The Necromancer's Dragon

by C D Muller

  Thor dove in and picked up one of the large rocks before it was positioned on the catapult and headed towards the ram. The oil reeked most foul.

  “Maria knew about you?” Rahim asked.

  “I’m sorry! I was the one who told her after she told me her family secret,” Selena said. “Let’s just focus on this right now!”

  She guided her dragon to the target and, as soon as he dropped it, summoned a shot of fire that encased the boulder. It crashed into the opening and moments later, explosions erupted from within.

  “Yes!” Rahim shouted, but their victory was cut short. Six large mountain trolls quickly swarmed to either side and picked it up off the ground to carry it instead.

  “That’s not fair!” Rahim exclaimed.

  “I don’t think we’re going to win this,” Selena whispered and looked out towards the setting sun as it disappeared behind the mountains.

  To both Selena’s and Thor’s astonishment, the siege towers stopped, as well as the rest of the Lich’s army. They turned back around and walked towards the forest, leaving their equipment behind.

  What is this? Is this some sort of trickery?

  I don’t know. It looks like a cease fire for now. They may attack again by morning. I think we should go and rest for a bit; I am growing weary.

  Selena nodded and grabbed Thor’s reins, leading him back towards the city.

  Her dragon landed on top of the wall near one of the catapults. Selena tried to help herself off Thor’s saddle, but she missed putting her foot into the stirrup and fell hard beside his talons. Rahim fell off and landed on the ground before scurrying out of the dragon’s way.

  Selena, Thor said, lowering his nose to her level. Tears and blood stained her face. A jolt of pain surged through her chest and she cried out in agony once more.

  I can’t keep doing this, she whispered to her dragon as more tears trickle down her face, there are too many of them…I can’t fight them all!

  But we have to. It is our duty to the Empire.

  “I can't do it all by myself. I’m just one me,” Selena said out loud, and placed her face against Thor’s nose, trying to keep herself from falling over again from exhaustion.

  “We’ll find another plan of attack,” Rahim assured.

  All was still once again, with a disturbing peace that lingered in the air. Thor carried Selena and Rahim on his saddle as he walked along the Alfheim Wall with his wings tucked in to his sides. A few gashes appeared near the base of Thor's neck, with dried blood staining his armor.

  To her horror, she saw bodies of dead soldiers, both from the Lich’s and the Empress's army. The siege tower that made it to the wall earlier lay destroyed over the wreckage of the obliterated catapults and cannons. There were fire pits that helped some of the surviving soldiers watch over the battlefield in case the Lich were to attack once again.

  The stars surprisingly shone brightly. They appeared to be always at peace, even while they watched the land below full of chaos and destruction.

  Selena inhaled deeply and closed her eyes again. She tried to find peace within herself, but the thought of the combat pervaded her mind from earlier.

  “There is only one way to end this. We need to find Ragnarok now,” she said.

  Thor grunted in response. Selena sat straight up on his saddle, frantically looking about her surroundings.

  “I also need to find my friends…are they all right?” Selena jumped off before Thor could answer her. She lifted her head up and saw Niamh and Maria running in her direction. She smiled and tried to force herself to stand up. She felt hands underneath her arms helping her rise to her feet. Selena's smile grew even larger when she saw Maria behind her.

  “Maria explained everything to me,” Niamh said and immediately her face turned red again. “I feel even more ridiculous than before!”

  Selena and Thor exchanged glances.

  “You’re not mad?” she asked.

  “Mad? Why in the Divine’s name would I be mad at you? If anything, you probably hated me for what I did!”

  “I never hated you,” Selena quickly said and her face turned red as well. “I really meant what I said before. I never would have been mad if you had feelings for me, whether or not I was a boy.”

  Niamh’s eyes widened but Rahim walked over and nudged her arm.

  “This is getting ridiculous,” he muttered, but both Niamh and Maria laughed at him.

  “No matter what, we’re with you,” Maria said.

