Rerry jumped forward and beat on the steel bars. Samaz managed to pull his brother back. Bayzog looked into Sasha’s eyes. He hadn’t ever seen her so worried. Now though, he had answers. Lotuus had given him the information he needed when she revealed herself.
Evil never passes up the opportunity to gloat.
Clearly, the fairy empress carried much more power than he originally estimated. Enough power to change her form—and all the other faeries did, too. It was powerful magic indeed. Now they had poisoned the minds of thousands of elves and dwarves. The question was how long it would last. Judging by the sound of things above, it had lasted long enough.
We’ve got to save Nath. We have to warn them all. But will they listen?
He faced his family. His sons both stood taller than he did and had the weathered look of seasoned adventurers. There was great strength in their eyes, much like their mother’s. He stuck his elbows out. Together they all locked arms, huddled together, and put their heads down. Bayzog searched for the magic he commanded with lips, thoughts, and fingers.
Let my mind be my fingers and my lips. In this desperate hour, come to me, magic, come.
CHAPTER 40
Sweat beaded Nath’s brow. He wiped it away with his finger and eyed the thick layer of moisture.
If scales could sweat, I’d be dripping from my elbows.
He found himself alone again as dusk settled over the hilltops and the day became early night. He’d lost sight of Laylana, but her black eyes were now etched in his mind. At first he had thought she was Lotuus, but he’d since come to the conclusion that Laylana was possessed by one of the spirits that had escaped from the Great Dragon Wall.
The presence of evil lingered in the air like smoke from burning incense. He wasn’t sure why he hadn’t noticed before, but Lotuus and her brood of faeries hid their evil well. They had duped thousands of elves and dwarves.
Now I’m going to pay for it. I’m going to pay for it with my life.
After hours of no contact with Brenwar and Ben, the pair of them finally approached.
“Well, look who’s here. What’s the matter, did they run out of food and mead?”
Ben patted his belly, which had popped out over his belt. “No, I just don’t have any room for more.” He sucked on a toothpick. “You should have tried some, Dragon. You certainly must be hungry after all this.”
With plenty of bite in his tone, Nath replied, “Sure, Ben, why don’t you go and fetch me my final meal? Make it dandy.”
“Why the heat?” Ben said, backing away with his hands up.
“Because I’m about to be hung by the neck!”
“You aren’t going to be found guilty, Nath,” Brenwar said. “You’re not guilty. Who’s not going to believe my testimony? Things are as I say they are.”
“No, Brenwar, that’s the problem. Nothing is as you think it is. I told you Lotuus was here. Remember her? The fairy empress? The reason you lost all the skin from your hand?”
“Of course I do.” His head swiveled back and forth. “I don’t see her.”
“That’s because you’ve been drinking cursed ale all day. Great Guzan, Brenwar, I’m about to die. I’d thought you’d be up in arms about it!”
“The dwarves won’t vote against me, Nath. You know that. No four votes. That will save your skin. Or scales, rather.”
“Weren’t you paying attention? They don’t need four votes to hang me. They only need three.”
Scratching his forehead, Brenwar said, “That seems unfair.”
“Very unfair,” Ben agreed. He tapped his chest with his fist and burped. “Excuse me.”
Nath looked them both square in the eye. He saw a watery glaze there. It reminded him of the time he battled a former ally who had turned against him, long ago. “Do either of you think you can remember something long enough to take it to Dragon Home?”
“Certainly, Dragon, I’ll tell them.”
“If either of you live to see Selene or my mother Grahleyna again—which, once I’m gone, I kind of doubt—tell them I’m sorry for failing. That I’ll miss them. Tell them I’m gone because my friends turned from stalwart to nitwit.”
“Hold on, I think I might need to write this down if you keep going.” Ben yawned. “Just say it one more time.”
