Castle Igneous
Still clad in their wedding apparel, Dragon Clan wizards, apprentices, and Jon’s friends crowded into the tree house on Dragon Isle. Even Lady Marla had come. Cressidia was comforting Jon’s mother as best she could, but all eyes were glued to the wan, trembling boy in the center of the room.
“When Guinn of the Fox Clan brought his cygard army down upon Castle Igneous, we were defeated in a matter of days,” Finn said. “My mother, father, and younger brother were thrown in the dungeons, along with most of the servants. Guinn told me the only way to save my family was to be accepted as a Dragon Clan apprentice. I didn’t fully understand why until that day at Ylan, when one of Guinn’s apprentices found me. He told me to transport to Dragon Isle and send Jon a message.”
Quixoran lifted an eyebrow. “I thought you said your father worked as a scribe in Ignation Territory?”
“Well… that wasn’t strictly true. My father isn’t a scribe for King Ignato. He is King Ignato. The Fox Clan fortress is Castle Igneous, which was my home. That’s likely where they’ve taken Jon and Sela.”
Ian bristled. “Finn has lied afair. How do we ken he’s not haverin’ now? He could be leadin’ us into a trap.”
Kira peered at Finn with narrowed eyes. “If you are indeed Prince Phineas of Ignation Territory, what’s the motto on your family crest?”
“Strength in Virtue and Mercy.”
Kira nodded at Quixoran. “That’s accurate, but I know little else about the Ignato family.”
Finn’s head drooped. “I haven’t been truthful about one other matter. I have only thirteen turns.”
“You really are just a kid,” Fred said.
“I’m like her,” Finn said, pointing at Kira. “The first in my family to have magic. The Owl Clan wizard, Amanzo, served my father. It was dear old Amanzo who gave me his clan ring and transporter cuff. He would have apprenticed me… had he lived past Guinn’s arrival.”
Dr. Hansen pulled off his hat and robe to reveal his street clothes. “I’m going to get my kids.” He tossed his finery aside.
Quixoran held up his hand. “Wait, Greggoran. You cannot retrieve them by yourself. We’ll marshal our forces and attack.”
“We can transport to the castle grounds, but Guinn put a spell on the structure itself to prevent anyone from transporting directly through the castle walls,” Finn said.
Casey cleared his throat. “Might I make a suggestion, Quixoran? If you conjure a transporter platform in the center of Dragonhenge and a second transporter platform in the woods just south of Castle Igneous, you can use the Wiznet spell governing the wizard mailbox system to transport large numbers of people at once.”
“Why go to the trouble? We can use our transporter cuffs,” Dorsit said.
“Yes, but transporting by cuff makes too much noise,” Casey said. “And also—”
“The platforms are large enough to quietly transport dragons!” Kira exclaimed with dawning comprehension.
“Exactly.”
Quixoran nodded. “You’ve made an excellent suggestion, Casey. Greggoran, Dorsit, and I will see to it. In the meantime, anyone who wishes to fight should prepare him or herself for battle.”
“My father isn’t allowed to have an official position in wizard conflicts, but what the members of his Elite Personal Guard do on their own time and out of uniform will escape his notice,” Kira said.
“My nymphs are also at your command,” Lady Marla said. “Our spears can bring down the biggest cygard and no solid wall prevents us from passing. We, too, have a score to settle with the Fox Clan.”
Mrs. Hansen jumped to her feet. “This effort needs a coordinator.” She pulled a blank roll of parchment off a shelf. “Finally there’s something I can do to help.” She unfurled the parchment onto a desk, grabbed a quill, and began to make a chart.
Quixoran extended his hand toward Finn, palm up. “Your clan ring and transporter cuff, please.”
Finn drew back in horror. “Why? I want to fight!”
“We’ll adjudicate your behavior after this is over. For now, you are suspended. You may report to Dragon Isle Village until I send for you.”
Finn lifted his chin. “I must help my family, Master Quixoran... and Jon and Sela. Forgive me.”
With a flash of light and a far-off thunderclap, the Owl Clan wizard disappeared.
****
Jon woke up, shivering and nauseous. As he stirred, he heard Sela whimpering.
“Jon? Are you okay?”
He tried to speak, but forming words was difficult. He licked his swollen, cracked lips. “What are you doing here?” he managed.
“Guinn’s goons kidnapped us.”
“I lost your ankh, Sela.” His voice came out in a croak. “I’m sorry.”
Her wail echoed off close walls. “I don’t care about the ankh! I only care about you.”
