Mastering the Elements: Elwin Escari Chronicles: Volume 2

by David Ekrut

  As the dragon’s body fell, Abaddon incanted again. The body fractured into water and dissipated into vapor.

  The closest dragon took a backward stride, while others raced to incant a dimensional folding. One by one, the dragons fled.

  Elwin hovered for a few more seconds, stunned by the display of raw power. The Seeker of Souls stood beneath him, looking at his hands like a child examining a brand new toy.

  When Abaddon’s face turned upward, Elwin felt his heart skip a beat. The orb was dozens of feet away from the man. He could still have what he’d come for.

  He found his lips moving of their own accord. This was a bad plan. His essence was all but spent. But he had to try. He could not leave without the Incanter’s Blade. Filling himself with power, he burnt his essence. The Seeker’s movements slowed beneath him. Elwin jaunted to the orb and took hold of it. Abaddon’s head was cocked to the side, lips moving.

  Elwin had no desire to see what incantation he would produce.

  He focused his thoughts on the street below and incanted the dimensional folding once more. Seconds later, Elwin stood on the cobbles with bodies all around. At first, he could not make himself move. Then, he released the power in his essence and staggered.

  He stood amongst dozens of dead magi, holding the orb he’d stolen from them. Above him, Abaddon had returned.

  “The Lifebringer save me,” Elwin said to the empty street. “What have I done?”

  “Elwin?”

  Just inside the manor, he could see Daki lying against Taego, holding his bandaged midsection. His eyes flittered open when Elwin approached.

  “You got the artifact,” Daki said with a weary smile.

  A loud crash sounded above him.

  “Yes. And it’s time to go.”

  He shoved the orb into his cloak pocket. Grabbing Daki’s shoulder and gripping Taego’s fur, Elwin incanted them away.

  ~

  Bain could feel his body move, his mouth speak. But it was not he who guided his own hand.

  He could now see all of Abaddon’s lies. Their minds were as one. He felt begrudging awe at the careful maneuvering and manipulations over the centuries to lead to this very moment.

  Taking Bain had been Abaddon’s plan from the beginning. To gain a construct, Abaddon had needed a willing sacrifice. Like a fool, Bain had done so to spare Elwin this burden. Athina had been right all along. But he could do nothing now, except watch.

  As Abaddon looked up, Bain could see his son through Abaddon’s eyes. But Elwin became a blur, and Abaddon’s meager essence was all but drained. He had escaped, but Elwin was far from safe. Hearing Abaddon’s thoughts, Bain feared for Elwin.

  No. Bain feared for the entire world.

  What in the abyss had he done?

  Chapter 62

  The Awakening

  Anetia,

  I leave this final missive where I know you can find it. I fled to Churwood only to find an ambush waiting. I see now that it is you who has moved against me, and not Lendantis at all. When I thought you imprisoned, I fought for your freedom. But you were working with him—my largest detractor—all this time. You have been a companion all my life. How could you do this?

  You should know, Lendantis is dead, as well as the rest of the conclave here. I hope you know it was in self-defense. I did not mean for any of this. I will wait for you in Norscelt, that place we first met. Come alone, or I will attack the Makers by the only means in which they will understand. I believe you were right, about Abaddon, about the dragons, about all of it. I need to fix this, and I cannot without you. Let us make amends. Go to Karsdale, to an inn named The Dirty Candle. Be patient, I will find you.

  ~Ricaria Beratum, 2998 A.S.

  ~

  Zarah stared at the other woman. It would only take her seconds to lift that bow and fire. If she did, Zarah would have no choice but to tame. She’d come too far to lose. She’d lost too much. Whatever the cost, even her essence, she would reach her home.

  Behind the woman, an intense light flashed from one of the other aeries. Several dragons surrounded it, held aloft by currents of Air. They exchanged glances, speaking in a language she’d never heard. It was not the articulation of the Words of Power. They spoke to one another in a foreign tongue.

