CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX:

  COMBAT ON CLOUD SHROUD MOUNTAIN

  Garrick and company stood single file inside the ancient and narrow dwarven tunnel that led into a more spacious part of The Cloud Shroud Mountain. The part that had been the dragon Firebaugh’s lair for hundreds of years now. The former home of the dwarves was the dragon’s, as were all its treasures. Chief among them, an ancient ring that held a Holy Stone. One of the three Stones that came from the King Priest’s Scepter Sword.

  Not only were they forced to stand single file, Garrick and all but one of his companions' heads nearly scraped the ceiling. First in line was Elias. The Knight of Providence held the shield that could not only protect himself, but protect their escape if need be. He touched the mechanism that would extend the shield out even wider. The tunnel was too cramped to allow him to extend it now, but that would also help them escape. Elias would be first to enter, but if they couldn’t kill the dragon, he would be the last exiting, using the shield to cover the tunnel entrance from the dragon’s flame as they escaped behind it with the Holy Ring.

  Behind Elias was Deelah. This was the thief’s time to shine and she knew it. Her speed and agility, mixed with her small frame, were perfect for the moment. She looked down and checked her daggers. Next came Maldrin, his staff in one hand and the Seeing Stone in the other. The old wizard spoke a word and Tal jumped from his staff to a pocket in his robe, where the red squirrel knew she’d be safe. Then it was Garrick. The mercenary sheathed his sword, grabbed his bow and looked down at Onyx. The mystic wolf stood stone still and ready.

  Garrick looked toward Cerelene, just behind him, and she nodded. The elf maiden already had her bow out. She patted Azure gently as the falcon flapped her wings restlessly on her shoulder. Following Cerelene was Ondibar. The dwarf, the only one that did not feel stifled in the tunnel, unbuckled his battle axe and ran his hand over his long beard, anxiously. Then he felt a reassuring touch on his shoulder. Last but not least was Anya. The cleric of Elion was ready as well, staff in hand, and beginning to whisper one last prayer to the god of all creation.

  Maldrin rolled the Seeing Stone past Elias and Deelah and into Firebaugh’s lair. The rock slowed and stopped on the outer layer of jewels and gold pieces that lined the dragon’s resting place. Then it shined bright. A second later, the old wizard looked down at the lapis lazuli crystal in his staff.

  “Vision,” spoke Maldrin, and the dragon’s lair came into view. Then he looked closely for a moment.

  “Firebaugh is still sleeping,” declared the old wizard. “His side is toward us, but his head is looking away.” He lowered his staff, looked back at Garrick and continued, “We may not get a better chance than now. As expected, he sleeps close to his most precious treasures. The ring is displayed on an anvil in an ornate golden box, between two rusted dwarven hammers against the far wall.”

  Garrick tapped his wife’s ring, wrapped around his scabbard, in contemplation for a few seconds as he looked toward the dragon’s lair. Then as everyone watched him, the mercenary nodded at Elias and whispered, “Lead us in, captain.”

  Elias nodded and stepped out of the tunnel, shoving the mechanism on his shield over. The metal pieces extended out all around from the inside of his shield in an instant. Then he locked the lever down into place. The others followed with their part of the plan in mind. They spread out, with Garrick and Cerelene on opposite sides. Separating the archers was key in the beginning.

  Maldrin looked up at the giant opening in the mountain above him, then back at where Firebaugh and the ring were. His calculations must be perfect now, he thought.

  Suddenly the red dragon swung his mighty tail! Garrick gasped. He knew they were there! The sovereign dragon’s tail struck Ondibar, sending him through the air then crashing against the wall. Cerelene flipped over the tail and released two of the dragonbiter arrows up at Firebaugh’s head, then backed off as Azure flew into the dragon’s face, covering the elf maiden’s next movement. Ondibar cursed after looking at his right arm hanging. It was broken. Even so, the dwarf scrambled to his feet, grabbed his axe with his good arm and started to step toward Firebaugh.

  Before he could take two steps, Anya was at Ondibar’s side. She looked at his broken arm, then touched it with her staff.

  “Mend,” spoke Anya, after closing her eyes.

  A glowing presence of healing power released from Anya’s staff. The pain in Ondibar’s arm began to cease. He switched his battle axe back to his right hand and moved past Garrick, who was starting to release his dragonbiter arrows toward Firebaugh’s eyes.

  “I could hear you down the hallway, in the room you schemed and scurried from,” roared Firebaugh as he sent gold pieces along with the Seeing Stone into the air, where it shattered against the wall of his lair. “Now I will exterminate you like the vermin you are!”

