The Dragon Savior of Tone: World of Tone: Book 2 (20 page)

“When you experience his true power you may be grateful he is resistant to violence.”

“Perhaps…Perhaps you are right,” the old wizard said slowly as he considered what his friend had said.

In the black mountain, the dark figure sat hunched over a sputtering fire. Fires in this place seemed to throw off little light and even less warmth. He passed his hands over the small fire, and two images of ancient women slowly emerged from the flaring flames.

“I need you to return here,” the old wizard commanded the two trader Solans.

“It is a difficult journey. We are old, and our magic is weakening,” Nikit said to the Wizard.

“You cannot stand against the force that will attack. Together we can stop this Draman.”

“We both have the amulets. Even though we joined you, the amulets still have their powers. No one can destroy an amulet and its power is controlled by the one that holds it,” Gopu replied to the wizard.

“You will come here or I will reach out for you, and the amulet will not protect you.”

The two women feared this powerful wizard and knew he could reach out from his mountain fortress. In the previous fight, one of their numbers had refused to obey an order and was destroyed by a blackness that surrounded her. She was crushed to death with her screams filling the air. As she died, the amulet fell to the ground unharmed. None of the other trader Solans could touch the fallen amulet, so it still lay where it fell.

“I will come. It will take me ten to fifteen sun-risings before I can leave. Can you stop the storms, or do you want me to follow the mountain edges?” Nikit said, with fear and loathing in her voice.

“I will not open my defenses to that thing. You come down the edge of the mountains, and I will stop the storms for a short time in the gap,” the wizard replied.

“I will also come. Nikit, can you stop and pick me up?”

“Yes, of course. You will see me in twenty-five to thirty sun-risings.”

The images of the scowling Solans faded back into the dwindling fire.

“You think they can help you?” the vicious laughing voice from the blackness asked the wizard.

“They can delay him while we prepare.”

“Prepare what?”

“You can surround him, and I will attack. We can stop him. You and I can stop him.”

“He is coming for you. You are the great human wizard. You need no ones help,” the voice said laughing.

“You brought me to this point. You promised me I would control Tone. I control nothing but desolation.”

“I promised that I would assist you in obtaining control of this world. It was up to you to fulfill your desires. I gave you an undefeated fighting force. They drove those you wish to destroy to the ends of the landmass. You allowed the Solans and those feeble wizards to stop you,” the voice said, with an amused tone, to the old decrepit wizard.

“You promised me a world,” the wizard said in anger.

“You have your world. Look about you,” the hideous voice said, exploding into crackling laughter.

Map of the Northern Dark Plains of Tone

Chapter 34 - Time to Start

(A Dread of a Coming Fight will not Stop It)

- The Time of the Draman -

Terra sat holding Cardana in his lap on the edge of a coastal cliff. Fienna was about to change back to her human form. He watched a group of feathered fliers wing down the coast, following the wind. Fienna began to glow as she began her change. This would be the last sunset that the little family would have together. At sun-rising, they would take Cardana to her new home in Lampo.

Fienna walked over to her mate and lay down next to her family. Terra put his free arm around the female he loved. They did not talk or even trade thoughts. They simply enjoyed each other’s company and this peaceful time before the nightmare of this fight.

They stayed the sunset on the cliff edge. In the morning, Fienna returned to her dragon form and they returned to the crevice. His mother and Suti greeted them. The sea nymphs had prepared to take Cardana and Reicka to the underwater cave. Cardana was sleeping and Fienna held her small daughter in her hands. She looked down and if it had been possible for a dragon to cry she would have. She loved her daughter and was afraid that this would be the last time she would hold the small bundle of love.

Terra's mother climbed onto his back with Cardana tied in a cloth to her chest. Sifar climbed on and straddled Terra's neck just in front of Reicka. Fienna followed Terra to the waters above the mountain. Terra extended his magic to Fienna and they dove into the water. Reicka and Cardana were protected by Terra's magic. They met the sea nymphs at the entrance of the cave. The nymphs had built a number of homes around the mountain, and there were several hundred nymphs actively building more as they quietly guarded the cave entrance. Terra returned to his human form and swam with his mother and daughter into the tunnel leading to the cave. Fienna remained at the entrance of the cave, unable to change back to human form until sunset.

Sea nymph guards were in the entrance tunnel and would stay there for as long as Terra's family remained in the cave. They came to the entrance separating the water from the air and climbed through the threshold. The sea nymphs had filled the cave with soft water weed and toys for Cardana. Setilan and two nursing mothers awaited the family ready to feed Cardana. Two small sea nymphs lay in the play area. Sifar walked over to the small ones, sitting and watching them play.

Terra looked about and was satisfied with all the sea nymphs had done. He looked at his hand and reached deep within himself. His hands started to glow white instead of orange as they always had. He placed his hands onto the crystalline walls and the light flowed into every corner and crevice within the cave. A soft glow infused the entire cave, creating a spirit of love throughout the chamber.

Terra then took his daughter and the light from his hands flowed over her small body. As her skin glowed white, she giggled and smiled at her father. The light faded and Terra handed her to Reicka.

