The Half Dragon of Yaerna: The Gathering Arc Box Set: Books 1-3

by Hans Bezdek

  It wasn’t good. Three of them weren’t particularly large, but one of them looked to be the size of one of the large stone buildings. Doors around us opened, and other people in town started to make their way out. They would all turn into blue dragons soon. My arm started to shake. Apparently I was more scared than I thought I was.

  “You’ll regret trying to attack us!” shouted the woman at the front. “Att…ac…k!”

  Everything around me stopped.

  “Oh, thank goodness,” I sighed, leaning over and catching my breath. There was no way we were going to win that fight, legendary weapons or not. The best we could’ve hoped for was to make it out alive.

  Everyone returned back to human forms, and back to where we were before the fight broke out.

  The woman in front of us shifted to look at Cassandra. “We remember the elves as a peaceful group, but unfortunately I can not grant your request. Our leader does not wish to speak with you. This is your final warning: Turn around and leave our town.”

  “Okay!” I said, raising my hands and taking a couple of steps back.

  “We’re leaving?” asked Dhot, slowly moving backwards as well. The blue dragons watched us carefully, but didn’t make any moves to attack like last time.

  “The Time Shield activated,” I mumbled to the others. “If we fight with them, we’re all going to have a very bad time.”

  “W-What do ya mean?” asked the dwarf behind me.

  “If we fight them, we’ll probably die,” I said.

  That got the dwarf’s attention.

  “R-Run!” cried out Braun. Immediately, there was a small thump noise.

  I turned to see him trip over his own feet and fall backwards.

  “Smooth,” mumbled Dhot, reaching down to help the dwarf up. As he did so, the dwarf’s hood fell backwards.

  “Dwarf!” shouted one of the other women. All of the blue dragons raised their weapons, walking slowly towards us like they did before time reset.

  “What do we do?” asked Cassandra, pulling out the glowing Shattered Sword. “Do we try and fight them back?”

  “Kiera, wait!” said one of the men, lowering his weapon and addressing the woman who had been talking with us. “Isn’t that Braun Graystrider?”

  The black haired woman looked at the horrified dwarf for a brief second. She held her sword out to the side, which stopped all of the blue dragons in their tracks.

  “It is,” said Kiera. “Let us all put our weapons away. We will not harm you, and likewise we now know you mean none to us.”

  The blue dragons all sheathed their weapons, including Kiera. Cassandra nodded, putting the Shattered Sword away as well.

  “Glad that’s taken care of,” I mumbled, looking over at the petrified Braun. Why did the blue dragons trust him so much?

  “Our leader will speak to you now,” said Kiera, turning and walking away without another word. The other blue dragons turned with her.

  “Uh, wait up!” I said, jogging along with my group to catch up to the blue dragons. “I appreciate that we’re on friendly terms now, but I’ve gotta know… why the sudden change of heart?”

  Kiera continued walking as she answered, not bothering to look back at me. “Braun Graystrider is always welcomed here, along with any of his friends.”

  “Can we know why that’s the case?” asked Cassandra, looking over at the clearly confused and terrified dwarf.

  Kiera glanced over at the elf, surprised she had to clarify any further. “Why, because he gave us Grimkell’s Mace, of course.”

  Chapter 10

  “You can’t be serious,” I sighed, rubbing my eyes. Of course that’s what happened.

  “We are,” said one of the blue dragons beside me. “I’m surprised he hasn’t told you as much already.”

  “So are we,” said Dhot, casting an eye at the dwarf.

  Braun didn’t seem to understand anything that was going on. The fool must have done it while he was in his dark state. Perhaps I should have felt more sympathetic, but I didn’t. He would’ve led us to our deaths, if not for the Time Shield. If we would’ve known that he was the one that gave them the Mace all along, we could’ve done things differently. It was too late now.

  We followed Kiera and her group into a circular building towards the middle of Ostad. There were no other people around as we entered, passing by a barren welcome desk and into a large hall.

