Aphrodite's Acolyte

by J. E. Spatafore

  Fidel shook his head at the his comrade's persistence. He grabbed the wood and pulled hard, Abby's face contorting as the pain jolted through her body. She grabbed her potion and poured it over the wound, feeling the healing potion's effects immediately as she moved her injured arm in various circles.

  After a few moments, Abby looked to Fidel with the pained expression removed from her face. “Good as new. So what's the plan?”

  The dwarf was doing well, his shield blocking the maw of the dragon and his axe meeting the tail strikes head on. The volleys of arrows had no effect on the dwarf's vision. Noxater's vision could quickly move between the regular and dark lighting conditions due to his underground heritage. The cloaked room gave the perfect environment for the battle hardened dwarf. His dance proved it.

  After a few moments, the dwarf looked around the room, “Where's thee wizard?”

  Cap shrugged, launching another arrow at the beast. “Haven't seen him!”

  The dwarf mockingly replied, “He better not have runned away!”

  Cap smiled, knowing the heart of Fidel Austempes to not be one to abandon his friends.

  Fidel came around the banister, launching bolts of electricity at the dragon. The sizzling bolts hit the dragon from the right as the fiery arrows of Cap's bow landed on the left. The dragon roared as the bolts of magic were nothing but annoying flies to the creature, its scales designed to tolerate bites of dragons and lightning strikes of the gods.

  The dragon took in air and exhaled, a long stream of fiery breath launching at the magical elf. The dragon expected to hear the sizzling of the counter, an expected stream of water. But no such counter came. Instead, in the light of the fiery stream, the dragon saw the elf's staff glowing white, moving toward the dragon's head. The fiery light diminished and the dragon stood up tall, confused.

  The dwarf and bow wielding elf watched as Fidel lifted Abby over the top of the dragon's head. Taking the cue, Cap slung arrows into the dragon's wings, hoping to provide more distraction while Fidel placed the human rogue in the intended spot. The dwarf smiled and rolled toward the beast's backside, slamming his axe hard into the tail of the dragon.

  The lizard roared, turning its long neck toward the rear, attempting a bite in the expected direction of the pesky dwarf. As the head of the dragon snapped in, Fidel released the bubble containing Abby, dropping the human rogue a few feet to descend on the dragon's head. Abby grabbed hold and held on tight as the dragon launched its head upwards and gave a loud roar.

  Abby went to work quickly, tossing a small rope around the dragon's neck and holding tight, just like a horse trainer would do to a wild stallion. The lizard bucked hard, throwing its head up high in attempts to smash the human into the ceiling. Abby held tightly, pulling a part of the rope around her waist and tying it off, freeing her arms to work her daggers. Cap and Noxater watched in awe as Abby, the dragon tamer, had everything under control.

  The tail of the dragon jerked upwards, catching Abby in the mid-back, the devilish spike protruding from her abdomen. Noxater yelled at the beast as the blood stained tail dropped to the ground, ready for another assault.

  Abby's momentum slowed as she felt the blood drain from her body. She reached into her satchel, digging for one of her magical potions. Her arm was too weak to continue and she started to feel lighter. Her vision faded, the heavily contrasted outlines before her blurring as the darkness of death took hold. She heard the scream from the dwarf and felt the jolts from the dragon as it fought to free itself of the rogue's grip. She gripped the ropes as tightly as she could, putting forth all her effort to stay in place.

  Noxater hopped on the lizard's tail, gripping with both hands, pulling his full weight in. The dragon roared in protest as it battled the weight of the heavy dwarf. Cap got in closer to the winged beast, launching arrows directly at the feet of the lizard. Fidel pulled all three vials of the healing potion Abby gave him from his pack and placed them on the ground. He pulled his staff in and summoned another bubble around the potions, raising them into the air.

  The dragon squirmed and roared, its tail under control by the dwarf and reducing its ability to move. The dragon's head snapped back and forth, trying to push the human from its back. Fidel carried the bottles slowly at first, watching Abby's movements as she held tight and flung back and forth abruptly. Abby's eyes closed and she started to lean forward. The elf yelled, “No!” and he moved the bubble quickly to his ally, throwing caution to the wind. His heart refused the loss of his first friend found on the road to Puldechra.

