Dracon and the Edge of the World

by Michael T Payne

“May we all be cleansed in the light!” a paladin announced, followed quickly by others who parroted his words.

  “You speak in scripture and riddles, so often, I forget you were once a man of war.” Brother Stephan observed.

  “Holy and otherwise, Brother Stephan,” Brother Kane chuckled, “Let’s make our way to the palace gates, before we decide our course.”

  The one hundred paladins of The Order of Light followed their leader quietly, as they travelled through the city of Dragons Claw to the lonely road, that led to the palace atop the small mountain, overlooking the outer region. There were no remains of any kind in the area between the city and the palace, human or otherwise. The area was large and open, walled, like a massive hall that led to the palace gates, which were left open and dark in the waning sunlight. The sun was nearing the edge of the earth, threatening to vanish over the horizon in the next few hours. Brother Kane paused at the bottom of lonely road, examining the area before him. He could see signs that a battle took place there, between where he was and the palace gates. The ground was as disturbed as a pasture readied for seeding. Hoof and foot overturned the dirt, making what could have once been a grassy garden, no more than upturned rock. There were several areas darkened and circular. Brother Kane urged his horse along the barely recognizable onetime road, toward the nearest blackened circle. He dismounted once at its edge, then crouched to examine it. He rose quickly, grabbing a crystal amulet around his neck.

  “Luminas, egive ghit.”

  Immediately, a sphere of light appeared, encompassing the dark circle on the ground. Within the sphere, an apparition appeared, a scene from long ago. Dracon, covered in his demonic armor, plunging his sword into the ground, releasing a burst of energy that sent men and horses flying. The scene played out repeatedly starting from the point when Dracon plunged his sword into the ground and ending when all within the sphere of the blast were laid low. The men behind Brother Kane awed in wonder, while Brother Kane instead, walked within the sphere toward the demonic apparition at its center.

  “Here he is, brothers, our quarry,” Brother Kane announced circling Dracon as the magical scene continued to play out over and over again, “Come, every one of you, come see him up close. Burn this image into your mind’s eye, for this is the demon lord we seek!”

  The Order of Light dismounted, and each, to a man, took turns entering the magical sphere to examine the apparition of Dracon, up close. Brother Stephan stood shoulder to shoulder with Brother Kane as the others took their turns.

  “I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you, but ghouls will rise here tonight, possibly other creatures, drawn to the dead. I’ve seen their mounds covered in bones, several of them. By my reckoning, maybe a dozen, or more.” Brother Stephan watched the men circle the scene playing out before them.

  “Yes.” Brother Kane nodded. He was quiet a moment, with a furrowed brow, contemplating, “We will exorcise these lands before we continue our hunt, move the men within the palace walls. We stay here tonight.” Brother Kane left Brother Stephan, returning to his horse, then galloped to the palace gates, riding through them fearlessly.

  By the time the men committed Dracon’s ghastly armor to memory, the sun had vanished beyond the horizon. It was not quite dark, still enough light to set up in the palace courtyard. To their relief, there were no bodies, no evidence of battle within the palace walls anywhere. Brother Kane tethered his horse and waited at the open palace doors, watching the men gather themselves in the courtyard.

  “Prepare yourselves, we will not rest this night. Our work is only beginning, we will not make camp until dawns light shines upon us once again. Remove the banners from your spears, we are at war this night.” Brother Kane said to the men, who followed his instructions as he watched on.

  “Man the walls,” Brother Stephan ordered, “Scouts, to me!” Men hurried about, some to the walls, others to Brother Stephan, “Two teams, over lapping patrols. When the denizens of evil make themselves known, report back immediately, mark their lairs for burning. Be wary, more than just ghouls may be lurking in the dark!”

