“I am Father... I am.”
CHAPTER SEVEN: The Dragol
The king of Angweleth pushed on the wall located at the north wing of the Castle of Alvo. The wall became two enormous doors enamored with stained glass and metal decorations that reflected the moonlight in glistening brilliance. They swung open, creaking as they did. Sidion Vror entered a huge room whose walls were lined with bookshelves as tall as four gigantic men on the magnitude of Ivan the terrible, standing on top of each other. The room was circular in shape and its walls shot up far above the floor of the room, with the walls angling inwards in a cone like shape, but leaving a smaller circular skylight at the top, which allowed a wash of light to fall straight down unto the large oval table that sat right in the center of the room. The room was designed to illuminate the table by sun or moonlight, while leaving everything else bathed in relative darkness. Sidion approached the table at the head of the oval table, drew back his chair, and sat down. There were eight chairs in total with two at the head and end, and three riding around the bulge of the oval shape on either side. Six hooded figures were seated on the chairs on the side while Sidion sat at the head and Trudor sat at the end.
“It seems as though you have run into unexpected problems Sidion.” One of the hooded figures leaned forward a bit and turned its head in Sidion’s direction. The wash of moonlight caught its face, revealing scaly skin, thin pupils and an orange colored cornea. The scales on the skin and the flesh beneath them were a grayish asparagus color. The creature opened its mouth to speak again. It had a masculine voice. “You’ve been away for a few days.” It continued.
“I was handling pressing affairs.”
“What affairs?” The question was asked by a different figure. The voice was feminine.
“They do not concern you. Have you made progress with the other kingdoms?”
“Sidion” called out the first voice. “Remember your place well. Remember what could happen to your people if you begin to make... callous decisions.”
“I am well aware of this...”
“Then you will tell us what we need to know.” A third whispery voice spoke up. Sidion chuckled a bit and then burst out into laughter. He leaned back in his chair and placed his left hand on his belly as he did so.
“Have you gone mad from your trip?” The very first dragol who had spoken said in a slightly raised voice. Sidion suddenly stopped and glared at him.
“Why are you so interested in this trip of mine? It is my kingdom to travel in as I wish is it not?”
“Sidion...”
“King Sidion!” He yelled harshly. “You speak of consequences. Remember that your plan is made that much more perilous without my aid. After all, the length of your presence in my realm is still very brief. You threaten every soul in my kingdom with death, and yet the two souls that mean the most to me... are no more.” Sidion got up from his chair and walked slowly and deliberately around the table. The room was dead silent except for the tap of his footsteps on the ground. He made his way around the oval table and stopped at the chair of the first dragol who had spoken. Sidion leaned in and rested on the table so that his head was at about the same height as the sitting creature. He looked around the table at everyone.
“Do you really think I have that much to lose?” He finally said.
“Your hatred for the gods is all encompassing. One decimated kingdom would never satiate it. I promised you vengeance upon them. You promised me dominion over the new beginning. I will have what is mine and you what is yours, but do not think me a pawn, or else we will have neither... but...” Sidion glared with a stern face at the dragol he had leaned next to.
“I’ll still be king!” He finally yelled. He looked at Trudor and motioned to him. They both began walking out of the room.
“I’ll find the relic you crave so much. Left behind by of all people, a man you hate, a man who killed three of your siblings.” Sidion turned around at the door to face the six hooded dragol who sat still at the table.
“Tell your Omni Principal that he has nothing to worry about.”
“We will be sure to...Sidion. Though I doubt that there is nothing to worry about, considering that the relic King Rikard left behind is still out there. Do not fail human. If you do, death to you and your people will be the least of your concerns.” The dragols stood up.
“I will let you know when we have made considerable progress with the other kingdoms.” The first dragol to speak said with an air of finality.
And with that, they vanished instantly.
“Come Trudor. We have some work to do.” Sidion pushed through the huge doors and stepped out of the room, walking briskly as Trudor kept pace behind him.
“Your highness was it wise to provoke them so?” Trudor asked.
“Sometimes, brash moves need to be taken as well.” Sidion responded, while keeping a steady pace.
“Your highness you withheld the truth about Rikard Miljorn’s heir. They could be of use in ridding yourself of that threat.”
“They would also rid this world of my daughter along with him. They already tried once. I will not set them upon her again.” King Sidion stopped and slammed his hand on the side of one of the cylindrical columns that lined the bridge way leading to the north wing of the palace.
“Foolish girl! She should have known her place.” He breathed in deeply and briefly closed his eyes as he recollected himself. “Right now Trudor, the safest place for her to be, is with him.”
“Your highness...” Trudor trailed off.
“What is it?” Sidion asked.
“Well... you say it as though you believe that the boy’s silly quest will succeed.”
Sidion turned and stared at Trudor briefly. His gaze shifted towards the expanse of buildings that fell away with the receding slope, beyond the compound of his castle. The moonlight had turned a black night bluish.
“Let us focus on what must be done. Trudor give Nistam instructions to speak to him about the gauntlet. Find out if he knows anything and listen well for what you might hear. I need to make preparations in turn. Report back to me all you find discover.”
