On the Wings of Dragons: Path of the Wielders 3

by Cleave Bourbon

  “Oh, yes, thank you, Morgoran. The other gods, including Fawlsbane Vex’s brother Fex and the god Fawl, whom Vex defeated and destroyed, thus the name Fawlsbane Vex, had also created their own versions of followers and a myriad of creatures.”

  “All of them given life by Loracia,” Asrion reminded him.

  “Of course,” Melias acknowledged. “Anyhow, to simplify, when wars broke out between rival peoples, Fawlsbane Vex made a pact with all the other gods that from then on, no one should create any being or creature without his expressed permission and that no god should interfere with the natural process of their creation directly. The whole affair is extremely complicated, but that is the gist of it.”

  Morgoran nodded. “I think most everyone here has a basic knowledge of mythology and history. Now kindly get back to the tome.”

  “At some point, the dragons became wary of man and judged them ungrateful and rash. The dragons retreated from being guardians of man and left to build Draegodor. Fawlsbane Vex tried to talk them out of it, but the dragons made extremely convincing arguments and were allowed to leave man to his own devices. One of the arguments was that man had begun to hunt some of the lesser dragons and kill them. Those dragons developed a particular hatred for men and vowed to destroy them.”

  “The dragons of Kragodor,” Shadesilver said.

  “Aye,” Melias nodded, “and with the dragons of Draegodor no longer protecting man, the so-called “evil” dragons preyed freely on man and his livelihood. Fawlsbane Vex could not interfere with the lesser dragons created by his offspring by penalty of his own decree, so he broke the pact by a technicality. He did not intervene in the affairs of the dragons directly; instead, he gave man the Tome of Enlightenment, a book of knowledge that taught man their own version of magic.”

  “A bit long-winded, my friend,” Morgoran jested, “but essentially the story.”

  “Why would Kaxen want to get the book?” Bren asked. “He can already use the magic.”

  “The tome bestows magic on man. Not only would it teach him how to use the wild magic, it would bestow on him all the knowledge of magic ever known to man. Magic is waning here due to the War of the Oracle and all the time that has passed where magic was essentially outlawed.”

  “I get it,” Bren said. “Kaxen would have the power of the Sacred Land and the ability to utilize it.”

  “Exactly, he would even know the magic man has forgotten.”

  “That’s wonderful news then,” Trendan said. “Kaxen could get the army back and oust Malanor and Toborne. Why aren’t we helping him get it!” He looked at Morgoran, who obviously did not share in his enthusiasm. “Morgoran?”

  A reluctant Morgoran spoke. “Kaxen is not himself. The trials did not go exactly as expected. I do believe, however, that his essence sickness was cured, but at such a high price.”

  Aurelie suddenly confronted Morgoran. “What happened to Kaxen? Is he okay?”

  Morgoran put up his hand to ward off her advancement. “He is well. I am just not sure of his priorities any longer. I am uncertain of what he encountered in the trials. His motivations are in question, and his actions may now have more dire consequences than that of Toborne and Malanor.”

  “Or he may have a better understanding than you on what needs to be done now. Maybe he no longer needs your guidance.” Aurelie’s voice was icy.

  Morgoran nodded. “I hope beyond hope you are correct.” He straightened his back and slapped his hands on his knees to change the mood. “At any rate, thanks to Trendan’s new information, I now believe I know what he is after and where he is going. The portal chamber at Lux Enor is directly under the archives building across from the highlord’s forum building. He could slip into the archives undetected and then back to the portal chamber. According to legend, there are four keys needed to get the tome. The actual location of the Tome of Enlightenment can only be revealed if all of the four keys are first retrieved. The first key is a fist-sized blue crystal encased and on display in that archive building. It isn’t even guarded because no one really believes that the tome even exists outside of legend. The second key is a staff that the crystal fuses with. Currently, it is in the hands of the king of Symboria, and he isn’t about to let go of it. He even uses it to hobble around on like a crutch; he would be lost without it. The third key is a golden serpent that, when joined with the other keys, will magically wrap around the staff. It is said to be lost somewhere in the treasure hoard of King Amarantus in Draegodor.”

