Dargonfire: Age of Legend

by LJ Davies

  Eventually, the tunnels came closer to the surface, breaking through shallow cracks, where I could see the snowy wasteland outside. Huge cliffs and volcanic ridges towered above sprawling orkin edifices, stretching out as far as I could see. A light fall of white flakes disturbed the otherwise featureless grey sky, and the sound of bubbling lava came up from a small, molten stream flowing alongside me, its heat ensuring that the tunnel would never freeze over.

  I'd memorised most of the subterranean passageways, knowing that several led to the surface, and occasionally used them to identify my position. It wasn't safe to travel across the vast glacial plains for too long. The few times I dared to traverse the exposed wasteland, I saw nothing but vast snowfields stretching up toward rocky ridges, occasionally broken by sparse patches of dead trees and towering ice cliffs.

  It's not what I can see that worries me. I thought peeking up to get my bearings. It's what can see me.

  Despite my mind’s nagging caution, I flew out toward one of the cliffs, swiftly disappearing into another set of tunnels the moment I landed. The new maze ran deep into the ice, taking me further inland. Another gust of chilling wind gnawed through the frozen holes, carrying the scent of smoke, fire and the call of that solitary bird. Switching my attention to a small crevice, I caught a glimpse of the phoenix’s glistening feathers as it disappeared into a patch of trees.

  It’s following me, no doubt! My lack of understanding spiked my curiosity again, and despite my instincts telling me otherwise, I scrambled back to the surface to get a better look.

  The bird was long gone; however, a far more ominous sight stole my attention – the reason I was out here. A monolithic spire of crudely forged wood and black metal rose high into the grey sky like a dark mountain, its peak circled by flocks of hungry carrion. Great gashes and tall spines marred its walls, while their surfaces flickered with the red light of its fiery interior.

  I sank down back into the shallow tunnels, observing the layers of heavily garrisoned battlements, bulwarks and towers ascending from its vast, jagged foundation.

  That has to be Ice Fire Citadel. My eyes carefully scoured every detail of its corrupted surface, eventually falling to where the base of the mighty fortress dropped away into the depths of a great cavern.

  Good, there has to be an easy way in down there. Utilising more tunnels, I tentatively crept forward to peer over the edge, my claws digging at the ice as I slid onto a small ledge.

  Lava filled the bottom of the cavern, and a foul, volcanic scent polluted the air, as if the earth itself was furious at having to bear the structure. A fiery red glow illuminated the weak scaffolding, and crude bridges hung over the lava moat. Creeping steadily around the cavern’s rim, my eyes fixed on a stone bridge leading from the maze of tunnels into the fortress’s interior.

  That's my way in!

  "Still feel like running?" Mordrakk's dark voiced hissed mockingly as he flickered into existence within my ice-bound reflection.

  He grinned wickedly, pawing at the snow-filled passageway with a foreclaw.

  "I wonder how long you can linger here and watch this unfold?" he added, peering at the fortress’s towering walls. "You cannot deny your destiny forever – is this not a clear example of the truth of which I have spoken?" he goaded, waving a wing ahead. "They will destroy each other before the end."

  I glanced down at my paws, watching light drifts of snow settle over the golden plates.

  "You don't want me to go back so I can stop them from killing one another, you only care about yourself," I hissed, the notion of doing nothing amplifying my guilt.

  His eyes narrowed, and for a moment, I saw a glimpse of frustration in his expression.

  "Then go, be the elusive hero you are so content with being. What is your plan? Charge into the citadel and destroy it all?" he suggested patronisingly.

  "That's what you'd have me do!" I barked.

  "I would merely have you fulfil your purpose, and if you truly cared, you wouldn't hesitate to do so," he scowled.

  I glanced away, casting my eyes down toward the lava-filled depths. I'd abandoned my friends, family and my home, knowing that if I returned, he'd use me to destroy everything.

  Hiding out here is the only way to guarantee their safety, I can't listen to him.

  "So if you are to continue to entertain these pointless pursuits, what will you do?" he persisted.

