Dawn of the Aspects: Part III

by Richard A. Knaak

  Even as Kalec saw this, the scene turned on its head, and its elements shattered, scattering in all directions. The blackness held sway for but a second before the elements regathered and formed a new scene.

  Proto-dragons filled the sky. By the scores, they roared their challenge at the horizon before them. As Kalec sought to identify what was happening, Malygos joined the others in seemingly challenging the empty air.

  And the sky answered.

  Galakrond, still so distant that he could not be seen, answered.

  Kalec silently swore. Somehow he—or, rather, Malygos—had become part of Talonixa’s grand and likely doomed charge after all.

  FIVE

  THE DEAD AND THE UNDEAD

  Jaina woke with a start, her head snapping up from the pages of the musty book she was reading when exhaustion had claimed her. The archmage eyed the faint moisture on one page and gestured with some slight irritation. The page dried, none the worse for the wear.

  Another waste of time! She pointed her finger at the wall of books and parchments. The book fluttered to the spot from which she had summoned it.

  Thoughts other than her own abruptly filled her head, messages sent by various magi seeking her advice or reminding her of tasks she should have been working on instead of this increasingly futile quest. Jaina knew that her position demanded that she deal with these other matters, but she rose from her chair and once more approached the trove of magical knowledge.

  Before she could make a decision, another voice overwhelmed the rest.

  Jaina . . . come quickly. . . .

  “Kalec?”

  The contact broke, but not before she sensed from where he was calling. The location surprised her, but the archmage did not hesitate. She exhaled and cast.

  Her arrival did not go as expected. She appeared not only many yards from where she had intended but also more than a foot above the ground. The archmage landed hard on her heels, the collision vibrating through her bones.

  Biting back an epithet worthy of her naval father, Jaina focused. Regaining her equilibrium, she surveyed the dark land before her, wondering why Kalec would call her to, of all places, the Dragonblight.

  Moreover, the archmage wondered why he would summon her not from the temple but from the shadows of the incredibly vast skeleton ahead.

  Jaina knew of the huge bones that had once been a behemoth called Galakrond, but there her knowledge faded into what myths and legends the Aspects had passed along over the millennia. When they did speak of Galakrond, dragons made vague comments honoring him as the Father of Dragons. It was supposedly why so many of those dragons who came to die in the Dragonblight chose to set their bodies, if not facing Galakrond, then certainly in the vicinity of his skeleton.

  Jaina concentrated on Kalec, silently calling his name and awaiting a link with his mind. When that did not happen, she sharpened her call by directing it toward the monstrous rib cage.

  But although there came no answer, Jaina could not help feeling that the skeleton was where she needed to go. A fear abruptly arose in her that Kalec might now lie injured and unconscious—or even worse—somewhere within the half-buried bones.

  A haze draped over the region, making it impossible for the archmage to see anything inside the ribs. She probed with her power but found nothing—

  No. For just a moment, Jaina thought she sensed Kalec.

  Without hesitation, she transported herself nearer. This time, the archmage appeared where she desired. The ribs loomed over her.

  But of Kalec, there was still no sign.

  Jaina finally called his name. The only answer was the growing wind blowing through the bones. Aware that her destination had been this desolate place, using magic, she had shielded herself from the expected cold, and so the chill that ran down her spine had nothing to do with the elements. Despite that, though, the archmage did not hesitate to enter.

  The moment she did, she sensed something else. A faint magical trace that reminded her of the artifact’s aura.

  The source of the trace proved to be a hole dug deep into the frozen ground, a hole that also radiated hints of Kalec’s unique magical signature.

  This is where he found it, Jaina realized. He went to a lot of trouble to dig it out. Why?

  She looked over her shoulder, suddenly certain that she was not alone. Even though the archmage saw nothing, she could not shake the feeling. Still, she returned to her inspection of the hole.

  Searching beyond Kalec’s trace, Jaina studied the residue of ancient magic continuing to permeate the area. It grew stronger the more she delved into the hole itself. The archmage marveled at the efforts Kalec had used to free the artifact.

