The hazard allowed Paymer and then the others to catch up with her. “What’re we gonna do?!” Hort asked as more ashes and embers spiraled down.
“We’re going to run!” she replied.
Arlon shook his head and examined the burn on his arm. “We can’t run forever.”
The Dragon roared again straight overhead and unleashed a spectacular blast of fire that plummeted down all around them. The molten waterfall splattered and splashed on the ground, narrowly missing Arlon and the Princess. She shrieked and he jumped.
Trilyra altered course and picked up some speed. “We need to find shelter.”
“In case you hadn’t noticed,” Paymer countered, staying close on her heels, “the Dragon is destroying our shelter!”
“Yeah,” Arlon agreed. “Running around next to tall things made of wood probably isn’t the best idea.” He scanned the sky through the branches and billowing smoke. “Especially when your enemy breathes fire. This place is a deathtrap!”
Trilyra led them over a small ridge and then down into a shaded ravine. “We need to get somewhere that doesn’t burn.”
“Where?” Mae’Lee pleaded. “Underwater?”
Trilyra glanced back with something that almost resembled a smile. “Underground.”
_____________________________________
Arlon’s face wrinkled in pain. His legs ached, his lungs burned, and his blistered arm refused relief. Everywhere and everything that could feel, felt terrible. He seriously doubted that he could go on much longer.
The weary ensemble had kept up their impossible pace for well over an hour, maybe more. It was difficult to keep any real track of time, especially when each and every second was a mad scramble to merely stay alive.
Trilyra—reduced to a terrifying mix of sweat and soot—guided them along the base of a rocky ridge. She slowed somewhat.
“Do you feel that?” she asked suddenly.
“You don’t wanna know what I feel,” Paymer smirked. “I think my legs died about thirty minutes ago.” He gasped for air. “I’m sure the rest of my body will realize it sooner or later.”
Trilyra almost halted and spun around, her eyes wide with delight. “Don’t you feel it?”
“I feel relieved that I haven’t heard the Dragon roar in quite a while,” Hort admitted.
Trilyra frowned and spread her arms out. “Doesn’t anybody feel it?!”
Mae’Lee wiped her own reddened cheeks. “The only thing that feels different to me is that the air seems a bit cooler here.”
“Exactly!” Trilyra exclaimed.
Arlon collapsed against a rock and hung his head down. Sweat literally poured off his nose. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, ladies…but we’ve been running through a forest fire.” He glanced back at the pillars of dark smoke off in the distance. “Of course, it feels cooler here.”
“No, no,” Trilyra retorted, grabbing a long drink from her water pouch. “That’s not it.”
“Wait…I feel it, too,” Hort said, wandering off a bit downhill. “And it seems to be getting cooler.”
Trilyra scrambled over to him and then just simply dropped out of sight.
“Whoa! Where’d she go?” Paymer asked.
“Down here,” her voice echoed out with a strangely distant, hollow sound.
They all gathered along the ledge and peered below. She looked up and pointed with excited relief.
“It’s a cave! A big, beautiful cave!”
CHAPTER 13
Arlon peeled his exhausted eyelids open. (They were the only parts that seemed to want to move.) His whole body felt like a lifeless slab of cold lead pressed along the hard ground. He yawned, struggling to see much of anything in the dark cavern that had been their temporary shelter from the Dragon’s unending onslaught. A dwindling fire at his feet offered little light and even less heat. He couldn’t tell if the strong, smoky smell in the air was from their own campfire, or if it was due to the Dragon’s horrific destruction of the forest outside.
He grimaced. It required a monumental effort for him to merely push up onto his sore elbows.
How long have I been asleep?
He blinked several times and did his best to focus.
Well…it’s dark outside. So it had to be for several hours at least.
For the most part, it seemed strangely peaceful. But something was wrong. Something was…missing. He surveyed the calm collection of snoozing bodies scattered around.
Wait a minute…there’s Hort. Asleep. Paymer. Asleep. And…Mae’Lee…and…Trilyra. All asleep.
He jumped up (and it hurt).
No one is on guard!
Whoever was supposed to be on watch…isn’t.