  “Brother Stephan, I’ll take two brothers with me, inside.” Brother Kane announced then pointed at two men, who readied torches, then followed Brother Kane into the open palace doors. The men lit head high braziers that lined the hall as they followed Brother Kane to the great room of the palace. There, a throne sat, made for two people, each seat equal in size. “Let’s see if we can get a better look at our quarry,” Brother Kane said walking briskly to the thrones while the other men continued to illuminate every area they came to. “Luminas, egive ghit.” He said, again, while grabbing the crystal amulet at his neck. There was far less light as before, and only on one side of the throne. It was a woman’s figure, very faint. He moved closer to examine it. The features were blurred and faded off at the edges, but he could see what appeared to be wings and the beginning of horns fading away from the head, “What is this?”

  “Brother Kane?” asked one of the men who joined Brother Kane at the throne with his torch trying to help.

  “The magic left behind here is not from the dark one, but something else.” He explained, “you see here?” He pointed closer to the center, drawing the man’s attention closer to the faded apparition, “This would have been what people saw of this creature, but this,” He motioned beyond its center to the wings and horns, “True nature. Even now, it lingers. The magic in this creature is strong to still leave this.” He contemplated a moment, “It must be the Vordalyn creature, Queen Menina spoke of.”

  “Vordalyn? I’ve never heard the name before?” The paladin with the torch queried.

  “Nor I, brother.” Brother Kane said, “I see no remnants of the dark one here, that armor and sword must have powerful magic to leave such an imprint upon the land. That, and the death of so many.”

  “If he is so powerful, the dark one, I mean, why does he not show himself here, like it was out there?” the paladin asked pointing out of the palace.

  “The crystal of light needs to recharge at least twenty-four hours before I can reveal this area fully. I feel it was drained showing us the dark lord in his full glory. Curious that it was able to show so much of this creature, even in its weakened state.” Brother Kane explained.

  “What does it mean?” The paladin asked.

  “It means the source of the lich’s power, this Vordalyn, is strong.” He replied moving his hand around the fading apparition.

  “Do you believe him to be as much as that, a lich, already?” asked the other paladin, still lighting brazier’s in the great room around the throne.

  “I cannot say, judging by the other princes of these lands, I mark him to be in his early twenties, but that queen…” Brother Kane let his words die, distracted by the thought of Queen Menina.

  “What do you make of her, Brother Kane?” the curious paladin next to him asked, urging him to say more.

  “I have doubts they are related, any of them. She, for one, is not human, the princes are. But this Prince Dracon, we have yet to tell whether he is of true blood with his brothers? Or with his supposed sister? That will tell us the truth of his nature and how long until he becomes a lich. I’ll have to see him for myself before we can see how far along, he is.” Brother Kane walked around the two-seated throne, examining the rest of the great hall, finally, completely lit. “Beautiful.” he remarked.

  “Aye, the people must have loved him at some point?” the paladin who lit the room queried, walking over to the double seated thrones to take a look at the apparition for himself.

  “Brother Kane,” the paladin asked, “what type of creature do you believe the queen to be, if not human?”

  “I’m not sure, maybe this Kina she’s so keen to protect. She lies about her brother, this Dracon, that is certain. We would have known if he embraced the darkness, the crystal would have given us a clearer path to him. I imagine he is still struggling with the demon within him. That, would mean we could save him.” Brother Kan
e straightened up with a sparkle of hope emanating from a smile that infected his comrades.

  In the courtyard, Brother Stephan paced in front of the gates, watching lonely road for as far as he could in the dark, waiting for the return of his scouts with word from the patrols. It was not long after night fell completely that his waiting came to an end. The patrols returned in full gallop, rushing back to the safety of the palace grounds and their comrades.

  “Brother Stephan,” the lead rider started, his horse rearing up as he came to a stop, “The dead, they rise from the earth.”

  “No, brother,” He replied immediately, “It is not the dead that rise, but ghouls, hidden beneath the bodies until night fall, now rising to feast on the remains that still exist here.” He turned away from the rider, “My horse!” he called to another man.

  Brother Stephan led both patrols as one unit, back out to lonely road, down to the city. Before they reached the city streets the ground bubbled ahead of them, just off to the side of the road. A giant creature emerged from within, resembling a centipede with tentacles around its mouth.

