We’re going to do it! Galin thought as he charged up the street towards the castle entrance. Just as they cleared the last row of buildings, he stopped. Staerdale Castle was a fortress within a fortress. True, they’d already breached the castle outer walls, but that only led to the nearly abandoned town within the walls.
“Get back here,” Brock said as he yanked Galin behind a corner. “They shoot you with an arrow. Don’t stand out in the open like that. Are you mad? You’re so close, son. Don’t blow it.”
Galin peered around the corner. Arrows were flying from behind the inner castle walls, embedding themselves into Galin’s soldiers. Each scream made his heart race faster. “We’ve got to do something.”
“The air ships?” Jena asked.
“They isn’t enough time,” Luthur said. “Let me show how we Dwarves handle such shoddy workmanship.” He snorted. “They should give us their gold just for putting that weak gate out of its misery.”
Ellis smiled. “You know what, Luthur?”
“What?”
“For a fellow who can’t see over the bar, you’re pretty funny.”
Luthur growled. “I’ll show you.” He stormed off, shouting orders to his fellow Dwarves.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” Galin said. “He’s loyal, and—”
“I know. Sometimes, you need to encourage folks,” Ellis said.
“Ellis, you may actually have a brain after all,” Jena said.
“Enough of this crap,” Brock interrupted. “We have to get through before we lose more of our soldiers to their arrows.”
The tingle in Galin’s heart grew larger with every beat. He clenched his jaw. But, somehow it was different. It didn’t burn or cause great pain. No, it was . . . not like before. Galin closed his eyes, trying to will it away. Nothing. He failed. The tingle became warming and began to spread throughout his body. Was this the Transformation? Yes, it had to be. Jena! He looked into her eyes. Ignoring the falling arrows around them, he pulled her into him and whispered into her ear, “I’m going through the Transformation.”
“The what?”
“Soreth said when my power matures, three things could happen. I lose my magic, my power matures like a normal dragon, or it . . . grows beyond my control and I die.”
Jena blinked. “No. I won’t let you die.”
“Die? What the hell are you talking about?” Brock demanded.
Galin ignored him. “I love you. I don’t know what will happen, but I’m just happy that I’m spending these moments with you.” He passionately kissed her.
Ellis spread them apart. “Please, we’ve got a war to win.”
Galin wiped his mouth. “Where’s Luthur?”
“I’m here,” Luthur said as he led a battering ram towards Galin.
Galin beamed at the Dwarves’ craftsmanship. On top of the battering ram was a hard covering made from dragon scales, hard enough to deflect any arrows or boiling oil. The ram itself was iron, not wood, and it hung in a long swing. Even on dirt, its wheels rolled across the ground like a goose on a pond. “Incredible.”
Luthur motioned to the eight Dwarves using the battering ram. “Come on, we’ve got a door to break down. Go!” He turned toward Galin. “Give them cover.”
Galin nodded. “Archers and trebuchets!” As if they’d heard him, arrows and balls of fire flew through the air, beyond the inner castle wall. Galin cringed as screams reached his ears. Yes, they were monsters, but he still felt sorry for them. He looked down at his hand. Tiny little electrical arcs danced along his skin. His power was definitely growing, but would it stop before it consumed him?
Boom! Boom! The dwarves slammed the battering ram into the gate. With each impact, the portcullis bent just a little bit more.
Galin looked up.
Two Feral Orcs hurled large rocks on top of the battering ram, bouncing harmlessly away.
Both orcs screamed as a flaming projectile slammed into that portion of the wall. The timing seemed to be fate. Maybe Odella was cheering for them this day. The wall cracked just above the gate.
The ram slammed into the portcullis again, causing it to buckle. Stones from the archway crumbled to the ground.
Galin kissed Jena. “Let’s go!” He raised his sword, pointing at the opening. “Follow me!” Galin ran towards the gate, dodging arrows to his left and his right. He leaped on top of the battering ram and charged beyond it. As soon as his feet hit the ground, an ax swung at his head. He ducked.
The orc raised his ax, bringing it down with all of his might.
Galin tried to roll left, but his tunic got caught under the orc’s foot. He looked up to see the blade coming straight for him. The warming turned to rage. The arcs leaped onto his sword, causing it to glow.
The orc screamed.
Galin jumped up. He blinked.
Ellis yanked the dagger from the beast’s forehead. “Does being king mean you become stupid, too? Come on, you dumbass.”