  “What in the abyss are you looking at, girl?”

  The woman shifted to see outside without losing Zarah from her periphery.

  “Dragons take me, but that’s a lot of thumping dragons.”

  One by one, they surged away from the aerie. They flapped their massive wings, flying to the north at great speeds.

  “Right,” the woman said. “It is your lucky day, girl.”

  Zarah regarded the woman. “How so?”

  “Turns out, I don’t know how to get down from this place. If there was more time, I’d consider hitting each of those little symbols until I was closer to the ground.” She nodded toward the city. “Get me down from here, and I’ll see you safely away from this city. As far as that abandoned town to the west. Deal?”

  She did not know of the town, but she wanted to be away from here as fast as possible. The woman looked capable. But could she be trusted?

  “What happens after that?”

  “We go our separate ways.”

  “What is your name? And why are you here? You clearly are not a magus.”

  “I’m Jesnia, and like a fool, I came here chasing after a different fool. I realized I was in over my head and would like to get the thump out of here.” She held out her hand. “Do we have a deal?”

  Zarah took the woman’s hand and shook. “We do.”

  “Good,” she said, letting go. “Now get me the abyss down from here.”

  Zarah was happy to do just that.

  ~

  As the rooftop materialized beneath him, Jax put a hand on Daren’s arm. Above him, dozens of dragons swirled around the aerie like buzzards surrounding a carcass.

  “Don’t move,” Jax said, reading over the scroll. “This portal can take us to other aeries.”

  “What is taking Elwin?”

  “He isn’t coming?” Jax said. “He ran the other way.”

  “We cannot leave him again. I am going back.”

  “No! Look at all those thumping things! He chose to stay. Please, Daren. You will die for nothing. He can jaunt himself about, remember? We can’t.”

  Daren glanced up. Dragons filled the sky. For the first time since meeting the man, Daren’s face paled. Finally, the large man nodded.

  “Good. Let’s go.”

  As Jax knelt, Daren asked, “Where will it take us?”

  “I don’t rightly care at the moment. You?”

  “No. Just get us out of here.”

  Jax found the first symbol and lined it up on the portal. Yes, this one would take him to the swords. He activated it. The odd sensation came and vanished.

  Another cavern surrounded him. This one had a dragon statue in the corner. Much like the previous aerie, treasures laid off to the side. Though, one podium had fallen over. Another was empty. There was only one blade.

  Jax ran to the artifacts.

  There were scuff marks next to the fallen column, as if something heavy had been dragged off, but then the markings vanished.

  “How do we get the sword?” Daren asked.

  “Really easily,” Jax said, flipping to the correct page. He read it again to make sure he’d matched the correct solution to the correct trap.

  He pulled a dagger and sliced into his palm. Still, his fingers trembled when he reached for the hilt. According to the notes, this trap would turn him into a bronze statue. When he took hold of it, a jolt of energy traveled through him.

  Shivering, he pulled the weapon free of the scabbard and marveled at the glyphs covering it. They illuminated and traveled up the blad
e.

  “Blood? That’s it?”

  “Aye. It was a bond ward. To draw the heartblade, you have to bond it with blood. See, it says it right here.”

  “Bond?”

  “No idea,” Jax admitted.

  “What is it doing?”

  Jax frowned as he watched the glyphs. Their glow increased in intensity. He tried to drop the weapon, but it clung to him. The silver blade turned translucent. It shifted and morphed as he gripped the hilt. Fatigue washed over him. His palm vibrated. He staggered.

  The blade shifted, shrinking from a broadsword to a saber. Slowly, the glow subsided then vanished altogether. His fingers released the hilt. The weapon clattered to the ground.

  He and Daren stared at it for several seconds.

  Daren broke the silence. “Did the book say anything about that?”

  “No. Dragons take me to the ninth circle if it did.”

  Jax picked the weapon up and let it go. Nothing happened. He returned it to the scabbard and took both.

  “Is it safe?”

