Maurn Khon was again on his feet, staff in hand. He twirled his staff and aimed it at the battling pair. A shot of magical energy blasted through everything, Maurn Khon’s minions included. Many of the dead were rendered to dust, while the other creatures were scattered throughout the large room, many joined Dracon and Um’Vec, taking flight and slamming against the far wall. Um’Vec was knocked unconscious, Dracon was not much better. Both were held several feet off the ground as the magical energy continued to hold them in place, pushing hard against their bodies. Maurn Khon killed his own minions, but he cared very little for the fodder he put between himself and Dracon. A path was made by the magical energy’s blast, giving Maurn Khon a clear walkway to Dracon and Um’Vec. He walked across the room to the pair held against the wall, frozen in place by the ever-pressing magical energy.
“You have one chance, boy! Give me the Unholy Reaver!” Maurn Khon hissed as he reached Dracon. He twisted his staff, increasing the pressure on Dracon, making him growl in pain.
“Return my friends to me, and it’s yours!” Dracon cried out.
Maurn Khon chuckled triumphantly, eyeing Dracon against the wall, considering whether he meant what he said. Maurn Khon released them from his grip, standing his staff back up at his side. Dracon and Um’Vec fell to the ground with a loud thud. Even though Dracon was still conscious he could not bring his hands up to stop his collision with the floor. Dracon slowly crawled to his knees.
“I don’t know…” He said, “How to give it over to you, it returns on its own to my side. Tell me how I can give it to you?”
“Call it forth.” Maurn Khon demanded in a low growl.
Dracon started to stand but before he could make it to his feet, Maurn Khon spun his staff in a circle, smacking Dracon on the back of his head and between his shoulder blades. The force of the blow flattened him against the floor. It was more powerful a blow Dracon imagined the old man could deliver. He had greatly underestimated his strength. Dracon started to growl in his rage and Maurn Khon acted before Dracon could, sending him back against the wall with the power of his staff, yet again, then held him there.
“I’m going to kill you!” Dracon forced out, fighting the power pushing him against the wall and squeezing the life out of him.
“You are confused at who holds the power, boy!” Maurn Khon twisted his staff, increasing the force against Dracon, making him cry out from the pain.
It was as if boulder after boulder was being pounded against his body with each wave of energy from the staff. In all his ability to resist the cut of a blade, he knew then what Venalina was talking about, when she said he was not invincible. Punches and steel were nothing to him, but magic… magic could harm him, magical weapons could harm him, same as spells. As the magic pounded against him from the staff and his consciousness waned. Dracon remembered, in flashes, every defeat he suffered was at the hands of magic. He lost the battle for his throne to Queen Menina, and his brothers, because of her magic. The weapons that scarred his face and left him in a bloody heap, were magical. The battlemage, Satana was so keen to point out, almost choked the life out of him with magic. He was foolish, thinking, because a sword could not pierce his skin, he was invincible. He was learning that there were other ways to hurt a man. The feeble appearance of Maurn Khon was a testament to that. Maurn Khon released Dracon from his hold, dropping him to the floor with a thud that was far less painful to Dracon than the staff’s power. He was barely conscious, panting and trying to catch his breath.
“Now! Call forth the Unholy Reaver and relinquish it to me!” Maurn Khon demanded. Dracon crawled to his hands and knees and sat back on his heels.
Maurn Khon stuck his staff’s head under Dracon’s chin and forced his face up to look at him. Dracon was panting from exhaustion and his head lolled back, facing up at the roof.
“Don’t be foolish boy, you see what reckless confidence has wrought upon you, this suffering is but a taste of what I can do to you… or… to your friends you care so dearly for!”
Um’Vec stirred and Maurn Khon swung his staff in his direction, throwing the bugbear against the wall again, rendering him back to unconsciousness.
“Alright!” Dracon said through labored breaths, raising his hand, “Alright, I’ll call it.” Dracon slowly climbed to his feet.
He was exhausted and wasn’t sure what he was going to do if the Unholy Reaver did not answer his call. Dracon looked down at his side and the Unholy Reaver was already there, sensing Dracon’s desire. Dracon chuckled, and thought.
