Dargonfire: Age of Legend

by LJ Davies

  "There’s no longer any respect in the world – and they wonder why darkness flourishes," he muttered, glancing at me.

  He sounds like Mordrakk. In that moment of chaos, it was hard to stop the dark image of my mind forming over the old dragon as I wished I could simply fall through my seat into the cave below.

  This is exactly what he told me would happen!

  The arguments went on until, with a booming roar, a storm of red-hot flame filled the roof of the cave, causing the rock to hiss and glow.

  "Silence!" Vulkaine boomed, drawing all eyes toward him and his Elder companions. "Your arguments are meaningless; your fear is simply another weapon our enemies will use to their advantage."

  Despite a few disgruntled looks from the griffins, and a look of frustration for the intervention having taken so long from the hippogriffs, everyone sank back into their seats. Meanwhile, Vulkaine’s faded eyes scoured the room, before he folded his wings and looked down at Zephyra.

  "Your highness, if you please," he proposed, and she nodded, stepping back with a regal bow into the archway between the Cartographer and I.

  "Good job," I whispered to the princess as Vulkaine swooped down onto the podium in her place.

  Zephyra smiled, and nodded, while I could see the Cartographer appeared to share my adoration.

  Not everyone is against her. She's worth ten of every other king and queen in here as far as I'm concerned. I thought, as Vulkaine addressed the gathering.

  "To confirm the princess’s words, yes, there is an army out there whose numbers vastly exceed our own. Nevertheless, they are a crude mockery of the noble kind they once were, and they are now nothing but savages." There was a series of grunts and nods at that statement, and the Elder paused for a moment before going on.

  "Long ago, this alliance stood for peace and tranquillity in the world, enduring for many an age before the Guardians were challenged. But we defeated that age of darkness, and I doubt that you would dishonour your ancestors’ sacrifice to make this world a better place by letting such cruel and deceitful creatures claim it for themselves while you sit here squabbling."

  His tone calmed, but his prompt to respect burned like a fiery passion within. The crowd shifted, and even the humans looked unsettled. Even so, it was Halfbeak who finally spoke up, bowing his head before the words left his beak.

  "With all due respect, sentiment will not be enough to claim victory."

  "Of this fact, we are aware. Yet we must ask that you trust in each other. For that is the reason we are here today." The Elder acknowledged after a brief moment of contemplation.

  "I am sure you are all familiar with the legend the Sigils received from the creators themselves upon the eve of last age's twilight?" he went on, and there was a series of muffled voices before most heads nodded in union. "It states that when darkness falls, one of unnatural blood will be born among the nine great races of our ancestors’ legacy."

  I felt the great weight of everyone's expectations fall upon me, and that desire to disappear grew stronger.

  "This whole world is that legacy. The very ground upon which we stand, the water of the oceans, the air we breathe, everything the elements have sway over is that greatness, and through tyrannical ages past, our ancestors did not leave us so defenceless," he continued, and I felt those expectations shift, his revelation pausing the judgment I'd been dreading for so long.

  That was at least until his eyes fell upon me.

  "Guardian, if you would?" The question was paralysing.

  How can I stand before everyone here and act like I'm the hero? My mind raced, at least until each of my friends stood, and I realised the fire Elder wasn't just looking at me.

  Seeing them at my side was all the reassurance I needed, and we all took a step forward together. More whispers filled the air, forcing me to focus on my friends to block them out.

  "Old friend?" Vulkaine went on, and at the summons the Cartographer placed the Fallen Star before him with a dusty thud, and immediately the Elder set about finding the page he'd shown me.

  "I am sure some of you have heard the legends regarding the elemental pillars, the foundations of all elemental magic that dwells within our world. As the descendants of our masters, dragon kind was bound to them, yet still the shards were shared amongst four of the nine races," the Elder elaborated, earning proud looks from the hippogriffs, and somewhat begrudging confusion from their half-feline counterparts.

