by S. G. Rogers
“The weaker he gets, the easier it will be for Dad to break through this force field,” Jon said. “I wish we could figure out how to help.”
The blue-tinged column of light stretched from the floor to the ceiling with no way under or over it. When Jon touched Ophelia to the light, his hand was repelled. At the same time, he could feel the injury to his arm heal.
He stepped away a few paces and tried throwing a fireball. Everyone dove for cover as the fireball ricocheted off the column. It exploded against the side of the cavern, leaving a round scorch mark. For once, Fred bit back a snarky comment.
Jon cleared his throat. “I guess that wasn’t such a good idea.”
Casey examined the column of light. He rested his hand against it a moment. “Wow.” The light flickered. “This force field may be the product of Efysian's spell, but essentially it’s pure energy. I can feel it when I touch the light.”
“You got a point, brainiac?” Fred asked.
“It’s not too different from my flashlight. When you use it long enough, the battery runs down. If we could find a way to siphon off this energy, I think the same thing would happen to the force field,” Casey replied.
A sudden ray of hope burst through Jon’s heart, like a shaft of sunlight breaking through a storm cloud. “We can find a way,” he said.
As he flattened his hands gently against the column, the light flickered again. “My grandfather told us no one person could defeat Efysian's spell. But maybe five people can, if they work together.”
“You’re right!” Casey exclaimed. “If we use our bodies to draw the energy from this spell, we’ll weaken it enough so Dr. Hansen can get out. Science trumps magic after all.”
Fred edged back. “I don’t wanna get knocked on my behind again.”
“You won’t,” Brett answered. She grabbed Fred’s hand and laid it flat against the light. “See? For once in your life, don’t push.”
The light began to flicker even more. Brett stood next to Fred and lifted her hands to the light. Casey moved to the opposite side of the force field. When his hands made contact, the light dimmed further. Jon saw his father’s fingers twitch.
“It’s working!” he cried. “Dorsit, it’s your turn.”
When Dorsit stepped over to the force field and raised his hands to the light, Dr. Hansen’s head lifted. As his eyes opened and he recognized his son, the force field surged one last time. With a bright flash, the column of light exploded and the entire cavern was plunged into darkness.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Deception and Detention
Although lava had ceased to flow from the volcano, a fine layer of volcanic ash continued to rain down on Dragon Isle. Hot gases swirled with the cool ocean breeze to scatter soot everywhere. Quixoran, magically disguised as his grandson, was covered with it by the time he reached his garden.
Along the way, he passed flattened trees and gelatinous puddles—former sea nymphs. He shook his head in regret. Quixoran had never had any trouble with the creatures before, and he wondered how Efysian had persuaded them to attack his island.
Although the labyrinth had survived the volcanic blast intact, the rest of the garden was in shambles. Quixoran winced to find several sculptures had been knocked over or spattered with lava. When he reached the labyrinth entrance, he paused to doff his cowboy hat and shake a quantity of ash from its brim. He wanted to provoke a response from his adversary. He didn’t have to wait long.
“Come, young wizard, let us be friends,” Efysian said.
The Wolf Clan wizard perched himself on top of the dragon sculpture in a nonchalant fashion.
“Friends?” Quixoran repeated. “I think not.”
Sea nymphs materialized around Quixoran and let loose their trident weapons. He deflected the bolts of energy back at them, and the nymphs had to scramble to avoid being struck. All the while, he edged toward the entrance to his labyrinth.
“This is rather pointless,” Efysian said with a laugh. “There is nowhere to go where I cannot find you, Jon Hansen.”
“You might be surprised,” Quixoran replied. He tipped his hat to Efysian and ducked into the maze.
Darting between the hedges, Quixoran paused every so often to turn a pursuing nymph to stone. Turning the creatures to stone was infinitely preferable to killing them, since they could be restored later. After a short while, however, Quixoran's pace began to flag. He might look like his grandson at present, but he wasn't nearly so young. Nevertheless he kept going. Jon and Greggoran were counting on him and he would not let them down.
****
When Jon Hansen disappeared behind a hedge, Efysian slid off the dragon. The lad wants to play games, does he?
