“Maybe it isn't the wand that is different, Osric. Maybe it is you.” She smiled sadly at him, glad the tension seemed to have broken between him and Gus, at least for the moment.
Gus interrupted, drawing Osric's attention away from her once again, “That can't be it, I examined him, remember? He's strange, but I don't know why everyone thinks he is so special. You are beautiful, my dear, but it would be nice if he could keep his eyes off of you for one moment, and maybe we could actually accomplish something!”
Osric was so sick of the insulting little rodent making comments about him and Bridgett. Gus had no right to treat them that way. He cared more for her than he was willing to admit, and he couldn't stand there and listen to Gus embarrass her. Rather than kick him into the woods, Osric quickly backed away.
He could see Kenneth walking back, at least we will be able to eat soon, I am starving. Then realization and horror filled Osric as he noticed the rabbit in his hand, the vision! Kenneth noticed the look on his face and reached for his bow. He had an arrow notched by the time Osric had his left hand on his sword. Osric dove right and swung up with all of his might, letting the swing draw the blade from its scabbard. He felt the blade slice through something he could not see. The force of the swing sent him spinning in the air, and he heard Kenneth's arrow hit its mark, but he wasn't sure if they had killed it. Osric fell awkwardly, face down in the dirt, and scrambled to get up as he heard Bridgett scream.
Osric stood and swung around with his sword, ready to strike, but the thing lay dead on the ground. His blade had severed the head at the neck, yet Kenneth's bow shot must have arrived at the same time, as the head was held in place with the shaft of the arrow. Its right arm lay a few feet from Kenneth, separated from its body by Osric's sword as it was decapitated. It was a beast he had never seen before. Thick muscles wrapped tightly around its body, and its pale grey skin shone with sweat. Sparse patches of dark grey fur were scattered along its body, thickest on the long, thin limbs. Claws the length of his wand came from the hands and feet and looked as sharp as his sword blade, and the creature's teeth were like small, jagged daggers in appearance. Whatever it was, it was a predator.
He crouched low to make himself less visible, and crept slowly toward his companions. The last thing he wanted was to be spotted by another one of those creatures. He stopped suddenly as Gus and Bridgett gasped in surprise. They were staring at the ground behind him, with looks of astonishment on their faces. Another one?! Osric turned around, swinging his sword in a graceful arc, and crying out to put as much force behind his swing as possible. His blade only encountered air, and he turned back to them, breathing heavily.
“Where did you go, boy?” Gus' ears twitched wildly as he looked around in confusion.
“What you are talking about?” Osric looked at him questioningly, and stepped toward Gus quickly. Gus scrambled back, staring at the leaves at Osric's feet. “Gus, what's wrong with you?”
“Boy, either you are invisible, or there is a ghost here with an unnerving ability to mimic your voice.” Osric looked down the length of his body in surprise, as his eyes took in only the wet leaves and twigs upon which he stood. Being unable to see himself was decidedly odd, and he felt a nervous flutter in his stomach. Just as the thought that he needed to be visible to lead the group passed through his mind, his form came back into view. Gus rushed over to him, as Bridgett scooped Pebble up into her arms and ran toward them.
“Osric, how did you do that?” Bridgett asked.
“I have no idea! But I don't want to be standing here discussing it when another one of those things show up.” Osric indicated the ugly creature at their feet, “We need to leave, now!” He hurriedly started collecting his pack, and motioned that the others should do the same. “Hurry, grab ahold of me and I will take us as far as I can tonight before it is too dark to see. Have any of you seen a creature like that before?”
“I don't think anyone has, but I am pretty sure I know what it is.” Gus stared at the beast in shock.
“What is it?” Kenneth picked up his gear and stood beside Osric, ready to leave.
“I've seen the aftermath of these creatures before. The claws, and those teeth! I believe we are the first to witness one die.”
“What is it?!” Osric was not in the mood for one of Gus' lengthy explanations.
