“Honor the dead,” Ben said. He dug his shovel into the soft dirt again. “And they will honor you.”
They dug for another hour and made two more graves, talking on and off about many things. Life, death, love, and family.
“You know, Dragon, I’m going to assume I’ll die before you, seeing how you’re a dragon and live ten or twenty years to my one, but would you do me the honor of burying me when my time comes?”
“I’d rather not think about it, but it will be my honor.”
“Will you see to it that my funeral is grander than Brenwar’s funeral?”
Nath started laughing. “One thing’s for sure, Ben. I’ll miss your sense of humor.”
Ben stopped digging. “I wasn’t joking.”
“Oh.”
“No, of course I was.” Ben resumed digging with a smile. “If Brenwar is there, make a spectacle of it, like some dragons and a parade. That ought to get him riled. Ha! I can see his cheeks puffing up now.” He imitated Brenwar’s voice. “What kind of man gets a dwarven funeral? He doesn’t even have a beard, by Morgdon!”
Nath laughed so hard his belly hurt. Some of the other elven diggers cast him impolite glances. He took a long breath and let it out slowly. “Ben, I admire your candid attitude toward this. It’s uncommon but refreshing.”
“I know when my time comes I’ll be in a better place. In the meantime, I’ll fight the good fight, until that time comes.”
“Hear! Hear!” Nath was just finishing up the grave when an approaching elf caught his eye. It was Laylana. She looked as tired and marred as the rest of them, but her green eyes were still bright. “How are we doing, Laylana?”
“Nath, it isn’t necessary that you complete this task. The elves will handle it, and more help has been sent for.” She grabbed Ben’s shovel and took it away from him. “You either, Ben. Please, rest a moment, the both of you. I bring good news.”
Ben crawled up out of the grave with a groan. “Is it a cure for a backache?”
“We have maidens who can—”
“No more maidens. Those last ones took my mind away. I still can’t remember the better part of yesterday. No, I’ll just take the pain and keep my wits, thank you.”
“What is it, Laylana?”
“I’ve spoken with the elven judges. They have spoken with the dwarven judges. They came to a majority decision that your name will be cleared, and it will be announced that you are not guilty of the murders of Laedorn and Uurluuk.”
“Huh, I suppose that is wonderful news. Do you have it in writing?”
She handed him a scroll.
Ben limped over. “What does it say, Dragon?”
Nath unrolled the parchment. “I’ll be, I am no longer accused—not that I should have been in the first place.” He handed the scroll back to Laylana. “I just wish it had never come to this. Laedorn would be proud of you, Laylana.”
“Thank you. He would be proud of you too.” She flagged her elven escort down with a wave of her hand. He marched right over and presented her the bow Akron and a quiver full of arrows. She dismissed the soldier with a nod. “I think this belongs to you, Nath.”
“It’s been too long.” Nath took the weapon and slung the quiver over his shoulder. The bow was compact in size. He expanded it to full length. Snap. Clatch. Snap. A bowstring unraveled from the grip and fed itself from the notch at the top to the notch at the bottom. Nath tested the string. “Akron feels good.” He tried to hand it to Ben.
Ben shrank back. “No, Dragon. I lost it last time. I won’t risk it again.”
“Ben, everyone deserves a second chance, and in some cases a third or fourth, even. Besides, it’s not like you misplaced Brenwar’s anvil.”
“No.”
Nath let it go and said to Laylana, “So, now that we know Lotuus is the murderer behind it all, are the elves and dwarves going to pursue, or should we?”
Laylana showed a pretty smile. “I’m glad you asked.”
CHAPTER 14
Night had fallen again. Just outside the fort at the Corridor, Nath stood by a bonfire on the dwarven side of the boundary. In the background, the dwarves pounded funeral kettle drums with a gentle, steady beat among the sound of the chirping crickets. Laylana, Bayzog, Sasha, Rerry, Samaz, and Ben were with him. The fire cast shadows on the edges of their faces, giving them all a hard and haggard look.