“Now, you’re only too happy to listen?”
Dracon unbuckled the magical belt and sheath that held the Unholy Reaver in place, it also came and went with its arrival. It was the first time he had ever touched the belt. It was noticeably soft. Dracon gathered up the sword and wrapped the belt around it.
“It’s yours.” He said, then threw it to Maurn Khon with a weak toss.
Maurn Khon watched the sword at his feet a moment, reluctant to reach for it after his previous attempt was foiled. The sword rose from the ground on its own, leaving its sheath and hovering in place before Maurn Khon, with in reaching distance. It shimmered and glowed, spinning slowly, teasing Maurn Khon with its exquisite craftsmanship. It turned it’s point toward him, then shot passed him and into the bronze bowl. It sizzled and sparked, the waters within boiled. Maurn Khon turned toward Dracon with a snarl on his face.
“You guessed the black water was the source of my power, but you guessed wrong!”
Dracon slumped shaking his head no.
“It has a mind of its own,” Dracon said in a defeated whisper, “I don’t know how to be free of it.”
The bronze bowl wobbled and spun, spilling its contents to the floor until finally, it tipped completely over, spilling the black waters on the floor, spreading out in their direction. Both men watched as the water formed an amorphous being, black and oozing, it became an upper body, made from the ooze that once filled the bronze bowl. It had arms that crawled and pulled itself toward them. It was alive! Maurn Khon’s face reflected his surprise, he did not know what to do.
“Dracon…” a voice came from the faceless black head and upper body that crawled toward them, “I cannot be given away! I cannot be bartered!” it’s voice was a whisper that boomed throughout the room. Those of Maurn Khon’s minions that still stood, fled. What was left of the dead soldiers crumbled to the ground. “You need me!” it pleaded, continuing to crawl passed Maurn Khon to Dracon. “You see it for yourself, I am your mistresses’ gift, one that protects you from more than your abilities can. She bids me, even now!” the creatures voice changed, becoming Venalina’s voice, “This, I vow, you will keep my love safe, for all eternity and revel in the dead at his feet, that is your reward, so long as he draws breath. Fail me, and oblivion awaits!” Dracon was awed and humbled, hearing Venalina’s voice touched him, he could almost see her face. Remembering that she was still alive, made him desperate to see her. She made the Armor of Fear and the Unholy Reaver, for him.
“I will accept you.” Dracon said barely audible, “When I see fit to don the armor, then, I will allow you to feast, I will give in, let you take control.”
“No!” Maurn Khon yelled.
The Unholy Reaver rose from the black oozing water, that steamed and hissed, burning away, no longer an amorphous creature, dissipating to a mist. Dracon’s armor suddenly enveloped him, filling him with strength, more than any other time he had worn it. Acceptance released its true power.
“No!” Maurn Khon yelled again and pointed his staff at Dracon, shooting another magical blast of energy at him.
Dracon raised his forearms in front of him taking the full force of the blast. Unlike before, he was unmoved. Maurn Khon doubled his efforts, but Dracon remained steadfast.
“I am the true Dark Lord you should serve!” Maurn Khon yelled at the Unholy Reaver.
It vanished, reappearing in Dracon’s hands. The Armor of Fear was in full affect penetrating the will of M
aurn Khon, filling him with fear for his very life. He summoned as many creatures as he could muster, putting them between himself and Dracon as he fled backwards, hoping to escape his fate.
The Unholy Reaver pulsed with every new creature summoned, turning their will to serve Dracon’s. Each creature turned to face Maurn Khon as if it was summoned by Dracon and not him. He stopped summoning creatures and continued backing away. Um’Vec rose from the floor and stood at Dracon’s left, looking at Maurn Khon.
“Um’Vec,” Dracon said without looking at him, “Eat man!” Um’Vec roared then ran toward Maurn Khon, followed by every creature that once served him, coming to tear him to pieces!
Chapter Twenty-One
Fire burst from the rocky wall where the Mind Flayer had disappeared with Alyndra. Satana, Grik, and Rayna, looked at one another, then back at the flames that were slowly subsiding.
