Champion of the Gods
Copyright© 2025 by QM
Chapter 45
Using her staffwand, Demala scored a circle in the dust at the entrance of the cave and wrote several sigils inside it. She then muttered several arcane words, and suddenly, the entrance shifted, revealing the previously observed bones.
“Did the dragon do this?” Darras asked.
“I very much doubt it,” Demala replied. “More likely, this Casal did it to prevent us from looking for the dragon.”
“Right,” Darras nodded. “Let’s go, I’ll lead the way.”
Darras could feel the presence of the shadows as he slipped forward, followed by Klea and then the rest of the team. Holding up his hand, Darras brought the group to a halt before darting forward to grasp the throat of a shadow that had presumably been guarding the entrance to the main chamber.
As the struggling shadow finally dissipated, there was a huge bellow as the dragon was now aware of intruders within its lair. With Darras leading the way, the team raced forward to get into the central cavern as the shadows vectored in on their location. That, however, brought them within range of Darras, who swiftly dispatched them. Finding a defensible spot, Demala set up a barrier to protect the now cloaked Elves as Darras kept to cover, out of sight of the dragon, which was now scrabbling about trying to locate what was killing its scales.
Erren was also helping Darras by letting him know accurately where the shadows and the dragon were in relation to Darras. Hence, a tense game of cat and mouse developed as Darras slipped through dark areas, dealing with the shadows, even as they and the dragon hunted him.
‘You’ve dealt with enough of them, ’ Erren informed Darras. ‘Now you need to lead it towards Klea.’
Darras deliberately allowed himself to be seen by the dragon, which gave an almighty bellow and charged after him.
“Get ready, Klea!” Darras yelled in the silence after the bellow.
Racing away from the rapidly closing dragon and relying on Erren to guide him to the Elves. Darras was able to grab another shadow as it leapt at him in an attempt to slow Darras down.
There was another bellow from the dragon as Darras dealt with the shadow, and the creature put on a burst of speed, just managing to bat Darras hard in the back with a wing claw. This sent Darras flying, though he could now see the Elves, and, as luck would have it, he was flying through the air in the right direction, still pursued by the dragon.
Landing heavily, Darras scrambled to the side as the dragon launched another attack, only to come to a halt in mid-motion when Klea barked out a command of, “HOLD!”
Darras got to his feet after crawling away from the dragon and went over to Klea, who was holding the blade high. Firios and his team then joined him, studying the dragon intently.
“Lead it to the inner chamber, Klea,” Darras suggested.
“Come, follow,” Klea commanded. And followed Demala to the cavern where the ley lines converged and the air was tainted. The dragon lumbered behind them, struggling with the power that Klea had unleashed, yet was unable to disobey the commands she sent through the blade, even if it could not understand the language.
“Enter, go to the middle and sleep,” Klea commanded. “Return to your dreams of the past and disturb the land no more.”
The dragon obeyed; it could not do anything but, such was the power of the blade. Also, following the dragon into the cavern were six shadows; these Darras left alone, not wishing to disturb the dragon.
“Can you seal this cavern off, Demala?” Darras asked.
“I can do something similar to the entrance spell,” Demala nodded.
“Please do so, my friend,” Darras replied.
“And then do the same at the original entrance,” Firios added.
It took nearly an hour for Demala to complete the first spell, Erren advising the young Elf in her spiritual form by giving a set of coordinates to rotate the transference of the chamber. Demala then activated the spell, and suddenly the cavern was no more, just a wall of solid rock. The party then made their way to the entrance, where Demala operated the original spell, moving the original cavern to another place.
“So the dragon is still above the ley lines?” Tinara asked an exhausted Demala.
“Yes, the spell rotates the cavern,” Demala replied. “The same with the main entrance.”
“Whoever did it must have known of the existence of the other cavern to link it to,” Firios nodded.
“Yes, everything was centred on the ley lines,” Demala confirmed, sipping a honeyed herbal drink.
“Let us hope it will be enough to keep the dragon secure,” Klea added. “I would not care to do this again.”
“The feeling is mutual, my friend,” Firios smiled.
“Are our travels together over now, Darras?” Tinara asked.
“No, we have Casal to deal with,” Darras replied. “You too will be needed, Klea.”
“Why?” a curious Klea asked.
“All part of Erren’s plan for you to lead your people to a different future than the Dark Lord desires,” Darras replied.
“A reuniting of our peoples?” Traskis asked.
“Preparing the ground,” Darras nodded. “It will not likely happen in your lifetime.”
“Probably not,” Klea sighed. “But I do believe that we may get to the stage where individuals can meet and a dialogue can begin.”
“A worthy goal,” Tinara smiled. “If I can help, I will.”
“My thanks,” Klea acknowledged the offer.
“Now, we’d best set off for the tower,” Darras said into the silence.
“A good plan,” Firios chuckled, as the group set off to their encampment to break it down in preparation to travel.
