Heir to the Sundered Crown (37 page)

Up ahead on the horizon he could just make out the rapidly approaching Eclin Mountains. In the sky was the widening vortex which he had to close. In his hands was Dragasdol. The staff offered some comfort.

As he looked the staff over for the umpteenth time a thought occurred to him, a thought which manifested itself into a plan. He barked a laugh before leaning down so that he could shout to the dragon.

“Aljeron’s staff!’ he exclaimed excitedly, “If Cliria still has it I can use it to seal the void. I just need to get in close enough to take it from her.”

The dragon turned its huge head so that it could look at the young wizard.

“A sound plan, but what about Danon? You may be able to best the witch, but not him. Even I could not hope to harm him,” Umbaroth said.

Luxon gripped the staff tightly.

“I have to try.”

*

Kaiden led the charge through the broken and battered walls. As the army poured through the zombies stalking the streets swarmed towards them. Quickly, the mages and Nightblades formed ranks and unleashed a devastating hail of magical fire which consumed the walking dead.

The army gathered behind the magic users as they slowly advanced up Eclin’s main avenue. When the magical fire began to stutter the Nightblades brought their magical blades to life and charged into the enemy. The tired mages stepped back through the ranks to regain their strength.

Kaiden glanced to his right to see Thrift and the Fleetfoots climb onto the city walls. With surprising skill the thieves went to work unleashing arrow after arrow into the packed mass of un-dead.

Davik who was leading the army on foot shouted a warning. Kaiden looked to where the veteran warrior was pointing. Further down the street and rapidly approaching was a pack of snarling werewolves, behind them were the sinister figures of Crimson Blade assassins.

The wolves clambered up the side of fire damaged buildings before leaping from rooftop to rooftop towards the army. The thieves on the walls loosed a hail of arrows cutting a few down to send howling corpses tumbling into the streets below.

Dodging the arrows with breathtaking agility were the assassins who ran and leapt across the rooftops with majestic ease.

Kaiden glanced upwards just as a Crimson Blade leapt at him from a nearby roof. The assassin’s foot connected solidly with his breastplate knocking him from his saddle.
Herald
whinnied in fear. Just as the assassin was about to plunge his dagger downwards into Kaiden’s chest a silver tipped arrow punched through the assassin’s throat.

Sophia lowered her bow and jogged over, offering him her hand which he took gratefully.

“Thanks,” Kaiden said.

“Don’t thank me yet,” the witch hunter muttered.

He stood up to find that more of the assassins had leapt from the ravaged rooftops. Six of the killers now stood in a semi circle surrounding them.

Kaiden raised his sword, Sophia readied her bow.

“C’mon then you bastards, it’s about time I had a little payback,” Kaiden snarled.

As though some unseen signal had been given, the six assassins surged towards them. Sophia loosed her arrow, but her intended target cart wheeled out of the way with impossible speed. Discarding her bow she drew her own blade. The two fought back to back desperately parrying and blocking the assassin’s dagger thrusts. Both we’re quickly tiring and sweat poured into their eyes.

One of the assassins flew backwards as though punched by an invincible fist. Then another and another until all six were lying in a heap of twisted limbs. Kaiden spun to see Ferran and two Nightblades running towards them up the avenue. They ignited their Tourmaline swords before quickly dispatching the assassins.

They all looked up when a deafening roar pierced the air. Kaiden pulled Sophia to the ground as one of the black dragons swooped low over the army, its razor sharp talons raking the ground to tear a dozen men to pieces. A volley of arrows from the thieves and magic attacks from the mages caused the dragon to shy away.

“We have to kill those things,” Sophia cried. “They’ll roast us all alive if we don’t.”

“Assassins, un-dead and fell beasts we can handle. Those things I’m not so sure,” Ferran muttered.

Another roar came from the sky causing them all to look upwards.

Coming in fast from the south was another dragon. It was bigger than the others, but its most distinguishing feature was its colour. It was silver.

The black dragon that had attacked moments before turned to face the newcomer. It spewed fire, but the silver dragon sped on through the flames which seemed to part like waves when a ship passes through them.