“I think it's a paun, and you are right, boy, we must leave fast. Who knows if those things travel alone or in packs!” Kenneth picked Gus up quickly and hoisted him onto his shoulder for the trip.
Osric grabbed Bridgett and Kenneth's hands, looking around them in fear, “Eo ire itum!”
16 – Braya Volcano
As they came around a final curve, Machai saw a huge tree hugging the face of the mountain. Its trunk was so big, it would have taken eight of him to encircle it with his arms. Its massive roots had broken off chunks of stone from the volcano, and they lay scattered at its base like bones at an altar. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught movement off to the left. What he had thought was a large boulder sitting next to the tree revealed itself to be the dragon Thom had warned him about. Its tail was wrapped about the trunk, and tangled among the loose stones, like the horrible aftermath of a giant sea serpent amongst the wreckage of a ship dashed upon the rocks. The dragon was the same sorrel hue as the volcano, and difficult to discern unless he moved. His long, sinuous neck terminated in a head nearly as large as the wagon, and the horses snorted and pawed at the ground, refusing to traverse any closer to the vast predator.
Machai halted with the horses and stared, enchanted, as the dragon swung its head around to watch him with one swirling gold eye. He was sure that if the order were given, the massive beast would thoroughly enjoy devouring him. Yet, looking into the dragon's eye gave him such an impression of sorrow and solitude that his heart ached for the creature. He felt so much empathy for the beast that he had to look away, lest he wander unwittingly within its reach.
Machai turned away, and busied himself with calming the horses, while Thom walked right past the dragon and disappeared into the rock wall behind the tree, twirling his bone wand in his hand and whistling. A few moments later, Thom returned, accompanied by an older man and carrying two large canvas sacks. He dropped the bags near the cart with the noticeable sound of clinking coin, and leaned one hip against the rear wheel. He obviously did not want to miss the unveiling of Machai's load of weapons.
“Thank you, Thom.” Aron was a tall man, the lines of his age and profession etched clearly on his face. His steel grey hair was cropped close to his head, and faded into a short beard on his square jaw. Machai guessed him to be in his early sixties, but his broad shoulders and straight posture indicated he may have been younger. “You are dismissed. I am sure you have duties to attend to elsewhere.” Aron arched one eyebrow at the sullen pout on Thom's face as he eyed the wagon, and Thom straightened quickly and headed back to the entrance, kicking a stone at the dragon as he passed and then breaking into a run to avoid a swipe of its massive tail. Aron glared at Thom's back as he watched him disappear behind the tree trunk, and then turned his eyes upon Machai. “I expected your delivery four days ago, did you run into trouble?” His keen gaze was disconcerting, and Machai busied himself unlashing the ties on the canvas tarp covering the wagon.
“Aye, an ugly storm three days into a forsaken sail, and more rain an' mud than I ever expected to slog through. Ye'r lucky I be only four days behind.” He pulled the canvas back, revealing saddle bags half emptied of their supplies, and two hundred of the finest dwarven blades ever crafted. He heard Aron's sharp intake of breath as he pulled one of the blades from the wagon and handed it to him. He held the blade out before him, testing its perfect weight and balance, and carved an arc through the air. Aron was relishing the feel of the sword in his grip, but he looked perplexed when Machai glanced back up at him.
“How do you activate it?” Machai was tempted to tell him to figure it out himself, but the edge of the blade was sharp enough to ta
ke his head off with ease, even without utilizing the sword's magical properties imbued by the metal masters who forged them. As much as he hated delivering dwarven weapons into the hands of humans, he decided it would be best to keep the meeting short and pleasant.
