Kazin's Quest: Book I of The Dragon Mage Trilogy (74 page)

“What?!” exclaimed Fildamir. “What are you talking about?”

Kazin smiled. “The minotaur who was accompanying me and my companions has seized the throne that was his by birth.”

“Yes!” whispered Milena, raising her fist in victory.

“What minotaur?” asked Fildamir. “I still don’t—.”

“I’ll fill you in later, Fildamir,” said Krendal. He looked at Kazin. “Is he here?”

“He’s with his forces intervening right now,” said Kazin. “They’re annihilating the other forces that threaten us. The minotaurs realize they have been manipulated by the lizardmages, and honour dictates they must eliminate those who have manipulated them.”

“That is good news indeed,” said Krendal.

“I still don’t believe this,” muttered Fildamir, glaring at Kazin.

A knock sounded on the orb room door and Fildamir answered it. He spoke briefly in low tones with a messenger and returned a moment later.

“The war here is over,” Fildamir said, his face registering shock that Kazin was right. “The minotaurs and dwarves have obliterated their former allies. A few skirmishes are still underway, but the minotaur emperor has declared a truce and has requested to speak with Kazin.”

“Good work, Kazin!” exclaimed Krendal. “My patience with you has not been wasted.”

“I wish I could get to the Tower of Hope,” said Milena suddenly. “I could call an army to help defend the tower very effectively.”

Kazin looked at the druid curiously but she refused to elaborate.

“We could shorten our traveling time if we go through the magical gate Zylor used to warp all the way over to the mountains north of the Tower of Hope,” suggested Sherman.

“Of course!” said Kazin. “Why didn’t I think of that?”

“You can activate this gate?” asked Krendal in surprise.

Kazin nodded. “I think so.”

“Will you be able to use this gate to send our troops to the aid of the Tower of Hope?” asked Fildamir.

“Not likely,” said Kazin. “Considering the outcome of this war, the minotaurs would not be impressed with an army of humans charging through their lands. Furthermore, Zylor will lose his hold on the throne for allowing such a thing and someone more aggressive might try to take over—someone who hates humans. Only a small group will pass through unnoticed, and only if accompanied by the emperor himself.”

“If Milena can bring aid to the Tower of Hope,” said Krendal, “then I suggest you go as soon as possible. Any aid will be welcome.”

“Zylor knows the way,” said Kazin. “He’s waiting for us now.”

“Then go!” ordered Krendal. “Time is of the essence!”

Kazin called his company together outside the tower’s battlements and told them where he was going and why. Everyone understood the importance of the mission and all wanted to come along.

“Let me come!” pleaded Perenia. “Please!”

“You’re awfully heavy,” said Kazin sadly. “You’re not suited to hang onto a dragon’s back.”

“Then make her so,” said Zylor. He withdrew the talisman the mermaid had given him many weeks ago. “Here. I won’t need this anymore. I am emperor now, and I can’t hide my appearance if I wish to rule.” He passed the talisman to the centaur and she eagerly put it around her neck.

Kazin sighed. “Very well.” He chanted and cast his spell on Perenia. The centaur’s body changed and she appeared as an attractive lady warrior.

Sherman whistled appreciatively. “Not bad!”

Milena elbowed the warrior gently. “Careful!”

“What’d I do?” pouted the warrior.

“Let’s go!” said Rubin. “I’ve been wantin’ to try flyin’ on a dragon’s back for some time, now!”

Kazin transformed and the companions climbed aboard, together once again.

“What about your army, Zylor?” asked Harran when they were huddled on Kazin’s back and up in the air.

“They’ve been ordered to pursue the lizardmages and their allies back into the mountains as far as they can,” said Zylor. “The dwarves who survived the battle are going with them. They’re as angry at being manipulated as the minotaurs are. I’m hoping they’ll catch up to the contingent of lizardmages who left the army early this morning. I told Karlan to take a few prisoners just in case to see if they’ll be kind enough to show us a faster way through the mountains in exchange for their freedom. It might not work, but it’s worth a try.”

“Good,” said Harran. “I’m surprised you got so much support so fast among your own people.”

“They weren’t satisfied with their former ruler,” said Zylor. “They were temporarily occupied with the war and many didn’t even know the election battles were underway, and even if they did, they couldn’t very well run from a battle without losing honour.”