  The sovereign dragon, now fully standing and enraged, found the wizard before he could get a spell off. Firebaugh’s eyes twinkled and Maldrin felt his magic power start to drain. He had wondered if Firebaugh could use magic as well, but he had never expected it would be this strong! However, Maldrin could feel that he still had some power left for minor spells. At least until the dragon’s spell on him wore off.

  Seeing Elias advancing toward him, Firebaugh breathed in and blew fire at the knight, knowing that no normal shield could withstand his mighty blast. Elias kneeled down and raised the shield that had been forged by The Sacred Blacksmiths, waiting for the flame barrage to end. When it finally did, Deelah quickly kissed the knight's cheek, emerged from behind the shield and took off toward the Holy Ring. Elias, taken aback, smiled for just a moment. Then he looked back at the dragon again with determination.

  As Firebaugh moved forward, away from the wall, Deelah zig zagged between the dragon’s back feet and toward the ring. She was fast. She was agile, but running across jewels and gold pieces was a new experience, she thought, as she slipped and stumbled more than once. Thankfully her daggers, pushing into the shifting treasure, helped steady her. If it wasn’t for the dragon, this would seem like a fine dream, thought the thief.

  Garrick watched as Firebaugh clawed at the arrows in his muzzle. Tearing them out, the dragon looked at the mercenary and raised a claw. Garrick dove to the ground and Firebaugh’s claw passed over him.

  As the dragon started to raise his claw back up, Onyx was already in mid air. The mystic wolf jammed his teeth into the dragon’s claw and drew blood. Firebaugh roared and flung his enemy away. Onyx landed on the ground, as Garrick ran to Maldrin. The wizard was thinking of a spell when Garrick arrived.

  “The blasted dragon cast a spell on me, Garrick!” yelled Maldrin, as chaos reigned about them. Seeing the alarm in Garrick’s eyes, Maldrin reassured him. “Do not worry! If we keep him busy enough, my full power will return!”

  The old friends looked on as Firebaugh moved toward Cerelene, who was repeatedly loosing arrows. Maldrin continued, “I can still use weaker spells, and better yet I can tell Firebaugh used up all his magic on me.” Then the old wizard leaned on his staff and smiled. “If he had not, all my power would be gone.”

  “Do what you can, old friend,” spoke Garrick quickly as he pulled another arrow. “We will give you all the time we can.”

  With Deelah now running toward the Holy Ring, Elias stalked the dragon. He looked on as Ondibar jumped in the air and stuck his mighty axe into Firebaugh’s leg after Onyx had baited the dragon’s flames away from the dwarf. Undeterred, Firebaugh lunged up and gnashed his teeth in bravado, then sent the dwarf flying again without his axe. The knight took the boast as a challenge and ran toward, then under Firebaugh. Elias slid his blade across the dragon’s belly. It didn’t cut as deep as he wanted, but it still drew blood.

  Deelah looked behind her after she finally reached the far wall. Everyone was still standing, at least. She watched as Anya healed Cerelene’s burned arm, after the archer narrowly escaped a full blast of dragon fire. Deelah looked on as Maldrin sent Ondibar’s axe back to him with a wave of his staff. Then both dwarf and elf moved forward and continued the attack.

  Deelah reached the anvil and looked down at the Holy Ring. The thief unzipped her pouch and started to put the whole box in, but she stopped. Why not? She thought and tried to put the ring on. After moving it quickly from finger to finger, the ring finally slipped on and stayed around her pointer finger. Then she grabbed her daggers and took off.

  Firebaugh eyed Garrick now. The sovereign dragon snapped his giant jaw down at the mercenary. Garrick raised his sword and tried to side step, but was too late. The dragon knocked him to the ground and his sword went flying.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  Firebaugh barred his sharp teeth, relishing his kill to come. Garrick could only look on as the red dragon opened his mouth. In an instant, Elias was there and plowed his shield into Firebaugh’s jaw. The dragon roared with pain and shook his head, sending the knight to the ground. Garrick recovered his sword and backed out into bow range.

  Deelah, who was waiting patiently for a chance to run, took off toward Anya. Seeing the thief with the the Holy Ring on her finger from afar, Firebaugh roared up and opened his large wings, then clapped them, flinging treasure toward the thief. Deelah watched as gold and silver coins, rubies and diamonds, flew past her head. She kept running, undeterred, knowing it all depended on her. Then she didn’t know what hit her.

  Anya watched as her sister took a blow to the back of the head from a giant emerald. She wasn’t moving. Anya looked on as Firebaugh breathed deeply, readying his blast of flame.

  “No. No. No,” whispered Anya as she shook her head. Then she screamed.

  “NOOOOOO!”

  On instinct, seeing her sister unconscious with the dragon going for the kill, Anya lifted her staff and screamed again. Only louder. The cleric had only one power outside of healing. However, the power meant for protection became much more offensive.

  “RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION!”

