"It did not give me its name, but I will never forget what it looked like."
"Then you may be able to summon it yourself."
"And then?" Zhimosom was not sure he wanted to meet the dragon again. His last encounter had not ended all that well. He had only just recovered his full strength.
"Talk to it," Danirus laughed.
Zhimosom could not help but like the old man when he laughed. He had an infectious humor and laughed heartily at almost everything.
After the morning meal was complete, they made their way to the open square. Zhimosom had to rush to keep pace with the old monk as they wound through the streets.
The square was just starting its daily transformation into the marketplace when they arrived. Vendors were setting up carts and erecting shelter from the hot sun, but most of the square remained free of people. Zhimosom and Danirus stopped in the center of the square and sat.
"Imagine the dragon in your mind. Picture its face, hear its words, draw it to you," Danirus said as Zhimosom relaxed and reached out for the dragon. Zhimosom could sense the monks excitement that the dragon might come.
"I can feel it." Zhimosom felt the connection to the dragon. It was distant at first, but stronger as he held it. No words were exchanged, but he sensed its power, saw its face, and felt the heat of the fire it had washed him with.
The wind of the dragon's landing brushed Zhimosom's closed eyelids. He opened them as the dragon settled into the damp grass before him. Wisps of smoke curled upwards from its nostrils as it carefully examined Zhimosom. "I see you have met the monks, and they have tested you."
"They have," Zhimosom replied. How would the dragon react to his request?
"You would free me?"
"If I can." Zhimosom reached out for the magic surrounding the dragon. He sensed the spell Sulrad used to command it. It was unmistakably Sulrad, but there was something else, another Wizard, and a Sorceress, and more. It was like the spells he had defeated in the Temple, only this magic was much stronger.
Zhimosom probed the spells deeper. He found the one that Sulrad had used to summon the dragon. That spell was weak and tenuous. Zhimosom could break that with ease, but the command spell was stronger. Zhimosom felt Sulrad's magic, but underneath that was the smallest hint, the merest touch of the flavor of a dragon. Sulrad must have used the magic of the dragon he had killed to command this one. Zhimosom shuddered. With that much power, Sulrad would be undefeatable.
"I feel the magic of a dragon in his spell. I saw him take the life and magic of a dragon before you carried me here."
"Yes, he has killed my kind to power his magic," the dragon rumbled. "You see that, do you not?"
"I see it. But he did not use that on you?"
"No, not at first, but he has refreshed the original command spell with the magic of my fallen brother. Sulrad is using the full force of it on the rest of my kind."
Zhimosom recalled Sulrad's magic. He felt for it, examining the command spell that wrapped around the dragon. He saw how Sulrad had crafted the spell, found a loose end, and pulled on it. It started to unravel and soon was almost completely gone, but some remained. Zhimosom could not entirely remove the command spell.
Next Zhimosom attacked the summoning spell. It was more complex, but it was only powered by Sulrad's magic. He quickly removed that so that the dragon would be free to go where it wished.
The dragon lifted its head and breathed fire into the air. "Thank you," the dragon rumbled. It lowered its head back to Zhimosom.
"My name is Kel'hin. What do you wish of me?"
"I would like to know whatever I may about the dragons and what Sulrad is doing so that I might find a way to defeat him."
With Kel'hin's help, Zhimosom prepared the spell he planned to use to free the dragons. He had carefully transcribed a few candidate spells while in Amedon. These were the most powerful spells he could find on releasing and unbinding. One spell he kept hidden. It was an ancient spell of transformation. He would only use that if there were no other hope. He wasn't even sure that it would work.
Zhimosom reached out to Rotiaqua. She was helping prepare the city in case the dragons attacked. She rested in her labor of carrying buckets of water to the top of the tower, and opened herself to him.
"Where are you, still in Mistwind? Are you coming back?" she asked.
"Not just yet. I have managed to free one of the dragons. I am going to try and do the same for the rest." Zhimosom was glad that his magic was strong enough to speak with her again, and that he could draw on her magic along with his own. She seemed to have a better grasp on drawing the magic from the pools in Rohir than he did.