“I believe Talila has returned.” Satana announced, “Now we’ll see these little creatures evaporated before they can get close enough to touch any of us. Mind you don’t stand too close to her when she does it.”
“You sound pretty sure of your friend?” Rayna asked, “Are you sure that’s her?”
“She’s not my…” Satana considered what she was about to say, “I’ll say one thing about her, she doesn’t waste any time getting it done. I’m sure it’s her, no one could do that but her.”
“She truly is a marvel, isn’t she?” Katlin asked, he was flipping over dead Deep-Dwellers and searching their pockets.
Rayna nocked an arrow in her bow and stood on a rock, elevated above the rest of them= group, keeping a watch out for the Dark Stalker, or any Deep-Dwellers.
“Why don’t you go and collect the Lady Talila, while me and boy’o here collect our chests?” Grik asked starting back to where they had come.
“Alone? The two of us?” Katlin asked looking at Satana and Rayna.
“Whatever we do, we need to stay together.” Rayna said.
“She’s right,” Satana added, “let’s all go look for them, then, we’ll see about the chests.” Satana walked over to Rayna and waved her down from her perch atop the rock.
Rayna hopped down and Satana moved closer to her, reaching for her chin. Rayna jerked back from her, looking back at Satana with a curious scowl.
“Stop it, let me get a look at it.” Satana said examining Rayna’s bloody nose and lip. Rayna relented and let Satana examine her bloodied face. Satana pulled a bit of cloth from her waist.
“You have any water in that bag of yours?” She asked Katlin as he and Grik both arrived next to the women.
“Eh,” Grik chuckled, “Look at ya now, fast friends.”
“Shut up.” Satana said not looking away from Katlin, who quickly produced a flask of water from his bag of holding.
After Satana helped clean Rayna’s bloody face, the four companions made their way to the rocky cave where the fire burst out. It was blackened and the walls were still hot to the touch. Satana led the way, followed by Grik, then Katlin, who crouched behind the dwarf like he was a shield to protect his legs. Rayna brought up the rear, mostly walking backwards, with her bow ready. It wasn’t long before they reached a massive cavern that was once a room. It was smoke and ash, the walls of the cavern were melted rock, no room remained, just a giant empty cave that was melted into the mountain. The smell of molten rock was strong in the air. The expanse was so great, it made them wonder what happened to Alyndra, and Kaylin who had gone looking for her.
“Are you sure this was your friend, Lady Talila?” Rayna asked looking at the melted and charred area, “Not a dragon?”
Satana pondered whether the crater was created by Talila and not some other-worldly creature.
“Come on. There’s no way to continue through here, we’ll have to go back and hope we find them somewhere else.” She said, not addressing the question they were all pondering since it was brought up.
“Nothing could have survived this?” Katlin asked more than stated.
“You talk too much.” Satana growled, shoving passed Katlin, then started back to the cavernous room with the dead Deep Dwellers.
“I’m sure they’re fine, girl.” Grik assured Satana as she passed him.
The group made their way to the hall with the stairwells and their chests of coin. Katlin actually pitched in and helped Grik carry the chests. He was fearful any noise they made would alert the dragon, he was sure made the crater in the mountain fortress. His imagination was on fire. Satana led them further down the stairwell, one floor after another, each level had several doors they peaked in, but did not enter. The stairwell ended at a solitary door. Satana opened it tentatively, on the other side was the large room of the tower they first came across only they were at the very top, well past were the portal appeared. Each of them took a turn and looked over the railing, they were unable to see the bottom where their adventure first began. Above them was a stained-glass window for a roof. The sun was starting to come up, lighting the glass from outside. The design of the glass represented a skull-faced man in black armor.
“That must lead to the mountainside, or maybe a cliff?” Satana pondered aloud.
“Aye, neither be where Lord Dracon or the sisters be. We couldn’t reach it from here anyhow, let’s head down, see iffin’ we can find that portal again.” Grik offered, then he and Katlin headed to the far end of the landing to start the arduous journey down more steps.