Sophia cried out in joy and pointed to the silver dragon.

Sat upon the great beasts back was Luxon a staff held high in his right hand.

The silver dragon smashed into its black counterpart, its mighty jaws clamping down around the others throat. For a moment the black dragon struggled and tried to claw at its attacker. Luxon raised his staff once more and lightening split the sky. The deadly bolt of light lanced down to stab through the black dragon’s heart.

The army of Balnor cheered at the unexpected intervention and none yelled with joy more than Sophia, Kaiden and Ferran.

The silver dragon shook its head savagely and released its grip on the now dead black serpent sending its corpse smashing into the horde of ghouls and scattering them like dominoes.

It then flew low over the undead and unleashed its own dragon’s fire.

Only fire can kill the dead.

Instantly the dragon fire swept through the thousands of ghouls destroying them in the blink of an eye.

Kaiden raised his sword and leapt back into
Heralds
saddle.

“To the castle!” he cried.

The army advanced forwards quickly cleaving their way through the now scattered and dying enemy. The stench of burnt flesh wafted in the breeze.

Ferran shook his head in amazement as he watched the silver dragon cartwheel through the sky. He could see the young lad on its back shouting in exhilaration. He couldn’t help but chuckle.

“That boy is full of surprises,” he said in awe.

Sophia smiled before hugging the Nightblade in a tight embrace and kissing him deeply. She let him go, a flustered look on her reddened face.

Ferran stared at her a boyish grin on his face.

*

Luxon whooped in joy as Umbaroth rained destruction upon the horde of monsters below. The ghouls, zombies and other foul creatures were vaporised in a blaze of dragon fire.

“I see Cliria,” Umbaroth bellowed over the din of whistling air. Luxon looked to where the dragon was pointing. Sure enough he spotted the witch stood close to the besieged castles gate. Her face was twisted in fury. At her side was what looked like a walking corpse.

Luxon’s eyes widened as he realised that the corpse was Danon.

“Danon is there too, be careful...” Luxon yelled in warning.

He was too late.

The Lich thrust an arm skywards. A flash of light lit up the sky blinding him, Umbaroth roared in pain. Then they were falling like a stone towards the ruined city below.

Luxon held onto Umbaroth with all of his strength, the air ripping past him as they fell. He gritted his teeth and focused. Just before the silver dragon smashed into the ground he leapt from its back.

The ravaged ground approached at a sickening speed. He thrust Dragasdol downwards and focused with all of his power. His fall began to slow as the levitation spell took effect.

Unlike when he had first cast such a spell he could control it. He landed gently on his feet.

Umbaroth wasn’t so lucky.

The unconscious dragon smashed into ruined buildings, his great size demolishing them in the process in a great cloud of dust. The ground shook as the beast crashed to a halt.

Luxon called out to the dragon but no reply came.

He gulped as he spotted Danon and Cliria stalking towards him, in the witch’s hand was the staff of Aljeron. He was no much for the both of them.  He glanced about. They were on a wide avenue leading through the heart of the city. At one end was the besieged castles main gate, to the sides were fire ravaged buildings and behind him was the approaching Balnor army which was battling its way through the remaining ghouls.

It was just him against them, the enemies of the world since the dawn of mankind against a boy who did not yet know what he was capable of.

His mind raced, no warrior or wizard had ever been able to defeat them both. Despair threatened to overwhelm him.

“Indeed you are powerful,” Cliria mocked. The witch twirled and skipped around her beloved dark lord. “My lord was right, you are the one. The one blessed with the powers of Niveren himself. I will enjoy cutting your heart out.”

“You cannot hope to defeat us boy,” rasped Danon. “You have served your purpose.”

“He’s not alone foul creature” a voice said.

Luxon spun around and sighed in relief. Marching quickly up the road was the army, at their head rode Kaiden, Ferran and Sophia.  The three dismounted and drew their swords before taking their place next to Luxon. Sophia squeezed Luxon on the shoulder.

“We are with you,” she said her eyes narrowed and focused on the foes ahead.

“Time for some payback,” Ferran added with a growl.

