Scourge of the Dragons (14 page)

“The drakes will serve their purpose if we
allow them to do so,” he said as he turned to his Knights.

“I don’t mean to question, sir, but what is
the purpose of all this?” One of the Knights asked.

“The four kingdoms will pay for their past
sins. We, along with the elves, will act as the hand of vengeance.
Once we’ve subjugated the four kingdoms, we will stamp out any
resistance, human or elf.”

*

“Our plan appears to have been a success,
sir,” Revin said as he rode up to Finrul.

“Excellent news, my friend. The dragons will
be pleased with our success. This should allow two more battalions
to join us in our invasion,” the sorcerer replied.

“Is it wise to commit the majority of our
troops to this endeavor?”

“Perhaps not, but it is a risk that I am
willing to take.”

Finrul looked down at the map on his lap.
The dragons had ordered him to secure the borderlands without
disturbing the mages at the Arcane Academy. He closed his eyes and
tried to remember the simple spell. Fenzik had taught it to him
long ago. His brother had often taken to using magic for the most
mundane of things, but there were occasions that Finrul felt it
helpful. This particular spell allowed the caster to connect a
person or group’s location to a map. He opened his eyes and smiled
when he saw the two horses halfway to the borderlands. The magical
map wouldn’t replace those in the command tent, but it would allow
him to see where his battalions were.

“Revin, I need you to accompany the forward
scouts. You are to be my eyes and ears for the duration of this
campaign,” he said.

“Campaign, sir?” The elf asked.

“Yes, something tells me that the dragons
won’t be satisfied with just the four kingdoms. There is a whole
world unknown to us beyond the borders of these kingdoms.”

“I cannot deny that it sounds exciting, but
what about those who want to settle down and have a family?”

“We are elves, Revin, we live hundreds of
years. If we are fortunate, the dragons may grant us even longer
lives. This campaign will be a memory to be cherished.”

“What if we don’t make it out alive?” Revin
asked.

“That too, is a risk I am willing to take.
No doubt the dragons will be willing as well. Think on it, my
friend. Should they choose to press forward, that would give us an
opportunity that will never be available to us. We are the superior
race, it is our right to rule.”

“You are not the man that I once knew.”

“Is that good or bad?” Finrul asked.

“I haven’t decided yet.”

Amber quickened her pace when she spotted
the monastery on the horizon. The monastery sat in a large
indention along the foot of the mountains. Unlike the mansions and
castles near Reddington, the monastery was plain. She smiled at the
thought of somebody building such a grand building without the
extravagance of the Kings and nobles. The others matched her pace
and came alongside her. Wrotan kept one hand on the hilt of his
sword as he took the lead. They weren’t expecting any trouble, but
the hunter seemed to believe that it followed them everywhere.

“Have they no honor?” Hadrin asked.

“What do you mean?” Amber asked.

“This building is a testament to their god,
yet there is nothing special about it. Yes, it is a large building,
but it is neither defensible nor extravagant. What are we supposed
to expect from their god?”

“Do not speak ill of that which you know
nothing,” Wrotan said.

“I am with Hadrin on this one. The elves
treat the Creator with the respect that she deserves. This would be
an affront to her godhood,” Alandra said.

“They refer to him as the Builder. He has no
use for extravagance. The spirit monks see him as the being that
brought everything into existence. What good is a fancy window or a
pile of gold and jewels? I am not saying that their beliefs are
superior to anyone else, but to compare the spirit monks to other
religions in such a way is to not understand the spirit monks and
their deity.”

“He asks for humility and servanthood over
all else. They use their material goods to shelter others, fight
what they see as evil or injustice, and to spread their religion.
Their god shares some similarities with the Maker, enough so that
some believe them to be the same being. Things change over the
years and people adopt traditions that may have meant something
wholly different before. It is always wise to treat other religions
with respect,” Mariah said.

“We are wasting time discussing this when we
could be approaching them,” Amber said as she pushed the pace up
again.

