The Chronicles of Dragon Collection (Series 1 Omnibus, Books 1-10)

by Craig Halloran

  How dare they!

  He couldn’t speak, and that limited him, but it did nothing to the staff he held in his hands. It was an elderwood staff that Bayzog had filled with wondrous powers. And it was time to let those powers loose. The metal on the top of the staff flared like a sunburst. Bayzog’s entire self was soaked in its power. His feet again lifted from the ground.

  The mystic smolder in his eyes stopped the clerics in their tracks. One of them started to turn.

  A ball of light shot from the staff and socked the man in the back, knocking him face first into the dirt.

  The others started to run.

  Bayzog swept his staff over the ground, and they all stumbled. He turned his attention to the two chanting clerics and pointed the elderwood straight at them.

  They raised their arms, and another shield of transparent energy formed.

  A dark ray of light burst from the staff.

  Their shields shattered.

  The elderwood staff blasted the two Clerics of Barnabus out of their sandals. They moved no more.

  Once more, sounds of life and battle filled his ears.

  “That felt good,” Bayzog said. He turned his attention to the three remaining clerics.

  Two were kneeling and begging for mercy. The third ran as fast as his feet would take him.

  Bayzog choked back his urge to destroy them entirely but then shrugged and let loose, blasting them apart. A ball of energy formed in his hand, and he tossed it at the cleric who ran.

  “I don’t take prisoners,” Bayzog said.

  The ball of energy glided over the grass and struck the man square in the back, lifting him from the ground. The man sailed through the air over the town where the people waited. He dropped the man in the middle of them. “But maybe they do.”

  Bayzog turned his attention back toward his friends, ready to unleash more of his fury on his enemies. He’d bottled up his frustrations long enough, and he had plenty more to let out. But by the time he got there, the battle had been won.

  Nath, Brenwar, Ben, and the dwarves were all busted up and bleeding, but all the enemies looked to be dead, or at least almost dead.

  “That was a fine show you put on, Bayzog,” Nath said, holding a rag to his nose. “And not a scratch on you. Maybe you can teach me how to do— ”

  “If you didn’t act like a child, you wouldn’t have to!”

  Nath shrugged. “Sorry.”

  CHAPTER 36

  “You could have grabbed some steel and start swinging, Gorlee,” Brenwar said. “Fighting every once in a while wouldn’t kill you.”

  Gorlee was still golden when he laughed and said, “Well, I suppose I could have, but how often do I get a chance to play with dragons?”

  “We’re not here to play. We’re here to fight, and Pilpin’s dead because of it.”

  “Well, more might have been dead if I’d not spared you from the dragons.” Gorlee yawned and took the shape of Pilpin. “I think my strategy was sound.”

  “Are you mocking the dead?” Brenwar said, angry.

  “Dead?” Gorlee said. “Who’s dead?”

  “Why you disrespectful…”

  “Yes, who’s dead?” someone behind Brenwar said. “Say, is that me?”

  Brenwar turned and found himself facing Pilpin. He did a double take between Gorlee looking like Pilpin and Pilpin. There was a nasty wound in the real Pilpin’s belly.

  “Is this a trick?” Brenwar said, poking him.

  “No,” Pilpin said, “I’m quite alive. I couldn’t let a mere goblin kill me. A dragon maybe, but a goblin? Never!” Pilpin teetered and clutched at Brenwar. “But its steel is a tad uncomfortable and my legs feel numb.”

  “Someone bring me a horn of dwarven ale!”

  ***

  “We spent twenty-five years trying to hide you, and this is what you do? The whole world can hear you now! Is that what you want?” Bayzog said, tapping his staff on the ground.

  Nath kept his back turned. He was busy with Gorlee, inspecting the red rock dragons. Both of the savage reptiles lay still and had burrowed half their bodies into the ground. Nath placed his fingers on one’s back, where he could feel its breath and the warmth of its life.

  “What did you do to them?” he said to Gorlee the Chameleon.

  “Well,” Gorlee said, resuming his golden form, “after they chased me for a few minutes, they started to slow. I’d forgotten you’d sent those arrows into their bellies. I think that took the wind from them, and they dropped and started hibernating.”