  “A giant worm!” One of the paladins exclaimed, trying to control his horse.

  “That’s no worm!” Brother Stephan yelled, “It’s a Carrion Crawler!” He turned his horse in a small circle, “Ready your lances!” He ordered. The men behind him did just that, and organized themselves into a single file line, with Brother Stephan just off to the side, “Go!” he ordered, and the first man in the line rode on, galloping at full speed at the creature, lowering his lance to meet it, head on. “Go!” he said again and the second man in line charged forward, leveling his lance and taking aim at the monster.

  The first paladin speared the Carrion Crawler through one side and out the other, leaving the lance and riding past the creature, arcing back to the rest of the unit. The second paladin speared the creature through the side of its tentacled head, just as the creature turned to follow the first horseman. It rolled to its side and squirmed, in a failed attempt to crawl back underground from whence it came. The unit converged on the beast, each man armed and ready. Brother Stephan circled the beast atop his horse.

  “This won’t be the only beast we come across tonight, there is much for these creatures to devour. There will be more. Now!” he exclaimed, “let’s see to those ghouls!” he raised his sword over his head, “Let the cleansing light guide us!”

  “Let the cleansing light guide us!” The men repeated in unison, raising sword and lance, high.

  Chapter Seven

  Tamina led Queen Menina to the highest spire in the palace. It was late in the night and the women rushed to make it to the very top, high over the city. From there, they could see well beyond the city walls and some distance into the lands surrounding Qinkas.

  “Drink this.” Tamina offered her niece a vial.

  “What is it?” Queen Menina asked, reluctant to take the vial Tamina was shoving in her face.

  “It’s an invisibility potion, we don’t want anyone watching us become our true selves, then leap from the palace rooftop, do we?” Tamina took the top off the vial and again tried to put it to Queen Menina’s lips.

  Queen Menina blocked Tamina with her forearm and took a step back.

  “How long does it last?” She asked.

  “Until I give you the counter potion.” Tamina said putting one hand on her hip, and giving her niece a disappointed and annoyed glare, “Are you going to act like a child, or can we get on with it, the night will not last forever. You do intend on returning before dawn, yes?”

  “Yes, I just…” Queen Menina started, then took the vial from Tamina’s hand and drank it. She vanished immediately.

  “Good, now let your wings unfurrow, let’s fly.” Tamina transformed, wings sprouted from her back and horns from her head, before she too drank from the potion, vanishing instantly. The two women could see each other clearly, their supernatural sight was unaffected by the potions magic. Tamina walked to the railing and dove over the ledge, arcing upward, carried swiftly by her powerful white wings. Queen Menina was on her heels and did not let her get too far away, following her, at first, then flying side by side with her, matching Tamina turn for turn. Both had white wings and white horns, their true form. Queen Menina was no longer a motley colored, Kina, but pure white, just as Glyna had promised would happen, once they mated. Tamina was disgusted with the mating and demeaned the two of them every chance she could.

  Queen Menina veered away from Tamina, whose course was due north, beyond the outer region. Queen Menina spotted fires in Dwerma, the once home of her brother, Dracon. From so high up, she could also see that the palace was partially lit. She started to glide in that direction. Tamina altered her course to match her niece, passing her, then stopping abruptly. Queen Menina spread her wings out wide and halted her own flight, then struggle to hover in place, surprised by Tamina’s sudden interference.

  “This is not our course, leave it!” Tamina said speaking her native tongue.

  Queen Menina scowled at her, then stopped flapping her wings, letting herself fall, well below Tamina, before spreading her wings, once again, resuming her flight to see what lit Dracon’s palace. Tamina, angrily did the same, catching up to her niece quickly. They circled the palace, glancing at each other knowingly, as both, recognized the shiny armored, Order of Light, setting fire to ghoul mounds and slaughtering the flesh-eating monsters that the dead had drawn like flies. Queen Menina spotted a light coming from a balcony high on the palace outer wall. She landed on it without hesitation, making a loud flapping sound with her wings.