“I don’t know, Laylana,” said Nath. “Capturing Lotuus won’t be easy. She’s a fairy, and she’s leagues from here by now. Besides, they fly. It’s difficult to track a creature whose feet don’t touch the ground.”
“The elves and dwarves insist that she be brought to justice. They’ll need your help, Nath. You’re the best tracker in Nalzambor.”
Bayzog stepped away from Sasha. “He’s also the Dragon King, Laylana. His shoulders already bear the burden of countless responsibilities. Lotuus is neither the first nor the last of the murderers in this world to run free. There are more than we can count. The elves and the dwarves should focus on fighting this war against the giants, titans, and wurmers. You need to convince them of that. Lotuus is nothing but a distraction.”
“How can you say that?” Laylana argued. “That evil fairy was more than a distraction. She took down our leaders. Without leadership, we are a ship without a rudder. What happens when she uses another clever disguise and strikes at us again?”
“I find that unlikely. This was a setup to frame Nath Dragon,” Bayzog continued. “Besides, the elves and dwarves are now privy to her tricks. It’s unlikely she’ll attempt something like that again. It would be a perilous task, even for her.”
The elven princess’s emerald eyes narrowed on Bayzog. She started to say something then looked away.
“Laylana,” Nath said. “I want justice for your grandfather as much as you do. Please believe me when I say we all do, but right now, we need to focus on the bigger picture. As much as I hate to say it, for now, let bygones be bygones. Once we win this war, we’ll be able to bring all of our adversaries to justice. Especially Lotuus.” He put his hands on her shoulders. “Laylana, if there is anyone for you to direct your anger toward, it’s me. I’m the one who freed Lotuus.”
Her eyes flashed. She pulled away. “What?”
Nath quickly recounted the story of how Lotuus had been freed when he and Brenwar began the search for his mother, Grahleyna. “I never imagined it would lead to all this,” he finished.
Laylana stood silent with her jaw clenched. She was a strong-willed woman. A true warrior. It was clear that a battle raged inside her. With her hand gripping the pommel of her sword, she said, “I think it’s best that we part company. Enjoy your endeavors, O Dragon King. Hopefully they won’t unlock any more troubles.”
“Laylana, please,” Nath said, reaching for her.
She slipped his grasp and stormed away.
He stood shaking his head. That guilty feeling swelled inside him. No one was speaking, but everyone was looking at him.
Do they all blame me for this?
“She doesn’t have any more right to blame you than I do,” grumbled a voice on the other side of the blazing bonfire. It was Brenwar. He marched around with Glenwar by his side. “Those elves are a touchy bunch. They always think the fault is with someone besides themselves. As if they never made a mistake. No, the dwarves know what happened. They accept it. The elves should too. Instead, they point fingers.”
“I appreciate the words, Brenwar, but she’s hurt from her loss.”
“She needs to get over it. If they want to chase Lotuus and her fairies, let them. The dwarves, we’re in this one to the end. Right, Glenwar?”
“Right, Father!”
Even though Brenwar’s words made Nath feel a little better, Laylana’s angry departure still ate at him. They’d need the elves to win this battle. The last thing they needed was for the elves to be against him. He needed Laylana. “I’m going to go try to talk with her again.”
“No, Nath,” Sasha said, coming
to her feet. She eased up to him. “Let her be angry. She’ll be easier to talk to once her flames have cooled.”
“Are you certain she doesn’t want me to chase after her?”
“In most cases, you’d be right, but not this time. This time you might get a sword stuck in you. Leave her be. We have much to discuss.” She pulled him away from the fire. “Please, sit.”
“Yes, Dragon, sit,” Ben said. “My legs get tired from watching you stand.”
Nath sat down between Ben and Sasha. “Your legs get tired when you sleep, old man.”
“I’m not that old, but now that you mention it, my legs do get a little restless in my slumber. Heh-heh.”
“Dwarves’ legs never tire,” Glenwar said.
“Aye,” Brenwar agreed.
“That’s because they aren’t legs, they’re tree stumps,” Rerry commented.