“That’s one way to hold on to power,” said Sherman.

“But not the way I intend to rule,” growled Zylor.

“I just wish the dwarves would come out of hiding,” said Harran. “It doesn’t seem right that they cut themselves off like this. It’s not honourable.”

“You should go and investigate what’s wrong,” suggested Rubin. “I would.”

Harran hesitated. “I’m obligated to protect Kazin if I want to keep this axe.”

The dragon looked back at the dwarf. “Consider it yours,” said Kazin. “You’ve earned it, if anybody has.”

“Really?” said Harran.

“Sure,” said Kazin. “I’ll deal with Krendal, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“Thanks!” grinned Harran. Then he frowned. “I hate to leave you at a time like this, but would you mind dropping me off a little south of Haven? There’s a cave there that has a shortcut to the dwarven realm. I think it’s time I returned home to find out why the dwarves are holed up like they are. Something is wrong in the dwarven realm and I need to know why.”

“Sure,” said Kazin.

“I could come with you,” said Zylor.

“Thanks all the same,” said Harran, “but I’ll make better time on my own. With you along, I’ll probably be detained or something. Besides, you’ll be better off leading the others to the magical gate. You can find your way through the mountains very well for a minotaur.”

“I’ve been trained by the best!” said Zylor proudly.

“You’ll probably get in some fighting if you stay with us,” added Sherman.

Zylor grinned. “I can’t wait!”

“You guys are incorrigible, you know that?” said Milena.

Everyone laughed.

Fildamir watched as the dragon and its occupants disappeared in the sky. He was initially shocked when Kazin turned into a dragon. He knew dragon mages were extremely rare, but until now he hadn’t considered the possibility that there was such a mage among them. He therefore wondered why Kazin had not appeared sooner to assist in the war. Where was he all this time? Fildamir aimed to ask Krendal about this the next time he spoke with him.

“Sir?” said a voice behind him.

Fildamir turned. “Yes?”

“Krendal wishes to speak with you again, Sir.”

“Very well,” said Fildamir wearily.

He went to the orb room and saw Krendal’s face in the orb. The arch mage looked grim.

“What’s up, Krendal?” asked Fildamir.

“Is Kazin gone already?”

“Yes. He just left.”

Krendal nodded. “How soon can your forces be sent here?”

“Where? The Tower of Sorcery?”

“Yes.”

“Probably ten days,” said Fildamir. “Maybe less.”

Krendal sighed. “That may be too late.”

“Why? What’s up?”

“My scouts have reported sightings of enemy troops coming out of the Spike Ridge Cliffs. According to their reports, the forces coming against us number in the thousands.”

“What?!” exclaimed Fildamir. “I thought the Spike Ridge Cliffs were impenetrable!”

“Apparently not,” said Krendal.

Fildamir swore.

“It gets worse,” said Krendal. “Most of the enemy troops are undead. With the possible fall of the Tower of Hope, our clerics are at a minimum.”

Fildamir turned white. “How long until they reach Skull Lake?”

“We estimate four days, maybe five,” said Krendal. “There are some human troops among them, so they will have to stop for sleep breaks. We will have time to lay some traps, but even so, their numbers will be overwhelming. The residents of Marral and Warral will be evacuated to the fortified city of Arral when the time comes, and supplies are already being stockpiled on the island in case of a siege. How we’ll hold out until help arrives is beyond me. I can only hope that the elves will be along soon. I have sent out some scouts to redirect the elven forces to the Tower of Sorcery instead of the Tower of Strength. Beyond that, there is nothing more we can do.”

“I will make arrangements for the soldiers here to depart at once,” said Fildamir. “They will not be happy to have another battle to go to, but that is the way of war.”

“Very good,” said Krendal.

“I will come with the first wave,” continued Fildamir.

“O.K.,” said Krendal. “The sooner you get here, the better. I’ll contact the Tower of the Stars and tell them to send what ships they can to pick up your soldiers.”

“Understood,” said Fildamir. “We’re on our way.”

Strangely enough, he forgot to tell Krendal that Kazin was a dragon mage.

