Dragonvein - Book Three

by Brian D. Anderson

  “You have done well,” Halvar said. “Your skill as a leader in battle has saved us all.”

  “As did your courage,” she said, bowing her head slightly.

  The king gave a labored chuckle. “And to think I imagined we would both be witnessing the battle from back here.”

  “Having seen so much death up close, I almost wish it had been so.”

  Large numbers of dwarves and elves were now giving chase to the defeated enemy. A group of elves had also surrounded the fallen Maytra, kneeling beside her with downcast eyes. The dragon was stirring, but was obviously unable to move.

  “Can your people heal it?” asked Halvar.

  “We will try.”

  “And what of Ethan? He is in the hands of Shinzan. We must find a way to free him.”

  Keira nodded. “Yes. But we must first attend to matters at hand. With a dragon to aid him, Shinzan has a weapon we cannot match. Even if we somehow manage to free Ethan, it is already clear that he is no match for the beast. We need to find a way of killing it, or this war will be over before it truly begins.”

  Before Halvar could respond, a burst of fire exploding off to their left seized their attention. Keira leapt to her feet, instantly knowing the cause. She headed over at a fast run to where her two elves had been watching over Kat.

  She was now on her feet, legs spread wide apart and fists glowing bright red. Her face was twisted grotesquely, giving her the appearance of a madwoman. “Where is Ethan?” she demanded.

  The two elves in front of her were holding out their hands, trying to calm her down.

  “Ethan is gone,” called Keira, attracting her attention before she could lash out and injure the guards. “Shinzan has taken him.”

  On hearing this, Kat's lips trembled and tears instantly formed. Unable to contain her desperation, she let loose a huge tower of vertical flames, screaming hysterically. This continued for a full minute until abruptly, all energy seemed to drain from her. The flames vanished and she collapsed to her knees, her body shuddering from great sobs. Keira knelt beside her and placed a hand on her shoulders.

  “I need you to be strong,” she said. “Your help is needed.”

  When Kat refused to look up, Keira placed a finger under her chin and firmly lifted her head. “We will try to save Ethan, I swear it. But Maytra is in need of your help. She suffered badly when trying to battle the much larger beast.”

  Kat gazed across the field to where the dragon lay. Having been unconscious when Maytra arrived, it took a short time for her to realize what must have happened. When she did, she shook her head. “I...I’m not a healer. Lylinora only taught me a few healing spells. I can’t heal a dragon.”

  “You must try. If we are to have any hope at all of rescuing Ethan, we will need Maytra’s help. She has to live.”

  The logic of this went some way toward firming Kat's resolve. She nodded and allowed Keira to help her to her feet. “Yes, I'll do my best,” she said, wiping her face on her sleeve.

  Keira smiled. “My men will escort you over to her. For now, I must see to my people.” She gestured for the two guards to step forward and kissed Kat on the cheek. “Be strong.”

  With Kat on her way over to the stricken dragon, Keira began assessing the damage done in battle. Those dwarves who were not pursuing the remnants of the Imperial force were already tending to the huge number of wounded. Keira stared out over the carnage. The price of victory was going to be high.

  It was well into the night before she saw King Halvar again. With a fresh set of clothes and wounds bandaged, he now looked marginally better. Reports had come in that only a very small number of Shinzan’s troops had managed to escape their pursuers, and Keira had little doubt that those few survivors would very soon be reporting to him of their enemy's ferocity. Meanwhile, a large area at the base of the road leading into the mountain had already been transformed into a temporary hospital for the most seriously injured. Any wounded who could walk or safely be moved - both dwarf and elf alike - were being taken directly into Elyfoss.

  On seeing Keira approach, Halvar gave her a respectful nod and invited her to join him in a small tent that had been erected for his personal use. Inside, a cot and a table with four chairs had been placed. Assisted by a young dwarf, Halvar sat down heavily. Keira took a seat opposite.

  “How is the girl?” the king asked.