  “Good luck getting that key,” Shadesilver snickered.

  “Indeed,” Morgoran mused, “and then there is the fourth key, the eternal light.”

  “Where is that key?” Asrion asked.

  “If memory serves, it is trapped inside an amulet and must be released into the staff when the other three keys are joined.”

  “Let me guess,” Asrion mused, “it’s around the neck of Fawlsbane Vex himself.”

  “No, much worse than that and far less likely to get ahold of. It’s around the neck of General Sythril. The eternal light is the life essence of the rulers of Ishrak. It’s what curses him to his unnatural existence. To get that key, one must first break the curse of Ishrak. If Kaxen is convinced the tome exists, and if he is going after the fabled keys, we must stop him before he goes to By’temog. Throughout time, wielders much more skilled than Kaxen have tried to get at General Sythril. All of them failed, and the general would not hesitate to add another wielder to his twisted army before Kaxen could get anywhere near that amulet.”

  “It is safe to assume he has the first key,” Melias guessed. “The second key, the staff, is the closest to Lux Enor. Wouldn’t he try to procure them in order?”

  “Why would he go after them in order?” Morgoran considered the possibility. “If I thought I might be followed and I also thought the pursuers might guess what I am up too, I would go out of order to throw them off my trail, and you are wrong; the second key is not the closest. At present, the fourth key is closest, through the portal.”

  “Symbor does not have a portal?” Trendan asked.

  “Old Symbor does, but it is of little use to us being in the Sacred Land. The current Symbor used to be the city of Paladine, and I know for a fact that the first thing the kings of old did before they built the new king’s castle was to destroy all remnants of magic in the city. That includes the Migarath Portal chamber,” Morgoran replied.

  Kimala stretched out her arms and pulled them back to stretch out her shoulders. “Are we going to stay cooped up in this chamber?”

  Morgoran crossed his arms. “We are trying to discuss our next move now, or haven’t you been listening?”

  “I have been listening to a lot of indecision. We could split into pairs and go to each location. Wouldn’t that be the easiest? You even have two dragon knights and a dragon that could go to Draegodor.”

  “You think it’s that simple, do you? What of the team going back to By’temog?”

  “Morgoran, what do you expect, us to all stay together and fight the general and his army? A smaller team could get to Kaxen much easier, don’t you think?”

  Morgoran thought about Kimala’s words for a long moment before reluctantly capitulating. “She is right; we would cover more ground if we headed to each location simultaneously.”

  “Morgoran, I agree it does make sense to go to each key; however, I am not convinced of this witch’s intent. You say she is a spy for Enowene and Lady Shey?”

  “Aye, Melias. She is indeed on our side. The downfall of Brightonhold Keep could not have happened without her. Asterial versed me on his plans. Assuming she finished her task after Brightonhold . . .” He looked in her direction, and she nodded that she had. “We will be in her debt once more.”

  Melias gave Kimala a sour glance that did not go unnoticed by Morgoran. “She can come along with you and me, and you can keep a sharp eye on her.” Melias agreed with a single nod. “Good, now it’s obvious that the dragon knights should go to Draegodor wi
th Shadesilver, but it isn’t as clear cut with where the other two teams should go.”

  Asrion chimed in. “Aye, but it is. I should be on the team that goes back to By’temog. I am a cleric of Loracia. The cursed men there are an abomination against the goddess of life. It is my solemn duty.”

  Kimala smiled and grabbed Fayne by the hand, pulling her next to Asrion. “Fayne is also a disciple of Loracia.”

  “I volunteer to go with Asrion and Fayne,” Trendan spoke up as soon as Morgoran agreed to pair up Fayne with Asrion. Kimala’s smile turned immediately into a frown.

  “Very well, we have our tasks. Melias, Kimala, and I will go to Symbor to talk to the king.” Morgoran studied the frieze on the portal ring and drew upon essence. The portal opened with a blue light and a swooshing noise. “Excellent!” Morgoran said. “The Migarath Portal in Tyre is still intact. Shadesilver and the knights can get to Draegodor easily from there. I had better step through with you though.” He spoke to Shadesilver. “I was certain the chamber had been discovered and destroyed long ago before my affliction.” Morgoran, Shadesilver, and the knights stepped through. A few moments later, Morgoran returned. “They did try to destroy it. The portal chamber was partially buried but passable. The dragon knights are on their way.”

