Wizard in the Woods

by Jeffrey M. Poole

  “Were you expecting someone else?” the strangely hued dragon dryly answered.

  “I have never seen a dragon with markings like those,” Mikal admitted. “Why did you choose blue and yellow? You do know those colors aren’t natural, don’t you?”

  “So what? I wanted something different. You can be the boring black dragon this time.”

  Mikal regarded the oddly colored blue and yellow dragon before glancing down at his own chest. Shiny jet black scales covered his torso and extended all the way down to his belly. He looked at his wyverian forelegs. Huge muscles rippled beneath the skin. Each hand had only four claws and each of those were tipped with talons that were two feet long. His wings looked to be over 100 feet long from tip to tip and his long powerful tail made up at least half his body length. This body had power, Mikal thought excitedly. Who in their right mind would want to a challenge a dragon that looked like he did?

  Mikal smiled approvingly at Gareth.

  “I don’t know why you gave me the black dragon this time,” he started, “but I am glad. This is really cool. No offense to your shealk heritage, Gareth, but I think I prefer being a winged dragon instead.”

  “No offense taken,” the young wizard assured him. They had finally caught up with Pravara, who was presently cruising through the air without moving her wings. “Are you glad to be a winged dragon again?”

  Pravara turned her dark green head and watched them approach.

  “I will never complain about my wyverian species again, not that I ever did in the first place.”

  “Do you know where we’re headed?” Gareth asked as he fought to use the same air currents that Pravara was effortlessly using.

  “I just informed my father that we are now in pursuit of the Athanaus. I have asked for help since none of us knows what the thriper looks like now. My father informed me he has made apprehending, or destroying, the thriper his top priority.”

  “That really doesn’t help us that much,” Gareth commented. He was still fighting the currents and was beating his wings much more than should have been necessary.

  “Don’t fight the currents,” Pravara advised. “Use them. Raise your wingtips up. Let the wind flow under your wings instead of pushing them down. Trust me, I had that same problem when I was young.”

  “You still are young,” Mikal countered.

  “As I was saying,” Pravara continued, ignoring Mikal’s quip, “this helps us in that my father has tasked every dragon with searching. Do you understand? Every available dragon is now airborne and searching for the thriper.”

  “We don’t know what it looks like,” Mikal reminded her.

  “It doesn’t matter. All wyverians use the Collective. We just have to find out who isn’t using it. Once the thriper is identified then we can and will destroy it.”

  “And how are we going to do that?” Gareth wanted to know. He had finally leveraged his wingtips up and was now cruising through the air much like the other two were.

  “We’re working on that,” Pravara answered.

  “There’s Capily!” Mikal exclaimed, twisting his head around to stare down at the seaside village. “I can see Constable Fensham’s office. Look! There’s Lissa! I need to talk to her.”

  “We are otherwise preoccupied,” Pravara curtly told him. “Your love life will have to wait until the thriper has been located and dealt with.”

  Mikal longingly looked down at his girlfriend, who was staring speculatively up at the three passing dragons. He could see that Lissa had recognized Pravara and was frantically gesturing to her father, who had just joined her outside his office. He knew she was wondering if the other two dragons might be he and Gareth. If only he could talk with her, even if it was only for a few moments.

  “You’re a wyverian now,” Pravara told him, correctly guessing what was running through his mind. “You have the ability to telepathically communicate with anyone you choose. Talk to her, Mikal.”

  “How? I’ve always been on the receiving end of one of our mental chats. I’ve never instigated one before.”

  “Concentrate on who you’re trying to contact,” Pravara gently explained. “Think about her. Focus. Allow yourself to share your thoughts with her. I believe you will find that she will welcome the contact.”

  Mikal kept his head trained on Lissa as long as he was able. Just then they passed through a thick gray cloudbank and she was lost from sight. He sighed. If Pravara said he was capable of talking with her then he certainly wanted to learn how to do it.