  The bottles slammed into Abby's chest, shattering and spewing forth the healing potion just above the spike tailed wound. Fidel, launching another bubble around the beast's head, pulled the dragon's skull upwards, hoping gravity would move the liquid for his doomed friend. The liquid found its way to the wound and entered, an orange glow emitting from the large wound as the potion went to work.

  Abby's eyes snapped open and color returned to her face as the flow of blood returned to her body. She quickly pulled her dagger out with her left hand while holding fast with her right.

  She wanted to slam the dagger deep into the creatures skull, fitting it between the layered scales and ending the dragon's life. She looked down to Fidel and saw the look of joy on the elf's face at her return. She remembered the plan and the promise to the Goddess of Love.

  Abby slammed her dagger between the crown and the dragon's skull, wedging it deeply. She pulled up hard as the dragon protested and jutted its head back and forth. Another transparent bubble appeared around the creature's head, pulling it down to the ground, allowing for better leverage. Abby pulled harder. All in the room heard the suction sounds of the crown roots being released from the dragon's skull.

  The dragon roared in defiance again, tossing its head high as the bubble dissipated. Another bubble appeared, pulling the dragon to the ground harder as the elf's will fought hard to save the transformed sorceress' soul. Abby moved the dagger and pulled again, the release of the crown slightly easier as another root broke free. The tetrad continued their battle until the Crown of Iocus was finally freed, the final pull yielding a blinding light that dissipated all the magical energies in the room, except for the spell holding the form of the dragon.

  The dragon stopped fighting as the light vanished out the window. Pravas Medeis, still in the form of a dragon, fell to the ground face first. She breathed heavily as the tetrad of friends regrouped around her sleeping dragon form.

  Noxater walked over to Abby and smiled, “Ye stubborn human. I thought ye'd finish her completely.”

  Abby turned to the dwarf, “I wanted to. Still think I should have.” Abby placed her dagger back in its sheath.

  Cap slung his bow over his shoulder and tapped Fidel's arm, “Us elves stick together? Is that the angle here?”

  Fidel shook his head, placing his staff back into his pack. “Pravas Medeis is not to blame for the deaths of many. The god, Dionysus, is at fault.” Fidel reached out to Abby, motioning for her to hand over the bloodied Crown of Iocus. Abby tossed the crown to Fidel and he held it up to the group. “This was the evil of Pravas Medeis.” Fidel placed the crown in his pack, then looked to the window opposite the throne, remembering there was still a fight to finish.

  Fidel rushed over to the window and looked down to the battlefield. A white light flew through the field below, touching each of Pravas' spellbound army. The silvery enemy fell to the ground as the light touched each human, elf, and dwarf. Pravas' chaos induced magic was apparently being stripped from her followers, returning them to their naturally dead state.

  Captain Sizod looked up to the tower from the battlefield, his eyes meeting with Fidel's. The elf nodded his head, confirming to the captain that they had defeated Pravas Medeis. The captain of Harlow's Hovel smiled wide and raised his sword, then nodded his acceptance of the outcome to the elf.

  Fidel turned and walked back to the black dragon, unsure what they should do with the beast. The dragon stirred, wa
king from its sleep. The tetrad of allies pulled forth their weapons and stood at the ready as the beast got its bearings straight.

  Fidel stood before the dragon as it opened its eyes, noticing the orbs not as black as they previously were. The dragon jumped up to its feet and stopped abruptly looking around, looking to its own body, its eyes wide opened as-if horrified at the situation.

  “Pravas Medeis?” Fidel questioned the creature. A low roar erupted from the creature's mouth as it tried to speak, stopping quickly as the beast realized it was not human. “Just nod or shake your head at my questions. You have fallen under a transformation spell of sorts and are not of yourself.”

  The eyes of the beast softened at the news. Fidel continued his train of thought. “I only have one question for you, Archmage of Puldechra. Would you prefer to continue living in this form?”

