“Why do you let him bring fear amongst your people? Why do you allow this?” Jor asked. The second guard squinted and caught Jor by surprise when she backhanded her. The blow was fierce and knocked her to the dirt street. Her cheek burned. She heard commotion and saw boots scuffling near her. The guards shouted at her companions and they returned the verbal barbs. The Onyx roared deep and loud above her, the sound dangerous and ominous. When she pushed herself off the ground, two other guards had joined them and her companions were each held by a different guard, their hands secured behind their backs with iron rings.
“To the dungeon with you!” the first guard said. “We won’t tolerate threats to the Drakku; Grymryg has made that abundantly clear. And when he removes Etain, he’ll remember us.”
“Let my friends go! They’re innocent! If you want anyone, it’s me! I’m the one who caused all this! I killed him!” Jor screamed.
“Jor, no! It’s not true! You did nothing wrong!” Belthos cried out.
The second guard smacked Jor in the back, striking her ribs and forcing her to double over.
“Whatever you’ve done before, I’m sure you deserve the dungeon.” She clasped Jor’s hands into the iron rings and tightened them. She yanked her up to her feet as the iron rings dug into her flesh.
“We did nothing wrong! What’s the meaning of this?” Tozgan yelled. People nearby covered their mouths with their hands and pointed at them, whispering things they couldn’t hear. The Onyx slashed across the sky, roaring and belching plumes of acid. It streaked toward the sanctuary, settling once again on top of a spire.
“You four will rot for your crimes,” the first guard said. She spoke to her companions. “Drek and Pollak, take those two to the dungeon in the sanctuary. Bri,” she called to the second guard, “take her, too. This one, I’m taking to Grymryg. There’s something about him—”
Belthos struggled against her grasp. “Let me go! We’re innocent! What crimes have we committed?”
“Shelt,” Bri said. “Look!”
The group turned to Belthos and Jor noticed the stone around his neck poking through his shirt and glowing faintly. “No!”
Belthos was channeling his magic through the stone around his neck. The guard, Shelt, let go as though her hands were on fire. “My hands! He burned me!”
She flung Belthos to the ground and Jor watched as the iron rings seared bright red and fell off her hands.
“I said to let us go! We’ve done no wrong here!”
“It’s a Magus!” Bri cried.
“A Magus is on the loose!” Shelt added.
Bri tossed Jor aside and lunged at Belthos. She was a flurry of activity, her red clad arms and legs moving fast. After a slew of curse words, Bri extended a hand into the air, the stone from Belthos’ neck dangling from a leather cord.
“He can’t cause any more harm now,” she growled.
Shelt approached the boy and kicked him in the ribs. “How dare you bring that evil here! The mayor and Grymryg will not tolerate this! You will be executed, I promise.” She kicked him again as the rest of Jor’s companions fought against their bindings.
“Take them all to the dungeon. They’ll rot for what they’ve done,” Shelt commanded. Bri handed her the gem, the woman recoiling from it like it was a viper. She carefully took the stone and placed it in a pocket. Bri yanked on Jor’s iron rings, pulling her to her feet. Shelt jerked Belthos from the ground by his hair. “Stand up, boy!”
“I meant no harm! You were coming after my friends for no reason. We’re on our way out. There’s no need for this,” Belthos pled. Shelt dismissed him, kicking him harder.
“I cannot believe we let one of you into our city! Death awaits, I assure you. Did you think you were going to come into our city and spread your evil? We’ve crushed the Order of Echar centuries ago. Your kind does not belong here!” She continued to abuse the boy, striking him harder.
“Leave him alone! He’s just a boy!” Jor screamed. She fought against the bindings to no use. Bri held her tight and wouldn’t allow her to get near Shelt. Jor thrashed but Bri was too strong. She did manage to catch a glance of Tozgan and Ori being pulled along with them, so at least they’d still be together, whatever the outcome might be.