  And again came the question of why. . . .

  The shadows around her deepened. Jaina created a small golden sphere and sent it into the hole the better to see . . . anything.

  An exasperated sigh escaped her. She glanced around again, seeking either Kalec or some other figure. Jaina now knew that she was being led, but whether this was all a trap or something far different, the spellcaster could not say. Thus far, she detected no threat, but she also detected no reason for her being there.

  Her sphere changed color without warning, turning from gold to a deep blue, and in that blue light, Jaina Proudmoore saw something not evident before. It was not a physical object but a force somehow tied to the relic that had been buried there.

  It was also something that she had seen once before and that she knew was recorded in the very tomes through which she had been burrowing before thinking she heard Kalec’s summons.

  The artifact itself at last began to make some sense to the archmage, but this only fueled her concern. If what she sensed about the magics involved in its creation was true—if what this radiant force meant to her study of the artifact was true—then there was something terrible going on that—

  Again, Jaina felt as if someone watched her. This time, she quickly cast a spell behind her, and for her efforts, she was rewarded with a slight grunt.

  Spinning around, she discovered a female taunka standing only a few feet from her.

  “Who are you?” the archmage demanded.

  “Buniq . . . my name is Buniq,” the taunka rasped. Jaina’s spell held the creature in place. The taunka was armed with a spear, but Jaina saw that the weapon was held casually and had not been readied for throwing.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “Hunting. Saw the light. Thought it was another hunter.”

  The archmage could detect nothing amiss and finally released the taunka. Buniq exhaled and stretched her arms, although she was also careful to keep her grip on the spear loose at all times.

  “You’re free to go,” Jaina remarked, her tone indicating that she would prefer Buniq did as she suggested.

  The taunka started to turn, then glanced past the spellcaster at the hole. “He searched there, too. The blue one.”

  The blue one? Kalec? Jaina’s mind raced.

  Before the archmage could ask, the hunter abruptly added, “He found something. I think.”

  While the information was of some relevance to Jaina, it did not resolve anything for her. She nodded her thanks, her interest in the taunka fading.

  “Saw something else . . . after he left.”

  Jaina stared at her. “What else did you see? What?”

  Buniq hesitated. “Saw another. All covered.”

  “All covered? A cloak?” After Buniq bent her head forward in what was evidently a nod, the archmage, now very much interested again, asked, “You could make out nothing else about this figure?”

  “Tall. Taller than you. It looked into hole, just like you.”

  There had been no magical trace from some other spellcaster, at least not that Jaina had detected. With her skill, it was unlikely that she would have failed to notice that another ma
ge had been there . . . unless . . .

  She needed to know more. “Did this figure do anything?”

  “Yes.” Buniq thought for a moment, then carefully passed the spear from one thick hand to the other. She raised her now-freed hand and began to draw something in the air. Once finished, the taunka stilled again.

  Jaina tried to make sense of whatever Buniq had done but could not completely recall it. “Draw it again, but slower.”

  As Buniq began, the archmage cast a simple but useful spell. Immediately, the air flared silver where the taunka had started drawing. The hunter hesitated.

  “Go on, please, Buniq.”

  Exhaling, the taunka obeyed. The silver fire followed as she completed the symbol. Jaina watched with ever-increasing interest, all the while hoping that Buniq had a very sharp memory.

  The taunka stepped back. Jaina summoned the glowing pattern to her, examined it for a second, and then, with a grimace, turned it around so that she saw it as Buniq had. A crescent star overlooking a stylized bird greeted her, both bound in the center by three simple but significant runes of triangular shape.

  The archmage gasped. She had seen this symbol before, and she recalled just where.

  Returning her attention to Buniq, Jaina asked, “Was there anything else—”

  The taunka was gone. Jaina squinted and saw a few tracks leading off beyond the rib cage. She should have expected that a hunter would be skilled in moving stealthily, but not only had Buniq evaded the archmage’s enhanced senses, but she had done so with astonishing swiftness. Moreover, Jaina had no idea why Buniq had left without warning, although perhaps the simple fact that Jaina was a spellcaster was answer enough.

