“Don’t speak in riddles.” Maria found her curiosity growing about what exactly the Rogue Dragon Odarth knew. Perhaps her knowledge could be of some use to Maria. There was knowledge in a being that had been around for millennia, she knew.
I don’t mean to, Maria. And if I am, I apologize.
“There’s that flattery again. Don’t sugarcoat it. That kind of crap gets you nowhere with me.”
Fine, I shall be direct.
“Go on…”
I will offer you my services in exchange for my life.
In the distance, Maria could now see the mountains that she, Gramps, and Frieda had come from. Inside of those mountains was the man with his staff, sitting on a throne in the Cave of Delusion. Maria had beaten his Trials of Antenele, and now she was heading back in that direction. Why?
She wasn’t sure, but she knew she wanted the dragon as far away from Ashbourne and her family as can be.
“Your services?”
Yes, I’ll let you ride me when the time comes. I will stand with you against the Arachnids and the Orcs and any other enemy the Widow brings to the war.
“ ‘Let me’? I don’t think you have much of a choice.”
She could hear the dragon smile as she spoke, the words slightly higher pitched. My, my, nothing gets past you, Maria. Fine. I will cooperate, how does that sound? Together, you and I will be unstoppable. The Widow will not stand a chance, and the unspeakable evil she wants to free from that dreadful place between our worlds will never see the light of day.
Maria mulled the proposition over in her head. It was almost too good to be true. In a strange world where her allies were sparse, Maria would not mind having a dragon at her side, a Rogue Dragon at that.
“But what will I do with you while we prepare for this war?” she asked.
That smiling voice again. Well, Maria, you will let me roam free. I want nothing more than to breathe the sweet air of freedom again, in peace.
“No, you want death, destruction, and blood.”
Is that what you think of me? A barbarian?
“I saw firsthand what you are capable of.”
The mountains grew closer still. Their peaks poked through the dark clouds they glided above.
I want peace.
“But you want to go to war? That makes no sense, Odarth.”
She addresses me by name! Oh, I am not worthy!
“The flattery again, my friend.” Maria eased the sword hilt to the right. Odarth tried to resist, but it was useless. Then Maria pushed the hilt downward and they began their descent. Maria had an idea of what to do with the dragon. If she had to, she believed she could slay the beast, but she had been around too much death and destruction as it was—enough to fill three lifetimes.
Where are you taking me?
“To your freedom.”
So you will let me live?
“I will…for now,” Maria answered. “But you won’t roam the world. I can’t be to blame for you flying around and eating villages whole.”
I’m not hungry, Maria. Please—
“No,” she said sternly. “Go toward the mountain. Land in that pass.”
You are in control.
“It’s called a compromise. If you are going to war with me, then you’ll have to think on your own as much as I’ll have to do the thinking for you.”
The dragon gave in to Maria’s voice. It was not easy, and Maria kept her hand on the sword’s hilt, but they landed in the mountain pass right by the white tree.
I do not like this place, Odarth said. I sense its trickery.
“You will go forth into the darkness. Light your way with your dragonfire. I shall come back to you when war is declared. If you serve me well, I will set you free.”
She pulled the blade free from the dragon’s head. No blood trickled from the wound, and the slit the blade left between the white scales closed right before Maria’s eyes, as if by magic…
The dragon craned its neck so its fiery eyes bored into Maria’s own. There was a look of mischief in that gaze. Maria brandished the sword.
“Don’t try any funny business. I know the spell now. The one to control you.”
And if I choose to eat you now, then what?
“You won’t, because you respect me.”
The look faded. The dragon nodded. You are right, Maria Apple. There may be hope for you yet. But what if I do not like the inside of that mountain? What if I decide to break out and wait for you somewhere else?
“Just go inside,” Maria said, pointing her sword to the mouth of the Cave of Delusion. “An old friend awaits. He’ll take good care of you.”
You need a little punishment for all the pain and suffering you’ve caused, she thought.
