"The Obsidian Phoenix Chapters 11-15" by Ann Baker

CHAPTER 11

 

 

 

 “Aren’t you going to apologize for yelling at me?”  Jerrik asked as we hiked up the mountain.

“No.”  I was being stubborn.  “Maybe next time we’ll both choose our words more wisely,” I said, almost admitting that I was wrong.

“Maybe,” he grumbled.

I could tell he was angry, but I was fuming too and didn’t really care right now. 

“So, where are we going?” he asked.

“Straight up.  I’ve never been, but I hear there are dwarves in these mountains.”  I looked up and realized we were in for a steep climb.  The mountain reached high into the clouds.

“They must use a different pass.  This one looks like it’s rarely used.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone use it actually,” Jerrik observed. 

“Yes, but I say when you find the biggest mountain in a range, you’ll find a dwarf to challenge it.”

“You’re strange,” he said under his breath.

“I hear that a lot.”

“I’m sure.” 

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Well, you know…white hair, the birthmark, and the soul piercing eyes.”  He sighed.  “You’re beautiful.”

I glanced over my shoulder and looked at him.

“I said that out loud didn’t I?”  He stopped hiking for a second and looked up at me.

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You’re just trying to soften me up.”  It was obvious, but working.

He shrugged and continued hiking.

“Why can’t I be mad at you for long?”  I asked.

“Maybe because I have such a charming personality,” he joked.

“Yes, that must be it,” I spoke the truth.  He was a nurturer and a caring person.

“Let’s stop for a minute and catch our breath.” 

We rested in a small crag and stayed out of view from the dragon, wherever he may be. 

“Have you seen our dark friend lately?”  I asked

“Yes, he’s been circling the base of the mountain.  We should move into Shadow,” Jerrik said.

“I think you’re right.  Give me your hand,” I said reaching out.

We slipped into Shadow and started hiking fast and hard.  A fine mist filled the air and made my blood-drenched tunic sticky and messy. 

“You need a change of clothes.”

“Oh, you noticed, did you?”  I was irritated at our conditions and wasn’t paying enough attention to the location of our stalker.

I heard the beat of his immense wings before I caught sight of him.  He landed behind us on the decline, but still towered over us.

“Jerrik, over here!”  I motioned for him to run and take shelter behind a huge boulder with me.

His bow was ready before he was in place.  We set our arrows and we let them loose upon the dragon.

I started lighting my arrows with black and red flames as I set them.  The dragon was enraged by the unexpected onslaught of burning arrows.  I knew he would be almost impossible to kill, but if we could get him to back off, we could buy some time and proceed up the mountain.

I created a fireball and set it between Jerrik and myself.

“What are you doing?”  He seemed alarmed.

“Use it on your arrows, he doesn’t like it.” 

I created another fireball and hurled it toward the dragon’s eyes.  He roared in pain and swiped at his eyes.  Jerrik put an arrow in the dragon’s throat and the beast moaned in agony.

“He’s backing off!”  Jerrik yelled.

The dragon stumbled and took flight.  He left Shadow and disappeared.

“Let’s go!”  I yelled.

We ran up the mountain and put as much space between him and us as possible.

 

 

We ran until exhaustion overtook us.  We found a cave and settled in for the night.

“I’m tired,” Jerrik said, lying down in the dirt. 

“I’ll set up, get some rest.  You did well today.” 

He closed his eyes but kept talking.  “That was a good idea with the fire.  I didn’t know you could do that.”

“I have a few tricks up my sleeve; I just have to be careful not to catch them on fire.”

He laughed, “That would be a sight, you running around in a flaming tunic.”

“I guess it would be an improvement over the hard blood scabbed tunic I’m currently wearing.”  I pulled the sticky tunic away from my chest.  It was disgusting.

“A definite improvement.”  He was smiling.           

“Yes, since you’d be obligated to take yours off and give it to me.  I’d be forced to watch you walking around without a tunic.”  I was playing with him.  He was comfortable with his body and knew how to show it off.

“You can have it if you want it.”  He sat up and pulled it off.

