Bakkian Chronicles, Book I - The Prophecy (36 page)

Small tremors could now be felt, growing steadily stronger, and coming in short bursts: thud… Thud… THUD… **THUD**.

Steve’s mouth opened in shock. Sarah scooted behind her husband. The tremors were coming from inside the hollowed out cavern below the orchard, which meant-

Twin blasts of smoke erupted from the tunnel, causing all but Kri’Entu to jump back in terror. The tremors in the ground grew to an intensity strong enough to throw both Steve and Sarah off balance. More smoke was emitting from the tunnel mouth, as well as discreetly placed vents in the cavern ceiling, making it appear as though there was mist floating up from the ground.

The dragon finally emerged into the sunlight, giving Steve his long anticipated first look at an actual live dragon. Kahvel was a prime example of his species. He massed about ten tons, had a wingspan of seventy-five feet from tip to tip, and was an iridescent golden color. His claws alone, Steve figured, were at least two feet long. It would be a very foolish human, indeed, who tried to slay a dragon.

Kahvel took a deep breath and rustled his wings. There was the human he was familiar with, along with two other humans who were holding their ground, a male standing in front of a female.

“
Kri’Entu,” the dragon acknowledged, the bass of his deep voice being felt by all present. Kahvel gracefully lowered his head down to inspect the two humans who didn’t flee. “Who are these two? I do not recall smelling them before.”

Kri’Entu turned to the Nohrin. “Steve, Sarah, may I present the dragon liaison, Kahvel.” The king turned back to the dragon. “Kahvel, allow me to introduce the Nohrin. This is Steve, and his wife, Sarah.”

Two intelligent reptilian eyes stared at the small female before shifting to the male. “Are ye not afraid, human?”

Steve was ecstatic. The dragon could speak! It was intelligent! “Call me Steve,” he corrected, “and I’m very pleased to meet you.”

With a rustling of scales, Kahvel raised his head back up to his normal range, all the while maintaining eye contact. He grunted, snorting out a small puff of smoke from each slitted nostril. He eyed the small, human king. “This? This is the famed Nohrin that ye speak of, Kri’Entu? How could something so small be
capable
of generating the amount of fire and heat that ye have been talking about?”

Bemused, Steve grinned. He was really starting to like this dragon. There was a small voice in the back of his brain that was screaming at him, insisting he should be afraid. He just simply wasn’t. Looking up at the dragon, he ignited both hands.

“
It is my general understanding,” Kahvel observed, “that humans are not supposed to burn.”

“
Who said anything about humans burning?” Grinning like a school kid, Steve raised both arms, palms out, and took aim at a tree, one of the blackened remains of a casualty from his last excursion to this orchard. Twin jets of fire shot from his outstretched arms, enveloping the already blackened tree in flames, reducing it to ash in mere seconds. Pulling his jhorun back, both hands poofed out. He smiled up at the dragon.

Nodding appreciatively, Kahvel sited the next blackened tree. His mouth opened slightly as he gently blew the tree a kiss. The resulting jet of fire had the tree instantly reduced to ash where it fluttered away with the wind before the tree could even break apart and fall to the ground.

Human and dragon stared at one another, each appreciating the other’s abilities. “That was a helluva lot hotter than I can get,” Steve said, impressed. “I don’t know if I could ever reach that temp. That tree blew away before it had a chance to fall. That’s so cool!”

Deep growls emanated from the depths of the dragon, which had started to gently sway from side to side. Tendrils of smoke escaped from his nostrils as the dragon rocked back and forth.

He’s laughing, Steve thought. An intelligent dragon with a sense of humor!

Giving a final snort, sending more smoke up into the air, Kahvel once again stretched his neck down so that he was at eye-level with the human fire thrower.

“
Ye damn me with faint praise, human. Steve. Ye will do.”

“
I will do for what?”

Kri’Entu appeared at his side. In a hushed tone, he said, “I will explain later.”

“
Are we to begin tomorrow, then?” the dragon asked, his voice rumbling out across the
orchard
.

The king nodded. “Aye.”

“
So be it.” The dragon lowered his head a final time to scrutinize the two humans. “Be ready at sunrise.”

With that, the massive dragon retreated back into his temporary lair under the orchard.

Steve raised a hand. “Um, excuse me, what about sunrise tomorrow? Does something happen tomorrow morning?”

Again, the king nodded. “Aye. Your quest to find Maelnar starts tomorrow. We must make haste.” The king paused, lowering his voice considerably. “I fear another attack on my son.”

Returning to the Great Hall, the queen smiled at them, letting her gaze linger on Steve. “So tell me, what do ye think of Kahvel? Impressive, is he not? To think there are much larger dragons than he still amazes me.”

Sarah raised her hand. “Pardon me, but did you say he is a small dragon? How big do they get?” She looked quickly over at her husband who was chatting with the king. “Never mind, scratch that.” She took a deep breath. “We’re leaving tomorrow to find Maelnar?”

The queen nodded.

“
Do we get some sort of guide? We don’t know the way, and I personally don’t want to get lost.”

Callé put a reassuring hand on her arm. “Aye, Sarah, ye will. In fact, ye just met him.”