Nath smacked his chain against the bars. His dander had risen, and his nostrils flared. “Listen, the both of you! I’m the Dragon King, and I’m giving you one final command. Bayzog, Sasha, Samaz, and Rerry are in the dungeons somewhere. Brenwar, do something with those stubby little legs of yours and find them!”
“Don’t take that tone with me,” Brenwar said.
“Will you just move?”
“Nath, your nostrils are smoking,” Ben commented with his eyes filled with marvel.
“Good!”
Whack! Whack! Whack!
Lindor pounded the sphere on the judges’ table. The banging sound felt like a hammer striking Nath’s head. He tasted burning sulfur in his mouth.
Oh, if I can let out some fire, let me let it out now.
He took a deep breath, filling his lungs, and exhaled a puff of smoke weaker than a small campfire being doused. Nobody even noticed.
Ben and Brenwar resumed their seats in the stands.
What are they doing? I told them to find Bayzog!
Lindor remained standing while the other four judges took seats. He beckoned Laylana and Anlee. With the kind eyes of a caring father, he said to both of them, “The two of you represented the greater good well. It made for a difficult decision. I thank you both for the preparation and effort. With that, the judges are prepared to render their decisions.”
A stiff breeze blew in that rattled the lanterns hanging on the posts. Nath blew his hair from his eyes.
I can’t believe it’s come down to this. I thought when I went down, it would be in a fight, like Father. Instead, I fall into a web of lies and deceit.
He pecked on the bars with his index fingernail. The tiny divots he made seemed so significant for some reason. It was a detail he normally wouldn’t have paid any attention to at all. It was as if something was missing.
This can’t be real! Somebody pinch me! This must be an illusion!
Lindor resumed his seat. With his elbows resting on the table, nestled in the blossoming folds of his sleeves, he said, “In case of a tie, I will be the determining vote.” He held up a finger. “Let me remind the audience once more. Remain quiet. Respectful. A vote of guilty by three or more judges is a hanging verdict. If the vote is not guilty by three or more judges, Nath Dragon will be given his freedom, and for this crime, he will never be tried again. If he is found guilty, he will be hung by the neck shortly thereafter. His remains will be returned to Dragon Home, otherwise known as the Mountain of Doom.” His eyes slid over to Nath for a long moment, then he eased back into his chair. “We will start with the elven judges if there is no objection.”
Nath’s throat tightened. Sweat dripped into his eyes.
Great Guzan, this is really happening!
Lindor rolled the marble sphere down the judges’ table to the elven judge at the other end. The judge with flowing white hair covering his shoulders and back slowly stood. He took the sphere in hand, lifted it chest high, and smote the bench. In a baritone voice, he said, “Guilty.” He rolled the gavel to the next elven judge.
Taking the sphere in hand, the elven judge who appeared the youngest of them all, with half his short hair mostly brown mixed with white, dropped the sphere with a resounding clatter. In elegant speech, he said, “Guilty.”
I’m doomed! I’m doomed!
The marble sphere rolled down to the dwarf furthest to the left.
Oh please, Brenwar! Please be right! Let the dwarves be on my side.
The white-bearded dwarf with a balding crown of hair scooped up the gavel as he stood, lifted it high over his head, glared at Nath, slammed it on the bench, and said in a voice that could startle a statue, “Guilty!”
Nath’s heart sank into his toes when the rousing cheers from both sides of the aisle erupted.
Ben and Brenwar sat with perplexed looks on their faces, shaking their heads. Quickly, the excited crowd took up the chant that was suggested by the soft whispers of the elven serving maidens.
“Hang Nath Dragon! Hang Nath Dragon! Hang Nath Dragon!”
CHAPTER 41
Before Nath could say the first twenty-seven syllables of his actual name, the dwarves and elves began building the gallows. The structure was built over the stone table where Akron lay like a forgotten piece of history. Plank by plank, nail by nail, one mind-jarring crack at the head of a spike after the other, Nath watched the last minutes of his life go by.