Jon opened his eyes and glanced around. Not another dungeon. He was sprawled on a cold floor without even the benefit of straw to cushion the harsh stone pavers. Sela’s breath hung in the air as she sat nearby, hugging herself for warmth. Jon sat up, wincing at the stabbing pain in his ribs. His right hand was swollen and numb, and he could feel dried blood on his face. He glanced around at the windowless space, lit only by the faint torchlight filtering in through the grate in the dungeon door. At least there aren’t any newtics.
“Where are we?”
“I think we’re in Guinn’s stronghold. If you give me Ophelia, I’ll heal you.”
“I wish I could, Sela, but my ring finger is broken. Ophelia is staying put.”
As Jon stood, his pain was so overwhelming, he had to fight the urge to throw up. “We’ve got to get you out of here.” He wrapped his intact fingers around Sela’s wrist. “Let’s transport to Dragon Isle.”
“Oh, yes please.”
Nothing happened.
“What’s wrong?” Sela asked.
Bewildered, Jon shook his head. “I don’t know. My transporter cuff isn’t working.”
He formed a small everlasting orb and sent it overhead.
“I can still do magic, so there must be a security spell around our cell.”
A crashing noise outside the dungeon door made Jon and Sela flinch.
“Get behind me,” Jon said.
A key rasped in the lock and the door opened a crack. A small silhouette became visible. “Are you two all right? It’s Finn.”
****
The two cygards posted outside the dungeon door were passed out, one on top of the other.
“How’d you do that?” Jon asked Finn as he edged past.
“You’re not the only one who spends time reading spells in Quixoran’s library,” Finn said. “Guinn’s security charm means we can’t transport beyond the castle walls, but there’s a secret underground passageway in the wine cellar leading to the woods. My family is waiting for us just inside the tunnel.”
“Wait a minute, how do we know we can trust you?” Jon asked. “You betrayed us.”
Sela gasped. “He did?”
“I don’t expect you to understand, Jon, but I did what I had to do to keep my family alive.” His eyes slid to Sela. “You’d do the same in my position.”
They crept through the dungeon corridors, listening for the clanking sound of cygards or voices heralding the arrival of wizards. Past a wide stone stairway leading to the main level was an extensive wine cellar. Finn led the way to the back of the cellar, and tugged at what appeared to be a solid wall of kegs. Unable to help physically, Jon used magic to give him assistance. A dark passage was revealed, which Jon lit with an everlasting orb. Several shivering, thin people were slumped against the brick walls inside. They flinched away from the light, but when they spotted Finn, their frightened faces relaxed.
“These people are what’s left of the Castle Igneous staff, all except the kitchen help. They’ve been forced to work for the Fox Clan, and I could only rescue the people who were locked in the dungeon,” Finn said.
Jon, Finn, and Sela entered the passage and Jon magically closed the wall behind them. A bedraggled woman dipped into a curtsy.
“Yer father’s resting comfortable, Yer Highness. We made a pallet for ’em up ahead.”
“Thank you, Betsee.”
Jon and Sela exchanged a glance.
“You’re a prince?” Jon asked.
“Er, yeah, sort of.”
A young boy, about eight years old, hurtled into Finn’s arms. “Finny! I was worried you’d been caught!”
“Well, here I am, Ashe. I brought the Dragon wizard and his sister with me.”
“Hey, I’m a wizard too,” Sela said. “Or I will be some day.”
Ashe peered at Jon. “Did the Fox Clan beat you like they beat my father?”
“Yeah, but it doesn’t feel as bad as it looks,” Jon lied.
“I dunno, Jon. You look pretty bad,” Sela said.
“The Dragon Clan is preparing to attack,” Finn said. “Master Quixoran is plenty angry at Guinn… and me.”
Jon was startled. “What? They’re going to attack here?”
Finn nodded. “They intend to rescue you and Sela. The nymphs and President Szul’s elite guardsmen are joining in.”
“That’s just crazy. The apprentices aren’t ready for an assault. Somebody’s going to get hurt.” Jon swayed on his feet.
Sela’s brows knit together. “Finn, lend me your clan ring so I can help my brother. Please.”
Finn twisted his Owl Clan ring from his finger and handed it to her.
“You’re a healer? After you fix Jon, maybe you can heal my father. His refusal to cooperate with the Fox Clan has nearly killed him.”
As Sela’s healing blue light flowed into Jon, he finally managed to take a deep breath. He flexed his fingers and touched his nose, now all healed. A quick cleansing spell took care of the dried blood on his face.
“Thanks, Sela. I feel almost human again.” He suddenly noticed a Cyclops boy, staring at him with his single eye. “Oh, hello.”
Sela followed Jon’s startled gaze. “Sprout, is that you? You’ve really grown!”
