The Dragon God (Book 2) (25 page)

The day of their departure arrived. A cloudless sky and beaming sun lifted the spirits of everyone aboard, many still adjusting from the underwater encounter and the loss of crew members. The heroes gathered before Captain Elsbeth and her commanders. It was time to bid a final farewell as Raina prepared her magic that would transport them to the Shield.

“Captain Elsbeth, thank you for your trust, and for having the courage to go back to a place of sorrow,” Raina said.

“It is I who should be thanking you. My faith has been restored, and I am sure it is not solely because I conquered my fear of going back to
The Wave Rider’s
resting place.”

Raina smiled knowingly, “The God of all gods has opened his arms to all, including you.”

Elsbeth returned her smile and nodded.

Xan locked arms with Lufra in a warrior embrace, “Lufra, you will do well, young lad.”

“So you aren’t mad at me?”

“It warms my heart that you have decided to become part of the crew of
A Pinch of Luck
. Just promise me something.”

“Anything, what is it?”

“Lead with your heart and keep practicing your skill with the blade.”

“You can count on it. Thank you for all you have done for me and my family. I will never forget you.”

“Nor will I, Lufra Yasooma.”

“Maybe someday we will meet again.”

“I’m sure of it.”

El’Korr approached Anders the Priest at the back of the crowd. He extended his arm, “Well met, Anders.”

Anders grasped the dwarf’s forearm, “Blessings upon you—” Anders felt another coughing frenzy upon him. He tried to let go but El’Korr held on.

The Dwarven King said, intensity in his eyes, “Priest of the Most High, you are a father to many aboard this ship and not one of them would you give sickness to prove or test your point. The true God releases you of this burden but only if you acknowledge what I have said unto you.”

Anders stared back at him, while trying to keep the cough at bay.

El’Korr brought him in close, “Let it go, my friend, and be free of this.”

With glassy eyes, the human lunged at El’Korr and latched onto his full plate armor. Ander’s throat was dry as he gasped, “I heard Him. He spoke to me through you.”

Instantly, Anders spasms ceased. He rubbed his throat in shock, but also a sense of joy on his face. Anders began to walk away, without another word, but then turned and said, “Thank you.”

Knowing Anders had an encounter with the God of all gods, El’Korr smiled and returned to his friends.

Rondee the Wild was bear-hugging every crew member, thanking them for showing him the ropes. Every time he hoisted a man in his burly arms, a cheer erupted from their shipmates. Rondee’s broad smile prominently displayed his yellow teeth through his grizzled beard.

As he approached Skath and Myers, both quickly held their hands up in front of them indicating they were beyond hugging a dwarf, but Rondee would not be put off, he pushed their arms aside and bull rushed them to the deck.

“Kay meosh like te!” he said in his unique gibberish.

In spite of being thrown to the deck, Skath and Myers couldn’t help but laugh and then slapped Rondee’s back to acknowledge his love for them.

El’Korr responded, “Not many people of Ruauck-El can say they hugged a wild dwarf and lived to tell about it.”

Raina bowed her head slightly to Urlin Thoom. “Well met, Urlin. Your knowledge of the arts is well founded and I hope you will continue to utilize your power for good.”

“I will, Mistress Raina. It has been an honor to serve you and I hope our paths cross again.”

Rozelle sullenly gathered with the group. Trillius was not with her.

“Where is Long-nose?” El’Korr asked.

“Don’t know and don’t care,” she retorted.

His bushy orange eyebrows raised, “Oh, are we having a gnomer’s quarrel,” he laughed. Rozelle did not share in his humor.

Raina announced their departure, “It is time for us to leave. Are we ready?” She looked around, “Where is Trillius?”

El’Korr answered, “Apparently, not go—”

“I’m right here!” Trillius emerged between the legs of one of the sailors who jumped back in shock when the gnome emerged from under him. He walked to Rozelle, “I apologize for my actions,” he mumbled.

Her brow crinkled in thought, not believing his words, and waiting for him to turn on her again. Trillius grabbed her hand and placed an item into it, “This is for you.” It was a shiny seashell. Rozelle glared at him, holding back a smile.

Trillius playfully said, “Something I picked up along the way.”

She hugged him and kissed him on the cheek.

As he thought,
“Well that was easy”,
Dal-Draydian’s voice flooded into his mind,
“Well done, you are following my instructions perfectly; keep your enemies close.”