The dragon folded her wings and walked on. Her horns scraped the top of the opening, causing rock and dust to cascade down. Then Odarth the Bright disappeared into the darkness—a weapon in waiting.
Maria turned and looked out at the passage before her. In the distance, she could see Ashbourne. The lake shimmered with reflecting moonlight; it was no longer on fire. Neither was the town…for the most part. That was good.
Maria, exhausted beyond belief, sheathed her sword and clutched the music box to her chest. In her head, she repeated the spell over and over again, so as not to forget it when the time to call upon Odarth came again.
For now, she missed her family—Sherlock, Gramps, and the rest of them. For the second time in her life, Maria headed down the rocky path with visions of Ashbourne’s gate fresh on her brain.
The few stragglers from the battle fled quickly. Ignatius let them go. He saw no joy in hurting or killing them. He, like Maria, was sick of all the violence.
Penelope and the rest of the townspeople eased their way out of the buildings they’d hidden in. The looks of fear on their faces did not subside; it would be a long time before they did.
“I can’t thank you all enough,” Penelope said as she took Ignatius’s hand. “Without your help, this place would be nothing but ashes.”
“We did our best. I’m sorry we couldn’t have been more help. But the true hero of this tale is my granddaughter Maria.”
“Where is she?” Penelope asked. “We would like to honor her.”
Ignatius shook his head. “I don’t know, but we’re gonna go find her, aren’t we?”
Sherlock barked. He was no longer limping, but he moved slower than normal.
“I saw her go toward the mountains,” Frieda whispered. “Toward the Cave of Delusion.”
Ignatius’s eyes lit up. “Clever girl,” he mumbled. Then he turned toward the rest of the wanderers and waved them forward. “To the mountains we go!”
Sherlock barked again.
On their way out, they maneuvered around the fallen bodies of Orcs and Dragon Tongue alike. They tried their best to ignore the death, but it was all around them. So was the destruction. The smell of burned buildings, the acrid smoke, charred flesh and sizzling remains.
As they approached the gates, walking over them and out through the large hole in the town’s fence, Sherlock stopped and whined. Ignatius looked at him, curious. The Bloodhound cocked his head in the direction of the mountains. His eyes narrowed. It seemed as if he was seeing something no one else could.
“What is it, boy?” Ignatius asked.
Claire and Tabby shielded their eyes from the waning moonlight. Above them, the storm had blown over and dawn was on the horizon.
“I think I see a figure walking down the mountainside,” Agnes said. “It must be Maria!”
Sherlock barked and took off running. He moved as fast and energetically as a puppy. Soon he disappeared over the low, rolling hills and became a speck in the distance.
Elation and joy filled Ignatius’s heart. I knew she could do it. With a wave of his hand, he urged the other wanderers onward. Then, focusing his magic, he opened a portal. It caused him to strain slightly, and mild burning rippled through his veins, but he did it. On the other side wal
ked a very lethargic and hazy Maria Apple. She was covered in dirt and burns. Her clothes were ripped in places. Her sword hung low on her belt, the hilt and pommel glowing a dim red, like that of the eyes of the Dragon Tongue and Odarth the Bright. In her arms, clutched to her side, was the satchel containing the magical music box so coveted by all the evil creatures in Oriceran. The strap was broken and trailing behind her.
Ignatius stepped forward; the rest followed.
Before Maria’s eyes, the portal opened, obstructing her view of the downed gate and the still-smoldering remains of Ashbourne. She startled and thought she saw her family on the other side.
I must be losing it, she said to herself. Or all this power really is getting to my head.
Then her grandfather stepped through from the other side. As he appeared in front of her, she startled again. This time, because he was smiling—This seems so real, but Gramps can’t open a portal. He’s hurt—then he wrapped his arms around her in a hug. She smelled him, the strange scents of summer and other worlds that always clung to him.
