Dimwater's Demons (23 page)

“Alerik gathered the water of Garnuthak’s tear into a vial, and then looked to Terrelius. ‘I am glad that you trusted me,’ he said.

“Terrelius looked to his remaining seven men and nodded. ‘And I am glad you held to your word.’

‘“You knew about this?’ one of the men asked as he pointed to the young dragon.

“Terrelius shook his head. ‘Not until after the night by the cave.’

‘“How do you control a dragon?’ one of the warriors asked of Alerik. ‘And how did you know this dragon’s name?’

Alerik’s head sunk low and then he sighed. ‘Did you not hear the discourse between me and Garnuthak?’ he asked. ‘Thirty years ago, I could see that we were heading to our doom. So I snuck out at night, careful to track the dragon without being seen. I found its nest, and inside I found an egg. I stole it, and hid it from Garnuthak. Five of the other warriors went in with me on the plan. I brought the egg to them and they took it to the Gray Wood. I then approached the dragon the next day. I was too late to save the other warriors, but my five companions and I survived and struck a deal with Garnuthak.’

‘“But how did you know it would work?’ Terrelius asked.

“Alerik smiled slightly. ‘I had spent a lot of time reading of dragons,’ he explained. ‘Have you ever heard of The Compendium Drakonis?’ Terrelius shook his head. Alerik smiled and looked back to the young dragon. ‘It is the largest work about dragons ever compiled by man. It discusses every aspect you could ever think about.’ Alerik then held the vial up in the air with the dragon’s tear and swirled it in the light. ‘Now, we should discuss what we do from here.’

“Terrelius stepped forward. ‘Before we do that, I want to ask something.’ His stern gaze met Alerik’s and the captain slid his bloody sword back into its hilt. ‘If you could control the dragon, why did it attack my men outside the cave, and why did you not let us out in the Gray Wood at night?’

“Alerik frowned. ‘I don’t control the dragon,’ he said honestly. ‘I have formed a bond with him, so that he views me as family. This took decades to do, and even now I do not understand exactly how strong the bond is, and what might break it. While my song usually calms him and makes him listen to my commands, he is still a wild beast at heart, and there is no knowing when our bond may dissolve.’ He paused and then glanced at the other men. ‘He hunts at night, as did his mother. While I have been able to teach him not to hunt the people that live with me in the Gray Wood, I have not been able to break him from attacking strangers who wander into his territory.’

‘“So when he reaches adulthood, he will hunt like his mother did?’ one of the warriors asked.

“Alerik nodded. ‘And that is why we need to discuss what happened here,’ he said. ‘No one can know that this dragon exists.’ Alerik turned and looked at the young dragon. ‘Nor can anyone know that I survived. You six will return, claim the reward for yourselves, and live out your lives however you like. I ask only that you let me and the dragon depart out to the east, and never reveal our secret.’

‘“Where will you go?’ Terrelius asked.

‘“Best that you not know. I will say that it will be far enough away that even after I die, this beast will not return. There are lands that are yet savage far out to the east, where hunting is plenty, and he will be happy there.’

‘“We could kill it,’ one of the warriors put in.

“Alerik scoffed. ‘You couldn’t slay him any more than you could pierce his mother’s scales, but there is no need to find out. Everyone put forth your left hand and we will take an oath. The men put forth their hands and Alerik used the spearhead to slice their palms. As the blood dripped to the ground below they each swore an oath, vowing never to speak of how the dragon had truly been defeated, or reveal that Alerik yet lived.

“Then they parted ways. The six began their journey back to the king, carrying bloody dragon fangs from Garnuthak as proof of her death. Alerik rode upon the young dragon’s back as the beast took to the sky and flew out to the east, disappearing over the mountains, never to return.

“When the six finally arrived at the castle, they were welcomed with a shower of rose petals and lilies. The king held a grand feast for seven days. One day to celebrate each of the living heroes, and one more to honor the fallen. When the feast was over, the king brought out the promised ransom, and divided it among the six. The five warriors each set out on their separate ways, retiring from battle and taking up more peaceful lives in countryside villas.

“Captain Terrelius returned to the Gray Wood. He used his treasure to build up Alerik’s bastion where he became friends with the young bard, who, he discovered, was the son of one of Alerik’s five companions who had helped him to hide away Garnuthak’s egg those many years ago. After telling him the whole of the true story, the bard composed the tale a great battle which told of how Alerik died while delivering the final deathblow to the terrible dragon. He swore an oath to Terrelius to proclaim this story throughout the kingdom until the day of his own death. Terrelius then gave a portion of the treasure to the bard for the young man to use as he traveled around the kingdom singing praises to Alerik the Dragonslayer. So it is told, from village to city, and kingdom to empire, that Alerik the Great slew the beast whilst entangled in its jaws, saving all by offering his own life. None were ever to know the truth as it really happened.”