“Catch him,” he told the sea nymphs. “But do not kill him...yet.”
Efysian transformed himself into a huge black wolf. Following the trail of stone nymphs, he quickly closed the gap between himself and his prey. When he reached the center of the labyrinth, he saw the boy on his knees, gasping for breath. Efysian morphed into human form in order to taunt him.
“Poor Jon. Your friends have deserted you. Your grandfather is dead. And you are surrounded.”
Scores of sea nymphs had entered the labyrinth, cutting off all escape. The young wizard removed his hat and wiped his brow on his sleeve before he answered.
“You’re surrounded too, Efysian,” he said. “And I’m not without friends.”
Wood sprites emerged from the hedges like ten-foot-tall stick bugs. They hoisted rocks up over their heads, aimed at the Wolf Clan wizard. Sea nymphs shrieked with horror as plant roots thrust through the gravel and pierced their legs and feet, poised to suck out their moisture.
“Thank you, Cressidia, for your timely assistance,” the boy said, nodding at the largest wood sprite. Cressidia creaked in response.
Suddenly a swirling mist in the labyrinth solidified into Lialia. “Stop, sisters!” she cried, holding her hands out to the sea nymphs. “This is no longer our battle. The young Dragon Clan wizard has freed me.”
“What? That’s not possible,” Efysian said.
Lialia dissolved into mist once more and the sea nymphs retreated. At the same instant, the young wizard brought his hand down to signal an attack. Rocks began to fly and although Efysian deflected most of them, one shard of lava rock managed to cut his face. With a rumbling sound, statues appeared from every direction, reaching out their stony fingers toward Efysian. The wizard suddenly realized he’d been tricked.
“So it’s you, Quixoran. You will regret your interference,” Efysian sneered.
Quixoran morphed into his own body, settled Jon’s hat on his head at a jaunty angle, and gave Efysian a broad grin. “I sincerely doubt it.”
****
After the force field disappeared, Ophelia glowed brighter than Jon had ever seen before. Unfortunately, his father was crumpled at his feet, unconscious. Fred, Casey, and Brett were still standing, but Dorsit had also succumbed to the force of the explosion. He’d fallen backward into the shadows.
Jon knelt at his father’s side. “You’re safe now, Dad.”
“We’re here to rescue you,” Fred added.
Dr. Hansen’s eyes opened. “Leave me. Get out while you still can.”
Jon glanced at Casey and Fred. “Can you help me carry him?”
“Why don't you use your transporter cuff to take him home?” Casey suggested. “He needs medical attention.”
“No, I’ll be all right in a few minutes,” Dr. Hansen said. True to his word, he sat up. “But you kids need to leave before Efysian returns.”
“Jon can come back for us,” Brett said.
“We should all go together. Quixoran won’t be able hold Efysian off forever, and you can’t stay here,” Jon said.
Efysian’s voice echoed through the chamber. “But I do so love having guests.”
The Wolf Clan wizard stood in between two fanglike stalactites. His pale yellow eyes were hollow sockets in his gray face. With a smear of
blood down his chin, he resembled a wolf fresh from the kill.
Jumping to his feet, Jon gathered up a fireball and hurled it. With little visible effort, Efysian waved off the assault and pointed a bony finger back at him. A nebulous red streak shot from his fingertip, speeding across the cavern to bind Jon’s arms to his side. As Efysian muttered something under his breath, Jon’s feet left the floor and a column of red light enveloped him. The last thing he heard before he became immobilized was Brett screaming his name.
Roaring in anger, Fred threw his two hundred and ten pounds of muscle at Efysian. With a mere lift of the wizard’s eyebrow, an unseen force sent Fred flying. He landed on top of the desk, sending the crystalline bowl and spyball crashing to the cavern floor. Wizard rings and amulets scattered everywhere, and the spyball went rolling. The desk splintered, and as Fred fell to the ground, he cut his head on Efysian’s dragon claw chair. Blood welled up in the wound and began to flow into the delicate cracks in the dragon hide-covered floor. Fred lay still.