Part VIII

The Living
vs. the Dead

Chapter 61

H
arran slipped quietly along the city’s underground passageways. After slipping past the guard post while they weren’t looking, he followed the tunnels with practiced ease. It was relatively quiet down here. He had only encountered one work crew and they were too far away to notice him as he crept silently along. Soon he turned off and made his way to the very spot where he and Zylor had made their earlier escape.

The dwarf looked up at the scarcely visible trap door at the top of a set of dusty, abandoned stairs. No one had used them in a long time. Harran nodded in satisfaction and ascended the stairs. He stopped with his ear against the trap door and listened. Nothing. Then he gently pushed against the trap door. It lifted with a slight creak and Harran tried to peek through the crack. It was dark. Gently, he lifted the trap door enough to crawl through and then lowered it back down quietly. The rug that was on top of it when he and Zylor exited several weeks ago came down with it, and the rug’s dust, as it flew against his face, nearly made him sneeze.

Harran felt around for the door and managed to do so without bumping into anything in the tiny store room. He opened the door and peeked out. The kitchen was deserted and a lone torch on one side cast its eerie glow from a wall sconce.

The dwarf entered the kitchen and glanced out the open entryway into the corridor beyond. No one was about. He followed the corridor to a main passage and made for the exit leading to the courtyard.

He was halfway down the passageway when another dwarf suddenly appeared at the far end.

Harran looked around frantically for a place to hide but there were none. He decided to play it cool and keep walking, looking as though he had every right to be there. The patrolling dwarf approached and the two dwarves nodded briefly at each other as they passed one another.

Harran breathed a sigh of relief. So far so good.

He entered the courtyard and, as luck would have it, a guard instantly called, “Halt!”

Harran froze at first until he realized the guard was talking to a dwarf boy near the wall at the front gate. All of the other guards watched as the guard who initially hollered approached the boy and reprimanded him for something Harran couldn’t hear.

Harran took advantage of the distraction to slip through the unguarded palace doors unseen. Once inside he relaxed. From here on, no one would question his presence. If the guards out in the courtyard allowed him entry, he must be O.K.

He confidently walked along the cobbled stone corridors, his boots echoing loudly as he went. He tried to change his walk to deaden the sound somewhat and succeeded. It was now only loud enough for anyone in the corridor to hear him, not the entire palace.

He rounded a corner and entered a passageway with many doors to either side. At the first door he heard voices and froze. Then he silently berated himself for being so jumpy and started to continue down the corridor when a voice from within the room made him freeze again.

“I don’t like it, Manhar,” said the voice. “It just doesn’t make sense.”

Harran looked around but couldn’t see or hear anyone approaching. Then he positioned himself with his ear against the door and listened to the conversation inside.

“I know,” said a voice that Harran recognized as General Manhar’s. “I think it’s that new map maker who is by the king’s side all the time. He doesn’t seem right somehow, but I can’t quite put a finger on it.”

“I don’t like him either,” said the other dwarf. “He certainly knows how to find gold deposits, though.”

“That bothers me too,” muttered Manhar. “That pile of gold in the throne room looks like gold, sure enough, but there’s something odd about it. Did you see the dwarves who brought the gold into the throne room? They weren’t even sweating! I just—I don’t know.”

“Can’t put your finger on it?” finished the other dwarf.

“That’s about it, Howell. The whole thing’s fishy.”

“Why don’t you tell the king?” asked Howell. “He could have the gold checked out.”

“And second guess his favourite sidekick?” retorted Manhar. “Not bloody likely! He’ll send me off with the others in the blink of an eye! Believe me, if he could find fault with me, he’d kick me out without batting an eyelash! It all started with that magical transporting device. I asked too many questions, and the king didn’t like it. He said it was none of my business! Can you imagine that? Me—his chief security guard and army general! If it wasn’t for me following orders so precisely, he’d have replaced me a long time ago. Fortunately, he can’t get rid of me without upsetting the nobles; he needs an excuse, and I don’t aim to give him one.”

“Too bad the nobles are gutless old fools, too fearful to stand up to the king, but would love to take his place if the opportunity presented itself,” said Howell.

“They’d need the backing of some influential people to succeed in making any stand against the king,” said Manhar, “otherwise their fate is dishonour and banishment.”