We walked past without saying anything and doing our best to not look their way, but somehow, they took that as an insult.
“King has taken a liking to these mongrels,” one said loudly. “The big ogre should be in a cage somewhere, not in our fair city.”
Gnath stopped in his tracks, and I could see the anger building within him.
“Gnath, friend… let’s not start something right now. We are to meet with the king for breakfast, remember?”
“Oh, you’re going to meet with the king, are you?”
“Why don’t you invite us along? We could use a good meal in the company of the king.”
“I’m sorry, friend, the king invited us, and it wouldn’t be proper to bring anyone else along.” We continued walking, but the three antagonists followed us.
“Oh, it wouldn’t, would it? Maybe you could ask the king? Tell him we are your friends. Criminy, if he’ll let a big, ugly ogre eat at his table, then we’d be a much more pleasant sight.”
“You might want to stop calling my friend an ogre…”
“Or what? Nothing, right? Maybe your girl here would like to stay behind? She would certainly have more fun with us.”
Again, Gnath stopped. The three started to laugh and poke fun at my big friend who tried his best, I know, to calm down.
“Oh, so you have a fondness for the little girl, do you, ogre?”
What happened next is what legends are made of. Gnath calmly walked up to the loudmouth drunkard, grabbed him by the leather armor below his chin and hoisted him up eye to eye, mere inches between their faces.
“See the king,” Gnath said, turning to walk toward the palace entrance.
“Wait! I was just kidding,” the dumbfounded man cried, kicking his legs. “I don’t need to see the king. Please, put me down!”
Gnath kept walking, as we followed along chuckling among ourselves.
“Really, I’m sorry I called you those things. Please! Put me down!”
The wizard and Nyssa met us at the door, and the surprised look on their faces to see Gnath holding a flailing and screaming man was priceless.
“Did Gnath make a new friend?”
“Ah, he said some bad things, rubbed the big guy the wrong way. The usual.”
“Gnath, maybe you should let him down. I think he learned his lesson.”
“Yes, please! I’ve learned. I will never say a bad thing to anyone again.”
“Tell Rika sorry,” Gnath said.
“Who’s Rika?”
“Rika is our lady friend that you insulted a way back by the stables,” I informed him.
“Oh yes. M’lady, I am terribly sorry for the insulting way I acted towards you. Please accept my most humble apology.”
“Hmmm, I don’t know,” Rika said, turning her back to the hapless drunk, and sending a wink my way. “It was pretty hurtful.”
“Please, m’lady. My most sincere apologies.”
“Okay, apology accepted. Gnath, sweetie, you can put him down.”
Gnath smiled and put the man back on the ground. The man wasted no time turning tail and running back towards his friends.
“Felt good,” Gnath said with a huge smile.
“I bet it did, buddy, I bet it did.”
“Shall we go eat?” the wizard asked.
“Hungry.”
“Gnath says yes.”
Chapter 28
Word of ships on the horizon brought a hurried frenzy to Farrador. Warriors were readying themselves on the walls of the city, ballistae were being cocked and readied, their tips sharpened to a razor’s edge in hopes of getting a lucky hit on the dragon as it flies by. Cannons were also prepared and their ammo stacked neatly within reach of the gunners. Women and children were being rushed into, what they hoped, would be safe shelter within the stone walls of the central keep.
The five of us stood on the highest wall in the castle looking out over the open sea. Through a spyglass, we could see that the warnings were true, and the ships of Edenkeep were heading our way. Below us we could see that the city was in a panic, and though the army of Farrador was falling into ranks once again in the common area below us, it was certain that their discipline was breaking down as the news of the threat outweighed their years of training.
“I hope Captain Alibaster can make an impact on that fleet out there,” King Baminex said, worried. “Dealing with the dragon will be bad enough, but to complicate it with the shore bombardment and then a landing force will be more than we can hope to contain.”
“Is your captain a good sailor?”
“He is the best I have known. But if the winds don’t cooperate, then he might as well be a deckhand.”
“Then let us see if we can turn the winds in our favor. Whereabouts is your Captain Alibaster and his fleet right now?”
“Damn these winds! We’ll never get around the island fighting a headwind!”
Captain Alibaster stood on the bridge of Silent Reign holding on to a forward railing as Bos’n Cornwallace manhandled the ship’s wheel trying desperately to keep the ship going north, while not running into any of the other ships also struggling with the stormy seas and gusty northwestern winds.
“We might as well turn back, Captain. We are making almost no ground, and by the time we get to the northern coast of Pelcastle Skerry, the Edenkeep fleet will have already destroyed Farrador.”
“I refuse to give up. If we meet them head-on, we have no chance at all. We must hope for a break in the wind, or we might as well scuttle the ships right here in the Western Ocean.”
“Yes, Captain.”
But then, like a warm blanket wrapping around them, the seas calmed, and a gentle southwestern breeze began to buffet their turned sails.
“I don’t know how, but it appears we got our break in the winds. Bos’n, get the sails turned to catch the wind and make way to the northern coast of Pelcastle Skerry!”
