Theft of Dragons (Princes of Naverstrom) (25 page)

"There are ancient magical wards set around the Arcanum." Master Vhelan aimed a bony finger at the stone doors. "In particular there, at the entrance, the stones set at the base contain the largest quantity of protective runes, and above, at the keystone, that shimmering stone is the most powerful of them all."

Sebine frowned at the collection of the sorcerers and soldiers gathered in front of the Arcanum. Why was it so important for them to attack here first? If their target was the King, why not just go after him first? Master Vhelan must have caught her confused expression, because he motioned for her to join him up at the head of the group.

"Your help is needed, Princess Sebine." The sorcerer raised his hands into the air and looked at the sky. There, descending through the smoky clouds, were fifteen enormous stone blocks each the size of a small house. In the middle of the collection of blocks was a gorgon-headed battering ram made of shimmering steel. She was in awe at the Hakkadian's ability to move such massive weights.

"Only physical force can open those doors. Magic is useless there." He flourished his fingers and caused the stone blocks to assemble one behind the other on the plaza. "With our combined force and the leverage of the stone blocks we'll smash open those gates."

"Why attack the Arcanum?" Sebine was almost afraid to ask the question, but at Master Vhelan's patient expression she felt perhaps it was the right thing to say.

"Because the King is protected by two powers," the sorcerer whispered, his face a bit worried as he glanced around at the soldiers. "The Arcanum and the Princes of Naverstrom. We need to remove both barriers to slay him."

Sebine tilted her head in contemplation of the man's words. Why would the Arcanum help the King? It made no sense at all. Unless they were forced to craft some charm or amulet to offer protection to the King. But why would they help him? From all she had heard the wizards of the Arcanum despised the King. What power did the King hold over the wizards that could cause them to help him?

The big boom of the battering ram sounded and shook the square with a deep, reverberating echo. The doors didn't budge and from what Sebine could see, weren't damaged at all. More sorcerers landed near the others until a score joined forces and linked their power, pushing and pulling the ram in thundering blows. Sebine had to stop herself from laughing in dismay as all the countless strikes from the ram failed to even scratch the stone door.

Master Vhelan appeared flustered as he looked querulously at the other confused sorcerers. "The runes were supposed to only protect against magic."

"Clearly that's not the case," Sebine said, trying to keep her voice humble. "Might I offer a suggestion?"

The crowd of soldiers gathered around shuffled in their rigid, ready position, as if anxious for the fight to begin. Even the sorcerer's once early vigor from victories striking the minarets and the wooden portions of the Arcanum seemed diffused and uncertain. All the assembled group's energy now focused on Master Vhelan.

"Please do share any insights you might have." The sorcerer beckoned Sebine towards the front of the assembly.

She strode forward, ignoring the stares and quiet whispers aimed at her while she walked. In her mind she'd thought to first tell them her solution, but something condescending in Master Vhelan's tone made her want to show them what she believed might work. With raised hands she focused on the thirty-foot-long ridged and spiraling steel battering ram. Remembering the lesson Master Vhelan had taught her, she anchored herself against the stone blocks behind, the stone below, and the stone doors ahead. She was ready.

The Ring of Galdora sent a sickening energy surging through her body at each heartbeat. When she felt an unbearable frenzy of power compressed inside she released the force and pushed up hard against the battering ram, anchoring herself against the stone floor. She yelped, terrified, as the push caused the steel ram to shoot up into the air at the speed of a bolt springing from a hundred-pound crossbow.
 

Murmurs and shouts echoed out across the company as the ram disappeared into the low, smoky clouds. Master Vhelan flailed his hands in an ineffective attempt at preventing the ram from escaping, or perhaps from stopping it from diving down onto the group.

Sebine felt mortified and embarrassed at the loss of control over the push. In a few heartbeats the steel ram slammed down against the stone square and sent a massive, booming sound thundering across the plaza. The assembled sorcerers and soldiers jumped back in fear and cringed, cowering against the unexpected blow.

Master Vhelan sighed testily and narrowed his eyes at Sebine. "This was your
idea
?"

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to cause it to fly up so fast. I only wanted to raise it up to the level of the keystone."

