“Wow!” exclaimed Sherman. “I’ve never seen that spell before!”
“It’s a miniaturizing magic that I’ve learned somewhere along the way,” explained Kazin. “It saves carrying around a giant pack.” He untied the string and pried the bag open. Inside, he rummaged around for a moment. “Here it is,” he commented, withdrawing a small ring. He presented it to Sherman. “This is the invisibility ring that was accidentally stuck to your boot the last time you came back from the past. It may be key to our quest.”
Sherman shuddered as he accepted the artifact. “I had forgotten about that.”
Then Kazin withdrew an amulet and handed it to Zylor. “You remember this?” It was an amulet that allowed a spell to be maintained on an individual wearing it, while the spell caster could be free to do other things without draining all their magical energy to maintain the spell.
Zylor’s eyes narrowed. “Indeed. I had forgotten where that ended up.”
“It took a bit of effort to track it down,” said Kazin. He then turned his attention to Olag, who looked somewhat crestfallen.
“I didn’t have any magical items in my possession last time,” said the skink warrior sadly.
“That’s a good thing,” said Kazin. “Of all of us, you are the least likely to have caused the disappearing problem we are having. But this time you will have something magical to aid you,” said the mage cheerfully. He reached into the sack and withdrew a bow and a quiver full of arrows. “This,” he said happily, “is a Quiver of Many Arrows.” His smile wavered. “It belonged to my wife, God rest her soul.”
“She’s dead?!” exclaimed Sherman.
“Not yet,” interjected Harran.
It took a moment or two for this to sink in. “Oh, yeah,” said Sherman sheepishly. “I forgot. Sorry.”
“Won’t it interfere with time travel and such?” asked Zylor.
Kazin nodded. “That’s a good point, Zylor. But do you remember what happened last time? Olag ran out of arrows and we almost died. I’m not taking that chance this time.”
“I’m with you there,” said Olag vehemently as he accepted the bow and quiver and slung it over his shoulder. “That’s the main reason I’m leery about going on this adventure in the first place.”
Kazin chanted again and his sack returned to palm size. He deftly scooped it up and slid it into his pocket. “That’s it folks. Let’s gather the rest of our gear and be on our way.”
The companions did not have much for provisions because Kazin had instructed them to travel light, so they were ready to go within fifteen minutes. Kazin stood apart from the others and transformed from a white-haired old human mage into his dragon form.
“I could never get used to that,” commented Olag with a shudder.
“Climb on,” ordered Kazin when the transformation was complete.
The companions approached the monstrous beast and Zylor gave the dwarf and skink warrior a boost. He turned to assist the warrior as well, but Sherman was already clambering along the wing to reach the scaly back. The minotaur sprang after him and found a relatively comfortable spot where the wing entered the body.
Kazin turned his head back to peer at them through reptilian eyes. “All set?”
“Yup!” said Sherman. He sounded somewhat nervous but didn’t show it. It was uncomfortable for him because he hated heights.
“Let’s get on with it,” muttered Olag. He didn’t like the thought of flying this way either.
Even Harran wasn’t happy to leave the ground. “Dwarves were meant to be under the ground, not above it,” he had said many times in the past when riding the dragon.
The only one who seemed to be enjoying himself was the minotaur. He grinned as the dragon launched himself high into the air. “I’ve missed this kind of fun!” he cried as the shoreline slipped past and the open water of North Lake sparkled below.
The sound of the wind rushing past competed only with the sound of leathery wings flapping rhythmically as the mainland disappeared from sight entirely. At this point the dragon banked left to a south westerly direction. The sun gleamed over the horizon behind them, reflecting off the water far below.
“Do we have to fly this high?” asked Sherman anxiously, glancing down at the smooth surface of the lake. “It’s really windy so high up.”
“Just hold on tight,” rumbled the dragon. “The height allows me to see over a wider area, and keeps me from being seen by any ships out on the water.”