  Trendan looked suspiciously at Kimala. “I thought the portal was stuck on By’temog.”

  Morgoran manipulated the symbols around the circumference of the outer portal ring, and the active portal sputtered closed. “It was,” Morgoran chided. “I used these portals during their heyday; I still remember a few tricks.”

  Kimala seemed amused. “Don’t get irritated, Morgoran, it’s the price you pay for being a spy. Trust is a premium.”

  Morgoran opened the portal again. “Okay, By’temog awaits.” He put his hand on Asrion’s shoulder. “Don’t take unnecessary risks. The general is much more powerful than the spooks at Signal Hill. Other clerics of Loracia have tried to take him on in the past and failed. You are really just there for Kaxen. Don’t seek out the general; just use your light to protect yourself.”

  “I will, Morgoran, and good luck with the king.”

  Morgoran stopped him from moving toward the portal again. “And one other point. There is no one in your group that can reopen this portal.”

  Asrion nodded and stepped through, followed by Fayne and then Trendan.

  “All right, Melias, Kimala, let’s go see the king of Symboria.” He closed the portal and then reopened it. “Hmm, that’s unexpected.”

  “Morgoran, what is it?” Melias inquired.

  “Just for curiosity’s sake, I tried the portal for Paladine and it opened.” He scratched his head. “There is a portal again for Symbor.”

  “Ha, you are not as good with enchanting as you remember!” Gondrial ridiculed Lady Shey as she tried to steady The Shooting Star, the stolen ship they had magically flown out of Seabrey.

  “I might not be able to enchant it to float in the air, but I can make it stand on its keel indefinitely! That is plenty good enough,” Lady Shey retorted.

  “You two stop bickering,” Asterial said as he and Enowene prepared a few provisions nearby for the trek into the ruined city of Ishva. “I am tired of your voices!”

  Sanmir descended from the ship on a rope ladder attached to the deck high above and joined the others. Gondrial sent the ladder back up to the ship with a flick of his forefinger. He stepped back and took in the view of the ship. “It is a bit strange seeing a full-sized ship standing on its keel in a field of yellow prairie grass in the middle of nowhere.”

  “Aye,” Asterial agreed, “but Ishrak is an empire in ruins, so there is no one to see it but us.”

  “I am thankful for that. I have explained my way out of many situations, but a full-sailing ship alone on a field leagues away from any water source might be difficult.”

  “I am sure you could talk your way clear of that too,” Lady Shey commented. “I once saw you convince a man that you turned his wife into a horse so you could run off with his actual wife. Whatever happened to her anyway?”

  “Oh, nothing really. The owner of the horse didn’t take too kindly to the man trying to take his horse home. He didn’t believe it was his wife, and a fight ensued. The man was killed over the altercation, and the woman inherited all his land and possessions. For some reason, she lost interest in me.”

  Sanmir was horrified. “That’s terrible. That poor man.”

  “I didn’t say I was proud of doing it. How was I to know what would happen to him?”

  “That’s quite enough,” Asterial said. “Let’s be on our way. Ishva isn’t far. Where is Kyrie?”

  “Of all things, he is deathly afraid that he will be cursed if he comes down off the ship,” Gondrial said. “He isn’t afraid of falling to his death trying to descend the rope ladder or a plunging to his death riding a flying ship held up by mere essence, but he is scared senseless of being cursed. He will be all right to stay aboard.”

  Asterial and party reached Ishva without incident. The ruined city appeared abandoned, but Asterial knew where the afflicted lived. He had visited the city before, trying to lend aid to the poor souls. He found the building that used to house the afflicted empty. Upon searching the grounds, Asterial finally came across a pleasant-looking man of about middle age with a receding hairline. He was sitting peacefully under a shade umbrella, looking off to the plains.

  “Hail,” Asterial greeted the man.

