The Forgotten King (Korin's Journal) (51 page)

“Til’, it’s so good to see you,” Sal’ interrupted.  “But there will be time for your story later.  How did you get these dragons here?”

Til’ opened his mouth to answer, but his eyes went to my arm around Sal’.  “Did you finally tell her?”  At this point, Briscott had arrived and arched an eyebrow in similar question as he scratched at his beard.

With a squeeze of Sal’s shoulders, I nodded.  Sal’ leaned her head on my shoulder and put a hand on my chest, smiling up at me.  I brought my other hand up to clasp hers.  Briscott tilted his head with a grin.  Til’ broke into an even bigger smile than I’d have thought possible. 

My eyes stayed locked with Sal’s for a moment.  If not for evil wizards trying to take over the world with glowing rocks and the undead, life would’ve been pretty damn good.

“See, I told you, Korin.  I told him you loved him, Sal’, but he wouldn’t listen.  I—”

I spoke over Til’ as he rambled on.  “Sal’,” I began, letting go of her hand and gesturing to Briscott.  “This is Briscott Erlat, a friend.  I’m not sure I would’ve made it this far without him, or even be alive, for that matter.”

“Then I guess I owe you a debt of gratitude,” Sal’ told him.

“By Loranis’s blood, Korin speaks too kindly of me.”  Briscott stepped forward and lifted one of Sal’s hands to his lips.  “It is an honor to meet the daughter of the Grand Wizard.  And may I say that you’re even more beautiful than Korin made you out to be.” 

“Is that so?” Sal’ replied with a sly narrowing of her eyes. 

“He blighting well wouldn’t shut up about you most times,” Briscott joked, clapping my shoulder.  The injured one, of course.  “Sorry; pardon my language.  I’ve been around nothing but men for a while now, and there’s a blight . . . a dragon just over my shoulder there, keeping me on edge.”

“You’re blighting forgiven,” Sal’ returned wearily, but with perfect timing.  Briscott chortled and gave me a knowing wink.

“Til’, what’s going on here?” I asked, gesturing to the dragon standing more than twice my height at its shoulder not a dozen paces from us.

“Oh, that’s Rhyxis.  He’s the first dragon I met in the Snowy Waste.  After I returned Xalis, I told him about how Bhaliel had . . .
”  Til’s eyes went out of focus for a moment, but he shook his head and continued.  “How Bhaliel had sacrificed herself to save us.  Rhyxis wanted to know why Bhaliel would do such a thing for man, especially after Xalis had been taken.  I told him about the eldrhims, and so he called a convening of some sort of council of dragons.

“Anyway, Rhyxis had me stand before a big group of dragons and tell them what all I’d been through.  You should’ve seen the ice cave and all those dragons; it was incredible!  When I told them about the walking dead and the green rocks, they were convinced that Rizear’s power had bled into the world, and they offered to accompany me here to help put a stop to it.  They knew where the gap in the barrier was, and now here we are.  Isn’t that crazy?  They could’ve escaped at any time after Bhaliel did, but they’d believed the same as she: that it could lead to war.”  Til’ took in a deep breath and opened his mouth to continue before I held up a hand to stop him.

“So they’re here to help us take down . . . whoever is raising the dead and controlling them?” 

Til’ nodded excitedly.  “Uh-huh, because they believe that the power to raise the dead comes from Rizear.  They say that wizards didn’t hold the power to give life to the dead in the days before they were banished to the Snowy Waste.  They will fly us wherever we need to go.  They told me they can feel the dark power of Rizear coming from . . .”  Til’ turned in a circle a couple times, his arms crossing over one another as he tried to pinpoint a direction.

“That way?” Briscott offered, pointing to his left.

“Yeah, that’s it,” Til’ beamed.  “How did you know?”

“Bherin’s that way,” Briscott answered solemnly.

The air felt a little colder as we stared eastward.  Our reverie was interrupted by a huff at our feet.  I glanced down and saw Max twitching his nose.

“Do you know how many of those children wanted to pet me?” Max asked incredulously.  “Not that I mind to be petted, but children just do not . . . you owe me.”

I put a hand to my forehead.  “Max, you left them alone?”

“No, lunkhead, I made sure someone was with them.  I was not about to let you approach this dragon without me.  I would have been quite upset if you got yourself eaten out of stupidity.”

“Max,” Til’ admonished, “Rhyxis would never eat anyone . . . I think.” 

“Well, now that the all-knowing rodent is here, let’s go talk to Rhyxis.”  That earned me a nice squirrelly glare.  “We shouldn’t all approach Rhyxis at once, though,” I suggested, looking to the others.  “I don’t want him to feel overwhelmed if he’s uneasy about humans.”

“I’ll hold back.  I need to get report from my squadron,” Sal’ offered, fighting a battle to keep her eyelids from dropping.  She was barely winning.  “Plus, I need to formally transfer my command.”