“Your highness” Trudor bowed respectfully, and walked off briskly, leaving King Sidion to his thoughts.
Six portals opened and through them, raced six winged figures, soaring in the night sky, which had a purplish hue and cast a light of similar color on the land below. The land was carved up into large and deep crevices such that whole men could fall in between them to their deaths. But men were not the beings that existed in this realm. Yellow flames welled up from the crevices licking the surface of the terrain and charring it black. Spiked crystalline tree like structures with thorns instead of leaves could be seen scattered across the land below. They sparkled in the purplish hue that draped the entire environment. Voices could be heard from the crevices and every so often, large groups of lizard like creatures, dragol, would slither unto the surface. The six dragol flapped their wings occasionally and soared along through the night sky.
“Why didn’t you rip his spine out Balek?” The dragol with the feminine voice asked. “A mere human should never be allowed to speak to us that way!”
“Calm yourself Viritania. We still need Sidion and his loyal dogs. Omni has made it clear we are not to kill him. His personal greed for power will keep him under our control.”
“I believe he knows we are responsible for his daughter’s death.”
“His daughter is not dead, though he does know that we attacked her, the same as he knows you brought his wife to her end. They left us no choice. Human females are even more unpredictable than their male counterparts.”
“She’s not dead?”
“When he leaned next to me, I caught the scent of her life energy. He was drenched in it. No corpse could give off such a scent. However, that is the least of my concerns.”
The six dragol banked left in their flight and approached a massive structure in the distance. It seemed as though the terrain had collected upon itself a
nd built up into this enormous wide and tall tower that reached into the clouds above. The features were very similar to the rest of the terrain, with glowing flickering lights from flames burning within the structure. All around it were flat rectangular protrusions, which jutted out underneath large rectangular openings. Other circular openings released plumes of smoke into the air constantly. The six dragol pulled in their wings and dropped altitude, extending them again and flapping to land softly on one of the rectangular protrusions.
“What are you talking about Balek?” Viritania asked, as she along with the other dragol retracted their wings into their back. The wings became stub protrusions on each shoulder. Their tails swayed slowly back and forth as they walked towards the open rectangular window.
“The gauntlet of Feona is not the only relic Rikard Miljorn left behind... For unless he lives, the other life energy I sensed off of Sidion Vror was of Miljorn origin.”
“Then we must hurry to Omni.” One of the other dragol said as he walked faster ahead of Balek and Viritania. “No wonder he was not forth coming about his whereabouts. His daughter is with a Miljorn descendant.”
They stepped inside the structure and made their way past other dragol patrolling the interior structure, standing guard, or engaged in other activities. The interior of the largely cylindrical structure was divided into different levels with ringed platforms defining each level. These platforms extended all the way from the edge of the interior wall and stopped close to the center. Therefore, there was a hole in the center of the structure created by the ringed platforms aligned on top of each other. At the very center of the structure, was a massive metallic sphere with many shifting plates and pieces representing the land masses of Terrianus. A number of dragol walked around the sphere, monitoring it and then manipulating machinery that inscribed letters in a language unknown to any human, unto steel slabs. These slabs were then carried off by other dragol. The six dragol made their way through co-joined rooms that led to other rooms through open doorways with no doors hinged to the walls. The last room opened up to a large set of steps that led to an open roof area. When the dragol got to the top, there was one more awaiting them. He was a bit larger than the other six and stood with his bat like wings – they all had bat like wings – extended as he watched the terrain stretch away from the building. “You’ve come back.” The large dragol turned around. As he did, the other dragol bowed and dropped to a single knee.
“So, what progress have you made?”
“Our seeds are slowly getting closer to their targets. Once they have come within striking distance, they will not fail and the humans will watch as their world collapses around them.”
“What about Sidion? Has he come any closer to locating the gauntlet of Feona?”
The six knelt silently for a while, not speaking. The larger dragol stepped forward a step or two.
“Do you not here me speak?!”
“He is searching as we speak... Omni...” Balek said finally.
“Are the words you utter lies or truth.”
“They are nothing but the truth.”
“Then why do you hesitate?”
“Sidion... I believe he’s trying to keep a secret from us. I picked up life energy from him during the meeting. It was Miljorn life energy.”
“What? Can you be sure?”
“I fought alongside you Omni, when three of our siblings were killed. I’ll never forget that life energy.”
“Omni” Said Viritania “Do we place a seed on him as well?”
The dragol put his hands behind his back and paced back and forth for a bit in deep thought. Finally he came to a stop in front of the other six dragol.
“No. There would not be enough time. Besides, those who have surrounded him will surely see through that. Balek can you trace his life energy?”
“Yes.”
“Then I shall unleash you upon them. You have half a moon in the human world. Take whomever you need.”
Balek smiled menacingly.
“The blenders will do just fine.”