  Thoughts of his girlfriend swam through his mind. Her smile. Her touch. The many walks he had taken with her while she demonstrated her vast knowledge of medicinal herbs and plants. He thought of the day he had finally told his parents that he was interested in a girl and wanted their blessing, which they had immediately given him. Mikal thought of the hushed conversation his parents had when they thought he was out of hearing range. He knew they had been happy for him since he had heard his mother’s voice repeatedly raise in pitch and giggle uncontrollably.

  Lissa? Are you there? Can you hear me?

  When she didn’t respond he despaired a few moments before trying again. As before, she didn’t answer. Clearly a more experienced dragon would have been able to make contact. Pravara could talk to him halfway across the kingdom and he couldn’t even reach someone less than two leagues away. Mikal sighed. In the event that something happened to him he had wanted to tell Lissa that he loved her, even though he hadn’t ever said it before.

  What? Mikal, is that you? Did you say you loved me?

  Mikal closed his eyes and shook his head. He should have known contact would be made at the most inopportune time. He stilled his thoughts and smiled. Lissa’s soothing presence appeared in his mind.

  Lissa? Is that really you?

  Aye. It’s me! You were one of those dragons, weren’t you? I knew it!

  Aye. I was the black one. Gareth chose blue and yellow this time around.

  Mikal, you said you loved me. Is that true?

  Mikal hesitated. If ever there was a time to reveal his true feelings then this would be it. He took a deep breath and focused on Lissa’s presence in his mind.

  I guess I did.

  You guess? Either you do or you don’t, Mikal.

  You know that I do, Lissa.

  Then tell me. Say it to me right now.

  You think I’m afraid to say it? I love you, Lissa. I love you more than I would have thought possible. I cannot begin to imagine living my life without you in it.

  Several seconds of silence passed.

  Lissa? Did I lose you? Can you hear me?

  You said it! You actually said it!!

  Of course I did. You heard me, didn’t you?

  Do you mean it?

  Every word.

  You have no idea how you’ve made me feel, Mikal. I want you to know that I am yours, always and forever.

  Did we just get engaged?

  He felt Lissa giggle with excitement.

  I think we just did. Isn’t that fantastic?

  You know what? It really is. I don’t even care if my parents don’t agree.

  Why wouldn’t they? They love me. I’m a delight!

  Mikal snorted, causing Gareth to give him a side-long look.

  What are you doing? Where are you going?

  The thriper has been changed into a winged dragon. Pravara, Gareth and I are in pursuit. Pravara has contacted her father and has alerted him to the situation.

  You’re going to take on the Athanaus? Just the three of you?

  Lissa, Gareth made it mortal. It can be killed. That’s why we’re going after it. We don’t know if it has been permanently locked in a dragon form or if it will eventually change back to the mist. Either way, we know at the moment it can be hurt, even killed.

  And that’s why you’re pursuing it? Mikal, I’m impressed. That’s very commendable of you three. Your father would be proud. You already know how proud I am of you.

  Se
veral seconds of silence followed before Lissa began speaking again.

  I just told my father about the Athanaus. He’s very proud of you, too. He said that only a true prince would put the safety of the kingdom above his own.

  Wow. I don’t know what to say to that. You didn’t tell him about us, did you?

  About being engaged? No. I think we should tell him together.

  Agreed.

  What did the Dragon Lord say once Pravara told him what was going on?

  From what I’m told he has committed every available dragon to the search. Hey, I don’t suppose you have seen any other dragons fly by recently, have you?

  As a matter of fact my father and I heard a dragon roaring about ten minutes ago. We rushed outside just as a dragon was disappearing into the clouds.

  It must have been the thriper! Can you tell me what it looked like? What color was it?

  It was brown. Solid brown.

  Are you sure?

  Aye. I remember telling my father that particular dragon reminded me of a flying horse.

  Lissa, you have no idea how much help you just were. Thank you! I’ll be in touch!

  A feeling of warmth spread throughout his body. Mikal was concerned at first but then realized that he must be sharing Lissa’s emotions. Was this the love that she was feeling for him? With a smile, Mikal nodded. If so, he could get used to it.