  Anya watched as Firebaugh was flung away and forced back hard against the wall. Then with all her power spent, she lost consciousness and slipped to the ground.

  Elias stood up in amazement after what had just transpired, then ran toward the sovereign dragon again. Firebaugh was mighty, but he couldn’t attack them all at once, as long as they stayed spread out. With Firebaugh now preoccupied with Cerelene’s arrows and Garrick’s arrows flying from different directions, Elias ran forward unseen, jumped in the air and jammed his blade into the massive dragon’s left foot. With both Anya and Deelah down, it was now or never.

  Firebaugh roared with pain. Elias started to wrench his sword free for another attack, but it was too late. Firebaugh grabbed the knight with his right claw, raised him high in the air and squeezed. Elias dropped his shield and grimaced in pain.

  Rushing forward it was now Onyx’s turn. The mystic wolf leaped over the dragon’s swinging tail and plunged his fangs into Firebaugh’s claw, right next to the knight's sword.

  Sensing the tide turning, Ondibar ran forward and launched his battle axe toward Firebaugh’s head. The dwarven blade crashed into the dragon’s eye. Though the pain was intense, Firebaugh dislodged it and flung it to the ground, then closed his eye as blood poured out.

  Maldrin suddenly felt the true power of his magic surge through him once more. Without a moment's hesitation, he raised his staff with his right hand toward the top of the lair's entrance above, then grabbed his right forearm with his left hand to steady it.

  “Lightning Barrage!” screamed the old wizard.

  Bolts of lightning poured from his torso to his right arm and through his staff. The wizard’s arms started to shake from the enormous power he released while the lightning tore up through the air and crashed into the rim of the giant hole at the top of the mountain.

  Instantly, the mountain started to collapse.

  Garrick looked over at Deelah. She was still on the ground, unconscious. He scanned the lair for Onyx. The mystic wolf had moved from the claw of the dragon to its ankle, tearing at its flesh.

  “Onyx, get Deelah!” yelled Garrick as he pointed to the thief. Then he pointed to the tunnel.

  The mystic wolf looked at Garrick and broke off his attack. Rushing over to Deelah, Onyx grabbed her by the collar and dragged her toward the entrance. Then Garrick knocked another arrow in hopes of saving Elias, who was struggling to break the dragon’s grip.

  Seeing Onyx with Deelah and looking at the chaos around him, Ondibar ran to Anya, placed the cleric over his shoulder and also took off toward the tunnel, raising his axe above his head to block the falling rocks.

  Cerelene moved next to Garrick. He was running out of arrows and her quiver was empty. She heard a familiar screech and looked up to see Azure on the way. The falcon swooped low and released four errant arrows to the elf maiden and then flew up toward the opening of the mountain, dodging the falling rocks.

  Garrick yelled in Cerelene’s ear and she nodded. In unison, the elf maiden and mercenary released their arrows at Firebaugh’s claw. The claw that held their friend. The arrows bit into one of the dragon’s talons and Elias dropped.

  Landing, the knight winced in pain, then looked around for his shield and his other companions. Maldrin was at the tunnel entrance, using his magic to keep the falling rocks from baring their escape, but his power was starting to fail. He was nearing his limit. Elias saw Onyx drag Deelah into the entrance, with Ondibar carrying Anya close behind. Finally, he saw Garrick and Cerelene. Garrick took a step toward Elias while Cerelene continued the attack.

  “I am fine! Run! I am right behind you!” yelled the knight as he started to rise.

  Firebaugh roared as the falling rocks started to confine his movements.

  Seeing the knight get to his feet, Garrick and Cerelene nodded at Elias and rushed towards the entrance, dodging rocks and debris.

  Elias looked again at Firebaugh. The dragon could no longer move in the rubble, but his head was still dangerous. Elias watched as Firebaugh lifted his head up in pure rage and turned his eye to the narrow tunnel. The knight looked across the lair and finally spotted his shield, but it was far off. Too far off. Then he looked behind him and saw Garrick and Cerelene rush into the tunnel.

  There was only one play here now and he knew it.

  Elias dashed toward the entrance. The dragon would kill him, but he would take all the great beast had to give. He would show the dragon no fear or dismay in this beautiful sacrifice. Elias watched as Firebaugh breathed in one last time.

  There is no greater love than to lay one's life down for one's friends, knew the knight. Then, with rocks already having covered part of the tunnel exit on both sides, Elias stepped back in front of the remaining open space and slowly stretched his arms out wide.

  Firebaugh released his final attack as the mountain continued to fall around him. The force of fire hit Elias like a flaming lance, but he stood firm. He would fall, but the others would escape. The quest for the Scepter Sword would go on. His skin behind his armor started to burn as the flames continued.

