Dragonhold (Book 2) (8 page)

I am much pleased that you've given me back my power. You'll be rewarded for this act once you've completed the task.

Not knowing what the task was, a bad feeling festered in Pelivor's gut. The dragon looked down on them greedily. Catrin had said this place was a prison. She'd been correct, and it was occupied all along. No ordinary dragon, this beast had full and skilled access to Istra's power. Pelivor could feel the intricate control and subtle touch the magnificent beast possessed. Catrin had once marveled at his control and the complex structures he'd instinctively created, but both were clumsy hacks in comparison to this creature.

Mael.

The name thundered in Pelivor's mind; he was helpless to resist such power and control. The chance to run was past, and Catrin appeared to be faring no better. The fear keeping the demons from entering this hall was real and warranted, but Pelivor now realized even that was futile. Mael had long been manipulating the people of the Godfist, preparing to use them as the instruments of his release from this millennia-old prison.

Even the
Dragon's Wing
had not been immune. Mael sent Pelivor visions of the events that brought them into the hold. So many random and otherwise unexplainable things began making sense, which terrified Pelivor more than anything else could. If this creature escaped from Dragonhold, no one in the world would be safe, and Mael made it clear he would have no mercy on the descendants of those who'd imprisoned him. It may have been thousands of years ago, but dragon memories are longer than those of trees.

If Mael had been able to exert that much influence from within the most powerful prison ever built, then he would be unstoppable in the unfettered light. What had once been Pelivor's will collapsed under Mael's influence, staying his hand. Pelivor's fingertips itched with power, the attack ready to be unleashed with a flick of his will, but the dragon's desires preempted his own.

Pelivor was lost.

Chapter 8

Given a single chance, dragons will rule us all.

--Lord Bercheron

* * *

No matter what logic told him, Sinjin knew his wife would go the way Trinda had told her not to. Kendra was no fool. She knew the child queen was a trickster, and her presence likely meant they had found what they were looking for. The hallway beyond twisted and turned more than any they had encountered before. At times the tunnel would switch back to go in almost the opposite direction only to turn back again a few paces farther ahead.

Soon, though, sounds began to filter to them. A low, steady roar was accompanied by louder, more abrupt calls along with high-pitched noises. It was impossible to distinguish any of what they heard, which left them on edge. When the tunnel ended, they had to turn sideways to get through the intentionally narrow portal. Amber light poured through, and Sinjin thought he saw grass on the other side. Part of him dared to hope they'd found a way out of Dragonhold.

Kendra guarded the entrance while Sinjin squeezed through. What he saw when he emerged was beyond his ability to describe. A massive statue loomed over them, shrouded in mists. Twisted trees grew from rolling hills covered in lush grasses. A silver fox peered from behind a nearby tree and issued a high-pitched bark before scampering off, its glorious tail glistening with humidity. Sinjin wondered for a moment if the animals here had fallen into the river above and survived the plunge over the falls. It was unlikely given the feeding frenzy under way in the pool at the waterfall's base.

It was then Sinjin saw his mother and Pelivor standing, silent, staring at the stone god.

"I tried to spare you this," Trinda said after appearing nearby. "No matter what you think, I wish you no ill. If you turn back now, you might be spared
his
direct attention."

The presence of something in this place was undeniable, and Sinjin had no trouble believing a powerful being waited there. What were his mother and Pelivor doing? Every part of him was drawn there. He wanted to join her, to stand beside her no matter what she faced. He wasn't afraid of some ancient statue, even though history told him he should be. When something behind the falls moved, however, he adjusted his assumptions.

A huge dragon revealed himself, shifting his mass on a too-small resting place.

"Last chance," Trinda said. "Go back now or face
him
."

For once in his life, Sinjin believed Trinda, but that didn't mean he would take her advice. If his mother and Pelivor faced the dragon, then he and Kendra did so as well.

"Thank you, Trinda," Sinjin said.

"Consider my debt paid, Sinjin Volker. I wouldn't cross me again if I were you."

With those words, the child queen slipped between the trees, scaled a section of rough-cut rock with bare hands and feet, and disappeared into the rock wall itself. That girl was as mysterious as the wind.

She'd been right about one thing. This was his last chance to walk away, and he did one of the most foolish things he'd ever done. For his mother, he took a trembling step forward and drew a breath. Kendra did the same. Somehow she knew what he planned and stood beside him. Sinjin could not count the ways he loved his wife. Endangering her went against his every desire, but safety had long since fled. If they all died as a result of his actions, then he probably would have saved them some other imminent death.