“How sweet,” Cliria sneered sarcastically. She turned to Danon. “I will handle these fools my love. You should have the honour of killing the brat.”

Luxon tensed. The witch’s overconfidence was her weakness.

Danon smiled his skeletal face contorting into a nightmare.

“Make it quick but painful,” he chuckled before turning and striding towards the castle. The lich raised his arms once more. The ground began to shake causing already damaged buildings to collapse and a crack to appear in the castles wall.

“He’s going to bring the walls down!” cried Sophia.

Cliria smiled wickedly. She clicked her fingers and stepped back. Luxon and the others looked upwards as the two surviving black dragons flew into view. The bigger of the two had an eye missing. It was the one at Danon’s tower Luxon realised. The two dragons landed on the road blocking their view of the castle and shielding Cliria.

“Get behind me,” Luxon yelled at the others. The dragons reared up on their hind legs causing them to tower over the city. Light formed in their bellies and Luxon knew what would come next.

He raised his staff and channelled the magic within him. The dragons roared as they unleashed their fire. The inferno raced down the street. Sophia shut her eyes tightly holding onto Luxon’s cloak, behind her was Ferran and Kaiden. Further back the advancing Balnor army panicked and fled.

Instead of the fire incinerating them Luxon cast a shield spell, the most powerful one he had ever cast. The dragon’s fire crashed into the magical barrier to pass harmlessly around the huddled heroes. Once the smoke cleared Luxon stepped forward.

“My turn,” he whispered.

He pointed Dragsdol and the dragons and felt the magic course through him into the staff. His eyes shone blue as the magic engulfed him; the power he had tapped into in Caldaria now flowed easily through him. The time in the void had taught him much.

A massive burst of fire exploded out of Dragasdol. The fireball flashed outwards to strike the smaller of the black dragons. With an agonised scream the beast was engulfed in flame, its scales melting and its blood boiling. The beast writhed around in agony before crashing to the ground. Dead. 

The other dragon stared at its fallen kin in horror before glancing at Luxon warily.

“Tarvak, has no desire to die at your hand wizard,” the one eyed dragon growled.

It turned, flapped its great wings and fled into the sky.

***

44.

Cliria cackled and clapped her hands in delight.

“A most impressive trick!” she giggled insanely. She ran a hand over the dead dragon’s scales as she walked towards Luxon and the others. Her amused expression dropped as quickly as it had appeared to be replaced with one of utter fury.

“Danon promised me dragons, and YOU have killed two of them!” she screamed hysterically.

Again her expression changed.

The anger replaced yet again by the mirth of insanity.

“Never mind, never mind. More will come, and not just dragons but the entire void will be my pets,” she laughed skipping through the splayed claws of the dead dragon.

“Not if I can help it witch!” Ferran shouted. The Nightblade dashed forward his Tourmaline sword held high ready for the kill.  He got within ten paces of Cliria but was halted by an invincible barrier. He tried to move but couldn’t.

Sophia loosed an arrow but it too froze in midflight before striking its target. Kaiden ran forward his sword drawn. Before he could even raise the blade he cried out as the pommel grew red hot to burn his hand. He dropped the sword just as the metal blade went red before melting into a useless puddle at his feet.

Cliria wagged her finger like a parent scolding a small child.

“No,no.no. I will kill you three once I am done with Luxon.”

With a flick of her wrist the three were sent flying backwards to crash in a tangle of limbs.

She smiled cruelly at Luxon.

“Let us see what you are truly made of.”

Luxon stepped forward yelling to the others to hide. 

“You will pay for your crimes Cliria,” he said with more certainty then he felt.

An eerie silence descended upon them.

The tension grew to unbearable levels.

Each magic user stared at the other both waiting for a time to strike.

Luxon glanced upwards to see the vortex widen further so that it now filled most of the sky above the city.  He could make out dark objects falling through the breach. Cliria used the distraction to attack.

A wall of flame shot out from her hands to surge towards Luxon. He focused his attention back to the witch and the coming danger. Just in time he whipped Dragosdal up and around focusing his magic to cast a shield spell. The heat of the fire singed his cloak but the brunt of the attack passed harmlessly by.