Legacy of Dragonwand: Book 2 (Legacy of Dragonwand Trilogy)

by Daniel Peyton

  Crystal put her hand on his arm. “But, you are better in some ways. You are a powerful wizard now. I dare say your wisdom is much higher in quality than many people in Gallenor, even those much older than you.”

  Markus patted her hand. “Greatness is shown through actions, not in title. Unproven greatness builds ego, and ego can destroy a man. What stops that from happening is to temper the ego with humility. I hope to accomplish great things for Gallenor, but I must let my actions speak for themselves, good or bad. “

  Crystal grinned. “There, you see, wise.”

  He could not help but smile at that. “You want to know something? Tolen told me how I might find the humility to temper the ego and grow in wisdom.”

  “How?”

  “He said he walked the line between the two sides for decades, not joining either camp. Then he fell in love and realized just how much that meant to him. All his power and wisdom were set aside for the burning love in his heart.”

  Crystal smiled and asked, “So, is being mushy a genetic thing too?”

  “I guess it is. Would you rather I be a brooding, dark, playboy?”

  She cocked her head and narrowed an eye. Could she really be giving the idea some thought? he wondered.

  She held a finger to her mouth. “Well, maybe.”

  Markus snorted. “I could take brooding lessons from Treb.”

  This made Crystal laugh, hard. “Yeah, and if you want to take a lesson, just give me a big kiss right in front of him and watch carefully for the response. You might learn about muttering, growling, and even how to properly show fangs.” They both laughed for a moment, and then Crystal wiped her eyes and asked, “So, what did Tolen tell you about the staff? Are you all powerful yet?”

  Markus took up the staff and held it out. “Not exactly. It would not be a good idea to just flood my mind with that much knowledge at once. But, it is starting to come in. I know how to transform into a dragon and back much quicker. I know a few spells, and I have memories of lessons from masters that are long since dead. In time, I suppose, I will obtain all the knowledge it has, but it'll be a while.”

  Crystal seemed worried, wearing a scowl. “So, how long do you think? We may not have the time before Hallond starts his plans.”

  Markus eyed his staff. “Tolen told me my time was now. I have to go or all the wizards in the labyrinth will be killed and Hallond will start purging all non-magical people from Gallenor. He said when the moment arrived; I will be ready to defeat Hallond. “

  “What does that mean?” Crystal asked, grabbing her chest.

  “The pain is real, isn’t it? The idea of losing them?” Markus observed.

  Crystal remained silent, nodding.

  Markus took her hand and held it, and then looked deeply into her eyes. “I don’t know exactly. But, Crystal, I will do everything I can to stop him,” he said with confidence.

  “Are you ready then?”

  He nodded. “Yes. And, I have some plans as to what we should do when we get there.”

  Crystal stood up. “Then it’s about time we get going. Dad should have everything packed by now.”

  Markus got up slowly as he used the staff to support himself. “Wow, here is some wisdom for you. Don’t sit for three hours, cross legged, on a cold stone floor. Your back, butt, and knees will not be kind to you after that.”

  “Very wise, Dragon wizard,” she teased. With that, she grabbed his hand and yanked him along toward the others.

  ***

  Markus and Crystal observed Treb and Kiin strapping on all of their stuff. Apparently, Treb had finally admitted defeat and refrained from over packing his bag any longer. Markus picked up on this instantly and played the role of a gentleman and refused to allow Crystal to carry all of his stuff.

  “I’ve garnered some knowledge from the staff already and knew the way out of the Citadel,” Markus said.

  It was a long, dark, winding path leading to a different place outside of the mountain. When they finally got through the spiraling walk inside the cave, the entrance was right in front of them. There stood an ancient doorway now filled with a wall of rock. When the Citadel was moved, its exits were all sealed up like this so no one could enter or exit.