Sarah gasped aloud. “The dragon? We’re going to be travelling alongside that dragon??”

“
Aye, that ye will.”

“
Just the two of us? Alone?!”

“
One other will accompany ye. Who that is, I do not think my husband has decided. Many have already volunteered to go.”

Sarah was dumbfounded. “There are actually people who would willingly volunteer to travel with a dragon?”

Callé shook her head. “If ye must know, the dragon is the deterrent. Dragons have been a known threat to our welfare for so long that it has been hard to break the stereotypical attitudes that people have towards them. Everyone would much rather travel with the Nohrin.”

“
Us? Why?”

“
Ye are the famous Nohrin! To travel with the two of ye guarantees themselves a place in our history books!”

The king, Rhenyon, and a strangely quiescent Steve joined them. “Consider it an honor, Steve,” the king was saying. “Ye have been deemed worthy by Kahvel. A dragon has the same feelings toward men that we have towards them. They do
not trust us, as they are not trusted by men. To allow men to accompany them is a feat unprecedented in our history.”

“
So in just a matter of a few minutes, he decided he liked me?”

“
Aye, that he did.”

Sarah spoke up. “I just don’t think travelling alone with a dragon is such a hot idea.” She looked at her husband. “Sorry, no pun intended.”

Steve grinned.

“
Fear not, Sarah, for you will not be alone.
Rhenyon here will be accompanying the two of ye tomorrow. He will speak on behalf of R’Tal should the need arise.”

Rhenyon smiled at the two of them. “I am glad I was chosen for this honor. I will serve ye well.”

Steve held out his arm. Rhenyon grasped it. “Glad you’re here, buddy. Can’t think of a better person to have with us for this little excursion.”

Suddenly realizing he had some unfinished business with the captain of the royal guards, Steve unbuckled his belt and slid the jeweled dagger off and handed it to the newest member of their party.

“
I believe this is yours. Thanks for loaning it to us. Sorry it took so long to get back to you. I had forgotten about it until just now.”

Rhenyon took the dagger, sliding it out of the sheath, gazing at it with unrestrained affection. “I am glad to have this back. This has been in my family for many generations.”

“
Thanks for trusting me with it.”

Later, after they had finished their evening meal, both had elected to retire to their quarters early so they could rest prior to their departure the following day. However, as they were preparing to leave, Mikal called to them from across the Hall.

“
Steve, Sarah! Wait!”

Steve paused, allowing Mikal to catch up. “Hey there, sport! What’s up?”

Becoming accustomed to Steve’s familiar monikers, Mikal grinned. “My father was wondering if you would come to the Antechamber.”

Both Steve and Sarah hesitated. “Right now?” Sarah asked.

Mikal nodded.

“
Did he just now send you?” Steve wanted to know.

“
Aye, I just came from there. I think he wants to wish ye luck for yer journey tomorrow.”

“
Oh, okay.”

They turned to follow their young friend back to the enchanted Antechamber, only to discover that the king was clearly in the middle of some type of meeting. Several people they didn’t recognize stopped in mid-sentence to turn and stare at them. Sarah blinked. The closest person to her was incredibly short, with a thick, braided beard. The other was a thin, middle-aged man with short, steel-gray hair. Why did Mikal have them come here now? Clearly his father was busy with other matters. She stared at the short, stocky figure that was standing closest to her. In fact, she blinked a few times more, if she wasn’t mistaken, this was a dwarf! His long, braided beard was tucked into a belt that had several small tools hanging from it. The dwarf studied the two humans intently.

“
I beg your pardon,” Steve said, as an uncomfortable silence began, “but your son asked us to come here. You’re busy. We’ll come back at a different time.”

The king held up a hand. “Not at all. I asked the two of ye here.”

Awkwardly, Steve and Sarah approached the strangers who were staring unabashedly at them.

The king walked over to them. The visitors followed. “Steve, Sarah, may I present Quisen, of the Kla Renhn clan.”

The dwarf nodded.

“
And may I introduce our resident wizard, Shardwyn.”

The thin man jumped forward to excitedly pump Steve’s hand. “Pleasure to meet ye, m’boy. Great things I have heard about ye! Are ye really a fire thrower? That is simply amazing! To think that outsiders can have that much power without -”

“
Later, Shardwyn,” the king murmured, “there will be more than enough time at a later date.”

“
Of course, yer majesty, of course.”

“
Now. Steve, Sarah, I asked ye here for a reason. The two of ye will be heading out on a long journey tomorrow.”

They both nodded.

“
It is customary in our land that when someone goes off on a long journey to send gifts with them. Quisen and his people volunteered their services. Let me just say that they have outdone themselves.”

Steve held up a hand. “Wait a moment. You’re a dwarf?”

Quisen nodded.

“
Then can you tell us where to find Maelnar?”

Quisen shook his head. “With regret, lad, I cannot. My clan lives far to the south, deep in the heart of the Selekais. I know naught of Maelnar but legends of his skill.”

“
Oh, okay. I didn’t know there was more than one dwarf clan.”

“
There are far more that ye would think, human.”