The boy’s eye squinted with mirth. “They feed me a lot here.”
Ashe threw an arm around the Cyclops’s shoulder. “You know Sprout? He’s my friend. He sneaked extra food to us in the dungeons.”
“We’ve met,” Sela said.
“Sela healed me at Castle Ytherium,” Sprout blurted out.
Sela cringed as she waited for Jon’s reaction.
“Did she?” Jon raised an eyebrow at his sister. “We’ll have to talk about that later.”
“It was an accident,” she said.
“Treefoul tried everything to find out who healed me, but I kept quiet,” Sprout said. “My mother said I shouldn’t tell on a friend.”
Jon was taken aback. Not all Cyclops are mean. “Why… that was very noble of you, Sprout.”
Ashe tugged on Sela’s hand. “Please help my father.”
Jon and Finn followed Ashe and Sela as they worked their way past the many servants lining the passageway. Each servant either bowed their head or curtsied at the princes. Sela paused when she passed a Cyclops woman wearing an apron.
“Are you Sprout’s mom?”
The woman nodded. “The name’s Ocyrus.”
Sela touched the exposed skin of Ocyrus’s wrist with her fingertips. A glowing blue light formed a lacy pattern traveling up the woman’s arm to the top of her head. As the light passed over the oozing skin on her face, the open sores healed. Ocyrus raised trembling hands to her cheeks.
“I’m much obliged to you, Dragon Wizard.”
Sela giggled at her new title. “Don’t mention it.”
At the end of the line were the king and queen of Ignation Territory… and two other familiar faces.
“Lialia and Marina?” Jon gasped.
Lialia closed her eyes and turned her head in a dramatic fashion. “Don’t look at me, Jon Hansen. I’m in disgrace.”
****
Kira brought Reye and a dozen guardsmen to Dragon Isle. Although none of the guardsmen were in their official uniforms, they were dressed for battle with swords and shields. Kira wore a sword at her side as well, but she’d also strapped a quiver to her back and carried a crossbow. Dragonhenge was a maelstrom of activity, but she overheard Ian and Ilene arguing nearby.
“You’re full o’ haggis if ye think ye can tell me what to do, Ian,” Ilene exclaimed.
“Ah don’t want ye to get hurt, lass. Mum told me to watch out for ye.”
“I’m goin’. I’m better at sparrin’ than ye. For certain you’ll need ma protection.”
Ian scoffed, but Kira suppressed a smile. Ian was a powerful wizard, but his approach to training tended to be scattered.
“I think you two should work together,” she interjected.
Ilene tossed her head in triumph. “Humph. Ah told ye so, brother!”
As Kira passed by, Lora held up one of the pouches used for Dragon Egg.
“Linda and I are filling these pouches with the same glowing pigment spheres we use for nighttime play.”
“When we fly over the castle, we’re going to mark cygards so the dragons can pick them off more easily in the dark,” Linda added.
“Good thinking. That will also help me aim my arrows more accurately,” Kira said, patting her crossbow.
The dragons were saddled and waiting in a field nearby. Kira strode over to Adam, who was pawing at the ground in his eagerness to fly into battle.
“Just a little while longer, Adam. I want him home too.”
****
Barely conscious, King Ignato looked exhausted and battered. As an anxious Queen Teryl hovered nearby, Sela knelt down to heal the king. While she did so, Jon took Marina and Lialia aside.
“How did you come to be in the dungeons?”
Lialia sniffed and twirled her disheveled hair. “I could have escaped at any time, of course, but that savage wizard my daughter married threatened to kill her if I did.”
“When Brett told me your advice, Jon, we took a cruise without telling Guinn,” Marina said. “He found us somehow, in between Singapore and Malacca and brought us here. He swore I’d never see my daughter again if I caused any more trouble.”
A cold vise squeezed Jon’s stomach. “Brett’s here? Is she all right?”
“She’s very confused,” Marina said. “Please save her, Dragon Wizard. She’s all I have on Yrth or Yden.”
A muscle worked in Jon’s jaw. “If Guinn does anything to Brett, he’ll regret it.”
King Ignato sat up, stretched, and beamed at Sela. “Thank you, young lady. You have my everlasting gratitude.”
Jon’s little sister suddenly wilted. His heart in his throat, Jon grabbed her as she fell over.
“Sleepy,” she murmured.
Jon gathered her up in his arms. “Finn, how do we get out of this tunnel?”
Finn darted down the tunnel. “Follow me.”
Marina clutched at Jon. “What about my daughter?”
“I’m taking my sister to safety, Marina. I’ll be back for Brett afterward, I promise.”
