The Dragon God (Book 2) (29 page)

“What exactly is this Chamber of Cleansing?” he whispered.

“Master Bridazak, let us keep moving. I am afraid the dwarven door will not stop Manasseh for long.”

Manasseh turned around to face the twenty frost dwarves and their King. He scoffed, “You cannot stop me.”

“Aye, but we can slow you down a bit.” King Morthkin projected his hand and a flurry of ice hammers shot out from his open palm. Each weapon slammed and shattered into the chest of the armored human, knocking him back into the sealed door. His brethren took a step forward, brandishing weaponry and shields, but he halted them. “No, I will deal with him alone. Join the others to keep the goblins out of our home.”

Manasseh regained his stance. He pulled his closed-faced helmet off, allowing his jet black hair to cascade to his shoulders. His once steel blue eyes were now glowing gray. Manasseh’s sunken face and pasty white skin revealed the darkness that embodied him.

King Morthkin materialized a two-handed, blue hued hammer within his grasp. “Time to test your power, Manasseh.”

“I look forward to cutting off your head and spiking it for all to see, Dwarf.”

R
aina and Xan entered the shadow filled room at the end of the iced tunnel, followed by King El’Korr and his trusted bodyguard. They had arrived at the Chamber of Cleansing, the location to destroy the Dragon Stones by utilizing the four required elements. An arid breeze swirled within the confines of the circular obsidian walls and the domed ceiling went beyond sight. Cautiously, Rozelle peeked inside and felt an overwhelming sense of dread emanating from the gaping pit in the center of the room.

“Where is Trillius?” Rozelle asked, her voice echoing.

“I’m right here.” The three-foot gnome flipped into the air and proudly landed on the center pedestal, his hands were placed on his hips, and he wore a confident smirk. Trillius sat at the edge of the pedestal, dangling his feet over the black and grey smokey whirlpool below. He leaned his chin against one hand and with the other, pulled out the blue stone that harbored the spirit of the mighty ancient dragon, Dal-Draydian.

“Trillius, you can still fight. You must not let it take you over.” Raina said.

“I am afraid Trillius is unavailable right now.”

“Who are we speaking with, then?”

The gnome scoffed, “I know about you mystic-types, always wanting a name so you can do your spell casting afar in your towers and from
your tomes. My name will be known shortly, but for now you can call me D.”

Raina turned to the others and whispered, “Take the elements and start placing them into the marked spots.” She addressed Trillius, now controlled by the entity. “You want to be released back into the realm, but for what purpose?”

Dal-Draydian growled, “For domination. For power! You of all people should know about such things and understand an insatiable thirst for more.”

Xan distributed the Stone of Earth to Rondee, the Fire Opal to El’Korr, and he held the Pearl of the Deep. The small group began to slowly skirt the walkway outlining the room.

Raina continued, trying to keep “D” occupied, “And after you take over the realm, what then?”

“You are boring me. Do you take me to be a fool? I am two-thousand years old and yet you treat me like I’m a child. The time of the dragons has returned and those who do not bow to me will be destroyed.”

“I see. You are clearly much more intelligent than I had thought; my apologies. An elder dragon of your status requires worthy social protocol.”

“Don’t mock me, Raina. I do respect your magical prowess, but it is inferior to my own.”

Rozelle scooted past the female elf wizard and surefooted the arched pathway leading to Trillius. The stone footway was no wider than twelve inches and below was the deceptively peaceful-looking swirling smoke.

“Trillius, I know you are in there and I know you care about us, about me. Don’t let this thing take over your mind.”

“You dare call me a ‘thing’,” Dal-Draydian roared. “Trillius willingly let me in and he watched as you betrayed him. I opened his mind to the truth and your controlling ways are now over.”

Rozelle pleaded, “Trillius, I love you.”

There was a sudden lurch in Trillius’ body, now held captive by the creature, and he arched backwards, draping over the pedestal. He flailed about in convulsions and uttered ever so slightly, “Help me, Rozelle.”

She rushed toward him, balancing herself on the narrow path. Her pudgy frame leaned against him and she wiped the sweat from his forehead trying to comfort him. His continued spasms caused Rozelle to gasp with concern.

“I’m right here. I won’t leave you.”

Trillius relaxed, his eyes closed, but suddenly with his free hand he grabbed her throat. “Oh, boo-hoo, I love you,” Dal-Draydian teased. “You are so easy to convince. Raina, this world is full of creatures like this one, weak and useless in their magic compared to us. They will be purged, eradicated, and remembered only to give thanks that they no longer exist.”

He lifted her off her feet and dangled her over the swirling void, then roared with laughter and released his grip. As Rozelle tumbled into the unknown, she flailed her arms. Almost immediately her body polymorphed into a hawk and soared away from the darkness to the far edge and landed.

“Ah, a pathetic druid, you will beg me for mercy soon enough.”

Rozelle screeched in response.