When he spoke, his voice had Istra's strength, revealing to Sinjin he had some power in the stone god's presence. "If you wish my mother harm, then you'll have to deal with me!"

The words left him before he could fully consider the consequences. Water showered the plains as the dragon reacted. Echoing pops and creaks accompanied the sudden movement. More joints snapped and shifted as mighty wings spread for the first time in who knew how long. The dragon's wings were constructed of thin, frail-looking bones supporting membranes like overstretched leather. Light shone through tears in the membrane, and the claws on the ends of the bone structures gleamed under a patina of ages.

Water thrashed the plains when the dragon flapped his massive wings, sending the waterfall soaring across the cavern, fish included. Sinjin was distracted for the slightest instant when he saw the silver fox grab a fish from the lush grasses and run off looking like the cat that caught the bird.

With two more flaps of his wings and a single leap, the feral was upon them, seething with fury.

Who dares challenge me?

Anyone bent on living would have been digging a hole to hide in or running for his life, but Sinjin had already resigned himself to death. He could think of no better way to go than protecting those he loved. Opening his mouth to issue a taunting response, Sinjin froze, the words never leaving his lips. He'd been a fool to think he could resist the most powerful sorcerer ever to live. The thoughts were no longer his own. Mael's influence--for he knew the name as well as his own--blotted out his will, and that which was Sinjin was nearly lost as the dragon's eyes focused fully on him.

"Leave him alone!" Trinda Hollis shouted, and even in his stupor, Sinjin was surprised.

Taking advantage of the sudden shift in Mael's attention, Kendra grabbed Sinjin by the shoulder. "You're a brave fool," she said, pulling him back the way they had come. When it looked as if Mael would swallow Trinda in a single bite, though, Kendra stopped, picked up a fist-sized rock, and threw it with all her might. Her aim was uncanny, but Sinjin had to wonder who was the brave fool now.

When the rock struck Mael in the eye, the ancient dragon could not hide the pain. With an angry roar, the massive head swung back toward Sinjin and Kendra. His wife had done what she had to do, but it was too soon for their sake. Given the dragon's speed in spite of his age, they would never make it to shelter. Not to mention the fact that they would take time squeezing back into the hall.

Mael proved just how potent a foe he was. As his head lowered, blue-orange fire danced around the cavernous nostrils. Words of warning never left Sinjin's lips before Mael issued a stream of blue flame. Sinjin ran and pushed his wife ahead of him. She stumbled, but he propelled her forward with the full strength of his will and every measure of physical prowess he possessed.

In the next instant, Sinjin held his breath. A sheet of flame washed over them, but then it was gone. It left Sinjin stinging, smoking, and overwhelmed by the stench of burning hair. Thunder boomed as greenish lightning struck Mael from behind. Sinjin caught sight of Pelivor as he and Catrin, released from compulsion, came to his rescue. Mael swept his tail through the trees as Kendra and Sinjin ran, and the ancient dragon bore down, once again, on Catrin and Pelivor. Both retaliated, making their way closer to Kendra and Sinjin.

Not allowing Sinjin to watch, Kendra grabbed his jacket and dragged him away.

"Wait!" Sinjin said. "We have to help my mom!"

"We need to get out of here," Kendra responded. "Or your mother's and Pelivor's efforts will be for nothing. We aren't strong enough to face Mael."

"Sinjin? Kendra? Is that you?"

The voice reached out from empty air, and Sinjin spun in circles. "Durin! Where are you?"

"At the bottom of the Black Spike," Durin said. "Creepiest place ever. Your mom sent us here."

"Whatever you do," Kendra said, "don't do anything Catrin asked you to do!"

"What?" Strom's voice asked. "What do you mean?"

"There's a dragon sorcerer in Dragonhold manipulating us all!"

Those were the last words Kendra got to say before another wash of fire gushed toward them, despite the thunder of Pelivor's attacks. Kendra must be right, Sinjin realized. If Mael had been influencing them, his mother's instructions could well have been part of the dragon sorcerer's plan.

"What do we do?" Durin shouted across the massive distance, and his voice echoed throughout the cavern. Sinjin and Kendra were in no position to respond. Running as fast as they could, they barely outran the flames. Catrin and Pelivor redoubled their attacks to give Sinjin and Kendra time to escape. Trinda was nowhere to be seen.