  “What was that?” A voice asked from inside the door to the balcony. Tamina perched herself on the railing in the same manner as a bird. Her wings folded behind her as she crouched upon its edge. A paladin swung open the curtain and looked out onto the balcony. Queen Menina’s anxiety surged, she knew she was invisible, but it was unnerving all the same.

  “Nothing, wind.” The paladin said.

  Queen Menina could see Brother Kane inside the room before the curtains returned to their place in front of the opening. She leapt from where she stood, back over the railing and once again took flight. Tamina fell away from the railing, spreading her wings as she fell into flight, soaring behind her niece.

  “Satisfied?” she said, passing Queen Menina and taking the lead again.

  Tamina flew up, glancing back at Queen Menina for her to follow. They flew so high; they could no longer see the ground through the cover of the clouds. Tamina hovered a moment until Queen Menina caught up to her.

  “Are you ready to truly fly, Aynisa?” Tamina asked.

  “What do you mean?” Queen Menina had to yell over the wind.

  “Stay close enough to touch my heels, little Aynisa, and I will show you how to truly travel as a Kina!” Tamina turned, folding her wings tightly against her body.

  Queen Menina did the same, with a strong flap from her wings to send her after Tamina. She stayed right on Tamina’s heels, her face was so close to them during the dive, she could see the fibers of her laces. The two women soared faster and faster, like a shot, they angled back toward the earth below. In front of Tamina, flashes and sparks began, magical energy unleashed, faster and faster they flew, and brighter and brighter the flashing sparks became, until finally there was a loud pop. Queen Menina was blinded instantly, hearing nothing other than a rush of air, she panicked and reached out for her aunt’s feet.

  “Now, Aynisa!” Tamina yelled.

  Queen Menina’s vision returned from the brightness that took her sight. Tamina’s wings spread out wide, catching the wind and halting her suddenly, making Queen Menina have to veer off or risk running into her aunt from behind. She flew past, still faster that an arrow in flight, she was inches from the ground, flying directly toward a copse of trees. Queen Menina spread her wings out to halt her flight, barely able to avoid smacking into a large oak tree. She cried out, raising her hands to protect her face; fearful she would not be able to stop.
Inches from the tree, she stopped, then let herself drop the few feet to the ground below. Panicked and breathing heavily, she looked around for Tamina, who was arriving at her side with an amused smirk on her face.

  “You could have warned me what you intended!” Queen Menina snarled, embarrassed and still shaken by the ordeal.

  Tamina chuckled.

  “Wasn’t it exhilarating, Aynisa?” she asked, “To take flight, truly be free?”

  “It was… a new experience.” Queen Menina said, a smile threatened on her lips confirming her pleasure, in spite of her fear, “Where are we?”

  “Sumia. A year’s travel, in a blink of an eye.” Tamina turned from Queen Menina, enjoying the view of the forest around them.

  Queen Menina’s eyes widened.

  “Will we still be able to return before dawn?”

  “What’s a day or two, Aynisa? You are about to meet the oldest of us all. If anyone can give you what you seek, it is her.” Tamina transformed to her human form.

  There was a rustling in the trees behind Queen Menina and a doe appeared, followed by two fawns. They were oblivious to their presence. It was just then that she remembered they were invisible.

  “Where are we going from here?” Queen Menina’s voice startled the deer and they leapt away, disappearing into the trees.

  “We are on the very edge of Sumia, we travel to the lands of Jivha, an elven homeland.” Tamina started to walk to the east.

  Queen Menina hurried to catch up. They walked on, in the dark, for an hour, deep within the forest of trees, larger than any Queen Menina had ever seen before. In Ganlin, trees were cut down to feed their war with Terrax, nothing lived so long as to grow as tall, and wide, as the ones in that forest. She admired them, their might and majesty. She couldn’t stop herself from putting her palm to each tree she passed.

  “There.” Tamina pointed across a creek to a cliff face that was ten feet high, atop it, a lone, large, tree, whose roots littered the face of the cliff, down to the creek bed at its base.