XXV

 

Doom over Penacles

As the huge Seeker flock circled Penacles, they gave wide berth to the behemoth above. Instead, to the surprise of many on both sides of the walls, they initially focused their efforts against the invading drake forces.

Armed with glowing crystals, they created a field of energy that quickly swept down over the attackers.

Already aware that the avians were no one’s friends, Duke Kyrg drew together the power of his drake spellcasters and had them create a barrier against any attack.

The two magical forces struck with a thundering crash. However, much to Kyrg’s dismay, that collision resulted in a firestorm of raw energy that spilled over the drake forces. Hundreds screamed as scale, armor, flesh, and bone burned.

The front lines began to retreat. Drake officers attempted to beat back the surge of troops, only to be swept up in it.

A furious Kyrg struck the aide whose only sin had been to warn about the Seekers’ arrival. The avians had expected the drake commander to counter their attack in just such a manner as he had and used that knowledge to magnify the results.

The Dragon Emperor’s son quickly hissed orders. A golden aura coursed over the struggling lines, dousing the earlier magical fury and thus quickly bringing back some semblance of order to the invading force.

Those on the walls did not cheer at this unexpected rescue, for General Toos and his men knew very well that the Seekers only served their own cause. Still, the Gryphon’s second-in-command took advantage of what the avians had done to reorganize the city defenses. Within moments, five catapults fired, sending explosive missiles crashing into the already-disoriented enemy.

Simultaneously, Toos ordered evacuations from those districts surrounding the area of the palace. In his heart, the vulpine-featured officer knew that there was nowhere in the city where the inhabitants would truly be safe, but the appearance of order would keep hopes alive and that was all he could ask at the moment.

That...and that somehow the Gryphon and the wizard would manage to do the impossible.

 

 

Only through the best of his guile had Toma managed to assuage some of his father’s concerns after the destruction of the Adajian Fields. The duke remained well aware that the true repercussions of the loss of Lord Brown’s rich lands would touch the drake race beyond the rebellion whether or not the wizards were crushed.

In the hopes of further calming the emperor, the young drake had suggested returning attention to Kyrg’s efforts to take the City of Knowledge. Toma had been certain that at this point his brother had made some headway.

But instead, he and his father stared at the only spectacle that could possibly compete with Lord Brown’s doom. There were Seekers in the sky --- far more Seekers than Toma could have imagined had survived after their previous debacle --- Kyrg’s forces in disarray, and the presence of the wizard Bedlam sensed nearby.

Worst of all, though, was the huge, winged form over Penacles. It looked like Lord Purple --- if someone had lit the supposedly dead Dragon King afire with raw magic --- but Toma could easily detect that it was not...or rather not quite.

Yet, whatever it was, it clearly dominated the situation.

Toma’s musings were interrupted by a peculiar sound coming from the vicinity of the emperor. Frowning, he glanced back.

The Gold Dragon stared at the scene revealed by the yellow sphere his son had summoned. The sound was the emperor’s breathing, which was growing more rapid by the moment.

Fighting back a hiss of concern, Toma whispered, “My emperor?”

The titan did not respond. The Gold Dragon continued to stare unblinking at the vision, at, especially, so Toma finally noted, the thing that resembled Lord Purple.

“My emperor?” the duke repeated. Then, “Father?”

But the auric behemoth only continued to stare.

 

 

Nathan did not find himself at all cheered by the discovery of the book. Even as he watched, the ‘wound’ created by the Sunlancer bolt faded and with it any hint of the tome stolen from the libraries.

The dragon’s head veered around to confront the wizard. The mouth opened wide.

Nathan barely sensed the trap behind him in time. Even then, he felt the sharp metal cutting into his side. Only a quick swing of his hand saved him from becoming the Horned Blade’s latest victim.

And the latest victim of Azran.

The younger Bedlam let out a grunt as he fell from the roof. Nathan instinctively tried to grab him despite the murder attempt, but missed.

Azran tumbled several yards toward the ground before one massive paw caught him. Moving with astounding dexterity and speed, the fiery dragon not only scooped up Azran --- and the sword, which Nathan saw his son had maintained a grip on --- but then flew back up above Penacles with his catch.

Falling against the curved roof, Nathan clutched his side. It did not comfort him at all to see that the wound had cauterized; he could still sense some of the Horned Blade’s sinister presence in his body. Even as he thought that, Nathan thought he heard a voice murmuring in the back of his mind, a voice that reminded him of Jekrith Terin.

Grimacing, Nathan used his power to purge himself of the wound and any taint with it. The voice vanished.

Despite his precarious situation, Nathan had to pause for breath. Unfortunately, his heart refused to stop pounding hard even after several seconds. Despite that, the veteran mage knew that he had to continue on.