Glenwar bulled up. “Nobody calls a dwarf a stump.”
“Apologies, I meant bearded stump,” Rerry replied.
“Or bearded boulder,” Samaz added.
Glenwar reached down and grabbed both sitting brothers by their collars. He picked them both up off the ground. Rerry and Samaz’s eyes grew bigger. “What did you say about my beard?”
“It’s a fine beard,” Rerry said.
“Yes, very distinguished,” Samaz said.
“That’s what I thought you said.” Glenwar set them both down.
Nath swore by the proud gleam in Brenwar’s eyes that he was smiling inside.
Clawing at his beard, Brenwar said, “So, what’s it going to be, Nath? Do we resume our quest to find Selene?”
“I’m leaning that way. But it will be weeks before the dwarven funerals end. I hate to depart on the next leg of the journey without you.”
“You aren’t going anywhere without me!” Brenwar bumped Glenwar’s ribs with his elbow. “Glenwar will represent my family in my stead, won’t you, Son.”
“Aye.”
“That’s good to know,” Nath said. Slivver came forward from out of the darkness. The silver shade dragon whispered in his ear. “Everyone, please, excuse me.”
CHAPTER 15
Nath rested his hands on a dead golden flame dragon. The beautiful creature was bigger than a horse and twice as long from horn to tail. “He’s so magnificent. None of our brethren even look dead. Have you ever noticed that, Slivver?”
“I have. That’s one of the differences between the dragons and the other mortals. Dragons don’t decay as soon. Their scales keep them stitched together until the last of their magic fades.”
“I know.” Nath traced his fingers over the dragon’s golden scales. There was still warmth within. “So, you believe the fetchers should have arrived by now?”
“The fetchers are never late. That’s what worries me. They are as steady as the rising sun and falling moon. My concern is that something happened to them. It’s not a good sign.”
“No, no it isn’t. Perhaps there is too much fear in the skies.”
“It didn’t stop Guzan.”
Nath closed the eyes of the golden flame, saying to him, “I’ll make sure you are given the proper burial that you deserve. All of you.”
Burying dwarves and elves was one matter, but with dragons, it was entirely different. It wouldn’t be possible for men to bury dragons, at least not the large ones. No, death with dragons was treated differently. Many dragons, when they lived to be venerable and had few days left to live, would pass through the murals of Dragon Home, never to be seen again. Other dragons, such as the ones fallen in battle, were taken to the Necropolis of Dragons. Nath knew of it, but he’d never been there.
The Necropolis caretakers were the dragons called fetchers. They were behemoths of the sky, quiet and somber, with scales that were a ruddy gray and brown. The last time Nath had seen them was after the last dragon war at the Floating City. Scores of them had floated down from the clouds and plucked up the dead. With powerful wings, they lifted off into the air and carried the dead away, never to be seen or heard from again. It was a somber and sobering event, just like being in the presence of his dead kin was now.
Nath wiped the tears that formed in the corners of his eyes. “We can’t leave them like this.”
“We won’t, but if you must leave, I’ll be honored to stay and guard them. We won’t let any scavengers or poachers get to them.”
“I know you won’t. Perhaps I should call the fetchers.”
“It is within your authority to do so, Nath. You are the Dragon King. Honestly, I would like to see you exercise your authority more often. Though I agree with what Guzan said, that many dragons will have trouble following you in man form, there are still plenty who will.”
“The truth is, I’m still not used to commanding.”
“You’re a natural, Nath, just like Father.”
“Let’s hope.” Nath rubbed his chin with his index finger. “Hmmm…you’ve actually given me an idea.” He made a little whistle. Two seekers showed up in an instant and hovered right in front of his eyes.
“What do you have in mind, Nath?”
“I think it’s high time I started taking more of your brotherly advice. I might not be able to be everywhere at once, but I can certainly make better use of my allies.”
“You mean your subjects.”
“Yes, my subjects.” He petted one of the seekers that landed on his shoulder. “But I serve them the same way I expect them to serve me.”