  Markus stepped up from behind Treb and Kiin and touched the wall. With a thought of magic, the stone wall became translucent and allowed them to pass through. One last request from the Dragons was that the Citadel be kept a secret tomb, with only these four knowing the truth. Markus looked back at the clear wall. “The Citadel holds many powerful relics and histories that Gallenor is not yet ready for.” Markus waved his hand at the wall and it returned to solid rock.

  “Where are we?” Kiin asked.

  Treb observed their surroundings, pointing. “There, look around. It’s the side of the mountain facing deep into the wastes. Some of the ruined city is below us.” The path itself hugged the mountain and led back around to where they had first been. “This way,” Treb said, pushing ahead.

  Markus spoke up. “Hey, why don’t Crystal and I walk ahead? After all, we still have weapons and you are without your bow.”

  Treb shook his head and maintained his position. “No, I am still protecting both of you. Besides, I may not have many arrows, but I do have Kiin’s bow.” He held up his wife’s bow.

  “Don’t wear your pride on your sleeve,” Markus said.

  “I’m not! It’s just easier this way,” Treb said.

  Markus nodded. “Fine.”

  Treb frowned at Crystal’s giggling. “What?”

  She shook her head. “Nothing.”

  Treb stopped walking. “Is there something you want to share with me?” he asked, still walking and looking ahead.

  Crystal bit her lip and shook her head yet again. “Nope.”

  Markus held in his laughter and then waved his hand at Treb. The Rakki’s large fluffy tail changed from a bright green to a deep glowing purple. Crystal almost exploded, covering her mouth with both hands.

  Treb turned around with a deep frown. “What is it?”

  Kiin, rubbed the back of his neck, and then noticed his tail. “Your tail is purple,” she said, her voice trembling with laughter.

  Treb glanced down at his tail, even spinning more than once in an attempt to get a better look. He reached over, took a hold of it and pulled it close to get a better look. With a snarl he barked at Markus. “Change it back!”

  Markus feigned ignorance, shrugging. “Well, I don’t think I know that spell yet. If you want, I can change the rest of you to match.”

  “I most certainly do not want that,” Treb raged. “Fix it!”

  Crystal, now laughing aloud, pulled out her own wand. “Here, let me. Luka.” The color of his tail glimmered for a second in a swirling mist and then returned to normal.

  Markus grinned at her. “That was perfect.”

  Crystal shrugged. “Donnas spell book has been the best night time reading I 've had in months.”

  Treb was not amused. “If you don’t mind, I… ”

  “COME QUICKLY!” Kiin yelled from where she had gone on ahead.

  Treb pulled out a small dagger and ran to meet her. Crystal and Markus were not far behind. They rounded several curves and came up to the same flat area where they had first entered the Citadel. Only, now the ground was littered with bodies of Shlan and blood. It was a gruesome sight of dismemberment and gore.

  Crystal was horrified. “Oh no. What happened? I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

  Treb closed his eyes and shook his head. “That damned Morris. He went down with a fight and took all of them with him.”

  Kiin began searching the area, bow drawn. “Where is he? Where is he?”

  Treb motioned to her. “Who?”

  “Morris! I don’t see his body anywhere,” Kiin replied. Suddenly both Rakki warriors went into a defensive posture and their ears perked up as a strange sound pinged in the distance. “Did you
hear that?” Kiin asked Treb.

  “Yes, it sounded like… a horse,” Treb replied.

  Markus slid in front of Crystal as he held up his staff. “Where is it?”

  Treb and Kiin froze and let their ears do the work. Treb narrowed his eyes. “I… I don’t hear it anymore. It stopped.”

  “Maybe it was nothing.” Crystal’s voice shook with fear.

  Something launched over the edge of the cliff. A small bottle landed on the ground in the middle of the quartet. As soon as it hit the ground, it burst into a hundred pieces and a thick fog draped over the area.

  “IT’S A SNEAK ATTACK!” Treb yelled as he began to prowl, looking for the source of the attack. But the fog was so thick that it was nearly impossible to see anyone else, least of all someone coming to attack. “Hold your weapon,” Treb warned. “We could hit each other if we’re not careful.”