There was Tabby and Claire, Salem and Agnes, the Gnome Gelbus and Frieda, too, and another woman whom Maria did not recognize.
It was one big reunion.
But it’s not real, she thought again, even though she could plainly feel her grandfather’s hug. Not long after, with tears in their eyes and smiles on their faces, Tabby and Claire hugged her, too.
“I can’t believe you really did that!” Claire said.
“You rode a fucking dragon!” Tabby echoed.
Maria said nothing, just took it all in. It was amazing how real this hallucination was.
After she had forced Odarth into the Cave of Delusion, her lack of energy got to her. She had sat on the same rock she and Sherlock had slept near when they were waiting for Gramps and Frieda to come out of the cave her first time through. She wanted nothing more than to close her eyes again, but knew if she did, there was a good chance she wouldn’t wake up for a long while…if at all. So she forced herself to keep going.
Near the bottom of the pass, where the air grew warmer and was easier to breathe, Maria had almost stopped and fallen over once more. She probably would've if she hadn't seen what she'd seen.
She looked around at the smiling people. There was a gleam of tears in her eyes; she longed for her family—not a dream, not a memory, but the real deal. As she scanned their faces, she realized that one was missing.
Sherlock.
“Where’s my dog? Did he not…” Maria began.
Gramps put his hand on her again, so real, and smiled. “He’s on his way. You know how impatient he can be sometimes. He decided to take off and come to you via the long way.”
“God knows he could use the exercise,” Maria said and laughed to herself. Wow, I’m even funnier in my dreams.
Agnes furrowed her brow. Her wild hair blew in the chilly breeze. “Maria, are you all right?”
Maria shrugged. “I guess. On one hand, this is the most realistic dream I’ve ever had and that’s really cool and all, but on the other hand, I miss you guys. I wish I was really there with you.”
“Oh, no,” Salem said, concern crossing his features. “She’s in shock, Ignatius.”
“Hell, I would be, too,” Claire mused. “Maybe I should slap her.”
All of the witches and wizards glared at Claire—even Tabby and Gelbus had joined in on the stare.
“What? I was just kidding. Geez, can’t you take a joke?” Claire asked.
Salem and Agnes looked to Ignatius and Frieda by his side. “I think you know what we have to do,” Agnes said.
“No, he’s much too weak for that,” Frieda moaned. “With all that happened on the beach and with the opening of the portal, Ig nearly killed himself.”
“We four can’t do it alone,” Salem replied. “It won’t be enough. Look at her; she will not last much longer. Once the words from the Dragon Rites are called upon, according to legend, the mind begins to eat away at itself.”
“We will have to purge it from her head,” Agnes said.
“No, then I’ll forget the spell,” Maria said. She looked past where the portal had been. Sherlock bounded up the landscape, panting, out of breath. See, buddy, I didn’t forget about you. Not in this hallucination, no sir!
“You will still know the words. Trust me, those will not be easy to forget. Not even if magic is involved. Think of it like a snakebite—” Salem began only to be cut off by Claire.
“More like dragonbite, am I right?”
No one laughed, and Tabby gave Claire a slight love tap on the shoulder, causing her to wince and suck in air through her teeth.
“Think of it like a snakebite, Maria,” Salem continued. “Once the venom is in the body, it slowly makes its way toward the vital organs. In your case, the heart and the brain—the two places where magic matters most. We cannot let that poison sit in your system for much longer.”
Gramps nodded, but he looked worried. “I can do my best. If I die, so be it. That is my destiny. I believe I’ve had a good, long run, and I will not be dying in vain. Within Maria lies a power greater than all of us, and an even greater hope.”
“Ignatius—” Frieda said.
He cut her off by placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. “I will be okay. Do not worry.” He turned and put the same hand on Maria.
She was taken aback, but noted how real it all felt.
“Yes, we can do this,” said the new witch, who wore glasses. She absentmindedly pushed them up the bridge of her nose.