  Jax shrugged. “Let’s get the rest of these and get out of here.”

  With Daren’s help, Jax also acquired a flute that would charm people to sleep, a cook pan that would heat itself, a flask that never ran out of spirits, and a manual of instruction for the heartblade—which seemed ridiculous. It was a sword. Why did it need such a thick volume to describe its uses?

  Jax moved to the final podium and deactivated the ward. Atop it was a rock, polished to look like a battering ram, but according to the notes, it would grow and shrink at command. He’d seen one like it used outside. As he reached to deactivate the ward, the ground vibrated beneath him.

  He turned to see boulders fall away from the dragon statue in the corner. Enough fell away for him to glimpse scales beneath.

  “The Seeker take me,” Jax said, snatching the artifact. “Thumping run!”

  Jax reached the portal more swiftly than when he’d come, with Daren fast on his heels. The moment Daren stepped up beside him, Jax sent them to the manor below. He looked up to see the dragon standing at the edge of the aerie above.

  It shook the remnants of stone from its back and leapt in the air. More dragons emerged from the mouths of other aeries.

  Jax exchanged a look with Daren. What in the abyss had just happened?

  ~

  When the field materialized around him, Elwin let go of Daki and Taego. Holding onto them wasn’t necessary of course, but he’d found it made focusing on the dimensional folding easier.

  “How do you feel?” Elwin asked.

  “We will live.”

  Taego didn’t raise his head, but he still let out a long rumble.

  “Blame is the weapon of those without the heart to embrace their own fate,” Daki said.

  The bear snorted and closed his eyes.

  Daki opened his mouth to speak and stopped. The smile faded from his eyes. Elwin followed his gaze back to the city of Abadaria.

  Dragons emerged from many of the aeries. Some glanced about like birds testing the air before flight. Others had already leapt into the skies to test their wings. Others still flew up from the city as if escaping their cages. One swooped very low to the ground, its tail striking the top of the wall as it passed and flew west.

  A man with dark armor sat upon its back.

  Elwin cupped his hands around his face to shield his eyes from the setting sun. Bain held his head high, urging the dragon to fly higher. It circled the city in wide arcs, before landing somewhere inside the city. Another group of dragons made haste to the south.

  Without asking, Elwin grabbed his companions and jaunted them to the west.

  The bear grunted his displeasure, but Daki nodded his approval. Elwin moved them again and again, until reaching the center of the small city they’d passed to reach Abadaria.

  When he stopped, his head ached. His body felt weak.

  Daki leaned against the wall of a building with a large map etched into it. Taego laid his head against the multi-colored tiles and closed his eyes. Beneath the bear was a massive clean patch, where dust had not touched the cobbled square in some time. Dirt covered every other surface.

  After a few moments of staring, Elwin realized a dragon must have slept here. Looking up, he could see no sign of the creature.

  “The Awakening,” Daki said, moving to a bench in front of a building that could have only been an inn. “It has truly begun.”

  “Aye,” Elwin agreed, sitting next to him. “And now Abaddon has returned. And I helped Bain bring him back.”

  “This is not your doing,” Daki said, but his voice was uncertain.

  “It is. But I will find a way to fix it.”

  “We will find a way.”

  “No,” Elwin said. “Look at you. I cannot place you in harm’s way. Not again.”

  “My path is not your choice. This is between the Lady and myself.”

  “I have to go back to the jaunters. The Order of the Sun and Stars will be expecting me. They will not let you come with me.”

  “Taego and I will wait for you.”

  “Where?” Elwin asked. “This is not your home.”

  “Forests are in abundance here. We will find a place. Worry about your training.”

  “But I need you to return to Justice.” Elwin pulled the incantia from his pack. He’d spent so much time studying it. Parting with the tome felt like losing a limb. He pushed it into Daki’s hand. “I need you to take this back to Zaak. For me.”

  “How? The Stones are beyond my reach. I have not the gold to charter a vessel.”