  I shook my head and grinned.

  "I'll improvise."

  With that, I leapt down onto the bridge and crept into the fortress’s interior. Down in the bowels of the monstrous keep, unnatural extensions of twisted rock, metal and scorched wood covered the ice. Frames of crudely erected spikes and flaming braziers spanned the shallow ravines and subterranean magma rivers. What was once a highkin ruin formed the fortress’s innermost foundations. A plethora of bones and rusted cages hanging from rattling chains, decorating the once magnificent architecture.

  Mordrakk's image lingered in the ice beside me, a new, maniacal grin upon his muzzle. Not that he had time to lecture me before the solid metal interior of the orkin structure replaced his icy home.

  "This is a bold move, I'll admit. Spending such a prolonged time so close to anything this grand is new for you," his disembodied voice echoed through the grim halls.

  The idea that he knew something I didn't was more than a little unsettling. I ruffled my wings in frustration as I turned sharply and came upon an opening in the corridor. The sound of industry echoed from the bowels of the next chamber, hammers rang out as they struck hard steel, and hot metal hissed in the smoky air. Cautiously, I peered out to see that the opening led out onto a long balcony spanning the chamber’s circumference.

  An army of orkin covered the floor, bearing the brass-coloured mark of a skull upon their rough armour. Hordes of them were busy slaving away in the construction of brutal weapons, savage armour and all kinds of other crude tools of war. Vast sprawls of wooden walkways, lava foundries and churning mechanisms ground tirelessly under the direction of slave masters. Cages held chimera and manticores, thrashing and clawing at their captors. While goblins and other foul creatures toiled underfoot.

  There's more down here than there was in Taldran! The sight drew out a new wave of dread.

  The fact that my enemies had such numbers and resources wasn't something I could ignore, and as I turned to look away, my eyes fell upon yet more hope-sapping visions. Monstrous ogres hauled great carriages of scrap toward a mountain of metal, while more workers constructed the frameworks for mighty cannons upon the backs of trolls trapped within deep pits. Most terrifying of all was the sight of a serpentine creature looming over it all.

  The gigantic shape was silhouetted against the far wall; I'd no idea what it was, but it was huge. A heavy clatter of chains and searing flashes of vibrant green fire accompanied its powerful thrashing, causing the whole chamber to shudder under the wake of its fury.

  After all this time, there's still creatures I don't know about? Sometimes I almost wished it could stay that way.

  "This is nothing but a monument to my childrens’ flawed ambition. A testament to the fragility of freedom," Mordrakk muttered, with a hint of spiteful rage.

  In a burst of frustration, and with little care of giving away my position, I stomped an armoured claw on the soot-smothered floor. As much as I wished for him to shut up, it was a futile gesture. Nevertheless, his illusion failed to meet my gaze, nothing but flickering embers and hue of the smouldering forges danced in his place as the sound of my exertion was drowned out by that of industry.

  "I don't support any of you," I declared firmly, before continuing along the walkway, moving further into the fortress.

  Even with no reflective walls from which to materialise, I could still hear his pensive tone swirling within my mind, mixing with those of others I'd once known, all accusing me of abandoning them to the wrath of what I'd just seen.

  Keep looking forward! I focused on the ascending corridors ahead until t
he sounds of a commotion gave me paused.

  Following the shape of the tower, the outermost frame of the pathway curved slightly. Unable to see what was around the corner, I fell into a slow prowl. There were several locked crates, cages and weapon racks lying against the wall to my left, while the stomping of twisted, metal-clad feet beat their tune on the ramparts above.

  "Tell me, why come here? You don't care for them and yet you drag yourself across this frozen wasteland with the frail belief that the petty things you are doing will somehow help them," Mordrakk accused.

  With my armoured gauntlets tapping against the crudely-formed metal floor, I fought the urge to lash out at him.

  "I wouldn't expect you to understand," I muttered, glancing up at another set of stairs leading further up into the tower.