  “Hmmm,” Nath said, rubbing his chin, “I can’t believe I did that.” He grabbed one of his arrows by its shaft and pulled it out.

  “Are you certain you want to do that?” Bayzog said. “They’ll come after us again.”

  “Agreed,” Gorlee said.

  “No,” Nath said, “they’ll burrow for days, if not longer.” He put his ear on one’s back. It was almost too hot to touch, but the thump-thump of its heart was strong. “If they were near the lava pools, they’d heal faster.” He sighed. “They’re usually much closer to Dragon Home. And these black stripes and the black tail … that’s far from normal.”

  Nath pushed the dragon’s eyelid open with his fingers. Its eye was almost black as coal.

  “Those eyes should be orange as amber,” Bayzog said, kneeling at his side, “shouldn’t they?”

  “Absolutely,” Nath said. “They’ve been poisoned or majicked or something. I know some dragons are bad, but not the red rocks. They are being controlled.”

  Nath’s nostrils flared, and his breath became hot. He stretched back up to his full height. “We’re going to find who is doing this and put an end to them.” He eyed Bayzog.

  The part-elf wizard parted his lips, shook his head, turned, and walked away.

  “Where are you going?” Nath said.

  “Where I’m needed,” Bayzog said.

  “You’re needed here.”

  “No, I’m needed where my counsel is considered. It can’t penetrate that great stone between your ears.”

  The dwarves let out a gusty chuckle.

  Brenwar even smiled, sauntering with the others behind Bayzog.

  Gorlee resumed human form, a pleasant and mild-mannered man. “You might want to take some time to catch up on things,” he said. “Bayzog’s been an outstanding leader and has suffered many trials since you’ve been down. Much has changed. You need to become wise to the new season.”

  “Perhaps,” Nath said, “but the Clerics of Barnabus are after me, not them.”

  “They’re after all of us, Nath. And now you’ve led them right to us.”

  ***

  Wherever they’d been going before, they were going again. Nath chose to keep his mouth quiet and let Bayzog lead. He’d make his case later, after Bayzog’s emotions settled. He’d never seen his friend so angry before, but the world had changed. His friends had changed.

  A few strides ahead of him, Ben walked. The cheerful country boy was gone, replaced by a thick-thewed warrior with a steely gait.

  Nath stretched his strides and caught up with him.

  “You’re a master of the steel, I see,” Nath said. “I like how you turned those goblins into troll food. I envy you.”

  “Because I can kill?” Ben said.

  “You could say that. Being able to fight without holding back must be exhilarating.”

  “I don’t enjoy it, but it’s me or them. I can’t afford to think about it. If you think too much, you die.”

  Nath placed his scaly fingers on Ben’s broad shoulders. “Ben, I’m glad you live.”

  Ben looked at him with his hard eyes and managed a smile.

  “I’m glad you’re back among us.” He huffed a sigh. “I didn’t think you’d ever wake up. I’ve never slept more than a day before, and that was only because I was wounded. As soon as the rooster crows, even if I don’t hear it, I’m up and about.”

  The boyish charm started to return to Ben’s voice. Nath felt
the tautness in his jaw loosen.

  Ben went on. “And traveling with dwarves and a moody Bayzog isn’t the most fun, either. It’s hard on a fella. I feel like I’m the only one getting older.”

  The hard lines and scars on Ben’s face told it all. Nath felt guilty. Ben had dedicated his life to protecting him.

  “Have you no wife or children, Ben?”

  Ben’s bright expression dimmed. “I did.”

  Nath’s heart sank. “What happened?”

  “They died. All of them.”

  Nath felt empty. All this time, he’d only been thinking about himself, not appreciating the sacrifices others had made for him, for the world, in the battle against the evil forces that wanted to enslave them.

  “Ben, I’m so—”

  “It’s all right, Dragon. That was long ago. Besides, it helps me empathize with Bayzog.”

  “Is Sasha dead too?” Nath said, grabbing Ben. His heart burst inside his chest.