"There is almost always one dragon in the air overhead. They aren't doing anything threatening, just scouting," she explained.
"How are the preparations going?" Zhimosom asked.
"As well as they can. The whole city is saddened by the loss of the Wizards in Ryden. They say there is no leader now. The Council has been abandoned."
"Who's organizing the effort, then?"
"Ashray is the only Council member left. He has been directing the efforts as well as he can."
Zhimosom felt numb. "But ... the others?"
"They're all dead. They were killed in the attack on Ryden. None survived."
"Somehow, I will find a way to make Sulrad pay for that," Zhimosom vowed. He wanted revenge for the death of his friends more than anything.
Zhimosom labored throughout the day, calling upon the magical stores of the pools and adding Rotiaqua's magic to it. He even drew magic from Kel'hin, but nothing happened. Not one other dragon responded as Kel'hin had. Zhimosom was unable to connect with any other dragon or influence them in any way.
"Why can I connect with you?" Zhimosom asked.
"There was not enough dragon magic in the spell that bound me. Sulrad killed a Sorceress and took her power to drive the first summoning spell. Much of that power was still in the amulet when he commanded me. It was the Sorceress' magic that powered the spell more so than a dragon's."
"I'm not making any progress. I'll have to try something else. There must be another source of power that I can use." Zhimosom sat back with a heavy sigh.
"There is a source you have not tried." Danirus had sat silently, watching since the dragon had arrived, but now he was animated.
"What source?" Zhimosom asked.
"There is a source of magic, deep inside the plains. It is said to be left over from the creation of the world. It is ancient and powerful."
"How do I find it?" Zhimosom was willing to try anything. He was growing weary and feared that Sulrad would not wait much longer before he launched his attack on Amedon with the entire clan of dragons at his command.
Kel'hin looked at Danirus, his large eyes wide with surprise. "You know of this?"
"We are the lore masters. We know of many things."
Kel'hin rumbled. "Our legends speak of lands with special powers, but we have been gone from this realm for so long, their location has been lost."
"I can show you where it lies," Danirus said.
Zhimosom felt that there might be hope yet. If he could find this source of power, surely he could free the dragons. He didn't need to defeat Sulrad directly to do that.
Before Zhimosom could complete his thought, Kel'hin raised his head high in the air and let out a roar. "He calls!"
"Who calls?" Zhimosom asked. Had Sulrad found a way to reassert his control over the dragon? Zhimosom reached out to Kel'hin. He saw the thread of Sulrad's magic pulling at the beast. He tried to sever it, but it was too strong.
"I cannot resist. He calls us all." Kel'hin looked at Zhimosom with large sad eyes. "Please find a way to save my kind." With that, he extended his mighty wings, launched himself skyward, and was quickly gone from sight.
"Show me where this magic lies," Zhimosom said.
"I cannot. It is many days travel from here. We have to descend to the plains. It is far."
Zhimosom knew he co
uld not travel there by magic because he had never been there himself. He had to find a guide just as Garlath had guided him to Amedon. "Is there any way you can show it to me in your mind? Can you recall what it looks like, where it is?"
"I have never been there." Danirus shrugged. "None of us have."
Failing to get in touch with the magic, Zhimosom was eager to get back to Amedon. If Kel'hin was right, Sulrad was about to gather the dragons. It wouldn’t be long before the Priest launched an attack on the remaining Wizards in Amedon. Zhimosom would be needed there, and if he survived the battle, maybe he could find the spells he needed to harness the ancient power and save the dragons.
Library
Zhimosom reached out to Rotiaqua from Mistwind. He didn't bother to check if she was awake. "I'm coming back."
He saw Rotiaqua in his mind's eye as she sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "How?" she mumbled.
"By magic. Help me."
Rotiaqua's magic flow into Zhimosom. He drew on his own magic that was freshened in him by the dragon. He connected with Rotiaqua and stepped from Mistwind and into her chamber in Amedon.