“Wow, nice.”  He had a wonderfully touchable body.  My tongue spoke before my brain could catch up and I was embarrassed at my immaturity.

“Stay here,” I ordered as I walked back deeper into the cave.  I had been here before and knew there was a small spring that formed a stream and small fall further in.  I walked in the dark not using my fire to light the way; I knew the tunnels by memory.

I found the stream, formed a fireball, and set it aside to use for light.  It was small and would not last long.  I took my tunic off and got to my knees.  I took a deep breath.  The air here was fresh and smelled of wet rocks and dirt.  I cleaned as much of the blood off as I could reach.  The fireball started to sizzle out as I washed my tunic in the stream.

“Need some help?” Jerrik asked. 

“Jerrik, I asked you to stay.”  I turned my back on him.  I couldn’t see him but I knew he could see me with his exceptional eyesight.

“I’m not a puppy; you can’t order me to stay.  Anyway, I don’t always do what I’m told.”

“I noticed.”  I heard him get to his knees.

He spoke softly letting his breath fall upon my shoulder, “I’m no threat to you, I hope you know that.”

“Yes, I know.  I looked into your eyes long enough to see how you feel about me.” 

“Oh?”  He pretended to be surprised. 

He knew what he was doing to me.  My breathing had changed and I was having a hard time finding my words.

“Yes…I see what’s on the surface of your mind first.”

“Hmm…can I help you with your back?  You’re still covered in blood and I can see well in the dark.”

“That’s what I was afraid of.” 
He laughed at me.

I felt the cool water run down my back and his hands move down my spine.  A chill ran through my body.

“Are you cold?” he whispered, still breathing on my neck.

“I don’t get cold.”

 I was struggling with my thoughts and he knew it wouldn’t take much to persuade me.

“So it’s just me that’s making you shiver?”

I knew better than to answer the question.  I remained silent.

He moved his hands gently over the healing wounds on my back.  I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself.

“You’re a fast healer, your scabs are gone.”

“Scabs, how romantic,” I said as he changed the mood.

“Oh, you want romance?” he asked.

“I’m not sure.”  He was very much a man, but his mind was still fragile.  I could feel the loss weighing heavily upon his mind.

“How well can you see in the dark?” he said turning me around.

 I covered my bare chest with my hands.  “Not as well as you can, I can see your eyes a little.”  He was close and breathing on me again.  I wasn’t going to be resisting much longer. 

He moved the hair from my face and put his hand on my neck.  “And what are my eyes telling you?” 

“What did you say I said in my sleep?  Kiss me Jerrik, kiss me hard?”

“I was bluffing.”

“Oh…maybe you should give me something to talk in my sleep about.”  I gave in.  I leaned in and pressed my naked body against his chest.  He wrapped his arms around me and we kissed.

“You can read me so well,” he whispered as he kissed my neck. 

His hands caressed my breasts as I explored his hard body with my hands.

“Crimson, I’ve wanted you for a long time,” he moaned into my neck.

“I know Jerrik; it wasn’t a secret,” I said as we got to our feet.

 He backed me against the wall and kissed me hard.

“Jerrik…,” I whispered between moans.

He realized he had me against the hard stone wall.  “I’m sorry, did I hurt your back.”  He wrapped his arms around me to protect my wounds.

“No, Jerrik, don’t stop, you’re not going to hurt me.”

He put his hand on my thigh and pulled my leg up.  I wrapped it around him and pulled him close.

He was strong and passionate.  We shared ourselves with each other, both needing release and comfort.  We found one moment of peace within each other’s embrace.

I knew Jerrik wasn’t the one for me and he understood.  I was grateful that he allowed me to see it in his eyes and his heart.

The next morning wasn’t awkward or strange.  We both knew how the other felt and moved on for now.  We took our blades and bows and headed out.  The dragon was still gone. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 12

 

 

“We’re days, maybe even a week away from the peaks,” I said

He was shivering. “How much colder will it get?” 

“I’ve never been up that far, but I’m guessing it’s much colder than here.” 

He grumbled a curse as we continued up the frigid mountain.  The terrain became less forgiving the higher we climbed and our progress was slowed by the slowly falling snow.