****
Inside Dragonhenge, Quixoran conjured a large, round platform with the appearance of poured concrete. A few moments later, Dr. Hansen and Dorsit transported nearby. As they appeared, Mrs. Hansen glanced up from making lists on her clipboard.
“We found a clearing in the woods, just south of the castle,” Dr. Hansen said. “The platform is ready and the Wizport spell is in place.”
Dorsit blew on his fingers to warm them. “Castle Igneous is in the Thynerr Mountains, and it’s cold. I’d recommend an insulation spell for every human combatant.”
“That’s a good idea. Why don’t you start with the advance team first?” Quixoran said.
Mrs. Hansen consulted her notes. “That would be Reye and Max.”
Dorsit darted off as Fred and Casey approached with Disrupters strapped to their belts.
“We’re going too,” Fred said.
“No,” Quixoran said. “As neither wizards nor combatants, you’ll be in danger and in the way.”
“We’ll stay by the transporter platform,” Casey said. “If anything happens, we’ll mail ourselves back here.”
“Jon, Casey, and I are like plastic wrap, Mr. Q,” Fred said. “We can’t be separated.”
Quixoran peered at them. “Do you have Dragon Isle address tokens?”
Casey and Fred produced their tokens, holding them up for inspection.
“I admire your loyalty. Have Dorsit cast an insulation spell on you before you go,” Quixoran said.
Casey and Fred gave each other a high five. Fred followed it up with a victory dance. Quixoran gave Mrs. Hansen a puzzled glance.
“It’s a teenage thing,” she said.
****
As he carried Sela in his arms, Jon’s muscles began to tremble with fatigue.
“Finn, how much longer?”
“We’re halfway there.”
“Let me help, young wizard,” King Ignato said. “It’s the least I can do.”
Jon hated to let a stranger carry his sister, but his other choice was to drop her. As he transferred Sela into Ignato’s arms, the powerfully built king chuckled.
“As light as a snow flurry.” The king jerked his head toward Finn. “Lead on.”
Jon glanced behind him. “Is everybody accounted for?”
“Aye, and looking forward to some fresh air!” Betsee’s voice echoed from the back of the line.
The laughter following Betsee’s remark elicited a smile from the queen.
“Thank you for your concern, Jon,” said Queen Teryl. “I’ve heard wonderful stories about the Dragon Clan. It’s good to know the tales were not exaggerated.”
****
The stairs leading from the secret passageway were choked with vines from disuse. Finn and Jon forged a path to the outside so the others could follow. They emerged in a tall thicket of bushes, with the light of the two moons obscured by trees. Jon risked a small everlasting orb so the group could find safe footing. When the cold night air hit her face, Sela awoke.
“Did I pass out?” She rubbed her eyes.
The king set her down. “Aye, lass. Sleep came over you like a faint.”
Sela yawned. “I was tired, I guess.” She pressed the borrowed Owl Clan ring into Finn’s hand. “Thanks for the loan.”
Jon tensed as voices floated through the trees just then.
“Yes! I’m the man!” Casey said. “The transporter platform works!”
“Yeah, but it’s weird. No flash-bang.”
“Give me some credit, Fred. At least there’s no ozone.”
“This mode of transportation is kind of underwhelming. As a wizard, I rather like making an entrance,” Max said.
“Nevertheless, the transporter platform lends itself to stealth,” came an unfamiliar voice. “Its strategic value cannot be underestimated.”
Chortling with laughter, Jon stepped from the woods and into the light of Max’s everlasting orb. “What are you guys doing here?”
“Dragon Breath, is that you?” Fred replied. “We’re the advance team.”
Fred, Casey, and Max stood next to a large circular platform. Jon’s grin slipped when he noticed Reye standing there as well.
“You’re not dead!” Fred exclaimed.
Sela appeared next to Jon. “Thanks to me.”
People from Castle Igneous began to crowd the clearing. King Ignato had a puzzled look on his face. “Are these friends of yours, Dragon Wizard?”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Sela and Jon replied at the same time.
Jon gave his sister a quelling glance.
“Casey, can you send Sela and these people to Dragon Isle on this transporter platform?” he asked.
“Yeah, sure. They just need address tokens.”
“I’ve got a bag of tokens,” Max said. “More than enough for everyone here.”
“I guess we’re all going home now,” Fred said. “Dragon Power rocks!”
“That’s right, everyone is going to Dragon Isle for the time being,” Jon said. “There are a few things I have to do before I join you.”
Although Sela tried to stop him, Jon darted toward the entrance of the secret passageway.
Hang tight, Brett. I’m on my way.