Vegenrage: Dragon Reclaim (4 page)

“Glimtron, you are okay. If I have done nothing in my life to speak of, at least I did one great thing. I helped save the life of the Glaborian king and my friend, Glimtron.”

“Ukker, you have done many great things, and you will do many more. Just hang in there. We will get you help.” Glimtron’s eyes swell to see his longtime friend stuck on the horns of the Meglastern.

“Ukker, you are the bravest dwarf I have ever known.” Londwer holds Ukker’s hand, telling him to hold on, help is coming.

“Londwer, keep Glimtron safe. I feel my life fading away.”

“You hang in there, Ukker. Glimtron is getting Blythgrin, and he will help you.”

Glimtron yells for and heads to Blythgrin. Two other Meglasterns are in the middle of the dwarves, stomping and swaying their horns at them. The dwarves are surprisingly agile and dodge the dangerous horns, taking out chunks of them with their axes and swords. The Meglasterns are bouncing up on their hind legs and trying to come down on the dwarves crushing them. They do this over and over, and Fimble gets wise to their strategy. The beast hops to its hind legs, and Fimble runs to its rear and, with a powerful strike, hacks at the hind leg. He hacks three times until the leg is severed, and the Meglastern turns to him, while Silgeqwee and Dormins attack the other hind leg and sever it as well. The rear of the beast falls, and the dwarves swarm it relentlessly, attacking with swords and axes, hacking and stabbing the beast to death.

“Blythgrin, come. Ukker needs help fast.”

Greeter is shooting a lot of magic missiles at one of the Meglasterns, and Trybill has cast a magical bow. This bow is beautiful. It is magic, but it looks like solid gold, and the arrows look like solid gold as well. Greeter’s missiles blast chunks of flesh and blood away from the beast, and Trybill’s arrows strike with power and precision. It has no defense against this and is quickly subdued and killed. The Changenoir points his staff at Londwer and casts a spell. A light shines right on Londwer and Ukker. They look at the source and then Blythgrin. The light disappears, and a light shines down from the clouds right on them. “Blythgrin, help.” A lightning bolt that looks like ten bolts weaving in one shoots down from the heavens right on Ukker and Londwer. Blythgrin casts a force spell holding the Sapphirewell, and a green light creates a visible barrier over Ukker and Londwer that deflects the bolt back into the atmosphere. Londwer rubs his face.
Shew. That was close.
The bolt reappears from where it was deflected and makes its mark, roasting Ukker and Londwer from the inside out. There is still one Meglastern swaying its horns and trying to stomp on the dwarves, and it is taking great damage as the dwarves masterfully attack with ax and swords. Magic missiles and arrows are helping slow it down as well.

“Stop.” The Changenoir points its staff at the Meglestern and raises it up and over to where he is. It casts a healing spell on the Meglastern, and it begins to heal. Greeter starts to shoot magic missiles at it, and Trybill follows with magical arrows. The Changenoir uses its staff to cast a spell of protection, and all the magical projectiles are absorbed by a green glow that lights up when the magics impact one another. Reger whispers to Glimtron, “What happened to the giants?”

“I don’t know, Reger. I was wondering that myself.”

“Who is the leader here? Never mind. Let me rephrase that. Glimtron, this is your only warning. Turn back. You will never be allowed to pass the Long Forest ever again. This is now the territory of Ubwickesdon.”

The dwarves look at one another, rubbing their heads.
Who is Ubwickesdon?

Glimtron takes a few steps toward the Changenoir with Blythgrin and Trybill to his sides. “What does a Changenoir have to do with a servant of the dragons? You are just as much food to them as are the dwarves.”

“Yes, but I have sworn allegiance to Ubwickesdon my lord, and I have been granted leadership in his army, which will soon own the Erkensharie. Already, we have taken the Long Forest, and you will not be allowed passage here anymore.”

“What makes you think you can stop us, and what makes you think we will allow you to live to see the dawn?” The giants have circled behind the Changenoir, and he never knew they were with the dwarves. The Changenoir turns to see the giants attack from the rear. Osworns and Cremnole attack the lone Meglastern, clubbing it with crushing blows. It charges, and Osworns catches it by its horns, while Cremnole clubs it in the back, breaking its spine. Osworns twists the horns, breaking its neck just to make sure it is dead, and drops it to the ground. Fillismrend runs at the Changenoir, batting it with his club, sending it flying through the air and tumbling to the ground. The Meglastern is pushed over, and it regains its footing quickly and turns, trying to gore Fillismrend, who walks with swagger after the Changenoir. The Meglastern is just about to Fillismrend but does not reach him in time. Nordiath has jumped in the air and comes down like a bull rider right on the Meglastern’s back. Meglasterns are very big but not quite big enough to handle the size of a Stone Giant on their back. It does not fall from the weight, but it can not move, and it is stuck motionless as Nordiath reaches his right arm under its neck while pulling on the right horns with his left hand, turning its head to the side. He reaches the left horns with his right hand and turns until the head is twisted, killing the Meglastern. The Changenoir stands laughing, changing into its bear werewolf form. In this form, Changenoirs are very large and intimidating but still not as big as a Stone Giant. Fillismrend better take caution because even though he is bigger and stronger than the Changenoir, it can still rip through his flesh with its claws and teeth, plus it is a magical being. However, Fillismrend is joined by his three brothers, making the Changenoir think twice because now it is severely outnumbered.