Zhimosom was relieved to see her safe. He looked around the room, realizing that he was alone with her in her bed chamber and blushed. "Forgive me. I was excited to share the news with you, and I was worried about you."
"No need of forgiveness." Rotiaqua laughed and patted the bed next to her. "Sit. Tell me what happened. I could feel some of it, but I don't know the details."
Zhimosom looked around the room in a panic. He saw a cushioned stool near the foot of the bed. He grabbed it and slid it next to the bed, but was too agitated to sit for long.
"What happened? I couldn't connect with you all night, and then suddenly you were back."
"We went to scout out what Sulrad was doing. Helmyer and I watched from behind the rocks. Sulrad called a dragon ... and he killed it!" Zhimosom panted, rushing to tell her everything.
"Slow down." Rotiaqua said. "Just tell me what happened."
"He had two dragons. The red dragon to help Sulrad kill the other one. After that, the red dragon flew up to where we were hiding. It grabbed Helmyer and threw him down on the ground in front of Sulrad."
Zhimosom paced the room, turning sharply at the window to look out over the city below. "Sulrad killed Helmyer and took his magic ... He used that knife he has for his sacrifices, but he stored the magic in something ... an amulet of some sort."
Zhimosom heard a rustling sound, and then felt Rotiaqua put her arm around him. He welcomed her comforting touch. He needed to tell her what had happened, to get it all out. It was unreal, almost like a nightmare, but it was real, and he'd been powerless to stop it. He made an effort to calm himself and continue with his story.
"After that, the dragon grabbed me and carried me to Mistwind, high in the mountain, and drained my magic. That's why I couldn't contact you. The dragon said it was acting at Sulrad's command."
He felt Rotiaqua grip him tighter. He tried to relax as best he could. "How did you get your power back?" she asked.
"The monks wanted to burn me alive. I used the power in the fire to recharge my magic and was able to control the flames. I called the dragon back. I wasn't sure it would work, but when the dragon breathed fire on me, it must have created a connection between us."
"So you were able to free it from Sulrad's control?"
"Only for a little while, and not completely. Sulrad regained control and summoned it back. I think he's going to attack soon."
Zhimosom turned his head and looked at Rotiaqua. "Sulrad has summoned the rest of the dragons across the void. The ones he didn't destroy are all under his control. I don't think we have much time. He won't wait to attack. We have to warn everyone."
Zhimosom's resolve grew stronger the more he thought about their situation. He gently slipped from beneath Rotiaqua's arm and strode purposefully for the door, without turning to see if she was behind him.
Rotiaqua had told Zhimosom that the Council was abandoned, but he didn't know where to start looking for the Wizards who had stayed behind in Amedon. Zhimosom reached the Council chamber to find it dark and deserted. He had to alert everyone to the imminent danger. He found one Guard asleep at his post, sitting with his back to a pillar.
Zhimosom shook the man. "Wake up. We have to warn everyone."
The Guard snorted and looked up. His eyes blinked several times and he mumbled under his breath. "Warn who?"
"The Council ... the Wizards ... everyone! The dragons are coming."
"Dragons?" The Guard sprang to his feet, straightening his uniform. "Dragons coming here?"
"Yes, dragons. We have to warn the Council."
The Guard ran from the chambers. Soon, Zhimosom heard a bell ring out in alarm.
Ashray was the first to arrive; he was in disarray. His robe was crooked, and his hair stuck out in all directions. He flopped into his chair and fired a questioning look at Zhimosom.
"The dragons are coming, Zhimosom said.
Ashray held up his hand to silence Zhimosom. He scowled. "Wait for the rest to arrive."
Zhimosom paced in front of the table. Why was Ashray so formal? The dragons were coming. They needed to take action immediately.
Garlath entered, took a seat, nodded to Ashray, and then looked up at Zhimosom. Zhimosom was surprised to see his old friend on the Council. Garlath had steadfastly refused the seat, or so he'd been told, but it looked that he had taken on the responsibility now. Perhaps he had been elevated with the demise of the other Wizards.