  “Well, I was the one who came up with the plan to get her in the Air Force to begin with,” Rahim said with his nose stuck up in the air, but Niamh just laughed at him.

  “You’re right, Rahim. If it weren’t for you, Thor and I would be lost,” Selena said with a smile, even though the disguise was originally her idea. His face lit up at her compliment.

  Selena noticed that their faces were stained with blood from either their wounds or from their enemies.

  “I’m glad to see that you three are all right,” Selena said with a sigh of relief, “however, we need to do something about the Lich’s army at our door.”

  All was silent once again among the group. Rahim had his hand under his chin, thinking out loud to himself.

  “The Lich and his army are already here,” he said.

  Niamh and Maria glared at him and rolled their eyes.

  “We know,” Maria said in an irritated tone.

  Rahim held up his hands.

  “Please let me finish,” he said, and looked out towards the siege towers, “obviously they have a cease-fire in Alfheim…”

  “We know,” Niamh said, placing her hands on her hips.

  “Wait,” Rahim said, “since they now have a cease-fire in Alfheim, that means that we have a little more time to try to find Ragnarok before the Lich does!”

  Selena nodded.

  “I know,” she said, cleaning the blade of her sword, “but if we go and find it now, that means that we have to make it back before morning.”

  Rahim and Niamh both exchanged glances with each other.

  “Make it back from where?” Rahim asked, “I thought you didn’t know where it was?”

  Selena shook her head.

  “No,” she whispered, “I know where Ragnarok is. Thor and I will go, but all of you need to go and find shelter. I don’t think we’re going to win, which is why right now we should take advantage of this opportunity to stay safe.”

  Rahim shook his head and walked over to Selena, placing his hand on her shoulder.

  “You’re not going alone,” he announced, “you can’t expect to leave me out of your adventure, do you?”

  “It’s too dangerous! I won’t forgive myself if anything were to happen to you,” Selena said, remembering what happened to their home town and to Erik.

  “But, we’ve been through much worse before. I’m not going to just stand here and wonder if you and Thor will make it out alive! I’m going and you can’t stop me!” Rahim climbed up again on Thor’s saddle, sitting in his stubbornness.

  Niamh and Maria exchanged glances.

  “You’re right. We’ll be fine!” Niamh exclaimed.

  “We can at least help those who are in the bunkers underneath the city,” Maria said.

  I admire that you’re trying to look out for your friends, but I think Rahim is dead set on coming with us no matter what, Thor commented.

  Ugh! Fine!

  “I guess you can come with,” Selena muttered; Rahim had a huge grin and ran over to sit near the base of Thor’s neck and grabbed the reins.

  “Let’s go already!”

  Thor stood up on all fours and stretched.

  So what are we waiting for? Let us be off!

  The full moon lingered high in the sky, lighting the pathway for Thor to take. Selena pushed Rahim to the side so she could maneuver.

  “Selena,” Rahim said, looking up at the moon, “Do you know where to go?”

  “I cannot tell you right now. It's too dangerous, b
ut I can at least show you.”

  “But the Lich could see where you're going,” he whispered.

  Selena thought about it for a moment.

  “True enough,” she said, “But the Lich will only see me going somewhere, but not anywhere specifically.”

  The wind blew over her face. Selena inhaled deeply, enjoying flying through the air just out of pure enjoyment instead of using it for aerial combat.

  Thor flew towards the Hinterlands. Selena looked off to the side and pointed at the Raging River, mentioning for Thor to fly down to it. Her dragon gave out a huff and dove towards the ground. Rahim shrieked.

  “I keep forgetting to tell you that I’m still terrified of flying!”

  “This is where we were before when we were traveling with Silver,” Rahim commented, but stopped when he saw the look on Selena’s face.

  “I don’t feel I ever truly apologized for how he treated you. I'm sorry,” she whispered as she stared at her feet, “I feel like I didn’t stand up for you when Silver had his fun…”

  Rahim, at first, looked at her with a surprised expression, but he held up his hand.

