. “This is it.”

  The lonely call of a single trumpet sounded from the Imperial lines. A few moments later, three men rode out to the center of the field and halted. The man in the middle carried a white banner wi
th a red stripe splitting it horizontally through the center.

  “Parlay,” muttered Halvar. “They wish to discuss terms.”

  “Terms for what?” asked Ethan.

  Halvar gave him a wicked smile. “Our surrender, of course.” He waved a dismissive hand. “A mere formality.” He looked to Keira. “Shall we?”

  She nodded. “And I think Lord Dragonvein should accompany us as well. There is no reason to conceal his presence. And perhaps the fear of a mage might well work to our advantage.”

  “Indeed it might,” Halvar agreed. He looked at Ethan. “That is, assuming you are willing.”

  “Of course.”

  He released Kat’s hand and met her eyes. “You should stay here.”

  She opened her mouth to object, but Ethan cut her short. “I’ll need you watching my back, just in case they try something sneaky.”

  She nodded, her expression sour. “Fine. But if they try something…” A tiny ball of flame appeared at the tip of her finger. “They’ll wish they had never been born.”

  Ethan kissed her lightly before setting off with Halvar and Keira. Several dwarf and elf fighters hurried forth to serve as escorts, but Halvar waved them all away.

  “It is tradition that the commanders meet alone,” he told them. “I doubt they will be so reckless as to attack us. Especially when they discover they are facing a mage.”

  Ethan almost laughed out loud at the thought of anyone fearing him, though his amusement soon turned into anxiety as they walked toward the trio waiting for them in the center of the battlefield. They were all intimidatingly large men sitting proudly astride their mounts. Each was wearing resplendent black armor with a crimson raven splashed across their breastplates. Their helms were adorned with blood red feathers, and had silver ravens etched into either side. All three dismounted once Ethan and the others were about twenty yards away.

  The man in the middle was a full head taller than Ethan, with penetrating brown eyes and a square jaw. The other two were massively broad in the shoulder, and though slightly shorter, just as imposing. At their sides hung heavily jeweled scabbards sheathing gold-hilted longswords.