by Marc Johnson
I waited a few tense seconds for him to burst out of the plant monster. He didn’t. The plant had gone completely still. I didn’t know if that should worry me or not. I took a couple of cautious steps closer, concerned. Suddenly, the plant exploded, spewing green stuff all over the place.
“Yuck,” I said, wiping plant goo from my face. Master Stradus stood tall, untouched and unharmed. He had a white glow about him.
“Not bad, my boy. Tell me, are you tired at all?”
“I feel a little light-headed, but I’m ready whenever you are, Master.”
“Good. Now, let’s see how skilled your defenses are. Prepare yourself!” I took a deep breath and clenched my fists, gathering in mana. I readied myself for whatever came my way.
Master Stradus chanted in the old language, his eyes becoming solid blue gems. A cold breeze entered the room; the candles swayed. A drop of water dripped on me. I wiped my face, still wondering what he was going to do. Another drop struck. When I looked up, I saw a cloud had formed just under the ceiling. I was about to disperse it, when a bolt of lightning shot out of the cloud—straight at me.
I scrambled out of the way just in time. The lightning tore a hole in the floor. I raised my hands to disperse the cloud, and this time a huge gust of wind hit me. It sent me flying against the wall of the cave. I groaned as my back slammed into the rocky wall. Master Stradus continued to channel his power through his staff, the globe ever swirling.
The little cloud quickly grew into a monstrous one. Huge winds knocked me back and forth against the hard rocks. Rain fell so hard it stung with every drop. In the midst of the storm stood Master Stradus—calm, dry, and chanting.
I strained my muscles, pushing my hands against the wind and trying to keep on my feet. “Just as water can extinguish fire, can fire burn water!”
Fire exploded out of my hands and rolled over the ceiling in waves, smothering the cloud. Steam blanketed everything, leaving the ceiling scorched and the room smelling like charcoal. With the cloud gone, the rain and wind both stopped. I thought Master Stradus would have come out of his trance, but he was still chanting. The globe atop his snaked staff whirled.
I pried myself away from the wall, wincing from my scrapes and bruises. I circled Master Stradus, preparing defensive spells. It became harder for me to move. At first I thought it was the weight of the water in my drenched clothes, but when I tried to take another step forward, I couldn’t. My feet were stuck. The ground had turned into a kind of quicksand or bog.
I struggled to escape, but my predicament only grew worse. The bog sucked me deeper—up to my thighs, then waist. The mountain was eating me alive.
“Need help, Hellsfire?” Master Stradus held his hand out to me. The quicksand was now confined to a small area surrounding me, and his eyes had returned to normal. “Here, my boy, let me help you.”
“I don’t need your help,” I said, with the mountain up to my chin.
“Of course you do. You shouldn’t be ashamed of the fact you weren’t paying complete attention to everything. You did very well.”
I ground my teeth. “It’s not over.”
“Hellsfire, please. Now is not the time to be stubborn. The ground will soon cover you from head to toe.”
“I will get out of this myself!” I gave him a fierce look, then sighed. “You won’t always be around to help me, Master.” I gulped one last breath and slid deeper into the mountain.
“Hellsfire….”
My heartbeat was the only thing I heard. I wanted to scream, but all I would have gotten was a mouthful of mud. I hated being entrapped in tight spaces. I hated giving up even more.
People were counting on me. They needed my help to fight Premier. I wasn't going to let them down. I thought of all the good people Premier was going to kill if I didn't get out of here, starting with the princess. I concentrated, forcing my mind to take control over my panicky body.
My training took over, and I heard Master Stradus's lessons in my mind. Focus, he said. I closed my eyes and calmed my mind. In the quiet solitude of the enclosed ground, I understood what my master had done. He had created the storm as a diversion, albeit a very dangerous one. I had faced two fronts: the storm and the land itself. It was quite ingenious of him. This was how wizards dueled. I’d do well to remember it.