  The pain was excruciating, but he still stood. He would be their shield. He screamed from the pain, but Elias’ face showed his enemy nothing but resolve. The blast continued. Elias’ legs buckled, but he straightened up. His final vision would be rocks covering the sovereign dragon’s head. That’s all that mattered.

  The Knight of Providence started to fall again from the pain and closed his eyes. Then the flames slowed and finally stopped. When Elias looked up he watched as three final boulders fell and covered Firebaugh’s head. Suddenly all was quiet.

  Your lair is now your burial chamber, thought Elias. And then after a few steps forward, the Knight of Providence fell to the ground.

  With the avalanche ended and the dragon silent, the others emerged from the tunnel, led by Garrick. Garrick ran to the fallen Knight of Providence and knelt beside him. The sight was awful. But to the mercenary’s surprise, the knight was still alive! He watched as Elias opened his mouth slightly, looking for words.

  Garrick looked back toward the others. He saw Cerelene with her hand over her mouth, trying desperately to hold back tears. Maldrin carried Deelah in his arms. The thief opened her eyes groggily.

  “Keep her back!” yelled Garrick, looking at the old wizard.

  Garrick’s stern voice, mixed with worry, brought Deelah fully back to reality. She quickly jumped from Maldrin’s arms to run to Elias, but Maldrin grabbed her arm and pulled her close, embracing her tightly.

  “Let me go to him. Release me!” said Deelah, tears welling up in her eyes.

  “No, child,” whispered Maldrin. “Do not go. What you will see...do not remember him that way.” Maldrin closed his eyes and laid his chin on Deelah’s head. “He would not want that for you.” Then his voice broke. “Nor for him.”

  Deelah sobbed as Tal softly crept from Maldrin’s pocket over to her shoulder. When the old wizard felt Deelah relax in his arms, he looked over at Ondibar.

  Laying Anya gently on the ground, the dwarf walked forward, knelt before the fallen knight and lightly grabbed his hand. Seeing Anya unattended, Onyx trotted over, licked her cheek twice and laid down next to her. Then the mystic wolf looked over at Elias with worried eyes.

  “Deelah...she has it? She recovered the ring?” whispered Elias through the pain. Then he paused. “It is...ours?”

  “Yes, yes, of course,” returned Garrick. Then he watched as the knight tried to smile. “Hold on, Elias. Stay with me.” The mercenary didn’t know what else to say. He knew Elias only had moments left. It was only by the grace of Elion that the knight had survived the dragon’s flames.

  Elias Romwell looked up into the night sky. He saw the beauty of Elion’s creation and to where he was going next. Just past those stars was Elion’s Embrace. He slowly reached out an arm towards his next destination. His arm wavered.

  And then it dropped.

  Ondibar caught Elias’s arm and mournfully laid it gently over the dead knight’s chest.

  “I wish we could have had more time, my friend,” whispered the dwarf sadly.

  Seeing Ondibar bow his head, Cerelene bowed her head as well and closed her eyes tightly. Then she felt the wind of Azure’s wings as the falcon returned to her. When Azure landed on Cerelene’s arm, the elf maiden opened her eyes and patted the bird lovingly.

  Looking at Elias, Cerelene lifted her tear stained face. “The high priest was right about you, my friend.” Then the elf maiden closed her eyes again to hold back the tears. “There was no nobler a knight to walk this world.”

  Slowly, Garrick shut Elias’ eyes.

  “Go, my friend,” whispered Garrick. Then he paused, gathering himself. “Elion has called your name.”

  After the mercenary looked at Elias’ lifeless body for a few seconds, he finally felt the full force of emotions hit him.

  Garrick wept.

  When the sound of tears and grief began to fill the room, however, a moment later, there came a voice.

  “No, good Knight of Providence, your soul will not travel there yet.”

  Startled, Garrick turned and started to rise.

  “Do not rise, mercenary,” continued the voice.

  It was Anya, but it was not the voice he knew. Was it even hers? Anya now stood near him, her body and robes glowing luminously.

  Ondibar grabbed Garrick’s arm. Garrick looked over to see the dwarf shake his head. The others stood deathly still. When Ondibar released his grip, Garrick did not move.

  The mercenary watched as Anya’s glow became brighter, then slowly faded until her eyes closed, and she fell to the ground. Garrick moved to get up, worried and confused, but Ondibar’s strong hand grabbed the mercenary’s arm again.

  When Garrick looked over at the dwarf, he was staring down at Elias intently. Then Garrick looked from the dwarf to his fallen friend.

  Startled, Garrick wiped his tear stained eyes and looked once more.

  Could it be, thought the mercenary, as he squinted his eyes. Then Ondibar nodded as if he could read Garrick’s thoughts.

  Yes, marveled Garrick.

  Elias was breathing....

  ***

  End of Book One