Still holding Azran, the dragon rose higher yet. Finally well above the city, it let out an ear-shattering roar.

Then, with one swift snap, the beast swallowed Azran and the Horned Blade.

Nathan gasped, at that second fearing for Azran despite all his son’s crime. That fear proved short-lived, though, for in the next moment, a black spot formed in the dragon’s burning chest. That black spot took on a human shape.

Azran, the Horned Blade held over his head, floated just below the book. Nathan could sense that his son was not only very much well, but now fully in command of the dragon.

Yet, as the behemoth stretched its great wings, Nathan knew that those below had not seen what he had. To them, it looked as if Azran had met his fate in the gullet of the Purple Dragon.

Having recuperated as much as he dared to, the elder Bedlam concentrated on the Gryphon. The lionbird’s voice came very faint, but still intelligible.

No...book...yet...

Stop looking! Nathan quickly informed the Gryphon as to the truth. The former mercenary’s frustration radiated through the link. Still, the Gryphon wasted no time regretting matters, instead wanting to know what he could do to help.

The book is still part of the key! the wizard informed him. I need you up on the roof ---

A huge paw came down on the wizard. Nathan vanished just before it would have crushed him.

The veteran mage reappeared on the other side of the roof, only to find the dragon already peering his direction.

Impressed, Father? Azran asked, his tone mocking. I daresay even you couldn’t have accomplished all I have!

Nor would I wish to, Nathan returned without hesitation. Azran, can’t you see that you are being duped?

In response, his son only laughed. Jealous, Father? I wouldn’t doubt it! He said you’d be!

Nathan surreptitiously sought to locate Jekrith Terin’s presence, but even though the Horned Blade was visible to him, the wizard could not locate the dread spirit.

He stared at the outline of the sword. Following a hunch, Nathan probed the energies now flowing between the Horned Blade and the dragon. The powerful forces his son and and weapon had summoned rushed back and forth between the monster and the sword, with each pulsation binding the two together more and more.

And at last Nathan finally understood, even if Azran did not.

Another paw thrust at the elder Bedlam. Both caught up in the discovery of just what Jekrith Terin intended and still suffering from his wound, Nathan moved too slowly. Although he succeeded in evading the full force, the glancing blow was enough to not only stun the wizard, but send him hurtling from the roof.

Despite his best attempts, Nathan could not focus. He knew that it was as much from the primal forces unleashed on him by the fiery leviathan’s strike as it was his wound. The mage grabbed at the air as he neared the ground below.

Then, something shoved him to the side, sending him careening into one of the lower balconies. Nathan heard a grunt that did not belong to him.

He struck the floor harder than last time, his defensive spells all but drained by the monster’s touch.

A heavy form collided with him just as he was trying to catch his breath. He heard a grunt that could only have come from the Gryphon.

“I hope...I hope you have survived this better than I,” the lionbird managed.

Rolling over, Nathan nodded. He made certain not to touch his wound despite how hard it throbbed now. Still, it did not surprise him that the Gryphon’s sharp gaze noted it.

“A glancing blow,” the wizard lied.

“Another glancing blow from that creature and we’ll both be dead. Nathan, it looks like the Purple Dragon, but ---”

“The energies once belonged to Lord Purple, but the mind is no longer associated with them.”

“Praise be! I’d thought that somehow he managed to get resurrected...but if not that, then what is happening?”

Still fighting back any sign of pain, Nathan rose. “The sword. It’s possessed by the spirit of Jekrith Terin.”

Standing up beside him, the Gryphon grunted. “Somehow, I doubt that’s any better than if the Purple Dragon himself had come back.”

“It’s not.” The wizard glanced up. The dragon had ceased moving, a fact that in no way relieved Nathan. He could sense that now not only was the sword and the beast bound to one another, but Azran, too, was part of the spell. He had not entirely entwined his life forces with the magical energies of the other two, but he was near to doing so.

Aware what that would mean, Nathan abandoned his rescuer and returned to the roof.

There, he found himself standing next to a Seeker.

No...not actually a Seeker. The avian actually flew over Penacles alongside the others, the figure next to the wizard only a projection.

The Seeker held up a stone that was clearly of the same substance as the larger one Nathan had discovered near the Manor. At the same time, an image formed in Nathan’s head, the image of Shade and this same Seeker meeting together.

That made the mage instinctively wonder just where Shade was, any assistance the warlock able to offer desperately needed. However, even as that concern occurred to him, the vision shifted, revealing a Shade fading away as if a ghost departing.

Nathan exhaled. While not a literal answer as to the warlock’s fate, the Seeker had made it clear that Shade was no longer part of the equation.