I was quickly running out of air. I had to hurry. I grasped my inner fire and shifted it through my hands into the surrounding mud. I focused on my friends who were willing to give their lives in the upcoming battle. My emotions fueled the fire. I couldn't—wouldn’t—let them fight alone!
The ground heated up and dried out, becoming as brittle as rust. I stopped sinking, and dug through the dry, crackling dirt. When I finally broke through the surface, I panted and gasped for air.
As soon as I was no longer in danger of suffocating, I gave a tired smile. “You see, Master? I told you I would get out of that myself.”
“Come, let’s get you cleaned up.”
I washed myself and my clothes. I dried my tunic with blasts of hot air, but left my wizard’s robe to dry the usual way. It hadn’t cleaned itself, as when I was in the bathhouse in Erlam. Maybe because I was very tired from crawling out of my grave, or maybe it really was the steam that had cleaned it in Erlam. A living robe? I shook my head at the preposterous idea.
I went to the garden, where Master Stradus was kneeling in the dirt tending his plants. My eyes took in every plant and flower—their leaves, petals, and the wondrous colors. My nose was filled with sweet smells. “I almost forgot how beautiful your garden is.”
Master Stradus nodded as he overturned some topsoil.
“I still don’t understand why you don’t use magic to help you. It’d be a lot easier.”
“That would ruin the point,” Master Stradus said. “The only magic I used was in the beginning, to get the plants to grow and for the light. Now, I rely on the skill of my two hands and my knowledge of plants.” He stopped digging for a moment. “After everything I’ve been through in my life, it’s the simple things that I enjoy. I hope you’ll come to understand that.”
“What do you mean, Master?”
He began digging, carefully loosening the dirt around the roots. “Remember all the things I’ve taught you, that’s all. The world’s a dangerous place, son. You have to be careful, especially in the upcoming battle.”
I took a moment, staring at him. What could have gotten him so frustrated? There was only one thing I could think of. “You don’t think I’m prepared, do you?”
He stopped his digging and turned towards me. Sadness loomed in his eyes. “No. I do not.”
My anger and fire rose with my frustration and disbelief. “How could you not believe in me?” I yelled. “After all this time, after all you’ve said, I’m not the One?”
Master Stradus stared at me, not saying a word. The expression on his face was unreadable. He sighed. “You are the One, Hellsfire. I believe that. You haven’t fully mastered your powers, and you know not all the dangers that lie in the world. You have started to learn some of these things. But you need to master your powers and learn about the world, or you’re going to fail.”
“I thought you said I did well in the training room today?”
Master Stradus rose, reaching for his staff. He dusted himself off. “You did, but you could have done better. You should have paid more attention. In battle with another wizard, you must think on your feet. You only paid attention to my cloud, but you never thought of the ground beneath you. You always have to think ahead, Hellsfire. Always.
“In warfare, it’s different. You’ll have plenty of time to work your spells, and you’ll have the support of others. Even then, you must still think ahead. You must see the things that are not there but might be. Think of all the possibilities. That's one of the things that makes a wizard. The magic is but a small part of it.”
My face sagged, and my anger dissipated. He was right. I had a lot to learn, but I thought I was doing my best so fa
r. If my best wasn’t good enough, then perhaps I wasn’t the One he thought I was? Perhaps he was wrong. Perhaps I had wasted my time and his.
Master Stradus walked over to me and placed his hand on my shoulder. “My son, you came to a great realization today when you knew I wouldn’t always be here for you. I’m sorry I’ve placed so much pressure on you, Hellsfire. Remember what I’ve taught you, and most of all, follow your heart.” He smiled at me. “You’ve grown a lot over the past three years. I’m proud of you. But you still have a lot to learn, and so do I. For a wizard, the learning never stops.”
Master Stradus walked out of the garden. A hot, stinging sensation crept into my eyes. I wanted to be alone, so I went out on the ledge, staring down at the landscape below. I tried in vain to imagine what was happening in Alexandria. Because I was exhausted from today’s duel, I didn’t last more than a couple of minutes in the weather. The cold pierced into my skin. I went inside to the library to read some stories, in hopes I would be able to laugh and lighten my mood.
