“Life is meant to be lived!” the king bellowed. His old oak wood staff with the polished human head on the end of it looked held by a hand fabricated of branches hit the hard floor at regular intervals. He had six staffs in all, but he preferred this one as the head was from a battle that he barely survived. What a battle that had been. He stopped to look at a painting of himself and his father when he was seven; he was in the courtyard receiving his first sword. He remembered that the artist had been a young fellow with golden hair and a club foot but very talented, many of his works were in the castle.
“If I could go back in time I’d change a few things; kill a few more people that should have been killed.” The king liked to talk to himself on occasionally.
Suddenly dragon fire erupted through the window as two red dragons smashed into one another; the spell having degraded sufficiently allowing it to break free. Chromos ran to the window and looked out; he could see the beast flying off, now with a mind of its own. There was always a danger if it got away that it would return with others and become a huge pain in the ass, literally. But he saw that it was in pursuit by three other spelled dragons and wasn’t likely to survive. He would have liked to have watched the battle, but they moved off out of his line of vision.
Two twin four-year-old boys with shoulder length hair chased one another through the hall with wooden swords, two of his many sons. One caught up to the other and cracked him hard on the head, such a solid blow that it was audible, and he started to cry. The other child stopped and looked concerned, but as he stared up at his father, he received a hard crack on the head from his brother and then they both cried as their nanny rushed to get them. Now it seemed like a contest to see who could cry the loudest. The battle had made Chromos laugh and had the nanny not appeared he would have encouraged them to continue. They were cute now, but he had no doubt that they would grow up to be mighty warriors.
Chromos entered a large chamber and walked around a statue, the wizard Clarence, it was a likeness that the wizard had conjured of himself, and beyond it was the genuine article. The wizard stood up from his desk as he noticed the king enter, continuing to go over a formula in his head, and writing down the last bits of it that he didn’t want to forget.
“Your majesty. How are you this morning?”
“Cut the bullshit Clarence, did they kill the wizard?”
The wizard knew that the king never liked to hear anything negative but what choice did he have. “I’m afraid not. They were all killed as they ran into a band of thugs, although they did manage to kill two of them. Did you send out more soldiers to kill the wizard?”
“Capture or kill yes.”
Clarence sighed. “Then I suggest that you send out more and give them this.” He went over to a rectangular basin filled with a reflective liquid, reaching his hand in he removed an arrow, slightly longer than normal. As soon as he removed the projectile it commenced smoking. It was black as night except for the arrowhead that glowed silver, with a small visible swirling entity on its point. “This will seek out and kill any wizard within its reach, but don’t try it out it’s a one shot deal. Never mind that I don’t want to be killed. It’ll seek the heart and poison it.”
“Why the hell didn’t you give it to me in the first place?”
“It was a work in progress and only completed just now your majesty. It’s not my fault that you wouldn’t wait until it was finished.”
Even as king it was probably best not to anger a wizard. They commanded a little more respect than others because of their power. “Can you show me the wizard?”
“This way.” Clarence led the king down the stairs that sunk into the floor and the chamber below. Down there the walls were covered with shelves of containers and jars, of potions and assorted animal body parts and lots of eyeballs. There was a slight but discernible green haze that smelt just a little like swamp gas. In the center of the room was a huge crystal ball that was over a large round silver basin filled with dragon tears, mounted in such a way that the ball could spin through the tears and coat it. The wizard gave the ball a spin, and then displaced some of the fluid with his hand against the crystal. In the sphere, the sorcerer Gabriel was seen leaving his hut with Stone and the others. It had been a brief scene but nice and bright. The wizard wiped his hand with a nearby cloth.
“And who are these people with the wizard?”
“Unknown.”
“No matter, we’ll kill them all when we catch up with them. It’s bad enough that we have to deal with Leeander’s wizard. I don’t want another one out there roaming around.” The king took the arrow and started back up the stairs.”
Gabriel called after him. “Whatever you do your majesty don’t touch that arrowhead. Its poison is not survivable.”
The king returned to stare at the wizard. “Don’t you think that should have been the first thing you told me? Don’t let it happen again.” He didn’t mention that he had been just about to touch it.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
RYXA STOOD UP AND STARED AT TITUS, Theon, Zak and Urban who were apparently at the mercy of the wizard; she shook her head as she was trying hard to recover from the blow she had received; her vision doubled but then pulled itself together into a single image. Theon remained in pain from having been kicked by the giant, but he deemed that he would recover. Marcus had just finished the door puzzle once again and entered to see the tall black wizard standing on the stairs and staring down at everyone. The dragon was deciding whether to blast him with fire or not, but if he made any sudden moves with his hands, he was going to get a face full of it.
“My name is Ackerman, and you saved me. I hit that big son-of-a-bitch with several potent spells but accomplished nothing. He was totally immune to magic. I’ve never seen such a thing. I am in your debt.”
Marcus was so happy to hear that. “We could use your help. We need a wizard to come back with us to use magic to power up our shield, and maybe even help us kick some ass. Believe me, when I say that these asses need to be kicked.”