  Oh, so you approve, huh?

  Uh, did you hear all that?

  Aye. And I love you, too. Please be safe, Mikal.

  I will. I look forward to telling them.

  Hm? Telling who what?

  Telling our parents that we are engaged.

  That same warm sensation appeared again.

  As do I, my love.

  Mikal severed the mental connection and reeled in shock. Had he really just become engaged? All he had wanted to do was talk with her. What would his parents think when he broke the news? What were they going to say? Was he really as unconcerned as he had led Lissa to believe?

  Mikal grunted once. As a matter of fact, he was.

  “Pravara, I have some great news for you.”

  “Oh?”

  “Lissa thinks she saw the thriper.”

  “Indeed? Did she notice its appearance?”

  “Aye. She said she saw a brown dragon. She said the coloring reminded her of a horse.”

  Gareth flew close.

  “That must be the right one.”

  “We need to know for sure,” Pravara pointed out. “At least this gives us a starting point. I am relaying the information to my father.”

  “I hope we hear something soon,” Mikal said to Gareth. “We could be flying in the opposite direction we need to go. You know what?” Mikal turned to look down at the passing countryside far below them. The western coast had disappeared and now there was nothing but leagues and leagues of leafy green treetops as far as the eye could see. Mikal looked north. The distant peaks of the Bohani Mountains were just becoming visible. “I say we head toward R’Tal. That’s the most populated city and if the thriper is still looking for jhorun then that would be the most likely target.”

  “It’s not heading towards R’Tal,” Pravara promptly answered. She had started growling. “A solid brown dragon has been spotted heading northeast, towards the human settlement of Verdayn.”

  Mikal groaned. That should have been his first guess. Didn’t his father say that Verdayn had been experiencing a loss of jhorun lately? Had the thriper decided to pick up where it left off from before? Mikal saw that Pravara had dipped a wing and turned northeast. He hurriedly mimicked her movements.

  “Could it be heading towards the valley?” Gareth asked worriedly. “Both Verdayn and the valley are in the same direction from us right now. My mother and my aunt could be at risk.”

  “All the more reason we find this thing as soon as possible,” Mikal told his friend. “We’ll find it and stop it before it has a chance to terrorize anyone else.”

  Fifteen minutes later Lissa proved him wrong.

  Mikal? Are you there? Can you hear me?

  Lissa? Aye, I’m here. I can hear you just fine. What are you… is everything alright? I can sense your distress.

  My father just heard from the constable in Verdayn. Mikal, they’re under attack! There’s a dragon wreaking havoc all across the village. You’re not anywhere near there, are you?

  As a matter of fact we’re almost there. Once we pass this crest we should be able to see something.

  Mikal, I don’t want you anywhere near that thing. What happens if you are hurt? I won’t be there to help you.

  Then you’ll have to help me when you see me next. Nothing is going to happen to me.

  But what if something does? Mikal, you can’t say for certain you won’t get hurt.

  You’re right, Lissa. I can’t promise you that. What I will promise you is that I will do everything I can to make sure this thing doesn’t hurt anyone else.

  Please be safe.

  I will. I… wizards be damned!

  What? What is it?

  We can see the village. There are fires everywhere. Lissa, I have to go. I love you. Don’t ever forget it.

  Mikal severed the connection before Lissa could respond and focused on the tiny brown figure that was circling around the village. It was a dragon, and it fit Lissa’s description perfectly. It swung low and belched out a stream of fire, engulfing another half dozen homes.

  “Why’s it doing this?” Mikal asked, confused. “Doesn’t it still need jhorun? What’s the point of burning everything down?”

  Pravara roared a challenge. The thriper’s head instantly jerked up and scanned the area. It located the three of them and roared its defiance. The thriper spat a huge fireball straight towards them. Mikal barely had time to duck out of the way.

