Dragonvein Book Five

by Brian D. Anderson

  “Then you will be facing his full power,” she replied. This time her tone was dark and foreboding. “You must use what you are given to end his life…and his hold on Lumnia. This will shatter his source of strength. And without that, he cannot endure.”

  Ethan turned to the arbor. He would make it through these trials, no matter what was thrown at him. Then he would face his enemy once more. And this time he would not fail, regardless of the cost. He had accepted his fate and no longer felt any trace of fear at all. His sacrifice would save those he loved – what better reason was there to die?

  Almost immediately after stepping through the arbor, the whispers of the Arkazhi began fading from his thoughts. He could feel that they were still watching him, though at the same time he knew they would no longer speak or help in any way. Already he recognized what his choice would be should he arise victorious. He would choose to risk oblivion rather than live without Kat. Whatever lay beyond the veil of mystery that was death, he would soon learn its secrets.

  The world around him began to wither and melt away until he could no longer see so much as his hands in front of his face. It didn’t matter. With all fear gone, together with any hope he had clung to of possibly surviving, not even the malevolent presence he sensed bearing down on him was troubling.

  “Come on, you son-of-a-bitch,” he whispered. “Come and get me.”

  * * * * *

  Kat had to force herself awake. It was as if something was urging her to remain in the world of dreams for a while longer. But she could not. Today was the day Ethan would be leaving, and she was determined to spend every moment they had left together wrapped in each other’s arms.

  The howl of the wind outside helped to revive her. Though it was still quite warm within this special place Ethan had built for them, the sound still managed to send a series of chills running through her body. She pulled the blanket tight to her chest, and after a moment peeled open her eyes. At first her vision was blurred, yet she could sense that something was wrong. She reached out beside her, feeling only the softness of the bed. She shot bolt upright, frantically wiping her eyes until she could see clearly.

  “Ethan,” she cried.

  Springing from the bed, she raced to the door. The frigid mountain air bit cruelly into her exposed flesh the moment she exited the dwelling. Not that she cared, or even noticed. He was gone. Only Maytra remained.

  “Ethan!” Her desperate shout was drowned out by the roar of the wind. Still she kept crying out his name over and over again until finally falling to her knees, weeping.

  How long she stayed like this, she didn’t know. Eventually it was the pain in her hands and feet that forced her to rise and go back inside. How could he do this? How could he leave without so much as a word? Anger and sorrow combined to tear at her heart, threatening to break her spirit completely. One night? Was that all there was to be? It wasn’t fair.

  It was then that she noticed a small folded piece of parchment beside the bed. For several minutes she merely looked at it, fearing to learn what Ethan had written. There were no words he could write that would make her forgive him. And yet, equally true, there were none that could ever make her love diminish.

  Finally, she picked the parchment up, clutching it to her breast for a long moment before slowly unfolding it.

  My dearest love,

  I am writing this to you now, as you lie sleeping beside me, because I haven’t the strength to speak the words aloud. I realize how much you will hate me when you discover I am gone. And I am sorry for being so very selfish. But looking at you now, I know this is the only way I can bring myself to do what must be done.

  The time we have had together was far too short. Believe me when I say I would gladly give my whole life away in exchange for just a few more minutes in your arms. But I know, should that happen, I would never be able to leave you. Instead, I would open a portal and spirit us to Earth. You have no idea how tempting that idea is. But then, of course, millions of people would die. I could never live with the knowledge that I had allowed such a thing happen.

  I have known for some time that this is how it must end for us, even though I kept denying it to myself. I hoped and prayed there was another way. But there isn’t. And now it’s time for me to face the truth. Once I enter the heart of Lumnia, my fate will be set. I will use the power of the planet to destroy Shinzan. But to do so will destroy me as well. I wish I could tell you that I will find a way to survive, but I do not want my final words to you to be lies. Shinzan will die. And I will die with him. That is the only way I can save you.

