Wizard in the Woods

by Jeffrey M. Poole

  “No, I guess not,” Mikal admitted. He extended both wings and then looked straight up.

  Gareth raised a hand.

  “Do you want me to climb up on your back or do you want to carry me in a claw?”

  “There’s no way you’re going on my back,” Mikal crossly told him.

  Gareth sulked. “You’re not a real dragon. Why would you be concerned with taking a rider?”

  “Listen, I’m more worried about tipping over once I’m in the air. The last thing I want to do is worry about you falling off my back. I have enough things on my mind right now, thank you very much.”

  Mikal turned to look back at the tiny figure of his girlfriend, who was still holding Peanut’s leash. He lowered his neck so that his head was less than ten feet from Lissa and the dog. Peanut, thinking he wanted to sniff noses, inched forward and waited for him to touch his nose to hers. Mikal smiled and decided to humor the dog. Satisfied, the corgi settled back into the grass. Lissa approached and laid a soft hand on the side of his jaw.

  “Be safe up there. Gareth, if you hurt him I will personally feed you to Pravara. Is that clear?”

  Gareth gulped nervously.

  “Perfectly. I’ll take good care of him.”

  Dragon and human eyed each other.

  “How do you want to do this?” Mikal hesitantly asked. “I have no idea how to take off.”

  “Remember what we told you. You don’t have to order each wing to flap. You want to take off into the air. Just do it and see what happens. Open your claw. I’ll hop on. Just don’t squish me.”

  Mikal opened the claws on his left foreleg and eyed the sky one more time. Don’t overthink it. All he had to do was tell his body where he wanted to go. Fine. He wanted to go up.

  Mikal waited expectantly on the ground, unmoving. Nothing was happening. Gareth stuck his head through two of his wyverian fingers and tssked loudly.

  “You’re going to have to put in a little more effort than that.”

  Mikal growled. Gareth jerked his head inside as Mikal clenched his dragon hands. He decided to mimic Pravara’s takeoff. Lissa, sensing what he was about to do, guided Peanut over to a large tree and together the two of them silently watched the newly formed dragon.

  Mikal bunched his muscles and leapt into the air. However, he still thought of himself as a human, not as a dragon. His two massive hind legs gave a tremendous shove against the ground, only his two front legs didn’t get the message. The resulting half-jump spun Mikal three-quarters of the way around. His wings flapped impotently as he scrambled to figure out what went wrong.

  Lissa giggled with laughter.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a dragon do a half-jump like that!” she called out. “Did you do that on purpose?”

  Mikal glared at his own hind end before turning irritably to face Lissa.

  “No, of course not. I tried to jump, but only half of me decided to pay attention.”

  “Think like a dragon,” Gareth advised. “You’re walking around on four legs, not two. Remember you have to get all four legs off the ground.”

  Mikal growled and tried again. This time he managed to propel himself about twenty feet up into the air. His wings snapped open and began flapping. He grinned as he realized he was able to keep himself off the ground. His smile quickly deteriorated into a frown as he realized he wasn’t making any additional progress.

  “What are you waiting for?” Gareth called out from his hand. “Get going!”

  “I’m trying!” Mikal snapped. He rotated his head until he was staring back at the length of his body. His wings were flapping furiously and he also saw that his tail was swishing back and forth through the air, much like a long ribbon caught in a breeze. He caught sight of the small flap of skin on the tip of his tail and briefly wondered what it was for.

  Mikal felt his body respond, as if it was answering his question. His tail stopped whipping through the air and the flap of skin opened. Suddenly he felt as though he had more control.

  Higher. I want to go higher.

  He rose steadily higher. Mikal opened his jaws to let out a victorious shout when his ascent faltered and he almost tipped over. He roared his frustration and flapped harder.

  “Stop fighting it!” Gareth shouted. “Just relax! Stay focused on what you want to do. If you lose your concentration then you and I are both in trouble.”