  “No, she lives, but Bayzog hasn’t seen her in fifteen years. Nor his children either. I think that’s why he’s so moody. I miss my family too, but at least I know they’re in a better place.”

  Ahead, Nath watched Bayzog lead. The wizard’s long, black hair whipped behind him, and the stiff winds billowed his robes. The part elf’s shoulders seemed heavy, and he rested part of his lithe frame on his staff. If Nath were to guess, Bayzog was tired, and he was probably angry too.

  Nath decided to show a little more caution, but he still had to do what he had to do.

  He’s just going to have to get used to me being awake. I needed guarding while I slept, but now that I’m awake I’m not holding back and watching this world get destroyed.

  ***

  With the Clerics of Barnabus vanquished, the lake town of Troghlin welcomed the heroes. The finest food from the Northern Sea was unloaded from the docks on the gritty beaches, dumped onto the boardwalk planks, and fried, boiled, baked, and sautéed. The people were happy. They danced and sang arm in arm and drank with the dwarves on top of the tables.

  Even Bayzog’s dour mood had lightened. He stood by the railing staring out over the great lake and holding a pleasant memory on his face. He thought of Sasha and his children and hoped they were well. Perhaps now that Nath had awakened, it was time to return to see them before anything else terrible happened.

  Sitting outside the boardwalk tavern, most of the once-grim faces smiled. Nath and Ben were stuffing their faces with fish meat and crab cakes while the town’s women swooned over them. The dwarves, as hard as they were, seemed jolly as they showed their fresh wounds off to one another.

  Perhaps Nath is right, Bayzog thought. Perhaps now is the time to take it to them.

  He placed his palm over his mouth and yawned. Using magic always drained him, but using it felt so good. Blasting those acolytes had felt better than good. It had felt great. He finished off his goblet of wine, closed his eyes, and enjoyed the sun. Troghlin was a fine place, for a human settlement anyway, and he could stand where he was for hours watching the birds glide over the water in hopes of seeing a dragon snatch them in its jaws.

  A wave crashed into the rocks and splashed heavy mist all over him.

  Is that odd?

  “That’s odd,” said a fisherman standing nearby. “We don’t get tides so high.” He looked at Bayzog and pointed. “You better move; here comes another.”

  A wave bigger than the last busted on the rocks and soaked him.

  “Whoooweeee!” the fisherman said. “Never seen anything like that!” He squinted. “There’s no storm over the sea, either. Huh.”

  “Sheesh,” Bayzog said, wringing out his robes.

  “Braw-haha,” one of the dwarves pointed and laughed. “The pond is welcoming you! Say hello back!”

  One wave rolled in and crashed after the other. It doused beards and soaked the bread on the table. Almost everyone was wet now. The boats on the docks were rocking and creaking in their slips.

  “What’s going on?” Nath said, wringing out his long hair and scanning the water. “There’s no storm out there.”

  “Look!” the fisherman cried. “Something is floating in the water. It looks like a rock.”

  Bayzog’s violet eyes locked on the object. Closer and closer it came, and a chill went through him.

  “I’ve never seen a rock that could float,” Brenwar said. “Nor a dwarf either.”

  “That’s not a rock,” Bayzog said.

  A gargantuan spiked head emerged with bright-blue glowing eyes.

  “That’s a dragon!”

  CHAPTER 37

  “Get everyone out of here!” Nath said.

  The dragon rose from the lake and let out a terrifying sound.

  Troghlin shook. The townsfolk fell. Covering their ears, they ran screaming.

  Nath rallied his men and dwarves.

  “What kind of dragon is that?’ Bayzog said.

  It towered more than thirty feet tall. Its body was armored in sharp horns and scales. Its footsteps were storms surging out of the water. It was terror. It was power. It was evil.

  “It’s a hull,” Nath said. His heart pounded inside his chest. “Part of the Titan race. I’ve never seen one before. They lurk in the belly of the sea, only surfacing every few centuries.” He shook his head. “This is not good!”

  Nath loaded his first arrow onto Akron’s string.

  “We need to lead it away,” he said. “Ben! Get those people to safety. The same for your dwarves, Brenwar! Get them all out of harm’s way! Hurry!”