Eight days passed without incident.  The dragon seemed to have given up, and we were less than a day from the peak.  The cold didn’t bother me but Jerrik was close to freezing.  We found a cavern and I started a fire with a fireball.  Jerrik pulled the bedroll out and wrapped it around himself and I snuggled in to help keep him warm.  I let my body temperature rise, slowly warming him. 

His teeth were chattering. “Thank you.” 

“It’s not much longer to the top, but there’s a storm moving in.  We can stay here till it passes.”

“That could take days.  We’re out of firewood, and we haven’t eaten in two days.”  Jerrik said.

“I can keep you warm, but I’m not letting you munch on me,” I joked.

“I can’t think clearly.  My mind is all jumbled up.”  He laid his head on my chest.

“I realized that a few days ago when you called me Ellowyn.”  I pushed his hair back.  He looked terrible.  It was breaking my heart.  “We’re up high.  People have a hard time breathing up here.  It plays tricks on your mind.”

“You aren’t having any problems, are you?”

“No.”

“Huh.”

“Huh what?” 
“What? Nothing, I don’t remember what I just thought.”  He was confused and I was afraid his mind wouldn’t last much longer.

“Are you warming up?  You’re shivering.”

“I’m feeling better,” he said, but I could tell he lied.

“You should move around, you’ll warm faster.”

“Why don’t you just move around for me, I’ll watch.  That’ll heat me up fast.”  He was making jokes to distract himself from the seriousness of our situation.

“Jerrik, I’m serious.”
“  I can’t move, I can hardly breathe.  Don’t tell me to get up and move around!” 

He pushed me away and wrapped himself back in the bedroll.  He was getting delirious.  The cold and the height of the mountain were taking their toll.  We had to find the entrance to the Dwarven stronghold or we would be trapped up here wrapped around each other.  We would become a frozen statue dedicated to the fury of the Red Mountains.

Frankly, I wasn’t doing well either.  I hadn’t slept in two days.  I knew if I allowed myself to sleep, Jerrik would die.  I was the only thing keeping him from freezing to death. 

Jerrik calmed down.  He lacked the energy to be angry for long.  “Crimson we should go.”

I knew he wouldn’t make it.  “It’s still snowing.”

“You’re getting weak.  You can’t keep the fire going, keep me warm, and still keep strong enough to make it.  You might actually die before I do.”

True, I thought to myself.  I had the same worries but did not want to admit it in front of him.  I could see fear in his eyes.  He didn’t need me adding to it.

I knew there was only one thing to do.

I opened the bedroll and wrapped my arms around him.  “Jerrik, I’ll put a giant fireball into the fire pit.  It’ll last a couple of hours while I’ll scout ahead for the entrance to the stronghold.”

“You don’t know if there is a stronghold, or if they’ll let us in.  You don’t know if the dragon will eat you first.  Just leave me here and save yourself.”  He pushed me away again.

“I’ll be back Jerrik.”  I kissed his cheek and started building the largest fireball I had ever made.  I slowly place it into the pit.  It flowed over the sides and Jerrik moved away. 

I looked back at him as I walked to the entrance.  I didn’t want to leave but he wouldn’t last much longer.  “Hold on Jerrik, I’ll come back for you,” I whispered to myself.

 

I trudged through the snow.  It crunched under my feet and made the rocks slippery.  I approached a large cavern but was concerned by the size of it.  It would not keep a dragon out.  I walked through and found a well-worn path in the dirt floor.  There was a fine pink dust everywhere but no footprints.  It didn’t seem this was a path that was often used.

“I smell your fear, Phoenix.  You’re in a corner now.  The Dark One will peel your flesh from your bones when he’s done with you,” the dragon spoke.

“Damn,” I cursed under my breath.

 I ran deeper into the mountain and came to a dead end.  There were two large iron doors.  Each had a fist emblazoned across it.  I took my sword and hammered on the door with it.

“Open the door!  Please we need help.”  I could smell the dragon’s rancid breath as it rushed through the caverns. 

“Maybe I’ll have a taste before I give you back,” his voice rumbled through the mountain.

Nobody was coming.

