The Dragon's Champion (28 page)

Erik didn’t know
what to say. He wasn’t sure what was going on. He summoned his power, testing
to see if the real Janik stood before him. After he had used his power, Janik
still stood there, smiling patiently and waiting for the answer. “He is back at
the temple,” Erik answered finally.

“Ah, I see,”
Janik said. Erik caught the smallest hint of a frown.

“Is something
wrong?” Erik asked.

“No, my boy, I
just wish he was here to help, that’s all.”

“When did Lady
Dimwater arrive?” Erik asked.

“She came with
me just a few hours ago,” Janik said. “We used her magic portal.”

Erik felt
something stir inside of him. He knew without a doubt that Janik was lying. The
thought went through Erik’s mind that maybe some other warlock had tricked
Janik into thinking that he was with Lady Dimwater, but his intuition told him
the truth of the matter. Erik’s heart burned. He could feel Janik’s ill
intentions for him. He had to think, and think quickly.

“Janik, I should
go back to the edge of the forest, I brought something that might help us,”
Erik lied.

“What is it
boy?” Janik asked in return.

“Just wait here,
I’ll go get it,” Erik said. He turned Goliath and put his heels hard into the
horse’s side. The horse galloped off the way they had come in, but Erik didn’t
get far. An invisible force knocked him from Goliath’s back and dropped him on
the ground like a sack of manure. He landed hard on his back and the wind
rushed out from him. His lungs stuck together and he couldn’t draw any new air
in. He clutched at his chest and squirmed on the ground as his eyes teared up.

“Erik,” Janik
called out. Erik could hear Janik’s left leg dragging through the dirt and
twigs as Janik approached. “I can tell when you’re lying.” Erik heard the sound
of metal slicing through wood. The dull ring of Janik’s sword frightened him.
He recalled the words Lady Dimwater had said back in her study. Erik now knew
that she had been right. Janik was no weak opponent, despite his deformity.

Erik finally was
able to draw a breath into his lungs. He jumped to his feet and sprinted away.
If he couldn’t fight Janik, then perhaps he could outrun him. He slammed into
another invisible wall and fell back to the ground. His nose started bleeding
and his lip stung where his bottom teeth had split the skin on impact with the
wall.

“Erik, my boy, I
am disappointed.” Janik limped closer, now dragging the tip of the sword
through the dirt. “The apprentice who dueled so many in a single day is now
afraid to fight a cripple. What will your father think when I tell him?”

Erik rose to his
feet. “Alright,” he said as he wiped the blood from his face. He gripped his
sword tight and slowly stepped forward. He knew he couldn’t run, so he prepared
to fight to the last. He harnessed the image of his father in his mind. He saw
Lord Lokton peeling oranges in the solarium. Then his mind turned to Raisa, and
then to Braun. Soon he pictured every member of House Lokton and the
surrounding villages. He focused on these people. He would fight for them. Erik
let out a yell and came forward, sweeping his sword at Janik’s side.

Janik laughed
and clapped a nearby tree with the flat of his blade. A shockwave ripped
through the area, sending Erik to his back again. “Shame, Erik,” Janik teased.
“We could have been friends in another life.” Janik stuck his sword into the
dirt and then stretched his hand toward Erik. His pointer finger aimed directly
at Erik’s chest.

Erik blinked
through bleary eyes and concentrated his power again on Janik. His mind focused
on something that his natural eyes could not see. Again he thought of his loved
ones, and then he thought of all that he had learned at Valtuu Temple. If he
died now, the realm was doomed. He hoped that somehow his power and his recent
training would rescue him. A blinding white light burst out around Erik like a
flaming shell. Janik’s lightning spell reflected off of the white shell and
shot up through the trees into the sky.

“What is this?”
Janik cried. He let another bolt of lightning loose, but again it bounced off
of the shell harmlessly.

