Tael's eyelids fluttered and he squinted as he came back to consciousness. A groan escaped from his mouth as he tried to talk, but Sebine just whispered in his ear for him to just relax and give himself some time to rest.
"He should feel better in a few minutes. But the full recovery of his magical power will take hours." The wizard gave Princess Sebine a knowing smile. "He'll need some nursing to ensure his speedy recuperation."
"Are you certain the curse has been removed from him?" The King shifted in his chair, a look of discomfort clouding his handsome face.
"You have nothing to worry about, I can assure you. My grandson is free of the corruption of the earth god. Assuming Princess Sebine ceases to cast any more spells summoning Gaa'el."
"Then shall we eat dinner?" the Queen said, and waved a hand at the food. "In all this excitement, I'm afraid that the food has gone cold. Marei, will you do us the favor of preparing the dishes for consumption?"
Princess Marei bowed her head in respect to her mother, and flourished her hands at the food. Soon steam wafted from the meats and hot dishes, and they sat to enjoy their dinner. Sebine swore she'd learn the spell from the Princess, and any others she'd be willing to share. Despite already eating, she found herself ravenous from all the stress of meeting the royal family.
After dinner, Sebine was unable to take her eyes off the enchanted beauty of Princess Theria. The elf stood away from the group studying the expansive landscape. Her long, silver hair danced as she turned to inspect Sebine's arrival with a cautious expression on her face. Princess Sebine couldn't stop staring at the elf's lavender eyes glittering in the torchlight.
"You possess the elven seed?" Princess Theria studied Sebine's face. "Indeed you do have elven blood, but not high elf, I sense the power of the dark elves in you. Would this make us enemies or friends?"
"Of course I would like to be friends," Sebine said, and gave the elf a small smile. "I've never even met a dark elf, and I'm not sure why they would be your enemy."
"Surprising that you know so little of elven lore and history. Though considering you were raised in Trikar, I suppose I shouldn't expect much of your education."
Sebine let out an incredulous huff, and narrowed her eyes at the elf's sly expression. "I'll do my best not to take that as an insult. I studied as much as was allowed, and secretly studied magic by sneaking into the Hakkadian lair below the palace."
"Even worse." Princess Theria twisted up her pretty face into a sneer. "I thought I felt the disgusting taint of those cave-dwellers on you. It's no wonder you sought them out, considering your heritage. Why exactly did Master Shalinor allow you on this expedition?"
Tael came closer and shot Sebine a concerned look, but she refused to back away from the elf's insults. "Actually, the wizard joined our expedition...led by Master Vhelan and myself. And who invited you?"
"Now, now, let's not quarrel," Master Shalinor said, and cast wary eyes at the two as he sauntered over to them. "I've asked Princess Theria to join our group. This certainly is a complex arrangement, but I am sure we can work it out, don't you? We all share the same goals, to defeat King Braxion and the Princes of Naverstrom. And having Princess Theria's knowledge of the history of the Saarian Empire will help our cause, not to mention her mastery of ancient elven magic."
"Does that include any magic that can help dispel the curse that surrounds those ruins?" Sebine scowled at Princess Theria, hoping to provoke the elf.
"That will be the challenge for us to overcome as a group," said the wizard, sending Sebine a warning glare. "One that I have spent a great deal of time trying to discover by reading the ancient tome King Rhaelian provided me in Khalas Dralorn. I have found a few hints that might prove useful to our quest."
"Though unfortunately we've discovered nothing that would bring us any assurance that we can avoid the curse," said Princess Theria, interrupting the wizard.
Prince Jaraz had joined their group with an expression of morbid curiosity playing on his handsome face. "Then why would you ever attempt something so foolish as attempting to journey to those ruins? Is the situation really that desperate?"
"Khalas Dralorn has never been abandoned in our city's eleven thousand year old history." Princess Theria gave the Prince a scathing look. "Does that sound desperate to you? I pleaded with my father to stay and fight to protect our Kingdom, but he knew that fighting against King Braxion and his horde of draenyx abominations was hopeless. No matter how strong you believe these walls, Shaar'el will fall unless we discover a way to defeat them."