“We aren’t going to go down the whirlpool again, are we?” asked Olag nervously.
“We are,” said Kazin.
Olag groaned.
“How will we do it?” asked Harran “I recall the last time we had mermaids to help us breathe under water.”
“We won’t need them,” responded Kazin. “My magic will see to that.”
“I hope so,” said Zylor.
“Do you even know where the whirlpool is?” asked Sherman. “Last time it was the magical druid ship that brought us there.”
Kazin laughed and his belly rumbled beneath them. “I’ve had plenty of years to find where the whirlpool was located. It can’t be found by a regular ship because it magically makes them navigate around it without their knowledge. By flying over it, I can see it and fly toward it. I’ve also spent a great deal of time studying how to go back in time. I wouldn’t risk bringing all of you on this journey if I thought it wasn’t achievable with minimal risk. The hardest part will be to cross the swing bridge safely.”
Sherman groaned. “Don’t remind me.”
After that the companions lapsed into silence, their thoughts turned to memories of that adventure years ago. It was an uneventful flight and the companions used the time to catch up on the latest stories since they had last seen one another.
The trip was a long one. The sun passed overhead and then went ahead of them in the west, still reflecting off the vast expanse of water below them. Before long, Kazin began to lower his altitude.
Harran was the first to catch on. “Are we getting close?”
Kazin glanced back at the dwarf who sat forward of the others on his neck. “I can see the whirlpool. It’s almost time.”
Olag looked down. “You must have exceptional eyesight. I can’t see anything.”
“What do you want us to do?” asked Sherman.
“Just sit tight,” answered Kazin. “When we get close, I’ll cast a spell on us to shield us from the water. You won’t even get wet.”
“Then what?” asked Olag nervously.
“Then I’m going to dive into the whirlpool.”
Sherman groaned. “I thought you’d say something like that.”
“Just sit back and hold on tight,” said Kazin. “It could get rough even with the magic.”
“Let’s get it over with,” stated Zylor firmly. “We’ve done it before. It can be done again.”
The whirlpool was finally visible to the rest of the group as it swirled menacingly below them. The water was frothy white and seemed to spiral at incredible speed, particularly in the middle. It came closer and closer as Kazin dove, picking up more and more speed as he plummeted like an arrow. Everyone held on for dear life.
Soon the whirlpool was the only thing visible, its sheer size making them feel inferior as the edges of the whirlpool rose above them and the center beckoned. At last, Kazin cast a spell and an invisible barrier surrounded them. Just before the companions penetrated the water, Kazin tilted his wings back to reduce the drag as the water churned around them. The spiraling water threatened to spin them around, so Kazin cast another spell that compensated. As the water rose above them, it darkened noticeably. Here was where Kazin had to concentrate. The transition between the whirlpool and the void beyond was still an unknown factor. His curiosity was satisfied moments later when the crushing pressure of the water gave way to black nothingn
ess. At this point, Kazin cast a spell to light his surroundings and was thankful he did. A flat obsidian floor was immediately below him, and he barely had time to change course to avoid crashing into it at high speed. As he flew along the endless floor, he slowed and put his clawed feet down to screech to a halt. When he finally came to a stop, he canceled his shield spell and checked on his passengers.
The companions were still there, but they had been buffeted about from the wild ride. Sherman had tumbled back to Kazin’s tail. He looked like he was going to be sick. Harran hung down the side of the dragon’s body, held tightly by the strong hairy arm of the minotaur, who’s other hand was dug deeply into Kazin’s wing with his long claws. Only Olag had not changed position. His scaly hands and feet had kept him secure during the wild flight.
“Are we there?” asked Sherman shakily, looking around at the circle of light given off by Kazin’s magical light.
Zylor lowered the dwarf to the ground before releasing his own hold on the dragon. His claws left small marks in the dragon’s skin but Kazin gave no indication he felt it. “I suspect we are.”
Harran’s beard was askew as he sat down on the floor with a gasp. “I sure hope the return trip will go a bit easier.”
