The Dragon Stone

by Andrew G. Wood

  Galdrac watched as the dwarf waved his half-staff around a few times, and knew he was doing some kind of druid magic, so decided to remain quiet, at least for the time being. As soon as he was finished, however, he suggested they move, and quickly.

  “Okay, we need to go that way!” Mazen said pointing a slightly different direction to Galdrac was about to go.

  “Are you sure. I thought the valley of the dragons was that way?” he argued, again doubting the druid’s abilities.

  “It is. But we need to go that way,” Mazen reiterated, showing great patience considering the way Galdrac spoke to him.

  Twisting their way through the trees, Galdrac looked up to see more of the flying beasts overhead. It suddenly dawned on him, that they needed to start being careful, surely if he could see them, then there was also a very good chance they could see him. This was a point he quickly relayed to Mazen, although the dwarf did not seem to understand what the problem was.

  “We need to stay out of sight you imbecile.”

  “Even if they do spot us, they will struggle flying in amongst the trees,” Mazen replied dismissing the concerns.

  Galdrac had realised that much was probably true. However, he also knew the flying creatures and those that prowled the land worked together. If that was the case there was absolutely nothing to stop those above guiding the ones on the floor to their position; again something he pointed out to the dwarf who was walking swiftly ahead of him.

  “You know Galdrac I hadn't thought of that. However, we do not know that the two can even work together. You are just assuming they can.”

  “No trust me they can. I’ve seen them. Just ask the dwarfs who had to fight the bloody things on the battlements of your capital,” he snapped shouting far louder than he usually did.

  “Well if we can't talk properly then perhaps it is best we do not speak at all,” Mazen replied walking off in a huff.

  “Bloody obstinate little…” Galdrac mumbled, cursing several times under his breath.

  Despite Mazen clearly not thinking it a possibility, Galdrac kept under cover of the trees as much as he could, constantly looking up to the skies. The creatures were still up there, circling overhead, and he was certain that could only mean one thing. Why else would they be following him and staying above his position if not to keep track of where they were going? Knowing trouble always had a way of finding him, the old mage grasped his staff and prepared himself.

  Galdrac didn’t always like being right, especially when it came to something that caused him problems. However, just as he had predicted, the flying balgraf had it seemed been guiding others to their location. Fortunately, Mazen’s hound had at least managed to give them some warning, barking and growling and sending the druid a message there was danger nearby.

  Galdrac had already manifested a large ball of fire in his hand when he spotted the first of the balgraf bounding into view and heading directly for them. Knowing the last time he had fired, he had missed because the beast had managed to swerve out of the way, the mage delayed his shot. Although he had spotted a second balgraf, he kept his concentration on the first, thinking Mazen would have to deal with the other, at least until he had sorted this one out.

  All the time increasing the size of the flame before him, wielding and turning his staff he bided his time, knowing if he waited too long the beast would be upon him. With all his focus he eventually sent the flame soaring outwards, concentrating for all he was worth. He afforded himself a self-satisfying smile as he watched the fire smash into the massive figure just twenty paces away from him. The beast let out a loud cry, stopping in its tracks as the flames consumed its entire body.

  As much as Galdrac would have loved to stand and watch the balgraf suffer and die, he knew there was at least one more beast out there. He looked left to see Mazen casting a thin beam of white light which hit the creature in the shoulder region, almost twisting it about as it tried running. Galdrac positioned himself slightly off to one side, trying to judge the position of the balgraf in relation to where he was about to fire off another blast of fire.

  Mazen hit the creature again with another beam of energy, this time right in the head and stopping it in its tracks. Without any further delay, Galdrac took the window of opportunity given to him and fired off his shot while his target was stationary. With another hit, the balgraf roared out flailing its long powerful arms wildly before slumping forward onto the ground. “We need to move quickly,” he said to Mazen, knowing the black billowing smoke lifting up into the sky would give away their position again. “Try and keep under cover of the trees this time,” he shouted back as Mazen, and his hound followed him.

  They ran for a good ten minutes, although with Galdrac being an old man and Mazen a dwarf, neither did so with any great speed. However, after looking up several times, the mage could no longer see any of the flying beasts circling above them.

  “Perhaps they had assumed their part was done when the ones on the ground attacked,” Mazen suggested also keeping his eyes peeled.

  “Let’s hope so,” Galdrac replied clutching his side as his body was now letting him know running at his age was not as simple as it used to be.

  “Are you okay Galdrac?” the druid asked showing him what he thought was a genuine concern.

  “I’ll be fine,” he replied.

  “Good, because I’m not carrying you,” the dwarf said before telling his hound to lead the way, causing Galdrac to smile.

  By late afternoon they had covered a considerable distance. The weather was noticeably colder, and Galdrac realised they were generally heading north-west, although as yet they had not found any sign of Finley or a dragon. Whether they were even heading in the right direction, he was unsure, but for once thought to listen to the druid, knowing that their links with nature and animals in particular probably gave them a better idea than he had.

