by David Adams
They followed their guide to a narrow path—one he pointed out from the air since he was too large to walk upon it—which wormed its way to the beach. They moved toward the fallen dragon with slow, reverent steps.
“Come closer, my friends,” Valya said. His gaze rested on Tala. “Take the bag.”
She opened her mouth to speak, but Valya hushed her. Tala knelt and with a delicate touch loosened the cord that held the bag fast, and then held the prize tight to her breast.
“Galway, have a squad of dragons saddled and take our guests back to the mainland.”
“Saddled?” the silver asked, glancing from Valya to Galway and back again. “Man has not ridden on dragon since before our fathers and mothers were hatchlings.”
“Our worlds have grown apart. But time is short and Arkania still needs saving. Our need is dire.”
The silver bowed in obedience.
Valya eyed Galway, a large bronze dragon, who hesitated to follow the order. “Don’t be filled with pride. There is no shame in being ridden at one’s own choosing. Would you rather we build them a boat?”
“You misunderstand my concern, Valya. I will carry them myself if need be.”
“Well…?”
Galway looked once at the strangers and decided to speak despite the fact they could hear. “We do not know the hearts of men so well that we should trust these with the Sphere. Or I should say we know their hearts too well. They are easily corrupted.”
“I see the honor in them, Galway, and I have given my command. Belthros’ black poison is cruel and deadly, but while I draw breath I still rule.”
Galway dropped his eyes and then his head. “I am sorry, Valya.” He turned and began giving orders to saddle seven dragons. “And bring one for me.”
Valya addressed the visitors once again. “I am sorry we could not spend more time together, or that we could do no more to aid you.”
“You have already done more than we would have dreamed to ask for,” Rowan said.
“Perhaps my debt is paid, at least in part,” Valya said with a long sigh. “Our enemies will return to their island and battle to see who will be their new lord. After that, they will return. You must be far away by then. Go now, in peace and with my blessing. Use the cloaking bag to keep the Sphere hidden. God be with you on your quest.” A racking cough escaped his throat, punctuated with a small spout of flame. He took a pair of long, wheezy breaths. “And now, if you don’t mind, I would like to spend what time I have left with my beloved.”
They said their thanks and bade him farewell on his journey into the afterlife. Tala touched his snout while a single tear rolled down her cheek. Then they moved away, as did the other dragons, leaving the gold and silver alone to say their last words to one another.
Seven bronze dragons crested the hill and alighted near the visitors, the first carrying an extra saddle in his mouth. Galway allowed Demetrius and Lucien to strap the device to him, then invited Tala to mount. “I would be honored to carry the one entrusted with the Sphere.”
Everyone mounted a dragon of their own—Rande getting a boost up from Jazda. “Hold tight to the reins,” Galway called over his shoulder. “We will be flying with all haste.”
“Where are we going?” Tala asked.
“I plan on going west, past the Black Mountains, into the land of Lorgras, just north of the Great Northern Forest. It will be cold, but a safer route. If we go south, I fear our enemies will be patrolling, as we would need to go around Bone Island. The only other choice would have us fly over Veldoon. Not the path I would choose.”
“It seems the wisest choice. Alexis?”
“It will be quite cold, but from there we can move into Lorgras along the coast, or go south as we decide.”
“And what of us?” asked Jazda.
“We will have to discuss that once back on the mainland,” answered Demetrius. “Valya was insistent that we depart swiftly.”
“And so we should,” said Galway. He spread his great wings, but before he could launch himself, there came a call from the silver dragon.
“Wait!”
“Is he—?” Galway started as she approached.
“No, not yet.” She took a moment to look each of the visitors in the eye. “I am Darain, queen to Valya. Remember what he has done. I sense you would all give your lives as he has to see this quest through. Spend those lives wisely. Only if you succeed will the cost we all pay be worth it.”
“As long as we have breath,” Tala said, “we will remember Valya, and our quest.”
“May we meet again in happier times,” replied Darain. “Now, away. Return as swiftly as you can, Galway. We have much to be concerned with here.”
With a great rush of wings the group rose skyward. They soared west, the frigid air biting at them like an icy gale due to the speed of the beasts. The weather was kind, the wintry storm of yesterday a distant memory, the sun doing what it could to warm them, which was little, but at least they were dry. They stayed out of sight of land for most of the journey, Veldoon being a place they had no desire to see, or to be seen from.
They traveled the better part of the day, and the sun was nearing the horizon as they finally veered south. There was no conversation, the wind stealing away all sound. The dragons reached the northern shore of Lorgras and glided in for a soft landing on the beach, and even after such a long journey they did not appear to be winded or tired. They remained long enough to help their passengers set up a small shelter near an outcropping of rock, and Galway used his orange flame to light a blazing fire for them. A pair of dragons that had slipped away returned with two deer and a boar, much to the surprise and delight of the mainlanders.
“We must return,” said Galway, as Corson and Alexis moved to dress the animals.
“Night will fall any minute,” said Tala. “And there is far more food than we can eat.”
Galway laughed, not unkindly. “But not nearly enough to feed eight dragons. Use the excess for your continuing journey.”
“I do not know how to thank you.”
“Defeat Solek and the Dark One. Then all of Arkania will thank you.”
Without another word, Galway was off, the other dragons following. In seconds they were out of sight.
Not much later the dragon riders gathered around the fire while dinner slowly turned on a makeshift spit. By mutual consent they did not speak of what was on all their minds. The fire gradually worked its magic, removing the chill from their bones and loosening the knots in their sore muscles. The aroma of cooking meat filled their nostrils and brought a deep, satisfying warmth of a sort the fire could not. Dinner was enjoyed in silence, but as the meal wound down they knew it was time to get to the subject at hand.
Demetrius, as was often his way, was first to speak and got right to the point. “Is the Sphere complete?”
Tala looked past the fire to the sea as if there was something of interest there.
“Tala?” Alexis prodded gently.
“There is still one piece missing,” she answered, her voice tight.
“How can you know that?” asked Corson. “The Sphere has been in the cloaking bag since Valya assembled it. Did you inspect it while we flew?”
“No.” She slipped the Sphere out of the bag, only for a moment, to show them the spot where a tiny piece was still missing.
“You know where the last shard is, don’t you,” said Rowan. It was statement, not a question.
Tala nodded solemnly.
“I remember the way the color drained from your face at Western City when you cast your finding spell. You had to do it twice to send us toward Ludroe’s Keep. You saw the last shard on your first casting.”
She nodded once more.
Jazda pulled Rande a bit away from the others, his desire to protect the boy stronger for the moment than his curiosity. The others huddled closely around Tala, friends supporting each other.
“We face much together,” said Lucien. “Together we face final challenge.”
“We’ve come too far to think of turning aside now,” Corson added.
“Might as well be out with it,” said Demetrius. He smiled and put a hand on her shoulder. “You’ve borne this alone long enough.”
Tala let out a slow breath, eyeing the ground. Finally she raised her head. “The final shard is in Veldoon. Solek wears it around his neck.”
End Book 1
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dave Adams lives in central Pennsylvania with his wife, daughter, and son. He has had over twenty short stories published in various magazines, mainly in the genres of fantasy, science fiction, and horror. This is his first novel.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: The The Dead Legion
Chapter 2 : The Swamp
Chapter 3: Under the Mountain
Chapter 4: Arna’s Forge and Beyond
Chapter 5: The Nest
Chapter 6: The Lost City
Chapter 7: Westerland
Chapter 8: The Abandoned Castle
Chapter 9: The Dead Paladin
Chapter 10: The Battle of Upper Cambry
Chapter 11: Valya and Belthros
Chapter 1: The Dead Legion