“Aye, Captain!” the Bos’n replied. He yelled down to the hands on the deck, equally dumbfounded by the change in weather. “Bring sails to the wind!”
A cheer went up among the crew as the deckhands raced to get the sails trimmed to the southern winds. Captain Alibaster could see that the other ships near him were also trimming their sails, and the race was on. By whatever miracle that gave them their break in the weather, he wasn’t going to question it. He was simply grateful to be making headway again.
The bombardment started midday. It was slow at first, the thundering booms in the distance were infrequent, followed by random cracking and splintering of timbers, but quickly it built up to a rumble in the harbor and the carnage in the city, accompanied by a chorus of screams of terrified citizens, and even soldiers. Shot impacted the city and castle walls sending chunks of rock and mortar everywhere. Bodies were thrown by the impact of cannonballs or shrapnel from broken walls and buildings.
The cannons of Farrador began to return fire, but the ships, with larger armaments, were out of reach of the castle’s defenses.
Chaos broke out within the walls as the ranks of soldiers were broken by the crashing of stone and timbers crushed several of those waiting for orders. Many ran from the area, others chose to stand strong, even as the platoon leaders ran for cover. One soldier stood fast as the man to his right was obliterated by a crashing cannonball, and the man to his left was crushed by falling stone from the wall over his head.
The king had gone below to seek safety in the fortified walls of his palace, but Arick the wizard stayed on the highest wall, watching with the rest of us as the fleet continued their attack. As more and more cannonballs found their way into the city, it was time to take action. Even though it would take much of his power, and that he had already used far too much in assisting the Farrador fleet, he made the decision to protect the city and use whatever magic necessary to stop the bombardment. He closed his eyes.
Raising his hands, palms out in front of him, he spoke more of his gibberish words that I could never understand, and almost immedi
ately the sounds of the cannons in the distance continued, but the cannonballs were all falling short of the city walls, as if striking some invisible barrier. Our wizard was truly powerful, and any doubts I had of his ability to kill the dragon were null and void at this moment.
“Look at this!” Nyssa said enthusiastically. “Behind the ships attacking us!”
She handed me the spyglass. It took me a moment to focus on what she was talking about, but when I saw it, I understood the excitement. “The Farradoran fleet is attacking the Edenkeep ships from behind!”
“Come about and fire at will!” Captain Alibaster ordered. And like a raging tiger let loose of a cage, the Farradoran frigates turned broadside and opened fire; the report of hundreds of cannons shattered the warm air that had pushed them there. Cannonballs rained down on the Edenkeep fleet, to the surprise of all. Several ships had their sails disabled, and many had holes punched in their sides. The Farradoran Navy made fast runs side to side, firing cannonballs as they passed. Several ships caught fire from the attack, but most of the ships farthest from the attack were already catching on to what was happening.
“What is happening?” Captain Mancovoni asked no one in particular. Though the shells were not reaching him, he could see that the ships behind the Maiden Quest were under attack.
“What is happening,” the sorcerer interjected, “is that you let your guard down and now we’re being attacked by the pesky Farradoran fleet from behind!”
“I know that, sorcerer! Stay out of my way. Bring the ships about!”
The frags went up and the quartermasters called from deck to deck to break off the bombardment and to confront the attacking frigates.
“What are you doing, fool!” the sorcerer raged. “We must concentrate on bombarding the city! We must break through their outer walls!”
“Zaleus, I am tired of you thinking you are in command here. I am ordered to serve you, but not at the cost of my fleet.”
“You will do as I say! I want that city broken!”
“Then send in your damn dragon! Can’t you see our cannonballs aren’t even hitting the city?”
The sorcerer turned to see the volley of shells falling short of the city. “Damn, that wizard is back. I don’t know how, but somehow, he’s behind this. Prepare your landing parties and ready them to scale the walls. I will call in the dragon. Then you can fight those pesky frigates that seem to concern you so much.”
The sorcerer removed the box from his pocket. He opened the lid and removed the talon from its velvet setting. Lifting it up to the northeastern sky, he muttered only a few words; “It is time. Attack!” Then he placed the talon back into its box and returned the box to his pocket. He crossed his arms and looked at Farrador. “Let’s see if the wizard can stop the cannonballs and the dragon at the same time.”
As the word went out that the invasion force was heading our way, I noticed the unmistakable plumes of flame in the sky above the horizon, and as it grew nearer the shape of the flying dragon became clear. I looked up at the wizard, who was still concentrating on stopping the bombardment. I tugged on his tunic and managed to break his spell.
The wizard opened his eyes and was clearly in a daze. He stumbled backward for a step before regaining his balance. “What is it?”
“The dragon. It’s coming this way,” I said, pointing at the bursts of flame in the sky to the north. “You got this, right?” And no more had I asked than the cannonballs began striking the city once again.
“I kill dragon!” Gnath said, pulling his sword.
“Wait for the right time, Gnath,” the wizard warned. “We must be careful not to move too quickly, or our haste will be our downfall.”
The streets and spaces below us were cleared of all but the army of Farrador. Soldiers were readying their shields and moving to man the walls in expectation of the upcoming attack by both the invading soldiers and the dragon.