Kathair screwed up his face and shook his head. “Then how do you know?” he asked.

Dengar laughed. “He’s a quick one, isn’t he?” he said.

Britner patted the air. “The young bard wrote the true account down in his journal. After his death, it was discovered by his grandson. From then on, the true account has been known. Either way, this story isn’t about how Garnuthak died. It’s about the savage nature of dragons.”

“You see,” Dengar put in as he pointed to Britner. “Alerik’s baby dragon hunted humans too. Even as tame as it was, Alerik could never break it from its monstrous appetites. So, to answer your question, a dragon might come to like a person or two, if a bond is formed at birth, but it will always be savage on the inside. Just like that night outside of the cave, a dragon could turn on anyone at any time.”

“What happened to Alerik?” Kathair asked.

Britner shrugged. “No one ever heard from him again.”

“Probably eaten up by his own dragon,” Dengar said. “Come on, let’s turn in and get some sleep.”

Britner nodded and turned a narrowed pair of eyes on Kathair as he held up a warning finger. “Even
if
a dragon lives beyond the reach of the curse, they can’t be trusted.”

Kathair spent the rest of the night playing the tale over and over in his mind. At first he thought the others might be right, but then he thought about it more and he came up with a different idea. If even the mother would give an oath for the life of her unhatched egg, then dragons weren’t all that different from men. Bigger, more deadly perhaps, but greed beset men just as easily as dragons it seemed. What mattered to Kathair was two things. First, the love that Garnuthak had for her offspring and second, the fact that the young dragon did in fact learn to let everyone in Alerik’s bastion live. More than that, it had not attacked Terrelius or the others at the mountain. In fact, it sounded as though the young dragon followed Alerik’s commands.

So what did that mean for Leatherback? Would he remain loyal to Kyra, or would he someday become more animalistic? Kathair wished he could know how Alerik spent the rest of his years with the young dragon. Still, he took the tale as a sign of hope. If Kyra and Leatherback could get the dragon beyond the mountains and the sea, then he could escape the curse.

Kyra waited in the library, reading her books and pacing back and forth from the table to the window overlooking the courtyard. She knew that Lepkin had gone on patrol with the dragon slayers, but he was due to return today, and she was more than anxious to tell him the news about the garunda.

It was well after noon before she saw them ride into the courtyard below. Kyra nearly squealed with excitement and turned to rush toward the door, but stopped short when she saw Feberik standing there, watching her. Kyra’s smile vanished and her stomach flipped.

Feberik offered a half-smile and he glanced out to a window near him. He sighed and then held out his hand. “I thought we could have an early dinner tonight,” he said.

Kyra had been so excited about the garunda that she had entirely forgotten about her weekly dinner with Feberik and Janik. It wasn’t exactly an event she enjoyed going to, but she had never been able to excuse herself from one before either.

She wanted to ask the large warrior why he was doing this. Why was he still going through with the betrothal? She wanted to tell him that it was never going to happen. Even if Leatherback could never fly north, away from this land, she was never ever going to marry Feberik, of that she was certain, but the words would not come to her. Instead, she stood there, silent and unmoving while Feberik held his hand out for her.

“Are you not hungry?” Feberik asked.

Kyra sighed and shook her head. “Perhaps we can skip this week,” she said.

Feberik winced and his eyes looked pained. His hand slowly fell to his side and he looked out the window again. “Tell your friend that he owes me a horse,” Feberik said out the corner of his mouth before leaving the library. “Also, you should give the vial of werewolf ashes to Headmaster Herion.”

Kyra held her breath. She hadn’t told anyone about hunting the werewolf, and she knew that Lepkin hadn’t either. She was a more than a little surprised by Feberik’s reaction, and had no way of knowing exactly when he had figured it all out. She stood there, watching the empty doorway for some time after the large warrior had left. As much as she hated the idea of him as her fiancé, she couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for the man. She had never before seen him so crushed and defeated.

Fortunately for her, Lepkin came through the doorway, rushing in and smiling as he always did.

“I thought I might find you here,” Lepkin said.

Kyra smiled wide. “Njar is back, and he found a garunda!”

Lepkin stopped in his tracks and his eyes widened as his brows shot up. “And you’re sure it isn’t another werewolf?” he teased.

“Njar doesn’t make mistakes like that,” Kyra fired back.

