The Magic Shell

by S. E. Smith

  He stepped back and studied the ice wall. It was at least twelve inches thick. The walls of rock on each side were flat and also covered in ice, making it impossible to climb. He clenched his hands into fists.

  He’d done some mountain climbing when he was in high school. He’d also spent a good deal of time climbing around on a rocking boat. If there was a way up and over that damn block of ice, he would find it. He would not give up.

  With grim determination, he pulled a couple of vines free and tied the shield and lance to his back. He would need a weapon when he made it over to the other side.

  “Hang in there, Princess, I’m coming for you,” he muttered.

  Nali’s airship: Just before daybreak

  * * *

  Gant watched with a deepening frown as Theron approached Nali’s airship, the Thunderbirds screeching a challenge as he came closer.

  “I see one of our illustrious explorers has returned. I wonder what happened to Drago. Perhaps he was turned into stone this time,” Ashure dryly commented.

  “You don’t care for the dragons?” Gant inquired.

  Ashure flashed him a broad smile. “Of course I like dragons – or should I say I like their gold when I can get them to part with it,” he replied.

  “I can see how that could be an issue, then,” Gant chuckled.

  “Yes, and the fact that they are rude, arrogant, and tend to burn my ships to the waterline when they are in a bad mood – which unfortunately tends to be frequently – doesn’t help their likability,” Ashure added with a sigh.

  “You know, you might get a little more gold and a lot less burning if you didn’t try to steal from them all the time,” Gant reflected.

  Ashure looked at him, affronted. “Now where is the fun in that? How can a pirate of any stature and honor truly call himself a pirate if he doesn’t pillage? An honorable pirate would never be able to look in a mirror if they behaved like – Goddess forbid – a normal merchant!” he argued with a shudder of distaste.

  Gant raised his eyebrow at the indignant tone in Ashure’s voice. He didn’t want to point out the oxymoron of an honorable pirate. What he did want to ask about was the mirror that Ashure had absconded with when he left the Isle of the Giants.

  “Speaking of mirrors—” he began only to be interrupted by Theron’s arrival.

  “Theron, what news?” Nali asked, stepping onto the deck with Orion.

  “We found the Isle of the Elementals – due west and less than an hour’s flight from here,” Theron quietly responded.

  “Where is Drago?” Orion asked with concern.

  “He remained on the Isle. I am linked to him, so he can guide us to it,” Theron explained.

  “I am impressed, dragon. I have searched for Ruger and Adrina’s kingdom for the past several years and have never been able to locate it. I never thought of looking up for it!” Ashure said.

  Theron looked at Ashure and nodded. “It is well hidden. We would have missed it if we hadn’t literally flown into it. We were flying through a thick layer of cumulus clouds when we came upon it. The clouds were actually a concealment spell. We landed on the beach, noticed fresh tracks and followed them up to a gazebo. Drago spotted additional footprints, smaller than the first, so we know that there are at least two people on the Isle. The tracks were no more than a day old and led into the forest. Drago is following them. I will guide us to the Isle with your permission, Empress Nali,” he said, turning toward Nali.

  “Granted – of course,” Nali replied with a regal bow of her head.

  “Surely Drago knows the dangers of going alone. What if the alien creature captures him? You saw what it did to Magna. The alien would be nearly indestructible if he had the power of the Dragon King,” Orion said with concern.

  Theron looked at the Sea King. “And that is one reason why we should hurry. Drago is aware of the danger and will be cautious. We had little choice, your Majesty. The Isle is unstable. I will be able to warn you if he is compromised,” he assured them.

  Nali nodded. “Time is of the essence, Theron. Please take the helm. Prepare for possible battle,” she shouted to her crew.

  Gant moved to the bow of Nali’s ship while Theron and Nali moved to the helm. Ashure and Orion followed him. Around them, the Cyclops, Gargoyles, and other monsters worked in unison arming themselves and readying the airship.

  The Thunderbirds balked at first when Theron took over the helm. A sharp command from Nali quickly settled the birds. Lightning snapped between them, sending a burst of electricity through the airship that caused the hair on Gant’s arms to stand on end.