  Thankfully, since the earlier incident, they had not seen any sign of any more balgraf; either the flying ones or the ones that ran on the ground. Although the light was fading and both he and Mazen were tired he knew he needed to push on, if only for a few more miles.

  “You know Mazen. For all the spectacular buildings and structures built by the dwarfs, you think you lot would have worked out how to create straight roads,” he said as they followed a twisting path away from the trees and towards a small village.

  Chapter 24.

  Karesh had wandered across the barren lands for over a day, and thus far had managed to remain out of sight from any creatures of the darkness. With his strange little device in the palm of his hand, he was beginning to get a little confused and starting to think it was not working as it should. If he was using it correctly, it should point him in the direction of the trolls, although if he were not mistaken the needle no longer pointed south-west as it had done, now it twitched continually and indicating a slightly different direction.

  Sessi was clearly uncomfortable walking across these lands, although Karesh was unsure to the exact reason. He assumed that the wolf could probably sense the death and the foul smell that lingered in the air were probably even more paramount to the senses of an animal. However, with a little encouragement from him, and an extra helping of food the wolf had remained obediently at his side throughout his trip.

  However, with his supply of fresh water already nearing half of what he had started with, even after filling his canteens after leaving the tunnel linking this land to that of the dwarfs, he was know concerned that he or the wolf wouldn’t make it. “I think we are going to have to ration a little more,” he said sitting down beside Sessi upon a rock and looking out at the horizon and watching the sun setting In the sky. The wolf, of course, did not reply and just lay there seemingly content to watch the sight as well. Karesh had to admit, that even though he was in this foul desolate place, watching such a spectacle was actually something eerily beautiful.

  They both sat and watched, as Karesh decided to try the small device again, closing his eyes
and concentrating, thinking of a troll. He opened them again, and in the fading light looked down in despair again, “Now it says we need to go south. Stupid thing!” he said shoving it back into his pocket thinking it broken.

  Trying to keep their supplies for as long as possible, both he and Sessi only had half of what they would usually eat and drink, and although Karesh knew it might only prolong their existence for another day or two, it might give them that extra time to find what they needed. As the sky darkened, he looked up into the night gazing at the twinkling stars. “So many of them!” he said to himself, wondering what they actually were.

  Lost in the moment, it took a few seconds to realise that Sessi was making a noise. Sitting up quickly he looked at the wolf expecting there to be trouble approaching. However, quickly looking around revealed nothing, and in the poor light, he grabbed his sword as if expecting a fight. Sessi though was not growling or snarling, but almost barking like a dog would do to draw attention. “What is it, boy?” Karesh said confused as to what the wolf wanted.

  Sessi jumped down off the rock they had settled on for the night and started running a little, before stopping and making a noise again. “You want me to follow?” Karesh asked. Realising he was not going to get any peace until he did just that, he leant down and collected his backpack, and after tightening the straps, just a little jumped down and followed wolf.

  The fact that Sessi had bright white fur certainly helped to keep track of him, although at first Karesh had no idea why or more importantly where the wolf was guiding him. That was until he spotted something as well. Off in the distance, he thought he could see a faint glow coming from what he thought were some ruins. “A fire?” he said as much to himself as to the wolf who had now stopped making a noise.

  Karesh stopped for a moment to assess the situation. As far as he knew balgraf did not light fires, but yet these old elven lands were bereft of any settlements bar one. That being those that Galdrac had discovered during his last trip out, but he had indicated that was nearer the south, and Karesh knew it could not possibly be that. Perhaps he thought there might be another minor settlement still existing after all these years, but then he quickly discounted that idea. If indeed it was the light of a fire he could see, then it was only a small one and would appear to more like a campfire.

  However, if that was the case, then whoever was sat around that campfire must be an elf or human, or maybe even a dwarf or even an orc he thought as he went through all the possibilities. Well, whoever or whatever it was it must have a way of surviving out here in the barren, desolate land. “We best go and investigate,” he said looking down at Sessi, actually feeling a little excitement at what he might discover.

  Taking large strides, and stumbling on more than one occasion, tripping on rocks or cursing as he stood on the tough, prickly bushes that seemed to grow here and about, Karesh approached his target. The closer he got the more convinced it was indeed the light of a fire, although he could not actually see the flames, so thought it must be hidden perhaps behind some rocks or a wall amongst the ruins.

  Slowing down, and keeping his sword in hand he crept up closer to what he assumed to be the remains of some long abandoned village. There were several bits of wall still standing and piles of rubble and stone where they no longer did. Moving quietly though, was far harder than he thought, especially now it was so dark he could not even see his feet. Fortunately, Sessi was much more adept at creeping around in such conditions, and so Karesh tried to follow the path taken by the wolf.