“I work on complicated spells here. I never leave this place. I am content with my magic and my isolation. I also have enchantments for food and other comforts. If you’ve ever had food vanish, that was probably me. I am sorry, but I can’t help you.”
Marcus had an idea. “Could you bring King Chromos here?”
“I’m afraid not.”
“Too bad.”
Urban spoke with his deep voice. “If you don’t help us thousands upon thousands will be slaughtered. Many have already been killed.”
There was an awkward silence as the wizard considered it. He would like to help, but he couldn’t. “I am confined to this place. I have an abnormal fear of the outside world and it is impossible for me to leave. I have tried to create different spells that would allow me to go out but for whatever reason they don’t work.”
Ryxa was puzzled by his words. “I don’t understand. What will happen if you go outside?”
Again a silence as they waited for a response. “I don’t want to talk about that but wait here I have a gift for you.”
Titus didn’t know what to think about such a wizard. “Is he telling the truth? With all his power he’s afraid? That monster must have been quite a shock.”
“I don’t know what his problem is but he’s not going to be any help.” Zak was disappointed that the adventure wasn’t over so that they could get the gold and then head out west.
The wizard returned with a short sword and gave it to Marcus. “There you go, boy. This magical sword is a gift. It will cut through anything, but you can only use it once. Perhaps it can help you on your quest to find a wizard.”
Marcus examined the fine looking sword. “We don’t have much use for a magical sword. We need the aid of a wizard or something to power up a shield that protects our kingdom.”
Ackerman thought hard on it. “I can create an energy crystal that should do the trick. Come back in about six months. Energy crystals are difficult t
o make.”
Marcus shook his head. “We’re lucky if we have six days.”
“That’s the best I can do.”
Zak spoke to Theon. “What if I just grab this wizard and chuck him over my shoulder? Why should we just walk away?”
The wizard waved his hand, and the carcass of the giant floated downstairs and over their heads; he transformed him into a lamb that went running off. “Now that he’s dead whatever powerful enchantment that he had attached to him is gone. You fellows have no such protection.”
They respected the sorcerer’s warning and departed. Having encountered a wizard with nothing to show for it except for the sword was disheartening. They continued their trek and for the first time, Marcus considered that this journey might be useless. He had heard about more than a few quests where the adventurers never returned home, and maybe they were next. It was nice to hear stories of conquests and heroes but of course, a lot of them weren’t true. Marcus thought that being an adult might not be so enjoyable after all, especially if he grew up being the only one to survived Leeander’s fate. He would be as miserable as the Knights from Joshuar.
The next morning they came to cement steps on the left side of the tunnel leading up at a steep angle. They were dark and foreboding, but it was not the time to be squeamish. As soon as they saw it they knew they would have to find out what was up there, luckily the stairs were huge and could accommodate the dragon. It took more than a half hour to climb them and at the top, they found themselves winded and inside the first cube. Ryxa had to walk as well as the area hadn’t been large enough to spread her wings. It was a massive world up there, one of green grass and trees so large that each one would have been considered the biggest tree on the planet. The trees disappeared up into darkness about two hundred feet up. One tree had apples on it the size of boulders.
What kind of strange place had they discovered?
They could hear movement way up. It sounded like multiple dragon wings beating. Theon pictured himself burned alive and if so he hoped that it would be quick; he imagined that it would only take a single angry dragon to do them all in. They all looked at Ryxa to gauge her reaction; she looked uneasy, and they imagined that wasn’t good.
Zak waited for her to speak but since she didn’t he was forced to initiate it. “Ryxa, how many dragons up there?”
Ryxa cocked her head and listened. “More than a dozen and they know we’re here. We’re being watched.”
Titus shook his head figuring that this was it. “Well, are they friendly or not?
Ryxa rolled her eyes. “Now how am I supposed to know that? I am not omnipotent.”
A rumbling had commenced from somewhere, and the echo made its location unknown, low and grating as if two cement blocks were grinding together. And then a different sort of vibration that made Ryxa laugh out loud.
Zak was annoyed. “Dragon, what is so damn funny.”
“A dragon farted up there.”
And then the smell hit all of them, the stench of sulfur and boiled eggs? Then the boy saw what the rumbling had been. “Look behind us, that noise was our way out closing up. Now we have no choice but to keep going.”
Titus was getting tired of it all. He couldn’t save his people, and it looked as if he wasn’t going to be able to help Leeander either. “I was just going to say that maybe we should turn back and now we can’t.”
The place was obviously enchanted. It appeared like day except for the top that was as dark as night, and of course up there were the dragons. They started to move and could hear at least one dragon flying around, and by the sound of its wings it was a big one. Ryxa reached up and plucked one of the huge apples and ate it. It was delicious. Marcus took a bite as well. They followed a path around to the right and came upon a trunk made of stone, protected by a fist-sized lock. Theon put the boots to it, but that only served to give him a sore foot. Curious they had to see what was in there.
Zak pulled his sword and poked at it several times but then thought better of it. “I don’t want to dull or break my sword.”
“Want me to use the sword that the wizard gave us,” said Marcus.
“Do it.”
Marcus brought the sword high over his head, and when he brought it down on the trunk the sword broke into two pieces. “Oh yeah, cut through anything all right. The trunk broke the sword.” He dropped the hilt and kicked it.