  The hull sloshed through the water. Walked through a pier and crushed it into pieces. Busted boats up like twigs. Picked them up and smashed them together. In three strides, the hull was on the beach. It drew a deep breath into its lungs.

  “Move!” Nath yelled.

  The enormous dragon’s horned head and tail ignited with brilliant blue energy.

  Nath fired.

  Twang!

  His arrow rocketed through the air into the dragon’s face.

  Ka-Boom!

  Its blue breath shot out all over the sky. Bursts of blue lightning rained down, igniting everything they touched. The boardwalk was burning. The store roofs caught fire.

  “Come on!” Nath yelled, waving his bow at the great beast. He fired again.

  Boom!

  The hull’s head snapped back. Its nostrils flared. Its eyes narrowed on Nath.

  “That’s right. Here I am!” He backpedaled away. “Come and get me, you ugly beast!”

  The hull let out another terrifying roar. Its great foot stomped the ground.

  Nath’s feet flew out from underneath him.

  “Sultans of Sulfur!”

  He licked and nocked a moorite arrow and let it fly.

  It sank into the hull dragon’s eyelid.

  The hull reared up. The muscles in its neck bulged.

  “KAAAAAAAAAAABOOOOWWWWW!”

  Nath fell to the ground, covering his ears. His legs turned to noodles.

  A shadow covered him. The dragon’s foot hung above him and started coming down.

  Great Guzan!

  Nath curled up into a ball and closed his eyes.

  Stomp!

  Nath didn’t feel a thing.

  That wasn’t so painful.

  He popped open his eyes.

  The hull was twenty yards from him. He lay in the grasses on the bank.

  “How’d I do that?”

  You didn’t, Bayzog’s voice said in his head. Now get moving. He sees you.

  The hull craned its neck from side to side. It checked under its foot and grunted.

  “Ha-Ha! You missed me!” Nath yelled.

  It roared and started running.

  Nath ran away from the town, legs pumping.

  The hull wasn’t moving fast, but its long strides shook the ground and kept pace with him. Nath stretched his lead to a hundred yards. He’ll never catch me.

  A bright light caught the corner of his eye. He glanced over his
shoulder. A blast of blue lightning was coming straight for him. He dove to the ground.

  “Argh!” he screamed.

  The fire danced over his arms and chest. It sizzled and danced on his scales. It was painful. Awful. He screamed again.

  The hull stormed right toward him.

  Nath scrambled up, grimacing, and ran.

  Ahead, the great rocks promised shelter.

  Faster, Nath! Faster!

  He began to stretch his lead.

  The hull was still coming.

  The town became smaller. Safer with every stride.

  Good!

  He turned and started running backward while loading another exploding arrow. If he could shoot into its mouth the next time it took a breath, he just might be able to stop it. Otherwise, he had no idea what the hull’s weakness was.

  The hull dragon slowed its pace and stopped. Its scales and horns lit up. Crackled with blue energy.

  Nath stopped and drew the arrow along his cheek.

  “Perfect!” he said. “Open wide!”

  Its scales and tail twinkled and its blue eyes narrowed. It was there, evil and enormous.

  SSSZZZRAT!

  There was a blinding blue flash.

  “What?!”

  Nath covered his eyes. Colorful spots exploded all over. He shook his head and rubbed his eyes. He felt dizzy. Finally, he reopened his eyes. The hull was gone entirely.

  ***

  Bayzog kept his eyes fixed on Nath. The dragon man was moments from death, curled up in a ball on the beach. Bayzog summoned the power of the elderwood staff. He reached out with an invisible hand, grabbed Nath, and flung him from harm’s path.

  “That was close.”

  Smoke. Fire. Shouts and screams. The people of Troghlin formed a line on the beach and raced buckets up the shore. The fire was spreading fast. Brenwar had ordered his dwarves to assist, but their efforts so far were in vain. The dragon’s fire spread too fast. Troghlin would perish.

  “What is that fool doing?” Brenwar said, watching Nath run.

  “Drawing the menace away,” Bayzog said. “And it’s working.”