“You have all been warned.” The Changenoir grows wings from its back and takes to the wing, flying into the night sky southward toward its homeland.

Reger asks, “Glimtron, what was it talking about Ubwickesdon?”

Krimzill asks, “Yeah, Glimtron, you know of this Ubwickesdon?”

“Ubwickesdon lives in the Ilkergire bogs. It has a dwelling there and serves the dragons,” Glimtron says.

Silgeqwee lowers his head with a sigh, saying “Great. Now this thing is after us too.”

“Well, we might have to kill all the evil on Fargloin before we reach the Erkensharie,” Fimble says.

Dormins boasts, “Yeah, I don’t know about all you guys, but all this talk of cowering and running and stopping before we get to Erkensharie makes me more determined than ever to get there.”

“Me too, but what about the Long Forest? What has happened here, and can we get through?” asks Rifter.

“We will get through one way or another. We wait until morning and wait to hear from Grenlew and Solmbus. for now we take care of our fallen.” Glimtron brings the reality that the group has lost two of their longtime friends, and they quietly gather to bury their fallen.

CHAPTER 4
The Ilkergire Beasts Ascend

Logantrance walks through his Dimension Door in the great courtyard of Erkensharie as he always does. He remembers entering here the last time with Vegenrage and Farrah to see Gairdennow, and now he is very alert to the possibility of danger, but all is quiet. In fact, too quiet. The destruction is still intact, and the sound of the insects is all he hears. He knows the Mystical Erkens have been destroyed, and he has been granted safe passage there, but there is nothing there to go to. Even though Logantrance has long good ties with the elves, he does not have access to enter the Great Erken without escort. He tries to communicate telepathically with the elven magic users. He is very glad to see Whenshade and Tunull appear and greet him. Unfortunately, this happy greeting is cut very short as they tell Logantrance that the coming Dragon Feast is just the start, and more very disturbing and bad things are happening. They take Logantrance with them to the Great Erken, and this is a little out of the normal, but they are going to see Ulegwahn, and they are very glad to see Logantrance. They appear in a large room, of course, with wooden walls all around them. There are two guards at a large door, and they allow the magic users passage with no words said and open the doors, allowing them into the throne room. Ulegwahn stands from his throne and walks down to greet Logantrance.

“Logantrance, you have made it back. It is good to see you, and we are in great need of your help.”

“Have the dragons continued to attack in Erkensharie?”

“No, the dragons have gone, and we have not seen them, but I fear they have unleashed yet another destructive force on all the races of man. The beasts of Ilkergire have been moving into Erkensharie, and this has not happened in my lifetime. We have seen Tronglebire, Zillwerns, and even orcs in Erkensharie. Our bowelves and magic users have no tolerance for them, and so far, we have been eliminating the threat, but this is very disturbing, and a lot of our resources are being used to maintain a watch on the forest. Come with me. We have much to talk about.” Ulegwhan leads the way, and Logantrance looks around, noticing that the home looks even better than it did when he and the elves last cleaned up after that horrible night that Cloakenstrike caused so much death and damage.

“It looks remarkable here. What have you done?”

“Oh yeah, Oriapow has returned with the Octagemerwell, and the full strength and security has been restored to the Great Erken. He has told me about meeting with you at the home of Vegenrage, and I hope Vegenrage too can restore his home. He has helped us greatly by returning the Octagemerwell to us. Oriapow has ventured out to survey the Erkensharie Forest to see if he can get a handle on what is going on out there. He wants to start restoring the Mystical Erkens, but right now, he is with the bowelves. He said he has something very important to show you. Whenshade, go and see if you can find Oriapow. Let him know Logantrance is here, and we will be talking in the study.”

“Okay. It is great having you back here, Logantrance. I will be back soon with Oriapow.” Whenshade exits the throne room, and Ulegwahn walks to a solid wooden wall, and it slides open like curtains being pulled up. This is a living tree but a magical tree, and the king of Erkensharie has a magical bond with the tree. This is all made possible by the Octagemerwell. Logantrance remembers walking through the tree with King Estine and being truly mystified how the king could move through the tree to beautiful rooms in it. Ulegwahn now has the same ability to move through the tree. Only the king of Erkensharie and some of the magic users have the ability to move through the tree. This is why Cloakenstrike could not get out of the throne room except by means of force.

