Champion of the Gods
Copyright© 2025 by QM
Chapter 44
Darras and Klea walked side by side to the gateway building, many in the town stopping what they were doing and giving the same gesture the elders had. At the gateway building, though, a group had gathered and barred the way.
“You will not take the blade away,” declared the leader.
“I am the wielder, I take it where I want,” Klea replied in steely tones.
You dishonour our traditions,” the male sneered. “You are no longer Blade Kin!”
“Says who?” Galbras demanded. “You do not lead here.”
“Colsek! Our true leader, not some snivelling worm who gives into the demands of outsiders!”
“Colsek defied our laws in an attempt to prevent a wielder being chosen; he is no leader, just an obstructionist,” Galbras replied calmly.
The Elves blocking the way then reached for their weapons as if to strike Galbras down, only to halt as Klea drew the blade.
“This is the Jomanti blade and I am its wielder,” she stated. “You will lay down your weapons and submit to me, followers of that fool Colsek.”
Though Darras could not feel the power emanating from Klea via the blade, he could see the effect as the blocking elves looked at her in stark fear. Then all began to lay down their weapons, some clearly struggling not to do so. Finally, it was done, and the supporters of Galbras moved forward to bind the obstructionists and move them out of the way. Those who had been observing Klea were now singing a song that hailed the blade as being that of the people and its true wielder.
“Leave them to us; they will be cast out not to return,” Galbras said.
“It need not be forever, father,” Klea replied after sheathing the blade. “I will return, and the blade will travel no more.”
“Unless it is needed again,” Galbras chuckled. “Though hopefully not soon, even as we, the children of the blade, measure time.”
“Then for a year,” Galbras nodded. “Though I rather suspect Colsek’s standing will have suffered over this.”
“Such is the power of the blade,” Klea nodded.
“We meet in Erren’s demesne,” Darras informed Klea. “There, the plan and maps will be discussed before we set out to deal with the dragon.”
“Very well, let’s go,” Klea replied, stepping into the building and entering the gateway, followed a minute later by Darras.”
“Welcome, Klea,” Erren greeted the Dark Elf. “The others are here, please follow me.”
“Yes, Wenderos,” Klea replied as Darras appeared and followed the pair to the pergola, where Firios’ party waited.
“Good to see you, Klea,” Firios said when they all reached the table where the Elves were sitting.
“And you too, Firios, friends,” Klea replied.
“Friend Klea,” the four Elves replied.
Erren then projected a map that the Dwarves had made into the air above the table. The map marked the lair where the dragon slept, as well as landmarks, various trails, and areas of concealment.
Outside of the lair, the greatest danger will be if the dragon is awake and mobile,” Erren said. “Inside it will be the guardian shadows it sheds, whose deaths at Darras’s hands will wake the beast.”
“Will I not be able to command these shadows?” Klea asked tentatively.
“Yes, though that will alert the dragon too, as they are a part of her.”
“I see,” Klea nodded. “How can we get to it?”
“Darras will lead the way and deal with the shadows. This will cause the dragon to wake and then hopefully attack you, allowing you to use the blade to command it to return to the inner chamber and hibernate.”
“Hibernate?” Tiara asked.
“There is a ley line keypoint that will keep the dragon ... fed and sustained as it sleeps,” Erren attempted to explain. “The air in the inner chamber also induces a form of sleep, too.”
“Any other dangers?” Darras asked.
“The land is treacherous with poisonous gases and fragile surfaces that could cause you to slip and fall,” Erren replied. “The dragon is not the only danger you’ll face.”
“Understood,” Firios nodded.
“Demala, ensure the shadow protection amulets are always active,” Erren warned the young Elf.
“I will, Wenderos,” Demala promised.
“Your task is to ensure Klea gets into a position to command the dragon,” Erren informed the Elves. “It may go without a hitch, though, be prepared to fight and distract the beast.”
“We shall see it done,” Firios promised.
“Will barrier spells work against these shadows?” Demala asked.
“Yes,” Erren replied. “Though, as you have yet to master casting without a circle, your options are limited.”
“A shame we can’t simply seal the entrance,” Traskis mused.
“Unfortunately, we do not know if that is the only entrance,” Erren smiled. “I rather doubt it will be.”
“Yes, I doubt a beast as cunning as you described would entrap itself so easily,” Traskis nodded.
“Just be careful and come back alive,” Erren said as she embraced them all in turn. “My blessings go with you.”
The necropolis was bustling with scholars and scouts from both Iversirion, Rachtelin and Sorrak. All were carefully investigating the rooms and artefacts that were being unearthed from the preserved ruins. Guiding the whole endeavour was Klavin, who greeted the group happily at the fortified gateway.
“So, it’s finally time?” he asked.
“It is,” Darras confirmed.
“May I take a look at the blade?” Klavin requested of Klea.