  I am so sorry that you must go the rest of your journey through life without me. If there were any other way, I would take it in an instant. But I gain courage from knowing that you will not be alone. Our friends will be there for you. And you have your father to protect you. I am certain that together you will build a better world where all people can live in peace. With your heart guiding them, it will be a paradise. And I suppose, if I had a final wish, it would be that you use your strength to achieve just that. My love, you are now the most powerful mage in Lumnia, and you have all the qualities it takes to lead. After Shinzan is gone, the people will need you. Never doubt yourself, because I have total faith in you. I always will.

  I don’t want you to worry about me. I’m not afraid to die. After all, before I came here I was a soldier. And one thing I learned is that we all have our rendezvous with destiny. Yours is to create a new world. Mine is to see that you have the opportunity to do so. Know that my love for you will continue until the light of my spirit fails to shine…and even after that it will endure in every other way possible. Wish me luck. If you are too angry to say it out loud, I hope that you’re at least thinking it.

  Yours until time stops,

  Ethan

  Tears were streaming down her cheeks as she refolded the letter.

  “Damn you,” she said weakly.

  But her anger had faded. Only paralyzing sorrow remained. She heard Maytra’s call outside. It was a summons. It was telling her to be strong – to finish what they had started. Ethan was marching off to meet his fate, and she would not dishonor him. Regardless of what he said, she would not give up hope that he would somehow find a way to survive. And when he did return, she would not have him discover that she had done nothing to save the lives of those who now fought.

  A steely determination took over. Choking back her tears, she gathered her clothes and dressed. Just before she exited the room, she closed her eyes for a few moments to picture Ethan’s face in her mind. Yes. She would see him again. They had already survived incredible odds. Fate would ensure that they were reunited. It had to. She refused to imagine it any other way.

  “So you’re wrong, Ethan,” she muttered. “I don’t have to go the rest of my life without you. Only a little bit of it.” She imagined he could hear her words. “Good luck.”

  On returning outside, she found Maytra waiting patiently. And when Kat mounted her back, her typical snort of displeasure was noticeably absent.

  Kat patted her neck. “Are you ready?”

  Maytra lifted her head and let out a tremendous roar. She was indeed ready. They both were.

  She cast a spell to fight off the cold, then held on tight. In a flurry of power and speed, Maytra became airborne. Ethan’s words resounded in her head. She was now the most powerful mage in Lumnia. Astride Maytra, she was without equal. Together they would ensure that when the war was over, the fields of Lumnia would not be soaked in the blood of the innocent.

  “But they will be soaked in the blood of our enemies,” she declared loudly.

  Maytra roared with approval, spewing out a stream of fire a hundred feet long.

  But first there was one thing Kat needed to deal with. She concentrated for a long moment, her focus so intense that even the rush of the wind became silent. At first there was nothing. Then, after nearly ten minutes, she finally found what she was looking for. A pulse. A slow throb of magical energy. B
ut this was not magic of the kind she possessed. This was corrupted magic, tainted by the power of Shinzan.

  “I’m coming for you,” Kat said.

  To her amazement, there was a reply. Like a faint whisper it said: “I’m here. I’m waiting.”

  Chapter Nine

  King Halvar could feel the sensation digging into his spirit, seeking to sap his courage and his will to fight. But at least he had been warned in advance about this by the Imperial officer they had captured two days prior. Not that this information was gained easily. This man had been strong; not at all like the simpering fool they had previously encountered. It had taken all the expertise of the elves to get a single word from him. Halvar suppressed a shudder as a memory of the captain’s screams echoed in his mind. Elves knew of ways to inflict pain that would make a man yearn for death yet leave naught but a small mark on the flesh. Even so, they had chosen a different, more straightforward and brutal technique this time. At the end of his ordeal, the Imperial gave every appearance of having been totally immersed into a tub full of blood. Droplets spewed from his mouth as he finally gave in and told them everything.