  "Only the leaders of each race were permitted to know of their true existence, unless more dire of circumstances arise," he explained, glancing knowingly at Queen Eirian.

  "You speak as if the pillars are more than a legend. We had more reason to believe the Guardian would return than to put stock in the stories of magical crystals," Halfbeak scoffed, waving a talon dismissively.

  "Quite the contrary, your highness, I think you will find a great many things are as far from legends as you or I," Vulkaine countered, pressing on despite the griffin’s scowl. "All living races still loyal to the alliance of the nine were called upon, Queen Eirian knows of this, her kind being the bearers of the pillar of air. The watchers of the water pillar are long forgotten, and those of earth long extinct."

  Halfbeak’s expression stiffened further at that, as he pressed.

  "So that of fire, you have it, don't you? It's in Dardien?"At that, the fire Elder nodded, and the griffin king laughed bitterly.

  "You had a power like that all this time and failed to utilise it?" he growled.

  Vulkaine nodded again, but before the royal featherwing could continue, the water Elder spoke.

  "One cannot simply access the power within the pillars – only the founder of dragonkind herself and one other were ever able to open one without the use of a magic most dark. To enter any elemental realm, one must be worthy of Goldfire’s legacy," she explained, and behind me I saw Zephyra shiver, glancing down at her foreclaws.

  She doesn't think she's worth any more than I do? I thought, as I knew without a doubt, the Elders only needed me as Acrodan once had.

  "And after eight hundred years, one of your kind hasn't been worthy of this? How do we know that this isn't just a show?" Halfbeak replied caustically, the rest of his followers backing him up with a chorus of cheers.

  "Not since the days of Aria has there been a dragon worthy of the golden flame, true," Vulkaine explained, unfazed as he glanced at me.

  "Then the Guardian will open our salvation?" Halfbeak asked.

  "Would you prefer it were a griffin?" Eirian's graceful voice interrupted, a sharp edge to her tone.

  The feathering king scowled.

  "I would prefer to know why we would waste so many lives in an unwinnable battle if our hopes rest solely upon one dragon," he countered.

  He's right, how many will have to die? Even if I get this done as fast as I can, it'll be a blood bath!

  The look in Risha's eyes showed that she knew exactly what I was thinking, but as I turned to ask the Elder, he spoke first.

  "Because, as you know, the armies of the orkin are not our only enemy," he stated abruptly, and at the mention of some higher power, everyone fell silent.

  "An evil greater than even the traitorous Guardians has returned, it hides behind the veil of the Brazen Horde, its dark agents manipulate the orkin and its ebon serpents kill wherever they wish. But I assure you that when the battle begins, the Darkness will no longer be able to hide," he stated, glancing over at Apollo.

  Without a word, the construct steadied his hover and focused on the projected image as the Elder directed everyone’s attention with a nod.

  "As we know, the orkin are unaware of our location and our plans to attack. We have identified three strong positions within the city as well as an area of resistance from Dardien's defenders. If we can breach the outermost defences with an aerial assault, the most important thing will be to assassinate their leaders, leaving the rest to fall into anarchy. At that point, the true Darkness will have no choice but to battle i
n their stead," he began, the scenario playing out perfectly upon the projection as a series of golden spots and arrows.

  "And what of the soldiers already in the city, could we not gain their assistance?" Soaren questioned, his eyes fixed upon the marked area within the ruins.

  "I agree, I will lead an elite force to aid the defenders. We will need as much of Dardien's support as we can muster, if we are to relieve my father of his position," Zephyra added, stepping up beside Soaren.

  Is it just me or do those two look at one another in an odd way? I observed.

  Glancing at the rest of the room, I noticed that while the other rulers still looked reluctant about what had been proposed, they nodded in agreement.

  "Then there is but one task remaining: The Guardian and his wing must reach the temple, for it is beneath the elder chambers that the pillar is hidden," Vulkaine added, and once again, the idea of dragging my friends into battle was crushing.