With clearly fraying impatience, the Seeker held up the smaller version of the stone. He placed it against his chest...and then, without warning, vanished.

Nathan wasted no time in retrieving the stone from the pouch and doing just as the avian had.

However, despite his new efforts, the stone did nothing. The wizard concentrated again, but with yet again the same results.

The dragon, on the other hand, once more found interest in Nathan. The huge maw opened wide.

Out of the corner of his eye, Nathan beheld what seemed nearly half of the Seeker flock splitting from the rest and veering toward the dragon. The wizard assumed that the avians still sensed Jekrith Terin’s presence in the Horned Blade. So long as the renegade Seeker existed in any form, he was clearly considered a major threat to their kind.

The second ring of avians closed around the fiery beast, which only slowly reacted. Despite that, Nathan doubted that Azran and the sword had been caught unaware. What they had in mind, Nathan could not say, but he knew that the Seekers would likely pay a heavy price for returning.

That did not mean that the wizard had been forgotten. Even though the head turned away, one paw continued to lunge unerringly toward him.

I’d rather you enjoy the spectacle to come, Father.

Nathan did not answer, instead attempting to transport himself to safety.

But rather than the other side of the palace, the elder Bedlam found himself standing in the paw he had been trying to escape.

The paw folded around Nathan, trapping him. So predictable, Master Bedlam, came the voice of the seneschal. You, who have played such an integral role in my glorious vengeance deserve to witness the final act from a special place...

Nathan was certain that Azran had not heard the renegade’s comment. In the end, Jekrith Terin remained concerned only with his own desires.

With Nathan secured, the dragon focused fully on the oncoming Seekers. The behemoth spread its wings wider yet, then unleashed not a challenging roar, but rather a defiant screech worthy of the largest of raptors.

That screech was followed by another, shorter pair. The renegade confronted his former people.

Perhaps hoping to avoid a fate akin to that which struck their flock the last time they had attacked Penacles, the Seekers spread wide, then scattered. Their fellows continued to assail the drakes. The avians wanted no interference from outsiders. This time, they would have Jekrith Terin.

Turn the point down to the northwest, the former seneschal commanded.

Nathan glanced at Azran, who still floated within the dragon. The younger Bedlam turned the Horned Blade toward the direction desired. A bolt of black energy shot down, piercing part of the roof in the process without actually touching it.

And moments later, Nathan sensed it do the same to the ceiling of the libraries.

The Seekers attacking the dragon did not wait while this happened. Each set the crystals they carried against their chest. As they did, the stones flared to life.

Streaks of light darted from each crystal toward the dragon.

As the streaks touched the leviathan, it laughed with Jekrith Terin’s voice.

The thin bolt of energy swelled.

The dragon expanded, growing to four times its size.

“I am the City of Knowledge!” it --- or rather the renegade --- declared. “I am the libraries, the essence of magic, of power!”

Nathan eyed the shimmering stream rising from beneath the city. Azran and Jekrith Terin had found a way to literally draw the ancient energies of the libraries through the sword and into the dragon. The wizard had no doubt that the former seneschal had plotted for generations for just this moment.

Into the dragon? Nathan’s eyes narrowed. He had believed early on that the renegade Seeker had intended to use a mage for his new physical form, but now the wizard saw that as possible hubris on his own part. Why settle for even one of the Bedlams when Jekrith Terin could mold a perfect shell for his aspirations not only from the scattered essence of the late Lord Purple, but also the very magic of the legendary libraries?

But to do so would need mastery of tremendous resources of magic and an utter disregard for the immorality of such a choice.

“I am Penacles!” Jekrith Terin called. “I am the Dragonrealm! All that has happened, all that will happen, is because of my will!”

The wings folded inward. The leathery membranes turned utterly black.

The darkness ripped free, racing from the wings to every Seeker within range. Wherever it touched, feather and flesh tore free. Seekers shrieked and plummeted already dead.

And yet, somehow, the flock retained their own magical assault, which at last touched the dragon.

Touched the dragon...but did nothing that Nathan could see or sense.

Once more, the dragon --- Jekrith Terin --- laughed. The sinister sound had more strength to it, more solidity.

He’s becoming more and more part of the dragon! Yet, Nathan continued to sense some of the renegade’s spirit remaining linked to the Horned Blade. It was as if Jekrith Terin was determined to maintain his ties to both, as impossible as that would be. Surely, the wizard thought, the former seneschal would prefer the freedom and might of Lord Purple’s usurped form and the powers of the libraries now flowing through it than be trapped in the sword.

But does Azran want that of him? Nathan pondered. The Horned Blade gave the younger Bedlam a source of magic that made him one of the most powerful spellcasters to walk the Dragonrealm. Losing its power would reduce Azran. Nathan understood his son well enough to know that Azran would not stand for that.