  The beast looked around the room, pondering the question put forth before it. It spread its wings wide and moved its clawed feet. The eyes of the beast showed Fidel it was considering the question, intently. After a few moments of silence, the beast finally answered. Pravas Medeis nodded her head, wishing to retain her life even in the form she was in.

  Fidel's voice was flat but threatening. “We will let you go freely, Pravas Medeis. But know that I, Fidel of Harlow's Hovel, will hunt you down if I hear of any wrong doing.”

  The dwarf chimed in. “And I, Noxater of Deeder's Pass!” Abby and Cap also confirmed their identity and intent to the beast. The winged lizard nodded its head in understanding.

  Fidel's voice softened. “I do have to ask, would you be interested in coming to our aid if needed?”

  The eyes of the dragon grew wide in shock at the question, narrowed quickly, then returned to normal as she considered the possibility. She nodded in affirmation. Fidel motioned for the dragon to hold out one of its wings.

  He grabbed his remaining communication ring and fitted it to one of the dragon's wing tips. “You will hear our voice from this ring should we be in need of you. Otherwise, enjoy the comforts of knowing you have four companions wishing you well as you listen to our voices.” The dragon nodded in acceptance at the gift.

  Fidel motioned for his friends and the dragon to clear the middle of the throne room. He chanted several times into his staff, each group of words intensifying the glow of the staff and making it redder and redder. After a few dozen incantations, he pushed the staff upward, sending a large ball of fire at the roof of the throne room. The blast shattered the wooden canopy above. Ignited tinder fell upon the group.

  Fidel pointed to the large hole in the ceiling. “Your way out.”

  The beast spread its massive wings and started to flap them hard, slowly rising from the floor and looking down at the tetrad of heroes before her. As she cleared the top of the tower, she nodded once more before she turned and flew away toward the west.

  Noxater watched the dragon soar away in the dawn lightened sky. “Ye are certainly very giving!”

  Fidel smiled wide. “How many times do you think we will have a chance to make allies with such a powerful beast?”

  Noxater considered the elf's words and nodded in agreement. “Ye know she's just a small one right?”

  Fidel looked at the dwarf for a second. “The one you rode was bigger?”

  The dwarf's smile widened, “At least three times bigger. Couldn't even get me legs around its neck.”

  Fidel laughed. “Like a dwarf's legs are a good measurement for the size of a creature such as that!” Cap and Abby started laughing at the elf's witty conclusion.

  Noxater looked down at his short and stubby legs then laughed himself. “Aye, well told, elf.”

  Chapter XII

  A Friend In Need

  The tetrad of allies descended the staircase and walked out the front door of the tower. Cheers erupted around them as they walked into the growing light of the dawn. Soldiers from every direction offered slaps on the back, handshakes, and hugs. The companions made their way toward the dark-skinned captain in the middle of the enemy camp.

  The captain smiled on their approach and yelled out, “Well done! I saw the black dragon depart, no doubt an act of mercy from the forgiving Fidel Austempes!” The captain stopped and shook hands with the group.

  Fidel finished shaking the captain's hand. “Yes, that one is on me. A favor to a goddess. I hope it is not to our detriment.”

  Captain Sizod shook his head, “She was deserving, Fidel. Lord Fineal has confirmed her abilities and loyalties to the kingdom of Puldechra. We all agree the crown was at fault. Even in dragon form, she flew west toward her homeland, no doubt to find a way to serve.”

  The soldiers and friends spent a couple of days at the camp, tearing apart the remnants of the makeshift camp and buried the silver remains. They sent the bodies of their fallen, totaling almost one thousand, to their respective homelands for proper burial rights.

  As the camp packed up to depart their own ways, the companions decided to travel together to Puldechra, then head back to Harlow's Hovel, a roundabout course chosen for the sake of Fidel's birth parents, not to mention Cap's desire to return home.

  The group arrived in Puldechra to a hero's welcome. The festivities were many and the close friends enjoyed the rewards of a king, anything they asked for being granted without question. Fidel introduced Noxater to his parents, naming him the “dragon rider” and “the first soul saved” by what was soon known as the Witch Hunt of the Four Kingdoms.