  “Hail, friend,” the man replied.

  “Forgive me, sir, but where are the afflicted that used to take up residence here?”

  “All cured,” said the man. “That’s why that plain yonder is calm.”

  “Cured how?” Asterial asked.

  “Theosus brought a young man to us that knew how to cure our affliction. He stayed up a full night to get everyone cured up.”

  “Where is this young man now?”

  “Gone. He went with Theosus and the rest to the capital. I stayed behind because of my bad back and knees. They should be back in a week or two.”

  “They went to the capital of Ishrak? Are you referring to By’temog?”

  “Aye, they went to the capital. They went after something important—a book or something to help us learn how to help use the wild magic so that we are never afflicted again.”

  “Thank you, sir, you have been most helpful.”

  “Certainly,” the man said.

  Asterial took the others aside. “I think he is talking about the Tome of Enlightenment.”

  Gondrial laughed. “It’s a myth.”

  “According to legend, you have to have four keys to find it, right?” Lady Shey inquired.

  “Aye, I remember where three are supposed to be. I can’t remember the fourth,” Asterial recalled. “The first is a crystal in Lux Enor, the second is a staff entrusted to the kings of Symbor, and the third is a golden serpent currently in the collection of the king of Draegodor.”

  “Oh, I remember the fourth.” Enowene sighed. “It’s the life essence worn in an amulet by the kings of Ishrak.”

  Asterial nodded. “That’s right! But that would mean that—”

  “Aye,” Lady Shey elaborated, “it’s around the neck of General Sythril and the cause of the curse of Ishrak.”

  “Do you think Theosus knows that?” Gondrial asked.

  “Either he is unaware or he thinks this new healer and a small band of wild magic wielders can take it from Sythril,” Asterial speculated.

  Gondrial grimaced. “That would be a big mistake. So what are we going to do about it?”

  Asterial took out his pipe and began stuffing it will tabac. “I am going to have a smoke and pull a chair up next to that old man over there.”

  Gondrial’s mouth curled into a smile. “I bet I can find some ale around here somewhere.”

  Lady Shey snickered. “I am certain if anybody could, it would be you.”

  “I could use a bit of leisure time,” Enowene said.


  “Not yet, Enowene” Lady Shey waved to her. “Let’s see if we can get something cooked up for the midday meal.”

  Asterial and Sanmir found a couple of chairs nearby and joined the old man, whose name was Alerick. Asterial gave the man his spare pipe after he found out Alerick’s had been lost. After a time, Gondrial returned with a keg of ale he found in a tunnel under the tavern. Alerick told him that Theosus had kept a few kegs there and that it was safe to drink. Gondrial would have drunk it anyway. The sun moved just past midday when Enowene and Lady Shey returned with the midday meal of dried meat, dried apricots, and onion bread.

  After the meal, the pipes came back out. Shey and Enowene moved upwind and set up their own spot to lounge.

  Asterial blew out a puff of smoke. “So, Alerick, where did this mysterious healer come from?”

  “Theosus brought him and the girl that was with him from Trigothia. He saved them from being executed.”

  “He healed you, did he?” Sanmir was interested in the medical aspect.

  “Aye, he used the wild magic and somehow ordered my mind where I could control the use of the wild magic. He claimed he didn’t exactly know how he did it. That’s why they went after the book, so he could learn.”

  “I am curious, what did he look like?” Gondrial asked.

  “Oh, he is a thin fellow of about twenty seasons or so, young like that. Blondish hair, complained about everything a lot. I didn’t mind because he was curing me and all, but others say he had a rather irritating disposition. That’s about it.”

  “Sounds like a rather unpleasant fellow,” Gondrial said in between puffs of his pipe.

  “I don’t know. He seemed fine to me. You will meet him if you stick around.”

  Asterial smacked his lips and put his pipe back in his mouth. “We won’t be here more than a day I don’t believe, but I do want to meet this healer sometime. He has done something that has not been seen since the War of the Oracle. I am glad there is a way for the afflicted to be healed.”

  “Theosus says we have to stay here for a time until we are certain the cure holds. Then we can all go back home if we wish.”