Wrotan nodded and matched her speed, but the
others continued to squabble over religion. The hunter let out a
sigh as he looked over his shoulder. Amber opened her mouth to ask
a question, but decided it would be foolish. He noticed her looking
at him and gave her a slight nod. She watched as he turned his head
back toward the monastery. There was something different about him
than the others. Mariah had joined them to assist Kade and stuck
with them to atone for letting Julian be killed. Hadrin and Alandra
traveled with them because their people required it. Amber did not
know why the hunter traveled with them.

“Can I ask you something?” She asked.

“You just did,” he replied.

“That isn’t what I meant.”

“Yes, you may ask me something, but that
doesn’t mean you will get the answer you want. Thank you for asking
permission, more often than not people pry their way into the lives
of others without an invite.”

“I don’t want this to come out wrong, but
why are you traveling with us. You seek to help humankind and
elvenkind and all of that, but what is it that keeps you so
driven?

“A good question. Up until now I’ve evaded
the question with answers about the greater good. Truth of the
matter is that I am on a search. You see, I never knew my parents
and the man who raised me was part elf and part human. More than
that, he was often gone. He meant well, but the role of father was
not for him. I was something more like an apprentice. I’ve spent
years in the cities, years in the wilds, years in the forests, and
even years with the elves. Never once have I found my place. So, I
look for purpose. Hadrin and his father needed my assistance
against the sun elves and I gave it. They offered me something that
nobody else has ever offered me before. I was to be the champion of
the night dragons. Alas, it was not meant to be. Then we found you,
Mariah, Kade, and Julian. It seemed like a quest befitting of a
hero. That is something I’ve never been before. Now, we are just
the remnants of whatever it was that I was leading for that short
period of time.”

“I’m not certain I completely
understand.”

“My life is a long story of me looking for
purpose and not being able to find it. Opportunities present
themselves and I try to rise to the occasion, but I fail more often
than not. There have been times when I thought I could fit in with
different communities, but they never work out. It would be good to
know that the path I’ve chosen is the correct one.”

“I am sorry to have brought up a sore
subject.”

“Not at all, I am not afraid of my past
failures. They are as much a part of me as my skin.”

Amber went quiet when she noticed the small
party exiting the monastery. There were a dozen of them, half in
gray robes and half in armor. The men and women in armor were
heavily armed. One of the monks separated from the group and
approached the two of them. Wrotan motioned for Amber to stop
before looking back over his shoulder. The other monks and their
armored companions held back as their leader stood in the middle of
the road. He looked at the three behind them and then back at the
two in the front. Amber glanced at Wrotan and gave him a quick nod.
She was prepared to face the monks and their warrior brethren.

“That is close enough, thank you,” the monk
said as they got closer.

“Is this the spirit monk monastery?” Amber
asked.

“That is correct, what is your business
here?”

“Our business is two-fold. We mean you no
harm, come let us go inside and discuss matters,” Wrotan
answered.

“Very well, but your weapons must stay at
the entrance. The Builder frowns upon bloodshed.”

The monk didn’t wait for a reply. He turned
around and began walking back to the monastery. Wrotan motioned for
Amber to follow him. She gave him a quick nod before heading
forward to catch up to the monk. His age began to show as she got
closer to him. He walked with a slight limp and was hunched over
just a tad. The wrinkles on his hands were much like those on her
grandfather’s hands. He waved for his companions to enter the
monastery without him. She slowed down to his pace when she caught
up to him. He acknowledged her with a nod without turning his head.
One of the others moved to open the door for him, but he waved them
off. The monk held the same determination and drive that she had
seen in Wrotan.

“He is just like you, you know,” she said as
they entered the monastery.

“Please, call me Cristoph. I highly doubt
that we are similar, young one. I am a monk and he is a warrior,”
the monk replied.

“You are looking at the outside.”

“Ah, forgive me, I have not the ability to
ascertain one’s personality in such a short time. If you are indeed
able to do so, you have a special gift. Now, how are we alike?”

“He shares your drive. Not for the same
things, of course, but the drive and determination is there. You
both strive to better yourself at all times, yet that is not your
main goal.”