"And I believe that we will only find such a power inside the ruins of the Saarian Empire." Master Shalinor looked at each of them, as if measuring their willingness to join their expedition. "So unless any of you has a better idea, we need to come together and avoid wasting time bickering, and strategize on a plan for evading the curse and successfully excavating those ruins."
Sebine glanced at Princess Theria, and noticed the elf's temper had deflated at the wizard's words. For now, at least, they would need to put aside their differences. But that didn't mean the peace would last. If the high elves had already left for the east, then what claim did they have on any successful outcome of the war? For all the horrible things said about her father and the dark elves, Princess Sebine wanted to judge their worth for herself. If she ever got to meet her father...
"Are we all in agreement?" The wizard glanced around and settled his gaze on Prince Jaraz and Princess Marei, who had recently joined her brother. "I know the Malathians are hesitant to join our quest, but I would hope you could at least supply us with the goods and servants needed to venture out north across the desert."
"You will find no support from us, wizard." Prince Jaraz cast an embarrassed glance at Sebine. "My father has made his position quite clear to me. We would do nothing so foolish as to allow our citizens to face the dangers of the north."
Master Shalinor frowned at the Prince's words. "Very strange, indeed. Then I suppose we will have to procure the horses and goods ourselves, and brave the journey alone? I assume there are entrepreneurs here in Shaar'el willing to accept our gold?"
Prince Jaraz shrugged as if the concept of payment were beneath him. "Such matters do not concern me. But you may do as you wish, wizard. We will not prevent your purchase or departure from our city. Though I am afraid you will find a high degree of unwillingness to aid your expedition. And with the wildness of the north, without a guide I doubt you'll even be able to find the Saarian ruins."
The wry smile on the Prince's face infuriated Sebine, so much that she wondered how she had ever found the arrogant man attractive. "How about you, Princess Marei? Will you aid us on our journey? Your brother has made it clear that he stands on immovable ground, but certainly you find yourself curious of the magical knowledge and power you might gain by joining our quest?"
The Princess seemed torn between her family and her desire to discover additional magical expertise. In the end she bowed her head in submission. "I would obey the will of my father." She turned and left with her brother, her eyes downcast as she departed.
"You gravely overestimated the Malathian's support," Princess Theria said, and studied the royal family drinking and chatting by a low, blazing fire.
"They are fearful and complacent." The wizard released a heavy sigh. "A poor combination that leads to sloth and weakness. They won't move until they actually stare down at King Braxion and his army of draenyx warriors, and feel their walls shaking and crumbling under their assault. I'm quite sure they'll put up a good fight, but in the end they'll suffer a gruesome defeat."
"This entire discussion is moot if we can't rally support and make our journey north." Princess Sebine was tired of hearing all the things that could go wrong. What they needed now were solutions to the problems they faced. "Surely there is a way for us? We can't just give up without trying."
Master Shalinor tilted his head, an expression of wonderment forming on his face as he stared at the starry sky. "The gods are
indeed strange beings, and the hand of fate works in mysterious ways." The wizard frowned and craned his neck forward as if he'd spotted something of interest. "What the hell?"
Sebine followed his gaze and spied several black shapes circling high above Shaar'el, and more shapes shot up into the sky from the city far below.
"Dragons!" cried Tael, and he scrambled towards the railing to get a better view. The sound of massive war horns sounded across the city and the royal family came close to inspect what was the source of the commotion.
"Here in Shaar'el?" Prince Jaraz said, and squinted as he peered at the sky. "Could King Braxion have been so foolish?"
"There are at least twenty of them," said Princess Marei. "And he did threaten our city with his dragons. I'm going up to get a better look."
"Don't be hasty, child," the Queen said. "Let us watch them a while and wait for the dragons to come to us."
With a snort, Sebine found herself amused by the Malathian's cautiousness, but her thoughts were quickly interrupted as another dragon shot up from below.