  “Distraught, as one would expect.”

  He nodded grimly. “I share her feelings. Without Lord Dragonvein, what hope is there?”

  He motioned for the young dwarf to bring him a bottle that was sitting on the cot and then dismissed him. After taking a long drink of the whiskey, he offered the bottle to Keira, but she politely refused. “Though it is a terrible thing to admit,” he continued, “it would seem there really is no way to rescue him. Not if he is with Shinzan. Any attempt would be futile.”

  “I can promise you that Kat will think otherwise,” Keira told him.

  “Then we must convince her of her folly. The war is upon us. There is no turning back now. Even without Lord Dragonvein, we have no choice but to fight on. We will be needing her powers in the days ahead.”

  “She will try regardless,” Keira pointed out. “And I suspect there is little either of us can do to stop her.”

  Halvar thought on this for a moment, then threw up his hands in frustration. The sudden movement sent pain shooting through his body, causing him to suck breath sharply through his teeth. “My mind cannot focus on these matters for now. There has been too much pain and loss today. Much of it is due to my own blindness. I should have known the Emperor would not have sent such a small force to face us without motive. But I thought he was merely planning to unleash some of the powerful weapons we made for him. I never would have suspected…a dragon.”

  “I should have known too,” Keira admitted, remembering the group of elves she had come across mysteriously consumed by fire. “I saw warning signs during my journey here.”

  “You are new to leadership,” Halvar told her. “I am not. I am accustomed to seeing through subterfuge and deceit. But for some reason I thought my enemy a fool, when in truth that flaw rests only with myself.”

  “There is no point in assigning blame, Your Highness. You rallied your people and saved many lives today. Even my people are talking of your valor.”

  He waved a dismissive hand. “Saving people from a trap that I led them into in the first place is not valor. It is an obligation.”

  Keira regarded him steadily, then said: “My father once told me that only a great fool tortures his heart over what cannot be undone. Learn from your mistakes, forgive yourself, and move on. You will be no good to your people should you fall into despair.”

  Halvar pondered on these words. “You are right, of course,” he said, forcing a smile. “You will one day surpass his wisdom, of that I am certain. Thank you.”

  A tall elf clad in battle worn leather armor pushed back the tent flap. His face was smeared with blood and grime, and the blade at his side was bent and chipped. “The human called Kat has collapsed,” he announced.

  Keira and Halvar both shot to their feet.

  “What happened?” Halvar demanded.

  “We think she has exhausted herself healing the dragon. She lives, but we are unsure as to her condition.”

  “And the dragon?” asked Keira, a hint of hope in her voice.

  “Whatever magic she used appears to have helped. Though admittedly, none of us have any real knowledge of a dragon's anatomy. So it is difficult to know for certain.”

  “Bring Kat here,” Halvar commanded. He turned to Keira. “Do you have any healers who are familiar with humans?”

  “Humans are not so different from elves,” she said. These opening words caused a fleeting scowl to appear on the messenger's face, so she added by way of qualification: “That is to say, their bodies react similarly to our healing.”

  “I will fetch a healer,” the elf said before hurrying away.

&
nbsp; Keira ducked outside for a moment, quickly returning with a thick blanket and a clean pair of cotton pants and matching shirt. Another elf followed her in bearing a bowl of water and a rag.

  A few minutes later, a fairly old female healer and the guards carrying Kat arrived. Halvar immediately exited the tent, allowing Keira the privacy to clean and dress her. With this done, she joined the king outside so that the healer could continue with her work unhindered.

  “Did she stir?” he asked.

  “No,” Keira replied, her expression solemn. For now, there was nothing else to be said.

  More than an hour passed before the healer emerged. “The girl is suffering from extreme exhaustion,” she stated. “The magic she used has drained her utterly.”

  “But she will be all right?” Halvar asked.

  “I should think so,” the healer replied. “She is young and strong. But she must rest for at least two days before being allowed to rise. And I would advise that she refrains from undertaking anything too strenuous for at least a day beyond that.”