With the invasion nearing the shore, the dragon was upon the city. Making fast and low passes, Diatsieg began setting ablaze the rooftops and towers of the city. Cries of terror and pain filled the air; a scene the wizard was far too familiar with.
“I need to get its attention. I need it to focus on me. You might want to go down behind the wall.”
I looked at Gnath, Nyssa and Rika. We all took the wizard's words of warning seriously. We headed for the closest tower to take the circular stairs down to the ground level. The troops were marching past double time as we exited the tower. We could see the look of fear in their eyes, and many ducked down as the dragon made another flaming pass overhead. The heat was getting close to unbearable within the confines of the castle walls. There were many people running around with buckets trying to douse the flames, but it was having little effect. I crossed the alleyway and looked up at the wall where the wizard stood. He was weaving a spell.
“Now we’re going to see some real magic,” I said.
Chapter 29
Static tingled across my skin as multiple fireballs exploded from the wizard’s hand and chased down the dragon in its flight, catching it and striking it repeatedly. The dragon barrel-rolled through the air before it was able to regain its bearings and continue onward. Its keen eyesight zeroed in on the source of the fireballs. Diatsieg turned its focus on the wizard. Flying serpentine towards the castle, he released burst after burst of flames. When close enough, he let loose a massive ball of fire at the wizard, only to have it deflected by an energy shield the wizard cast only seconds before.
Soaring out at a wide arc, wings beating against the air with the sound of bass drums, it turned and headed back towards the wizard at full speed. Again, the inferno released from its giant mouth reached out towards the wizard who once again blocked the flames. This time, the effort draining the strength of the aging mage.
“Why don’t you kill him?” I shouted up to Arick. He didn’t answer, and I could see that he was unsteady. “Gnath, come with me!” I ran back into the tower pushing past fleeing archers and up the stairs that led to the catwalk at the top of the battlement. We rushed to crouch next to the wizard, who had slouched down with his back to the warm parapet.
Below, the invasion force was already at the base of the wall and preparing to scale it, hauling ladders and hoisting scaffolding at the base of the stone structure. Some had already breached a section destroyed by repeated pummeling by cannon fire. The battle for the castle was on, and the dragon was again turning around to make another terrifying pass.
“You must find cover,” the wizard said, a trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth and a tear at the corner of his eyes. The wizard was under a physical strain that I couldn’t fully understand. “Go, while you still can!”
“What’s wrong? Why haven’t you killed the dragon?”
“I am weak. I don’t have the strength to kill him anymore.”
“You have to try, wizard! You are our only hope!”
“Dragon coming,” Gnath said in his simple way.
“Arick, now is the time to do what you can, or we are all lost.”
Arick looked me in the eye and took a deep breath. For the first time I saw real fear in his face, and he looked older than he did before.
“Help me up,” he said, reaching out his hand. Gnath snatched his hand and lifted him to his feet easily. “Now go find cover!”
“Luck be with you, Arick.” Gnath and I went to the tower, but I didn’t go down the stairs. Instead, I turned to watch as Arick began his spell work, his face strained with focus and torment, waving his hands and uttering his magic words. At times he winced in pain, his nose began to bleed, but as the dragon sped ever closer, the wizard never flinched. He stood there, working his painful magic, and I could tell he was building up to something big, if he didn’t die first.
As the dragon released his great flames, the wizard released a giant, blue and white, glowing, spinning blade that shrieked like a banshee, shot out from his hands and homed in on the dragon. I’d never seen anything like it, and I co
uldn’t stop myself from stepping back up onto the parapet to watch the spell in action.
Diatsieg saw the spectral blades shrieking towards him and turned to elude the spell. The blades followed, chasing him down as the giant beast scrambled to evade, hoping the spell would dissipate. With the force of a cyclone, it struck the dragon from behind, cutting through its thick armor and into its flesh, and shredding one wing. Out of control, spiraling towards the ground, the dragon let out a roar of despair and pain. I watched the beast fall just beyond the hills to the north. Its roar continued, telling us that the dragon was not dead. Not yet, anyway.
The wizard was crumpled in a heap onto the battlement, this time his eyes were closed, and it appeared he was not breathing. I rushed over and gave him a shake as the battle was raged around us.
“Wizard, are you okay?”
He was lifeless for a moment, but then his eyes opened. He looked up to me and smiled. “I fear it wasn’t enough.”
“You knocked it out of the sky. You can get him next time.”
“No next time. It is time for me to move on to another plane of existence.”
“But who will slay the dragon, if not you?”
The wizard smiled and looked at Gnath, and then back at me. “You’re in good hands.”
“What do you mean? Gnath? What does Gnath have to do with it?”
But the wizard had closed his eyes for the last time. I shook him, hoping to revive him, but he was gone. With a tear in my eye, I looked at Gnath.
“What did he mean by that?”
“Gnath kill dragon.”
“Wait… what?”
Gnath stood up and headed for the tower to make his way back down to the ground level. I followed quickly, trying to keep pace with my big friend.
The Dragons of Neverwind Page 15
