“Move east!” Brianna ordered the dragons.
The Leffers were coming at them from all sides now, with more arriving every minute the fight continued. She knew their best bet was to retreat, but she had to make sure the cavalry was safe before they broke off the fight. She struggled to see what was happening below her. Finally she sent Tig a message and the blue blur slowed down and scouted the situation below. The big valley was clear and in the section where they had fought the enemy were still struggling to find a way through. They may not have stopped the enemy completely, or for as long as she had hoped, but they had made a difference.
“Time to leave,” she called out. “Fly, fly, fly!”
Selix led the retreat. Brianna and the golden dragon set the air around them ablaze. Once again Brianna’s clothes were burned away, her body covered with living fire. The other dragons followed closely behind Selix. Their standard procedure was to fly south, that way they led any Leffers who followed them away from the cavalry. Selix had started due south, burning an escape lane through the horde of Leffers, then Brianna felt the dragon stiffen. At first she thought perhaps Selix had been hurt, but then he turned, flying back the way they had come, despite the host of Leffers who were heading right for them.
“No Selix!” she cried. “Fly south.”
But Selix didn’t respond. The golden dragon’s body was stiff, only the wings moved. Brianna looked over her shoulder and saw the other dragons hesitating, only Tig and Gyia were forming up behind Selix. Then, with a feeling of despair she realized what was happening.
“Selix!” she cried. “Turn around.”
The dragons didn’t obey her. And Brianna knew she had only two options. She could stay with Selix and hope they survived the fight through the host of Leffers, or she could let the three dragons go. She knew where they were going, although it wasn’t certain they could make it. The Leffers no longer seemed to be fighting aimlessly. They had formed up in front of the trio of dragons, massing tightly together.
“Whoever is commanding you doesn’t know what you’re facing,” Brianna shouted. “You have to turn back.”
Selix shuddered, but didn’t obey Brianna. The big golden wings flapped hard and propelled Selix toward the wall of Leffers.
“I can’t stay with you,” Brianna said as tears stung her eyes.
Again Selix shuddered, but the dragon didn’t speak, not even to send a mental image to her. It was as if she was blocked from the dragon’s mind. She stood up on the dragon’s back and ran down the thick spine. Selix’s tail was rigid straight out behind the huge, golden body. Brianna ran down the tail and jumped high into the air. Catching currents and flipping, as she moved toward the rest of the pride who watched in horror. Brianna felt the questions from the other dragons, her mind flooded with images of her beloved pride mates racing toward the Leffers. She didn’t want to see what would happen, but she couldn’t block the voices of the other dragons, all speaking in mental images she couldn’t hide from.
Selix billowed flame at the wall of Leffers. Brianna couldn’t tell how many had massed against them, but it seemed like thousands. The flames burned a hole in their formation, the big creatures dropping from the sky and crashing into those directly below. Selix tried to fly into the gap, but more Leffers from behind the main body got there first. More fire washed over the horde, but Selix was hit with hooves, stingers, and even the bodies of the Leffers the dragon’s flames knocked out of the sky. Hundreds followed Selix as the golden dragon plummeted toward the ground.
Tig had been flying behind Selix and Brianna’s heart almost stopped as Selix fell. Then her hopes rose, as she saw Tig flashing forward, pouring on speed the way only the little, blue dragon could do. But instead of rushing to Selix’s aid, Tig darted through the small hole in the mass of Leffers Selix had created. More of the winged, horse creatures were flying in to fill the gap, but Tig raced through, dodging the stingers that shot out toward its blue scales and then disappeared behind the mass of Leffers.
Brianna saw all this in a matter of seconds as she flew through the air toward the other dragons that were hovering now, watching the three dragons who were flying north again. Gyia was the only one in sight now. The purple dragon seemed to slither through the air, racing up toward the clouds in an effort to avoid the mass of Leffers. A group of the winged creatures flew forward above Gyia, which forced the purple dragon to turn. More of the Leffers pursued Gyia, and soon they had the serpentine dragon boxed.