  Cassandra fell in step with me as we walked down the hallway.

  “Why haven’t the other blue dragons come out?” she whispered.

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “There were definitely others watching us when we were talking with Kiera and her group. After they saw that we had gained their trust, I assumed they would all go about their business normally again. They didn’t.”

  “Maybe they aren’t sure about us yet,” I said, even though I thought she was right. It was one thing to hide out if you were worried invaders were coming, but Kiera and her group ultimately accepted us. People didn’t need to hide any longer.

  “This place is empty too,” she pointed out. “I think something is going on with the people here, and it isn’t just dealing with the dwarves.”

  “What do you think it could be?” I asked, as the blue dragons swung open a double door to our left.

  “I think this is related to something we’ve seen before,” she said.

  I didn’t have time to respond as we were ushered into the room. A large circular table was in the room. It was the only thing made of wood we had seen the whole time we passed through Ostad, and had a fine polish to it. Roughly twenty seats surrounded the table. Kiera and her group took to the far side of the table, sitting down and staring back at us.

  “Please have a seat,” said Kiera, gesturing down at the chairs.

  The four of us exchanged looks before sitting down.

  “I don’t mean to be rude,” I said, “but I thought we were going to talk to the leader of the blue dragons?”

  “And you are,” said Kiera, holding her hands up and to the side.

  “The leader of the blue dragons is a woman?” asked Dhot. “Maha!”

  Cassandra slapped the goblin’s arm and shot him a glare. “Women can’t be in charge? All of Aelric is ruled by a queen, you know.”

  “I know!” said Dhot, holding his arm and scooting away from the elf. “I was just playing! Braun, heal my arm.”

  The dwarf bent over in his seat, light forming in his hand. However, he made eye contact with Cassandra before he could reach the goblin.

  “Don’t. You. Dare,” she said.

  Braun gulped and leaned back in his seat, mouthing to Dhot that he was sorry.

  “My name is Kiera Mourningshadow,” began Kiera, ignoring the others. “I am the chief of all blue dragons, and the prefect of Ostad. These men and women with me are my guards and advisers. Who is it that I speak with?”

  “Uh, I’m Reimar Pinespell,” I said, then pointing at the others in turn. “Cassandra, Dhot, and you already know Braun.”

  “That we do,” she nodded. “It is always a pleasure to meet the allies of friends in times of uncertainty. What is it you would like to speak to me about?”

  “In part, we have come to learn more about what is happening in this region,” said Cassandra. “We have talked with the dwarves of Feldarkr, and they say that your people have started attacking them.”

  “We have only acted in the best interest of our people,” said Kiera. “We have never gone out of Ostad in search of dwarves or their allies. Any threatening gestures have only been made on them when they come to our towns uninvited, and refuse to leave at once.”

  “King Julfr says that you are one of their trading partners,” I said. “Is it fair of the blue dragons to keep their goods without paying for it?”

  “Keep their good without payment?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “I’m not aware of what you’re talking about.”

  “The last time the dwarves came, they brought
a caravan with them,” explained Cassandra.

  “I had no idea,” said Kiera, shaking her head. “It would never be allowed for my people to take from others without payment. If you or the dwarves of Feldarkr will let me know what is owed, I will personally cover whatever the cost was, plus interest for their troubles.”

  I shared a look with Cassandra. That was more than reasonable of Kiera, and didn’t sound like something a person looking for a war would say. Maybe the king and people of Feldarkr were wrong about the blue dragons after all.

  “What has sparked the sudden change in behavior towards the dwarves, if I may ask?” I said.

  Kiera focused on me. “I’ll be happy to explain… if you lower your hood.”

  “My hood?”

  “Yes,” she smiled. “What I’m about to say is sensitive information. I wish to only share it with those who’s faces I can clearly see.”

  Begrudgingly, I lower my hood. I felt naked without it up, obscuring my face and especially my eyes ever so slightly. For the briefest second, Kiera’s smile faltered, before returning.

