Black City Dragon

by Richard A. Knaak

  I’d yet to figure out just what had happened to cause Her Lady to cast us out like that. Her claim about my trying to bring something into her realm made little sense on the surface, unless she was referring to whatever lurked in the lake. Somehow, though, I couldn’t see it having snuck through the Gate in the few seconds after we’d just passed through. I’d instinctively willed the Gate shut at that point. A thing that huge could not have crossed without me knowing.

  The Gate began to open. I was prepared this time should the thing in the water try to grab us.

  What I wasn’t prepared for was sensing something right at the very opening. A tiny presence compared to the dragon’s form, but with a unique magical signature . . . in fact, one I’d never sensed before in all my centuries.

  Claryce held protectively, I dove. The dragon himself kept quiet, allowing me unfettered control. I questioned his continued docile attitude, but I accepted his willingness to let me lead.

  And there it—or rather she—was. Louise Crying Wolf. With the obsidian blade. The latter the source of the strange force I sensed.

  Somehow, she’d managed to follow us through the Gate. I knew she couldn’t have been tracking us, which meant she would have had to have been nearby when it opened. How that happened, I could find out once things were calm. For now, she had no idea that the horde of ravens with us likely had her as their next target . . . and I doubted Her Lady intended on treating this new intruder as kindly she had Claryce and me.

  I had no choice but to swoop down and, with Claryce wrapped in one forearm, grab for the girl.

  It was at that point that the dragon decided to exert mastery over his body.

  He caught me by surprise, I’ll admit that. I’d gotten too complacent. We suddenly spun in a circle. Claryce let out a cry—one I’d have echoed if I’d had control over a voice—as the dragon whirled to face the vast flock.

  “Burn . . .” he rumbled.

  The dragon unleashed a plume of flame at Her Lady’s servants, incinerating hundreds of ravens in the blink of an eye. Smoking fragments rained down on the forest, setting treetops on fire.

  The ravens spread out, but even this didn’t prove an impediment to the dragon. As he exhaled again, he swung his head left and right. Fire engulfed hundreds more.

  The flock scattered, at least for the moment.

  There . . . he said in my mind. That is how it is done . . .

  I was in control again. Focusing on the moment, I retrieved our unexpected companion and soared through the Gate. This time, I shot up into the air to avoid any surprise from the lake.

  I needn’t have bothered. While turbulent, the nighttime waters revealed no hint of the leviathan. Regardless of that, I veered clear of the lake, finally landing in a secluded spot a little north of where we’d parked.

  The moment we landed, I willed the change. The dragon made no protest, not even a peep. Although still wary after the stunt he’d pulled in Feirie, I nevertheless decided to put aside my situation with him in order to deal with yet a new one.

  “Just what the devil is Laertes up to?” I demanded.

  Louise Crying Wolf didn’t have the decency to look at all guilty about what she’d done. If anything, she looked furious at me. “He is not part of this! You took me—”

  I waved her silent. “So you just happened to know about the Gate? And could see it, for that matter?”

  She glanced back longingly at where the Gate had stood. I could see her visibly fighting to regain her calm. “The forest . . . it was so beautiful, so ancient . . .”

  “So deadly. Didn’t Laertes warn you about it, Winifred Louise Crying Wolf?” Her glare returned at my use of her full name as part of a reprimand. “All right. Louise Crying Wolf. Now, you need to forget the Gate, do you understand?”

  “It seems so vast, as if it goes on forever.” Her wistfulness was evident in each word. “I could feel . . . feel like I did as a child—”

  “No!” I leaned close. “Listen to me! That is not some spiritual world of your ancestors! That is not the past you’re trying to regain! Feirie is the very opposite of what you want!”

  I could see I wasn’t getting through to her. I glanced down at the obsidian blade. Here on the mortal plane, it no longer radiated the intense forces I’d noticed in Feirie. Still, it answered one of my questions. “Laertes didn’t tell you about the Gate and Feirie, did he? That weapon brought you here, the same as happened the last time we met by the lake. That’s what happened, isn’t it?”