“You be using it by focused intent, similar to ye'r wand. The blood stones be forged into the hilts. Focus on the feel of the metal in ye'r hand, and intend to ignite the blade.” Aron scrutinized him with doubt, but as he focused his attention back on the sword, the blade began to glow red. Machai could feel the heat radiating from the metal and stepped back several paces. The red glow brightened slowly and soon the edge of the blade was white hot. Aron stepped away from the wagon, walked slowly and deliberately toward the massive tree, and raised the sword up over his right shoulder. Machai thought he intended to sever a low branch from the tree, but he turned suddenly and brought the sword down at an angle, dropping low and sweeping his left leg out to his side in a graceful motion. The blade bit deep into the tough hide of the dragon's foreleg and he screamed with fury and pain. A huge gout of flame poured forth from his throat, directed into the air rather than at his cruel captor. Aron stood for a moment, as though he was testing the beast to see if he would retaliate, and give him an excuse to punish the other dragons. The angry dragon growled low and menacingly, but he did not make a move against his attacker. Aron walked back to Machai and the wagon, mentally withdrawing his attention from the sword, and grinning widely as the blade rapidly cooled to a high metallic sheen, giving no indication it was any different than the short sword at his hip.
“Very impressive, dwarf. It is rare to find a blade which so easily penetrates dragon hide.” Machai grunted in disgust at the look of pleasure plastered on the man's face after seeing the destructive potential of the two hundred weapons he had just acquired. Machai gritted his teeth against the rage building within him, and tore his eyes from the temptation of the swords in the wagon. Any man who would be so cruel to another creature deserved to die an agonizing death, but Machai could not be sure how many men would swarm from the volcano for vengeance the moment the blade touched Aron's throat, and another would surely take his place to torture the dragons.
“Aye.” Had he said anything more, he would have told Aron exactly what he was thinking, but he managed to rein in his tongue. Climbing up onto the wagon hitch, Machai took a mental inventory as he emptied the supplies from one set of saddle bags into the other to make room for the payment. He attempted to control his temper, and changed the subject. “Can I be getting more supplies from ye? That dockside market smelled worse than a drogma's breath after munchin' on fish guts.”
“I have many mouths to feed, but I can sell you enough rations to get you by. You are taking a hefty bit of coin off my hands for these weapons, though, I won't be inclined to give you a good price.”
“I need only some mash for the horses to regain strength, and ten days or so of rations for meself to make up for the time I be losing.”
“I will have what you need brought out, and horses brought around to move this wagon. Make yourself comfortable, just don't wander too close to the dragon.” He placed the blade gently back into the wagon with the others and walked away. Machai unhitched the horses from the wagon. It was apparent that he was not going to be let anywhere near the inside of the volcano. Not even his horses would be allowed in to complete the delivery. He opened the heavy sacks Thom had dropped on the ground, and satisfied that there was a sufficient amount of gold, he threw them in with his supplies and the swords. He lead the horses around to the back of the wagon, dropped the gate and pulled himself up. Standing on the open gate, he hoisted the saddle bags onto their backs to prepare for his return journey.
* * *
Machai led the horses, rather than ride one as Thom had suggested. He was well supplied and had enough time to reach a campsite as far away from the volcano as Thom had advised him. He had not excited the anger of Aron, nor the abused dragon which guarded his post. He should have felt elated to be returning to his home, but the things he had learned plagued his mind and slowed his pace. He couldn't get the pain swirling in the dragon's eyes out of his thoughts, knowing that the majestic creature was impelled by invisible bonds to accept any torture, guarding his own kin caged behind a layer of stone. Suddenly, he veered off of the path and turned the horses back toward the volcano. He had no idea what he would do, but he couldn't leave without learning more.
He wove his way between the trees, keeping a sharp look out for guards from the volcano. He hoped that having a dragon guarding their door would make them overconfident and lax in patrolling the forest. When he reached the point where the trees thinned, he paused and tied the horses to a branch. He walked carefully over the damp ground, thankful the rain had ceased, increasingly wary of encountering someone as he approached the volcano. He reached a large rock formation on the border of the open expanse near the base of the mountain, and climbed to its apex to get a better view. From his perch he could see the enormous tree that hid the entrance to the volcano, and if he looked closely, he thought he could pick out the outline of a massive head resting on clawed forelegs. He didn't doubt that the dragon was aware of his presence as well.