Then came Agnes, Salem, and Frieda. Maria’s eyes were wide as she took it all in. The others, however, closed their own eyes and leaned closer and closer to the young witch. From their mouths came the gentle, sweet song Maria had been hearing all her life. It reached her ears as softly as the sighing wind through trees full with budding spring leaves.
Before she closed her own eyes, for her weariness was too much, a great burst of red light engulfed them. It was an angry color—the same shade as Odarth’s eyes, the same shade of death. That light floated into the brightening sky and dispersed like the rain clouds above.
Then Maria fainted.
When she awoke, Sherlock’s paws were planted on her shoulders, pinning her down, and his tongue was working overtime on her face. She was slick with his drool. His breath was not the best. It was about time she scheduled a teeth cleaning for him. Now that he talked, she wondered how much harder it would be to get him to the vet’s office.
Damn near close to impossible, she thought.
Sherlock barked, and soon the faces of her family flooded her vision. They were no longer dulled by the hazy dreamlike quality that had engulfed them earlier. Some dream, huh?
“She’s up!” Claire shouted. “Oh, thank God.”
Maria shook her head, pushing Sherlock off of her and simultaneously scratching him behind the ears as she did so.
Oh, Maria! I thought I lost you! I ran all the way up here for you. Even though these assholes, he tilted his head backward in the direction of the others, didn’t tell me they were opening a fucking portal! That would’ve saved me so much energy. But hey, on the brighter side, this quest life is working me out pretty well. I think I’ll finally be able to fit into that Speedo I showed you the other day. Remember? The neon green one. And since I don’t have any balls—
“Okay, that’s enough about Speedos and your balls,” Maria said, cutting him off.
But I was just getting started.
Gramps leaned down now and put the back of his hand on Maria’s forehead. “Ah, cool as a cucumber!”
She arched an eyebrow. “What are you talking about?”
They all stared at her blankly for a moment.
“She doesn’t remember,” Gelbus said, wringing his hands. “Do you think that means she doesn’t remember Ash—”
“Of course I remember Ashbourne, but what are you checking me for a fever for? I’m fine. A little banged up, but fine.” Then she looked at the new
witch she hadn’t recognized. “Who are you?”
“I’m Lois, dear, an old friend of your grandfather’s.”
Maria stuck out her hand, but Lois didn’t take it. Instead, she leaned down and hugged Maria. This made Maria smile. It was nice to be hugged after all she’d been through. The rest joined in as well; one large group hug.
“The dragonfire’s poison was coursing through your veins, sweetheart,” Frieda said after they parted. “Your grandfather and his friends saved your life.”
“Don’t be modest,” Gramps said. His voice was very weak. “We all helped save your life, Maria—Frieda included. But that is nothing compared to what you did for all of us in Ashbourne; not to mention those in Ashbourne that you saved.”
Maria shook her head. Sudden sadness overtook her. “I didn’t save them all.”
“You saved most, and those who died will not have died in vain, Maria.” Gramps brushed a budding tear away from the corner of her eye.
It wasn’t a dream. It was all a waking nightmare.
A deep roar rolled out from the cave’s mouth, and Maria shivered.
“I didn’t slay Odarth,” Maria admitted. “She said a war was coming.”
“War?” Claire asked. “If that wasn’t war back there, I don’t want to know what is.”
Gramps nodded, his look harsh. “She told the truth,” he said. “A dragon never lies underneath the spell from the Dragon’s Rites. If that is the case, Maria, you did right by not slaying the beast…for now.”
Maria knew that, of course, but she didn’t want to come to terms with the fact she would have to slay the dragon once the war was over. When the time came, she would slay it without so much as blinking an eye, but she would carry the beast’s death, as well as the others she had slain, for the rest of her life.
“Come,” Ignatius said, “we must discuss this war.” He nodded to Salem, Agnes, and Lois. “Can you three do me the honors?”
Midwest Magic Chronicles Boxed Set Page 58