  She didn’t answer, which was answer enough.

  “Nick . . .”

  I looked to where Claryce pointed. A lupine figure loped toward us. At first, I thought Fetch had escaped, but then I noticed that I could see him too clearly in the dark even without the dragon’s vision. “It’s the thing she conjured. Stay behind me, both of you.”

  Louise Crying Wolf did just the opposite, readying the obsidian blade. I quickly shoved her arm down.

  The ghostly figure slowed as he approached. I watched the eyes, which never blinked. They stared at me, but not into my own eyes. Instead, they seemed to be gazing off a little to my left. I started to move my hand and saw the gaze follow. On a hunch, I opened my hand and set the palm up.

  The figure leaped at me. Claryce gripped my arm, while Louise Crying Wolf again attempted to ready the blade.

  I kept both of them out of the way as the creature flew toward my open palm, shrinking rapidly as it neared.

  The figure faded away just before he would’ve collided with me . . . and a small familiar object dropped into my palm.

  The tooth.

  As my fingers folded over it, I was struck by a vision. I saw Fetch lying prone in an empty room. There was no hint of the address, but I immediately knew where the building was located.

  “That was from that spell she cast,” Claryce murmured. “After all that, she still sent it on to you?”

  “Yeah, interesting, isn’t it?” I toyed with the tooth as I considered that. “We’ll have to try to figure that one out later. No telling how long Fetch will be at the location I just saw. We need to go.”

  Louise Crying Wolf followed us. I was inclined to put a stop to her right there, but then she surprised me by offering the obsidian blade.

  “Please. I would be honored if you would wield this for your friend.”

  “What about you?”

  She straightened. “I have been fighting for myself since the boarding schools. I also have both my ancestors and my Christian saints to watch over me.”

  “Can’t say how much help the latter side is going to give you. Better stick to your ancestors and their ways . . .”

  Louise Crying Wolf continued to press the artifact on me. More because I wanted to make certain she wasn’t going to go back and try to get into Feirie than because I really trusted the blade, I finally accepted her offer.

  I felt an odd tingle as I gripped it and was reminded how it had touched my senses in Feirie. I suspected that I now knew in part why Her Lady had reacted so violently to its—not its wielder’s—presence. It, too, represented an old power, one with ties to the mortal plane, not Her Lady’s realm. She would’ve seen it as a viable threat, especially if it’d gotten into the hands of one of Oberon’s loyalists and somehow made useful.

  I carefully placed it in the sword’s secret pocket and found it would be just fine there. Louise Crying Wolf climbed into the Packard behind us. She didn’t make a comment about any other vehicle being left behind, so I didn’t bother to ask.

  As I drove off, I did ask one important question, though. “Did you happen to get a good view of the thing in the lake?”

  “No, Saint George. I only saw the three limbs stretching from far beyond the shore. Of the body, there was nothing visible above the surface.”

  Damn, that thing had to be big.

  I tried not to think of how that beast had survived so long without it cleaning out Lake Michigan of every single fish and fisherman. I was sure it was gua
rding some part of Galerius’s scheme, but until I knew more I didn’t dare have the dragon and I fly out there. The close encounters we’d had with it had shown it to be incredibly powerful. That’d made Louise Crying Wolf’s intrusion into Feirie all the more frustrating. I’d hoped to get more information from Her Lady, but Fetch was more important right now.

  I drove on and on, making turns instinctively. We were deep in North Sider territory by the time I slowed. I’d already become convinced that Weiss and Moran were personally entangled with elements of magic originating from the other side of the Gate, but now I wondered how much Galerius might be involved with the gang as well.

  It didn’t surprise me that we ended up in an area with warehouses. No doubt there was a hooch distribution spot nearby. I parked us in an out of the way location, then led Claryce and Louise Crying Wolf to where I knew with absolute certainty we’d find Fetch . . . and hopefully the sword as well.

  “I need you two to keep back as much as possible,” I whispered as I drew the knife. The surreptitious glance I received from Claryce indicated that she understood I was saying this mainly for our new companion’s benefit.