A light seemed to ignite in the sorcerer's eyes and he nodded, thoughtful, and glanced back at the Arcanum. He stretched out his hands again and was joined by the other Hakkadians gathered around him. They raised the battering ram to the height of the keystone, positioning it perfectly to pound the stone.

"Now do the same thing," Master Vhelan said, his voice reassuring. "With the same force you did last time, but this time aim it at the keystone."

Though hesitant, Sebine focused her mind on drawing in the same power through the Ring of Galdora. Soon it burst inside her with a bull's rush of pleasure seething in through her teeth and chest and stomach, making her rage with ecstasy. Her laugh was hideous and beautiful and caused the crowd around her to melt back like a wave returning to the sea.
 

One focus, one fantastic push, one strike left the shimmering keystone splintering with a horrific sound like the separation of a demon from a child's body. Sebine thought the entirety of the Arcanum might come collapsing to the ground and the wizards inside smothered under the weight of the stone structure. Her feeling of guilt died in an instant as the keystone fused together in a flash of brilliant light, and in a moment, the light had fled the stone.

"Now! Strike the doors again," shouted Master Vhelan.
 

This time Sebine felt the rhythm of the ram's pounding and joined in the sorcerers with a push of her own. She felt the power burst over her like the feeling of cold water running swiftly over you from a mountain river. At each pounding of the ram against the door she pressed hard and the stone shattered, a dust cloud forming up at the point where the gorgon's steel head struck.

A wall of movement distracted Sebine's attention off to the left and she swiveled her head around and caught sight of a company of soldiers marching towards them. Fear lanced through her at the threat and she tugged on Master Vhelan's robe and pointed out the men.

"More knights joining our cause." The old sorcerer sniffed and returned to his casting. "I wouldn't worry about the King's guard. They've been either bribed or dealt with."

But Sebine felt an itch in her stomach and turned back to study the approaching company of soldiers as they fanned out and assembled in squads around the Arcanum. Two figures stood out amongst the company, one that sent Sebine's heart racing.

"Tael!" she shouted, and raced after him, navigating her way through the men. At her approach he charged forward and scooped her into his long, strong arms and she felt whole and ached for his lips, but realized there were scores of eyes watching them.
 

"So you got to ride on your own dragon?" His mischievous face grinned in a mock display of jealously. "Next time we'll be riding dragons of our own together."

She grimaced, glancing at the clouds. "It's hideous...feels like your stomach is up in your neck. The speed and the wind and the smell of smoke from the dragon is so overpowering."

"It sounds amazing." He chuckled, and took her hand as they sauntered up together to the front of the group. Master Vhelan commanded one last great push of the ram and a lower portion of the massive stone door shattered and collapsed inward, allowing space for a line of men to enter.
 

A cheer went out across the two companies and swords slapped against shields in a fit of battle rush. Master Vhelan raised a hand to quiet the army, his face hard and focused, and the square went silent to listen to the old sorcerer.

"Each squad will protect a sorcerer assigned to them and two squads will flank in together. Only such a balancing force will win the day against the menacing threat of the wizards. You two squads, go!" Master Vhelan motioned two of his sorcerers to join the two squads as they marched towards the shattered doors. The brave men filed inside the Arcanum one-by-one until all the men disappeared.
 

The assembled army fell silent listening to the shouts and the drone and whine of spells being cast inside. Then a tense silence fell and Sebine could see the men around her leaning forward as if anxious to join the battle.
 

The boom and whoosh of an explosion jettisoned a stream of bone and blood and bits of skin and organ and muscle out onto the surprised and furious faces of the soldiers and sorcerers alike. Tael raised his arm to shield Sebine from the macabre spray and she found herself going sick from the stench of it all.
 

Her hair was lifted up by Tael as she bent over and heaved and coughed and sniffled. She found an anger rising hard inside her heart against the wizards of the Arcanum for so utterly destroying those men. And as she stood it seemed like the anger had spread to the soldiers around her until a bloodlust raged in the eyes of the knights.
 

But Master Vhelan's face remained impassive and his shrewd eyes stayed fixed on the cracked doors. Some inner gears and wheels in his mind clicked and whirred and spun to the rhythm of his thoughts. After a long while he turned and faced the army.