Another Wizard that Zhimosom did not recognize joined Ashray and Garlath.
"You may begin," Ashray said.
Just as Zhimosom was about to speak, Rotiaqua arrived. She was in no better shape than Ashray; her robe was crooked and her hair a mass of tangles. She walked briskly down the chamber hall and stopped next to Zhimosom, taking his hand in hers.
Her power flowed into him along with her confidence.
"The dragons are coming," Zhimosom explained. "Sulrad has summoned the last of them across the void and is preparing an attack."
"Now? How do you know?" Garlath asked.
Before Zhimosom could answer, Ashray slapped his palm on the table with a resounding crack. "Wait just a moment. Do you see this table? Remember the Wizards that sat here last time you appeared before us?"
Zhimosom scanned the empty chairs. He knew that many of the Council had been killed in Ryden, but now he felt the full impact of it. The table was practically empty. "I understand. That's why we need to prepare immediately. Sulrad is on his way here."
"Young man, the Council is dead. Killed in a fight that you pushed them into."
Garlath held up his hand. "We all agreed to the plan. We believed it was the proper course of action after the dragon attack on Amedon."
"But why did they attack us?" Ashray demanded. "We never had any quarrel with Sulrad until these two arrived."
Ashray gestured at Zhimosom and Rotiaqua. He stood and leaned into the table. "We want you out!"
"Out?" Zhimosom asked.
"Out. Out of the Council Chambers, out of Amedon. If you had not come here, none of this would have happened."
"But we have to prepare for the attack. They're coming," Zhimosom pleaded.
"They're coming for you," Ashray said. "With you gone, they have no reason to come here. Get out of here this instant and don't come back."
Ashray stood up, his chair screeching as he slid it back from the table. He turned and stormed from the room.
Zhimosom shot a plaintive look at Garlath, but the Wizard simply shook his head slowly from side to side and nodded to the remaining Council member.
"So you agree with him?" Zhimosom demanded.
Garlath held out his hands. "I was overruled."
"I was able to free one of the dragons if only for a while. I still think there's a chance to save them all. I just need to find a stronger spell," Zhimosom said.
"You were instructed to leav
e. I cannot change that without a vote of the Council." Garlath was clearly upset by the Council's decision. It was apparent he did not agree with it.
Garlath leaned back in his chair and cleared his throat. He glanced at the Wizard seated next to him. "It is unfortunate that there are so few Wizards left. The Council would have had you escorted out otherwise. There are so few Wizards in Amedon that there is no one to stand guard duty any longer."
Garlath winked and stood. He looked to the Wizard who also stood. They walked purposefully from the room leaving Zhimosom and Rotiaqua standing there.
"Come on. We have to get to the library," Zhimosom said to Rotiaqua. "I'm not giving up yet." He tugged at her hand.
Zhimosom and Rotiaqua ran the empty hallways to the library. The stark contrast to their earlier visit was almost unnerving. "So many Wizards lost in Ryden," Zhimosom remarked angrily. "We have to find a way to defeat Sulrad. There must be something here."
There was no one at the desk to bar their way, so they continued deep into the library, searching for the spells of war.
"Did you get a sense of the spell that Sulrad used to command the dragons when you wrested Kel'hin free of Sulrad's grasp?"
"I did. It was strange; it was comprised of several different types of magic. I could feel the dragon magic and Sulrad's, but there was more to it than that, something older, more ancient than the dragons.
"When Sulrad took the magic from Helmyer, he had some sort of amulet in his hand. It looked like a jewel that glowed when he stored the magic in it. We have to find out what that was."
They searched until Zhimosom located a section in the library, far down the longest corridor, where the most ancient reference texts were kept. He pored through the texts, searching for anything to do with the amulet. One of the volumes dealt with magical artifacts from before the time of the dragons. It contained faded colored drawings of amulets with a brief description beneath each one.
Wizard Pair (Book 3) Page 29