  Louise Crying Wolf nodded. I still didn’t trust her not to go rushing in even without the blade, but I just had to hope for the best.

  Sure enough, a goon trying too hard to appear nonchalant leaned next to what I knew to be the entrance to where Fetch was being held. As the sentry smoked what by the several cigarette butts at his feet was clearly just the latest in a chain, I also sensed the presence of Her Lady’s gift inside. Everything smelled of a trap, which was fine with me. I would’ve been more worried if it hadn’t.

  The obsidian blade began vibrating slightly. I wasn’t sure what to make of that, but I didn’t want to take the time to ask. Instead, I slipped toward the lookout.

  He didn’t see me coming, but not due to any failure on his part. I kept my focus on him right up to the point where I slugged him hard in the jaw. As he fell into my arms, I located a place to set him.

  Inside, I heard muttering. Opening the door a crack, I looked around. A moment later, I angrily gritted my teeth as Fetch came into view.

  He lay in an unceremonious heap, his side stained with blood. I couldn’t see whether he still breathed and wondered if we were already too late. There was no sign of the sword, but I could definitely feel it. I could also see the half dozen hoods Galerius had evidently arranged for my benefit. I wondered what he thought they could do, even armed with two tommies. True, I didn’t have the sword, but even without the obsidian blade I’d be willing to take a lot of hits to rescue Fetch.

  Then, one thug who’d been sitting in the shadows stood up and looked around as if noticing something. I noticed in turn his gaunt, ghoulish features that were almost a dead ringer for the vampire Count Orlok in Nosferatu a few years back.

  I’d faced the creatures I’d come to call “Schrecks”—after the actor who’d played Orlok—while chasing after Holmes. At the time, I’d thought both of them dead. Either one had survived or Galerius had had another at his beck and call. That explained a lot better why Gale-rius might’ve thought this band a tougher nut to crack.

  The other thugs didn’t seem the least bit disturbed by the Schreck’s presence. Either they’d had some spell put on them or they’d been introduced to Galerius’s true world. Either way, it meant that any of them might also be armed with something other than an ordinary weapon.

  I studied the entire room one last time, then, my first targets chosen, I started forward—

  And my battle plan, such as it was, completely unraveled as Louise Crying Wolf burst through from a window on the opposite side and landed on top of two hoods nearby.

  Swearing, I charged in. At that point, I had no doubt that Claryce, too, planned to join the fray. That didn’t matter, anymore. What did was trying to prevent both of my eager companions, especially the overzealous Indian, from getting hurt or worse.

  Louise Crying Wolf was already on her feet. She’d grabbed the automatic one of the fallen thugs had dropped and used it to knock both hard on the back of the head. She then flipped the automatic around and aimed for the Schreck.

  Only, the Schreck wasn’t where he’d been. She’d not known about their ability to pop short distances. Instead of an easy target, he now stood behind her ready to snap her neck.

  The force of a gunshot to the head sent him falling back into the shattered window. Claryce fired a second time, leaving him hanging halfway out.

  I hadn’t stood idle. One gunman already had his tommy ready to fire. I made sure I was the best target by waving the obsidian blade.

  A stream of bullets cut into my midsection. I did my best to ignore the searing pain as I lunged for the machine gun. As the hood gaped, I seized the tommy by the red-hot barrel and ripped the weapon from his grip. For good measure, I knocked him on the side of the head using the reinforced stock.

  One of the other hoods got past me. If he thought Claryce the weakest link, he was wrong. She met his attack with a fist to his face that made him topple back and crash onto the floor. While he was down, Claryce kicked him soundly in the head to make certain he stayed there. I wasn’t appalled by her reaction. After finding out that each of her previous incarnations had very likely been murdered by Galerius, she was taking no chances.

  The obsidian artifact vibrated harder. I had the strong urge to turn to my left.

  I decided to trust in the urge. As I turned, I brought the blade up.

  The weapon sank deep into the chest of the Schreck, who’d popped from the window to my side. He hissed angrily, then collapsed. I kept the blade in his chest all the way to the floor.