Thank Odella for Ellis, Galin thought. He smiled as his army rushed by him. Between the inner walls and the castle entrance was a mere one hundred feet, filled with Dark Elves, Feral Orcs, Dwarves, and Humans, all fighting for their lives. “We’ve got to find Tanyl and end this.”
“They’ll be inside,” Kade said. “We’ll have to push our way to the door. Come on.”
“I’m with you, Kade,” Brock said.
With his sword brightly glowing, Galin motioned to Ellis and Jena. “Come on.” He eyed his first target and swung with all his might.
A Dark Elf batted away Galin’s sword. The blue-skinned elf grinned.
Galin recoiled and thrust his sword into the Dark Elf’s mid-section.
Two Feral Orcs charged at Jena.
Just before they were going to overtake her, she did a split and sank to the ground. With one fluid motion, she spilled the orcs’ intestines on the ground.
Ellis ducked as another arrow nearly took off his head. “You missed!”
The human archer, a mere tens yards from him, nocked another arrow.
“No you don’t!” Ellis charged at him with a dagger in each hand. He leaped into the air, tackling the archer. Before his heart took another beat, Ellis slammed both daggers into the human’s throat.
Galin slashed another orc, sending it reeling to the ground. He looked down at the orc’s cauterized chest. Even the armor didn’t slow my sword down. Galin looked at the sword his adoptive father had forged for him. Was his dragon magic becoming too powerful?
“There they are!” Kade shouted as he pointed at the entrance. “They run like cowards.”
“At least they’re not traitors to their own kind,” Brock said.
Kade bit his lip.
“Almost there!” Galin shouted. He dodged another ax. Before he could react, Ellis had already taken the Dark Elf down. “Thanks.”
“Move it!” Jena yelled. “We’ve got to get inside.” She pushed Galin foreword.
Brock screamed.
Galin spun around. His eyes widened as he saw the sword embedded into Brock’s leg.
“No! Not again!” Kade screamed as he charged the three Dark Elves bearing down on Brock to finish the job.
They all swung wildly.
Kade’s aged body moved as if he was possessed by Thea the Loyal herself. He parried one to the left. Kade sidestepped and thrust his sword into the mid-section of another.
The third Dark Elf’s face nearly went white.
In a single, fluid motion, Kade spun around with his sword in hand, severing the Dark Elf’s head from her body. His eyes followed the corpse falling to the ground. He blinked. “Brock.” Kade rushed to his side. “Are you all right?” He pulled the sword from Brock’s leg, immediately tearing a piece of fabric from his tunic and turning it into a tourniquet around Brock’s leg. “You’ll be all right.” Kade looked up at Galin. “Go, quickly. Get Tanyl and you’ve won.”
“Go with him,” Brock said. “He’s your nephew. Help him!”
“What about you?” Kade asked.
Luthur pushed Kade aside. “I’ve got him, you weasel. Now, prove your worth to your family and to yourself. Leave my friend alone.”
Kade rose to his feet. “What about the others?”
Luthur winked. “We’ve got them. Just go. Now!”
Galin extended his hand. “Uncle, let’s end this. Let’s end this . . . together.”
Kade nodded. “They’ll be in the Great Hall or somewhere close. You need to watch out for Daylor. He’s a powerful mage.”
Galin’s eyes began to glow a bright sapphire blue. “I know. So was Nyna.”
Jena swatted away another Feral Orc ax.
Ellis threw a dagger, slamming it into the beast’s skull. “What the hell are we waiting for?”
“Let’s go!” Jena said as she ran towards the door.
Galin sighed. “Women.” He ran after her.
“Wait up!” Galin yelled to Jena.
With her eyes fixed on the hallway ahead and her short sword firmly in her grasp, she stepped back towards Galin. “Coming?”
Galin and Kade rushed to her side with Ellis in tow. “Did you see them?” Galin asked.
Jena shook her head. “No, not yet.”
Kade smiled. “Maybe I should lead, since I know where I’m going.” He pushed past.
Jena frowned.
The glow from Galin’s sword dimmed, but did not vanish completely. “Where’s the Great Hall?”
“It’s on the other side of the castle,” Kade whispered. “We came through the servants’ entrance.”
“Servants entrance? Figures,” Ellis said.
“Quiet!” Galin’s grip tightened with each step. He picked up the pace to a fast walk, not quite a run, through the stone corridor. They approached a four-way intersection.
“Left,” Kade said.
Galin saw something out of the corner of his right eye. Was it . . . Daylor? He jerked his head to the right, glaring at the traitorous Dark Elf who murdered his mentor. Galin blinked. Daylor’s mouth was moving. Was he casting a spell? Galin lowered his shoulder and charged straight at Daylor.