“You get all that from the short time we
have spent together? That is most impressive. I strive to be a role
model for my younger brothers and sisters. How better to do so than
to constantly make an effort to be a better person?”

“It seems a noble cause and that is an
understandable goal, one that I think more people have than are
willing to admit,” Amber said.

“Enough about me. What is it that your
friend is searching for? Or is it you that are doing the
searching?”

“Both, but Wrotan can explain them better
than I.”

*

“Are you familiar with the elven practice of
exiling those who are seeing as a danger to society?” Wrotan asked
as he put his mug down.

“I’ve heard much about it, but it is not
something they’ve allowed us to research,” Cristoph replied.

“Is it possible that those who are exiled
are somehow connected to the spirit world?”

“There is still much mystery to the spirit
world, but we do know that none of the inhabitants can take on
physical form. However, it is still possible that there is a
connection of some sort.”

“Perhaps they are exiled to another world
that can also access the spirit world?” Alandra asked.

“That is certainly a possibility. Is there a
reason why you need this information?” Cristoph asked.

“We were hoping to stop the return of the
shadow dragons. It may already be too late, but we need to try,”
Wrotan said.

“Dragons are magical creatures and it is
through magic that we have been able to glimpse the spirit realm.
If there is another realm in which the shadow dragons reside, they
would be far too powerful for any of us.”

“I suppose that leaves us to our other
question. Is it possible to enter another’s mind using magic?”

“Yes, but such a thing is extremely
dangerous. Either subject could end up destroying their mind. Why
would you need to do such a thing?” Cristoph asked.

“A young man named Kade is under the control
of the dragons and we must do everything we can to free him,” the
hunter replied.

“This is most unfortunate. One of our monks
is traveling to the dwarven lands, he would know more about it than
I. His name is Lamont. Your best chance is to find him. The only
other group that knows about such things resides at the Arcane
Academy.”

“You have been most helpful, Cristoph. Is
there any way that we can repay you?”

“There is one, yes. Would any of you be
willing to attempt to traverse the spirit world?”

“Wouldn’t that be dangerous for anyone that
doesn’t have the ability to use magic?” Mariah asked.

“Not necessarily. Through our research,
we’ve found that people have different reactions to experiencing
the spirit world. I understand if you think it is too dangerous,
but any assistance would be greatly appreciated,” Cristoph
said.

“I will do it,” Wrotan said.

The monk nodded as he put down his cup. He
motioned to one of the other monks and they began whispering to
each other. Cristoph smiled as he stood up. He took Wrotan’s mug
and went into the adjacent room, returning shortly with a filled
mug. The hunter took the mug and drank the contents. His whole body
began to feel heavy. Everything around him was out of focus. Wrotan
slumped back into the chair as he felt his eyelids close. When he
opened them, the monks and his companions were nowhere to be found.
Upon closer inspection, he saw that there were hundreds of mirrors
along the walls of the room. The mirrors came in different sizes.
There were seven large mirrors, three small mirrors, and countless
tiny mirrors.

He looked at the closest of the mirrors and
saw a reflection of himself wearing armor made of bark and he was
holding a vine whip. The next mirror showed him wearing plate armor
and wielding a massive hammer. His third reflection wore the same
thing he had on, except there was a sword of flame in his hand and
red streaks in his hair. Two of the mirrors showed him riding a
beast of some sort, one was a griffin and the other was a dolphin
like sea creature. The last two large mirrors showed near opposites
of each other. In the first, he wore shining armor with an equally
bright sword. Both the armor and the sword seemed to emit their own
light. The other mirror showed him in dark armor with a dark sword.
Light seemed to be sapped away by the armor and the sword. He
turned to one of the small mirrors and caught a glimpse of himself
covered in dried blood. His reflection wielded a massive great
sword and had a necklace of skulls. The next small mirror
continually changed back and forth between an older version of
himself and a younger version of himself. Sometimes the
transformation took seconds, other times it took minutes. He turned
to the final small mirror and shuddered. Half of his reflection was
a bare skull and the other half was pale skin.