  He gripped the railing as the massive ship surged forward at an incredible speed. Cool air swept across his face, and he couldn’t help but enviously wonder if Nali would be willing to part with a few of her precious birds. This form of travel was much faster than the schooner he was using.

  He looked up at the bird closest to him. Large talons, each the size of a warhorse on the Isle of the Giants, gripped a specially designed metal perch. The support for the perch was encased in a magically enhanced clear glass. He could see bolts of electricity traveling through the tube that would rival any that were cast down from the clouds on a stormy day.

  He leaned over the railing to look toward the stern. The glow from the twin propulsion systems could be seen. He looked over his shoulder when Ashure spoke.

  “Nali’s use of technology combined with magic and the Thunderbirds is amazing. You know, I once tried to steal a couple of their chicks from her,” he commented with a sigh.

  “How well did that go for you?” Orion chuckled.

  Ashure grinned. “As well as you might expect. It took months for my hair to grow out again and even longer for Nali to quit sending her blasted sea monkeys to attack my ships, not to mention a year’s worth of brandy,” he replied with a deep sigh.

  “You never learn, my friend. Nali has a memory almost as long as a dragon’s,” Orion said.

  “Don’t remind me,” Ashure humorously retorted.

  “There,” Gant said, pointing toward the clouds before them.

  The two men next to him grew quiet. The clouds looked ordinary – except the rain that should have been falling from the clouds was going upward. Rolling bands of dark mist and flashes of lightning lit the cumulus clouds from within. Gant’s breath caught when he saw the outline of the Isle through the illuminated veil of clouds.

  “The spell that created this is very old. The lines are pure. I’ve never seen anything quite like it before,” he murmured.

  Orion looked at Gant with surprise. “You can see the magic?” he asked.

  “Yes,” he replied.

  “Prepare for a rough landing,” Nali shouted above the growing howl of the wind.

  Gant knew Nali must have seen the magic mixed in with the storm as well. Nali always appeared to know more than she let on and he knew that her own skills with magic were very powerful. The Thunderbirds leaned forward and surged through the cloud. Lightning swirled around the airship. An explosive bolt struck the deck. Three gargoyles were thrown in different directions. One of the gargoyles shifted to stone when pieces of wood flew outward.

  Gant instinctively lifted his hands and created a protective shield around Orion, Ashure, and himself when a massive bolt hit too close for comfort. Another bolt struck the mainmast. The impact splintered the top section and ran down the rigging, which disintegrated under the intense heat.

  A loud cracking warned Gant that the tip of the mainmast was fractured. Without the support of the rigging, it would fall to the deck. He immediately glanced at a Cyclops who was kneeling over an unconscious Gargoyle.

  “Ashure!” he shouted, unable to help without exposing them to more of the deadly lightning bolts.

  “I see them,” Ashure replied.

  They were in the thick cover of cloud now. Lightning struck the airship from every direction. The Thunderbirds’ screeches filled the air until his ears rang. They sounded joyful, and he reali
zed that of course they would be immune to the lightning and were perhaps even drawing it to the airship.

  “Orion, you have to tell the Empress to shield her birds. They are attracting the lightning,” he gritted out.

  Orion nodded and sprinted across the deck. Gant clenched his teeth together and projected his shield as far as he could, muttering a strengthening spell under his breath as he concentrated. The ancient spell protecting the Isle of the Elementals was pressing against his magic, and it felt distinctly unwelcoming.

  He was distantly aware of the pandemonium raging around him. Through the cloud’s mist and the smoke from the fire on the ship, Gant saw Ashure helping the Cyclops pull the Gargoyle to safety and Theron struggling to control the airship. He could hear Nali’s crew shouting out to each other as they fought to help those who were hurt and Orion yelling to Nali.

  His legs trembled, and he sank down onto one knee. Nali lifted her hands and the Thunderbirds immediately tucked their wings to their sides. The airship began to sink quickly without the power of the mighty birds to keep it aloft.