  “It's all right,” he replied with a smile. “And Silver did stop after you barked at him for me.”

  “I'm still sorry,” she said with a few tears trickling down her face, “at first, you and Chaliss were the only family that I thought I had other than Thor. And I’ve been meaning to tell you as well. I found out where I came from.”

  Rahim’s eyes widened in wonder.

  “Tell me!” he said.

  As they flew quietly into the forest, Selena explained all that she learned from Silver’s journal. Rahim deserved to know. After all, she always considered him as a brother.

  When she finished, Rahim shook his head and kept opening his mouth but closing it again.

  “Well… now. That is quite interesting,” he said while taking a deep breath. “Are you sure you can trust that madman? After all, he is a bit crazy and this is very far-fetched and…”

  “Why would Silver lie to me about this? My own father confirmed it to me,” Selena said with slight irritation.

  “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to sound as if I’m joking. It’s just, if this is all true, then that means that you were the one that the prophecy was talking about. Remember when I mentioned to you about what my uncle told me? About the prophecy foretelling the coming of the one not born of man? Yes, your mother gave birth to you but you weren’t alive so technically, you weren’t actually ‘born.’ You were actually born from a dragon,” he said with a smile.

  “A Divinity Dragon,” she corrected.

  “So then that means that you and Thor… are blood related?”

  “We’re half siblings.”

  “Wicked. Maybe you’ll have the power to turn into a dragon or something!” Rahim said excitedly.

  “Please don’t tell anyone,” she whispered.

  “Did you hear me blab out your secret about you being a girl? That was you, so you can’t pin that on me,” Rahim said defensively with a laugh.

  “I know and you’re right. But this is more important,” Selena said.

  “I solemnly swear that I will never tell a soul,” Rahim said as if he were bored. Even though he acted like he was joking, Selena knew she could trust him.

  Thor extended his wings and landed softly on the ground near the Raging River. Selena jumped off the saddle and dusted off her arms, but Rahim remained on the dragon.

  The forest looked and felt different at night. The trees were restless, casting shadows across the ground that appeared to be of different shapes than their casters. The wind blew fervently through their leaves. The Raging River was still and silent. Selena felt that if any of them made a sound then the actual forest itself, for disturbing its delicate slumber, would attack them.

  The river split off into two different paths. One path led deeper into the Hinterlands while the other led to outside of the trees.

  Take the left. The right leads out out to the fields.

  Aye. I am getting a bad vibe from this place. Please stay close to me.

  She turned around and led them deeper into the darkness.

  “Are we going in there?” Rahim asked.

  “Yes. Please trust me.”

  The Hinterlands grew darker and more frightening. The trees thickened all around them; none of them could even see any part of the sky. Rahim pointed behind them, claiming that he saw a pair of yellow eyes watching him. Selena tried to force herself to chuckle a bit, but at the same time, she also felt as if she were being watched. A shiver ran down her spine as the darkness lurked over her. Thor nudged his nose against her arm in comfort.

  “I feel like we’re almost there. It was on the path we took with Neith to get to Alfheim.”

  “I hope so! I pray to the Divines that we won’t be eaten!”

  “What is going to eat us? We haven’t seen any creatures in these woods!”

  “I heard that there is a wolf pack in here!” Rahim pressed his fingers to his lips. “Shhh.”

  “We’ll be fine!”

  Selena, I think we’re here!

  Thor lifted his head and nodded to a large, stone structure with a metal door that was big enough for him to fit through.

  Selena’s eyes lit up and she felt her heart skip a beat.

  Yes! That's it!

  She ran over frantically towards the entrance of the ruin. It looked as though it were completely shut. However, she placed her hand on the door and felt it give way to her touch. It slipped under her palm as if it would crumble and it opened for her. She peered inside, but only saw darkness. Clouds of steam poured outside. The steam seemed unnatural, as though it was created by artificial means. However, this did not deter her from wanting to go through.