  “VEDR STORR!” Crystal cried as a blast of wind surrounded the group. But the fog thickened. “It’s not working.”

  “Magical fogs are immune to basic wind spells,” Markus said.

  Unfortunately, the wind blast backfired and sent the entire group sprawling across the ground with a sudden burst of air.

  “Crystal. Don’t do that again!” Treb shouted from the floor as he caught his breath.

  Crystal’s voice trailed in the distance. “Daddy, Daddy, I’m scared. Daddy where are…..DADDY HELP!”

  The sound of numerous footfalls invaded Treb’s ears, startling him.

  Markus stood and slammed the end of his staff against the ground. A flash of white light expanded outward and the fog was instantly evaporated.

  Once again they were surrounded by the dead bodies of the Shlan, only this time Kiin and Treb were now picking themselves up from the ground.

  Markus looked up. “Impossible!”

  Morris was standing there, his left arm holding Crystal and his right hand was pointing a sword at them. He was covered in blood and wounds from the intense battle he waged against the Shlan. An insane look twinkled in his eyes and his smile.

  Morris sneered at them. “You filthy mutts. You played a pretty good game, but it’s over.” Treb got to his feet and postured to launch an attack, but Morris turned his sword on Crystal. “AH, AH, AH. One wrong move and this pretty little girl will not live to see another day.”

  Markus attacked, and with a flick of the wrist, he pummeled Morris with a spell from his staff that separated him from his sword and into the deep Canyon below. “You idiot!” Markus exclaimed. “You will not stand in my way. I'm the last Dragon and… and… ” Markus swayed and lost all strength “What is happening?”

  Kiin and Treb dropped to their knees as their weapons it the ground. Kiin looked over to Treb. “Stop him!” she said in slurred speech anyone barely understood. Her eyes began to close and her body listed to the side.

  Treb attempted to reach for Crystal, but he too face-planted the ground and began to snore.

  Morris laughed in triumph. “And you called me the idiot. Enjoy that sleeping potion. I hear it can last quite a while.” He picked Crystal back up and her limp body slumped over his arms; her wand resting on the ground. He looked down to the canyon far below, where his sword rested. “Damn, I guess sleeping to death will be your fate. Oh, well. I have what I came for.”

  ***

  Markus considered any spell he might know that could counteract the affects, but he was overcome with drowsiness, making it impossible to focus. He toppled over and his staff rolled from his hands. It vanished just as it hit a dead Shlan. He fought to keep his eyes open long enough to watch Morris take Crystal away. He was paralyzed to speak, unable to do anything. The feeling of sinking in water overwhelmed him and the world was growing further and further away. His last thoughts were of Crystal and how her nightmare was coming true. He could do nothing to save her.

  About the author

  Daniel Peyton is a fresh author whose talents includes, writing, sketching and dreaming out adventures in faraway places that he seeks to bring to paper. He lives in East Tennessee where he draws a great deal of inspiration from the unique landscape. He has been featured in short story e-zines as well as flash fiction blogs. Legacy of Dragonwand: Book I is the first book in the Dragonwand Trilogy. Outside of authoring books, Daniel is an award winning cook, artist, and embroiderer. He is a distinguished member of the Sigma Alpha Iota, and often can be found teaching classes at his church. Before he began seriously devoting himself to becoming a published author, he spent over ten years traveling the country as a member of the Miyagi Ryu Nosho Kai dance school, performing Okinawan classic and modern dances.

  Follow Daniel@

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanielPeytonAuthor

  Twitter: @DanPeytonAuthor

  Blog: http://thunderchicken-outofmyhead.blogspot.com/

  Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6622189.Daniel_J_Peyton

  More books from Daniel Peyton

  Legacy of Dragonwand book I

  OUT NOW

  Legacy of Dragonwand book III

  2017

  www.cosbymediaproductions.com