  “They have this strange power,” he had said. “They bind the courage of our own men while draining it from our enemy.”

  The silent ones. Creatures of Shinzan. Fearless. Pitiless. Without emotion. They had already slain thousands of innocent people. And not just those who lived within Al’ Theona and Ralmaria. They had systematically razed to the ground every town that lay within thirty miles either side of their two borders.

  “The Eternal Shinzan ordered the area cleansed,” the captain had told them.

  His use of the word disgusted Halvar. Cleansed. How could humans…? He shook away the thought. It only made fighting alongside them more difficult, and gave his reservations about their loyalty extra sway in his heart.

  “Are you all right?” a familiar voice asked.

  Keira had kept close to him of late. After reports of the Imperial army’s huge strength began filtering in, and with no sign of Lord Dragonvein returning, he had become increasingly short-tempered and brooding.

  “Yes, My Lady,” he replied, regarding her with what he hoped was a convincing smile. “And yourself?”

  She gave a small shrug. “Elves are seemingly far less affected by the silent ones’ influence than dwarves and humans. I’ve had my people disperse throughout both of their ranks to help keep the calm.”

  “That is good. But it’s how the humans react that I worry about.”

  “In truth, it should be the other way around,” Keira told him. “The dwarves are the ones feeling its effect the most. Humans seem better able to push it aside once they realize what is happening.”

  This did not please Halvar at all. The idea that humans were in any way superior to dwarves stung his pride badly.

  Keira, picking up on his fit of pique, began laughing softly. “My dear king,” she said. “You cannot expect humans to be without some gifts of their own. I’m sure that dwarves are much fiercer in battle.”

  Instantly embarrassed by his childish display, Halvar gave a self-deprecating chuckle. “And let us not forget our craft. Have you seen those human swords? Pathetic. And not even one of their number carries a decent axe.”

  “So it’s fortunate for them they have access to dwarf smiths,” she remarked in a light tone.

  A sudden thudding of drums from several miles away caught their attention, instantly darkening the mood. Halvar surveyed what would soon become their battlefield. Thanks to the humans, they had found a much faster route and had made it to a low ridge overlooking a flat, grassy plain. It was an advantageous position.

  Smoke rose from the enemy fires just beyond their line of sight. But these fires were not for cooking or for warmth. They came from a now devastated village the enemy had come upon that very same day. Halvar tried not to think about what it would look like. He had heard far too many reports already of the brutal slaughter taking place. Horrific tales of how countless numbers of innocent people – including women and children – were being hacked to pieces and their bodies simply left to rot where they fell.

  He swore a silent oath. No more. The army at his back was ready. They would not give ground. They must not. They faced a foe whose purpose was not victory. It was death.

  Death to the entire world.

  Chapter Ten

  Kat streaked toward her foe astride Maytra, all the time allowing the pain of Ethan’s departure to fill her. Pain could be useful. She had learned this from a very young age. She would let it make her stronger. Even so, she had never before faced an enemy like Illyrian – another mage. And despite her own raw power, her foe possessed far more experience and knowledge. She must make it a battle of attrition.

  “Don’t let her sneak up on us,” she said to Maytra, remembering the previous attack.

  The dragon rumbled a low growl.

  Maytra could be a definite asset, though Kat was hesitant to put her in direct conflict with a mage. As powerful as dragons were, they were no match for someone like Illyrian.

  A plume of smoke rose from behind a low hill – a beacon calling her to the fight. Kat clenched her jaw and took a long breath. The tiny fire of hatred burning in her belly began to grow. Illyrian might be Ethan’s mother, but she served Shinzan. And it was his evil that had stripped her of the man she loved. Regardless of the hope she desperately clung to for Ethan’s safe return, doubts continued to plague her.

  Just beyond the hills she could see a thin forest. A ring of smoldering earth inside this had been made, presumably by Illyrian, who was standing with arms folded at the northernmost edge. Maytra circled several times before setting down gracefully at the opposite end. Kat slid to the ground and rubbed the dragon’s neck.