And in such knowledge lay the elder Bedlam’s best hope.

Jekrith Terin/the dragon somehow spread his wings wider yet. Once again the darkness burst forth, bathing the Seekers. Several more avians were stripped alive, but the remaining attackers continued their seemingly futile efforts.

Without warning, a new vision struck Nathan. He immediately knew it to be from a male Seeker, possibly the same one who had contacted him previously. This time, though, rather than appear beside the wizard, the avian projected his desire directly into Nathan’s head.

For the second time, the Seeker placed his own smaller stone against his chest. He then gestured at Nathan.

I understand you completely, he thought back. Touch the stone I carry to my chest! I’ve done that! Nothing happens!

The Seeker cocked his head far to the left, a sign the mage recognized as confusion. Again, the avian set his own stone to chest, the signaled for Nathan to do the same.

Listen to me! the wizard pressed. Nothing ---

With a horrific shriek, the Seeker bent over. As Nathan watched, the feathers tore away, followed within seconds by the flesh beneath.

Just as the horrific corpse began to fall his way, the vision ended.

Nathan looked up just in time to see more of the Seekers falling. Possibly fewer than a third still survived from those who had turned to face Jekrith Terin. Among the new dead had to be the Seeker demanding the wizard’s aid.

Reaching for the stone, Nathan tried yet again to make it function.

His son’s laughter echoed loud. Oh, Father! They should’ve known that we’d be aware of this little trick!

Nathan’s heart sunk. No wonder his efforts had also been for nothing. Jekrith Terin and Azran had anticipated the stone somehow. Perhaps through Shade, perhaps through some other source, but they had anticipated the stone and worked to counter it.

Azran’s laughter might have been for his father alone, but Jekrith Terin’s was for all within hearing. The renegade raised his head to the sky, then, as his laughter died, fixed on what still existed of his would-be assailants.

Nathan! the Gryphon called. What’s happening?

The wizard silently cursed his continual weakness, then thanked whatever power had stirred the lionbird to speak at just that moment. Gryphon! I need our power to bind together! Quickly!

You have whatever you need. Just like that, the Gryphon opened himself up to Nathan.

Despite some guilt at demanding so much of another, Nathan did not hesitate to draw his comrade’s power to him. Unfortunately, it also enabled the Gryphon to sense things about the wizard that Nathan had hoped to keep hidden.

Nathan! What’s wrong with you? You don’t ---

Say nothing! the mage commanded.

To his credit, the lionbird quieted. Nathan took full mastery of the other spellcaster’s might, then entwined it with his own.

Finally, he placed the stone one last time on his chest and concentrated everything he now had on it.

The stone’s iridescent surface altered. A deep, black streak swiftly spread across it.

Simultaneously, a familiar voice boomed so loud in Nathan’s head that the wizard nearly dropped the stone. Master Bedlam! Finally! I feared I would be trapped forever!

Darkhorse?

From the stone burst a torrent of ink that spilled out before Nathan in a matter of seconds. It coalesced into the familiar shape of the fantastic stallion.

“Master Nathan! I could hardly believe ---”

“Darkhorse! Quiet!” While the wizard could sympathize with the fact that the eternal had become trapped in Shade’s stone, Nathan needed the eternal to listen. “Link to me! Now!”

The eternal did as ordered. Darkhorse’s unique magic at first jarred the wizard, but he did not hesitate to intertwine it with the Gryphon’s and his own.

As he did, the Seekers, as if sensing the success of his efforts, refocused their attack on the dragon.

Following their lead, Nathan fed the trio’s combined forces into the stone and then at the dragon.

The fiery leviathan roared in agony as it was struck. The dragon’s outline grew less defined, as if the beast was fading away.

Yet, even as it appeared victory was theirs, Nathan could not help noticing that he barely even touched upon the power of Shade’s creation. For reasons he could not explain, that surprised him. Surely, he thought, Yalak had not put all this together like this. The stone had to have some other purpose, some other ---

Jekrith Terin ceased his pained roaring. Not only did his dragon form become defined again, but it swelled further in size. With complete shock, Nathan watched as the purple behemoth grew to nearly double what he had been.

The former seneschal laughed as he surveyed himself. He fluttered a bit higher even as the Seekers and Nathan continued their attack, an attack, Nathan realized, was feeding the resurrected Jekrith Terin faster.

Nathan prepared to cut off the spell ----

And Darkhorse shouted, “No! Do not stop!”

The veteran mage started, but not simply because Darkhorse had given warning. Rather, it was due to the fact that although it had been the shadow steed who had spoken...it was Yalak’s voice Nathan heard.