  Are you ready for this? I don’t know what’s in there, but whatever awaits us, we may not return.

  I will come with you and face the dangers that lie ahead, even to death, Thor said, fanning out his wings as he stood boldly before her.

  Selena heaved herself over Thor's saddle and unsheathed her sword and took out her shield.

  “I’ve never seen a dwarven ruin before. This is going to be interesting,” Rahim whispered. “I will admit, I am afraid, but intrigued at the same time.”

  Together, they ventured inside as another cloud of steam poured out.

  Chapter 26:

  The inside of the cavern was not at all what Selena had thought it would be. In fact, she was not even sure if it was a cavern at all. Instead, what they entered led them to a metallic underground. Pipes ran through the walls, pumping steam into the air every now and then. The Raging River entered the cave and was collected underneath the large catwalk that the group stood on. A few burnt urns sat in the corners of the entrance, covered and buried partially in dirt mounds. All that was there was mechanical and not from Armageddon.

  “What is all of this?” Selena asked, looking around frantically.

  “I heard rumors and stories about the dwarves, but I did not know that it was really true,” Rahim said.

  Selena placed her hands on the vines that grew along the metallic walls. “This place looks like it has been here for hundreds of years.”

  “And yet their inventions still seem to work,” Rahim finished; “they must be much more technologically advanced than we thought. I know that Rhumbek is usually isolated from the rest of the Empire, so we would not have really known. The dwarves here in Alfheim never mentioned anything in regards to something like this.”

  “Just keep a watch out for anything out of the ordinary. I’m not sure what could possibly be in this mechanical mine,” Selena warned.

  They walked through more steam that was produced as it dissipated into the air. The machinery only had some rust that appeared upon the surface of what remained of the ruin. Broken parts of some kind were scattered on the ground, as vegetation grew through the cracks along the walls.

  “I feel like we’re being watched,” Rahim whis
pered.

  “Shhh!”

  The sound of Selena’s steps bounced off the walls. She felt Thor rub his nose against her shoulder and she jumped a little.

  Despite the dangers that might be lurking, a spark of curiosity and a sense of adventure swelled inside of her. She also felt a sense of bravery, and the motivation to keep moving forward. Even though it was mostly based off her assumption, she knew Ragnarok was in there. Perhaps this would finally put an end to the continuous history of bloodshed since the time of Gundisalvus.

  Selena’s heart stopped beating as she felt something brush up against her arm. She quickly turned around, slashing her sword in the air.

  “What was that?”

  She slashed Dragonheart in the other direction and cut off a piece of the plant that was the cause. It fell to the ground and shriveled on the spot near her feet.

  Rahim pulled out a short sword from his robes.

  “I feel like something is watching us!”

  Thor suddenly stopped in his tracks.

  “What’s wrong?” Selena asked him, looking around frantically.

  Thor sniffed the air and bared his teeth.

  Don’t move, he ordered with a low grumble in the back of his throat.

  Selena stopped abruptly in her place. She felt her heart caught in her throat as her foot suddenly sank into the ground. Thor immediately swiped his talons to pull her away from the trap. On the ground in front of them, a piece of the metal floor erupted with spikes that shot straight up towards the ceiling, leaving a crater in its wake. A few moments later, they heard a very large shriek from the abyss.

  Pulling itself from the new hole was a creature that Selena had never seen before. It appeared to be a woman with tangled hair that covered her eyes and withered arms. Her face was shrunken and ghastly and had long, black teeth that were dipped in blood. She watched them like a hawk, her fish tail wrapped around her. The terrible stench of rotting flesh lingered around the creature’s presence.

  “What is that thing?” Rahim breathed out in utter fear, holding up his sword in front of him like a shield.

  “I…I don’t know,” Selena stuttered. She held up her sword and shield, preparing herself in case the creature to attack. Not long after its arrival, parts of the wall behind it opened up to reveal a golem made of mechanical parts. Its eyes started to glow yellow and the gears began to turn to move its titanic limbs.