  “Go,” she said. “But stay close.”

  Maytra cast her gaze across the charred landscape, hissing with barely suppressed anger. Fearing that she might well try to roast Illyrian there and then, Kat stepped quickly in front of the agitated dragon and spread her arms wide. This was enough to calm the creature, at least sufficiently to prevent such a rash attack. With a mighty leap, Maytra pounded her wings and was quickly gone from sight.

  “It was wise not to allow that beast to attack me,” remarked Illyrian, her tone as casual, as if they had met simply for a lighthearted chat. “The Emperor dearly hopes to capture it. Its death would disappoint him greatly. As would yours.”

  “I’m sure it would,” Kat agreed. “But it’s not going to happen.”

  She could feel Illyrian’s wards surrounding her. They were strong. Very strong. Nevertheless, she was confident they could be broken. Her own wards were also in place, though it was true they had never been greatly tested before. That was about to change.

  “I’m actually a bit surprised that my son allowed you to come here to face me,” Illyrian said. “Especially given your rather limited knowledge of magic. Is he so weak and soft-hearted that he shrinks from the thought of fighting me himself?”

  “Ethan does not know I am here,” she answered, maintaining a level tone.

  Illyrian laughed. “Of course not. I see it now. You have come to save him the burden of killing his own mother. How sweet of you to do so. Foolish, but very sweet all the same. Not that it matters. The only thing it changes is that you will die first. This will no doubt cause him immeasurable pain, and he will still be forced to kill me himself. In fact, knowing that I caused your death should make him eager to do so. More the better.”

  Kat furrowed her brow. “You actually want Ethan to kill you?”

  “My death is a foregone conclusion, child. My master has seen to that. Why should I care whose hand is the instrument?” She scrutinized Kat for a long moment. “I see the confusion in your eyes, my dear. You are wondering if anything of who I was remains. You can trust me when I say the answer to that is no. I am no longer Lady Illyrian Dragonvein. This body is a void. I hold the woman’s memories, but as for her soul – yes, soul is the righ
t word, I think – her soul has been utterly crushed. Everything that you see before you now is…well…is what the Emperor has chosen to fashion.”

  Kat focused her mind, preparing to strike. “I’m glad you told me this. It will make killing you much easier to explain.”

  Illyrian clicked her tongue. “Pitiful girl. You are no match for me. You think that a few lessons gives you the right to call yourself a mage? You are no more a threat to me than that disgusting beast you were riding.”

  A powerful voice sounded from behind Kat. “That may be true, aunt. But I am.”

  She spun around to see Lynial striding toward her. With his hair oiled and pushed back well away from his face, he was clad in a long black coat, trousers also of black, and a bright red shirt. The intensity in his eyes gave him a commanding, almost regal appearance.

  Illyrian took a startled step back before quickly recovering her composure. “Nephew. You are here. How unexpected.”

  Lynial ignored her, directing his attention at Kat. “You should go. I can deal with this.”

  Kat looked at him stubbornly. “You’ll need my help.”

  “No. She is a member of my family, and should be released from this curse by one of her own.”

  “Don’t flatter yourself, boy,” Illyrian told him. “I was never one of your filthy brood.”

  “Silence woman,” he snapped back. “I’ll attend you in due course.” He regarded Kat once more. “She is no match for me. And from what I have heard, she may not be a match for you either. But this is my task. Not yours. Your skills are needed with the main army now. Not tending to…family squabbles.”

  A frown formed as Kat paused to think. She could see the same look in Lynial’s eyes that she had seen in Ethan’s – confident, yet somehow still vulnerable. She knew that this would be hard for him. But she also knew beyond doubt that he would accept no argument on the matter. Lynial felt it was his duty to deal with Illyrian. And just like Ethan, he would see it through.