  "You say that I don't know love and compassion. That was not always true," he countered. "It was such weakness that led the universe into chaos. I loved my children dearly, but in the end, they stood between me and my duty. Now you would allow such distractions to come between you and yours?"

  I took to the stairs, stalking swiftly up toward the door at their far end. While I moved, I forged my thoughts into an answer.

  "That's why I came back – this place stands between me and my duty."

  As I pressed low beside the door I peered out to see what appeared to be a large opening, what I assumed was some form of balcony or landing platform high on the side of the tower. Snow wafted in through the opening, as did the gruff sound of orkin voices.

  "You have no duty, you betrayed your responsibility and chose to linger here, believing that your actions are enough. Yet every time you see these corrupt mortal-kind, you know that the world will tear itself apart around you," Mordrakk persisted.

  "If you’re so great and powerful, fulfil your own plans. I'll never do what you tell me," I replied rebelliously.

  His image flashed to life within the flames of a brazier beside the stairs. The flicker of his eyes sending a sharp surge of pain through my scars.

  "You would do well to watch your thoughts, lest you fall back to them," he warned as I struggled not to collapse under the sudden onset of agony.

  I clenched my teeth and flinched, my wounds pulsing as I stumbled forward.

  No, he can't win! My wings rustled as the dull throbs clawed at my body.

  But he was right, I'd been the one to herald the shadow, and like so many before me, I'd failed to prevent it.

  No, without the amulet, he can't do anything!

  "You know you can't keep your weakness out forever. This paltry control you sustain, it is nothing compared to my will," he pressed.

  "Well, I've lasted this long, so... don't count on it," I countered aloud, defying his flaming form.

  "Such a time is nothing in comparison to how long I have waited. I know my time will come, it is inevitable," he assured, flickering away with a hint of laughter.

  I watched the settling flame until his image vanished, and felt a sickness churning in my gut as his words played in my mind.

  "I count on nothing, and I am sure I will see your true character before the end," he growled confidently, before slipping back into the deepest, darkest parts of my mind.

  I narrowed my eyes, unable to accept that – as always – he was somehow manipulating me. No matter what I did or where I went, he was there, always one step ahead.

  No, I'm the one in control, not him! He's stuck materialising in fire and reflections, he has no power over me! I inwardly hissed as I swatted a paw at the flames.

  "Come on, the bosses is here and they's not goanna be pleased if we's slips up," a grisly tone cracked, instantly re-engaging my instincts, especially at the word 'bosses'.

  "Shut it, you’s runt!" another angry voice demanded, its words broken by grunts and snarls as if it were only a few generations away from being a wild beast.

  Meanwhile, I glanced cautiously out into the courtyard balcony. The foul smell of the fortress’s interior, mixed with the acrid scent of smoke from outside as light snow danced across my vision. Fighting not to heave at the fetid stench, I saw ice and wind whipped at the exposed area, protected by a rail of spiked metal, adorned with skulls and dancing torch flame.

  A pair of orkin stood across from the doorway, next to the grizzly rail. One of them was significantly larger; his pale hide warped and twisted into rough stone, more so than the smaller runt beside him. One arm melded with an axe, while the other blended with a set of rusted knives, forming four bladed fingers. Large stone spikes rose from his back, resembling the roots of a tree, each one adorned with metal plates, chains and bones.

  The smaller of the two still maintained the dexterity of fingers on both arms, the dark stone that marred his pale hide only consuming his legs, shoulders and half of his scarred face. He still had some hair, though the shaggy mess was far from the gracious, flowing-silver strands his race had once possessed. Despite his lack of fused weapons and armour, he bore a set of sharp, rusted metal plates and a large hammer was slung across his spiny back.

  Then I can only assume they're guarding what I'm here for. I concluded, glancing up to see the tallest spire of the citadel looming above.

  Next to them, the blue blood of a bloated and gutted grey corpse covered a table. Besides that, sat a bucket of small bones, picked clean, and as I looked closer, I focused on a stairway leading to the upper levels of the tower's spire. Bearing crude spears and completely covered in rusty armour, another pair patrolled an upper balcony beside the stair's top.

