The Dragon's Test (Book 3) (27 page)

“Alferug, look,”
Faengoril whispered.

Alferug turned and saw numerous glowing, blue flowers emerging from the ground. The soft petals opened slowly and ejected glowing pollen into the air.
The golden dust swirled around on the twilight breeze until the whole hill was covered as though by a fog of gold dust. The aroma was sweeter than that of a newly blooming rose, almost intoxicating.

“It is called a starbowl,” a voice said from behind them. The two dwarves turned and saw Jaleal standing there. He was every bit as thin as Hatatuk, but not bony. His skin was still firm and held the
vibrancy of youth. His bright, green eyes looked to them much kinder than Hatatuk’s, and his hair was closer to silver than white, with a healthy shine upon it that reflected the glowing pollen above them. “These flowers are what saved us from the funnel spiders,” he said. “Something about the pollen repels the predators in the forest.”

“But not other animals,”
Faengoril said as he pointed out to the far side of the clearing. Alferug turned and breathed a hushed sigh when he caught sight of a great deer emerging from the trees to graze upon the tender grass in the clearing.

“The other animals come here often, to escape the predators,” Jaleal said.

“It is a marvelous place,” Alferug commented. “I thank you again for your help.”

Jaleal smiled and smoothed his silver mustache down to meld with his beard. “I was
hoping I could join you,” Jaleal said.

“You want to join
us
?” Faengoril said skeptically. He looked to the hut beyond.

Jaleal nodded knowingly. “Hatatuk would not approve, but it is my choice,” he said flatly. “I am good with herbs, and I have a good knowledge of the plants and forests.” He then moved back into the blades of grass and disappeared before them despite the glowing flowers and pollen. He reappeared a moment later on their other side with a silver spear in hand. “I am also a great scout,” he said. “I can move among the grass as a shadow in the night.”

Faengoril smiled wickedly. “I like him,” he said to Alferug.

Alferug nodded. “Are you averse to riding a cavedog? We have a long way to travel yet, and we need to make good time.”

Jaleal nodded. “I will stay to the trees, but I promise I will remain ahead of you.”

Alferug frowned. “I don’t think you know how fast our cavedogs are,” he said.

Jaleal grinned and motioned for them to follow him. “We gnomes are endowed with a unique kind of magic,” he said. “We can walk and run quickly enough, but we have easier methods of travel at our disposal.” He walked to a fir tree and ducked under the lowest branches. He turned back to them and put a finger to his lips. Then he touched the tree trunk and vanished.

A moment later he whistled from a high branch in a tree on the other side of the clearing.

“How did he do that?” Alferug whispered.

“I don’t know,”
Faengoril smirked, “but I really like this guy.”

An instant later he was back at the base of the fir tree with his arms folded and
a big, proud smile on his face. “Like I said, I can keep pace.”

Alferug nodded. “Let’s be on our way.”

The dwarves all mounted up and the cavedogs darted through the forest once again. The beasts zipped through the trees at an alarming rate, almost keeping up with Jaleal as he travelled over and through the trees ahead of the group. Alferug and the other dwarves loosened their grips on their reins, as good as their dwarf eyes were in the darkness, the cavedogs were better, so they let the beasts travel as they wished through the thick forest.

The night air grew cold and damp, like the deeper reaches of Roegudok Hall. The moon and stars peeked through the leaves above and cast their silvery light in streaks on the forest floor. Alferug kept Erik between him and
Faengoril, just in case the group encountered anything else, but his worry proved to be unwarranted. Aside from the occasional mouse or deer, the horde saw neither tail nor claw of anything for the rest of the journey. As the sun broke over the jagged peaks far to the east, the dwarves emerged from the forest to see Valtuu Temple standing tall in all of its glory.

Alferug halted the group and the dwarves all stopped to gaze upon the temple.

Great, thick walls of white stone rose up topped with battlements enclosed by a green tile roof. At each corner a square tower rose up from the ground, half again as tall as the wall, with red and gold flags flying over them. Each corner of the roof on each tower was fashioned into the head of a dragon.

Jaleal dropped down from a leaning magnolia tree, silver spear in hand. “It’s as magnificent as the stories say,” he commented.
“The tower must be at least seventy feet tall.”

“Magnificent indeed
,” Alferug agreed. “We won’t be able to take the cavedogs in beyond the gate. We’ll have to stable them outside.”

“Stable them?”
Faengoril replied as he arched a brow and frowned. “Good luck with that.”

Alferug shrugged. “The alternative is that you and the others make camp out here while I go ahead with Erik.”

Faengoril sighed and looked back at the group. “I think that will work better than trying to box these beasts in with horses.”

Jaleal cut in. “Can I go inside?” he asked. “I would very much like to go.”