  “Thank you,” she said. “You four have probably noticed how empty our streets were, am I right?”

  “Yes,” nodded Dhot. “Very creepy. Made me feel like a ghost would pop out at any moment.”

  “What caused people to hide in their homes?” asked Cassandra.

  “That’s the problem,” sighed Kiera. “We don’t know. I fear that there is evil magic at work.”

  “But you and your guards are unaffected,” I said, glancing across the table. “How would you ten be immune?”

  “Are you insinuating that we are the ones that caused this?” asked one of the men. “You think our chief would do this to her own people?”

  “Calm down, Darius,” said Kiera. “That is a valid concern. However, this all started while we were away.”

  “Away?” asked Cassandra.

  “Yes. I was on a visit to the gray dwarves in the Mountains of Odike for several weeks. While we have been on friendly terms with all of the dwarves in Brumark since I was a young one, the gray dwarves have always gone above in maintaining a tight relationship with us.”

  “So you just happened to not be here while this happened,” I said. I wasn’t sure if I was buying her story. It seemed a little too convenient.

  Darius stood up quickly, hand resting on the hilt of his blade. “You will not speak to-”

  “I-It’s true,” spoke up Braun, cutting off the blue dragon.

  “You know they were gone?” I asked.

  “Aye,” nodded the dwarf. “I woke up here two weeks ago in an inn. It seems that me other side enjoys this place quite a bit, and I’ve found meself in a handful of inns here over the years. The innkeeper at this one was acting strange when I woke up. He told me to scram, or he’d transform and kill me. I told him his chief wouldn’t let him, but he said she was off visiting my gray cousins.”

  “Which innkeeper was this?” asked Kiera, frowning.

  “H-He wasn’t in his right mind!” said the dwarf. “I won’t tell ye!”

  Kiera smirked. “Very well.”

  “Okay,” I said, as Darius slowly sat back down. “I’ll believe you for now. Please continue.”

  “Thank you,” nodded Kiera. “When we returned a week ago, the other blue dragons were acting strange and distant. They were accusing one another of the most bizarre crimes, and even accused us of conspiring against them. They have come to the point now where they are hiding in their homes, rarely coming out except to buy the most basic necessities. The entire town has shut down.”

  “What could be causing it?” I asked. This was sounding like an extreme case of what happened in Rexford. Maybe we should’ve spent more time there figuring this out. Granted, if they wanted our help, maybe they shouldn’t have chased us out of town.

  “We believe the dwarves are somehow to blame,” she explained. “We almost never get visitors outside of them. For Ostad’s security, we can’t allow them in. I can’t risk having the rest of my men here having their minds tampered with, let alone mine.”

  “But what would the dwarves accomplish from turning against you?” asked Cassandra. “You are one of their strongest trading partners, especially now with the squabble they are having with the Republic of Hur.”

  “I don’t know,” said the blue dragon with a shake of her head. “Maybe King Julfr wants to increase his domain and take our land. Maybe he feels that we will one day turn against them, and wants to make the first strike. I do not pretend to know the mind of a dwarf.”

  “They do appear tricky,” said Dhot, casting a look at Braun. The dwarf pretended not to notice.

  “I can’t imagine you came all the way out here just to ask us about what’s happening in our town,” said Kiera. “Is there something else I can assist you in?”

  “There is… how did you come to have Grimkell’s Mace?” I asked.

  “Braun has not told you?” she asked.

  “Not exactly,” I said, glancing at the dwarf. He shrank back under my stare.

  “Kiera,” spoke up one of the women. “I am afraid Braun has some… unknown abilities. There are times when he is very brazen with out people, and others when he is weak and mild, such as now.”

  Braun smiled nervously.

  “We believe that he may have memory issues between these two forms,” concluded the woman.

  “Is he a threat to us as he is?” asked Kiera, eyes focusing on the dwarf.

  Dhot looked over at me, his hand slowly reaching into his bag. If they decided that they were going to kill Braun, we’d have to try and defend him. At least, we should for now. We couldn’t risk it if he was the runt of Brumark we were looking for.

