Dragon Wolf Hero
Chapter 4
The large doors closed and the ruins of the central hall were revealed in the flickering dim light of a glowing crystals. The light blue crystals were embedded into the stone walls in a line about knee high. The far end of the reception hall was dark, with another door opening into a long hallway.
Wilstra climbed the steps to large platform, a small figure framed by towering columns with ancient writing. “The door to a kingdom is open. I returned to claim these mountains for the dwarf kingdom and prepare a welcome. The humans of the lost kingdom above can use the safe passages under the mountains to journey south and return to the surface world.”
Vor stepped forward as the group of those rescued during the earthquake stood silent. He knelt on the damp floor and said, “I humbly accept your offer on behalf of the people of my kingdom.”
Eohnin stepped forward. “I will stay in the northlands to chronicle the story of the lost dwarf kingdom. Sennranor?”
The ground shook and the reception hall began to crumble.
Wilstra quickly reactivated the protective blue sphere and shouted for those gathered in the room to move deeper into the mountains. She found Eohnin and said, “The return of the dragons is causing these earthquakes. I am the hero chosen by the dragons to restore the balance of magic.”
Sennranor joined the conversation. “It was my understanding the dragons went extinct around 70 years ago, and for this reason the dwarves traveled into the deepest depths of the earth while in mourning.”
Eohnin motioned for his companion to quiet her voice. “The humans cannot learn the truth. The earthquakes are caused by the loss of the magic circle, the power imbalance is breaking the world. The young woman named Yyin, a human with the wolf form is on a journey to find the magic circles and save the world. The humans are a fun group of people.”
The rumbling and crashes of the collapsing reception hall were loud, but there were secrets to keep so they lowered their voices and continued the conversation.
Vor walked behind the dwarf, then lost his balance. The dragon form roared back and he transformed in a flash of light.
Wilstra shouted, “How can this be? I reversed the magic.”
Eohnin stood and watched with interest while Sennranor pulled a sword and prepared to fight the monster standing too close for comfort.
Vor slammed into the side of collapsed building, changing into his dragon form. The wings stretched out and he soared into the open space under a high domed ceiling. He appeared to struggle with his balance in the air, then his body returned to the human form and he dropped onto the platform near Wilstra. He leaned against the stone to catch his balance. “Time reversal.”
Eohnin looked surprised. “Ah, the feel of the magic in these tunnels would suggest a time reversal. The old dungeon in these mountain was tamed by the dwarves, but the past is returning. It’s been a long time since I fought a horde of underground beasts.”
Wilstra shouted a war cry, a frightening sound that echoed in the halls. “The dragons will return!” She opened a secret passage in the hallway, a place where there was no sign of an opening and vanished.
Sennranor grabbed Vor and pulled him to the last place Wilstra was visible in the dim light and vanished.
Eohnin found himself in charge of humans, a group with a historic distrust of the elves. “Ah, it seems the leaders are on an important mission. I will guide you to the southlands in no time. I have a good sense of direction.”
The humans did not look convinced, but they had no other choice.
The man who approached Eohnin appeared to be a merchant, based on the richness of this clothing the rings of the merchant guild on his hand. He said, “What happened to our king?”
Eohnin smiled. “Vor was keeping a secret he did not wish to share with the people of your kingdom. He can transform in a dragon form, but since humans rarely have any magical ability the transformation is not complete. If the king had magical ability the transformation would destroy him. By the way, I like the rings. I see one from the island empire of Illam.”
The merchant quickly pushed the hand into a pocket and stepped back into the nervous group of around twenty humans.
The rumors spreading among the group concerned the rise of monsters in a dungeon forming, walls moving, and the lost kingdom of the dwarves becoming unrecognizable in the process.
Eohnin stepped to the front of the group and led them south with the look of a parent on a field trip. “I need volunteers to guide to run ahead and clear fallen rocks and debris from the tunnel path. The strongest in front, please.”
The castle staff moved to the front, while the merchants and residents of the castle followed in the back, while a small group of women stepped to one side and watched.
The group of twelve human women dressed in the same castle serving staff uniform approached the elf with caution. The shortest woman, a young slender strong willed kitchen assistant was chosen to speak for the group. “Honored Eohnin. I am Cindaln. Do you see our true forms?”
Eohnin paused and considered his response. “I see a natural born leader.”
Cindaln walked with Eohnin as the group resumed their journey to the surface. “And my true form?”
Eohnin smiled. “Dwarves, in human form. I noticed the moment I arrived in the northern kingdom. The trusted advisors are human, but nearly all others are dwarves who entered the magic circle on the way to the surface. The kingdom of the dwarves was not hiding under the mountains.”
Cindaln was impressed. “The human named Vor discovered our true forms after we chose him to be our king. The leaders of our nation are still missing in the deepest depths of the core, searching for the last dragons, and we cannot return to the kingdom under the mountains because of the dungeon decay.”
Eohnin looked around at the group. “The people of the castle should be leading me out of the tunnels, the place is their home, not mine.”
Cindaln lowered her voice. “The transformation of dwarves causes a loss of memory, of the true form. I see you understand, Vor is protecting the secret of the dwarves while he searches for a way to undo the magic.”
© J. Bateman
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