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

by Hans Bezdek

  The blue dragons around us nodded in agreement. Darius even smiled at me. Looked like earning his respect was easier than I thought. It just involved blowing up a legendary weapon.

  Nicole looked furious. “Not only that, he stole the Time Shield from us!”

  “That’s not true at all,” I said. “You and the Maroon Vipers never even made it to the underwater cavern!”

  “IT’S THE GRAY ADDERS!” she screamed, pulling a short sword out of its sheath.

  “Lower your weapon!” shouted Darius, raising his spear at the orc.

  “I bet he has the Mace!” said Anders, pulling his weapon out as well. The rest of The Guild begrudgingly followed suit.

  “Everyone lower your weapon, and leave now!” shouted Kiera, taking another step forward and raising her curved sword.

  “I don’t hav-” I tried.

  “These blue dragons are impeding The Guild!” shouted Anders to his men. “We have authority to use whatever means necessary to retrieve Grimkell’s Mace! Attack!”

  “Get that human!” shouted Nicole to her Gray Adders.

  I pulled my arm back and jumped up next to Kiera as the Gray Adders all pulled out their weapons. The Guild sprang into action first, rushing the blue dragons.

  The two human males ran at Kiera and I, pulling out a sword and a large hammer. The swordsman lashed out first, and was met with Kiera’s blade. Kiera held her sword in place as the swordsman struggled in an attempt to push her back. While that was going on, the other man raised his hammer above his head, driving it down towards the blue dragon.

  Jumping up, I let loose the rockets in my glove which carried me higher. My fist collided with the hammer in mid swing, cracking it slightly and knocking it back. The man wasn’t expecting this and lost his grip, sending the hammer swinging backwards and colliding with his gnome friend’s face.

  “Waa!” she cried out, falling backwards and grabbing at her nose.

  “Fiona!” shouted the man, turning around foolishly to see if the gnome was okay.

  Taking advantage of the opportunity, I quickly activated my fist again, this time targeting the back of his head. With a grunt he stumbled a few feet forward, passing out next to the bloodied gnome.

  “I-I yield!” shouted a man’s voice behind me. Kiera had knocked the swordsman’s weapon out of his hands, and now held her curved blade at his throat. The man was openly weeping.

  “Have some self respect,” sighed Kiera.

  “DIE!” shouted Anders, leaping at me while I was distracted.

  He brought his mace down as I dove out of the way, bringing my dagger out.

  “Hey, no need to yell for me to die,” I said, getting back to my feet. “I didn’t kill you the last time we met.”

  “And ye’ll regret it!” he cried, running at me with mace raised high.

  I began summoning magic into my fists as I ran to meet the dwarf, bringing my dagger up and blocking his first swing. Anders brought his mace back, swirling around and trying to knock my side. I spun as well, letting the mace harmlessly bounce against the Time Shield on my back.

  “Don’t just stand there!” barked Anders to his elf, who had been watching us intently while holding his short sword with both hands. “Help me, ya worthless bat head!”

  The elf nodded frantically, quickly walking over to us and taking deep breaths. I had no idea where The Guild got these guys, or what low bar they had to meet to get in.

  Reaching down, I let loose some magic into the ground. A block of earth shot up in between the elf’s legs, making connection with his vital area.

  The elf made a high pitched noise, dropping his sword as he reached down. The earth went back down as he crumpled, writhing around in pain.

  “Ya think yer funny?!” shouted Anders, kicking against the Time Shield and pushing me forward.

  “Sometimes,” I conceded. “You should look around before you consider coming at me again, though.”

  “What do ya… oh…”

  The man with the hammer was being tended to by the gnome Fiona, who’s nose was gushing blood and looked to be severely broken. Their elf was effectively out of the fight, and while we were brawling, Kiera somehow disarmed the human woman from The Guild, holding both her and the swordsman as hostages while she watched us.

  While his group was out of commission, they at least were all still alive. Several of the Gray Adders didn’t look so lucky, strewn about with deep gashes in their chests or under their necks.