  Karesh lowered his large pack slowly down onto the ground, placing it behind the cover of a small wall for him to collect later. If whoever was sat beside the fire turned out not to be friendly then fighting with a pack on his back would surely give him a great disadvantage. “You circle around,” he whispered as quietly as he could to Sessi. Thankfully the wolf was already thinking the same thing and slowly and silently moved away to the left. Karesh watched as the animal slipped between two piles of rubble and out of sight, wishing he could move so stealthily.

  Karesh had already decided his own plan of action. As orcs were somewhat notorious for being a little heavy footed, sneaking around was not a particular skill at which they excelled. With his sword in hand, he would get as close as he could and then just charge directly at his target, leaving Sessi to sneak around the back of it. After taking several deep breaths, his feelings now a mixture of excitement, nervousness and even a little fear.

  Creeping a few more paces, Karesh then stood and ran as fast as he could towards the area of the campfire. With a loud shout and roar, he held his sword aloft ready to strike if the situation needed, revealing himself to the person sitting beside the campfire. Karesh froze in place, and it took a few moments to realise what it was that was before him. “Troll,” he said as the startled being grabbed a short stick and pointed it his direction.

  Karesh was no genius, but having been brought up by elves and surrounded by magic on a daily basis, he knew that was no ordinary piece of wood being aimed his way. Without so much as a second thought, he dived for cover and watched as a thin blue stream of light flew out missing him by mere inches. Sessi though was already on his way to help, and the troll could do nothing to stop the wolf leaping in and snatching the stick from its hand, before running on to stand beside Karesh.

  The orc slowly got to his feet and realising the troll was clearly as unsure of them as they were of him, lifted his sword just a little. The troll looked panicked and uncertain, as it pulled out a small bladed knife from somewhere on its waist, holding it in one hand before drawing a sword in the other. “I don’t want to hurt you,” Karesh said speaking each word slowly as he realised he wasn’t even sure if trolls spoke the common language.

  “Karesh!” he said pointed to himself, but still keeping his large two-handed sword tightly in his grip.

  “Sessi,” he added nodding his towards the wolf. The troll looked on, keeping its own sword and dagger ready to strike if need be. “Akeev,” it eventually said indicating to himself.

  “You understand me?” Karesh asked.

  The troll nodded but did not reply in words that he understood very clearly. If this was the common language it was using then it was certainly not like any he had heard before. Although he had to admit, dwarfs also spoke the same language, and their accents were sometimes just as difficult to understand.

  The two parties were at a standoff as it soon appeared one was not willing to trust the other. Karesh had asked the troll to lower its weapons, but it was apparent it was not going to do so. While he was confident he could beat the troll if it came to a fight, especially since he had Sessi fighting at his side, it was not something he wished to do. Thinking the only way to resolve this matter was to take the initiative, he slowly knelt down and placed his sword on the ground, before asking Sessi to drop the troll’s half-staff down beside it. In doing so Karesh hoped to show the troll that he meant it no harm, and it would hopefully follow his lead.

  Karesh watched on nervously, having placed his sword on the ground he had left himself unarmed, and while an orc would easily overpower a human or elf as far as size went, he realised trolls were actually much bigger than he thought they would be. Although it was apparent, they hunched over slightly, when this particular one stood upright, it was probably taller than even he was. Moreover, he noticed the troll had very long arms and a reach that was once again greater than his own.

  After a nervous wait, Karesh breathed a sigh of relief as the strange looking being finally nodded its head and replaced both the knife and sword away. The troll then waved a hand as if gesturing for them to sit beside the fire, and wanting to show trust Karesh did just that, although Sessi remained where he was.

  “Akeev,” the troll said again this time using his peculiar looking hands to point at himself.

  “Karesh,” the young orc replied thinking at least his was a start.

  Karesh looked around at the small camp, aside from its weapons and a small
bag, it was clear the troll had very little, and judging by its lack of clothes was probably quite cold. Hence he thought the reason for the fire. Thinking that was perhaps something he might be able to help with he signalled for the troll to remain and quickly ran to fetch his bag. Meanwhile, Sessi kept his distance, sitting, contently watching on as Karesh had requested him to do.

  On his return karesh placed down his large pack, clearly having so many more supplies than the troll had, he thought maybe offering some as a show of friendship. Being of a similar size, he thought the jacket he carried and never really needed would fit his new friend perfectly and so after a little bit of rummaging found what he was looking for. Holding the jacket out in his hands he gestured for the troll to take it, realising communication was going to be tough if they could not understand what the other was saying.

  Karesh watched as the troll whose name he thought was Akeev, pulled a strange face, which assumed was a smile of some kind. He had to admit that now he was actually staring a troll in the face, something probably nobody else had done for countless years, that they were certainly ugly looking things. Yet Akeev seemed friendly enough despite there still being a little uncertainty between them. Such was the progress Karesh signalled for Sessi to slowly make his way over and sit beside the small fire, bringing the stolen half-staff back that he had taken.