“What did you do?” Setilan asked.

“I added a bit of protection to this home and gave my daughter a goodbye gift,” Terra said with a smile as he walked to his mother. He reached out, took her into his arms, and hugged her gently.

“I must leave you once more; I promise this will be the last time. Take care of her and yourself,” he said into her ear.

“You have never left me. You’re always in my heart. Cardana will be safe with me, be careful come back soon.”

“I will, mother,” Terra said, as he released her.

“Setilan, I depend upon you to keep them safe.”

“I pledge my life to you and them.”

“I will see you all soon,” Terra said as he dropped through the cave entrance.

Terra and Fienna returned to the crevice where Rammy and Dawra were awaiting their return. They rested until high sun, and then left for the land nymph's valley. Rammy would ride on Terra's back while he carried Suti in his hands. Terra's decision to take Suti with him was based upon the thought that she would be an extremely powerful and loyal fighter. Twenty dragons in all flew with them, Terra's normal guard and ten other dragons that would stay with Rammy and Dawra. Dawra came with them to stay with Rammy in the land nymph’s valley while Hectise stayed behind to command the last flight of dragons. He, Fienna, and Terra would bring the three groups of dragons to the valley.

Terra planned to bring the first group in, and then Fienna would arrive with the second group. The final group would come in with Hectise. The group landed before the mountain crossing in the same place as they had during the first visit. They stayed for the sunset and continued on at sun-rising. Terra landed first at the base of the wall. Fienna and Dawra landed next to Terra. The old wizard came from his small hut with three other land nymphs. Rammy climbed down from Terra's back and placed Suti on the ground. She ran and stood by Fienna as Terra changed back to his human form. Terra and Rammy with Suti following behind walked to the nymphs.

“Welcome, Draman and young human. Where is your mate?” the old wizard asked.

“I am here,” Fienna said with a powerful voice. The Wizard looked up and saw the magnificent blue-green dragon. He had not thought of Fienna as the Wogan, but she was only second to Terra in power.

“I see. We are prepared for the fight. Our fighters are organized and ready. When will the dragons come?”

“They will start arriving in three sun-risings. They will come in three groups. I will bring the first. Rammy and my mate's mother Dawra will describe our plans to you,” Terra said as he pointed to a large green dragon next to Fienna.

“I understand. Can you give me the basics of the plan?”

“Thirteen hundred dragons and I will fire the village and then eight more waves of dragons will do the same. After the first pass, I will fly above the village and direct the fight. You will have your nymphs collect in front of the wall. When the dragons are done, your nymphs will wait for the ground to cool and then attack. I expect the Solan to come out at some point, and I will deal with her.”

“How will you stop the Solan?”

“That depends on what she does.”

“Do you plan to stay the sunset?”

“No, we're departing now. I need to get back to lead the first five thousand dragons to your valley. I'm leaving ten guard dragons; they will help find perching areas for the dragons to come. The slese cat is my friend, and he will stay with Rammy. He won't hurt anyone. He's been fed,” Terra replied to the nymph.

Terra took off with Fienna and his guardian dragons. He flew high and looked over the area outside the wall. Mountains and the great wall had formed a small box canyon of a sort. Beyond the canyon was a village. The caves and huts were made of thick stone. In the center of the village, was a tall cave with a flat top. He assumed that was where the Solan lived. He noticed that dwarfs were moving around the tall cave as if they were preparing for something.

Terra turned and flew back across the mountains. They arrived back at the crevice the next sunset. It seemed so quiet without Cardana.

Chapter 35 - Travel to the Unknown

(All the planning in the world does not predict the future.)

- The Time of the Draman -

Terra and Fienna flew to the valley of the dragons, as it was now known. The dragons were broken into two groups of four Flights and a single-diving Flight. Terra then spoke to all the dragons.

“Dragons, you are the greatest force ever assembled on Tone. You will be the power that frees this world from the darkness beyond the mountains. This fight will be the most difficult thing you have ever done. Some dragons will be harmed, and some will die. You must understand the danger. Any dragon that wishes to leave, do so now. No dragon and I will consider you less of a dragon. I myself have no desire to fight. I do it to save our world, our homes, our families, and my friends. I will risk my life for all these things. I don’t expect or demand any of you do the same. To come with me is to risk death. Once you have decided to come, you will not leave without my wrath. It is your choice. Make it wisely.”

The dragons perched quietly. Then he heard a few dragons start to chant his name. It slowly spread and grew louder and louder until the world seemed to shake with the name of Terra. Terra listened and could not help to be affected by the love and the honor that the dragons were showing him.

As they finally quieted down with Terra's gestures, he explained the plan for the flight and the fight at the land nymph's valley. He said the first group would leave with him, the next with Fienna, and the final Flight with Hectise.

Terra stood on the cliff's edge, overlooking the first four Flights to leave with him. He turned to Fienna and their hands interlocked.

“
I will see you soon, my love,
” Terra thought to her with sadness in his wood patterned eyes.

“
You and I are never parted. Don't worry, I can handle a few dragons,
” Fienna thought back to him with amusement in her thought.