Alferug nodded. “The prelate will decide that, but you are welcome to come and ask.” He then dismounted from his cavedog and grabbed the reins of Erik’s mount, pulling the beast along slowly.

Faengoril
turned around and started barking orders to establish camp and break out the cooking pots. “I want to smell bacon and coffee before I see the sun standing two fingers above the mountains,” he shouted. The others snapped into action.

Alferug walked on, listening to the chatter and ruckus of the others setting up camp. The cool morning air filled him with a joy he had long forgotten existed outside the tunnels of his home. Erik moaned and stirred atop his cavedog and Jaleal reached out to steady him.

“His fever has broken, and his color is returning,” Jaleal stated.

“Thanks to you and Hatatuk,” Alferug replied. “I shudder to think what would have happened had we not found you.”

“He may have made the journey,” Jaleal said simply. “The cavedogs are extremely fast.”

Alferug nodded, but he doubted that Erik would have lasted through the night, and he knew that Jaleal knew that as well. The gnome was simply being polite, and trying to add what little hope he could to the situation.

As they came closer Jaleal could see more detail built into the walls and the tower. The outside walls were not plain white, but made of yellow, white, gray, and even some black stones placed in a weaving pattern. The effect of the sunlight reflecting off the wall was dazzling, almost blinding in fact. The large green double doors matched the color of the tile roof above, made of some kind of metal. The doors were studded with round protrusions, like the round tops of black helmets.

“Stop here,” Al
ferug said as they approached the gate.

The door
creaked open, slowly at first, then a little faster as the dust fell from its surface and it gained momentum. A pair of men in white robes, carrying great spears appeared and waved to them.

“Al told us you would be coming,” one of them said. Then they looked to Erik and glanced at each other. “Bring him in, quickly,” the guard added.

The dwarf pointed to the beast. “What about him?” he asked. “I know that horses are forbidden.”

The guard shrugged. “That is obviously not a horse, and I imagine it is easier to let the beast carry him,” he said as he pointed to Erik.

Alferug and Jaleal led the cavedog in through the gate and the gnome couldn’t help but gawk at the temple’s main tower. The base was made of gray granite, reaching up a third of the way until it gave way to darker stones. Windows were evenly spaced along the tower in a vertical column. The top third of the tower was wider than the base of the tower, with wooden porches protruding out and encircling the structure

“Magnificent,” Jaleal said again.

“Wait here, we will fetch the prelate,” the guard said as they drew near to the front steps.

Alferug reached over and patted Erik’s chest. “Alright, my boy, we are here.” The dwarf smiled to Jaleal and let out a great sigh as though a thousand pounds had been lifted from his shoulders.

Marlin opened the door to the temple and felt a mix of emotion when he saw Erik lying atop the back of a great lizard. He had never seen a cavedog before, but he was knowledgeable enough to know what it was when he saw it and it didn’t surprise him as much as it did some of the others nearby.

He saw Alferug standing next to Erik, and noted a curious aura next to him. It was green, as deep
and lush as any forest he had seen before he lost his natural sight. Strings of yellow swirled through it. “And who is this?” Marlin asked.

Alferug put a hand on the gnome’s shoulder. “This is Jaleal, he is one of the gnomes responsible for healing Erik.”

Jaleal bowed with a great flourish of his right hand. “Jaleal, at your service,” he said confidently.

Lady Dimwater stepped out past Marlin and descended the steps to Erik’s side. “He was hurt badly?” she asked.

“Not in the battle,” Alferug said. “But on our way here he was stuck with a funnel spider’s fang.”

The sorceress arched
back and reflexively jerked her hand away from touching Erik.

“He’s alright now,” Jaleal assured her. “Or, he will be soon.”

Marlin clapped his hands and whispered to the guards to go and fetch the healers. Then he turned back to the gnome. “You have our thanks for your assistance,” he said.

Jaleal wrung his hands before him and looked up to Lady Dimwater. “I was hoping to join with you,” he said.

Dimwater looked down to the two foot tall gnome and folded her arms. “You would join with us?” she asked.

Jaleal nodded. “I am the son of Borleal, the son of Flealor who forged the great spear known as Aeolbani.” Jaleal produced the spear and held it horizontally before him for her to see. “Aeolbani has passed from father to son since the times the Wyrms of Khaltoun first descended on us. It is said that the spirit within the weapon thirsts for the blood of those who devoured our homeland. I am not saying I am the best warrior, but I promise I will serve as loyally as any other.”

Marlin came down the steps and examined the diminutive creature’s aura. He almost felt the strength and power radiating out as he scanned Jaleal’s soul. He nodded after a minute and held his hand out for the spear. Jaleal gave him the silver shaft and watched as Marlin turned the weapon over in his hands.