  Mikal ordered his mind to ignore the unusual sensations his wyverian body was reporting back to him. He knew he wanted to go higher and thankfully his body complied. He saw that he had drifted away from the valley and was now over the forest. There would be no landing down there if he had some type of emergency. He needed to get back out over open grassland.

  Gradually his body listened. A few minutes later he soared out over Lake Raehón’s valley. Mikal grunted with satisfaction. Gareth was right. Flying wasn’t too terribly bad.

  “Look out!”

  Gareth’s warning forced him to jerk his head up. He saw that Pravara had circled about and was now heading straight for him. Where was Cylandria? Had Pravara managed to elude her?

  Mikal, get out of the way! Pravara urgently thought to him. You’re supposed to be following her from behind. Be careful! I have her fixated on me but that doesn’t mean she won’t come after you!

  Mikal hurriedly flapped out of the way just as Pravara rocketed by. Cylandria’s blue form streaked by a split second later. Unfortunately, thanks to his newfound vastly improved visual abilities, Mikal could see the blue dragon’s head swivel about and stare straight at him. Cylandria veered away from Pravara and executed a sharp turn, coming about in a matter of seconds until she was barreling straight towards him.

  “Wizards be damned,” Mikal cursed angrily. “Gareth, we have a problem!”

  “Yeah, I see it. You need to get going! Hurry!”

  Mikal twisted in midair until he was facing north, towards the lake. He frantically pumped his wings in an attempt to gain as much velocity as he could. He risked a quick glance backwards. His eyes widened with disbelief. Cylandria was already so close that she was within biting range. In fact, she had opened her jaws and was preparing to take a bite out of his long purple tail.

  Tuck your tail and dive! Now!

  Mikal didn’t argue. He quickly glanced down at the ground far below and wished he was much closer to it. His body responded automatically. His wings drew in and tightened. His tail pushed down and suddenly he was pointing, nose first, towards the ground and was falling like a stone.

  Excellent! Do not open your wings until I tell you to. I’m going to try and attract her attention.

  Whatever you’re going to do you’d better do it fast!

  “Hold on, Gareth!” Mikal roared. They were now falling so fast that he was certain they weren’t going to be able to pull out of this steep of a dive.

  Yes, you will. You must trust me. We’re almost there.

  Almost where? The ground is approaching at a sickening pace, Pravara! When do I open my wings?

  Now!!

  Mikal could only hope his body knew what to do. He stared at the ground rushing up towards him. He was going to strike it! There was no way he’d be able to get out of this!

  His body jerked, as though someone had come up from behind and spooked him. His wings snapped back open just as he thought he would crash onto the ground. If he didn’t know any better he’d say he could feel the grass passing underneath him as he sailed out over the valley floor and quickly rose up to a more comfortable altitude.

  Mikal twisted his head to look behind him. What had happened to Cylandria? He saw Pravara whiz by with the blue dragon hot on her tail. Pravara must have flown close enough to present a more appealing target.

  Thankfully it worked.

  Mikal honed in on Cylandria’s fleeing form and urged his body to pursue. He felt his wings extend a little bit farther than they previously had been and he also felt his tail change position. He decided it wasn’t worth the risk of falling out o
f the sky to check to see what his dragon body was doing so he ignored the sensations. Instead, he focused all his energy on catching up to Pravara and her attacker.

  Where are you?

  I’m following the two of you.

  Are you close enough to get the wizard onto Cylandria’s back?

  Not unless I throw him.

  Hmmm.

  I don’t think I should do that, Pravara.

  You suggested it.

  I was joking.

  Ah. Please hurry.

  I’m trying. Stop zigzagging about. Fly in a straight line and I can catch up easier.

  Flying in a straight line will allow Cylandria to catch up, too.

  You’re bigger than she is. Can’t you outfly her?

  No. I’ve tried. It must have something to do with the wizard’s potion.

  I’ll ask.

  “Gareth, does your potion make the dragon fly faster than they normally could?”