Erik seized the
moment. He rose back to his feet and charged Janik, the shell moved with him.
Janik loosed a flurry of magical bolts, but none of them pierced the shell.
Janik then turned to pull his sword from the ground, but it was too late for
him. Erik thrust his sword through Janik’s chest and twisted it with a quick
jerk of his wrists.

Janik cried out
in pain and fell backward over a rotting log. “You haven’t won,” Janik said
weakly. “Tukai’s prophecy will still come to pass.”

“I will not slay
my father,” Erik said defiantly.  “You can take that prophecy of yours
down to hell.”

“No, you won’t,”
Janik said as blood trickled out the corner of his mouth. “But Lord Lokton’s
real son will.”

“What do you
mean?” Erik cried out. “Tell me what you mean, who is the real son?”

Janik’s head
turned and his body relaxed as life left him. An amulet slipped out from under
his tunic to rest on the ground beside him. Erik walked over and knelt down,
looking at the gold amulet. The white shell dissolved around him as he bent
down to turn the amulet over. It held the same engraved symbol on it as the
amulet Tukai had worn.

“So, he was a
warlock too,” Al said as he emerged from the bushes.

Erik looked up,
startled at first, but then sighed with relief when he saw Al. But, something
was different. The dwarf walked a little slower, and his beard had faded and
turned almost gray, as had his hair. “What happened to you?” Erik asked.

Al smiled and
nodded. “It will take some getting used too,” he said as he cupped the beard in
his hand and examined it. “I never really like gray beards myself. But, then again
I guess it just matches the stone of the mountains I love better than red eh?”

“What caused
it?” Erik asked.

“You don’t
know?” Al asked with a perturbed look on his face. “It talks all about it on
page three hundred and six of…” Al paused for a moment. “Sorry, I didn’t get to
that book before Marlin started training with you.” Al waved his hand as if to
dismiss the matter, but Erik wasn’t about to let it go.

“What is it?”
Erik pressed.

“It is the
effect of a powerful magic spell called Stone Shell. In case you were sleeping,
it was the bright white thing that wrapped around you,” Al said with a slight
smile.

“Oh, I thought I
created that,” Erik admitted.

“Sorry to hurt
your ego,” Al said with a shrug. “But it was me. It is a special power that
dwarves have. We only use the spell in times of extreme need. This was one of
those times though.” Al smiled and sat down on the rotten log.

“Why does it
turn your hair gray?” Erik asked.

“It just puts a
dwarf under a lot of stress,” Al lied. He didn’t want to tell Erik that casting
Stone Shell had cost him half of his natural life. Even if he hadn’t been too
proud to admit that he was now an old dwarf, he cared for Erik too much to let
the matter weigh on his mind. The boy didn’t deserve that kind of guilt.
Besides, by Al’s reasoning half of a life was a fair price to pay to save the
one who could rescue the whole realm. “I am afraid I won’t be much use for a
day or two, Erik. I will have to sleep to regain my strength.”

Erik nodded. “I
will take you to my father’s house. You will be safe there.” Erik again heard
the din of battle and hoped his father was alright. For now he had to forego
aiding his father. Al was already sleeping, and Erik knew how vulnerable the
dwarf really was. He had seen through the lie that Al had given him. Erik
smiled at Al. He was indeed a very good friend, and as Lepkin had said, would
lay down his life to protect Erik.

Lepkin sat on
the edge of his bed. His elbows rested on his knees and his hands, curled into
fists, propped up his forehead. He rocked slowly back and forth as the rage
swirled through him. He knew he had to calm down. He had duties to attend too,
but he couldn’t force his mind to shut away the temptation of revenge. Orres’
journal lay at his side, open to a specific page.

Someone knocked
at his door. He didn’t answer. The door opened slowly and Lady Dimwater leaned
in through the opening. She smiled at him and slipped the rest of the way
inside the room. She waited for a moment, to see if Lepkin would ask her to
leave, but when he said nothing she closed the door behind her and came to sit
next to him.