The guards led them to the sanctuary where the large Onyx peered at them from above, roaring his pleasure at their incarceration. People stood their distance and pointed at the strangers being hauled to the dungeon. Moments before the heavy iron door on the side of the sanctuary opened, Jor spotted Ulkand with Helni at his side.
“Help us! Get us out of here!”
Helni pointed and said something to Ulkand, but they didn’t move.
The guards shoved them through the door where two guards inside roughly tossed them into cells, locking the doors behind them.
“That’ll do ‘til the mayor decides your fate, filthy Tregarons,” Shelt said. The guards left and the four companions were alone in the dark, dingy cell. Rats squeaked and ran over their feet.
“What were you thinking, Belthos?” Tozgan chided. “How are we going to get out of here? These people are not the most understanding of our truths. Why did you think to expose us like that?”
“I didn’t mean it! I swear. My anger took hold and I acted on instinct. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”
“Leave the boy alone, Tozgan. Mistakes happen. We’d have better use of our time if we consider ways to get out of here. Then we can scold him,” Jor replied.
“Can anyone break free of these iron rings?” Tozgan asked. His anger hadn’t subsided. Jor could tell by the sneer he flashed at Belthos, but at least he gave up the verbal assault.
All four of them twisted their hands and arms to try to free themselves. One by one they gave up, realizing it was pointless.
“Well, now what?” Ori asked. He sat against the bars of the cell in the light beam of a torch outside their room. His attention was directed at the floor, his feet moving swiftly away from the rats attempting to crawl over him.
There was one window in the room. It was high up the wall and had thick, heavy bars blocking the way out. “Not that way,” Jor said, turning from the window.
Moments passed and Tozgan screamed at Belthos. “You ignorant fool! No wonder Driano had such problems with you! Magus are levelheaded and can think. What you did was…stupid! I swear, boy, if we ever get out of here—”
“Shut up! Tozgan, he made a mistake! Quit making it worse for him. You aren’t helping any of us by yelling at him! Drop it now!”
“Or what, Jor? What are you going to do? Kill me like you killed Lailoken? Are you gonna betray me to?”
“She had no choice! Myrthyd used a terrible spell on her!” Belthos countered.
“A spell? We all have choices. To cast spells or not to cast spells. She was aware of what she was doing.”
“This doesn’t help,” Ori said softly.
The rest stared at each other and took their cues from him, though the mood of the group soured considerably.
Hours passed without another soul checking on them. After the outburst earlier, none of them dared to speak a word. Occasionally their silence was broken by the sound of rats and the roar overhead from the dragon Grymryg.
Jor shook her head at the situation. They’d come so far from home, hoping to find Lailoken amongst the Drakku and instead found themselves in the dungeon of a strange city because of a glowing stone. It was almost laughable, if it weren’t so true.
Twenty-Eight
“Thibaut? How did you…Reinfrid, too? And you’re that Magus…”
“Frendule. Yes, yes. He I am.” The old Magus huffed and approached the Jade, muttering about blood and stones. Reinfrid joined him.
Lailoken stared at his saviors, though conflicted about the outcome.
“I was near an understanding with that Jade. You didn’t have to kill it.”
Thibaut scrunched his face. “What is this? Lailoken the slayer gone soft? I can’t believe my ears!” H
e hobbled to a nearby fallen tree and sat with a great effort. He leaned his sword against his leg.
“It’s taken months to get here. This Frendule was handy, but Reinfrid has a nose like no other. He’s got tracking skills to rival the best I’ve ever seen. He might even be the best for all I know.”
Lailoken dusted himself off and stood, running a hand through his hair.
“I’m not the same Thibaut. Things are different. The world as we know it is about to change.”
“You’ve been alone too long! We stand at the doorstep of the Dragon Lands, the very birthplace of our enemy and you talk about change? Of course, there’s change! We have the opportunity to end the Drakku once and for all. We saw them fighting each other. It’s only a matter of time before they fall into turmoil. We’ll be ready for them when they do.” He ran a hand along the pommel of his sword, admiring the intricate details.