Gyia fought savagely. Her purple tail snapped from side to side, knocking dozens of Leffers out the sky with each swipe. Gyia’s talons were deadly to anything that came near the her underbelly, and from her mouth came a constant stream of flame. But the Leffers were attacking every part of her, including the wings and soon a mass of Leffers fell with Gyia. The purple dragon struggled to escape, but there were too many bodies too close to the dragon.
Brianna tried not to watch, she focused on moving through the air. Ryzzo was the largest dragon left, a thin, amber colored dragon with a wide back. Ryzzo’s head was flat, and the wings that stretched out on either side looked almost like they were an extension of the dragon’s thin sides. The amber dragon looked like it belonged more in the sea than in the sky, but it bore Brianna’s weight easily.
“South,” she said, as tears streamed from her eyes.
The dragons flew away, easily outpacing the horde of Leffers that were behind. Brianna fully expected that they would turn back once she and the dragons were out of sight, but she was so distraught she didn’t care. All she could think about was Selix and Gyia falling, covered in the horrible Leffers, and how Tig had disappeared. Brianna knew what had happened, someone had learned how to control the dragons. And as much as it pained her to admit it, she knew who it was, she just didn’t want to believe it. King Wilam had learned how to control them, and he had ignorantly sent them to their doom.
Chapter 23
Zollin moved slowly. There were only a few more steps before the winding stairway opened into a larger room. Zollin let his magical senses sweep out in front of him. A deep voice chuckled in the dark, then another.
“Funny,” said the first voice.
“Tickles,” said the second.
Zollin could sense the creatures in the room. They were short, but broad shouldered. Their arms were almost grotesquely thick with muscle, and so long the hairy knuckles nearly touched the floor. Their heads were square shaped, so flat on top that Zollin had trouble believing it. They had thick jaws and flat noses. Their bodies were shaped like barrels and their legs had no knees, just thick round thighs and flat bare feet.
Zollin let his flame die and walked down the final few steps in total darkness. Then, once he reached the final step, he let his magical light shine out.
“Ahhh!” shrieked one of the creatures, holding a thick hand up in front its face.
“Light!” said the other as it squinted in the sudden brightness.
“I am Zollin,” the young wizard said. “I’m looking for the Sorceress, Gwendolyn. Do you know where she is?”
“Hurts eyes,” said the closest of the two creatures.
Zollin guessed they were trolls. Slow witted creatures, but incredibly strong. He’d heard stories of trolls as a child. He’d even seen a troll in the Paddingar forest, at least he thought it was a troll. But these creatures were different. They were exactly like he’d imagined them as a boy.
“Stop it,” said the other, drawing what looked like a large, rusty knife.
“Hurt,” said the first, pulling what looked like a short sword from a sheath at its waste, but the weapon looked more like a dagger in the troll’s over sized fist.
“I’m not looking for trouble.”
“Like trouble,” said the nearest troll as it lumbered forward with a wicked looking smile.
Zollin raised an invisible barrier between himself and the troll. It thumped into the barrier so hard it knocked itself backward and fell.
“Ouch,” it said
.
“Fall,” said the other with a chuckle.
“Hurt,” said the first.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” Zollin said. “I need to find the witch.”
“No,” said the first, climbing slowly to its feet.
“Please,” Zollin said. “I don’t want trouble but I’m not afraid to use my power if I have to.”
“Like trouble,” the nearest troll said again as it started forward toward Zollin.
This time he shot a blast of blue magical energy toward the troll. For a brief second the troll’s eyes widened as its body shook and convulsed. Then it staggered back, smoking.
“Hurt,” it said again in outrage.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” Zollin said.
The second troll trotted forward, waving the rusty knife. Zollin let his magic flow into the blade and handle. He sped up the quivering bits of matter, making them spin so fast the handle grew hot.
“Ahhh,” shouted the troll as it dropped the knife. “Hot!”