We ate later in the day, but little was said during the meal. I went to bed earlier than normal. I wanted to think about the things Master Stradus had said to me in the garden. Fighting Premier was going to be even harder than I had thought. I had little hope of standing against him alone. I was glad my master would be with me.
----
We spent the next three days in practice duels and making potions to take with us. Each morning I woke up sore. My first thought was always of Krystal and the others. I wished we had a way of seeing if they were all right, but Master Stradus had hesitated to use a maleika for fear of conjuring the one that had almost killed me.
On the fourth morning, I woke earlier than usual. The elves should be nearly to Alexandria by now. We should be leaving soon.
Master Stradus had breakfast prepared. He waited until I had taken a bite of freshly baked bread before he spoke. “You should know this. Premier has taken Alexandria.”
The bread dropped from my hand. “No,” I whispered. I immediately thought of Krystal. Pictures of Premier doing unspeakable things to her formed in my mind. The flames grew still like my heart. “Master, how do you know this?”
“I used a maleika.”
“But you said—”
“I know what I said, Hellsfire. It had to be done. Precautions were taken.”
I didn’t care that he took a risk in doing it, and that he did it without me. I jumped to my feet and paced, fists clenched. “Godsdamnit! If only we had left sooner! I knew I should have stayed behind. If only—”
“Hellsfire, there's nothing you could have done. Premier captured Alexandria long before the dwarves or elves got there. By the time you arrived here, it was already too late. And if you had stayed behind, he would have killed you.”
I stopped pacing and perked up. “The elves and dwarves are there?”
He nodded. “I've sent a messenger hawk to tell them about our arrival. We fly out later today.”
“At least the armies are there. But I still wish we had done something to prevent this.” My initial burst of emotion faded. The flames resumed their normal burn. I sat back down on the stool and slumped over the table, ignoring the food.
“I know how you feel.”
I looked up at him. “You do?”
Master Stradus set down his cup of tea and cradled his staff in his hands. “I never told you this. I never got a chance to enter the war.”
“I always thought you did.”
He shook his head. “We arrived after the last battle had already taken place. I was…frustrated. Friends had died, and I wasn't there for them.”
I let his words sink in. That's exactly how I felt. So many people were putting their lives on the line, and I was sitting in here in safety. Book of Shazul or not, I shouldn't have left the princess by herself. I should have taken her away from Premier. I should have done something—anything!
“After the war, peace was tenuous at best,” Master Stradus said. “Old debts were remembered, and new alliances were formed. Countries used this time to expand their lands or resources. I foolishly got involved in a dispute between two principalities over mining rights in the Daleth Mountains.
“I wanted to help the people involved, but I also wanted to prove something to my dead friends. The situation turned into a pitched battle, and I blindly rushed into it, making things far worse.”
Master Stradus reached for his bread, then decided against it. He went for some tea but his hand shook. He clenched his fist. “People died because of me, Hellsfire.” Tears filled Master Stradus's eyes.
“Because you were late?”
“No!” He pounded his staff on the floor. “It was because I was young and foolish and rushed into things. I didn't understand the situation or what would happen when I charged in.”
I nodded in understanding. Despite how much I wanted to help Krystal and the others, it was foolish of me to rush into things. I knew that in my head; however, my heart kept going out to them. Especially her.
“My biggest mistake,” Master Stradus said in a hoarse voice, “was that I forgot my training in the heat of battle. Battles are tricky. Time doesn’t move, and then it moves far too fast. Your emotions, the sights, the smells, and the sounds will panic and confuse you. It did me. It was as if everything I had ever learned left me in the most critical moment. People died because of it.” Master Stradus wiped away some tears that had fallen down his face. “I train you so you won't make the same mistake I did. Remember that in the coming days, Hellsfire.”
I nodded. “I will, Master.”