  “Whether or not it needs jhorun is irrelevant,” Pravara snapped. Her chest expanded as she gulped air. Within moments the scales on her abdomen were glowing. She targeted the thriper and let loose a single, powerful blast.

  Mikal watched, envious, as Pravara’s shot, from at least 1,500 feet away, raced unerringly toward the thriper. Sensing it was about to be blasted, the thriper tried to flee, but ended up jumping directly into the path of the oncoming fireball. The thriper roared in pain as its sensitive wings were burned.

  “How did you know it was going to jump to its left?” Mikal asked, bewildered. “It’s like you knew what it was going to do before even it did!”

  “I have been a dragon my entire life. Longer than you, longer than Gareth, and certainly longer than it has. It may have originally been a thriper but right now it’s a wyverian. I know how a wyverian will behave.”

  The thriper was able to strafe the village a final time before the three of them were close enough to be considered a threat. Mikal saw that each of the thriper’s blasts had generated powerful explosions that had completely decimated their intended targets, namely homes and small buildings. He growled as his gaze shifted back to lock on the thriper. It was gaining altitude and circling around the village in ever increasing loops. What was it doing now?

  Mikal felt an intense hatred rise up within his chest. This being has caused more than its fair share of mischief and terror. If only there was something he could do to bring the accursed creature down and end its reign of fear. He hesitated as he felt his stomach grow warm, as though he had fallen asleep basking in the sun. A quick check of the sun confirmed that it was, at present moment, hiding behind a cloud. Confused, he lowered his neck to see if he could see for himself what was going on with his abdomen.

  It was glowing! Much like Pravara’s had been glowing earlier. Did that mean he was preparing to spit fire? How was he supposed to aim something like that? Maybe he could purse his lips and pretend he had a mouthful of water he was trying to expel.

  His wyverian body gave a tremendous cough. A jet of fire erupted from his mouth and blasted harmlessly up into the air, missing the thriper completely. Mikal frowned. Expelli
ng a blast of fire in that manner had come disturbingly close to the feelings he had felt the last time he had been sick to his stomach and ended up vomiting all over his room. Surely there was a better way for a dragon to spit fire without feeling nauseated?

  Mikal tried another cough. A tiny burst of fire escaped through his jaws. The fireball fell harmlessly away from him before petering out a few seconds later. How had Pravara done it? What was the trick?

  A flash of light caught his attention. He glanced to his right and saw that Gareth was having just as much success as he was in trying to spit fire at the thriper. His last shot had ended up shooting through his nostrils and now his wizard friend was holding his nose in pain with a look of sheer disbelief on his reptilian features.

  Mikal focused his attention on Pravara, who was edging closer and closer to the still circling thriper. She raised her neck up, opened her jaws, and blasted another shot. This one streaked straight towards their foe and slammed into its tail, causing the thriper to roar in pain. Mikal’s eyes narrowed. He had seen Pravara’s chest inflate and then rapidly deflate, almost like what his own chest did whenever he had to sneeze. Was that how it was done?

  Mikal took a deep breath, locked his gaze on the thriper, and coughed as hard as he could. The difference this time was that he forced the cough to stop halfway through. The resulting jet of fire spiraled out of control as it shot upwards into the air, heading towards absolutely nothing. Mikal growled with frustration. That was what he was going to have to do in order to fire off a shot, but unfortunately he wouldn’t be able to hit the broadside of a barn, as his foster father Steve would have described it.

  Mikal beat his wings and ascended higher into the air. The only hope he was going to have against the thriper was if he hit it at point blank range. However, he was pretty certain the thriper would not allow him to get close enough to do that, so him being able to attack it had become a moot point. The most he could do was to keep an eye on it and make certain it didn’t slip away again undetected.

  He checked the area to see where Pravara and Gareth were. Pravara was quite effectively hitting the thriper with blast after blast of white-hot fire. The brown dragon’s wings had become black. Scales were missing in several places on its chest. Yet for whatever reason it remained in the area. What was it trying to do? Sooner or later Pravara was going to be able to score a fatal blow. Why wouldn’t it flee?