"The dragons are coming from the star temple?" Prince Jaraz said, and wrinkled up his nose in confusion.
"The magical portal!" Princess Marei cast a quick spell and silver angel's wings sprouted from her back. "Don't you think the dragons have come through the elven portal in Khalas Dralorn?"
"But that would mean—" Master Shalinor cut short as his eyes were filled with some horrific realization. "It would mean that King Braxion controls the elven capitol..."
"That's impossible," said Princess Theria. "Surely the dark elves would have taken Khalas Dralorn? They have everything to gain by protecting our city. They wouldn't allow a human king to rule over them."
"And even if he took the city, there would be no way for King Braxion to use the magical portal." Prince Jaraz craned his neck to peer down at the lower city. "Our temple priests require proof of access through the portals, codes only known to the high elven priests. And I'm sure they would never yield those codes, not even upon the threat of death."
"My suspicions cause me to believe that Jolrath would refuse to fight King Braxion's army. The dark elves know they would lose to him. And there might be a deeper secret there..." Master Shalinor followed Prince Jaraz's gaze until settling on an illuminated temple far below. "Only one way to find out. We have to go and ensure the portal is closed."
The wizard cast a spell and jumped on a sandstorm that appeared over the edge of the railing. Sebine summoned the flying spell on Tael and herself, and shot after the wizard. As they soared down towards the temple, she spotted Princess Marei flapping her glittering angel wings and speeding past them. Far off to the side, Sebine could see several of the dragons coming close, and her heart pounded as she recognized Master Vhelan's dragon. Would she have to battle her old master?
Soon they reached the sky temple courtyard, with priests and soldiers scurrying around in fear. Sebine followed Princess Marei towards a massive magical portal with iridescent crystals bubbling along the surface.
"Close the portal!" shouted Princess Marei, and she chased after a panic-stricken temple priest.
Three dragons landed on the far side of courtyard and six cloaked figures flew towards Princess Sebine and Tael. Master Shalinor spun around to face the threat, his palms spewing out sticky globs of silk that surrounded the six sorcerers in a tangled web, slamming them back onto the ground. Sebine recognized a several of the Hakkadian sorcerers.
Sebine went to help the wizard, but a shriek came from the portal and she whipped around to spy Princess Marei fluttering backwards, her hands outstretched to form a magical shield as a mob of fifteen-foot tall monsters with angelic faces came pouring through the portal.
Chapter Thirty-One
WHILE SNEAKING TOWARDS the side of the temple, Tael summoned the shadows around his figure and stalked around to help Princess Marei against the horde of armored draenyx assaulting her. Each massive creature wielded a giant steel sword that shimmered in the moonlight. They moved with the silky grace of a panther as they spun their swords and danced about, slicing and stabbing the crystal shield with vigor, releasing shrieks of anger from their elven mouths when they failed to harm the Princess.
Sebine cast spell after spell against the vicious invaders, causing the helmed elven heads of the half-dragon monsters to explode in a fountain of blood and tissue and bone. Tael hesitated in his advance, uncertain as to whom he should help first. His grandfather had shifted his focus from the Hakkadian sorcerers to the draenyx warriors, a confused expression wrinkling his face. From the sticky mess surrounding the sorcerers came a blast of heat that Tael felt from over fifty feet away. The silky web melted in an instant, and the sorcerers burst out and flew over to engage the wizard. Master Shalinor raised his hands again, but the lead sorcerer, Master Vhelan, shouted for him to stop.
"We came to help," said the sorcerer, and he lowered his hands in submission. He cast a wary glance at the slicing, flying, exploding draenyx fighting Sebine and Princess Marei. "It seems I've made the most unfortunate error. The draenyx have followed us through the portal. But how? King Braxion was nowhere in Khalas Dralorn when we arrived." Master Vhelan cast a quick spell and skeletal hands clenched around a beast scampering around to attack Princess Sebine. His other comrades cast spells forming steel hammers in the air and they bashed away at the beasts' heads until knocking off helms and cracking skulls, leaving blood gushing out their eyes and nostrils.