“Guards!” Kade yelled.
Galin looked back for a split-second. Four guards attacked his friends. His sword glowed a bright red. He stopped, with his lead foot skidding towards Daylor. He had to help his friends.
“Galin, watch out!” Jena screamed.
Daylor! Galin tried to regain his balance, but failed. He tumbled into the wall at Daylor’s feet, his sword falling to the ground. Think defense. I must block his attack.
Three fire bolts appeared over Daylor’s shoulder. He smiled. “Good-bye, Galin.” As if waiting for his cue, the fire bolts sailed straight at Galin’s chest.
Defense! I can do it! Galin reached for his sword. It glowed like it was on fire as soon as he grabbed the hilt.
The three bolts bounced harmlessly off Galin’s glowing skin.
Daylor jumped back. “It can’t be. You’re—” He ran down the corridor.
Galin looked towards his friends; they were still fighting. He could survive Daylor’s attacks, but they couldn’t. He swallowed. I have to find him. He ran after Daylor.
With the clanging of swords behind him, Galin slowed down to a crawl. There was a doorway to the left while the corridor turned to the right. Which way? He shouldn’t get too far away from Jena and the others. Perhaps, the door?
Galin pushed the door open with his left hand. Daylor must know that he had taken Galin by surprise, right? Maybe it was another spell? He stepped inside. The kitchen had a huge fireplace at one end with two long work tables in the center of the room. There were at least three wooden blocks filled with knives. Pots and pans hung from the walls. His head turned left and right as if it was on a swivel, scanning everywhere the eyes could see.
“I made a mistake with you,” Daylor’s voice echoed through the kitchen.
“Where are you? Coward! Is this how you killed Nyna? In hiding?” Galin asked. Daylor’s voice appeared to come from across the room, beyond the long tables.
“No. I looked her right in the eyes as she bled out.” Daylor laughed. “She couldn’t even get a spell out. Amateur.”
Where was he? Galin moved to edge of the second long table, peering around the corner. Nothing.
“With all your power, you have to use your eyes to find me?”
Got him! Galin raced along the back wall, towards the fireplace. He must inside it. Invisible, perhaps? Galin swung his sword inside, scraping the hearth with his blade. Nothing. He heard a knife being unsheathed. Galin whirled around. Not one, but eight knives flew out from the knife blocks on the table towards him. Galin dropped to the floor.
The knives flew over him, sticking into the wall.
Daylor screamed as a single knife hit him in the shoulder, pulling him out of invisibility.
Galin leaped at the Dark Elf.
Daylor desperately tried to pull the knife out that had him pinned to the wall. “No!”
Galin dropped his sword to the floor.
“Galin, are you in here?” Kade cried out.
“What are you doing?” Daylor demanded. “Don’t kill me.”
With fire in his eyes and hatred in his soul, Galin slammed both hands onto Daylor’s chest. He screamed. His skin flashed a dark red. As if the dragon magic pierced Daylor’s soul, the Dark Elf’s skin dried up. Galin yelled again, focusing all of his energy at the Dark Elf corpse. Daylor’s body vaporized.
Galin looked down at his forearms. No burns. No pain. He closed his eyes and opened them again. His skin was back to normal. This was the Transformation. He did not become some monster or lose his power or die. No, he became the first human to truly harness dragon magic. Galin smiled.
“I hope you don’t get that pissed at me,” Ellis said. He grinned at Kade. “You’re screwed.”
As soon as Jena entered the kitchen, she ran to Galin. “Are you all right?” Daylor’s burning clothes caught her eye. “Did you hurt yourself again? Like before?”
Galin shook his head. “No, I’m fine. The prophecy came true.”
Kade grabbed his nephew. “Not yet is hasn’t. Let’s go.”
Galin picked up his sword and led the small group into the corridor.
Tanyl ran up the stairs along the castle’s northern side. If he and Chalia raced up and came back down behind the Great Hall, Galin would never find them. As soon as his reinforcements arrived, he would win.
Chalia looked out a window near the top of the stairs. “Sir, look. They’re here.”
Tanyl smiled. “The Shadow Mage was faster than I thought.”
She pointed at an object in the sky. “Is that . . . ”
“Yes, their dragon.” His hope faded as the necromancers were hit by Soreth’s breath weapon. After two strikes, a wave of soldiers overtook them. His reinforcements were no more.
“What now?” she asked.
“We kill Galin and escape. Come on.”
“Yes, sir.” Chalia followed Tanyl through the door going to the third floor.