Ethan Wright and the Alchemist's Order, (Book 2) (22 page)

“I meant only to experience what a dragon would experience — his hold on me still exists as long as I remain inside the creature’s tongue, but my bond can be severed. Besides, one cannot defy the will of the Oroborus; the rules do not allow it. You must go out and save your friend now,” answered the fisherboy.

“But … how? I mean … that’s a dragon!”

The giant black drake stuck his beak in Auren’s face and sniffed. “YOUR FRIEND
WILL
BE OUT SHORTLY,” snarled the dragon. He saw that Auren was not suffering under the weight of his giant paw as much as he should be. “AN ALCHEMIST JACKET, EH? I’LL CRACK THAT OPEN LIKE A PEANUT BEING SHELLED.” He applied unrelenting pressure on Auren’s chest. The hardness of the jacket adjusted to withstand the additional stress.

“Ethan, I am connected to this creature — our minds bonded — trapped inside the creature’s tongue for almost a thousand years. I can tell you, he
is
going to kill your friend,” announced the fisherboy.

Ethan grabbed his pouch with the life stone that Auren had touched last. He held it in front of the miracle torch. Black smoke swirled violently inside the transparent sphere. Terrified of what was going to happen next, Ethan looked back to the fisherboy for help.

“Don’t be afraid, you are the Orobori … you can only be killed by another Orobori — that is the will of the Oroborus — I’m sure of it,” stated the fisherboy.

Ethan started to reach for his sword. The heat was already unbearable and he quickly recoiled from the mighty weapon. He went back to rummaging through his pack, looking for the map, when he inadvertently came across something unexpected.

Auren pushed as hard as he could against one of the long talons of the dragon. His face turned red and veins squeezed from his neck. He felt as if he moved the creature’s hold slightly, but was unable to exert the amount of force necessary to do anything more than that. He relaxed again, as he remained pinned down. He noticed that his arm could just reach the handle of his sword now. He slid it out from its scabbard as discreetly as he could.

“THINK YOU’RE STRONG, DO YOU?” The Lake Hunter snorted. “LET ME TELL YOU — YOU’RE NO GHISLAIN, BOY.”

“No,” answered Auren. “I’m his son,” he exclaimed. With all the strength he could muster, he flicked his wrist and hit the dragon’s giant paw.

The Lake Hunter recoiled for a moment but then stomped back down with all his might. Auren quickly turned his sword upward, with the hilt wedged firmly against the ground. It went right through the dragon’s paw, sending blood running down the Losalfarian-crafted blade. The black dragon did not even flinch. He reached his head down, clenched the sword with razor sharp teeth and pulled it through his own scales. The drake spat the sword over by the crevice entrance, tempting Ethan to come out and take the weapon. Shock came over Auren, as his attempt to hinder the dragon had failed.

Ethan pulled out the torture device that had trapped the Lady of the Mitan. He seized an arrow and held the small device to the tip. He then held both next to the damaged sleeve of his alchemy jacket and concentrated. The loose threads raveled around the arrow and torture device tightly, affixing them together. The threads separated themselves from his jacket as Ethan quickly checked his work.

“GHISLAIN’S SON INDEED. I’M GOING TO CRUSH YOU AND DRINK YOUR BONES LIKE JELLY,” said the Lake Hunter as he angrily pressed down on the young alchemist.

Auren was extremely relieved he had his alchemy jacket on, but the dragon was testing its limits. He felt the pressure caving in. His chest was getting heavy and he was having difficulty breathing. “I … erraaghhh!”

“WHAT, BRAT? I CAN’T HEAR YOU — DID YOU SAY SOMETHING?” boomed the voice of the drake as it pressed down on the Faryndon boy.

“I … have … you, in my trap now … dragon. My friend’s gonna finish … you,” threatened Auren while struggling to breathe.

Ethan nocked the arrow. He took a deep breath and pulled it back, aiming directly at the fisherboy’s head. “You may want to duck,” said Ethan calmly.

The fisherboy nodded, withdrew from the crevice and glided away.

Ethan’s heart was racing. His hands trembled as he took aim at the giant water drake. His alchemy jacket relaxed, becoming less rigid and more flexible, allowing Ethan to pull the arrow back a bit farther. He thought of Auren. He thought of Loka being trapped and their promise to find him. He thought of his friends who had gone in another direction and how if he did not succeed, they would surely come back here looking for him and Auren. Finally he thought of nothing. He cleared his mind completely, until he saw nothing but a pair of yellow eyes reflecting the watery light that flickered throughout the cavern.

