Dragon Wolf Hero
Chapter 5
The light from the crystals in a wide cavern with a steep ramp leading down into a pit were flickering at different speeds, causing a strobe effect.
Sennranor stood between Wilstra and the king as his dragon form returned. The elf realized how dangerous the mines were to a human and was relieved to see the king attempting to regain control of the transformation. The skill would be valuable if the monsters of the dungeon overwhelmed the small group.
Vor shouted in frustration as he struggled to control the transformation. His roar filled the cavern with the echoes of a creature long thought gone from the world, and the dungeon began to respond, welcoming a new king of the dragons.
Sennranor held his human form and shouted. “Cover your eyes until we enter the dark pit. The lights will return to a steady glow in a short time. The mines of the dwarves were abandoned for so long the maintenance was neglected.”
Wilstra frowned. “Not by choice elf warrior.”
The shadows in the deep began to move and the rush of wind pushed the group against a wall at the top of the steep ramp.
Wilstra dared to look into the mines and frowned. “The true dragons are returning. The human will need to control the transformations or he will be forced to join a pod and nest in the dungeon forming under the mines.”
Vor could sense Wilstra guiding him down the ramp and hear the elf close behind chatting with the dwarf in a language he did not understand.
Sennranor cautioned him with sharp words. “The original location of the magic circle is near. If we get too close the power of the circle will generate a transformation loop and you might never recover. I have seen these symptoms in the past.”
“The bottom of a long spiral ramp?” said Vor as he sense the steep angle of the floor, one hand on the wall to steady himself.
Wilstra looked into the darkness of the pit below. “The magic circle was at the bottom of the well and the light filled the room. I moved the circle when the transformation magic was reversed. I need to understand why the dragon transformation returned.”
Sennarnor considered the question. “The wolves leading the caravan across the bridge, two of them? Grald and another, I believe.”
Wilstra nodded. “The magic circle was shifted to the courtyard to surround the king and his trusted advisors. I did not consider that some of the advisors would step out of the circle.”
Vor lost his footing and slipped too close to the edge of the spiral ramp, opened his eyes in shock, and watched the ground crumble under his feet.
The hands reaching out to catch him were those of the elf.
The dwarf appeared to be laughing.
The king fell into the dark pit and waited for the ground to catch him, but the transformation began almost as suddenly as his body floated free in the center of the well. The dragon form soared above the well and the blue flame of his breath torched the walls, causing the flickering crystals to glow bright.
Wilstra shouted above the noise. “The dragons breath restored the power of the light crystals. Amazing!”
Sennranor backed up and leaped off the edge of the sloped ramp, landing on the back of the dragon. She guided the dragon to the bottom of the well in a long spiral descent then waited for the transformation to restore the human form. She was aware of the calming effect of staying close to the king.
The dragon wanted to escape the well and find a safe nesting cavern, but there was no large opening into the deeper mines. But it was clear, the human form was needed to climb deeper into the mountain. He returned to human form and his companions were visibly relieved. “Wow, have you every seen a cavern with such beauty?
Sennranor leaned close and smiled. “Are you referring to me?” She posed for the king, standing like the statue of a hero with sword and shield raised high.
Vor ignored the comment. “The last time I was here, the darkness of the well was almost too much for our small party of human adventurers. It was the magic circle that pulled us down like a chain, refusing to let go.”
Wilstra was standing on the ramp, steps away from the bottom with arms folded. “I can leave you two alone and return to the surface.”
Sennranor laughed. “No need. The human was simply awestruck by the warrior elf guiding him through a dangerous dungeon.”
Vor said, “What dungeon? I see the mine, but not a hint of decay, sight, sound, smell or otherwise from the rumored dungeon.”
Wilstra said, “The water from the glacial runoff is long gone, blocked by the collapse of the mine in this section and reaching the bottom of the well is a simple task. The opening in the rocks behind you is where the true danger hides. The iron gate without a sign of rust under a column of water, and no lock. I dare you to step inside the room. “
Vor stepped close to the iron gate and looked inside the dark tunnel. “Ree-Ninn was the first to discover the magic circle. Her sister Yyin was small enough to push through the small space between the bars and the wall, and she reported the room to be empty. It was out guess that a collapsed wall blocked the source of glacier waters that used to fill the well. Grald tried to keep us out of the caverns, but he stayed at my side as a trusted advisor. The room looks like it was recently carved from the stone.”
Wilstra motioned for Sennranor to lend a hand with opening the gate. “The room is no longer the connected to the mountain valley. The advance of the dungeon decay collapsed the walls. In my estimation, the decay will reach the surface before spring, and all the human settlements in the mountains will be destroyed.”
Vor turned to the others and said, “The magic circle was under a column of water to keep the magic from activating in the presence of any living creature. I will enter the room behind the gate.”
Wilstra laughed at the Sennranor’s effort to open the iron gate. She raised both hands then spoke a confident command and the gate opened. “The room is the entrance to the dungeon, but the monsters are not welcoming visitors? Ha! The daughter of the dwarf king commands the door to open.”
The creak of the iron hinges sound like the wailing of a spirit and the gate opened.
Wilstra pointed to the darkness beyond the gate. “One. The dwarves tunneled to the valley floor and diverted a mountain stream into the well. Two. The well in this room is one of hundreds in the northern lands.”
Vor said, “Do you miss the continental competition at the Illam games? The elves, dwarves, humans and other creatures all competing for pile of gold.”
Wilstra ignored the king. “Three, Eohnin is alone with a group of humans. I doubt a single one will survive.”
Sennranor pulled Vor to one side and whispered in his ear. “I challenge you Vor, to a fair game of Temmills.”
Vor laughed. “I haven’t played Temmills in years! It appears to be similar to a game called tennis in my world. Ree-Nin and her sister Yyin were famous in their homeland for winning every match. I challenged the sisters and won so they left the game and followed me north.”
Sennranor took Vor’s hand and pulled him back from the gate. “Grald was provided the words he can use to win his true love Ree-Nin away from you. I cleared the path for me.”
Vor pulled his hand free and turned to the gate. “The elves should not become too interested in the human world.” He touched the gate and his arm and hand turned into the dragon form, the gate opened and he walked into the darkness. “The Dragons Den.”
Sennranor could hear the whispered words, but the others were lost in their own thoughts. She feared the power the dungeon, but the moment Vor stepped into the darkness her fears were calmed. “The human king of the north is here for a reason, to break the crystal core giving the monsters life, and Wilstra is guiding her pawn without hesitation.”
© J. Bateman
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