“Why would you do that?” Til’ asked. 

Sal’ paused, licking moisture onto her lips.  “Enough men have died under my command.” 

“Sal’ . . .” I began, her words stinging my heart.

Sal’ raised a hand to silence me.  “Besides, I refuse to continue under my father’s orders.  What happened in this town has made sure of that.”  Her expression darkened.  “I’ll explain later.  My primary reason is that I believe that
you
may be the key to ending this war, Korin.  My path no longer lies with the Academy.  It lies with you.”

I was fairly certain that both Sal’ and Max were putting too much stock into my role in stopping Raijom and the war, but now wasn’t the time to get into it.  I mean, heroes in stories may be able to singlehandedly stop wars and defeat great evils, but not me.  That didn’t mean I wasn’t going to try, it just meant that I was prepared for the possibility—or should I say strong likelihood—of failing.

“I believe I’ll stay right here,” Briscott added, taking a seat on a relatively clean patch of snow.  “I’ve dealt with a lot in the past few months, but I’m not sure I’m ready to deal with a blighted dragon just yet.  If we’re going to be flying on those bli . . .” he cast a surreptitious glance towards Sal’, “those creatures, I’m going to need some time to let it sink in.” 

I put a finger under Sal’s chin and tilted her head back to look into her eyes.  “I will see you soon, then.” 

Sal’ rose on her toes to give me a quick kiss on my stubbled cheek.   She wrinkled her nose.  “We’re going to have to do something about that.” 

“I think I’ll stick to a razor this time.”  I gave her a wink. 

Sal’ responded with an exasperated breath.  “You’re lucky that I’m too tired to be angry.”  She waved a finger in my face.  “Don’t think that means you’re off the hook, though.”  Her eyes betrayed her amusement. 

As Sal’ headed off to join up with her squadron, I turned to Briscott.  “Were you able to get her to safety?” I asked, referring to the infant. 

There was genuine pride and unadulterated joy in the smile that spread on his face.  “Loranis, bless his name, helped guide me.  She’s safe.  In these times, I’ll take any blighted miracles I can get”

“I couldn’t agree more,” I said, nodding at the truth of his words.  Silver linings are more like gold when death and destruction surround you.  “Will you keep an eye out for Ithan?”

“I can do that much.”  Briscott waved me away. 

I put a hand on Til’s shoulder.  “Lead the way.”

Max scurried up to my shoulder again.  “It is about time.  I was just about ready to go without you.”

Chapter 45

Dealing with Dragons

Til’ set forth with a spring in his step.  “Rhyxis is really nice.  He was worried about coming here, humans being so hostile against dragons and all.  Did you know dragons eat mountain goats?  There’s not much else in the Snowy Waste, apparently . . .” 

Til’ rambled on, but my attention was stolen by the majestic creature before me, his metallic silver scales seemingly glowing despite the dearth of daylight.  Two great horns jutted in curves from the top of his head, with smaller ones lining the edges of its long snout and under its jaw.  As we approached, glowing orange eyes focused on us.

“Tilrook, are these ones of whom you spoke?”  The ground quaked from the deepness of Rhyxis’s voice.  I could almost hear his words more through the vibrations they stirred in my bones than through my ears. 

“Yes, this is Korin and Max.  Sal’s over there with the wizards.  Don’t worry; she’s not one of
those
wizards.  That’s Briscott sitting on the ground.  He’s a little nervous to meet a dragon.”  Til’ gestured to where Briscott sat.  When Briscott noticed Til’ pointing at him and Rhyxis staring him down, he gave a nervous wave.  I could swear that Rhyxis’s mouth curved upward.

Rhyxis brought his attention to me, lowering his head level with mine. 
“My thanks to the both of you, Korin and Max.  Tilrook has told me that Xalis’s survival was highly dependent on your actions.  New births are rare with the curse we have been burdened with.  Xalis brought us a joy not felt in centuries.”  Rhyxis snorted, the air misting from his fist-sized nostrils.

“We only did what was right,” I answered.  “I think that we’re in
your
debt.  You’ve saved more lives today than you may know.”

“Your kind does not seem very thankful,” Rhyxis
rumbled, his long neck craning as he scanned the area around us.  Most of the wizards, troops, and emerging Terafall survivors were all focused on him.  Many had hostility shining through scowls and drawn brows.

Before I could respond, Max whispered, “Here
come the others.” 

Strong gusts of wind slammed into me, threatening to knock me from my feet as three more dragons descended with thunderous beats of their wings.  Two were green: one emerald and one chartreuse.  The last was as red as the setting sun, with a golden underbelly.  They were each smaller than Rhyxis, but that just meant they were
less
huge.  The area was starting to become exceedingly crowded.