When Efysian rested his withered hands on the red light now imprisoning Jon, he sighed with pleasure. Casey and Brett huddled together, watching in horror while Efysian fed on Jon’s life energy. The resulting excruciating weakness took Jon’s breath away. If he'd been able to move, he would have collapsed. In seconds, Efysian became vibrant and youthful, looking little older than a teenager. He threw off his robes and stretched, as if waking from a long nap. When he flexed his arms, powerful muscles pressed against his shirt.
“Now that’s what I call a rush,” he said. “Let's have a look at all of you.”
Efysian lit the cavern with an everlasting orb and turned his attention to Brett and Casey first. Although Casey raised his fists, the wizard transported him inside the dragon claw prison with a quiver of an eyelash. Efysian sauntered over to Brett, raking her with his glance. His wicked, handsome snarl made her recoil.
“It appears I’m going to need another Guardian,” he said.
“Go kiss an Imp on the nose.”
“You did me a favor, really, getting rid of Lialia,” Efysian said. “Her fawning had become tiresome. I like a Guardian with a more spirited disposition.”
“You might be able to work your mojo on me, Efysian, but you’d better watch your back,” Brett spat.
Grabbing the bars of his prison, Casey shook them. “Leave her alone!”
Efysian’s cold eyes peered at Casey. “And what kind of useless piece of Hell trash are you?”
Casey forced bravado into his voice. “I’m the Hell trash who beat your spell.”
“Beginner's luck,” Efysian replied. “It’s of little consequence now.”
While Efysian’s attention was focused on Brett and Casey, Dorsit had begun to stir. Dr. Hansen claimed one of the wizard rings scattered on the cavern floor and stole through the shadows toward him. Unnoticed by Efysian, the two wizards then crept toward Jon. Resting their hands on the red force field, together they drained its energy. The light flickered, pulsed, and then blinked out. Jon, Dorsit, and Dr. Hansen faded back behind a stalagmite.
“The laws of physics might be a little different on Yden, but they still exist,” Casey said. “And apparently a skunk is still a skunk.”
Brett laughed, hoping to distract Efysian as long as possible.
“You won’t be laughing when I throw you to my cave spiders,” Efysian said. “There is no one to save you now that I’ve brought your dragon wizard friend to heel.”
Jon emerged from the shadows on the far side of the clearing.
“A dragon’s heart burns fiercely, even in the face of evil, Efysian,” he said.
At the sound of his voice, Efysian gasped.
“Spoken like a true Dragon Clan wizard, Jon,” Dr. Hansen said.
Efysian’s snarl echoed throughout the cavern. “Ha! I’ve been picking my teeth with the bones of your dragons!”
Scooping up the spyball from the floor, Dr. Hansen hurled it at the Wolf Clan wizard. With a mighty back handspring, Efysian leaped out of reach and the spyball shattered against a stalagmite.
“Is that all you've got? Oh, yes, I forgot. The wizard Greggoran is too noble to fight with magic,” he sneered.
“Maybe my father is, but I’m not,” Jon said.
“And for you, Efysian, I can make an exception,” Dr. Hansen said.
Dorsit stepped out into the light. “You are outnumbered, Wolf Clan wizard.”
If it weren’t for his voice, Jon wouldn’t have recognized Dorsit. Having completely reabsorbed his stolen life energy, Dorsit was young again, with waist-length raven hair and an extremely handsome elfin face.
The sound of rumbling thunder and a flash of light heralded Quixoran’s arrival. He was covered with ash, and a bit worse for wear, but unbroken.
“Have I missed the fight?” he asked.
“You’re right on time, Grandfather,” Jon replied.
A mighty firefight ensued. Casey and Brett hit the floor as fireballs, lightning, and lethal magical forces ricocheted off the rock walls. Efysian warded off the siege, but as the battle went on he began to age with the effort. Finally, after Jon distracted Efysian with a huge fireball, Dorsit managed to bind him with a spell. Quixoran transformed him into stone. Dr. Hansen stared into Efysian’s immobile face for a few moments before he hit him with a burst of force. Efysian’s statue tipped over and broke into pieces.
While Dorsit freed Casey from the dragon claw prison, Brett ran over to check on Fred. He hadn’t moved since he’d fallen.
“Fred needs help, Dr. Hansen. He hit his head,” Brett said.