“That guys full of himself, reminds me of someone I know.” Satana muttered to herself.
She lingered a moment, looking at the beautiful glass roof above them, the sun, even so early in the morning, was bright. She knew it meant they were very high up. She wondered how Dracon fared against that skull-faced man, then chuckled. She had no doubt he would overcome any odds against him. He had to, after all, he got her into this mess. Then she pondered if maybe he was teleported somewhere else in the mountain fortress too? She joined the others who had started down the next set of steps ahead of her.
“It’s places just like this, one would find a dragon, you know?” Katlin whispered to Grik, bouncing and turning the chests in awkward angles, making it hard for Grik to keep his balance, “That door led to a lair a dragon could live in, I mean, alongside the Mind Flayer. Why, I imagine the Mind Flayer could control a dragon, wouldn’t you say?”
“There are no dragons, boy!” Grik growled, “Hush and focus on the task at hand, yer jerking me all about, I’m about to drop these chests if you don’t walk straight and quit yer yapping!”
“Have you ever seen one?” Satana asked Rayna, the two women were walking side by side several feet behind Katlin and Grik.
“A dragon?” Rayna asked, Satana nodded yes, “I’ve seen a scale, I’ve seen a claw, I’ve even seen a dragon’s tooth, but I’ve never seen a real live dragon.”
“NO!” a loud long shout came booming from below, deep within the mountain, shaking the stone. It caused dirt and rock to fall from the inner-mountain walls, around and above them. They took cover against the wall, as far as they could from the stone railing. Parts of the stone railing cracked and fell off to the floors below. Grik and Katlin abandoned the chests and joined the women against the wall, pushing their bodies as flat against it as possible. Katlin grabbed a door handle of the nearest door and flung it open, then motioned for the others to enter. Grik looked at him reluctantly, then, the shaking became worse from below, as though the rumble came from the center of the mountain and was travelling upward. None of them wanted to be on the hall of stairs with the railings falling away, especially when the rumbling reached them. They rushed into the room and Katlin slammed the door behind them. The room was full of old dusty jars and containers, that were falling over and shattering on the floor. Whatever was in them had turned to dust long ago. They took refuge against the farthest wall from the door, huddling together as the rumbling erupted from the bottom of the mountain. They could feel it approaching, shaking the ground so hard, they bounced against it, strug
gling to remain against the wall. They held on to one another, desperately trying to remain in place, away from the debris that fell in the room. The full force of the rumble hit them, shaking the walls to pieces, rocks and mortar fell on top of them, a chunk of wall hit Katlin in the head, knocking him out cold. Then a section of the wall fell toward him. Grik grabbed him by his arm and yanked him away from the falling section of wall, managing to pull most of him free, but still it landed on his legs. The blow woke Katlin, who screamed from the pain. Grik was tossed back from the quaking around him, bouncing him back and forth. He was unable to stop himself; more bricks and stone fell from above. The room was filled with dust so thick they were blind. Then suddenly, it stopped. It was quiet, except for Katlin’s moaning and a few bits of debris settling.
“Grik!” Satana called out in the dusty quiet, “Grik!”
“I’m over here girl,” he answered with a cough.
Satana crawled, feeling her way toward him.
“Are you hurt?”
“No, girl, but that was quite a ride, eh!” he laughed.
Satana stopped crawling and sat still a moment, then started to laugh too.
“I’m hurt!” Katlin called out angrily, “Is someone going to help get this off me?”
“We’ll be along directly, let my eyes adjust.” Satana said still chuckling.
“I’m coming boy.” Grik said making his way back to Katlin, pinned under the chunk of wall.
“That’s a good idea, I can’t see, like the rest of you.” Satana said still amused, and hardly caring about Katlin’s well-being, “Maybe you’d like to help him too, Rayna?” Rayna did not answer, “Rayna?” Satana called again, then started to get to her feet, “Rayna?” She called louder, trying to adjust her eyes to the dark. The air was filled with so much dust, it made her cough. She started back over to where she last remembered seeing Rayna, holding her hands out, feeling her way in the dark. “I need a light!”
Dracon and the Edge of the World Page 35