Olag extracted himself from his position and slid down the dragon’s leg to land on his feet. “That went better than I thought,” he commented.
“Speak for yourself,” grunted Sherman. He carefully crawled down Kazin’s wing to the safety of the floor.
With everyone off of his back, Kazin transformed back into his human form. The light he was emitting a moment ago, which seemed to emanate from his reptilian body, now shone with even greater intensity from the orb atop his staff. “I think we should rest,” he stated matter-of-factly. No one argued.
They withdrew some food they had brought with them for the journey and had a quick dinner break. Then Kazin rose to his feet and stretched. “It’s time to move on. I’d rather not spend the night here if I can help it - not that daytime around here looks any different.”
Sherman finished his mug of water and rose. “I’m with you. Lead on.”
The others packed up their mugs and stood, looking expectantly at the mage. Kazin chanted a spell and his staff pulled imperceptibly to the left. “This way.”
They walked for only about five minutes before a golden door framed in a steel doorway appeared ahead of them. It was only the door and frame. Nothing was around it. It seemed out of place in the vast emptiness of the void they were in.
“It’s the same as last time,” concluded the dwarf. “The words of warning are above the door.”
“Yes,” said Sherman. He walked around to the other side of the door. “The saying on this side reads ‘The future - to escape the past without fulfilling your destiny will lead to a dead future.’” He turned to Kazin. “Do you suppose someone went through this door and caused a dead future like you were describing?”
“It’s certainly possible,” said Kazin.
“Then do we go through and bring whoever it was back?” asked Olag.
“No,” answered the mage. “I think the better course of action would be to go into the past and prevent them from doing it in the first place - if that’s what is causing the problem. We don’t know for sure. In addition, I do know the problem originates before your current time, because the ‘malfunction’, if you will, has already begun.”
“Can you control where we end up?” asked Zylor. “You were amazingly accurate in arriving at the arena to find me.”
“That’s because I had already been there before,” said Kazin. “I can use magic to go where I’ve already been and when, although the ‘when’ part is difficult. In this case, according to my calculations, the rate of the disappearances tells me we’ll have to go back many years, to around the time of the dragon wars.”
Sherman whistled. “That was an interesting time in our history.”
Kazin nodded. “There were many records, some true, some fictional, about occurrences during that time. Many scholars to this day still debate about what really did or did not happen. I’m hoping we can use that as a smokescreen to do what we have to do, because the more we interfere, the more unstable the future can become.”
“So you’re saying we should go in, do our thing, and get out with as little fuss as possible.”
Kazin nodded. “Yes. But it may not be easy. There are many thieves and brigands during that time. Any one of them could be essential in how our future turns out. We can’t just kill them if they stumble upon us. If we have to kill in self-defense, it will have to be as a last resort only.”
“That will be difficult,” rumbled the minotaur.
Kazin sighed. “I know. But if we don’t at least attempt this, the future as we know it will disappear anyway.”
“Then let’s get on with it,” said Harran resolutely.
Kazin nodded. He read the side of the door that led into the past. “The past - Do not disturb the sands of time. To do so will ensure your destruction.”
“Then let’s ensure our destruction,” intoned Zylor.
Kazin cast a spell that he hoped would send them back to the right time in history upon entering the doorway. “Remember to keep as silent as possible so as not to disturb the creatures that linger there,” cautioned Kazin. He cautiously turned the brass doorknob but it was stuck. Then he grinned sheepishly. “Oh, yeah. I forgot. This happened last time.” He raised his staff and pointed it at the door. With slight concentration, the doorknob turned and the door opened outward. Without looking back, the companions stepped through the opening and the door closed behind them with an audible ‘click’.