  If the warlords are meeting anywhere, it'll surely be up there. I guessed.

  "I's don't see whys we's don'ts just set traps out in the tunnels. I'm hungry and I's say we go out there and eats that rat. Saves us the trouble of waitin' round here," the smaller orkin suggested impatiently.

  As I peered over the snowy area, my eyes fell upon some empty cages, identical to those I'd seen dragons locked up in; they even bore the same enchanted masks that prevented elementals from blasting their way out.

  If I didn't know better, I'd say they were looking for a dragon, maybe even me? I thought with a huff – not that I'd give them the chance to lock me up.

  "You's know perfectly wells whys we don’ts. We’s waitin' here. The bosses ordered us to, says we's get a reward when we's done," the larger brute retorted, turning back to the smaller creature, only to have him snort in his face.

  "Well, I's sick of waitin' about for the bosses, we's should be marchin' out with the rest of the boys, not here waitin' for the demons’ games. Besides, I's sick of stinkin' roblin meat, it’s alls we's had in weeks!" the smaller creature snapped angrily, taking his hammer and banging it hard against the table, splattering what I assumed was a roblin corpse into a bloody, blue paste.

  "Come on, you's knows you's want some nice, tender flesh. Good and fresh, there's still some left in the pens, we's need some better meat," the smaller, rattier looking creature taunted, nattering his sharp teeth together as his larger companion growled. "Come on. We's shouldn't even be here; let the bosses talk, let ‘em all stays up there dealing with demons. I's want some meat!" he continued, waving a grizzly hand toward the tower.

  I paused, homing in on what he was saying about 'demons.'

  They don't use that term very often, maybe things are worse than I thought?

  His disgruntled words also confirmed that the tower's peak was where I needed to go, and I quickly began formulating a plan to get there. As I considered my options, the larger orkin snorted and raised his bladed fingers.

  "You's watch your mouth, maggot. If the Brazen Warlord hears, you's goanna be dinner next. An' I ain't facing his wrath because of some worm with a loose tongue," he declared aggressively, forcing the smaller creature to squirm backwards.

  The armoured orkin standing higher on the ramparts above did nothing; in fact, they seemed eager to see something unfold as they snorted a laugh.

  "The warlords don'ts have to know. You know yous wants some good, succulen
t meat!" The smaller creature persisted, and the larger paused.

  The Brazen Warlord is here too? As I thought, the bulkier orkin threatened my whole plan when he concluded his contemplation with a huff.

  "Fine, go gets a fresh fillet, and I's only wants the manticore’s meat, no stinkin' chimera hide," he exclaimed to the smaller creature, who eagerly nodded.

  A moment later, he swept the bloodied surface of the table clean as his smaller companion moved in my direction. I coiled myself low to the floor, ready to pounce, the arcane blades along my wing edges ready to spark into life at a moment's notice. My teeth and claws were set, as was the blade on the tip of my tail.

  With my eyes locked firmly on the door, the sound of heavy boots came closer, my armour segments tightening in preparation for combat. Just then, a sharp, fiery call from outside distracted all of us, sparing the approaching creature’s life for a few seconds longer. The orkin stopped and turned as I peered out to see all eyes were now looking at the spiked rails.

  Perched there, was the phoenix. Its bright orange feathers shimmered in the dim sunlight, and its sharp-red eyes stared at the orkin, before glancing at my hiding place for a moment. For that brief instant, I was afraid it would give me away, but the weak-minded orkin failed to notice.

  What is it doing? They'll kill it? I'd no idea why it was here or why it was following me; all I knew was that the fortress was no place for such a beautiful creature.

  "What's that?" muttered the larger creature by the chopping table, and even the guards on the stairs stepped forward.

  "It's a fire hawk," one declared, a slight grin parting his stone lips.

  "I's bets it tastes better than some dry, old manticore meat,” the other added, as they stalked closer to the bird.