“Now,” whispered Ethan as he gently released the bowstring.

“WHAT, BOY?” bellowed the water drake as he sneered and laughed. As his tongue withdrew from the crevice, he sharply turned his head to peer inside. “WHO’S GOING TO KILL M—”

The torture device hit the drake square in the beak. The metal net wrapped around the creature’s mouth and its hooks latched into the mesh. The mechanism
clicked
as the gears
zipped
up the excess wire and then slowly tightened around his mouth, pulling his beak shut. The drake rolled onto his back, clawing at the net, while his wings flailed furiously. His teeth clamped down on the tongue still sticking out of his mouth. The wire tortuously sawed through and sank into the drake’s beak. As he frantically clawed at the torture device, a few strands of metal broke, but the rest held firm.

As the dragon struggled, he
ROARED
nasally and lashed about violently. Auren still lay on the flat of his back in agony. Ethan put the bow over his shoulder, grabbed his pack and darted out of the crevice to check on his friend. Just then, the boys heard a
CRUNCH
as part of the drake’s beak broke from his armored jaw. The wounded foe attempted to regain his bearings, but instead stumbled sideways into the pit. Ethan ran to the edge as the dragon tumbled into darkness. Several djinn bottles followed the creature down into the depths of the inky chasm.

Ethan crouched down next to Auren.

“Like a coffee table,” snickered Auren, in obvious pain.

Ethan smiled as he thought of Wegnel’s table that had snapped into pieces, but then remembered that a giant dragon had been standing on his friend’s chest.“You alright then?” he asked, concerned.

Auren had green slime on his face and jacket. He stuck his fingers in the goop and held it up. “Yeah … think I’m alright. I definitely think we should’ve gone down the other hallway, though.” Auren wiped his hand on the cavern floor and stared at the lake that glimmered above him. “I knew you would help me.”

Just then a slimy-wet squish noise came from behind Ethan. Ethan quickly turned and Auren propped himself up on his elbows to locate the source. The dragon’s tongue lay on the floor like an empty bag of blue flesh, and next to it stood a confident young boy who was free from his entrapment and any clothing to speak of.

“And I knew both of you would help me. Thank you,” said the fisherboy. “Been trapped in that mouth for a thousand years … started to smell in there,” he chuckled.

“Who’s the naked boy?” laughed Stanley, who was entering the great double doors. Ethan turned again and saw Stanley helping Loka Tattur into the giant cave. Availia was supporting Loka on his other side, but was also averting her eyes from the sight of the nude boy.

“Ahh … he is of the Airmoor,” smiled Loka. “I believe, if memory serves me correct, you must be Sila — from the people of the Fountain.”

Sila nodded as Stanley pulled some spare clothes from his pack and tossed them over to the Airmoor boy.

“You found Loka!” exclaimed Ethan, standing up. “Is he alright — I mean, are you alright, Loka?”

Availia sounded disheartened. “He was tortur—”

“I wasn’t shown any hospitality, and I’m afraid the accommodations were dreadful — glad all of you came to get me, but I think it’s best if we should take this opportunity to leave, as our gracious hosts may notice my absence,” answered Loka with little strength but much sincerity in his eyes.

Ethan pulled Auren up and patted him on the back.

“Is that
blood
?” inquired Stanley.

“Dragon blood!” exclaimed Auren. “I’m never washing my face again!”

The Airmoor boy quickly spoke up. “Um … nope. The dragon had a cold … those are bogeys.”

“Did he say
dragon?
” asked Stanley as the six of them walked out of the cavern.

Auren panicked and started wiping his face. “Did he say
bogeys?!
”

“Nevermind the dragon … or the bogeys — was that a
lake
…
floating
… on the
ceiling?
” exclaimed Availia.

“There is much to discuss,” said Loka with a chuckle.

Chapter 20
To the Airship

An overcast sky loomed high over the six as they approach the closed gate of Losalfar. Ethan had never seen the enormous gate open before, as he had always entered the city from the platform above. He looked up to see the airship parked in the same spot they had left it. The ship itself was a beautiful sight, even with the grey clouds above. Ethan admired the work he and Stanley had put into it. His admiration was interrupted by a clamorous noise of the gate moaning and creaking as it resisted the mechanism that opened the gigantic entrance. The gap created was just enough to squeeze two bodies through at a time.