Raina approached Trillius and Rozelle, “You both are free to leave on your own. Your services and debts are paid. There is no need for you to accompany us.”

Trillius looked to Rozelle, she smiled lovingly, and he enthusiastically replied, “We wouldn’t want to be any other place. We are looking forward to getting off this ship. No offense, Captain.”

Elsbeth grinned, answering, “None taken, we share the same goal.” Skath and Myers chuckled.

Trillius locked arms with Rozelle, turned to Raina, and said, “We are ready.”

“I never noticed your eyes before,” Raina announced, studying a trace of glowing blue in Trillius’ irises.

Trillius tapped his nose, “Most notice the nose first. I get my eyes from my mother.”

In this special moment, Trillius’s brain rang with Dal-Draydian’s spirit voice,
“Excellent. Well played, Master Trillius. This elf wizard will take us directly to the place of power, where we will both be free, and you Trillius, will become the Dragon God.”

B
ridazak, with his bow and arrows hidden inside a mine cart, once again mingled with Spilf amongst the slaves. They crossed to the other side of the cavern, mentally marking out the remaining goblins; twenty spread throughout the cavernous area, plus one goffen, who took position by the large opening leading back to their massive army. When Bridazak and Spilf were in place for their plan to unfold, Bridazak nodded to Abawken, who waited, hiding in a dark passage with the dwarf.

“Are you ready, Master Dulgin?”

“C’mon Huey, let’s get Bridazak’s plan in motion before I change my mind.”

Abawken pointed his sword and softly spoke the word to release its magic. A growl echoed from the cave that held the screamer. The surprised goblin troops tentatively approached the tunnel, weapons at the ready. Abawken’s summoned rock elemental emerged out into the lighted area, causing green humanoids to freeze in astonishment. Several goblins threw their spears, which ricocheted off the massive rock beast. It slunk back into the dark tunnel. The goblin band followed, leaving two to guard the opening.

As Bridazak watched, Abawken soared out of an adjacent tunnel. Dulgin was draped over his back, holding on for dear life around the human’s neck. They flew toward the Sky Diamond. The goffen spotted the intruders and turned to run, but Bridazak had fired his first arrow, in anticipation, which
slammed into its back, sending the goffen sprawling face first into the dirt floor of the cave.

Spilf alerted his friend, “Bridazak, here come the two guards.”

The goblins charged from the far side. Bridazak aimed his bow in their direction, but suddenly spotted the distinct glowing yellow eyes of a hovering shadow next to the stalagmite that cradled the Sky Diamond.

“Reeg!” he yelled to alert his partners in the heist of the new threat, and just as quickly fired his arrow at the specter-like menace. The whistling shaft flew through the bodiless image with no effect. Bridazak knew the Reeg would report back to the Dark Lord of the underworld—something far worse than the horde of Goblins. Bridazak no longer had any special arrows, so, remembering their last encounter with the reegs at the temple within the great Everwood forest, he realized Abawken’s sword was the only thing that could damage it. He was about to run toward Abawken, but Spilf, dagger in hand, stepped up to intercept the pair of goblins that were almost upon them. Bridazak glanced to where the goffen had fallen, but quickly noticed it was gone—a trail of blood led into the large tunnel. The goffen had lived, and the plan was unraveling before their eyes. The reeg had backed away, ready to vanish into the shadows and teleport back to Kerrith Ravine with its findings. Bridazak refocused his attention on the brazen goblins who were about to impale his friend. Ignoring the reeg, he fired an arrow. It slammed into the thug’s chest, propelling it several feet backward with a force that swept the creature’s legs up into the air. Bridazak was unable to get the last attacker as Spilf held his dagger ready to fight it.

“Slow down, Huey!”

“Are you ready, Master Dulgin?”

“I’m not flying with you for fun, Princey. Yeah, I’m ready!”

The brilliance of the Sky Diamond intensified, it rested at the top, and waited to be in the hand of a good dwarf. They were a body’s length away when Abawken suddenly slammed into an invisible wall, sending Dulgin flying through the air, arms flailing, and then impacting the
rock column. The human fighter slid down to the ground, dazed by the force. Dulgin, unaffected by the magical barrier, clung to the stalagmite in a desperate hug, his battle-axe strapped to his back. Glancing up, Dulgin realized he needed to climb a few more feet before grabbing the precious stone.