  Mordrakk's illusion watched from across the room, his fiery eyes visible from the shadows. Yet I said nothing of my thoughts as I recalled the pit in the Elders’ chamber from the first day I'd arrived in Dardien.

  That must be where it's hidden, that pit looked very deep. Assuming as much, I stepped up, looking down at the projection. But in the time it takes me to get down there... No, I have to do more, I have to stop the orkin first.

  "I agree, but I get to kill Balgore, he bears armour that no blade but my own can match," I stated firmly, looking at the centre-most tower.

  Each pair of eyes peered at me as if I was about the only one in the room that no one dare question.

  "So much for the secret passage," I heard the Cartographer mutter from behind me as Vulkaine turned.

  He watched my friends and I closely, and I could sense a wave of uncertainty wash over them before he nodded.

  I'm hardly worth that level of respect, but if it gets me what I need, then so be it.

  "Very well, it would seem a smaller sized wing will attract less attention; does anyone object to this?" Vulkaine asked, glancing back to the crowd.

  "No, my wings stand ready to do their part and die, should the time come," Eirian stated proudly, the rest of her kind mirroring her stoic pose.

  "Very well, you have our support. My wings and Talon Guard will fly at your command. May this make for a better world, should we win the day," Halfbeak huffed, bowing his head respectfully. "I just hope this elemental magic of yours is as potent as you claim."

  "Hey! You're all talking about a city under a cliff, only accessible by flight. Spirits be damned if we are sitting this out, but you may notice that we've got no wings," Tarwin suddenly hollered, and my head rose at the sound of her voice, heralded by the bang of her father's axe against the table.

  A chamber full of the most powerful rulers and she shouts at them like fools. That's Tarwin, for sure.

  Everyone glanced back at her, but she stood firm, occasionally glancing to me while Apollo gave an interpretation of her words.

  "It would seem your kind is as determined as you are stubborn. I admire your resilience," Vulkaine offered.

  Tarwin glanced at him with an aura of understanding she'd reserved only for me all those winters past.

  "I used to wonder why it was that the Dark Guardian of Mordrin endured for so long, and now I do not," he added with a knowing smile.

  Yet despite Tarwin's insistence, no one really offered any solution.

  She's right they certainly can't fly into Dardien with the rest of us. I thought, yet it was at that moment that Halfbeak finally spoke up.

  "In honour of the old alliance and those that still stand by it, I will see that every soul willing to fight gets their due," the griffin told the Elders, his words encouraging Eirian to add her own agreement, before both the elderly dragon and Tarwin nodded.

  "Very well, then, it is decided – tomorrow, on the eve of the longest night of water's season, we fly upon Dardien as our ancestors once did. May they smile upon us," Vulkaine finished, stepping back with a bow.

  "See that your forces are prepared for battle at dawn, for soon thereafter, our fate will be decided once again," Zephyra added, and at that, the other rulers bowed and the crowds began to flow out of the chamber.

  "Well, that was interesting," Boltock observed.

  "I think I'll leave the politics to you guys," Neera added, inspecting her foreclaw as if that were far more important.

  "Come on, we should all get out of here and rest. We'll need it," Ember advised sensibly as she began to walk out of the chamber.

  There were no arguments, yet I waited for all of them to pass, before moving to Risha's side.

  "I don't know if I can do it," I admitted, shying away from her gaze.

  "Do what? What Vulkaine asked?" she questioned.

  "That pillar, if it's true. I know what it is, and if that was their plan all along, they're using me the same way Acrodan did," I told her.

  She paused.

  "If it's true, you'll be saving everyone, not dooming them like you think you did the last time," she assured me.

  "I know, it's just... All this happened because I opened that sphere."

  No all this happened because I failed. I still couldn't tell her the full truth.

  "You did that to save us," she replied, not hiding the fact she was glad I'd chosen their lives all that time ago.

  What I'll not do to save any of them is beyond me, she knows that.