“Thibaut…it’s not like it was. I’m not like I was. I’ve seen things. I’ve had the opportunity to witness the Drakku. They aren’t the menace we’ve been led to believe. They’re like us, with families and desires and losses.”
Thibaut shot up and nearly fell over. “What kind of nonsense is this? The Drakku have been at the front of every disaster that’s fallen upon Tregaron. The hunger our people have faced for years is their fault!”
Lailoken shook his head. Of course the man wouldn’t see things like he did. Living amongst the Order in Tregaron, his mind was taken over with hate for the Drakku.
“Reinfrid, you’re from the South, right?”
The man was startled away from inspecting the Jade with Frendule. He faced Lailoken.
“That’s true.”
“And you’ve been around the Drakku? Halflings and dragons?”
“Most of my life, yes.”
“Are they much different than humans? Are they evil like the Order claim?”
At Lailoken’s question, Frendule turned from the Jade.
“Evil? The Order is mistaken and lost. Led astray, they are. Meanos will have his way with them.” The old man’s words were stunted and choppy.
Reinfrid answered. “Evil? No, I don’t think so. Like many animals and most people, they have a tendency to protect their own with no regard to the consequences. Sometimes this has led to disagreements. Evil, you ask? My opinion is no.”
“You see? They aren’t the horrid beasts the Order wants us to believe. I’ve seen the difference Thibaut. My mind is changed.”
“Then why are we here? Why were they holding you? Why did they surround you like they did?”
“It was…a mistake. They’re having difficulties accepting me—”
“Accepting you? What kind of heresy is this? We travel all across the terrible land to find you because Reinfrid believes you were in danger, and you talk about the Drakku accepting you?” Thibaut threw his hands up in disgust.
“Thibaut, you have to believe me that I never intended to turn my back on our beliefs. I’ve seen the Drakku and spent time with them. They aren’t what we thought they were. Neither is the Order.”
“The Order, you say,” Frendule interrupted. “The Order holds secrets, they do. Dark secrets.”
“He’s been like this most of the way. He knew about your mission and he agreed to help us, though, I wonder how wise we were to take him along,” Reinfrid said.
Frendule huffed. “I no longer serve the Order, but my powers exist still. With this, I can help when I can.” He reached into his robe and pulled out an emerald tied with a leather cord around his neck.
“Enough already!” Thibaut shouted. “I don’t understand what the situation is at the moment. How can you honestly believe the Drakku are not deserving of extinction? They stole your wife and desecrated our lands. They—”
“That’s what I’m trying to say,” Lailoken grumbled. “They’ve not taken anyone. My wife is Drakku. She’s the Dragon Lord. She’s led them for centuries.”
Thibaut grew silent. Reinfrid’s eyes widened. Frendule covered his mouth with his hand, pointing at Lailoken.
“Etain?” the old man finally said. “Etain. The great Drakku. The one who created the pact. The Blood Stone.”
Lailoken’s expression soured. “What?”
“She’s the one. The Order have tales of such a dragon. A Garnet, right?”
Lailoken nodded.
“I never thought I’d see her. The great Etain.” Frendule’s thoughts seemed to drift off as he shuffled from the group, repeating Etain’s name over and over. He gesticulated wildly with his hands but stayed his distance.
“Do you mind telling me what you mean by this?” Thibaut asked. “I’m beginning to regret my decision to follow after you.”
“Thibaut, let the man speak. He’s been through things that we don’t know about. He knows things we can only speculate on. Let him tell his side. It’s the least we can do. Remember the reason why we went on this journey to begin with. We both realized Myrthyd was doing something wrong and Lailoken’s life was at stake.”
The slayer grumbled but took his seat. “Fine, go ahead. It’s not like we have anything else to do. Our quest ends here.”
“Etain is a Garnet dragon and may very well be the one Frendule speaks of. She’s had her hands full with an Onyx dragon named Grymryg. He’s leading an insurrection against her. That’s who had me cornered up at the cavern. He and Etain fought, and she flew off injured. I don’t know where she went. I intended on fleeing as there were too many to fight, but they overwhelmed me. I managed to escape, in large part to your efforts, I assume?”