“We haven’t had
a chance to talk yet,” she said. “I have been so tired the last few days, and
you were not well either.” She reached up and gently pulled the collar of
Lepkin’s shirt out, affording a view of the wound. “How is your chest?”

“It is but a
scar now,” Lepkin replied. “The healers have worked wonders. It won’t be long
before I have regained all of my strength, I am sure.” Lepkin sighed and arched
an eyebrow. “Then I am going to deal with Orres.”

“That’s what I
wanted to talk about,” Lady Dimwater said. “He isn’t the traitor, it was Janik.
Janik manipulated all of us.” Lepkin shook his head, but Dimwater put her hand
to Lepkin’s mouth and continued. “Janik is the traitor, Orres is not.”

“No,” Lepkin
corrected her. He grabbed the journal and laid it in her lap. “It was Orres who
has betrayed us. Read this page.” Lepkin pointed to the page on the left and
Dimwater silently read. Lepkin watched her eyes go wide, and then well with
tears. Her bottom lip quivered. She closed the book and handed it back as she
looked away.

“This is his
journal?” she asked.

“Marlin helped
me unlock the magic that sealed the words away, and Erik verified that Marlin
did not tamper with it. I know from reading the journal that Orres sought only
to protect Nagar’s Secret, and so in a way he has not betrayed us. But, the
passage I just showed you…” Lepkin’s words caught in his throat.

Lady Dimwater
rose to her feet and walked to the middle of the room. She rubbed her arms as
she walked with her head hung low. “What will you do?”

“I will
challenge him,” Lepkin said.

“What of your
current duties? You can not abandon them.” Dimwater kept her back to Lepkin so
he could not see her face, or the tears that fell.

“I will pick up
Erik on my way to Kuldiga Academy. After I have dealt with Orres, I will resume
Erik’s training.”

“And what of us?”
Dimwater asked.

Lepkin sighed
heavily. “After I have dealt with Orres, I will ask your hand.” Lepkin heard
Dimwater sob. She turned and put a hand to her mouth and shook her head. “I
know we have lost much time already, but if you would accept me-”

“Don’t be a
fool, Lepkin,” Dimwater said in a cracky voice. “What else have I ever wanted?”

Lepkin nodded. A
slight smile came over his face. “Marlin offered to officiate for us,” he said.

Dimwater laughed
and came to sit next to Lepkin again. She snuggled in close to him and laid her
head on his shoulder as she brought her legs up under herself on the bed. “I
don’t imagine that the other members of the order would like that very much,
considering they think I defile their temple and all.”

“Well, you are
the daughter of a Shadowfiend, you know,” Lepkin said.

“What a pair we
make,” Dimwater said with a smile. “You are half dragon and I am half demon.”

The two of them
laughed for quite a while. They let the morning slip away from them as they
enjoyed each other’s company. They ignored the bells for breakfast, and would
have ignored lunch as well, if not for Marlin coming to Lepkin’s room to get
them.

Marlin looked at
them both with sad eyes and a long, hanging frown on his face. His eyebrows
were set in closer to his nose than normal, and he walked stiffly into the
room. Lepkin thought at first that maybe Marlin was worried about the two of
them in a room alone within the temple, but he realized very quickly that
something else weighed on the new prelate’s mind.

“What is it?”
Lepkin asked. Dimwater pulled herself away from Lepkin and let her feet find
the floor again. The two of them waited silently for Marlin’s answer.

“Today, a red
star rose in the east along with the sun,” Marlin said. Lepkin knew the sign to
be an ill omen. “I saw a pair of visions as I meditated upon the meaning of the
star. The first showed Erik slain at the hands of a crippled man. The man had a
lame leg and a bent left hand.”

“Janik,”
Dimwater gasped.

“What else did
you see?” Lepkin asked.

“I saw death
riding upon a dark cloud. I saw this temple and all people in it, burned to
ash.” Marlin drew his lips tight and frowned deeper. “The dark cloud of the
vision flew away, carrying Nagar’s Secret within it. A great darkness fell upon
the land and the sun no longer gave its light to our world.”