  Gant lowered his hands when the airship suddenly dropped as it passed through the last cloud barrier. He pressed his hands to the deck to keep from falling face first onto the wooden planks. They were descending too quickly. He struggled to his feet, hanging onto the railing as the distance between the water and the airship narrowed.

  “Brace yourselves!” Nali ordered.

  Out of the corner of his eye, Gant saw Orion lift his trident. A huge wave of water rose up from the ocean below and cradled the ship’s hull. It took Gant a moment to realize exactly what the Sea King was doing. The airship settled on the wave that gradually descended with its burden, gently pushing the great ship toward the beach.

  Cheers erupted from the crew when the airship glided across the water until the hull dug into the soft sand and bottomed out, stopping the ship fifty feet from shore. Gant breathed a deep sigh of relief and looked up at the Thunderbirds. He chuckled when the one closest to him shook, sending a small shower of electrically charged feathers crackling to the deck around him. The movement caused the bird’s feathers to fluff out.

  A firm hand on his shoulder startled him, and he quickly turned around and stared into Ashure’s eyes. The pirate’s eyes glittered with a speculative expression. Gant warily waited for Ashure to ask the question that he knew he could not answer.

  “Interesting, very interesting,” Ashure murmured before dropping his hand to his side. “Many thanks, Giant, for your protection. ”

  “My pleasure, your Majesty,” Gant replied with relief.

  Ashure turned and smiled at Nali. “Well, Empress, another thrilling adventure awaits us. It is time to see which of us lives – or should I say, doesn’t live – in this prophecy of yours. ”

  15

  Ross lay on his back with his eyes closed. There wasn’t a place on his body that didn’t ache. He gingerly did an external assessment to make sure he hadn’t broken any bones. He groaned when his body protested the movement.

  “I see you are not dead,” a deep voice said.

  Ross snapped his eyes open and scrambled to his feet with his fists up, ready for a fight. Two things flashed through his mind. First, nothing was broken, and second, he was going to need more than his fists to defeat the tall guy standing only a few feet away.

  “Who the fuck are you, and where did you come from?” he hoarsely demanded.

  “I am Drago, King of the Dragons. You are not an Elemental. What Isle are you from?” Drago replied.

  Ross slowly put his arms down and warily moved to the side when Drago stepped past him and touched the wall of ice that he’d been trying to climb for the last two and a half hours. He absently rubbed his bruised buttock.

  “I’m not from around here. I’m Ross Galloway, King of Yachats – well, of a fishing boat anyway,” he said, muttering the last part.

  Drago turned around and ran an assessing look over him. Ross straightened, stiffened his shoulders, and returned Drago’s gaze with a steely one of his own. He would be damned if he felt like he was standing in the principal’s office. He hadn’t been cowed when his father was in a rage or in high school when he got caught doing some stupid shit, and he wasn’t about to do it now – King of the Dragons or not.

  “Wait a minute – are you…?” Ross started to say at the same time as Drago’s expression darkened.

  “Ross – are you the human my Carly…?” Drago said.

  Ross ran his hands through his hair. “Your Carly…. Yeah, right, Carly Tate. ” He looked Drago up and down before he gave him a crooked grin and shook his head. “And you’re still alive! Still have all your parts too, as far as I can tell. I don’t mean that in a bad way – I mean, well done! You know, it’s just that she – Carly – tended to be – but what with you being a dragon… and all,” he disjointedly tried to explain without pissing off the guy. He finally gave up and shoved his hands into his front pockets. “I’m glad she’s alright. ”

  Drago gave him a sharp-toothed grin. “She almost emasculated me with a broom handle – more than once. She is afraid of mice,” he admitted, folding his arms across his chest. “What happened to the Elementals?”

  Ross clenched his jaw. “I don’t know for sure what happened to all of them. I do know that Gem needs my – our – help,” he stated.

  Drago’s eyes narrowed. “Where is Princess Gem?” he asked.