He saw two men come around from either side of the mountain, pause for a moment in brief conversation, and then walk again in opposite directions along the base of the volcano. They would be the patrolmen he had feared running into on his way there. He crouched patiently on the hard stone, observing the patterns of the guards. Twice more, he saw patrolmen return to the entrance, and then part again to cover their rounds. He estimated how long it took them to complete their pass, and decided he had a large enough window of time to learn more about the situation. He knew he could not get past the dragon to get into the volcano, but there was nothing stopping him from asking the beast itself a few questions. Well, nothing but the teeth that were nearly half as long as he was tall.
When next the guards were out of sight, he climbed down the rocks and crept toward the entrance. He stopped just out of the dragon's reach, and knelt down before him, casting a shield to prevent the men within from hearing him speak.
“Greetings, Wise Guardian. I am aware ye have been ordered to eat me, but I beseech ye to hold off on ye'r meal until we talk. I be appalled at the treatment of ye and ye'r kin, will ye allow me to ease ye'r wound and then conceal meself between ye and this tree and speak to ye?” The giant dragon peered down at him, and a thin line of smoke trailed up from his nostrils. Machai realized that he may prefer his meals roasted, and the short distance between them would not protect him from dragon fire. Just when he was starting to doubt the wisdom of the conversation, the dragon spoke.
“Why would you offer to ease my pain, do you not fear the men who reside within this mountain?”
“Aye, Guardian, I fear them. They be causing great harm to ye, and I fear they will threaten others soon.” Machai pulled a small wooden box from his pack and opened the lid, “This be a salve of strong magic, willow bark and fairie tears, it will ease ye'r pain and heal ye faster than any wand.” After a moment's hesitation, the dragon shifted his weight and positioned his foreleg within reach of Machai and his healing salve.
“I suppose there is no harm in conversing with you before I consume you. I do relish the opportunity to hide something from these abhorrent humans. I will permit you to hide, dwarf, assuming your fairie paste is helpful.” Machai could not help but keep one eye on the dragon's head while he gently smeared the salve across the angry, cauterized wound. He sighed in relief when the dragon's breathing slowed and he tested his weight on the leg, then he crouched down between the great trunk of the tree and the dragon's bulk. The dragon curled up and rested his head on the ground where he could see Machai, and better conceal him. “What is it you would like to discuss, stone dweller?”
“I am aware of the atrocious wrongs being done to ye and y'er kin by the men in this mountain. I am wondering if there be any way I may help ye. Can ye tell me how
many men be here?”
“Why should I believe that you want to help, when you come bearing a load of weaponry for these men?”
“I did not know when I set out to deliver the swords that they may be used to punish ye and keep such majestic creatures enslaved. I cannot retrieve the wagon, but if there be another thing that would benefit ye, I will do it gladly.” Machai could see fear in the dragon's eyes. “I know ye be having no reason to trust me, and if these humans suspect ye be plotting with me, it could lead to more devastation for ye'rself and the others kept here, but change willn't come without risk.” The dragon eyed him wearily, but he held his head proudly and answered Machai's question.
“Fourteen, including Aron. Four are currently on patrol, one lies idle from an injury.”
“I be a capable fighter, but I willn't be able to take on nine men by meself. I apologize, but I cannot storm the volcano.”
“If killing these men was all it would take to free us, we would not be kept here by the likes of these humans. Killing them will not disrupt the magic keeping them caged. There is nothing you can do to help us, dwarf. Begone, I will not eat you.”
“How can the spell be interrupted?”
“The magic is strong, and well planned. I do not believe that one man can free us, even an honorable dwarf such as you. Thank you for your concern, but you should leave before you are discovered. I do not want to see another join us in these cages.”
“Another? These men be holding others besides y'er kin?”
“There is a human caged as well. He has not been here long, and I am not sure why he is in a cage rather than providing me with a meal. I believe Aron fears him; he keeps him hidden away from the guards so he may not speak to them, but he speaks to the dragons. He has compassion for us as you do, but from behind the magical shield, he can do nothing to help us.”
The Wand-Maker's Debate: Osric's Wand: Book One Page 18