  She dismissed the taunka from her thoughts. Jaina needed to return to the books immediately. It was possible that this clue would be nothing more than a dead end, but from what the archmage already recalled of the pages she intended to hunt down again, she doubted that would be the case.

  Her hopes rising, Jaina silently thanked the absent Buniq for having still been in the region hunting, then cast a spell to return herself to her sanctum.

  But had the archmage chosen to glance one more time at where the taunka had stood, she might have this time noticed that there were no hoofprints anywhere.

  • • •

  Kalec did not recall so many proto-dragons collected at the previous gatherings. Their numbers were staggering. Through Malygos, he saw more family patterns than he had known existed among the proto-dragons. Even Malygos appeared somewhat awed by the legions around him, although it quickly became clear that he was there not because he wanted to be but because Tyr had asked him to be.

  The others were also present but scattered among the many. Even Ysera was there, having been located by Alexstrasza in a narrow ravine riddled with small caves. Malygos’s thoughts constantly went to Ysera, who appeared to be a tremendous question mark in whatever Tyr had planned with the five. Malygos’s concern over Ysera overwhelmed Kalec’s ability to understand what the plan involved.

  From what Kalec could sense about Ysera, the others believed that she hid some secret from them, something she would not even speak of to Alexstrasza. Ysera had too readily agreed to come with them, as if eager to be away from the area in which they had found her. All of that left Malygos wondering if the pale yellow female would suddenly abandon the attack at just the critical moment for whatever she kept from them.

  Fragmented memories concerning Tyr revealed a surprise to Kalec: his host was still the only one who knew of the cloaked figure. Tyr wanted to work through Malygos, believing that it would be best if the others thought that it was the icy-blue male who had come up with the plan. Kalec gathered that the reason for the secrecy had to do with something Tyr had not revealed even to Malygos, perhaps some portion of the plan that Kalec’s host might have rejected.

  And not at all to his surprise, Malygos suspected something similar.

  Talonixa roared again, her cry the signal for a new chorus of challenges focused on the yet-unseen Galakrond. In truth, the collective roar seemed as impressive to Kalec as that of the distant behemoth, and he began to wonder if perhaps Talonixa had chosen the right course of action after all.

  Out of the corner of his eye, Malygos watched Ysera suddenly drop below the rest. He immediately dived after her.

  She looked up as he neared, her eyes narrowed. Malygos’s suspicions of trouble heightened.

  “Stay with us!” he called. “We must lead the others high!”

  “Only resting! Tired!”

  It was true that Ysera did not have the stamina of the others and that there had been little time for her to rest since Malygos had gathered his companions and told them of his plan, but the male remained distrustful. Fortunately for him, Alexstrasza chose that moment to join them.

  “You are well?” she anxiously asked her sister.

  “Just . . . tired . . .” Ysera seemed no happier to see Alexstrasza than she had been to see Malygos.

  “I will stay with you until we need to rise higher.” Alexstrasza gave Malygos a glance of dismissal. The male quickly veered away from the sisters. The fire-orange female would keep a proper eye on Ysera. The plan Tyr had suggested could still—

  A roar a hundred times more resounding shook both the land and the air. The great formation created by Talonixa briefly lost order. She snarled furiously at her followers, bringing them back in line.

  Yet still there was no sign of Galakrond. Talonixa laughed. “You see? He fears us!”

  It was the moment that Malygos had been waiting for, and thus, it was also the moment when his thoughts on the plan grew clearer for Kalec. Height. The plan involved height. Tyr knew something about Galakrond that the proto-dragons did not. The higher up, the thinner the air. That much even Malygos knew. However, the limit to how high Galakrond could fly for more than a few minutes was lower than that of the smaller fliers. The key to victory lay in drawing the monster up where he would grow more sluggish, be forced to gasp for the air needed to fill his massive lungs. At that point—and perhaps only at that point—Galakrond would be vulnerable.