Everyone clustered around Fred, who lay in a pool of blood. Dr. Hansen knelt down as he searched for a pulse.
“Is he okay?” Brett asked.
“Of course he's okay. Fred’s indestructible,” Jon scoffed.
“I’m afraid not,” Dr. Hansen replied.
As all of the color drained from Brett’s face, Casey put a comforting arm around her shoulders. Staring uncomprehendingly at Fred's limp body, Jon’s knees finally gave way. He collapsed in a heap at Fred’s side.
“N-no. No. Do something, Dad,” Jon said. He struggled to get the words past the lump in his throat.
Brett began to sob.
“He's beyond medical help, Jon,” Dr. Hansen replied. “I’m very sorry.”
“On Earth, maybe, but not here. I know who you are and what you can do,” Jon said.
As Dr. Hansen gave his father a startled glance, Quixoran nodded in confirmation.
“I told him everything. The boy needed to understand,” he said.
“Then you must know I’ve vowed never to use my healing power on Yden, Jon. I can’t interfere,” Dr. Hansen said.
Unashamed tears welled up in Jon’s eyes. Fred Spencer had started out as his tormentor and rival. Somewhere along the line, after all they'd been through, he'd also become a friend. He'd jumped into harm's way to save Jon’s skin without hesitation. Jon had never known anyone like him, and now he was dead.
“If it was me or Sela, you’d interfere. Fred’s like a brother, Dad.”
Quixoran rested a hand on his son’s shoulder.
“Greggoran, your vow serves little purpose now that Efysian is no more. This boy is not part of Yden. Send him home to his family.”
Jon’s heart sank as his father shook his head, removed the borrowed wizard’s ring from his finger, and dropped it to the ground. The long silence that followed was punctuated only by Brett’s deep sobs.
“I’m going to need a Dragon Clan ring, Jon,” Dr. Hansen said.
Wrenching Ophelia off, Jon gave her to his father. As he felt Ophelia’s bite, Dr. Hansen’s mouth curved into a wry smile. “This ring always was feisty.”
He rested one hand on Fred's forehead and the other over his heart. Bowing his head, Dr. Hansen began to emit a gossamer white light. The emanations flowed from his chest, down his arms, and into Fred.
“Beautiful,” Brett breathed.
After a few excruciatingly
long moments, Fred opened his eyes. He sat up, taking in the surrounding debris. “Did I do all this?”
Everyone burst into laughter.
****
When they emerged from Wolf Mountain, the last rays of the suns were bathing the mountainside in golden light. Dr. Hansen took a deep breath of fresh air as he reveled in his freedom. He returned Ophelia to Jon and then pulled him into a hug. “I'm so very proud of you, Jon. Thank you for coming to my rescue.”
“I had a lot of help from my friends,” Jon admitted. “I couldn’t have done it without them. As a matter of fact, I have to find Kira Szul to make sure she's okay.”
Casey pointed toward a pair of rapidly approaching dragons. “I think that’s her right now.”
Dr. Hansen stared, not quite able to believe his own eyes. “Dragons! Where did they come from?”
“JonBoy here drew ’em,” Fred said. He seemed as pleased as if he'd done it himself. “He's real talented.”
“I always said you had power in your talent, Jon. Now you understand what I was talking about,” Dr. Hansen said.
When Adam and Eve landed, Kira dismounted and ran to embrace Jon. “I asked Adam and Eve to bring me to you, Jon Hansen.”
“Kira Szul, I want to introduce you to my father, Greggoran of the Dragon Clan. He’s the last great wizard of Yden,” Jon said.
Kira clasped Dr. Hansen’s hand in an Earth-style handshake. “I’m honored to meet you, but I think perhaps we have not yet seen the last great wizard of Yden.”
Dr. Hansen glanced at his son. “Not by a long shot.”
“Kira,” Dorsit said, looking every bit the romantic figure in the golden sunset.
“Dorsit! You are restored!” Kira said, throwing herself into his arms.
Disgruntled, Casey stuffed his hands in his pockets and stared down at his toes. Fred leaned over to prod him with his elbow. “I guess there ain’t any prizes for second place, huh?”
“Thanks for pointing that out, Fred,” Casey responded.