The sword raced across the air in a sideways swoop. Its blade glistened reflecting the sun rays that struck its smooth surface, back skywards. In that instant, it looked like a blade of light sweeping gracefully through. Strands of brown hair were sliced off as the sword continued on its arching sweep. Davydd took a quick step back, finding his balance and blocking the follow up sideways slash of Baximus Bastien. Baximus stepped back and evaded Davydd’s counter sideway strike by stepping to his left while parrying Davydd’s sword blow with his sword. He then shifted his weight towards Davydd, swinging his sword downwards in a fast and hard motion. Again, Davydd stopped the attack with his sword and pushed back up on Baximus’s sword, while sweeping his right foot to take Baximus’s feet from under him. Baximus jumped to evade the tackle, but was caught in the mid-section by Davydd, who had pivoted on the right foot and slammed his left foot like a sledge hammer into Baximus. Davydd’s back hit the floor and almost instantly he shot up from it and sprang to his feet, evading another head decapitating blow by arching backwards. He and Baximus clashed swords repeatedly, blocking and weaving and countering attacks. Davydd launched into a series of thrusting lunges at Baximus, who managed to slam down his sword on Davydd’s, thus breaking one of the thrusting attacks. He then twisted Davydd’s right arm clockwise, forcing Davydd to pivot around. Baximus then locked Davydd’s arm behind his back in a vice like grip, and rested his sword right below Davydd’s jaw.
“Got...” It was all he would say in the moment. Davydd head butted Baximus and slammed his sheath into his armpit by tilting it downwards, thus making the rest of sheath swing upwards. With Baximus disoriented, Davydd slipped down beneath Baximus’s sword and swung with his sheath in his left hand, taking Baximus’s legs from under him. Baximus fell with a loud thud, to the ground and Davydd pressed his blade to Baximus’s neck. His left knee pressed on Baximus’s sword holding right arm as well.
“Got you.” Davydd smiled as Baximus panted and returned the smile.
“Your improvement is remarkable.”
“It has only been made possible with your teachings father.” Davydd said as he helped Baximus up to his feet. They sheathed their swords and walked back to the forest area where the others were located.
My father always told me “never hesitate.”
Davydd had used that to avoid defeat during their training. He frowned.
“What concerns you boy?” Baximus asked, noticing the frown.
“The next time I face Sidion, I will be ready.”
Baximus sighed as they began to navigate their way through the brush and foliage.
“I see that you and Vannera have gotten close this past moon.”
“Well... I...”
“It’s okay son. You are young. This is the time to love, to dream, to want and to yearn. I have no quarrels with you on that.”
Davydd smiled as they kept walking in silence for a while.
“Have you discussed this with Vannera?” Baximus asked as he stopped and turned to face Davydd.
“Yes... we have... back in Windhaven.”
“And...”
“She tells me she will not lose sleep over his death...”
“You don’t believe her do you?”
“No...”
“Davydd, the man you speak about killing happens to be the father of the girl you have taken interest to. Think about it... If I betrayed you and our paths led us on an inevitable clash, would your heart be devoid of turmoil?”
Davydd kept mute as they resumed walking and began to carefully make their way down a steep slope. Above them in the upper canopies of the forest, the day time birds and animals chirped and called out to each other in an odd combination of cacophonous sounds and singing melodies that combined to create a sort of forest music.
“Maybe Sidion’s heart’s in turmoil too.” Davydd finally said.
Baximus looked at him inquisitively and Davydd continued.
&
nbsp; “I don’t believe he sent those monsters... the dragol, after her. If Sidion really wanted her dead, he could have had it so during the battle at Windhaven, but he didn’t. Instead...” Davydd trailed off as he recalled Sidion’s words.
Daughter... I know what you are thinking, but everything I have done and am doing is for Angweleth.
“Instead?” Baximus asked, trying to urge Davydd along.
“Instead he tried to reason with her... with us.” Davydd sighed.
“The dragol... They took it upon themselves. If that’s the case... then they could very well take it upon themselves again.”
“You believe Sidion is locked in a power struggle?”
“Yes... I need to understand him a little better.”
They came to a clearing where Leo stood watch as Matilom and Vannera sat on the grass, legs folded and facing each other, with their hands raised up slightly as if carrying two rocks on each palm. Davydd turned to Baximus.
“You knew him best it seems. So please father... whenever you can share.”
“Of course.”
Davydd and Baximus walked over to where Leo was standing and observed the old wizard and the princess.
“What are they doing?” Davydd asked.
“She’s learning to see the unseen.” Leo replied with a smirk.
“See the unseen? Is that possible?”
“Yes... for one whose magical aura dictates as such. Princess Vannera here has a natural spirit sense.”
“Meaning, she can see the unseen?”
Leo chuckled.
“Meaning she can sense that which we cannot and in some cases see that which we cannot as well. Listen closely. What do you hear?”
Davydd looked in the direction of Matilom and Vannera, and strained his ears to pick up any sound he hadn’t already heard but he couldn’t. He turned back to Leo.
“I don’t hear anything.”
“You haven’t listened hard enough Davydd. Listen again.” Davydd sighed and wore an exasperated look at Leo. Despite that, he focused on Vannera and Matilom once more. A few seconds passed by, and then he heard it. It was a faint whooshing sound, made in intervals. Davydd slowly stepped closer to Vannera and Matilom. On the forest ground, Vannera could also hear the whooshing sound and Matilom’s voice in her mind as he guided her.
Metal and Magic: A Fantasy Journey Page 70