“Of course,” Klea replied. “Though best not out here, magic users may detect it.”
“Aye, very wise of you,” Klavin chuckled. “Follow me.”
“I take it you’re here to neutralise or destroy the dangerous stuff they unearth?” Darras asked.
“Yes,” Klavin nodded. “They appreciate it too, after the first incident with a ceremonial spear burned the arm off an incautious Elf.”
“Is he or she alright?” Firios asked with a frown.
“He’s fine, Mirion was here, and she summoned the spirit of Hallis to regrow the arm,” Klavin explained. “Now they use priests to discern any lethal spells and hand them to me to disarm or destroy.”
“Many survive?” Darras asked.
“A few, and I always tell them what they’ve got and why they have to be destroyed,” Klavin replied.
“Any arguments?”
“No, Annos and Sondrast vouched for me, and after the arm incident, they appreciated my input and Dwarven arcane knowledge,” Klavin chuckled.
They had now reached a recently constructed office that was deserted, if filled with various artefacts. Klea then withdrew the blade and handed it over to Klavin, who scrutinised it, his eyes eerily glowing as he muttered multiple spells.
“Quite the powerful artefact,” Klavin said as he handed the blade back. “Not just a weapon either, keep it safe amongst your people upon the isle.”
“I will,” Klea promised.
“Now, best you go,” Klavin chuckled. “Your calmness is impressive, but let’s not put it to the test.”
“Stay safe, my friend,” Darras said as the party left.
“You too,” Klavin replied. “The blessings of Pelegard go with you.”
The Elves used farstriding to head for the tower, where another group of university researchers was attempting entry. There, the Elves stopped to pick up some supplies and to greet their friends, Annos and Sondrast.
“Darras, it’s so good to see you again,” Sondrast hailed his friend after the formal greetings and the introduction of a cautious Klea.
“It is good to see you too, Sondrast, Annos,” Darras replied with a smile as Mirion approached to greet Klea with a hug.
“Dragon hunting now?” Sondrast chuckled.
“Erren wants it to be sent back to its slumbers,” Darras nodded with a smile.
“And you can do this?”
“Klea can, if we can get her close enough.”
“I sense a magical aura upon her, though oddly, her own aura is muted,” Sondrast observed.
“She has her reasons for that,” Darras replied, not wishing to say more.
“She’s Dark Kin,” Annos said very quietly, isn’t she?”
“She is, though I’d appreciate it if you said no more,” Darras replied.
“We won’t,” Annos confirmed. “She also appears to be a friend of Mirion.”
“And of Firios and his team,” Darras confirmed.
“I’ll ensure that your group are kept separate from the rest of our party,” Sondrast replied.
“Thank you, my friends, this is not easy for her, or you, I know.”
“With her aura muted, she should be fine, though we have a number of my kind here with the ability to notice,” Sondrast nodded. “Hence, we’ll keep you apart and assure your privacy.”
Sondrast and Annos were as good as their word, and Darras and the Elves were allowed to set up an encampment away from the rest of the researchers. The curious researchers were told that the group was on a mission from Wenderos and were not to be disturbed as they made their preparations. This did not stop Sondrast, Annos and Mirion from joining their friends as food was prepared.
“You can relax, Klea,” Mirion said. “Sondrast and Annos know what you are.”
“They do?” a startled Klea asked.
“They do,” Mirion confirmed. “Nor do they bear you any ill will.”
“You are a friend of Darras,” Annos added. “That makes you worthy of trust.”
“My thanks,” Klea replied. “Though it seems my mental agitation that I feel amongst those I once regarded as enemies needs some work.”
“It’s the absence of emotion I detected,” Sondrast chuckled. “Not any ill will.”
“Truly?”
“I may not have noticed at all were it not for the aura of that blade you carry.”
“I see.”
“It’s the Jomanti blade,” Darras explained. “It’s incredibly sharp in the hands of its wielder, though its main attribute is in increasing the charisma of the wielder to the point where disobeying a command from them is nigh on impossible without the protection of a god.”
“Fascinating,” Annos replied. “I take it the blade chooses the wielder?”
“Yes, though it’s not alive in and of itself,” Klea nodded.
“A perilous thing to be walking around with,” Annos mused. “Though a necessity for dealing with the dragon, particularly as Wenderos does not want it killed.”
“The dragon is not evil as such,” Darras explained. “Though its scales have been used for such.”
“Ah, that’s why Erren wants it returned to its sleep?”
“Yes, my friend,” Darras nodded. “It has no place in the world now, though killing it would cause ... issues amongst the gods.”
“One of their rules?”
“Yes, I can kill the scales, the dragon is, however, protected until it naturally leaves this life.”
“Unless it attacks you?” Sondrast chuckled.
“You survived that,” Darras replied with a chuckle of his own.
“True, true, I did, my friend,” Sondrast laughed.
“You attacked Darras?” Klea asked.
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