  Three orcs were teaming up against Darius, who was handling them all with minimum exertion. The blue dragon’s spear spun about him as if it were a part of him, parrying two of the orcs’ weapons before slicing out at the third’s arm, drawing blood.

  Nicole was backing up as four of her men formed a protective square around her. The other six or so Gray Adders were also retreating, doing everything they could to block the other blue dragons’ attacks.

  “Everyone stop!” shouted Kiera.

  The blue dragons collectively took several steps back, bringing their weapons up in defensive positions but no longer lashing out. The Gray Adders and The Guild all stopped what they were doing, too, looking over at the chief of the blue dragons attentively.

  “Leave this place and never come back,” demanded Kiera, throwing the two human forward unharmed. “Take your injured and your dead, and remember the mercy the blue dragons have given you this day.”

  The assortment of humans, orcs, and gnomes that comprised the Gray Adders put their weapons away as they turned to leave. Nicole stopped, watching them all walk past her without so much as a glance.

  “Gray Adders, pull back!” shouted Nicole, doing her best to pretend she still held some authority.

  Members of The Guild crowded around the unconscious human, doing their best to raise him up and leave. Anders put his mace away while glaring at me.

  “This won’t be the last ya see of me, mage,” he spat, following after the Gray Adders and his men.

  I nodded, sheathing my dagger. “Unfortunately, for the first time since we’ve met, I think you’re right.”

  Chapter 13

  I awoke the next morning to the sound of Cassandra and Dhot arguing.

  “Because I’m not a coward!” shouted Cassandra.

  “Maha! And I am?”

  After the conflict with The Guild and Gray Adders, Kiera escorted me to the inn where my friends were staying. The guards acted as the inn’s staff, as the regular attendants were nowhere to be seen. We had full run of the place, but we all picked rooms close to one another on the main floor in case anything happened. While we were probably safe from another attack by the two groups, there was no telling what would happen next.

  The three of them didn’t find much while they were out with the blue dragons. Cassandra noticed evidence of someone around the southeast outskirts, near a small cave that overlooked the town. The remains of a fire were there, along with a strange hole, roughly four inches in diameter. They couldn’t tell who or what had camped there, and there was no trail left to follow. It had snowed two days earlier, and whatever tracks had been there were now covered.

  I explained what happened with to the others when I arrived. We all agreed to stay the night, as there was no point in heading back to Feldarkr with enemies not far away. They quizzed me on what Kiera wanted, but I kept the details vague. I didn’t want to scare Braun by confirming I was actually a half dragon. The poor dwarf seemed put out enough by this whole debacle.

  “P-Please stop!” cried Braun from just outside my door. “W-We’re all friends here!”

  I groaned as I rolled out of my bed and grabbed my things. I had better get involved before something got blown up.

  I opened the door and walked into the dining area around the corner.

  Braun stood near the door, looking around nervously as always. Several empty tables were in the room, while one had several plates topped with half eaten food. Dhot and Cassandra stood by this one, both glaring at each other an
d waving animatedly. Two blue dragon guards ate at the bar, watching the two with amusement.

  “How can you expect to help either side with no understanding of your blade!” said Dhot. “Frankly, I’m beginning to wonder if the blasted thing won’t work when the black and red finally do come!”

  “I’m working on it, okay?” she shouted back. “Not all of the ancient weapons are as simple as putting them on our head!”

  “There’s an art to these Goggles! It’s not as simple as you’re making it sound!”

  “What’s going on?” I asked, taking a few steps closer to them.

  “Cassandra wants us to stay here and fight on behalf of the blue dragons,” explained Dhot. “As if she could be any help with a Shattered Sword that only works half the time.”

  “I’m getting better with it!” she said.

  There was some truth to that. While I didn’t know how, the Sword was glowing more often than not now. I wasn’t sure if Cassandra understood why that was, though.

  “So I take it you want to fight for the dwarves instead?” I asked.