  “How long will she be asleep?” asked Keira.

  The old woman shrugged. “Until her body recovers well enough for her to open her eyes. I will return in the morning to check on her progress. But for now, there are many others who are in need of my care.”

  In a subtle way, the healer was telling them that she was not best pleased to have spent time treating a human when her own wounded kin were in need of her. But she gave no other sign of disrespect and bowed courteously before leaving.

  “I will stay with Kat tonight,” Keira said. She regarded the king’s aspect. It was taking a tremendous effort for him to mask the pain he was still in. “And if you would be so kind as to stay here as well, Your Highness.”

  Halvar laughed softly. “Is my infirmity so obvious?” He waved a hand before she could reply. “I’ll do as you wish. But one of us should be visible while we attempt to pick up the pieces of this terrible day.” He gingerly touched his chest where the shirt covered a mass of bandages. “The salve my healers use takes at least a day to become effective. Until then, I should indeed rest.”

  Keira leaned down and kissed the king’s cheek. “Rest well. I will tend to matters in your stead.”

  Once another cot had been brought, she walked down to where Maytra was now being guarded by more than a hundred elves. Even a few dwarves had come to join them in their vigil. Keira couldn’t help but be moved by the sight of the two old foes, now brought together in a single purpose. Evidence of my father’s wisdom, she told herself. She suddenly missed him terribly, and was forced to choke back tears. Setting her sorrow aside, she moved closer to Maytra.

  Her eyes were shut, but her breathing was deep and steady. The wounds where the silver dragon had sank its teeth in were now closed – although the scales had been torn away, revealing a deep brown hide beneath.

  Keira knelt and placed a hand on Maytra’s snout.

  “The human mage did well,” came a soft female voice from behind her.

  She looked around to see a young elf woman wearing a leather jerkin and trousers holding a brass lantern. “Yes, she did,” Keira agreed.

  “I have never witnessed such raw determination,” the girl continued. “I hope she will not pay too high a price for her efforts.”

  “Our healer says she is just exhausted,” Keira informed her. “But tell me, has the dragon stirred at any time?”

  “Once, that's all. Just after the human collapsed. But only for a few seconds. We were wondering if we should attempt to move her.”

  Keira shook her head. “I think she should remain where she is for now. Though we should increase the numbers on guard here just in case the Emperor sends someone to harm her.”

  A grizzled dwarf with a matted beard and battered armor stepped forward. “With your permission, My Lady, I will ask for volunteers among my people.”

  Keira smiled. “I would be most grateful for that. Thank you.”

  The dwarf bowed and walked away at a brisk pace.

  “They are not as I had expected,” remarked the young elf woman with the lantern. “The dwarves, I mean.”

  “No, they are not,” Keira agreed. “What a great pity it is that we must learn these lessons through war and death.”

  By dawn, more than three hundred elves and dwarves had formed a protective circle around Maytra. King Halvar emerged from his tent, if not looking completely refreshed, then certainly in a much better condition than the night before. Clearly the dwarf medicine had been effective.

  Kat finally awoke around mid-morning, though she was still far too weak to rise. Keira joined her and spoke of Maytra's condition.

  “I did what I could,” Kat said.

  Keira placed a hand tenderly on her forehead. “You did well. You have saved her life.”

  Tears welled in Kat's eyes. “But what next? Will you really help me save Ethan?”

  Keira nodded. “I will. But I must be honest with you. At this moment I have no idea how such a thing can be achieved. It is impossible to enter the Imperial palace without Shinzan’s knowledge. To attempt it means certain death. And though I know you would willingly sacrifice yourself, it would serve no good purpose. Should you try, you will be killed and Ethan will still be in Shinzan's clutches. Your sacrifice will have been in vain.”

  “Then what can we do?” Kat pleaded, struggling to maintain some semblance of composure.

  “For now, nothing, I’m afraid. We will need to have a plan before any action can take place. But I give you my word I will do everything I can to find a way as quickly as possible.”