Both trolls looked confused so Zollin increased his light, looking for a way out of the big room. There were bones littered around the chamber. Rusty weapons, bits of rotted clothing, and patches of mangy looking animal skins. He noticed the bones had teeth marks in them.
Then, beyond the gloom of the big chamber, was another archway with stairs leading down. Zollin looked at the trolls and decided it might be possible to simply slip past them. He walked quickly toward the archway, but the trolls reacted faster than he expected.
One moved directly in front of him, the other lurched for him. This time he slammed his magical barrier into the troll, knocking the heavy creature backward. The weight of the troll surprised him. It was like trying to push a full grown cow around.
“Blast!” shouted Zollin, letting his magic flash out toward the troll in front of him.
The blue, magical energy cracked across the space between him and the troll in an instant. It fed into the troll’s thick body as little lightning bolts crackled up and down its long arms. The creature fell back, toppling like a felled tree, its body stiff.
Zollin moved forward again but from behind him the first troll shouted.
“No!”
It was climbing back to its feet but Zollin was sure he could outrun it. Instead, just as he was nearing the archway, the space closed in front of him. It wasn’t a door and it wasn’t stone, but the way was blocked just the same. Zollin could feel the dark magic barrier, much like his own invisible shield, blocking his way. He turned just in time to see the troll running at him, it’s head down, the sword in its massive fist held back, ready to strike.
Zollin restrained his first instinct, which was to blast the creature. Instead he shuffled out of the troll’s way. Keeping his back to the wall and watching both of the trolls. The one on its feet skidded to stop just before hitting the dark barrier. The other was rolling from its back to its stomach and struggling to get to its feet.
“Please, I don’t want to hurt anyone.”
“Hurt you,” said the nearest troll angrily, the one with the sword.
He lunged at Zollin, who sent a ball of fire into the troll’s face. The troll bellowed and he sent another; this one hit the creature’s chest. There wasn’t much force behind the fireballs, but Zollin was hopeful the creature’s ratty clothing would ignite. It did, the flames catching the fabric and burning quickly.
“Fire!” shouted the troll who had just gotten to its feet.
“Burns!” shouted the troll who was on fire.
Zollin sent another ball of fire at the other troll, who had started to help its companion, but it was clearly afraid of the fire. It backed away. Zollin let a sphere of bright flame kindle just above his hand.
“Let me pass,” Zollin said, edging back toward the blocked archway.
The burning troll had ripped off its clothes. Zollin could see the blisters on its thick skin from the fire.
“No,” they shouted in unison.
“I’ll burn you both,” Zollin threatened.
“No,” said the burned troll.
“Hurts us,” said the other.
“I won’t hurt you if you let me pass.”
“Hurts us,” the troll said again.
“Can not pass,” said the other.
“I won’t let the witch hurt you,” Zollin said after a burst of inspiration. “Let me pass and she’ll never hurt you again.”
He saw the look pass between the trolls. They were tempted. Of course they weren’t convinced, so Zollin fed more energy into his fireball so it grew bigger and brighter.
“Let me pass,” Zollin said.
The dark barrier fell and Zollin darted forward, letting the fireball float behind him until he disappeared down the wide stairway. He didn’t wait to see what the trolls would do. He hurried down the steps, letting his magical light shine out to illuminate the way before him. He descended several revolutions around the spiralling staircase. The stairwell was enclosed, so he couldn’t be sure how many, but he finally stopped and took a few moments to catch his breath. He was thirsty and tired, but had very little water and no safe place to rest. He knew he would have to push on, but first he took a drink of the water in his pack.
The stairs seemed to go on and on, farther and farther down into the tower. Zollin wondered if he would have the strength to go back up again if he somehow managed to kill Gwendolyn and escape. The temperature as he descended began to rise. Sweat soon ran freely down the sides of his head, and down his back. He moved slowly, but breathing became difficult. Even with his magical light piercing the darkness, his vision seemed foggy. He felt as if he were in an oven and every breath seemed to scorch his throat. The hot air didn’t seem to help him, as if there wasn’t enough oxygen in it.