  “Umm, aye. I should have mentioned that. I’m sorry.”

  “Is there anything else you’d like to mention as long as you’re at it?”

  “I would hurry. The potion draws upon the dragon’s natural abilities. If the dragon consumes more energy than they have available then they will end up overextending themselves and it could hurt them.”

  “How long does she have?”

  “We haven’t been up here for fifteen minutes yet, have we?”

  “I don’t think so. Why?”

  “You’re sure?”

  Mikal growled with frustration.

  “I’m not sure, Gareth. Why? What happens after fifteen minutes? Are you saying after fifteen minutes the blue dragon is going to be in danger?”

  “Aye.”

  Pravara?

  I heard. Remind me to pound him into the ground once this is over.

  Gladly. Get ready. When I tell you to, bank right. I’m going to see if I can fly directly over her. I’ll drop Gareth down onto her back. Then I’m going to need you to do something to make sure you still have her attention.

  Any suggestions on what I should do?

  I’m sure you’ll come up with something. Are you ready?

  Aye.

  “Gareth, are you ready? I’m about ready to drop you on her back.”

  “I’m ready. Get me as close as you can so I don’t drop too far!”

  “I’ll try.”

  Go, Pravara!

  Pravara’s dark green form angled sharply to the right, closing the gap to Mikal much faster than they would have had they still been flying in a straight line. Cylandria immediately banked right. Mikal urged his body on, anxious to overtake the blue dragon and put an end to this horrible ordeal. He didn’t know how they were going to keep something like this from his father and was tired of worrying about it.

  Mikal saw that he had about five seconds before he’d pass over Cylandria’s body so he readied himself. He stretched out his left foreleg and prepared to open his claws.

  “I hope you’re ready!” Mikal called out. He let Gareth fall just as he flew over the bewitched dragon.

  Unfortunately, even in her bewitched state of mind, Cylandria heard the warning he had given Gareth. She executed a flawless barrel roll just as the teenager’s feet made contact with her back. Gareth was flicked off Cylandria’s back as though he were nothing more than a pesky insect. Mikal’s eyes widened with disbelief.

  Damn! Damndamndamndamndamndamn!

  Mikal drew in his wings and plummeted straight down in an effort to catch up to Gareth’s wildly flailing body. The young wizard must have noticed that Mikal was gaining on him as he suddenly thrust out his arms and legs in an attempt to slow down his descent. Mikal finally caught him less than fifty feet from the treetops.

  He pumped his wings as they gained altitude.

  Where are you now, Pravara?

  Near the northern border of the forest. Are you nearby? I am trying to avoid the valley as much as possible.

  Why?

  Sooner or later our activity is going to be detected. I’m trying to prolong the inevitable.

  You don’t want to be around when your father finds out?

  Precisely.

  I see you. Keep zigzagging. I’ll be there momentarily.

  Were you able to save Gareth?

  Aye. I have him.

  Nicely done.

  Thanks. I didn’t really have time to think about what to do. I had to go after him.

  Is he uninjured?

  I do not know. I didn’t ask.

  “Gareth, are you alright?”

  “I’ve just realized how much I hate flying.”

  Mikal chuckled, which sounded an awful lot like a growl.

  “You hate flying or you hate falling from high places?”

  “Both. Where’s Pravara?”

  “Up ahead. We’re closing on them now.”

  Mikal heard Gareth sigh loudly. He dropped his neck down so he could look at the boy within his talons. Gareth was sitting with his back up against his huge hand. His knees had been drawn up and he had wrapped his arms around his legs to hold them in place. He looked miserable.

  “What’s the matter?” Mikal asked. “Don’t like flying?”

  “Not any more, I don’t,” Gareth weakly agreed. “Falling to one’s death tends to have that effect on people.”

  “I caught you, didn’t I?”

  “Barely.”

  “Fine. You don’t like the present situation then switch places with me. You be the dragon and I’ll be the one hopping on its back.”