“Ah yes, it was an amateur mistake on my part, I see that now,” Lepkin said as he folded his arms and feigned insult.

“So, are you ready?” Kyra asked.

“Now?” Lepkin asked.

She nodded. “It’s a long way from here, so we will need to ride Leatherback.”

Lepkin nodded nonchalantly and then the words sank in and his face lit up and his eyes danced above the biggest smile Kyra had ever seen. “Wait, I get to ride on a dragon?!”

Kyra nodded again. “Meet me at the nest, and I will bring him to you.”

Lepkin clapped his hands together and nodded enthusiastically. “This is going to be amazing,” he said as he turned around. “I’ll gather my things and head out now!”

Kyra smiled and watched him run out from the library. The young sorceress then opened a portal to the aspen wood and stepped through. She found Njar and Leatherback waiting for her patiently.

“Is he back?” Njar asked.

Kyra nodded. “We need to give him some time, but he will be at the nest fairly soon.”

Njar nodded. He tossed Kyra’s staff to her. “Make sure to take this. We are going after dark creatures today. We shouldn’t take any chances.”

Kyra nodded and examined the staff. She could feel it vibrating slightly and hear the hum of the power inside. “Did you augment it again?” she asked.

Njar nodded. “Leatherback has been out of the grove much more than before. I want to be sure he is kept safe.”

Kyra smiled and looked to Leatherback. The large dragon peered back at her with his sky-blue eye and then winked at her.

“I have an idea,” she said suddenly. “We have some time before Lepkin will be at the nest, so why don’t we go back to that pool?”

“A pool?” Njar said.

Kyra didn’t give the satyr time to reject the idea. She quickly moved toward Leatherback and hopped up on his neck. She then looked down expectantly at Njar. “You coming?”

Njar pointed to his leg. “Better to not get the wound wet. It isn’t fully healed yet.”

Kyra shrugged and then patted Leatherback on the side of the neck. “Let’s go,” she said.

Leatherback launched them into the air and within a few short minutes they were back at the pool they had made together. Kyra instructed him to land nearby, but Leatherback only grinned and dropped them both directly into the pool, splashing a great amount of water out onto the nearby trees.

Kyra slapped Leatherback and then let go to fall into the water. The two played in the pool for a long time. She would swim side to side, and he would twirl about in the middle. He even found a fish that had been trapped in the pool and snatched it up for a quick snack.

The two played for roughly an hour before Kyra clambered out over the side and took her clothes off to dry, laying them out in the sun as she sat in the grass nearby and watched Leatherback continue to play. He was fun to watch as he dipped below the surface and tried to spin about in the pool. It was just large enough of an area that he could float along the length of the pool so long as he kept his legs tucked up under himself.

Kyra had only barely dried off in the sun when Leatherback dipped below the water, came up with a mouth full of liquid, and spurted it all out at Kyra, soaking her to the bone and knocking her backward.

“Leatherback!” she cried out as she slung her hands out to the side. “I was warm already!”

The dragon sniggered and let out a puff of smoke as he twirled around, pretending not to hear her complaints.

Once she was dry for the second time, she gathered her clothes up and put them on. They were still a bit damp, but it wasn’t anything a short flight wouldn’t take care of. Getting Leatherback out of the pool, however, proved to be a feat all its own.

“Time to go,” Kyra said.

“No,” Leatherback replied evenly. “I am swimming, like Gorliad.”

Kyra had to remind herself that despite his size, Leatherback was still very much a child. Njar’s magic had amplified Leatherback’s growth, but the truth of the matter was that he hadn’t even reached his first anniversary yet. By all accounts, he was in fact a baby. She had to ask him three more times before Leatherback finally responded, and even then she had to tap her foot impatiently while the dragon pretended to slip back into the pool twice.

When they were finally back in the grove, they were met with an impatient Njar, who was sitting upon the boulder and stamping his staff into the ground.

“Ready?” he asked gruffly.

Kyra nodded. “We’re ready if you are,” she replied.

Leatherback bent his neck toward Njar and the satyr scrambled atop the beast as best he could. Njar then summoned a cloud to hide them as they flew up and made their way to the old rock nest where Kyra had first found Leatherback’s egg.

They found Lepkin waiting for them, pacing back and forth upon the gray rocks. He looked up with eyes filled with wonder and mouth hanging open as the cloud dissipated and he saw Leatherback.

“He’s huge!” Lepkin said. “What have you been feeding him?”

Leatherback smiled. “Elk,” he said happily.

“You ready?” Kyra asked.

Lepkin nodded, and then looked to the satyr. “You must be Njar,” he said.

The satyr nodded. “And you must be the young boy who mistook a werewolf for a garunda,” Njar said.