Loka Tattur complained quietly to himself as he employed the support of Auren and Stanley. With the light that seeped through the overcast Ethan could make out numerous bruises on the old Losalfarian, wherever skin was exposed. Even with a battered body, the old Mitan continued to put one foot in front of the other until he passed through the gate. To Ethan’s surprise, the gate started to close just after Loka had passed through. Stanley passed through with Loka, quickly followed by Auren, Sila and Availia. Ethan turned sideways and quickly darted inside before it shut with a deep, towering
BOOM
.

They were greeted by Raikenai, who, aside from her own painful injuries, was very happy to see Loka. She embraced him briefly and whispered in his ear. He looked disheartened and then promptly nodded. The Lady of the Mitan nodded back before touching her forehead to his.

“What happened to you, my daughter?” asked Loka, his voice straining. He looked her over, spotting many bandages and minor wounds on her face, arm and torso.

In turn, Raikenai looked over her father’s injuries. “Don’t worry about me, Father — if it weren’t for Auren and his friends, there would be need for concern.” She touched her father’s face. “You need to get to the infirmary … right away.”

As Auren heard his name, he blushed. He was not used to being recognized for his heroism, let alone being acknowledged before Ethan. He stood up slightly taller and gave Ethan a sharp elbow to the ribs.

“Ow,” complained Ethan, keeling over, grabbing his ribcage.

“Yes, these extraordinary individuals came to my rescue as well,” replied Loka, taking his daughter’s arm in place of Auren’s. With her free arm, Raikenai took Auren’s arm as Stanley remained on Loka’s right side. They continued walking to a small infirmary that was prepared for Loka’s arrival. “I fear I may have been introduced to an unfortunate end had you all not come for me. No words can describe the gratitude … I am forever in your debt, for all that you have done for my family and I.”

“They saved me as well — I was pretty much done exploring that dragon,” added Sila cheerfully. The sleeves on his borrowed shirt slipped past his fingers as he peered inside, playfully ensuring his hands were still there.

“And who is your new companion?” asked Raikonai. “He looks—”

“He is of the Airmoor,” replied Loka.

The young-looking boy resembled a human of about nine or ten years old. He was short and somewhat scrawny. Auren thought that Airmoor must be a city, but Ethan knew there was more to it than that.

“My name is Sila … from the Fountain,” he replied, pulling his sleeve up. He extended his now-visible hand, which Raikenai eagerly took in a gentle handshake.

“It is nice to meet you, Sila, from the Fountain. I am Raikonai Tattur, and you are welcome to anything that Losalfar has to offer.”

“What fountain are you from? Like a water fountain? And where is the city of Airmoor?” inquired Auren. “I’ve never heard of it.”

Availia was ready to punch Auren in the shoulder but restrained herself by issuing a verbal warning instead. “Auren … don’t be rude.”

Ethan had a puzzled look and quickly backed Auren. “I have to agree with Auren — I’ve never heard of Airmoor. Where is that? And what do you mean, you were exploring inside that dragon? You looked as if you were
trapped
inside the Lake Hunter’s tongue, yet history shows you acted as bait while the Lake Hunter attacked its prey. Why were you working with that creature anyways?” he snipped. “I think you have a lot to answer for.”

“That’s a lot of questions. You sure you’re not of Airmoor as well? I think you’re as curious as I am,” replied Sila.

“Airmoor is not a place,” answered Loka. “It is a race of people … not of this world.”

“Wait a minute! You’re not from this world?!” exclaimed Auren with his mouth hanging agape.

“Auren…,” mumbled Availia, “we’re not from this world, either,” she sighed.

“Oh … I mean, yeah, well … I know,” said Auren, scratching his head. “Forgot for a second — still, pretty impressive though.”

They reached the infirmary and walked through a small arched entrance with no doors. A cot was offered to Loka, which he gladly accepted.

“The Airmoor are from Athani. At a very young age, they leave their home and spend the first part of their life in exploration.”

“When you say young — how young are you, Sila?” asked Stanley.

“I am five-thousand eight-hundred and ninety … two.”

“You’re
what?
” asked Availia in shock. “But that would make you—”