  “I will take you to the Stones on my way to Wiltshire. They are both west of here. Please, this might be their only hope. I never should have left with it.”

  Daki took the incantia, staring at it as though he might hand it back. Finally, he nodded and said, “I will do this for you.”

  Taego grunted, but it sounded like approval, rather than annoyance.

  Elwin felt a small weight vanish from his shoulders. “Thank you. Both of you. I couldn’t have come so far without you.”

  “And now you will battle alone.”

  Elwin nodded, knowing there was no other way.

  Epilogue

  Zarah peeked from an alley.

  “We need to keep moving,” Jesnia said from behind her.

  Zarah paced a finger to her lips and pointed. Jesnia moved in beside her and watched.

  Dozens of robed figures stood in a mass before a man in black armor, fear clear in their expressions. None dared move as he regarded them. Blood dripped from the tip of the jagged sword in the man’s hand. Five bodies laid at his feet.

  He raised his free hand in a calming gesture. Several of the magi flinched.

  The man smiled and said, “You all know me by reputation only, but I have not returned to destroy you. In fact, I carry three thousand years of knowledge that I wish to share. It is true, I quarreled with your ancestors, but we are not destined to repeat the folly of those fools from long ago. Do you agree?”

  Most did not move, but several gave the hints of a nod.

  “You killed them,” a woman said, pointing at the pool of blood.

  “Aye. I did, but they attacked without a word of warning. Do I not have the right to defend myself?”

  “This is our home. You are the trespasser.”

  “Oh? Did you purchase that villa?” the man pointed. “It is my design. Before our falling out, King Abadaria gifted me the land on which to build my home. The aerie above belonged to Raythinius, a dragon I served for many years as a magus in the conclave of the Invisible Fist. Once upon a time, we were all Keepers. That home over there belonged to my wife. This is the place of my birth. So I ask, who is the trespasser?”

  The woman gaped, the anger vanishing as quickly as it had c
ome. All of their faces changed as they continued to regard him. They believed him. He claimed to be over three thousand years old? This wasn’t possible. Who was this man?

  “I have watched from the shadow realm for all these years, watching your petty squabbling with the other orders. You feared the Farseers would someday betray you and share your secrets. They have, as you have betrayed theirs. The Makers, the Invisible Fists, the Order of the Sun and Stars, and all the others have spat upon the principles that once gave you immense power over these lands. But no more. I have returned with a purpose. You are that purpose. You call yourselves the Keepers of the Dragonkin, but I tell you the truth, the dragonkin are now bound to my life in this vessel. If I fall, they all fall. I can feel them, even now, flying above, circling this city. They are mine. If you wish to serve them, you will follow me. What say you?”

  “No!” one man shouted. “We have the elders. They stepped out of time to come here. They lead us.”

  “And where are they now?”

  “Fled,” a woman shouted. “Galivant abandoned us.”

  “Abaddon, Seeker of Souls,” a man said, stepping forward. He knelt and bowed his head. “I swear my fealty to you.”

  Zarah felt her heart beating faster. She wanted to turn and run, but her feet would not move. She could not tear her eyes from the scene.

  “Shh,” Abaddon said. “Do not speak that name. Call me Bain, lest you warn my enemies that I come.”

  “Yes, my liege.”

  “Rise and stand beside me.”

  The man obeyed, but before he could find his place, another magus stepped forward and pledged fealty. One by one, they came swearing to serve the Seeker.

  Zarah repeated Abaddon’s words in her mind, and one phrase in particular stood out. If I fall, they all fall. She could end this now. If she but dared to act, she could kill Abaddon and free Arinth of the dragons. With so many magi, there would be only one chance. She would need to tame the lightning hurl and throw before any noticed her.

  “Be ready,” she whispered.

  “What are you doing, girl?” Jesnia asked between gritted teeth.

  She took several breaths to steady her nerves and felt for the power of Air all around. When she began to open her essence to the power, she froze. Images of the future spread out before her. The most solid one stood out immediately.