  The icy-blue male came up beside Talonixa. “Must fly high! Very high! Galakrond cannot fly high long! Cannot breathe well there!”

  The imposing female snorted. “Away!”

  “Fly high!” Malygos insisted. “Galakrond cannot breathe well there! Will tire! Will fail!”

  This time, Talonixa appeared to consider his suggestion. Tyr and Malygos had counted on her cunning to enable this plan to work. Malygos exhaled in relief.

  It was a mistake. Talonixa’s expression hardened. Both Kalec and his host realized that she took Malygos’s reaction for satisfaction at her having to bow to his wisdom.

  She snapped at Malygos. Simultaneously, two of her lieutenants dived in to aid her.

  As if out of nowhere, Neltharion and Nozdormu joined Malygos. Neltharion let out a challenging roar, which was answered by both of Talonixa’s followers. Behind the six, the rest of the proto-dragons faltered, uncertain whether their charge had now turned into a war among their own members.

  “Retreat!” Nozdormu hissed to Malygos. “Retreat!”

  Neltharion also heard the other male’s warning. “No! Fight her! Become alpha! Command all!”

  Unlike Nozdormu, Neltharion had not bothered to be quiet. His words sent Talonixa into a rage. She unleashed a bolt not at Neltharion but at the trio’s apparent leader, Malygos.

  Kalec’s host twisted but still received a painful scorch on one wing. As he did, more of Talonixa’s most loyal followers joined.

  “Retreat!” Nozdormu urged once more.

  Malygos did not dive, as might have been expected, but rather pushed higher. His comrades followed without question, and behind them several of Talonixa’s acolytes pursued.

  But the pursuers stopped short at an abrupt snarl from the fe
male. As Malygos continued rising higher, he glanced down to see the formation tightening again. He had hoped that Talonixa and her lieutenants would give chase, possibly leading the rest of the proto-dragons upward after all.

  Momentum pushed Malygos into the clouds. Flying became more of a strain as the air thinned. He paused, waiting for the other two to catch up.

  “Knew this would fail!” Neltharion rumbled. “Told you!”

  Malygos did not answer. Kalec sensed that there had been more complexity to Tyr’s plan and that Malygos silently berated himself for misplaying the situation. Based on what he could read of his host’s thoughts, Kalec could find no fault in the proto-dragon’s actions, but the blue dragon knew that there were things still hidden from him.

  “What now?” Nozdormu asked.

  “Follow from above!” Malygos told them. “Alexstrasza! Ysera! They join soon!”

  In truth, Malygos had some doubts about Ysera’s resolve, but he was certain that Alexstrasza would bring her sister along. Kalec saw that his host also had a secondary plan in mind, still based on Tyr’s original notions. Already aware that Talonixa might not listen to reason, Malygos had suggested that the five of them could yet lure Galakrond up by attacking him from above. It was a more desperate hope but still a hope.

  Glancing down, Nozdormu muttered, “They move on.”

  As he warned, the proto-dragons below were already far ahead. Malygos saw no sign of the sisters but could not delay. He would have to trust in Alexstrasza.

  “Come!” Not bothering to wait, the icy-blue male flew through the clouds after Talonixa’s legions. In order to keep her followers together and not too exhausted to fight Galakrond, the female had to set a pace that some of the slower fighters could keep. Malygos soon not only caught up to those below but also began to pass them.

  The clouds thickened ahead. Malygos did not fear finding Galakrond among them; the gargantuan fiend could have never hidden his bulk in the clouds, no matter how dense they became.

  Unfortunately, as he pressed, Kalec’s host began to flag for the very reason that he had tried to convince Talonixa to lead the others up. The thin air had his breathing becoming more and more ragged. He had not intended to fly this much above the ground until almost upon Galakrond, but now he wanted to avoid being seen by Talonixa or her followers.