“Ulegwahn, before I become mystified by your beautiful home, I want to tell you that Glimtron and about thirty dwarves are coming to Erkensharie. The dragons have attacked Glaboria and destroyed Glabor. The dwarves are coming to unite with the elves because we cannot sit back and wait or the dragons will destroy us all. They are targeting magic users first and then all the races of man.”

“This is what I wanted to talk to you about. Do you know where the dwarves are now?”

“I am not sure, but they should be to the Long Forest by now.”

“Logantrance, the Long Forest has been taken over by the beasts of Ilkergire. There is no defense in the Long Forest, no one to fight the legions of the bogs.”

“What do you mean? The beasts are moving northward?”

“Yes, all of them. Crainatours, Meglasterns, orcs, ogres, hobgoblins, all of them. This has to be the doing of the dragons. They have summoned Ubwickesdon, and he has unleashed the minions of the bogs.”

“Have you not heard from the dwarves? They should have contacted you by now.”

“We have not heard from them. Magic cannot pass through the forest. The Ilkergire minions are killing all the living, and Dark Bush has been seen sprouting in the Long Forest.”

“Dark Bush. What could have the magical power needed to raise the Dark Bush? Ubwickesdon is nothing more than a feathered lizard—a most powerful one granted but not capable of creating and maintaining the Dark Bush.”

“No, but he can rally the beasts of the Ilkergire, and he serves the dragons faithfully. Crayeulle, Lentoz, and Pryzill are still investigating what could have raised the Dark Bush, but if the dwarves have ventured into the Long Forest, they are in great danger.”

“Well, there is no time to waste. We must find them and help them here safely.”

“Yes, I agree. My craftsmen have created six magnificent Foarsbleem weapons for the dwarves and a dozen for our elves. Come on. Let’s get them and a group to go find Glimtron and his dwarves. Where is Vegenrage?”

“He has been called to help those in need in Mourbarria. The dragons are a threat to everyone, and Vegenrage is going to help them. I came here, and we will hopefully meet soon.”

Logantrance is quite surprised as Ulegwahn chants a spell, and they are teleported to the Erkensharie underground where the craftsmen and magic users work their magic and create the most fantastic weapons of all the Maglical System. This is a fantastic place like all of Erkensharie is. The ceiling is a network of tree roots holding the earth in place, looking like a huge sponge of veins, which are the roots of the Erken trees. The soil sticks to them, and it is always moist. The cavern has elves busily working on the Foarsbleem that Glimtron has gifted to them. There are small golf ball–sized globes all around the half-mile wide room, providing the light needed to see with. With no entrances and exits, it is clear that magic is the only way in and out. There are all kinds of weapons lying against the earth walls, and the center of the room is where all the activity is. The elves notice the entrance of Ulegwahn and Logantrance and welcome them. There are very small forges here with all kinds of molds for the weapons that have been built and are being built. The fire used for heat is all done with magic and Amberglow supplied by the dwarves along with the Foarsbleem. Angribe and Cebleeth are casting the magic needed to provide the heat, and they also infuse the melted metals with powerful magic, making them the rare and powerful weapons that they are.

Ulegwahn approaches Angribe and gets his attention. “Angribe, the dwarves are coming to Erkensharie. They may be at or in the Long Forest. They will need our help and the weapons you have made for them.”

“The Long Forest has been overrun. They will need our help immediately.”

“
Yes, I want you and Cebleeth to come with us, also Cellertrill and Kearsebe. We must find the dwarves, present the weapons to them, and unite to take on the dragons, and we will fight back this dark scourge growing through our lands.”

The elves gather the weapons and ready themselves. They have six weapons made especially for the dwarves, and Logantrance puts them in his Bag of Holding. Cellertrill is a well-accomplished swordself that aids him greatly as he crafts and makes weapons. Kearsebe is an accomplished bowelf that helps him greatly as he crafts the bows. They magically teleport back to the throne room, and Ulegwahn summons five of his elves to go with them. He takes three elven warriors and two bowelves. Between Angribe and Cebleeth, they can create a Dimension Door strong enough to get all eleven of them to the edge of the Erkensharie Forest. They have made this magical pass many times, and it is the most common and highly used route when the dwarves come and go to Erkensharie. Ulegwahn leaves Thrillquewn in charge of the Great Erken in his leave. “Thrillquewn, Whenshade should be returning soon with Oriapow. Let them know we have gone to the Long Forest Pass to look for Glimtron and a group of dwarves coming to Erkensharie.”

“Yes, Ulegwahn.”