He moved slowly, keeping one hand on the stone wall of the staircase and maintaining a magical bubble around him. Finally the stairs ended in another room, but this one was unlike any he had seen before. It was long and low, the ceiling barely high enough to keep Zollin from stooping. He moved slowly across the room, coming to an intricate design on the floor. He studied the design for a moment, it looked like a large maze.
His next step was almost his last. His foot came down on what looked like the border of the maze and broke through the floor. He fell, but luckily part of the maze held his weight. Orange and yellow light shone up through the hole in the floor around Zollin’s leg. He pulled his leg back up and felt a wave of intense heat follow it. He guessed the ground below the maze was molten rock. It made sense, he thought. The lava flow would be the reason why the temperature was so high. This room was more like an oven than he had imagined.
He stood up and studied the maze again. He was standing on what looked like the path inside the maze. Gently he put his weight on another section of the maze barrier. The brittle stone floor fell away. Zollin used his arms to keep his balance. He took a cautious step forward, careful to stay on the path. This time the floor held his weight.
The next two hours were spent negotiating the maze. More than once he found himself at a dead end and was forced to turn and go back. At one point he carelessly stepped a bit too far off the path. The floor crumbled under his weight and he nearly fell into the gapping hole. It was only when he finally finished the maze that it occurred to him he could have levitated over the entire obstacle.
As he moved forward the walls slowly angled in. At first he didn’t notice but eventually it was impossible to deny. He could see both of the side walls now in his small circle of light. After a few more steps his head bumped into the ceiling. He ducked a little and took a few more steps. The ceiling was getting lower the same way the walls were closing in. Zollin was forced to bend at the waist, then he had to get down on hands and knees and crawl. The room became a tunnel and then barely more than a tiny crawlspace. He kept moving forward until he was forced to lie flat on his stomach and pull himself along the smooth stone passageway. Soon, he was forced to turn his head sideways. His shoulders rubbed
against the walls and since his hands were down by his waist pushing him forward, there was no way to know what lay ahead.
He began to feel panic as he pushed his body into the tiny space. It was difficult to move and he was afraid of getting stuck. He had just about decided to turn back when everything went black. Zollin lay still for a moment wondering what had happened. He increased the amount of magic he was transforming into light but he still couldn’t see anything. He screamed, but the sound seemed to disappear as it left his mouth.
He felt like he couldn’t breathe, like the walls were getting closer even though he wasn’t moving anymore. He had to get out but he felt stuck. His feet and hands scrabbled on the stone but he couldn’t feel his body move. Pain was ignored as his knees cracked into the stone floor and his finger nails pulled against the nail beds. He squirmed and cried. He felt death as an eternal blackness threatening to engulf him. He couldn’t move, couldn’t break free, couldn’t see. Then everything drifted away. His body felt light and he let go of all his fears, all his worries and cares. He knew he was dying but he didn’t care anymore. All he could think of was his quest was over and he could rest. The responsibility to his father and friends was gone. He was free.
Chapter 24
Brianna wept hot tears that streaked down her face. She looked out over the dragon’s shoulder and all she could see were the mutated soldiers lumbering forward. Thousands of them, as far as she could see in every direction. The dragons were swinging wide, flying west toward the ocean. They were a muted group, each lost in its own thoughts after seeing Selix and Gyia overwhelmed and forced down by the Leffers.
She tried to imagine a way her dragons might have survived but she couldn’t. Even if the Leffers’ scorpion tail stingers couldn’t penetrate the their scales, they had fallen down into the masses of enemy soldiers. There was no way they could survive.
The ocean was dark as the sun sank into its depths. Brianna saw the white foam along the edges of the waves. The clouds were still thick above them, spitting rain. She kept flames covering her body so she didn’t feel the cold. She felt like death would be a relief from the endless grief.
Five Kingdoms: Book 07 - Wizard Falling Page 17