The sudden fear snapped him completely awake. We could’ve been killed! He started to grow indignant as he thought about this apparent (and dangerous) dereliction of duty.
Wait…was it supposed to be…me???
He rubbed his hands together in a quick bid to warm up. No, no…I had the first watch. Yeah, that’s right. The first watch. Then…Hort. I don’t remember who was supposed to be next.
His blistered forearm caught his attention as he strolled towards the mouth of the chilly cave. The fresh wound still hurt, but only when he thought about it.
Well, Arlon, he said to himself, I guess you are on watch. Again. As the guard. And that’s okay.
The guard.
The guard?
It still seemed like such a strange concept to the young Dunamai. After being surrounded for over seventeen years by a double ring of armed security that had watched his every move, Arlon couldn’t imagine himself as guarding anyone. It seemed ludicrous.
The Watched is now the Watcher.
Weird.
He couldn’t help but break out into a weak smile while looking over at his fellow fugitives. We’ve had a rough couple of days. I can’t blame anybody for falling asleep on watch after what we’ve been through.
Arlon relaxed his eyelids and enjoyed the steady stream of cold air seeping out from deep within the massive cavern. Trilyra had been right. The gentle cave breeze had kept the much smokier air from the burning forest at bay. Arlon opened his eyes and concentrated into the darkness at the opposite end. They didn’t really know for sure how far back the cave actually went. Earlier that day, Paymer and Hort had done a little exploring (with the aid of a makeshift torch) and reported back that it went on. And on.
And on.
Besides a few pockets of animal bones and an occasional cluster of bats, their only interesting find was an ice-cold stream about a hundred yards further in. After that important discovery, everyone enjoyed several long drinks from the refreshing river before replenishing their water pouches. Before going to bed, Arlon had lain in the gravel bar alongside the stream and plunged his injured arm into the frigid flow. He doubted that the cold water could heal, but seconds later, he had no doubts that it could soothe.
A sound snapped him back to full attention.
What was that? A bat?
He gazed into the eerie blackness without blinking.
WHOOSH.
There it is again.
For a brief moment he wondered if perhaps it was just Hort snoring. But it wasn’t. The unnerving sound was deeper. And much farther away.
It grew louder. Almost pulsing.
Maybe it’s from the outside.
He jogged past the cave entrance and out into the smoky night.
Uh…nope. Definitely from the inside.
Arlon hurried back within and retrieved his sword. And that’s when he saw it.
A red glow.
It wasn’t very big.
What? My eyes must be playing tricks on me.
But it was moving. And swaying.
And then he heard crunching.
And…breathing. And sliding.
And it wasn’t just one red glow.
There were…four.
CRUNCH.
I…uh…I need…
CRUNNCHH
CCRRUNNCCHH
Need to…uh…wake the others…
CCRRUUNNNNCCHHH
Because…that’s the…
A menacing head snaked slowly into the dim light, followed by a pair of massive wings attached to a thick body.
“DRAGON!!!” Arlon screamed out in absolute fear. He rushed towards the smoldering campfire and began banging the blade against everything that would make noise. “DRAGON!” he yelled. “DRAGON!”
In less than three seconds everyone was up, but most were clearly disoriented. Trilyra dove for her weapons and somersaulted into a fighting stance, brandishing two deadly blades, one in each ready hand. Mae’Lee shrieked with a piercing wail and scrambled to get out of the cavern.
The Dragon’s belly reddened with a hellish glow as he roared and blasted the cave entrance with a fiery stream. Liquid fire dripped from above, blocking the Princess’ escape. She darted to the side and tripped over a large pile of rocks. Paymer grabbed Hort’s arm and they scooped up their swords, rallying around Arlon.
“I’m glad that you’re in a dark cave, monster!” Trilyra exclaimed. She inched forward with rage in her eyes. “That way, you’ll already be in a tomb when I kill you!”
Terra Telos opened his jagged mouth as his booming voice echoed into their minds. “Ready to joinnn your brotherrrr, child of Ammodisssss?” The creature flung out his formidable tail and slammed Trilyra directly into the rock wall. Both of her swords sparked against the stone as her limp body bounced back and crashed onto the ground. The others watched in frozen horror as the Dragon pounced upon her and ripped the unconscious girl into small bloody pieces.