He pointed at a spot in the scaffolding where a nail head wasn’t flush. “Eh, bearded one, it looks like one of the elves isn’t too proficient with a hammer. I don’t want the platform coming down before the show gets started. Can you imagine the embarrassment if your craftsmanship fails?”
The dwarf stopped, backed up, and eyed the bent head of the nail that protruded. He clawed it out with the hammer, plucked a shiny new nail from his pouch, and hammered it home with one strike.
With his thumbs up, Nath said, “Well done! I feel much better now. The dwarven reputation for being the finest craftsmen in all Nalzambor is still intact.”
With tiny chisels and knives, the elves made ornate carvings in the support posts and railings that followed the steps to the top. Within an hour, the entire contraption was complete.
“Well, it looks like you have everything you need but a rope,” Nath commented. He was numb from head to toe. The only thing still running was his mouth. Some sort of bizarre denial of what was happening.
Brenwar appeared with a long stretch of dwarven rope and knotted up a noose.
“Brenwar!” Nath cried, “What in Balzurth’s name are you doing?”
“If you’re going to hang, you’re going to hang right.” Brenwar gave the rope a few tugs. With a nod, he handed it to his son Glenwar, who ran the rope to the top.
Nath startled when the lock to his cage turned with a grind of metal. His arms were locked behind his neck and the metal collar removed. He was flexing his muscles when a black-eyed elven soldier whispered in his ear, “Fight this, and your friends in the dungeon die before you do.”
Shoulders sagging, he let the soldiers march him out of the cage.
I bet Bayzog isn’t even captured. Everything else is a lie, so why wouldn’t that be? Perhaps I should make a break for it. I’d get these chains off eventually.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a wink of light. He turned his head. Proud as a peacock, Lotuus stood in fully elven form, holding Bayzog’s staff. She winked. She waved.
I hate her.
He began the long march up the steps. Not a single board creaked underfoot on his way to the top of the gallows. Twenty feet off the ground, he found himself looking down at all the judges and people. They slung the noose over his neck and pulled the rope tight. Below him were only the trap-door platform and twenty feet of air.
“Nath Dragon,” Lindor said, “you have been judged guilty. Do you have any last words to say?”
He eyed the dwarven soldier who held the handle to the trap door. He made an uncomfortable swallow and said, “Yes I do.”
Perhaps I’ll take this moment to summon the dragons. I have to do something before it’s too late—but what about my friends? I’ll just say something really long. Delay until I think of something. For the love of Balzurth, somebody do something!
“You might hang me, but know this: you will have hung the wrong man. You’ll regret it.”
The now-black-eyed Lindor cut him off. “That will do.”
The dwarven soldier yanked back the lever. The trap door dropped open.
Weightless for an instant, Nath fell through. The rope went taut with a snap. He bounced. His neck muscles bulged and flexed. His head and neck retained their iron composure.
The judges, particularly Lindor, couldn’t have been more startled when Nath’s neck didn’t break. All of their eyes were as big and black as raccoons’ as he hung swaying in the wind with the rope groaning above his head.
In raspy, strong-willed words, Nath said, “This is awkward.”
FROM THE AUTHOR
All I’m going to say is cliffhanger alert! You always get at least one in every series, but the good news is that by the time you finish Trial of the Dragon, Judgment of the Dragon will be complete. It will be released December 30th, 2016. You can order it here, or see below for details. Great Guzan!
About the Author
Craig Halloran resides with his family outside his hometown of Charleston, West Virginia. When he isn’t entertaining mankind, he is seeking adventure, working out, or watching sports. To learn more about him, go to: www.thedarkslayer.com.
Check out all of my great stories …
CLASH OF HEROES: Nath Dragon meets The Darkslayer
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Trial of the Dragon
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Trial of the Dragon (The Chronicles of Dragon, Series 2, Book 6 of 10) (Tail of the Dragon 7) Page 13