  "I have to speak to them, there are some things I need to know. You go back to the nest, I'll catch up," I requested.

  Initially, she seemed reluctant to leave, but a moment later, she nodded, gently brushing my muzzle with her wing as she departed.

  "Please don't go too far," she asked with a weak smile.

  "I won't, I promise," I assured, nonetheless recalling how bad I was at keeping promises as I turned away.

  "I suppose you're happy now, are you?" I interjected suddenly, interrupting a conversation between Vulkaine and the Cartographer as I rounded on them.

  I caught Soaren and Zephyra glance back from the door as they departed, but neither of them intervened before vanishing. The only one who looked as if he may have something to add was Apollo, who was still slightly flustered from having to translate an entire argument.

  He glanced at me, and as if reading my thoughts, said nothing, choosing instead to follow the princess and Soaren. The only dragons left to witness my frustration were the other Elders, yet a gesture from Vulkaine urged them to leave too.

  "I'm starting to think you planned this whole war from the start," I accused the two remaining dragons.

  They exchanged glances while the phoenix fluttered onto Vulkaine's horns, giving a coo that held a hint of dissatisfaction. I didn't even know that feeling was within the bird’s range of emotions, but if it was, then such disapproval wasn't directed toward me as it peered down at its fiery master. Even so, the older dragon finally sighed.

  "To wish for a war is a fool's choice, no matter the cause," he advised calmly.

  Yeah, and even a fool would know that's true! My expression didn't soften one bit, but that didn't seem to surprise him.

  "This darkness had been coming long before we knew of you," he said, "but when you were found, we saw a chance to change that forever."

  So I really am just a tool to everyone? I thought, and much to my frustration, there was no hint of shame or sympathy in his voice.

  "Since the Guardian War, the world has stood shattered and segregated. The tension you just witnessed is a testament to how far we have fallen from the days of old," he continued.

  "So why not just use this pillar to save them, surely there are other worthy dragons? Why not just use it like the last time you had to?" I reasoned.

  Vulkaine opened his muzzle to reply, but I dismissed his words with a wave of a forepaw and went on.

  "So many have died because of what you failed to tell me, and tomorrow, many more will follow. If you'd told me about all of this on the
day we met, it would have saved so much. Please don't say you didn’t trust me, because everyone else trusted that stupid legend the moment they laid eyes on me," I snapped, closing in on Vulkaine with little regard for his larger size.

  He and the Cartographer did nothing but look back at me, however, and I felt a strange sensation I was just playing into their claws even more.

  "The elements are not weapons to be used so eagerly," the earth dragon interrupted, his first and most sensible voice taking the lead. "Nor are those who command them. Only twice have their powers been called upon – once by Seraphine herself and again by Aria at the end of the Guardian War."

  I glanced between them, the expectance in their eyes no less than it had been the day on which we had met.

  "And what of the amulet? You failed to mention that to anyone," I countered, unable to put Mordrakk's real plan into words as I added bluntly. "You know that if he finds it, he'll kill us all?"

  "That's for you to decide," Vulkaine responded.

  "No, it isn't enough. Even if you did convince the others, you can't expect any of this to work," I insisted, recoiling like an angry viper.

  I felt my mind freeze as Mordrakk's image wrapped itself about my thoughts, as if he were a snake ready to suffocate its prey. The action forced the truth to the tip of my tongue, but only at that point, did I at least feel I was in the presence of those who could understand and maybe fix it, or at the very least guide me.

  The only problem is I don't trust them. I thought, though out of sheer spite I felt like telling them I wasn't a hero. But if I do make them reconsider, will it save the lives of my friends and every good creature left?

  "I can't, because he's as much a part of me as any of the other creators, whether you knew that or not, and if I have it... I know I can't stop him," I finally confessed.

  Vulkaine opened his muzzle to speak, but the Cartographer intervened, waving his staff between us, motioning toward the exit and adding.