  “No,” said the woman simply. Dhot pulled his hand away form the bag and relaxed.

  “I suspected not,” said Kiera, turning back to me. “Three days ago, Braun came to us. I was content to just scare him off, but several of my guards here spoke highly of him. Apparently, he can drink any of them under the table. At least, in one of his forms.”

  “Must be me other one,” said Braun, turning red.

  “He presented Grimkell’s Mace to us, and told us that he wanted us to keep hold of it. He said that evil forces were around, and was worried that the dwarves of Feldarkr would soon come for him and the Mace. He gave it to us for safe keeping, until the evil had passed or been defeated.”

  “Did he know who was causing all of this?” I asked.

  “No. He said he suspected a few people, and was narrowing down what the cause could be. He would let us know once he could, and would inform us when it was safe again.”

  “Looks like we’ve got some questions for you when you faint again,” said Dhot to the dwarf.

  “Is the Mace why you have come here?” asked Kiera.

  “It is,” I nodded. “We believe that the Dar’Ka are rising again. A second Dragon War is coming.”

  “Are you familiar with the prophecy of the Winged One, or the Gathering?” asked Cassandra.

  “I am,” said Kiera. “I don’t remember it explicitly stating that Grimkell’s Mace was needed, however.”

  “Please, Kiera,” I insisted. “We really need that Mace. It could be important to the survival of not just the blue dragons, but all of Yaerna!”

  “Grimkell’s Mace goes nowhere until our conflict with the dwarves is settled,” said Kiera firmly.

  “How can we help settle it?” I asked. Getting involved with this was the last thing I wanted to do, but it didn’t look like we had a choice. There was no telling how long it would take the dwarves and blues to get along again without us intervening.

  “There are only two things that can be done,” she said calmly. “Either help stop whatever is affecting my people, or join us when the time comes.”

  “When the time comes?” asked Cassandra. “For what?”

  “For a battle to the death with the dwarves.”

  Chapter 11

  “Is it okay if we
check out the town?” I asked as the four of us rose. It sounded like we weren’t going to be getting the Mace anytime soon. Might as well start investigating this place to see if we can find anything out of the ordinary. Even if this was magically based, the person or group doing it would have to keep coming around in order to keep the spell up.

  “Of course,” nodded Kiera. “My guards will accompany your group wherever you’d like to go.”

  “So, we’re prisoners?” asked Dhot.

  “It is for your protection as much as it is ours,” she said. “You are free to come and go as you please, so long as you don’t try to act against Ostad. We will also provide lodging for you all.”

  “Thank you,” nodded Cassandra. “You are far too kind.”

  Kiera smiled back at the elf as the rest of the blue dragons rose to follow us out. I moved to leave when Kiera spoke up.

  “Reimar. If you wouldn’t mind staying back.”

  “Just me?” I asked, looking at the rest of my group. They seemed as hesitant to leave me as I felt to stay behind without them.

  “Yes,” she said. “The others will not be needed for our discussion. You have nothing to worry about.”

  “I’d prefer to stay if Reimar does,” said Cassandra. “Dhot and Braun can begin the search-”

  “Nonsense,” said the blue dragon. “If you are worried about anything happening, I’m sure you’d rather be with Braun and the goblin to help protect them. Reimar and I will be alone here. Surely you have enough faith in him to equal me in combat.”

  Cassandra and I locked eyes. She looked conflicted, but we both knew Kiera was right. The blue dragons weren’t likely to turn on us right now, but if they did, Dhot and Braun would need her help to stand any chance. I hadn’t seen Kiera transform into a dragon yet, but I’d have a good chance of defending myself in this room if that time came.

  “Oooh, she wants to be alone with you,” whispered Dhot. “Someone’s got an eye for you! Maha!”

  “I’ll be fine,” I smiled at the elf, ignoring the goblin. “Go with the others and keep them on track. Maybe we’ll both learn something useful.”