Arlon foolishly charged at the beast. “Nooooooo!” he screamed.
The final Dread Guardian batted the boy away effortlessly with a sudden outward flap of his leathery right wing. Arlon flew through the air before tumbling to the dirt and rolling to a stop against the base of the cave wall. The Dragon pivoted its head and stared directly at him with a wicked smile.
“Restrainnn yourssself, Chosen Child of Soteriaaaa. I have already killed your motherrr. And your preciousss capital of Pervazi lays in flaming ruinnnssss.” The Dragon moved closer and lowered his fearsome head as its sickening words echoed off into the distance in Arlon’s mind. “And did you thinnnk that I wwwould allowww you to reach the fortressss of Alaithia?” It raised one of its feet and glared at the blood dripping from its razor-sharp talons. “I promised you earlierrr that nonnne of you would live out thissss day. Indeeeed…I have come to fulfill that promisssse.”
Terras Telos lunged forward, scattering both Hort and Paymer in opposite directions. Hort stumbled over the charred remains of a half-burnt log and toppled backward with his arms flailing. The Dragon seized on the opportunity and pinned the boy down with his left foreleg. Paymer sprang into action and jammed the tip of his sword into the leg of the rampaging beast. The Dragon roared violently, reared back, and brought his full weight down upon his doomed attacker.
Arlon jerked his own tear-streaked face away just as Paymer crumpled into the dirt and his bones cracked and shattered under the brutal assault. Arlon prayed silently that his friend’s passing was quick.
Hort made a final attempt to claw his way to safety, but the Dragon raised its leg and shoved a pair of talons straight through his back. The boy released a wail of agony that Arlon knew would haunt his dreams forever and ever.
Without a moment’s hesitation, the creature turned its lethal attention on Mae’Lee. “And now…to deal with the Queen of Avdiraaaa,” he gloated.
“What’re you talking about, you dreadful, vile creature?!” she sobbed, scooting back. “The Queen is my mother.”
He sauntered forward and relaxed his wings with a slight flutter. “Ah, yessss…please forgive me. Due to a series of unfortunate eventsss, your royal parents met with a…royal demise along with the remainder of the caravan back to Edraaaa.” He squinted all four of his eyes as blinding tears flooded hers. “So you see, former Princess, you’ve been the Queen of Avdira for just over five days nowwww. And you have me to thank for your coronation.”
“That’s not true!” she screamed, hurling a dusty handful of rocks at him. “You’re a liar! A liar!”
“The truth hurts, your Highnesssss. But, unfortunately, not as much as thissss.” The Dragon arched his head back and opened his jaws, as a deep red and orange glow built up from deep within.
Arlon scrambled to his feet and rushed towards the endangered girl. “No!” he shrieked. “NOOOOOO!!!!”
With a fast slap from his wing, the heartless Dragon tossed Arlon aside like an annoying bug.
Two seconds later he unleashed an intense blast of scorching fire that ended Mae’Lee’s young life.
CHAPTER 14
Arlon couldn’t move.
And yet a bloodthirsty creature that had just murdered four of his closest friends towered over him.
But he didn’t care.
His whole world had just ended.
In a dark cavern. On the edge of a scorched forest. And right in front of his helpless eyes.
He gasped as he tried to absorb the violent scene spread out before him. The stench of burnt flesh (mixed with the lingering smoke from their campfire) further sickened his already tight stomach. Hot, salty tears burned his eyes and stung his cheeks before dripping one at a time onto the hard ground.
The cold cave had become a colder tomb.
Trilyra…Paymer…Hort.
Mae’Lee.
Gone.
It didn’t seem possible.
Arlon curled into a ball and awaited his terrible, fiery end. His whole body trembled. The Dragon drew near and cracked opened its jagged jaws.
Its mesmerizing voice rang out into the boy’s mind. “Arlon. Arlonnnnn.”