Raina walked quickly to her side, stroked her silky feathers, and whispered, “You will need to be ready to grab Trillius when the time is right.”

Rozelle emitted a few high pitched chirps, beat her wings, and flew to a higher perch.

“Raina, your quaint fondness for animals is refreshing, and might I—”

The elf cut Dal-Draydian off and snapped, “And some animals need to be put down!”

“I like this side of you more, Raina.”

“Enough! You will be defeated by my hand or the next if I should fail.”

“Really? I see one, two, only three elements, but you need a fourth in order to make that happen.”

“And I see you have only supplied a blue rock, at the hands of a stolen gnome lost in your charades. Still, you are unable to be released without all five stones.”

“Well, it appears we are at a crossroads then.”

The three items were placed into the marked locations equally dispersed around the room. Each of the heroes stood by them, waiting for something to happen, looking at one another to see if there was any indication of a change, but there was nothing.

Raina settled herself and asked, “If you know of the elements then why allow Trillius to give us the Pearl?”

“Ah, good question, Trillius has been very insightful and has informed me on the status of the realm. I am not concerned about your elements, but I needed you to bring me to the Chamber. The Pearl was the key to unlock the door I needed open.”

“You say you are not concerned about the elements, but what if I told you the Sky Diamond was here?”

Dal-Draydian laughed, “What if it was? But what if I could help you with your Horn Kings and swiftly dethrone them?”

“We would only be replacing one evil with another, besides, one King has already fallen.”

“Impressive, but as thousands of innocent people suffer at the remaining three, I could be their salvation.”

“You have already expressed your intent to kill and destroy.”

Trillius’ eyes flared brightly. “Yes, I have, haven’t I? You are right, I am not in the business of saving people. As I said, we are at an impasse, but only for now. I can sense the others growing nearer; it will only be a matter of time.” Dal-Draydian sighed, smirked, and slowly curled himself as he laid down within the bowl of the pedestal, “You all bore me. I might as well get some rest for my upcoming rebirth.”

Raina stood by El’Korr, where the Stone of Earth was positioned. She inspected the pedestal, but found nothing that could help the situation. They needed the final element. She whispered to El’Korr, “Romann de Beaux said the Sky Diamond was here at the Shield.”

He responded, “Perhaps the frost dwarves keep it hidden somewhere else.”

“They were supposed to be guarding this area according to Yasooma’s journal. Something is not right and I am afraid to leave in this predicament.”

“I will go with Rondee and fetch the Diamond. You and Xan can dragon-sit Trouble over there.”

She paused before nodding. El’Korr quickly whistled to alert Rondee and then waved him over. “C’mon, we have a mission.”

Dal-Draydian lazily peeked one eye open and watched from his makeshift podium, “And where do you all think you are going? Off to search for your diamond?”

“None of your business, dragon-brain!” El’Korr countered.

“I don’t think you will get too far, Dwarf.”

El’Korr ignored the dragon spirit and headed out the exit with his trusted sidekick. Seconds later the two dwarves were walking in reverse, backtracking into the Chamber. Raina noticed they were looking at something further down the tunnel.

“What is it?” she asked.

“They smell and look like bad guys to me.”

Veric and two men entered the perimeter of the room. There was a long pause as everyone looked around sizing each other up. Daysho remained hidden using his magical ring of invisibility.

“Let me introduce myself. I am Veric, personal mystic of the West Horn King.”

V
eric’s black robes melded into the shadows as he strode into the Chamber of Cleansing. Each step was punctuated with the sharp tap of his jade, ruby-topped, staff. His men, with long swords in hand, maintained positions on either side of the outer walkway. Veric glanced at Trillius and quickly saw the blue and final stone he needed. The power of the other dragons imprisoned inside his magical belt pouch called to him. They were tucked within the confines of an extra-dimensional space, which allowed Veric to distance his mind from the intelligent and calculating entities.

“You must be Dal-Draydian,” Veric scowled.

“Soon to be a god, slave,” the dragon in the gnome countered.

Veric smirked and then switched his focus to the female elf, “Raina, I have heard so much about you. Your reputation lingers even after all these centuries of your absence.”

“I wish I could say the same about you.”

“My reputation?”

“No, your absence.”

He chuckled, “How witty you are.”

El’Korr added, “My hammer is also witty. I can show you if you like.”

“Ah, self-proclaimed, King El’Korr. I guess it is easier to become a king when there are so few of you left. Cuts down on the opposition, don’t you think?”

El’Korr said, “One human kingdom has already fallen. I foresee more.”

“If you are referring to King Manasseh, I assure you he has not fallen, his spirit is quite alive.”

“You are another delusional wizard, just like Manasseh’s mage.”

Veric half-smiled, “That mage was my brother.”

“That explains the familiar stench when you came in,” El’Korr quipped.

“My brother, Vevrin, did not die in vain, however.”

“I am thinking a family reunion is in order on this day, spell-caster.”

Veric stared at each of the heroes. When his eyes rested on the smiling gnome, he smirked.