Chapter 5
The five companions congregated on a small ledge just big enough for them to stand in a tight group. The air was damp and oppressive. The light from Kazin’s staff penetrated only so far before being swallowed up by a thick fog. Two posts stood at one end of the ledge and were attached to a swinging crosswalk constructed of wood and rope. It swayed ever so slightly and creaked under the stress of its own weight. Rope railings lined either side of the narrow bridge, whose rungs faded off into the unknown. Turning back was not an option. The door they had entered by had vanished. Peering over the edge of the ledge only confirmed what they already knew from previous experience. The ledge appeared to be free floating. There was nothing but air underneath. The only way they could go was along the crosswalk. It sloped downward toward the middle.
“You lead the way, Zylor,” whispered Kazin. “Olag, you follow. Have your bow ready. I’ll go in the middle to provide light and magical support. Sherman, you’re next. Harran, you take rear guard.”
Harran nodded. “Same order as last time.”
Kazin nodded. “Any questions?” Everyone shook their heads and drew their weapons.
Zylor tentatively stepped onto the bridge. It creaked but held. He took several slow steps and Olag followed. The others fell into step behind them, an equal distance apart.
With agonizing slowness, they made their way across the bridge, not wanting to awaken the creatures they knew lurked beyond the shadows. All went well for a while, and they reached what they assumed to be the middle of the crosswalk without incident. At this point the bridge began to rise in front of them. The only thing they could hear was the creaking of the crosswalk and their own breathing.
Suddenly, a shriek broke the stillness up ahead, followed by a blood curdling scream. The companions paused and looked at one another in alarm. They had not done anything to alert the creatures of their presence, yet something must have detected them.
More shrieks rent the air ahead followed by several flashes of light. “Get back!” cried a feminine voice. More flashes followed; then more shrieks. The companions soon realized it was not they who had been detected, but someone up ahead.
They didn’t have a chance to think about it as Sherman signale
d a warning. Something was coming toward them from the rear. Harran braced himself to contend with the approaching creature. It appeared to be some sort of zombie, its decayed flesh and torn clothing an ugly sight to behold.
The bridge vibrated with the approach of many feet. “We have to keep moving!” whispered Kazin as loudly as he dared. More screams were heard ahead of them. Kazin cast a shield above them just as a black bat-like object flew at them, screeching a warning cry to its counterparts. The companions had been detected.
The bat thing didn’t get very far as it smashed into Kazin’s invisible shield. It fell silently into the blackness below.
Harran sliced off the approaching zombie’s head with his ice axe and stepped back as its instantly frozen body fell toward him. Its body, brittle as glass, shattered loudly as it struck the bridge slats. “So much for silence,” he grumbled. He turned and headed after the others who were already moving forward rapidly. More shrieks sounded all around them and flashes appeared ahead of them again.
Zylor was moving too fast for Kazin’s shield to cover him when a bat thing came screeching toward him. It never reached him as Olag shot two rapidly fired arrows into it. It whooshed past the minotaur harmlessly. The minotaur turned to nod his thanks when two more of those beasts came at him from either side. One fell to Olag’s next arrow and the other one would have struck the minotaur had it not been fried by Kazin’s lightning bolt. Zylor was merely showered with its ashes. By this time the others caught up to him and he surged ahead once more. But he didn’t get far. His right leg broke through one of the wooden slats and he fell awkwardly. Olag ran to assist him in getting disentangled while Kazin did his best to shoot any of the flying creatures that threatened them.
Behind, more zombies appeared and were gaining on them, so Harran and Sherman had to turn to face their attack. Harran chopped mercilessly with the ice axe and Sherman swung his sword above the dwarf’s head whenever there was an opening. He had a strange expression on his face as he struck his first enemy in the shoulder. He glanced at his sword in consternation and his face reddened. No one had time to notice the big warrior’s hesitation. They all had their hands full. Black bat things rammed ineffectively against Kazin’s shield as Zylor was finally freed and the group moved forward again. The pause was good in that a number of zombie bodies were now blocking the path to the rear. Zombies had to throw their counterparts over the side of the bridge to give chase.
Spirit Blade: Book III of the Dragon Mage Trilogy Page 5