“So, what’s your plan for them?”
“Eckubahn has done a much better job of using his resources than I have. It’s given him a huge advantage. Lotuus has fed off that too. Perhaps it’s time we started spying on them.”
Arms crossed in front of him, Slivver said, “I like the way you think.”
Nath spoke in Dragonese to the seekers. He gave them a description of Lotuus and the fairies. He told them about her black, pink, and white features, down to the very last detail.
The little bumble bee–colored dragons nodded. Their tongues flickered out of their mouths. Seconds later, they buzzed away on their hummingbird wings.
“Well done,” Slivver said.
“That should satisfy me, and hopefully it will ease things with Laylana. Those seekers will be able to find the fairies faster than we ever could.”
“Indeed. Now what?”
Nath looked over the field of his dead dragon kin. “I’m going to see to it that they are buried, and that my father gets a proper burial, too.”
CHAPTER 16
Eckubahn sat on his throne made from dragon bones. His grand chamber—built in the center of Narnum—was silent. Many giant warriors stood guard in a protective circle around him. Their backs were facing Eckubahn. Huddled on the floor were people bowing in worship. They brought gifts. Baskets of food. Boxes of gold and jewels. They laid the objects at his feet while singing his praises—until he silenced them with a command that froze the marrow in their bones. No one dared to move. Except one.
A lone man wearing the black robes of one of his priests lifted his head toward the throne.
Eckubahn tilted his head in the man’s direction, catching his eye. His flaming head flared. In his chamber-filling voice, he said, “You, stand.”
The priest did. His fingers clutched the sides of his robes. He averted his stare and licked his sweating upper lip.
“You cast your gaze on me, priest,” Eckubahn said. “Tell me, what gives you this right over all the others?”
“I only mean to appease you, great one.” The priest tried to stop shaking, but he couldn’t. “I’m sorry. Your countenance delights me.”
“My countenance.” Eckubahn’s voice rose. “This horrifying wreck of a body that I possess? It’s disgusting. My true appearance is ten times beyond magnificent. Why do you mock me, oh servant of mine? Why do you dare?”
“I-I-I meant—”
“Fool!” Eckubahn slammed his fist on the throne’s newly reconstructed arm, chipping away some of the new stone
. “I say what you can and cannot admire!” He leaned forward. “You are a weak little servant. You lack discipline. You did not look up at me out of respect but out of a lack thereof. You fear me, yes, but you tire of bowing. You weakling. Bowing before me was too much for your fragile body to bear. I need strong followers with strength in their backs. You are not one of them.”
“I adore you, Eckubahn. I swear it on my family! Let me remain your servant.”
“You want to be my servant?” Eckubahn scooped the cringing man up off the floor with one hand. Holding the man before his eyes, he said, “You may serve me by being an outlet to my anger.” His eyes flashed. The hand that clutched the cleric caught on fire.
The cleric screamed. His robes turned to hot yellow flames. His skin turned from ash to dust, leaving only a body of steaming bones.
Eckubahn slung the skeleton across the chamber. It smashed into pieces when it hit the wall. “Does anyone else care to take a look at me? Or your fallen brother? I have plenty of anger that still needs a release.”
Every human bowing on the floor balled up even tighter, aside from one. A single person stood up among the rest. She lowered her hood, revealing her tattooed face, and looked right at him. “O great Eckubahn, allow me to be the subject of your wrath.”
“Come forward.”
Long and slender, the bald woman glided over with the ease of a snake. She looked right at him, but not in the eyes—instead, the chest.
“What is your name?”
“I am your servant, Forever.”
His brow arched, “Forever. I like that name.”
“It is yours to command, Grand Titan.”
He leaned close and sniffed her. “You reek of devilry. I like it. Your body is weak, but your spirit is strong. A rare thing among the mortals. Forever, you will command my fragile flock. Make them stronger than iron.”
Judgment of the Dragon (Book 7 of 10): Dragon Fantasy Series (Tail of the Dragon) Page 5