“One hit and it breaks.” Titus sat on it and looked comfortable enough.
Marcus climbed on the dragon’s back; it felt comforting and somehow made him feel important. How many other people have access to a dragon?
“Just move away,” said Ryxa. “I’ll fix that lock.” And as Titus did so she hit it with a mighty blast of fire and unwittingly turned the trunk into a pile of ash. Since it had been made mostly out of rock, she hadn’t considered that. The ash suddenly collapsed into a rectangular black hole that fell about twenty or more feet down. Ryxa couldn’t resist and stuck her head in, and with a small burst of fire, she lit up the darkened chamber. It was full of gold coins and sparkly things. A marble table in the corner had several luminescent marble beakers on it. What a strange place for someone’s dwelling, if that’s what it was.
“Hello! Is anyone down here?” No response. But when the dragon tried to extricate herself from the hole she realized that she was stuck. The boy jumped down as he understood that the dragon’s head was wedged in there. Ryxa started to panic. “I’m stuck; I’m stuck!” She had forced her head in there, and now she was unable to get out.
That made Marcus panic as well because he loved her. “Get her out of there! Help her!”
Urban wasn’t sure what to do or say. “She’s a lot stronger than we are boy; if she can’t free herself what are we supposed to do?”
“I’m having a panic attack in here! Get me out of here!” The dragon’s voice echoed off the walls of the chamber.
An enormous purple dragon with deep brown eyes flew down to see what was occurring. They all stepped back as the dragon approached. “What is going on here? You’re interrupting my nap.”
“Who’s there?” The distraction helped Ryxa to calm down a bit. “That voice sounds familiar.
“It’s a big purple dragon,” Marcus shouted to her.
“A purple dragon? Does he have a big scar on his tail?”
Theon spotted the scar. “As a matter of fact he does, why?”
“Run for your lives!”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
“Ella, what is going on here?” Krandar looked at Ella and then the black dragon. He stared at the nest that contained three eggs. It didn’t take a genius to figure it out. He hated deception more than just about anything. Krandar looked at Sunfire making her look away; realizing that she knew what was going on but didn’t tell him. He gave Zedock such a look it could stop a fiery blast. His mind was moving so fast that it was difficult for him to think straight, like an unstoppable tornado. Anything that he could guess at was bad news. Surely she wasn’t dumb enough to get involved with a black dragon? He took to the air to try and blow off some steam but in seconds, he returned.
Ella started crying. “It all happened so fast. This black dragon said I looked so beautiful from way up in the sky, and then we kissed. I didn’t want to like him, but he’s so good looking. I told him to go away but he wouldn’t and now we’re having a family!”
Krandar mouth dropped open, and it would have been funny if he weren’t so upset. He looked at the black dragon and couldn’t believe his eyes; he felt the fire burning in his stomach. “Not a black dragon? Ella! Didn’t we bring you up better than that? Are you involved with a black dragon? Did he force you?”
“Of course, he didn’t force me! Didn’t you hear what I said?”
“You just killed your mother. And you!” He backed up Zedock as far as he could go, nose to nose. If Zedock could have gone through the wall, he would have. “Don’t you have any sense at all? Black dragons won’t accept a red. Will they?”
&n
bsp; “Father, they’re having a wizard!”
He looked as if a mountain dropped on him. “Who’s having what now?”
Zedock looked away, waiting for his head to come off, but then he heard Krandar turn around and head back toward Ella. He went up to the eggs and studied them, and sure enough, one of them again changed color, turning from blue to green-yellow. He almost couldn’t believe the size of them. But were they really having a wizard? There was nothing better than a dragon having a wizard. Could it be true? Was there another explanation for the eggs changing color?
Sunfire tried to change her father’s disposition. “Did you see the egg change color? That’s the little wizard.”
A grandfather to a little wizard dragon would be fantastic, if only he had been a red dragon. It was excruciatingly painful for him to think straight. He scratched his head as he tried to think. His eyes blinked as he tried to conceal his smile. “Yes, I see. If only he were a red dragon it would be something to celebrate; we would have a grand celebration. Instead, your life is ruined! Unless?”
Ella didn’t like the look of her father’s face; she instinctively knew that it wasn’t going to be good news for Zedock. She hoped that he would eventually come to his senses, but right now it didn’t look good. He was in the shock and awe stage.
Sunfire ran to Krandar. “Father, don’t make any rash judgments. Ella loves him no matter what you think.”
Krandar turned back toward Zedock. Her father was bigger and stronger and with lots of battle experience; he could kill Zedock should he so desire, and the black dragon knew it. He couldn’t fight his way out, and there was no opportunity to flee. At least, he would live on in his offspring. He presented his neck and waited for the end.
Krandar was impressed by his courage though he would never admit it. “Black dragon, you get the hell out of here and don’t come back. We’ll tell the others that Ella was with a red dragon that crashed and burned after a fight with a black dragon. Yes, that’ll work. That way I can bring your mother here to see the eggs, and we can all celebrate that little wizard.”
Knights of the Dragon (of Knights and Wizards Book 1) Page 16