  Keira stayed with her until well into the afternoon. Halvar arrived later on and they ate together, though Kat remained silent throughout the meal. Eventually, she fell asleep, allowing Keira to slip outside. She found Halvar near the healing pavilion. His brow was deeply creased in thought.

  “I’ve been over it in my mind a thousand times,” he said. “There is simply no way we can rescue Ethan while he is inside Shinzan's palace. No way at all.”

  “Kat will not accept this,” Keira replied. “But I am forced to agree with you. Any attempt would be doomed to failure.”

  Halvar sighed deeply. “Then let us pray to the spirits that he somehow finds a way to free himself. That seems to be our only hope.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Renald had been weeping for hours, unable to leave his bed since feeling death creeping ever closer to his beloved Maytra. “No….please no,” were the only words he had sobbed repeatedly throughout this time. He knew she had fought bravely, and was now paying the price for her courage. He had literally felt Maytra's agony as the terrible wound was inflicted. And as her life slowly ebbed, the pain in his heart was growing ever more intense.

  Lylinora had tried several times to ask him what was wrong, but he refused to speak to her. Even Markus had tried and met with the same predictable rebuff.

  It wasn’t until late that night that Renald suddenly sprang up from his bed. Lylinora was seated on the sofa reading a story aloud to Markus, while Val, Jake and David were talking quietly at the table about their homes on Earth. In an amazing turnaround of mood, Renald began jumping up and down and waving his arms about with sheer joy. So energetic were his celebrations, it was several minutes before any of the startled others were able to get anything out of the old mage.

  “What is it?” asked Lylinora yet again.

  “She lives!” he cried. “She lives!”

  “Who lives?” asked Markus.

  “Maytra,” he shouted, a giddy smile on his face. “Kat has saved her.”

  “Kat?” Markus repeated. “What the hell are you babbling about?”

  Renald spun around and danced over to the cupboard to grab a bottle of wine. After pouring himself a large cupful, he finally took a seat and drained the entire contents in a single gulp. Sighing with happiness, he then closed his eyes, a tiny smile still lingering on his lips.

  Lylinora walked over and placed a ha
nd on his shoulder. “Please, Renald. Tell us what has happened.”

  He smiled up at her. “As you know, Maytra left here to help Ethan. I’m not exactly sure what happened, but I can say for certain that she was mortally wounded. I could feel her slowly dying all through the afternoon and evening. Then, just as the last traces of life were about to leave her body, a miracle happened. She was saved.”

  “And you are sure it was Kat who saved her?”

  “Absolutely,” he replied, pouring another cup of wine. “For the briefest of moments I could see through her eyes. Kat was healing her wounds.”

  “Is Maytra the dragon you spoke of before?” asked David.

  Renald nodded. “She left just before you arrived.”

  “Do you know what it was that hurt her?” asked Markus.

  “No, I was unable to see that.”

  Markus sat down across from the old mage, a worried look on his face. “Did you see anything else at all?”

  He shook his head. “Not a thing. The connection lasted mere seconds. The only thing I caught a glimpse of was Kat healing her.”

  “And this…connection,” Markus continued. “Do you think you could use it again to find out what has happened?”

  Renald considered this for a moment. “Perhaps. I have always had a special bond with Maytra. But after she strengthened it, I never thought very much on how I might make use of it.”

  “Try,” said Markus. “We need to know what could have done so much damage to a dragon. Any news about Ethan and Kat would good too.”

  “Very well.”

  After carefully folding his hands in his lap, Renald reached out with his mind. Since Maytra had left, the increasingly great distance separating them had dulled their connection. Though he still felt her presence, her voice had slowly faded until it was barely a whisper. He could feel that she was still in pain. But her life was no longer in danger.

  Can you hear me, he called out?

  At first there was no response. Then a wave of affirmation came over him. Not in words, just a feeling. She could hear him. He knew it.