“I have to go to
Erik,” Lady Dimwater said. “Perhaps I can help him.”

“Wait for the
other vision,” Lepkin said, placing his right hand on Dimwater’s knee. She
nodded and the two looked back to Marlin.

“The other
vision showed Erik alive. I saw the dwarf with him, though he looked old and
gray. The two of them safely returned to Lokton Manor.” A tear slid down
Marlin’s face. “The rest of the vision was the same as the first. I am afraid
that death rides toward us this very hour.”

“Then we have no
time to spare,” Lepkin said. “We must protect the book.”

*****

Erik brought
Goliath to the front of the manor. Al limply hung over the saddle, with Erik’s
hand keeping him aright on the horse. As soon as the two stopped a pair of
guards rushed out from the entryway, armed with halberds and fully dressed in
armor. Erik could not see their faces, for their helmets covered them. He let
his sword hand slide down to the hilt of his sword and he called upon his power
to discern the intent of the two men. After Janik’s betrayal, Erik was not
going to take any chances. He was relieved when his power confirmed that the
two men intended only to help him.

“Master Erik,”
one of them called out. “We are glad you are alive. What news from the
battlefield?”

Erik shook his
head. “I was unable to reach the battlefield,” he replied. “We were ambushed in
the forest. If not for my friend, I would have died.” Erik motioned toward Al
with a nod of his head. The two guards bowed their heads and lifted their visors
to get a better look at the dwarf.

“Is he hurt?”
one of them asked.

“He needs only
rest,” Erik answered. “Please, be gentle with him, he is one of my truest
friends.”

The guards
slapped a fist to their chests in salute and gently pulled the dwarf from the
saddle. “He’s heavier than he looks,” the second guard grunted.

“He is a dwarf,”
the first guard replied. “He is hewn from the stone of the mountains, like the
rest of his folk.” Erik smiled and followed them into the manor. Goliath pawed
at the ground and gave a snort. Erik turned back to look at his horse.

“I will send one
of the others to take care of your horse, Master Erik,” the second guard said.

Erik nodded and
continued after them. The inside of the manor was cool. The morning breeze
still lingered in the halls. Normally that would have been a comfort to Erik,
but today it only accentuated the silence of the manor. Most of the people were
gone, on the battlefield. Those who remained broke their silence only if
necessary to complete their duties.

Erik followed
the guards to a guest chamber and watched as they removed Al’s armor and set it
on a chair next to a grand, plush bed covered with ornate pillows. They
inspected Al, probably looking to make sure there were no physical wounds on
the dwarf, and then laid a blanket over him.

“I will inform
Braun that you are here, Master Erik,” the first guard said. “Hotak here,” the
first guard pointed to the second guard, “will stand watch outside the door. If
you need anything, anything at all, you just shout his name.”

“Thank you,”
Erik said with a nod of thanks to both of them. “I could use a messenger
falcon,” Erik said. “I have urgent need to send word to Master Lepkin.”

“As you
command,” the first guard said, clapping his fist to his chest. They left
quickly and Erik sat in his chair, looking at Al. He was only alone for a short
while though, before Braun burst through the door.

Erik smiled at
the sight of his father’s most trusted man-at-arms. “Hello, Braun,” Erik
greeted.

“Gods
be
praised, I am happy to see you alive and well, Master
Erik,” Braun said with a great smile.

“Why are you not
with my father?” Erik asked.

Braun frowned
bitterly. “Your father gave me strict instructions to stay behind, with Lady
Lokton. He said if I let a hair of her head fall to the ground without chopping
off some enemy’s head that I would be flayed twice as punishment.” Braun
flashed a toothy grin. “He’ll be happy to see you though.”

Erik laughed at
the threat his father had given Braun. He remembered the threat his father had
made when he charged Braun with helping him escape with Tukai attacked the
manor. “I hope my father returns,” Erik said.