The Erkensharie elves are a very cohesive society, and there is really no crime or violence to speak of. The elves are very self-sufficient, and they don’t just sit around, waiting for others to give them handouts. With the dragons’ imminent attack on the horizon and the beasts now moving up from the south, the elves have taken it upon themselves to protect their land, and most are doing just that. The families of the Erkensharie realize that the beasts and the dragons will destroy their home, and they have moved out in family groups to defend their homeland with their lives if need be.

Ulegwahn and his group have arrived just outside the Erkensharie Forest, and there is about a five-mile stretch of land between the Erkensharie Forest and the Long Forest. This stretch of land divides the two forests and does have trees growing here and there with large outgrowths of rocks and rolling hills covered with grasses. There are herbivorous that roam here and keep the land free of trees, and the grasses are their main sustenance. There is very well-used Dimension Door spells from here to get the elves to either side of the Long Forest at the Nomberry Pass. Angribe and Cebleeth begin working on the spell.

Angribe concentrates for a while and then shakes his head and shrugs his shoulders up and down, telling Glimtron of his troubles. “Ulegwahn, there is evil magic on the Long Forest. We can only get to the Nomberry Pass on this side of the forest.”

“Okay. Take us there.”

They all walk through the Dimension Door and arrive at the pass. They all look at the Dark Bush that is blocking the pass.

Angribe looks at Cebleeth with disgust in his eyes and says, “The Dark Bush has spread all the way through the pass, and it may be all through the Long Forest. This is happening very fast. There is a very powerful and evil magic at work here.”

Cebleeth responds, “What would do such a thing? This will kill not just the races of man but also everything that gets cut by this evil weed. Can we not destroy it?”

Logantrance adds his knowledge to the elves. “The only way to destroy it is by destroying the evil that cast it.” Logantrance tries to contact Blythgrin telepathically. “The magic here is strong. I cannot reach the dwarves telepathically. Angribe, Cebleeth, we must work together and fly all of us over the forest.”

The three work together, forming three points around the elves, chanting in unison, and the group rises to the south of the Dark Bush, and they fly over the Long Forest. The sun is rising, and they fly over the forest, taking note that yes, indeed, there are patches of Dark Bush scattered throughout the forest. They fly quickly to reach the other side of the forest and are relieved to see the dwarves still resting around a fire. The sun has just risen, and they land near the dwarves to cheer and happy greetings.

“Logantrance, Ulegwahn, it is a wonderful sight for my saddened eyes to see you all here. We have been discouraged, thinking Erkensharie has been ravished.”

“Glimtron, I made a promise to you, and now it is time to make good on my word. I present Cellertrill and Angribe, the makers of the weapon fit for the Glaborian king,” Ulegwahn says. Logantrance pulls the battle-ax from his Bag of Holding and gives it to Cellertrill. Cellertrill bows to one knee, holding the battle-ax resting on both of his hands.

“Cellertrill, you need not bow to me, my longtime friend, nor you Angribe.” Cellertrill stands and begins to explain what this ax is and what it can do. The entire party of elves, dwarves, and man watch and listen as Cellertrill explains. He hands the ax to Glimtron. Glimtron’s eyes widen, and he can’t help the smile that overcomes him. It is a beautiful solid piece of Foarsbleem. Four feet long with an ax blade on both sides of its end. There is a pointed tip like a spear coming out the top of it. The handle is designed in diamond shapes, separated every eight inches by an indented band around the handle, and there is wood filling the bands, giving it a comfortable and textured grip. The metal is shiny silver hued in black, depending how the light hits it.

“Glimtron, the left blade is coated in Vollumptom, allowing this blade to slice easily through anything that is made out of wood, and the right blade is pure Foarsbleem—the strongest sharpest metal known. Come let me show you a very special feature of this ax.” Cellertrill takes Glimtron to a tree and explains. “Point the ax at that tree.” The tree is twenty feet away. “Now point it at the tree and depress this diamond right here.” He points out one specific diamond on the handle of the ax. Glimtron points the ax and pushes the diamond. The tip of the ax flies out and through the tree and then flies back to his ax, perfectly setting itself back in place. He shows Glimtron two other diamonds to depress, and either blade can be fired in the same manner. He can also fire one two or all three of them at the same time. They present Glimtron with a sheath that fits comfortably over his shoulders, and the ax rests nicely on his back. “We have decided to name this after its master. Glimtron, this is Glimtronian”

“Now where is that remarkable arrow-shooting dwarve, Rifter?” Rifter comes forth to meet Kearsebe. “It is so good to see you again, Kearsebe.”

“You too, old friend. We have something very special just for you.” Logantrance pulls a magnificent metal bow from his Bag of Holding and gives it to Kearsebe. “Rifter, this is Fearpierce.” This bow is the same silver color as the ax presented to Glimtron with hue of black, depending how the light hits it. There is beautiful carving in the metal, and the handgrip is magically imbued. Rifter looks the bow over, loving it.