  Once I was sure he wasn’t going to be springing back up, I pulled out Louise Crying Wolf’s weapon. There was no trace of blood or any other fluid, either from the blade or the shots Claryce had fired. Still, the thing appeared dead.

  I turned back to see to the remaining hoods, only to find another door wide open. There wasn’t any good reason to go chasing after them; I knew Galerius enough be certain that none of this bunch other than the Schreck would’ve had information on his whereabouts.

  Louise Crying Wolf was staring at the Schreck with clear disgust. “What is that?”

  “That is a part of the place you so desperately wanted to sneak into. Feirie isn’t part of your ancestors’ world. What you’re searching for lies elsewhere. Feirie is nothing more than a dark seduction. Stay away.”

  “But it felt—”

  I tossed the blade to her. She caught it expertly. “Think about the life and culture you lost thanks to the boarding schools and the rest. You’ll lose even more if Feirie snares you. You’ll lose your soul.”

  I could see she wasn’t entirely convinced, but there wasn’t much more I could say. Feirie was beguiling. I’d seen other humans drawn to it through their gifts, only to watch its taint eventually destroy them. It hadn’t just been manipulation by either Oberon or his treacherous queen. The realm itself was alive in a sense and always seeking the unwary.

  I gave up on her for the moment as Claryce knelt down by Fetch and gently touched him.

  “He’s still alive, Nick, but what can we do for him? Can you heal him somehow?”

  My gift is not for such as him, the dragon declared without warning. Find another path, if you wish . . .

  He’s been our friend and ally! I countered. Anything he’s done in the past he’s more than made up for!

  Find another path . . . I must heal you. I will not him . . .

  Only then did I think about the bullets I’d taken. He’d already nearly completely healed me. It took effort—we were immortal, not invulner-able—but I knew that he still could’ve done something for Fetch.

  He just wouldn’t.

  “We’ve got to move him,” I finally said. “We’ll bring him back to somewhere safe before we do anything.”

  Claryce reluctantly nodded. She understood that my hands were tied and why. I could see some fire in her
eyes, resentment over what the dragon was letting happen to Fetch.

  I bent to seize Fetch, only to this time sense the sword. Peering around, I focused on the old wooden table sitting to the side. Other than a coffee cup and a pack of cigarettes, the table was empty.

  “Wait a minute,” I ordered the others. Although still angry with the dragon, I asked for his vision. He granted it without a word.

  And there, through the dragon’s emerald gaze, I saw the sword just sitting there. Hidden from ordinary view.

  Yeah, too easy.

  We didn’t have much time, but that didn’t mean I was so naive as to believe that Her Lady’s gift would be that easy to recover.

  I bent down and looked at the underside of the table. Sure enough, there was a surprise waiting for me . . . but not the surprise I’d been expecting. Someone had fashioned a nice little explosive that would probably go off if I jostled the table even the slightest.

  I gritted my teeth as I fought down my hatred for Galerius. I knew exactly what he’d intended with this setup. Yeah, it could’ve killed me. Odds were greater, though, that the dragon’s power would’ve meant I survived with some damage he’d heal soon after.

  My gaze flickered back to Claryce before returning to the bomb. Galerius hadn’t set this up to kill me; he’d planned my actions to be the catalyst that’d kill her.

  “You filthy . . .” I studied the setup again. There wasn’t any way I could see by which I could undo things without an explosion I had no doubt would encompass this room.

  “Is the sword there?” Claryce asked with clear growing anxiety.

  “Yeah, but he’s left a little gift with it. Can you two carry Fetch out to the Packard?”

  “I think we could, but what are you going to do?”

  “Take care of matters. Get Fetch out. Now.”

  Thankfully, rather than argue, they both obeyed. I knew from experience that while large, Fetch was surprisingly light . . . unless he pounced on you. After some initial awkwardness, they carried him out.

  I was tempted to leave the thugs we’d fought, but finally dragged them from the room to where I estimated they’d be safe. Then, returning to the table, I stared at the sword. I decided I’d make one quick yank, then dive for the window. Maybe I’d save the dragon some trouble healing me, and myself some extra pain.