  “Not fight,” said the goblin, shaking his head. “Become a neutral third party. I’m saying we should just wait this whole conflict out, and go look for another legendary item. The two will eventually sort things out, and then we can come back and try for Grimkell’s Mace again.”

  “But the blue dragons have proven to be helpful allies,” said Cassandra. “If we want to stand a chance against the black and reds, we’ll need their help! What if the dwarves decide to wage a war, and then both sides have major loses?”

  “That’s the beauty of what I’m saying,” said Dhot. “It’s not our problem then.”

  I looked over at Braun, who seemed greatly distressed by everything. “What are your thoughts, dwarf? What do you want to do?”

  “I-I abstain from any vote,” he stammered. “I don’t wanna be the cause fer any pain or suffering!”

  “I’m noticing a theme with you,” I sighed, walking over to the table with some food.

  “What do you think, Reimar?” asked Cassandra. “You’ve fought alongside the blue dragons now. Surely you won’t want to abandon them.”

  “Surely you don’t want to die a senseless death for them either,” added Dhot.

  I tore into some bread, ready to think it over. On the table next to me was a few small black boxes with buttons on them.

  “Don’t leave your bombs lying around, Dhot,” I said in between bites. “I don’t want to accidentally blow myself up.”

  The goblin snatched up the boxes, putting them back in his bag. “They aren’t bombs, just a little something I’m trying to put together for the future. What do you think about what we’ve said?”

  I took another bite and thought as I chewed. Normally, I’d lean more towards Dhot’s side on this one. From a self preservation standpoint, I preferred to not get involved in any battles or wars that didn’t directly concern me. Even when they did, I didn’t exactly look forward to dealing with them.

  However, we didn’t know where any other legendary weapons could be. This was the only lead we had right now. Even if we did know, there was something that made me feel like we were meant to be here. That dream I had of the mysterious man back in Mela mentioned that two strong allies would destroy one another if I wasn’t involved. Was he talking about the dwarves and the blue dragons?

  “I say we head back to Feldarkr,” I said.

  “Huh?” asked Dhot and Cassandra.

  “I know that’s not what either of you want, but it’s what makes the most sense,” I said. “Whatever spell has come over Ostad was done in Rexford, too. It stinks of Ulrich’s involvement somehow. If we don’t figure out what is causing it, then it’ll keep happening all over Yaerna. There’s no telling if or when we’d pass through another town under this same madness. We need to root it out now.”

  “Why Feldarkr, though?” asked Braun. “I-I’m not thrilled to be goin back there.”

  “We’ve already seen what we could here,” answered Cassandra, nodding at me that she understood what I was saying. “We won’t learn anything more here. We should go talk to the dwarves again. Now that we know more a little more, maybe we can ask better questions. We could try and explain to King Julfr what is happening here, too, and try to solve this matter peacefully.”

  “I guess I’m okay with peacefully,” said Dhot slowly, rubbing his chin as he thought through what Cassandra and I were saying.

  “We also don’t know where another legendary weapon could be,” I pointed out.

  “True,” he nodded. “Maybe I didn’t think my plan out so well. Maha!”

  “It’s decided then,” I smiled.

  “Braun,” asked Cassandra, “will you come with us?”

  “Don’t think I have much of a choice, do I?” he said.

  “You do,” I said. “We needed you to bring us here, but we can probably manage our way back.”

  The dwarf’s eyes widened as he looked up at me. “Ya serious? I don’t have to go?”

  “You can stay here where it’s safe, if you’d like.”

  Braun smiled at the thought, before looking at us each in turn. “But ye will still go? Ye won’t stay here?”

  “We can’t,” said Cassandra. “If there’s any hope to bring peace to these groups, we’ve got to go back to Feldarkr.”

  The dwarf shifted where he stood, stroking his beard.

  “We should leave now,” said Dhot, not giving the dwarf much time to think. “The Guild or the Gray Adders could be headed there as well, and we’ll need to get to the king before they do.”