Lepkin frowned and looked to Kyra. “You told him about that?”

Kyra sniggered. “We had to talk about something on the ride over here.”

Lepkin shook his head. “Where do I sit?” he asked.

“Behind me,” Njar replied evenly.

Kathair Lepkin nodded and rushed over to climb up onto Leatherback’s neck.

“Hang on,” Kyra cautioned. Everyone was thrown back a bit as Leatherback leapt into the air. Lepkin shouted and hollered all the way up, giggling and laughing so loudly that Njar had to put his ears down. The cloud reformed around them and they sailed, hidden in the sky toward the lair where Njar had found the garunda.

The flight was nearly three hours long, and Lepkin was laughing for all of it but the last half hour. He probably would have continued laughing the entire trip, but Njar had threatened him that it was either silence, or he was going to be thrown off from the dragon’s back. Lepkin chose silence.

Kyra felt her stomach twist into knots as they approached the lair. A copse of pines grew atop a small hill overlooking the entrance to a dark cave. Leatherback landed upon the hill and the three riders dismounted. Lepkin reached up to help steady Njar while Kyra walked toward the cave and surveyed the area.

She couldn’t see any sign of the garunda beast, but she had expected that. She knew from her reading that they were nocturnal creatures. It was likely inside the cave sleeping until the sun set. What was odd, however, was the lack of other life in the vicinity. There didn’t appear to be any birds or squirrels in the trees. All was silent. It was something both strange and familiar. The feeling of death hung in the air. She looked around and realized that if they waited for the beast to come out, then it would be stronger, for the darkness of the night would empower it.

She knew they would have to go in after the creature. Kyra turned to the others and motioned for them to catch up. When they approached she announced her decision.

“We should go in now,” she said.

“We should wait,” Njar countered. “It will come out during the night, and then we can attack.” Njar turned and pointed to Leatherback. “He could kill the beast himself.”

Kyra shook her head. “Something is wrong,” she said. “What if it’s a trap?”

“What do you mean?” Njar said.

“You said the shade laid a trap for me at the manor. Maybe it knows we are hunting it. It knows we have a dragon. Now it knows that you are on our side, which means he might know about the Pools of Fate. What if he set this up so he could ambush us at night?”

Njar shook his head. “No, that isn’t possible, he would have to be able to tamper with the Pools of Fate. Even he is not that strong.”

Kyra frowned. “What if he is?”

Lepkin stepped forward and pulled his sword. “If it were me, that’s what I would do. He already nearly killed you once, Kyra.” Lepkin glanced down to Njar’s leg. “And, by the looks of it, he fared well against you also.”

Njar sighed and nodded. “Very well. Stay behind me. We’ll go in after it.”

The group moved into the cave, Njar leading, Lepkin in the middle, and Kyra bringing up the rear. She had tried to be second, but Lepkin wouldn’t let her. He insisted on standing in front of her. They wound their way down through the cave until they rounded a curve and lost the light of the sun.

Njar summoned a great orb of white light that hovered in the air above them. They continued walking through the cave. There were scratch marks along the walls, but no signs of life anywhere. It wasn’t until they came to an eerie staircase that any of them heard the rhythmic breathing coming from further in the cave.

They descended the stairs slowly, watching for the beast. The tunnel around them changed from being a simple shaft in the ground to a grand cavern meticulously carved from stone. The floor was cracked and the place had seen better days, but even now it was impressive to look upon.

As they reached the bottom of the stairs, they again pressed forward, but they fanned out instead of walking in a single line. They passed over strange bones, noting spiders and centipedes that crawled away from the orb of light as they passed.

Suddenly a roar was heard. Kyra saw the beast, but not until after it stood on its hind legs and let loose with a strange spell that sent a shockwave through the air. Njar tried to fend it off, but wasn’t fast enough. He was launched through the air and tumbled across the stone floor, screaming in pain.

The garunda charged like black lightning, zig-zagging as it ran so as to avoid Kyra’s spells.

Lepkin stepped close to Kyra, his sword at the ready. The black, gigantic cat-like creature leapt the final fifteen feet between them as if it were a short hop. Lepkin pushed Kyra aside and then somersaulted forward, ducking and rolling under the great beast. He then shot up to his feet and reached for his mini-crossbow. He fired the weapon and the bolt struck the beast in the chest.

The garunda appeared to smile as it stalked toward him, unfazed by the crossbow attack.

Kyra launched a fireball, but the garunda turned and knocked the spell away with a psionic blast that redirected the fireball toward Lepkin. The young swordsman was forced to dodge out to the side.