“It has incredible balance,” Marlin said.

Jaleal beamed with pride. “It was forged in the light of a new moon, crafted from mithril and overlaid with silver and enchanted by my grandfather Flealor.”

“Enchanted how?” Marlin asked.

Jaleal took the weapon back and looked off to the right. He saw a man watering a shrub near the inside of the far wall. Jaleal whistled and told the man to put the bucket down. The man looked to Marlin, who nodded his consent and then he put the bucket down and stepped away from it.

The gnome flipped the weapon around his hand effortlessly and threw it quick and straight to the bucket. The point split through the bucket easily, spraying water all around.

“Impressive throw,” Alferug commented.

Jaleal then held out his hand and the spear vanished, reappearing in his hand a moment later. “Aeolbani is bound to me, and answers to my call.” He spun the weapon around and then posted the back end atop his boot. “That isn’t the only enchantment, of course,” he said. “But to show you the rest I would need to actually be in combat.”

“He has other skills as well,” Alferug commented.

“Do you have the scale?” Lady Dimwater asked.

Alferug reached under the back of his shirt and pulled out a gleaming, golden scale. “I have it,” he replied with a smile.

Lady Dimwater took it gently and looked into the reflection. “I thought it would have been larger.”

“It came from a young dragon.” He took the scale back and gently wiped the fingerprints off the surface. “Where is he?”

“He is inside the temple,”
Marlin replied. Just then a group of four men in white robes emerged from the temple and went to Erik, picking him up gently and carrying him back inside. “Take him up and lay him next to Lepkin,” Marlin said.

“What will you need for the ceremony?” Lady Dimwater asked Alferug.

The dwarf shrugged and started in after the healers. “Actually I just need some water.”

“Water?” Dimwater echoed. “That’s all you need?”

Alferug nodded. “Essentially, yes. If someone brings me enough water to fill the inside of the scale that will be all I need.”

Dimwater looked to Marlin and scrunched her face into a frown. “Well then let’s begin.”

Jaleal waited until the others entered the temple and then he scurried in silently behind them. He took in the extravagant murals as he crossed through the first couple of chambers, but he made sure not to fall out of step with the group. Even when they ascended the seemingly endless stairs the gnome was able to keep up just a few paces behind the others. When they reached the room where Lepkin was, Marlin motioned for Dimwater and Jaleal to stay in the hall.

“Can’t I go in?” Lady Dimwater asked.

“I am sorry,” Marlin replied. “But I want to be as safe as possible.”

She sighed and fell back to sit on a bench in front of the door. Jaleal sat next to her, his feet dangling off the bench as he kicked them back and forth.

Marlin and Alferug walked into the room just as the other healers laid Erik down on a bed and slid it closer to Lepkin.

“Incredible,” Alferug said. He stepped forward and pulled a small, round end table between the two beds. He set the scale on the table and held his left hand out expectantly. One of the healers brought him a blue and white ceramic pitcher of water and the dwarf poured the liquid into the hollow of the concave scale. As the water trickled down into the scale i
t took on a golden hue and light bounced out in several different colors as if a rainbow was sprouting out from the scale.

Alferug placed a hand on either side of the scale and looked into the water. He spoke in an old, almost forgotten tongue, speaking to the water inside. The many colors streaming out from the scale merged into a single column of pure, white light that ascended up to the ceiling. Alferug knelt before the scale and uttered a prayer, then he rose and took the scale carefully in his hands and walked to Lepkin. With his left hand he opened Lepkin’s mouth and poured some of the liquid down into his throat. Then he turned and did the same to Erik.

The same white light shined forth from their mouths and Alferug stepped back, holding the scale up above his head between them. “As the darkness yields before the light, let the sacred scale correct that which is wrong, and restore it right.”

The light from their mouths bent, connecting their columns to the scale and the scale began to float up out of Alferug’s hands. The light flashed and changed hues from white to green, to red, and then to blue. The room itself vibrated, as if the ground beneath the temple shook, but only subtly. The scale spun slowly and the water remaining inside rose up in a column, joining with the light and creating a brilliant golden prism
that bathed the entire room in its radiance.

Lepkin and Erik both convulsed then and a great, blinding orb came out from each to pass through the golden water and then into the other body. As the orbs disappeared, the light dimmed and the scale floated down to return to Alferug’s waiting hands.

Everyone was still, almost afraid to breath. Even Alferug stood motionless, staring at the bodies before him. All at once Erik’s body began to move and the boy sat upright and looked down at his hands. A large smile flashed across his face and he turned to face Marlin and Alferug.