“He will, Master
Erik, he will,” Braun promised. Braun approached and his shoulders slumped
noticeably. He knelt before Erik and bent his head low to the floor. “I want to
apologize, for failing you that night. I did not know that it was Tukai, and
not Master Lepkin, who had found us in the briar patch.”

Erik stood up
quick and placed his hand on Braun’s shoulder. “You have nothing to be ashamed
of. You fought valiantly. I will hear no more of this.” Erik patted Braun and
then sat back down. Braun nodded silently and stood back to his feet. Erik
could tell that Braun was still troubled by his self-perceived failing though.
He knew that Braun would likely never forgive himself for it. All the better,
Erik thought. It would make Braun more protective of House Lokton and Erik knew
that now was the time to surround himself and his family with trustworthy
friends.

The door opened
again and Hotak came in with a quill and paper in one hand, and a falcon on his
other arm. “I have brought Master Erik the falcon he requested,” Hotak told
Braun. Braun nodded.

Erik took the
quill and quickly wrote an update for Master Lepkin. He told him of the battle
between the two houses, and he explained about Janik. He was sure to add that
if not for Al’s sacrifice, he would surely have died. When he was done he
sealed the message and tied it to the falcon’s leg.

“Does this bird
know the way to Valtuu Temple?” Erik asked. He wasn’t sure exactly how
messenger birds worked or found their destinations.

“He does, that
is the same bird that your father and Sir Duvall have been sending for the past
little while,” Braun replied with a nod. Erik felt a pang of guilt for being distrustful,
but he had to be sure. He used his power to detect any lies. His power
confirmed that Braun had told the truth. Erik smiled.

“Hotak, send the
falcon from this window here. I want to see it off with my own eyes,” Erik
instructed.

“As you command,”
Hotak replied with a nod. Hotak took the bird to the window. He threw the latch
open and pushed the glass pane out. As soon as his arm rose through the open
window the falcon took flight, soaring high into the air. Hotak then turned and
bowed to them before leaving the room.

Erik walked over
to the window. He watched the falcon cruise through the sky until the bird
faded from his sight. He pondered all that he had learned in the past few
weeks. Events had moved so quickly for him. It was difficult to wrap his head
around any of it. It was especially hard to believe that he was the one man in
the entire realm that could save the people from the power of Nagar’s Secret.
He wasn't ready for this. He wasn’t even old enough to graduate from Kuldiga
Academy, and yet all hope rested on him. He turned back and glanced over his
shoulder at Al. It pained him that the dwarf had sacrificed so much to save
him. He knew what he had to do. He had to go back to Valtuu Temple. It was time
for him to train for the test. He owed at least that much to the people who had
given so much to protect him. “I shall be leaving soon,” he told Braun.

“But your father
has not seen you yet,” Braun protested. “He will want to speak with you.”

Erik nodded
knowingly. “If the Gods deem it necessary for us to speak before I depart, then
so be it. If I am unable to see him, you will tell him to take good care of Al
for me?” Erik nodded toward the dwarf on the bed.

“I will be sure
that Al receives the honor he has earned,” Braun said. Erik nodded.

Erik’s mind
recalled Janik’s dying words. “I will solve the riddle of Tukai’s prophecy,”
Erik vowed to himself in a whisper. “But, I will have to put that off for now.”
He loved his father very much, but he now realized that he had to keep the
proper perspective. The life of one, though it was his father, would have to
wait until the lives of all were safe.

*****

Master Lepkin
walked out onto the temple’s seventh floor balcony. It was the tallest lookout
point for miles around. Marlin and Lady Dimwater accompanied him and also
scanned the area. Marlin would likely be the first to spot the threat, Lepkin
figured, as the prelate had the gift of True Sight. Lepkin looked to Dimwater
and smiled longingly. He had wanted to set out this afternoon for Kuldiga
Academy to deal with Orres. But that would have to wait for another day.