  Asante, Fidel's mother, had much interest in the dwarf. She always had a desire for lore of the lands and enjoyed the dwarf's stories of Deeder's Pass. Noticing the dwarf did not carry one of the communication rings, she offered hers as a gift for the dwarf's loyalty. Noxater graciously accepted the gift, stating he was hoping he would be worthy enough to receive such a blessing.

  As the group packed up for their return to Harlow's Hovel, Cap informed them of his desire to stay behind and serve his king further. Fidel understood the request, being both a desire and an order from Lord Fineal. The elven friends parted ways, the remaining trio traveling to Harlow's Hovel with a legion of green and brown outfitted soldiers of Puldechra accompanying them, as well as a black dragon flying in the distance.

  As the group entered the Rivolus desert, Fidel looked to Abby. “I've haven't felt so safe since my departure from Harlow's Hovel.”

  Abby looked to the distance, watching the dragon glide and dive in the darkening sky. “Let's hope she doesn't want to eat us this evening. Surely we won't see her coming in the darkened skies.”

  Fidel laughed at Abby's concern, confident the black dragon was an ally. He brought his communication ring up and spoke into it, “Abby's concerned you want to eat us now, Pravas! Surely you don't want to find out how your kin tastes, do you?”

  The dragon in the distance rose high in the sky and flew toward the group, landing a few hundred yards in front of the them. The legion of soldiers and trio of liberators stopped for a bit, watching the dragon as it appeared to write something in the sands. The dragon took off shortly after and the group continued on.

  The beast's writing read: Elves are safe. But I haven't decided whether humans or dwarves may be worth the effort. Abby's and Noxater's face turned up in disgust as Fidel laughed hard at the remark, sputtering, “Nothing like a dragon with a sense of humor!”

  Abby moved her horse closer to the elf's left side. “You're not leaving my side.” Fidel's eyes rimmed with tears from laughing hard.

  Noxater copied Abby, moving his horse to Fidel's right, “Meself, too.” The elf almost fell off his horse at his friend's statements.

  Fidel spoke into his ring, “Thank you Pravas! Now I must suffer a lack of mobility!” The dragon in the distant sky roared loudly, acknowledging the complaint.

  The trio arrived in Harlow's Hovel to a similar reception as Fidel's elven homeland. A few days later, Noxater decided he would be heading back to Deeder's Pass to redeem his abandonment of his post. Fidel and Abby wished the dwarf we
ll. Noxater promised he would keep in contact and would visit as much as possible, as well as ensure the companions would always have a place in Deeder's Pass. The dwarf rode on to the south, Fidel and Abby waving him off.

  Life went on without incident for a while in the town of Harlow's Hovel. Abby and Fidel started packing for a trip to Maritera and Marides, two other cities in the northeastern part of Mirater where Fidel spent some time growing up. The duo intended to meet up with Cap in the northern town of Maritera, then work their way along the eastern coast of Mirater to Marides and Marisali.

  “Fidel thee dwarf beater, please hear me!” came the call over the magical link. “Fidel thee dwarf beater, dragon rider here. Please hear me call!” the voice of Noxater sounded winded and heavily burdened. “Deeder's Pass needs assistance from thee good folks of thee north. We are under attack! Please heed me call!”

  Fidel and Abby gave each other a questioning glance. They nodded their head in unison as they worked quickly to finish their preparations.

  Fidel responded to the call for help. “Dwarf beater to dragon rider, help will be there forthwith. Please provide rally point in two days. See you soon, friend.”

  Fidel zipped his magical bag and opened the door, Abby placed her magical satchel over her shoulder as they headed out. As the duo approached the bottom of the stairs, Methvas stood before them, waiting. Methvas, armed with several wands on his belt, a ring on every finger, and several sets of necklaces and bracelets, hailed the couple as they descended the staircase.

  Fidel called to his father from halfway down the staircase, “What is the meaning of this?”

  Methvas feigned a hurt look on his face. “I leave my ring with Lord Ias and join you in your travels. Ias' orders. Do you not wish an old man to travel along?”

  Fidel smiled and shook his head. “You are most welcome!”

  Abby smiled, then gave a great sigh, “Great, now I have two mages to protect.”