“Oh Karesh has found a troll!” he exclaimed out of the blue, suddenly remembering the link he had made with Sessi. Both Galdrac and Mazen nearly spat their tea out, such was the shock of the statement.
“Really?” the dwarf asked, although he wasn’t even sure who Karesh was.
“Bloody hell, well done that Orc!” Galdrac sat back upright with the look of utter disbelief on his face. The Mage confessed he had been concerned that this was one part of Meldra’s vision that he thought she might just have gotten wrong. However, it seemed the Seer had it right once more, and Karesh had shown himself to be far more resilient than Galdrac had probably given him credit for.
After topping his cup up with a little more hot water, Galdrac suggested they just run through their immediate plans. Firstly and most importantly they go and rescue Leyna.
“Who is Leyna?” Mazen asked shuffling a little closer to the fire.
“His mother!” Galdrac snapped shaking his head.
“Ah, right you are. So who is Karesh then?”
“His brother!”
“Ah okay.”
There was a slight pause as Galdrac looked annoyingly over at the young dwarf druid, “Any more stupid questions?” he asked.
“Just one. I thought you said Karesh is an orc. Finley doesn’t look much like an orc to me.”
Galdrac just made a scoffing sound clearly getting annoyed, so Finley decided to explain that Karesh was adopted by his own mother when very young. He, however, was a halfbreed and had not known his mother had even been alive until more recent times and had lived with his father in Whitebridge up until then.
“Clear as mud!” Mazen chuckled.
Checking it was safe for him to continue without any further interruptions, Galdrac started again by reiterating they needed to rescue Leyna. Once they had managed that they should head back to the relative safety of Durn Raldun. “I think Karesh will probably head back there anyway, but if you can somehow get Sessi to guide him that direction, that would be helpful.”
“Who is Sessi?” Mazen piped up, before being glared at once more so decided to withdraw the question and sip his tea instead.
Finley nodded his agreement, although had one very important question to ask Galdrac. “If I refuse Abalyon you know he will not stop until we are all dead. Do we have a chance Galdrac?”
The mage grinned, leaning over just slightly and patting him on the shoulder, “There is always a chance lad. We’ve beaten him before, and we will again.”
Although Finley did not exactly share the same confidence as Galdrac, he had to admire the man’s determination in being able to achieve what they needed to do. However, the balgraf were much more advanced this time, and now according to the Mage, they could fly as well, or at least some of them could. Such an army had never been faced before, and Finley for one was not quite so sure the races of the world would win this time, although he kept that particular thought to himself.
Galdrac confirmed that once they were all united, they would need to convince all the races to ready their full might, as only then would they have a chance at succeeding against the darkness. “If we do not fight as one, then Abalyon will merely brush each race aside until none are left.” He went on to explain that Meldra, the dwarf Seer had asked them to find a troll and a dragon so that all of the races were united against a common enemy. “We just need to make sure we are ready when Abalyon releases his full might!” Galdrac said slapping his hand down onto his knee firmly in defiance.
After breakfast, Finley called Arach down to the ground. Galdrac had explained to him that if they were to be successful in rescuing his mother, they would need to the dragon to be bigger. However, that also meant a conflict of interests for Finley, particularly since the image of Arach eating a dwarf was still very fresh in his mind. While he knew the dragon would die when he did, due to the link having been made, he was still unsure about releasing such a creature on the world, albeit supposedly under his command.
He knew that by using the Dragon-stone set in the ring attached to the chain around his neck, he could make Arach into something that could help them win any future battle. If Abalyon had flying balgraf, was this another sign that the Gods were levelling the playing field and giving the races of the world a way of combating such a threat?
While Mazen tidied up their camp and extinguished the fire, Finley, with Galdrac at his side walked over to where the dragon was stood waiting for them. “I need you to guide us through using the stone,” Finley said asking the creature for guidance.
“I sense this is not what you really want!” Arach replied surprisingly him a little.
“I must confess I have my reservations, but the greater will needs you.”
“Do I have your word that before your passing you will at least try and pass the link on?” Arach asked surprising Finley for the second time. After a moment's pause, Finley nodded his head, “You have my word I will do all in my power to pass the link on when the time is right.”
Once happy that agreement had been made, Finley was asked to remove the ring from the chain and place it on his finger. Being a powerful sorcerer, he was now supposed to channel his energy into the stone that was set in the ring, before touching it to Arach’s chest in the area of his heart. This passing of magic into the dragon would or at least should see it transform into the creature they needed.
However, as Finley was a complete novice as far as channelling power went he was somewhat unsure of how to go about it. Fortunately, Galdrac was on hand, as he then talked him through the process. With the ring on the forefinger of his right hand, Finley closed his eyes and relaxed. As Galdrac had explained, he needed to push all the feelings, thoughts and desires from his mind, and divert his body’s energy to the stone. “Think of it a bit like channelling through your staff,” he added trying to make a comparison that Finley might be familiar with.
Finley’s eyes flickered open, glowing blue like sapphires sparkling in the sunlight. Leaning forward just a little he lifted his hand as the stone in the ring pulsated a dark red colour, before reaching out and touching it against Arach’s heart. The dragon roared out, its cries echoing out into the distance as it received the gift of Finley’s power.
Finley stumbled slightly, and Galdrac was on hand to steady him as he stepped back a little. Arach slumped to the ground, writhing about in pain as the magic took effect. Mazen quickly hurried over to watch the spectacle, as the dragon flinched and twitched, its body growing as it did. The cries were almost painful to the ears, but Finley stood on and watched nonetheless before suddenly, all fell quiet.
Lying on the ground before them was a beast now thirty or more paces in length with a head that was now almost as big as Mazen. “Are you okay?” Finley asked stepping nearer to the creature.
“I am!” came the reply as Arach struggled to his feet before spreading out his enormous wings.
Finley felt the scales on the back of Arach’s neck, comparing them almost to armour worn by soldiers. Deep red in colour, almost brown, Arach stood up to his full height and let forth a torrent of flame into the morning sky as he tested out his new self.
“Perhaps you should go for a fly and get used to those wings,“ Finley said with a wry smile as he patted the beast.
Without delay, Arach flapped a few times, before using his powerful legs to kick himself upwards, and after a little awkwardness in his movement soared majestically upwards. Galdrac stood on and watched, “Now that is what I call a dragon!” he said.
“So it has begun,” Mazen added causing Finley to look his way, at first confused by the remark. It was then that Finley realised the dwarf was referring to the war. With Arach now released, it would only be a matter of time before Abalyon knew, and then the hordes of the darkness would be unleashed upon the world whether it was ready or not.
As to whether their future was already set in stone, Finley guessed only time would tell. Was this the age when the races of the world fell? Or was this the time for the
m to unite and rid the lands of the darkness that had for so long plagued them? Feeling a little weary he gathered his things and set off, following Galdrac and Mazen. First and foremost his mother needed him, and he was going to stop at nothing to get her back.
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The Dragon Stone Page 20