  Ross waved his hand at the wall of ice. “She was taken. The island is filled with traps – some of them were set by Gem’s parents, others by Magna – or at least the alien creature that caused all of this mess. I know it sounds weird, but what I’m telling you is the truth. We’ve been battling them since I found Gem yesterday morning. Magna had turned Gem into stone. Somehow the stone dissolved when I touched her. Which leads me to ask how in the hell did you find us – me?” he suddenly asked.

  The suspicion that this could be another trap had just dawned on him. Gem had said it could take days or weeks to find one of the others who could help her. It was a little suspicious that this guy suddenly popped up out of nowhere.

  “You left enough tracks that a child could follow you. Dragons have exceptionally keen eyesight. It was faster to fly,” he replied.

  Ross couldn’t argue with Drago’s logic. He looked back at the ice wall before turning back to face Drago. The clock was ticking, and he was still no closer to finding Gem.

  “Listen, Gem wanted to ask you and some other magical people to help her, but there wasn’t time to find and convince you guys. The spell that keeps the Isle afloat is weakening. She says she has to find her parents. They are the only ones who can stop it from crashing into the ocean. Oh, and like I said a minute ago, there is this alien creature. We toasted a small bit of it, but Gem says there is more.” Ross paused and looked at the ice wall again as a wave of desperation hit him. “I don’t know what took her. It looked like a Yeti – an abominable snowman – back home. They aren’t real, but whatever took her sure as hell was. There are at least two of them. ”

  “Then it is good that I arrived,” Drago replied.

  Drago lifted his fist and struck the ice wall with a bone-shattering blow. Ross curled his fist against his side, thankful that their meeting hadn’t ended in an exchange of fists. He had no doubt that he would have been as fractured as the cracks forming in the ice wall. He opened his mouth to warn Drago about the enchanted ice, but swallowed the warning when the man struck the wall again with supernatural speed.

  Thin fissures ran in uneven lines, fanning outward before resealing almost as quickly as they had formed. Drago frowned and took a step back. He rubbed his knuckles.

  “Magic ice. I’ve tried everything. As fast as you break it, it reseals. I’ve tried climbing over it. That doesn’t work either. I wouldn’t bother trying to climb over it if I were you. It would be as useless as hitting it. The walls and the top are covered in ice as well,” Ross said.

  “I do believe that dragons are fu
ll of fire. Surely you have enough hot air in you that you could melt a doorway for us,” another deep voice dryly commented from behind them.

  “Son-of-a-bitch!” Ross exclaimed, turning to look at the group slowly descending from the air. “What’d you guys do? Come from a costume ball?”

  “I won’t begin to tell you how humiliating this is, Nali,” the man stated with an indignant sniff.

  “Oh, trust me when I say I’ve seen you in far more humiliating situations,” the woman carrying him retorted before she dropped the man the last couple of feet to the ground.

  Ross warily watched as the man straightened up and adjusted the brocade cuffs of his ornate black coat. The guy looked like he had just stepped off the set of a pirate movie. The woman landed beside the pirate and gave Ross an assessing look. Ross staggered back when she lifted her long, lustrous black wings behind her and folded them into her back.

  A man with a glowing trident landed on the other side of the pirate while a real, live, fire breathing dragon carrying another man landed behind the group. Ross gaped in surprise when he realized the man with the trident appeared to have markings that looked an awful lot like—

  “Are those scales?” he murmured under his breath to Drago.

  “Yes. He’s a merman,” Drago replied in a tone laced with amusement.

  “Merman – dragon, pirate, I don’t have a clue, and—” Ross said, pointing to each of them.

  “Nali is the Empress of Monsters and Gant is a Giant,” Drago replied when Ross’s finger stopped on Nali and Gant.

  “Ah, of course, can’t forget about the monsters and the giants,” Ross mumbled.

  “What took you so long?” Drago demanded.

  Ashure waved a hand at Theron. “It would appear that while the Isle’s magic might not have been as hazardous when you and Theron approached, it did not care for Nali’s airship,” he stated.

  “The lightning was attracted to my Thunderbirds. What have you discovered? Who is this?” Nali asked with a wave of her hand.