"Seal the portal," shouted the wizard, and he cast a spell summoning a stone shield in front of the magical portal. Master Shalinor roared at a wave of draenyx scurrying over towards him, and his palm sent a shock wave blasting the creatures and their long, steel swords back against the stone wall. With cracked armor and carapaces, the draenyx shrieked and wailed in pain and anger, only to meet the blasts of Sebine's spell shooting a jettison of blood and bone into the air from their necks.
Master Vhelan and the sorcerers copied Sebine's casting, attempting to kill other draenyx, but it seemed their power was insufficient to kill the beasts using the boiling spell. Tael knew that the Ring of Galdora gave her a massive power unlike any other, but from his perspective he could see that she was tiring quickly and wouldn't last much longer. He rushed over to help her, ducking down as several draenyx charged past him in a mad rush to slay the wizard. His sword slashed at their armored feet as they passed, sending a shower of sparks into the air.
As he reached the Princess, Tael spotted the draenyx entangled by a skeletal shell break free from its prison and charge after Sebine's back while she faced another foe. Tael shouted in warning, feeling his heart hammer in his chest in worry, and he leapt after the creature to block its advance. He brought Balensaar blazing across its knees and sliced through the steel armor and thick carapace shell. The draenyx slammed face-first onto the stone floor, sending a sickening splintering sound echoing across the square. He jumped onto the beast's back and finding a weak spot in the armor, delivered a swift strike and lopped off the soft, elven head.
Tael turned aside from the sight of the creature's beautiful purple eyes staring at him in a look of horror, and fought down the bile rising up his throat from all the blood. He had to focus his attacks and keep Sebine from harm. There were perhaps twenty more draenyx roaming around, and Tael was determined to beat them at any cost. But what if more had already gone through and were rampaging farther down in the city? If they destroyed the stone shield and more draenyx poured through the portal, there was no way they'd survive. King Braxion and his vast army would easily conquer Shaar'el.
"We need the find the temple high priest to permanently seal the portal," shouted Princess Marei, and she sent another shock wave at a creature trying to slice through her shield with its massive sword. She cast a quick spell and shot the draenyx with a shimmering silver spear that formed in the air in front of her. The beast squealed in pain as the weapon plunged into its breastplate and knocked it tumbling back across the ground.
Tael g
lanced around for signs of any temple priests but found the square cleared of people except their allies and the sorcerers. He charged over to Princess Marei, and raised Balensaar to block a blow from another creature's sword. Pain swept down his arm from the attack, and he dove forward to avoid another strike. He called out to the Princess, and she turned and stretched out her hand, releasing a shower of blades at the beast's face. The sound of steel pinging against steel rang out, but Tael spotted several small spikes lodged in the eye sockets of the creature's helm as the draenyx warrior fell.
"Where's the high priest?" he said to the Princess, and scanned the temple complex for an opening.
"Behind the portal, there's the high priest's chambers." Princess Marei screamed as a downward thrust from a draenyx warrior's sword shattered the crystal surface of her shield in a bursting explosion. Just as the sword was about to slice her in two, she cast a quick spell and knocked the creature back fifty feet until it tumbled over the edge of the stone railing.
"Follow me," she hissed, and after glancing back and spotting Princess Sebine safe with Master Shalinor and the Hakkadians, Tael trotted off after Princess Marei, once again summoning the shadows around his figure. He told her he was going invisible but she barely grunted in response as if such a thing were expected. She followed and cast a spell over herself until he could only see a ghostly outline of her delicate figure stalking over the stones. They circled around the massive portal and sneaked through a silk red curtain and into a tall, expansive chamber illuminated by flickering candles. At the dais stood a twenty-foot statue of what looked like a god, but a priest's bloody body was impaled and dangled from the god's outstretched sword.
Princess Marei stifled a scream as she gaped at the priest's mangled body, and her voice was barely audible as she whispered something indecipherable to Tael. He sensed her wilting from the shock of the sight, and he rushed over to help her.
Lord Of Dragons (Book 2) Page 19