He threw his hands and arms around his head in a ridiculous attempt to block out the Dragon’s haunting echo.
“Arlonnn…Arlonnnnnn,” it continued.
He felt something pushing him, prodding him.
“Arlon! Arlon!”
More pushing.
Shaking.
“Arlon!!!”
His eyes snapped open.
Mae’Lee was hunched over his chest and had her soft hands on his shoulders. “Hey! Wake up,” she demanded. “Wake up!”
Arlon broke free from her gentle grip and scrambled to his feet. “Mae’Lee! You’re, you’re…alive?!”
“We’re all alive,” Trilyra shouted out from the other side of the roaring campfire. “I hope you’re not disappointed.”
He struggled to understand. “But, I, uh, I…you, I mean…”
“Lemme guess,” Trilyra began, strolling towards him. “You just had a nightmare. But not just any nightmare, but the absolute worst nightmare of your entire life.” She stopped in front of him and adjusted the bow slung across her back. “And not only that…but it was also the most real and convincing nightmare you’ve ever experienced. And let me also guess…a lot of people died. Terror? Fear? Pain?”
He nodded. “All that. And more.”
She pointed at the others. “Every single one of us had the same experience.”
Mae’Lee rose up and couldn’t keep from crying. “I dreamed that...that my father...he, uh, he went insane. It was just dreadful! I saw him…kill my mother with a javelin. And then he, uh, he came for me. I was running…and he was screaming, and—“ She collapsed and Arlon barely caught her.
“It’s okay, it’s alright,” he whispered. “I’ve got you. It’s gonna be alright. Your parents are fine. Shhhh. They’re fine.”
He swallowed hard. I hope they’re fine.
Paymer finished packing up his satchel and warmed himself by the fire. “Mine was bad, too. I relived my living nightmare. The night my parents died.” He paused. “Except…this time…my little brother was taken. He was screaming for me, and I, uh, I couldn’t help him. I had to just stand there and watch my family suffer. And die.”
Arlon
glanced up. “That’s horrible, Paymer. I’m so sorry.”
“Oh, it’s alright,” the shaken young man replied. “It was just a dream, right? Just a bad dream. It’ll take more than that to slow me down.”
“How about you, Trilyra?” Arlon inquired. “Pretty bad?”
She shot him a cold stare with reddening eyes. “Don’t ask.” Her words quavered and almost cracked. “Ever.”
Arlon nodded slowly, respectfully.
He scanned the area.
“Where’s Hort?”
Paymer lowered his voice and gestured towards the entrance. “He went outside for a little breather. Ole Hort from the port was pretty freaked out. Yessir.” He strolled closer and folded his freckled arms. “Apparently, it was something about his ship sinking in a storm. The boat that brought him over from the island to the Karaval. It was bad. Everyone drowned. His whole family.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah…I wouldn’t ask him about it for a long time.”
“Of course.”
Paymer squinted. “Like, for at least ten years. Maybe twenty.”
“Oh,” Arlon replied. “Gotcha. And thanks.”
“What about you?” Paymer asked. “Bad?”
Arlon raised his eyebrows. “Do you wanna know what happened to you?”
Paymer shook his head slowly. “Not for all the gold in all the treasuries in all the world—”
“Get moving, boys,” Trilyra interrupted. “We’re leaving this place.”
Arlon couldn’t hide his confusion. “Uh, it’s dark outside. Why do we have to leave?”
She looked disgusted. “You think it was just some coincidence that we all dreamed about our worst fears?” Trilyra spread her arms wide and pivoted around. “I’ll bet my bow that this whole place is cursed. Something…evil is at work here.” She trudged towards the mouth of the cave. “The sun’ll be up in less than an hour. I doubt that anyone wants to go back to sleep anytime soon, anyway.”
_____________________________________
Dawn’s beautiful first light broke upon an ugly scene of massive devastation. The mangled remains of charred tree trunks—minus most of their branches—dotted what remained of the former forest. White smoke rolled over the pitiful landscape like a driven fog that refused to dissolve in the rising heat of the day.
The Dragon Wrath: Book Two of the Arlon Prophecies Page 7