The Dark Lord remained hidden but observed the Elves leaving the cavern entrance. The life sense he had of the dragon was very muted now and fading away even further. Nor dared he attempt to approach the cavern; he could sense his meddling sister’s presence, and she would likely act if he tried to undo what had been done, for at least a year. Still, a year was but a short time, barely more than the blink of an eye to this avatar, and there could be a use for this dragon in the future.
The spirit of Erren remained concealed but observed the figure she now knew to be her brother. She carefully studied the slow fading of the avatar into a realm she could not observe, yet now she believed she could accomplish it herself. This also meant she would not, for the moment, inform Serulon of the ability to return to the world, at least not until she had a means to do so that was undetectable from the method her brother used.
Using farstriding, the Elves and Darras made it back to the tower, where the Elven scholars were celebrating their access to it.
“Annos and Sondrast figured out the key,” Mirion confirmed when she met them.
“Good,” Darras smiled. “The experience will have increased their confidence in dealing with higher magics.”
“It has,” Mirion confirmed. “Far more satisfying than someone like me just opening it for them.”
“It is the best way to learn, once you reach a certain level,” Demala agreed.
“Hallis confirmed the dragon is sealed,” Mirion continued, changing the subject.
“Yes, though I believe the Dark Lord is aware of what we did,” Darras nodded.
“You saw him ... again?” Mirion frowned.
“I believe so.”
“Disturbing, it may be that you’ll have to return here yearly to enable Erren to watch over it.”
“Yes,” Darras agreed. “I also have some other tasks along those lines I have to do, too.”
“Keeping an eye on friends?” Mirion smiled.
“Yes, a group of former Fiends in Tremiln,” Darras replied.
“Fiends?” Firios asked.
“They left Ventris and are now free of the taint,” Darras explained. “Though probably not the lifestyle they had there.”
“Ah, possible bad habits?”
“Yes, though they have a wise leader,” Darras nodded. “He can’t be everywhere at once, though.”
“Understandable,” Firios smiled. “If you need a quick way to get to them, just ask.”
“I will,” Darras confirmed.
The Elves remained separate from the scholars as they had the last time, with only Annos, Sondrast and Mirion interacting with them. The scholars themselves were currently looking at the first level of the tower, cataloguing the contents, and making sketches of the interior.
“Their attention is fully focused on their task,” Sondrast chuckled. “I doubt they’ll have given this party a second thought.”
“Good,” Darras nodded. “Our priority is to get Klea back to her people and return the blade to them.”
“I’m sure you’ll manage,” Annos smiled. “Though if there’s a chance in the future, I’d like to meet you again, Klea, and chronicle the history of those we call the Dark Kin.”
“That may be possible,” Klea replied after a pause for thought. “Though it would need to be somewhere neutral, there are elements to both of our people who would not take kindly to seeing the other.”
“Indeed so,” Firios agreed. “Occasionally, even now, when I think of Klea’s people, there is an anger within me ... though not against Klea personally.”
“It is mutual, friend Firios,” Klea replied. “Yet soon enough it will fade.”
“I do hope so,” Firios nodded.
The following morning, the party set off to the necropolis. Reaching it, they rapidly went through the gateway and arrived at Erren’s home, where they all finally relaxed, knowing that Klea was truly safe there.
“Welcome, my friends,” Erren said as they all appeared together on her lawn.
“Good to be back,” Darras said with a smile as Erren hugged him.
“Come, bathe, rest and eat your fill,” Erren said to the others.
The Elves were soon relaxing in the pools, sipping chilled wine, whilst Darras enjoyed a tankard of ale. The conversation was led mainly by Erren, who went over the mission with them.
“So, was that figure the Dark Lord?” Demala diffidently asked.
“I believe so, yes, or rather his avatar,” Erren replied. “We gods are banned from doing so, but it looks like he’s found a way to do it without alerting Serulon.”
“Will you report it?” Klea asked.
“No,” Erren replied. “I have no proof, plus, I also wish to know how he does it ... assuming it is him.”
“Pointless, if all Serulon does is to close that loophole,” Darras frowned.
“True, but knowledge is knowledge,” Erren smiled.
“Indeed so,” Demala agreed. “Much of what I learned at the university seemed to have no relevance initially, but after learning more, it has proven most useful.”
“You are on the cusp of so many things, Demala. Within five years, you will have mastered casting without a circle and gained a mastery of fire magics that few ever reach.”
“Mesoli has said similarly,” Demala nodded. “I know how it is done, but my focus remains awry ... as yet.”
“Balat can do it, but he cheats,” Darras chuckled.
“Yes, he has spent decades in Doriel’s demesne, practising,” Erren laughed. “Though at the moment, he is getting used to having a woman in his life.”
“Ah, he’s found her?”
“Yes, my love, he has,” Erren smiled. “She’s called Merith and he’s quite smitten.”
“A Doriel seal of approval, no doubt,” Darras nodded happily.
“Very much so, Doriel intends to train her in magics too.”
“I look forward to meeting her.”
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