“Ah, my brethren,” Rhyxis rumbled.  “Allow me to introduce Tharax, Ghalien, and Alyshine.  Rhal is patrolling outside the town to ensure that the . . . enemy has been routed.” 

Rhyxis’s pause sent a chill through me.  He obviously had trouble referring to only one certain group outside of the Snowy Waste as the enemy.  Before banishing dragons to the Snowy Waste a millennium prior, wizards had systematically manufactured a fear of dragons among Amirand’s populace.  That fear kept the banishment unquestioned and was passed down from generation to generation until dragons became little more than a legend used to scare children.  Therefore, Rhyxis had fair cause to view
everyone
outside the Snowy Waste as an enemy.

“My brethren, this is Korin and Max, two of those responsible for Xalis’s safe homecoming.”  The other three dragons nodded their heads with rumbling words of thanks before turning their attention to the groups of soldiers and townsfolk.  The unsteady tension between the dragons and those groups felt as if it could be broken by a feather.

Max stood up on my shoulder.  “Rhyxis, you and your brethren have our sincere gratitude for what you have done here today.  What are your intentions now?”

“We will not stand for Rizear’s touch on the world,” Rhyxis replied.  “We have promised Tilrook to assist you in your attack on he who draws upon the power of the god of death to summon eldrhims and give soulless life to the dead.”

My memory was drawn to when Sal’ had told me about wizards using a form of magic called necromancy to create—as Sal’ termed them—zombies.  “From what I understand, raising the dead isn’t a new form of magic.  Are all wizards who raise the dead drawing upon Rizear’s power?”  Just for the record, I still didn’t believe in the existence of the gods exactly, but my curiosity was piqued.

“I was unaware this power had been present in Amirand before now,” Rhyxis answered, his giant orange eyes staring blankly into the distance.  “Our banishment has kept us unaware of what occurs below the Waste.  Giving soulless life to the dead can only be accomplished through the power of the god of death.  If such magic has been in use before now, then Rizear has been able to reach from his imprisonment for longer than I had thought.  This troubles me greatly.  Destroying the one behind the undead we fought today may not break Rizear’s touch on the world as I had hoped.”

I nodded but found it hard to believe that Rizear was not only real, but exerting his power on the world. 

My thoughts were interrupted as several blurred objects zipped over my head, colliding with the dragons and ricocheting with metallic clangs to the snow-dusted ground.  I looked down to see arrows, most snapped in half from impact. 

Turning, I saw a small group of armored troops approaching.  They wore red tunics over their chainmail.  I wasn’t sure what kingdom they represented.  What I
was
sure of was that most of them had their swords bared while a few held back, readying another volley of arrows.

The dragons, though unharmed by the attack, roared towards the sky.  My hands flew to my ears, but did little to mute the deafening sound.  The dragons’ necks craned down, and their eyes focused on the approaching men.  An orange glow started forming in the back of Rhyxis’s throat.  This was not good. 

“What do they think they’re doing?” Til’ gasped at my side, his fingers shoved in his pointed ears.  “They’d be dead if not for Rhyxis!”

“Stand down!” I screamed at the men as if they’d listen to some random guy with a shortsword, a squirrel on his shoulder, and a childlike Kolarin at his side.

Max muttered something involving the word “jackasses.”  Before I could worry about him doing something stupid—like use his own body to draw magic energy, for instance—a line of about ten of Sal’s Wizard Guard squadron rushed into view, forming a wall between the troops and the dragons.  Each held up one hand towards the advancing men.  Sal’ filed in with them and took a stance before the center of the line.

“These dragons are the only reason we are all still standing here,” Sal’ called with more authority and volume than I’d have thought possible.  The troops in red tunics halted, their faces holding a measure of uncertainty.  If I’d been one of the men she faced and didn’t know her, I’d have been pretty damn intimidated too.  

“While our forces were overwhelmed, while our fellow soldiers, friends, and the townspeople of Terafall fell to our enemies’ blades, these dragons deigned to lend their aid.  They chose to help those who, as you have now proven, hold them in contempt.”  Sal’s words oozed disappointment with a perfect dash of anger.  “Any who attack them will be considered Gualainian allies and detained for treasonous activity against the greater good of Amirand, by order of the Grand Wizard, Nehril Fellway.  Your trial will be swift, your punishment severe.”  That measure of uncertainty turned to stark terror. 

One man stepped forward, his chest heaving with anger.  He pointed towards Rhyxis with his sword.  “You expect us to allow these
beasts
to return to our lands?  To threaten our existence?  You would call us traitors for protecting our entire race?” 

“Yes, I would.  Feel free to test me,” Sal’ countered, raising a glowing hand.  Similar glows appeared around each wizard’s outstretched hand.

Two of the other troops quickly grabbed the man’s arms and struggled to pull him back.  The man fought for a moment before allowing the others to draw him away, but not without some vocal, and colorful, protests.  He’d probably been the one behind the attack. 