“Good. As soon as we're done eating, we'll restock your potions. Then we’ll go.”
I didn't eat more than a couple of nibbles of my food. After hearing Master Stradus's story, I just wasn't hungry anymore. My mind kept thinking about what he had said. There was so much to learn. I started to imagine all the ways I could mess things up. I sighed. I had to trust in my training to take over when I needed it, as it had when I was buried in the bog. I couldn’t let anyone down; I couldn’t let anyone die. These thoughts weighed me down.
----
Finally, I gave up on breakfast. My stomach wouldn’t stop churning. Master Stradus had said for me to gather my things while he got the potions that had set overnight, and then meet him out front. I hurried, wanting to see Cynder alone.
Cynder was in the largest cave, practicing aerial maneuvers in the limited space. He dodged invisible enemies and weapons. When he saw me, he paused in midflight, hovering.
“What do you want, little human?” Cynder asked. “Can't you see I'm busy?”
“Doesn't look like you're busy to me. Looks like you're just flying around.”
Cynder snorted smoke. “I'm getting ready for battle, just like you should be.” He landed right beside me, his massive body looming over me. “Lucky for you, our master will be there to help you. What do you want?”
There wasn't much Master Stradus hadn’t told me about what to expect, but there was a question I hadn’t asked. It was something I thought he was no longer able to relate to, and the fact that we were about to leave had pushed it to the forefront of my mind. “I've come to ask you a question.”
“As I've told you a thousand times, I don't know why the gods made you bipedal creatures so ugly. I suppose they had a reason for making you soft and without scales. After all, not every creature can be great and beautiful, like us dragons.” Cynder craned his neck and grinned.
I was serious for once, but he didn't seem to be. “Forget it.” I turned and started to walk away.
“Wait,” Cynder said. “Ask your question.”
I stopped and stared into his red eyes. Seeing the seriousness in them, I took a deep breath. “All right. You dragons live so long, yet you’re not immortal. I wanted to know if you're scared of dying.”
Cynder paused and seemed to consider this. “I do not fear what does not exist.”
I scratched my head, trying to see if this was another rid
dle of his. The lack of a smile told me it wasn’t. “You don’t believe in death? Does that mean you believe in an afterlife?”
Cynder shook his elongated head. “That's not it. You don't understand because—”
“I'm a human.”
“It's about time you learned that.” Cynder laughed. I didn’t even smile. He stopped and became serious again. “Dragons are the pinnacle of the gods' creations. We learn what we can in this life, and when we pass on, we ascend and become part of everything.”
“What about us humans?”
Cynder gave the dragon equivalent of a shrug. “I'm not a god or one of your priests. Maybe there is an afterlife for you, or maybe something else entirely happens to wizards.” He gave a dragon smile when he looked at my face. “Is that what you're worried about? Dying?”
“It's one of the things.”
“What are the others?”
I hesitated for a moment. Cynder might be a pain, he might make fun of me and get me into trouble, but he was also a friend. I stared into his red eyes, seeing the ancient wisdom and perspective a dragon had. I told him what I had recently told our master—my fears of not being ready, not being strong enough, of letting people down.
“That's good,” Cynder said after I was finished.
“Good?”
“Yes. Fear can push you. You, being young and a human, have a lot of fears. Just focus on one and let it guide you. Don't fail your friends. Fight for the princess.” Cynder stretched his long neck and winked. I had told him too much.
“That's it?”
“Yes.”
“But Master Stradus said—”
“Yes, yes, I know. I'm not saying to do it as a wizard. Be you. Humans can do amazing things with or without magic.”
I stood there, thinking about his words. As much as I hated to admit it, he was right. I couldn't worry about dying. I had to worry about my friends, and let my fears for their safety drive me to use my magic correctly.
Cynder blew smoke in my face. I coughed, trying to clear my lungs. I frowned at him. “What'd you do that for?”
“You were getting all serious on me, with that thoughtful, sad look on your face. Let's play before our master comes. It might be our last time.”
