The Dragons Revenge (Tales from the New Earth #2) (54 page)
Read The Dragons Revenge (Tales from the New Earth #2) Online
Authors: J.J. Thompson
“
So
I tricked it. I cast a Gate spell before I opened the shield to let
it attack, but I didn't invoke it. When I goaded the monster enough
for it to use its full power against me, I Gated out and activated
the tower's runes at the same time. I just got lucky there. I might
have been trapped in there with the dragon if my timing had been off
by even a second. But at least it would have died with me.”
He
sighed and leaned more heavily on Bene-Dunn-Gal as he watched the
tower.
“
The
shield won't let fresh air in or the chlorine gas out. If it wasn't
weakened by its own poison, the dragon could easily break through the
barrier. But instead, with every breath, it's killing itself.”
“
Master,
that's brilliant!” Kronk said excitedly.
“
I
agree,” Aeris added. “Although you took an enormous risk.
Well done.”
Simon
turned on the elementals so quickly, he almost fell over.
“
Well
done? It was a vile trick! It was low and mean and despicable. It
was...”
He
stopped and was surprised to find himself blinking back tears.
“
It
was dishonorable. The dragon and I should have fought face to face,
with dignity. This?” He waved toward the glowing shield, tinged
green from the gas inside. “This was necessary. That gas wasn't
a weapon I could confront for long. I can block flames, ice, rocks,
claws. At least for a time. But that horrible stuff? One deep breath
and I would have been finished. One mistimed Shield spell and I would
have died choking on my own vomit. So I tricked it. It was evil, yes.
But it was an ancient creature, a being out of legend. It deserved a
more noble end, that's all.”
He
was tired of talking and tired of company. Simon turned away and
walked back to the lake. He stood there for a long time, looking out
across its still, dark waters, his mind blank and his heart heavy.
How
much time passed, he didn't know, but eventually Aeris appeared to
his right, his glowing form bobbing in the gentle evening breeze.
“
It's
finished,” he said simply. “The gas does not affect me,
so I went through the shield and scouted.”
When
Simon looked at him, Aeris shrugged.
“
It's
what I do, isn't it? At any rate, the primal green dragon is dead.
Its own gas not only killed it but turned it into, well, a mess. When
you feel up to it, you'll have to burn the remains. It's simply too
big to be buried.”
The
wizard nodded and Aeris began to float away.
“
Aeris,”
Simon said hesitantly. “Wait, please.”
He
turned to look at the elemental.
“
I'm
sorry for snapping at you and Kronk. It's, it's just that...”
“
I
know, Simon,” Aeris said with an understanding smile. “You
are a decent man forced to do indecent things, at least in your own
mind. But, for whatever good it will do, I must tell you that you are
too hard on yourself. Countless lives have been spared by your
actions today. What humans remain on the continent you used to call
South America are now safe from the green dragon and its minions. The
dark gods will have to use other, less powerful servants to clear
them out now. It gives them a chance, and that's all you could hope
to do.”
Simon
shook his hair back from his face and stretched, hearing his joints
snapping. He slipped Bene-Dunn-Gal over his shoulder and finally
smiled slightly.
“
Thanks,
Aeris. You're right, of course. I didn't start this fight, and I
probably won't live to see the end of it, but I will do what I have
to do, to see it through as far as I can.”
He
began to walk slowly back toward the tower.
“
Come
on,” he said to Aeris. “Let's go burn a dragon.”
Aeris
followed him and Kronk appeared suddenly, scurrying through the grass
like a swimmer in deep water.
“
Are
you all right, master?” he asked cautiously.
“
I'm
fine, my friend. As I told Aeris, I'm sorry for my bad mood earlier.
It's been a hell of a day.”
“
I
know, master. At least now we can get back to normal, for a while
anyway.”
“
You
do realize, my dear wizard, that if the gods of Chaos hated you
before for your destruction of the primal black, their rage will be
incalculable now that you've killed another prime dragon?”
Simon
stopped well back of the tower's shield and made a gesture. The
glowing outline disappeared and a huge puff of green gas exploded
skyward. Fortunately the winds were blowing from behind him and the
wizard watched as the currents tore apart the mass of chlorine gas
and it faded away into the night sky.
“
You're
right, Aeris. Let them stew on that rage for a while. I have some
ideas on how to deal with the next primal, but it's going to take a
few months, at least, to bring them together.”
“
Oh
wonderful,” the air elemental said sarcastically. “And
which primal will it be next time? Red? White? Brown?”
“
Well,
let's keep that a surprise for now, shall we?” Simon said with
a broad smile. “But I'll give you a hint. Have you ever seen me
ski?”
The
End
Here
are Links to the first three books in my series:
The Titan's Legacy
Here
are Links to the first two books in my series:
The Angelic Wars
Here's
the Link to the first book in my series:
Tales
from the New Earth
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