The red-tunicked troops retreated without looking back at the line of wizards who could’ve killed them all in an eye blink.  Or at the dragons who could’ve done the same.  Or at me, who was letting out a breath that I’d unknowingly been holding since the arrows had struck the dragons.

A quick glance back revealed the dragons to be relaxing their necks and easing back onto their haunches.  Their eyes were still bright with anger, but the tension was gone.  There was no sign of impending flames.  Looking to Sal’, her eyes meeting mine, I gave a gracious nod with a “damn, that was close” widening of my eyes and raising of my eyebrows.  Sal’ returned a similar look before starting to post her men around the area, presumably to guard against further attacks on the dragons. 

“Did you see that?” Til’ questioned shrilly, shaking his fist in the air.  “Sal’ sure showed those Meliatus-blooded cowards.”  Meliatus, the god of insolence, is apparently another god connected to the Kolari that I’d never heard of before. 

“Not thankful in the least,” Rhyxis grumbled, echoing his earlier sentiment.

“
They
are not
all
bad,” Max responded from my shoulder, sure to assert that he was separate from everyone else.  “They are just ignorant by means of wizard-borne propaganda from a thousand years ago.  I truly believe that this day will eventually be considered the catalyst for the end of your unjust banishment.”

Or the catalyst for a war between the races of man and dragon
, I thought cynically.

“Yeah, we’re not all bad,” Til’ agreed emphatically, nodding.

Rhyxis arched his neck over to Til’.  “The Kolari were never the problem, young Tilrook.”

“Rhyxis,” I began, changing the subject, “Til’ has told me that you and your brethren have offered us transport.”  Though the dragons’ presence being known to so many was going to create a tension between the races not seen since the Power Wars, ending the active war was a more pressing issue. 

“That is correct, Korin,” Rhyxis replied deeply.  “We will allow those of you whom Tilrook has named to join us in our flight to discover the source of Rizear’s power to the east.”

“We also have several wizards here who may be able to aid us,” I offered. 

“Be that as it may,” Rhyxis intoned, “our trust of wizards does not extend so far.  Even if it did, they would have little to contribute to my and my brethren’s capabilities.  We do owe a certain debt for Xalis’s return, however.  Therefore, we offer transport to Tilrook and you, his friends, as well as our own power, to put an end to the use of Rizear’s power in this land.  If doing so puts an end to this war, so be it.  If not, the war will be your people’s concern, not ours.  Ours is only to rid this land of Rizear’s influence.”

Rhyxis’s words sounded familiar, and after a head-scratching moment, it hit me.  “Bhaliel’s words were much the same.”

With a snort, Rhyxis dipped his head down and back up.  “Our beliefs lie in words passed down since times long forgotten.  Times before history ever found its way into writing.  Times before the world is as you see it now.  Loranis gave his life to protect the world from the dark god, Rizear, by sealing him in a prison, separated from existance.  A portion of Loranis’s remaining power was invested into the earth, imbuing each new life with a part of his essence.  Upon death, that essence is returned to the earth for a new life to be brought forth.  Dragons were the last creation of Loranis, crafted to embrace the greater portion of his remaining power to protect the world from Rizear’s grasp, should Rizear succeed in breaching his prison.” 

Rhyxis’s orange eyes dulled as he continued.  “Your ancestors imprisoned us just as Loranis imprisoned Rizear, prohibiting our kind from monitoring the world for signs of Rizear’s return.  Because of those wizards of old, our race will eventually die out, and then there will be none left to protect you.”  Rhyxis
snorted, puffs of smoke ejecting from his large nostrils.

Only my lack of religious belief kept me from freaking out at the thought of a world unprotected from the threat of Rizear.  My concerns were on more realistic things, such as a possibly corrupted father, an evil wizard doing the corrupting, and a resultant war—much easier concepts to accept. 

“So you can imprison Rizear again if he comes into the world?” Til’ asked, staring up at the towering dragon with wonder.

The chartreuse dragon to Rhyxis’s side shook its head.  “If we possess such
an ability, it has been lost with time as surely as mountains slowly erode to dust.”  The dragon’s voice was somehow even deeper than Rhyxis’s.  I’m sure people a mile away would’ve thought a thunderstorm was brewing in the distance.

“But if the dead walking the earth and eldrhims mean his power is being used, then maybe he
is
free,” Til’ retorted, a slight tremble sounding in his voice.  “What then?”

Another shake of the dragon’s head.
  “We will do as our instincts guide us and pray to the god who gave us the life to do so.”  Silence enveloped all for a brief moment.

“When will we set out for Bherin?” Max asked, breaking through that silence.

“We shall wait until first light,” Rhyxis replied.  “My brethren and I will need rest and sustenance before the journey.  I assume you believe that this Bherin is where the dark magic of Rizear is emanating from.”