  “Yeah, right,” Gareth scoffed. “You wouldn’t be able to wake the blue dragon up.”

  “And you can, right?”

  Gareth eyed Mikal’s purple head.

  “I told you that I can, remember?”

  “So we’re stuck in our present roles until this is over, is that it?”

  “Yes,” Gareth glumly agreed.

  “Then stop complaining. I’m doing this to help you out. Do you realize that?”

  Gareth was silent.

  “Pravara and I could have just as easily turned you in to the proper authorities. Gareth, I won’t lie to you. My father wants to throw you in the dungeon. Care to guess what Pravara’s father wants to do to you?”

  “Not really.”

  “Good. Stop complaining.”

  “I’m not feeling very well.”

  “What? Are you nauseous? You had better not get sick on my hand. Think about something else.”

  “Like what?” Gareth moaned. He took several deep gulps of air.

  “Well, what can we expect once Cylandria awakens? Is it an instantaneous transition or is she going to be disoriented?”

  “There’s usually some disorientation involved,” Gareth admitted.

  Mikal growled.

  “What purpose do you have for doing this? What do you have against the dragons?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Why is it always the dragons? I’ve never heard about anything else becoming bewitched. Why not the griffins? What about a malwern? Why bother the wyverians?”

  Gareth was silent for a full minute before he responded.

  “I’ve always admired the dragons. They’re regal; majestic. I resent their history, their culture, and even their honor.”

  “What? Why? What did they ever do to you?”

  “The dragons have their Collective. They are never alone. They always have someone to turn to in times of distress. I never had that. I wish I did.”

  “You mean to tell me you’re jealous?”

  “Aye, I guess so,” Gareth sighed.

  I heard that.

  “Pravara heard you.”

  “The dragons are better than us at everything. They have better eyesight, better hearing, and a more highly developed sense of smell.”

  “If you like the dragons so much then why don’t you turn yourself into one and go live with them?”

  No dragon would have him. They’d know he wouldn’t be a true dragon
the moment he tried to access the Collective.

  How? How would they know?

  They just would.

  Ah.

  “Disrupting the lives of the dragons was fun at first,” Gareth hesitantly began, “but lately it has lost its appeal.”

  “Really? Why would you expect me to believe that, Gareth? You’ve been doing this type of thing for so long now that I find myself doubting your motives.”

  “I wouldn’t want someone like me to make me do things I would never do like I’ve been doing to someone else.”

  Mikal grunted.

  “Fair enough. Look. There’s Pravara. Cylandria is still on her tail. We’ve definitely passed that fifteen minute mark. This has got to be hurting her now. We need to snap her out of this. Pravara, are you ready?”

  I am. What would you like me to do?

  At that moment the three dragons shot out over Lake Raehón and rapidly left the shoreline behind. Mikal turned his huge head and surveyed the wide open water. He received another surprise when, after staring at a specific point for longer than a few seconds, the image increased in size and leapt into fine detail. He twisted his long neck around to stare at the receding shore. He singled out a tree and watched it leap into focus. If he wanted to, he could count the needles on the branch!

  He tried the trick several other times and was rewarded with an enhanced view each time. He targeted Pravara and watched her expertly twist and turn through the air as she avoided the ever-pursuing blue dragon on her tail. On and on they all flew, heading out over the open expanse of the great lake. At the rate they were flying they’d be back over solid land in less than ten minutes.

  Pravara, get ready to bank left. Wait about five seconds then turn sharply to your right. Wait another five seconds and then repeat that until we catch up. Hopefully it’ll keep Cylandria occupied.

  Understood.

  “Gareth, are you ready? It’s time for you to prove you’re here to make things right.”

  “About your hand…”

  “Hmm? What about it?”

  “It’ll wash off. I told you I wasn’t feeling well.”

  “What? Are you serious? Did you get sick in my hand?”

  “Umm, no. I didn’t get sick.”

  “What did you do?”