  “Good point,” I nodded, rising from my seat. “They’ve already got a head start on us, but will move slower since they’re injured.”

  “Kiera wishes to speak with you all before you leave,” said one of the blue dragons, also standing. “I’ll go fetch her, and meet you at the front gate.”

  He left while the other guard came over to take our plates.

  “Everyone packed?” I asked.

  Cassandra and Dhot nodded, walking towards Braun and the door.

  “I-I am,” stammered Braun. “Just need to get me bag.”

  “Ah, so you will come with us?” I asked.

  Braun nodded, standing a bit straighter. “If I be the runt of Brumark, I can’t very well let the four of you go off without me, now can I?”

  “Maha! That’s the spirit!” laughed Dhot, slapping the dwarf on the arm.

  Braun gave us a rare smile at that, then ran off to get his things.

  “Were you really going to let him stay here?” asked Dhot, turning to us.

  “No,” I said. “But hopefully he’ll complain a little less now that it was his idea to come with.”

  “Maha! We’ll see about that!”

  The four of us left with the blue dragon when Braun returned, leaving the warmth of the inn and heading down the main street of Ostad. Kiera and her blue dragons were already waiting for us at the gate by the time we reached it.

  “So the four of you will be off?” asked Kiera as we approached.

  “If we want to figure out what is causing this curse, we’ll need to seek answers elsewhere,” nodded Cassandra. “We do appreciate all that you and your people have done for us.”

  “It is the least we can do for the one who brought us Grimkell’s Mace and his friends,” she said. “Is it true you will be going back to Feldarkr?”

  “It is,” I said. “While I don’t believe the dwarves are the ones doing this to you, we should check back in on them now that we know a little more.”

  “Be careful that they do not cast their spell on you as you investigate,” warned Kiera.

  “Don’t worry,” said Cassandra. “I don’t think anyone could get through Reimar’s thick skull.”

  “Maha!”

  “I’ll take that as a compliment,” I said, narrowing my eyes at the elf.

  Kiera laughed, as did several of the blues. “The four of you are welcomed back
here anytime. May the northern winds grant you fast travel.”

  “We appreciate that,” I smiled.

  “See you soon,” said Dhot. “Get Grimkell’s Mace ready for us! Maha!”

  The four of us departed from Ostad, taking a few sips from our flasks as we entered the wild tundra. Well rested and fed, we tried to keep up a fast pace. While we were tempted to go around the troll territory marked out by Braun, we decided we had to cut through it for speed.

  We marched through the snow covered grounds, keeping an eye out all around for anything out of the ordinary. Every half an hour or so, we would come across clumps of snow oddly place. We kept a distance and went around these, all of us eyeing the mounds with suspicion. Whether they were filled with trolls or not, we’d thankfully never know.

  Not meeting with any trolls, giants, or wolves, we made good pace back. The weather stayed calm for us, with only a burst of flurries here and there. It seemed that Kiera’s blessing had benefited us after all.

  Before the sun began to descend too much, we found ourselves looking off at Feldarkr in the distance. Braun guessed that we had another hour or so, but shouldn’t be much longer. It looked like we’d be able to take our time tonight, rest up, then seek council with the king early the next morning.

  A screech pierced the evening sky.

  “That’s not good,” I mumbled.

  “It’s not,” agreed Cassandra.

  I looked up and around for the source of the cry, which was difficult from the echo all around us. Looking off to the southeast, I finally saw the red dot I was looking for. The dot grew larger and larger with every beat of its wings, until its form became clear.

  “D-D-Dragon!” shouted Braun, pointing up at the sky as he fainted.

  “Not good at all,” said Cassandra.

  Chapter 14

  The red dragon had spotted us from off, and was heading straight towards us.

  “What do we do about Braun?” asked Cassandra, pulling out the Shattered Sword.

  I looked down at the dwarf, who was already starting to wake back up. Were we about to fight him along with the dragon? I didn’t see how we could win that.