Thibaut and Reinfrid both nodded.
“I owe you all my gratitude and a life debt. Without your aid, I was done for.”
Reinfrid looked puzzled. “Why were they fighting? Why’d Etain and this…Grymryg, come to blows?”
Lailoken exhaled. “Because of me. Etain ordered the Drakku not to harm me in any way, but the consequences of my profession brought discord amongst the Drakku. They didn’t take kindly to being killed by my hands and not having recourse.”
“I can see why that would be a problem.”
“You have a halfling daughter!” Thibaut shouted, pointing at Lailoken. “If this Etain is a dragon and the mother of your daughter, that makes Alushia a halfling!”
Reinfrid shook his head, a look of disgust on his face at either Alushia’s person or Thibaut’s accusation; Lailoken wasn’t sure.
“Yes, Thibaut. That’s exactly what it means. She has dragon’s blood running through her…something I still have not quite come to terms with.”
“But that means if the Order finds out—”
“Death. Execution. Humiliation. I’ve been part of far too many of those to know what that means. I regret every last one. I see now what fools we were. The Order has deceived us all these years.”
“Deception, yes. Left them, I did. The Order is dark. They wield their power like judgment over Tregaron,” Frendule said. He rejoined the group and his wild eyes darted from person to person.
“Dragon’s blood runs throughout all Tregaron. The Drakku are part of our world. The Order would have us believe they are the cause of the crop failures and more. I’m not convinced anymore.”
Thibaut raised a hand to his head, rubbing his temple. “This is…too much. My life has been spent hunting dragons, and now you tell me they are to be trusted and our Order is not?”
Lailoken approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “That’s exactly what I’m saying, old friend.”
They didn’t say much for several tense moments, the men digesting the conversation. Finally, Reinfrid broke the silence.
“What’s the plan, then? I assume you weren’t out here to wage war on the Drakku on your own?”
Lailoken took a seat next to the Jade dragon’s body, a sight he used to relish, but now felt pity for the thing. If only it had listened to him when he tried to reason with it.
“I intend on leading Etain’s forces. There’s a great calamity coming. Myrthy
d has done something terrible.”
“The Blood Stone,” Frendule hissed.
Something moved in the forest behind them. All four men leapt to their feet.
“What is that?” Thibaut asked.
In answer to his question, two griffons jumped from the trees. The animals stalked back and forth, growling and snarling.
Frendule’s stone glowed. “Halflings of the south. I’ve never seen such things.”
One of the griffons roared, rearing up on its back feet.
“Ready yourselves, men! We take a griffon hide this day!” Thibaut cried out.
“We can’t! They’re Drakku!” Reinfrid replied.
Both griffons roared, their long, sharp teeth dripping saliva. They were both golden in color with thin, membranous wings like a dragon and the head and body of a lion. They were muscular and dug their deadly claws into the leaves and dirt.
Lailoken lowered his weapon.
“What are you doing?” Thibaut asked. “These are deadly halflings!”
Lailoken waved him off.
“We mean you no harm. I am friend to Etain.” When he spoke the name, the griffons roared again, pacing back and forth. Then, he heard a voice in his head.
Who are you to speak to us like this?
Lailoken looked to his companions. They didn’t seem to hear the voice.
Speak before we tear you to shreds.
“I am Lailoken, the slayer from Tregaron. I am the companion to Etain, leader of the Drakku.”
The griffons roared again.
You are the slayer? The killer of Drakku? Grymryg wants you dead.
“I’m not the same anymore. I fight alongside the Drakku, not against them.”
“Who are you talking with?” Thibaut asked.
“He has the gift,” Reinfrid whispered.
“I have no quarrel with you.”
Then why does our brethren lie dead at your feet?
Lailoken looked down at the Jade. “It was a terrible tragedy. It was not meant to be.”
Lies! You come to kill the Drakku! Grymryg is right. You will be taken to him as a corpse, never to live beyond this day.
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