“I am me again!” he shouted. He went to kick his legs over the side of the bed but stopped suddenly and cried out in pain. The healers rushed forward to catch him before he fell out of the bed.

“Be careful,” Marlin said. “Remember, your leg was broken during the battle with Erthor. We have done much to mend your body, but there is still some healing left to be done.”

“Can I walk?” Erik asked.

Marlin nodded. “Your bone is set, and the fracture has been set back together, but your bone will be tender for some time yet. Your deeper tissue will also be in pain, but we have done our best to speed the recovery.”

Erik nodded and leaned back on his elbows. Then he looked over to Lepkin. “Why doesn’t he wake?” he asked.

Marlin sighed. “I don’t know,” he replied. “We will continue to work with him, but for now at least we have set things back as they should be.”

Alferug stepped forward and stuck out a stout hand. “It is nice to finally meet the Champion of Truth,” he said with a smile.

Erik returned the gesture and shook his hand.

“Come, we will let them rest and then we can come back tomorrow,” Marlin said as he put a hand to Alferug’s shoulder.

“I don’t want to wait,” Erik said. “I want to resume my training.”

Alferug smirked. “I have something for you,” he said as he reached into his satchel and retrieved an old, leather bound book. The edges were well worn and it smelled of old paper and dust. “I believe Al had you read portions of thi
s book. You should read the last chapter.”

“Do you think it wise for him to read that now?” Marlin asked. “He has not progressed that far in his training.”

Alferug winked to Erik and then turned to Marlin. “From what I have seen, the boy is ready.”

The two of them then walked out, leaving Erik to flip through the pages to the back of the book.

No sooner did Marlin close the door behind him than Lady Dimwater jumped up and grabbed his arm.

“Did it work?” she asked.

Marlin nodded. “It did,” he replied evenly.

“Is he awake, can I go to him?” she asked.

“He didn’t wake yet,” Marlin said. “Our healers will continue to work with him until he does.”

Lady Dimwater let her hands fall limply to her sides and her shoulders slumped over. Jaleal moved to her side and looked up to Alferug.

“Is there anything I can do?” he asked.

“No,” Marlin answered for the dwarf. “We will handle it. It just takes time.”

“We don’t likely have much of that,” Alferug butted in. “Based on what happened at Lokton Manor I would say the enemy will be upon us very soon.”

The door opened and they all turned to see Erik, his weight shifted to his good leg and his hand on the door for additional support.

“You should be resting,” Marlin said.

Erik nodded and looked to Lady Dimwater. “I wanted to tell you something, and I didn’t want to wait until tomorrow.”

“What is it?” Lady Dimwater asked.

“Master Orres relinquished his claim to yo
ur hand,” Erik said with a half-smile.

Lady Dimwater arched a brow
and looked at him curiously.

“Braun was there, he can vouch for it,” Erik put in quickly.

“I would rather hear it from Orres himself,” Lady Dimwater said.

Erik looked to the floor.
“He didn’t make it,” he said quietly.

A long, uncomfortable silence ensued. Each of them looked away from each other, off in their own thoughts until at last Alferug broke the silence.

“The good news is that Senator Bracken is dead, along with the army he brought to sack Lokton Manor.”

Marlin let out a sigh of relief. “That is good.”

The dwarf frowned. “The bad news is that we lost many good men in the battle.”

They all looked to Erik and the boy nodded, acknowledging that the duty fell to him to account for the slain. “Braun and my mother were able to escape,” he said. “They, and a few of House Lokton along with them. The rest of House Lokton perished in the battle, along with Master Peren, Master Wendal, Master Orres, and several others from the Academy.
”

Lady Dimwater nodded slowly and walked away. Marlin stepped forward and put a hand on Erik’s shoulder.

“You should go back in and rest.”

“I will come for you in the morning,” Alferug promised.

Erik nodded and they all parted ways.

*****

“Marlin, your countenance is heavy,” the dragon said in his deep, throaty voice.

Marlin bowed reverently before the great, golden dragon. “Erik has returned.”

“I know,” the dragon said. “I could feel his presence when he arrived.” The dragon reared his head back slightly and blinked lazily as he stared down at Marlin. “That is why I summoned you.” Marlin nodded.

“I am at your service,” Marlin said. “What would you have me do?”

A deep, low rumbling sigh emitted from the beast along with a plume of smoke. “Your predecessor asked me that same question, when Erik first arrived,” he said. “I will tell you what I told him then.” The dragon pushed himself up on his forelegs, the horns on his head nearly scraping the highest reaches of the vaulted ceiling. “You must quicken his training, and have him take the test as soon as possible.”

Marlin looked up, with a frowning face. “You would have me force him to take the test?” The prelate thought for a moment and then shook his head. “I cannot do that, I promised him I would not.”