Sinjin crouched in the darkness, presumably safe from dragon fire, and his mother's voice rang out. "Do as I've asked, Strom!" Her words were audible even from a distance. Sinjin had no doubt she was filled with Istra's power but also that her will was not her own. A more terrifying thought Sinjin could not imagine; that was until his wife gasped. She was closer to the opening than he was, and she could still see back into the chamber. Sinjin wanted her to come away from the threat of dragon fire, but she stood captivated and, by the look on her face, horrified.

"What is it?" Sinjin finally asked.

Benjin and Wendel walked into the open, moving toward the dragon, followed by Chase, Morif, and others.

"The rest of the exploration party has arrived."

* * *

Durin, Strom, and Osbourne moved deeper into the Black Spike. Greenish light split the darkness ahead, and resting in a pool of light waited something akin to a herald globe but different. Strom reached the stone first and picked it up. Durin wished he hadn't. The two had been at odds ever since leaving the twisted stone forest. Durin had a closer relationship with Sinjin, and Strom had always been loyal to Catrin. Given the conflicting information, it was impossible to know what to do. For Durin, it came down to his trust in Sinjin. He suspected the same was true for Strom with regard to Catrin.

It was an untenable situation that had placed a wall between them.

"Maybe we should just wait and see if we can get more information," Osbourne said, once again trying to bridge the gap. "We need a better understanding of what's happening. Too much is at stake to blindly act."

"Inaction is also a hasty decision," Strom said, his jaw set. Durin and Osbourne both knew that look, and neither tried to argue the point any further.

A sigh escaped Osbourne, and they stepped into the light. What they found there was unexpected. So much of what surrounded them was derived from madness, but this was a place of order, symmetry, and adherence to the natural world--at least to a greater extent than the rest of the Black Spike.

The cavern formed a perfect circle. At the center was a ring of carvings like those in the stone forests. This was another keystone by Durin's estimate; except this one was more elaborate and had an enormous lever in the middle. Standing at an angle, the lever was taller than Durin, as if made for a giant.

Motion was the next thing to catch the eye, and Durin turned to see what new threat waited. Instead, he found more orderly movement. A shaft as tall as fifty men oscillated in a way that gave Durin mental glimpses of what must lie out of sight. Its top and bottom encased within stone, the shaft moved up and left. Then at the top of its mighty stroke, the angle shifted to the right, and it moved just as swiftly downward only to repeat the cycle.

No matter who was right, there would be consequences--perhaps global. The keystones were intertwined in a way Durin didn't understand, but he knew they were connected. The fact that this keystone lay at the bottom of the blackest pit Durin had ever known should give evidence to its nature, but Strom was determined to satisfy Catrin's request. The man owed Catrin his life, just as Durin owed both Catrin and Sinjin his.

When Strom took another step toward the giant lever, Durin did the only thing he could think of. He ran out and faced the powerful smith. "I do not wish to fight you, but I cannot allow you to do this. Too much is at stake."

"Step aside," was all Strom said. He outmatched Durin in every way. He had physical prowess, strength of will, access to Istra's power, and the spider stone Catrin had left him. He could easily defeat Durin, but the smith had one other thing Durin was counting on: a conscience.

"Kendra and Sinjin are no fools, and they would not defy Catrin without good reason."

"Unless it was they who were coerced or tricked," Strom said. "I must place my faith in Catrin Volker, the Herald of Istra and my friend. And Sinjin's mother, I might add. I don't want to hurt you, but you
will
let me pass."

Sinjin had always told him to stand up for what he believed, and there was no one he believed in more. Sinjin Volker was his best friend, Al'Drakon, and son of the Herald. Durin held his ground.

"I cannot allow this," Osbourne said. "Catrin would not want this. There are three of us. We will put it to a vote."

Durin swallowed. His vote was already cast, as was Strom's.

"Do as Catrin asked." There was no joy in Osbourne's words.

Durin allowed Strom to pass despite yearning to stop him.

* * *

Keeping up with Allette proved almost impossible. The girl was in prime physical condition and an apparent rush. Fear built up in Kenward's belly when they encountered demons, and those creatures stepped out of Allette's path in deference. Kenward wanted even more to catch up just so he did not fall out of her sphere of influence. He had no idea how far her protection extended and no desire to find out.

Sprinting ahead would leave Onin behind. Kenward genuinely liked the man, and his honor simply would not allow it. He considered asking Allette to slow down, but her body language made it clear she would not be deterred. When they broke into a gigantic chamber filled with unusual sights, he felt as if they were late to the party. Most of those searching Dragonhold for a way to destroy the Fifth Magic gathered along the shores of a frothing pool. The waterfall above defied description.