"We only have to kill Master Loral of the Arcanum. Only he holds the charm that protects the tainted King." The sorcerer once again faced the massive doors. "They've positioned their strongest inside the entrance, so we have no choice but to do the same. Bishop Draven? Give me your best squad."

The Bishop ambled over and motioned to the squad that Kealian led: a group of menacing-looking soldiers who possessed the dull eyes of a bull that's maimed and gouged many men. Master Vhelan waved for Sebine and Tael to follow him along with several other elder sorcerers. Sebine felt the thud of fear beating in her heart and she snuck her hand into Tael's as they made their way up to the crack between the great doors.
 

Master Vhelan was the first one inside and he cast a shimmering shield of light around himself as he entered the dimly lit room. Sebine and Tael followed and found several testing shots of lightning and fire cast at the old sorcerer, but they quickly stopped when the wizards found lack of purchase. One of the wizards glanced at Sebine's approach and raised his hands to ready a spell.

"Would you really kill Princess Sebine?" Master Vhelan shouted. "I thought you were sworn to protect the King and his family. An ancient curse that keeps you bound in service to a corrupt man, half-demon-spawn and half-human."

"It is clear that the Princess has changed her loyalties," one wizard said. "By the rule of law we are not prevented in such a situation."

Another wizard in shimmering blue robes raised a hand to silence them. "We will do the right thing in the eyes of the gods. Now tell me, Master Vhelan, why have you made such an offensive move against the Arcanum? First you send sorcerers to slay me—and fail—and now you send an army and the dragons against me? When the King first sought to hire the Hakkadians I knew it was a grave mistake. And now I see with my own eyes that my fears were valid."

"Yes, Master Loral, if your fears include the slaying of the witch-born King then yes, they were valid." Master Vhelan assumed a relaxed stance and lowered the shimmering bubble of protection around himself. "But tell me this, wise wizard, what is more important to you, the whims of a mad King or the starving, pleading voices of your people? I have tried many times to parlay with you and your wizards and you've spurned me every time. The actions I took today were done as a last resort. My people are desperate in their desire to free themselves from the Princes of Naverstrom, and your people living hopeless on the streets are desperate to free themselves from the tyranny of the King."

Master Loral clapped his hands with languid movements and yawned in boredom. "A fine speech for a nomad and a cave dweller... Since when do you care about the needs of the common folks of Trikar?"

"You know not the origins and history of my people. Why do you have such arrogance and dismissiveness in your eyes? Before we were bound and chained to the Lords of Naverstrom, before we wandered from village to city—always spurned, before the conquest and crushing of our civilization, we were a great nation for thousands of years."

"You give a speech like the proud Malathians, always moaning and complaining about how they were once a vast and powerful empire. Just look at them now..." Master Loral smirked and with a flick of his wrist sent a brilliant lightning bolt snapping at the old sorcerer. Sebine shouted in warning but Master Vhelan just grinned as if expecting the spell and started chuckling as the lightning bolt melted and transformed into luminescent snakes that writhed and twisted as they slithered back towards Master Loral.

"Yet again in good faith I attempted to parlay with you and again you spurned me, and even traitorously tried to kill me while my defenses were down. This is the honor of the Arcanum?" The sorcerer opened his mouth until a gaping maw it became, and a hideous, mocking laughter poured forth—visible laughter formed of black, inky shadow tendrils that spiraled out towards the wizards. The masters of the Arcanum covered their ears in terror as the maleficent sound echoed across the vast stone chamber, and Sebine and Tael followed suit, cringing in primal fear and awe at the power of the Hakkadian leader.
 

"I am the Champion of Duelists, Lord of the Living Night, and Master of the Dragons." Master Vhelan seemed to grow in stature as he spoke and Sebine could see an eerie-green light shine around his figure. "Imagine if my power can so easily be brought low by the Princes of Naverstrom, and imagine if that power were fully freed from the lair. The world would be doomed! Why do you fight me instead of joining me? Why? When the whole world is weakened with the way cleared by the mad King Braxion, spawn of the Witch Koroshen, daughter of Prince Xanthes of Naverstrom, son of the Nameless, the Unknowable, the Darkness and the Void. Why do you not rise up and join us against this evil?"