Dragon Wolf Hero

Chapter 3

The ground shook as the king entered the courtyard.

The top advisors guarding the caravan watched for his anticipated command as they transformed into a pack of wolves.

A small earthquake rocked the castle and the caravan followed the wolves across a long bridge over a deep ravine to start the journey to the south.

Grald and Ree-Nin were the leaders of the pack and were soon out of sight.

The hazardous mountain pass protecting the entrance to the northern kingdom was less then three miles from the castle, but the winter storm was gathering strength.

Vor and the few who remained at the castle moved to the center of the courtyard as the ground shook with increasing intensity. “The avalanches are starting with the first snowfall of the season?”

The courtyard cracked around the outside edges and a magic circle appeared in the center, similar to the one underground in the heart of the dungeon.

Vor transformed into a dragon, then suddenly returned to the human form and collapsed. The top advisors who chose the wolf form shared the same transformation reversal and the magic circle vanished.

Eohnin studied the group. “Interesting…the magic is reversed. I thought the reversal could only be done at the original location of the circle. Has the kingdom of the dwarves returned?”

The humans in the courtyard were not pleased, but the Eohnin was shouting in celebration. The world needs balance and the loss of the powerful northern dwarf kingdom sent the world out of balance according to the elves.

The ground collapsed, dropping all who were in the courtyard into a large cavernous space. The air was humming with a blue energy sphere and those who fell were suspended in the air by the energy as stones and dirt rained down from the surface. The last occupants of the castle fled over the bridge, fearing a sudden collapse as the towers leaned over the edge of the ravine.

A small bright light entered the cavern and a small figure approached the king, as he watched, suspended in the blue sphere.

Sennranor recognized the figure immediately. “How can this be? I thought you were the sole dwarf ambassador to the island empire of llam!”

The figure lowered the hood of her traveling cloak and said, “I am Wilstra, the daughter of the last king of the dwarves. I traveled alone to reclaim the kingdom. I welcome all to live in peace in our kingdom, but the humans are no longer in charge.”

Wilstra stared with cold eyes at the king and he said nothing in reply.

Eohnin said, “Have the dwarves returned to the north? This is welcome news!”

Wilstra said, “The dwarves never left these mountains, but they are so deep in the hidden places, down where the dragons sleep, I think most would consider them lost. For me, it was a long three months of climbing in the dark before I reached the surface.”

Vor was released from the blue sphere and quickly understood the situation. He kneeled and bowed his head. “The dragon form gave me the sight. I feel the power of your true nature.”

Wilstra said, “The king of the dwarves is my father.”

Vor said, “The mines, the dungeon, the dwarves and the dragons are all connected somehow?”

Wilstra watched the man shift on his feet as he realized the answer to his own question. “Oh, I think you know the answer, smart for a human.”

Eohnin laughed, “Pease don’t give him too much credit.”

Vor said, “The dragons are the enemy of the people who live on the surface! I wanted the dragon form to speak with the dragons bring peace!”

Eohnin said, “The people who live on the surface manage to survive without a good sense of history…not the elves, of course, but all the other creatures.”

Vor stood up and faced the elf as he floated gently to the ground, apparently by his own power. “Listen Eohnin, I was not born in this world, so my understanding of the history was learned when I traveled as a member of the adventurers guild.”

The humans in the room were listening to every word, as the look of concern and mutters of frustration echoed around the cavern.

Wilstra stood on a rock to be seen better, then raised a hand for silence. “One. The dwarves left the northern kingdom and traveled deep underground to find the last true dragons. Two. The human world is separated from the magical world at the moment and unfortunately this is a problem.”

Eohnin raised a hand to add his opinion. “Ah, but the human world is a source of great amusement. The dragons are the protectors of the dwarven kingdoms.””

Wilstra nodded in agreement and continued. “Three. I took control of the magic circle to complete the work started by the most revered mage. Four. The king of the humans in the northern lands is NOT your friend. Five. Listen to me at all times. The underground world is not a safe place for anyone.”

Eohnin said, “Wilstra, I think the day will be remembered! What fun!”

Wilstra shouted above the noise of the humans arguing with the elf about his cheerful attitude about the dangerous situation. “Listen please, the castle is collapsing and we must leave this place. The doors at the end of the corridor are open.”

Wilstra looked up at the blue energy field keeping the entire cavern from collapsing and grumbled about the humans ruining a good view of the mountains with their castles and roads. “I invite you all to enter the doors to the dwarven kingdom as my guests. NO pushing or running in the caverns, please.”

Vor leaned close to the dwarf and whispered. “I’m confused.”

“I’m not surprised, a human would be slow to understand. Sennranor appears to want all the peoples of the world living together in peace as the best way to defeat the dungeon, but she confused her personal feeling with an intellectual ideal.”

Vor considered the thought. “Sennranor, do you agree?”

Wilstra stepped down and ran to the door as another series of earthquakes sent more boulders and debris into the cavern.

The king was close behind, pulled forward by the warrior elf as the darkness of the dust and falling rocks clouded the vision of his human eyes.

© J. Bateman

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