Shadow, I thought to myself.  I knew I was taking a chance by rushing through, but these caverns had been here so long I was almost certain that it would be similar on the other side.

The doors disappeared as I stepped into Shadow.  I ran forward and back into the Prime.  Two well-armored dwarves came rushing to me with axes drawn.

“Why are you intruding here?” one of them yelled, his beard flailing with every word.

“You should be running.  A shadow dragon is on my tail.”  I pushed the dwarf aside and ran fast.  I looked over my shoulder and noticed the dwarves lagged behind.  I stopped at the first fork to let them take the lead, I had no idea where I was going.

We approached a very large room and the doors slowly opened .The two dwarves yelled for assistance.

                “Dragon!” they yelled as others started to race into the grand hall.

 The room was so big and the doors so large that the dragon would have no problem fitting through.  I backed up and stood with the dwarves. 

I could not let the innocent suffer because of this dragon.  He was after me.

 I yelled to a nearby dwarf, “There’s an elf in a cavern just below the entrance.  He’s dying, please help him!”

I turned around to face the beast as it burst through the doors and tore them from their hinges.  My sword and hand were aflame.

I’m not ready for this, I thought to myself as I took my stance.

“Come with me and I’ll spare your tiny little friends.”  His breath was rancid.

“I don’t know who you are little lady but we’ll defend our home.  We’ll stand with you,” one of the armored guards stated firmly.

“I’ll die before I let you harm any of these people.”

“It would be my pleasure to see you dead, Crimson, but the Dark One wants you alive.  You can’t imagine the things he has in store for you.”  The dragon leaped forward and burst through the doorway.  Shadow dragons did not have a breath weapon but his others were deadly.  Claws, teeth, and tail were all ready to tear me to shreds.

He swiped at me with his long black claws.  I dodged and fell back.  I entered Shadow as I hit the ground and was back on my feet in a second.  The dragon didn’t dare follow.  He may not fit in Shadow and using the in-between would take too much time.  I was back in the Prime with a fireball in my hand.  I noticed the dragon flinch as he saw the burning mass of flame in my palm.  His wounds still looked fresh from a week ago when Jerrik and I faced him.  I threw the fireball and made contact with the dragon’s eyes.  He was blinded for a second and opened himself to my attack.  I thrust with my sword.  The obsidian blade found a path between the scales on the dragon’s leg. 

He roared in pain, “I’m going to kill you for that.  I don’t care what the Dark One wants you for, you’re mine.”

I threw another fireball at the dragon’s eyes.  He thrashed back and forth flailing his claws and tail wildly.  He knocked me back with his spiked tail and I flew across the room, landing on my sword.  My blade was sharp and tore through my flesh.  I knew it was bad.  I struggled to roll over and get off my sword.

Damn, that hurts, I said to myself. 

The dragon was still thrashing and missed his opportunity to kill me.  The dwarves threw their axes at the beast but none could penetrate the dark hard scale.

I got to my feet and held my insides in.  The wound stretched the entire length of my abdomen and I was losing a lot of blood.  I thought of Jerrik freezing to death, waiting for me to return.  Hating me for dragging him away from home and the unanswered questions we both had. 

I can’t let it all end this way, I said to myself. 

A young dwarf woman approached me and knelt down.  She pulled long strips of bandage out and started binding my wound.  She was fast and I was back on my feet in less than a minute.  There was no time for pain and as long as my heart beat, I would fight.

I looked at the woman who had helped me and pleaded, “Please send someone to the cave just below.  Rescue my companion.”  I held my hand over the wound.  The bandage helped keep my intestines in but the burning would not stop.  I’ve never felt like I was on fire before and didn’t care for the feeling.

Damn,   I said as I stumbled toward the dragon.  He had come back to his senses.

“Oops.  I guess we’ll just have to take you in pieces,” he said, laughing with evil joy.

Thoughts of Alyssanna ran through my mind.  I would live to deal with the evil that took her away from me. 

I can’t die now, I thought.  One last surge of strength filled my eviscerated body.

“Do you have any last words dragon?”  I asked with counterfeit confidence.

“You’re a real arrogant little bitch aren’t you?  You can’t kill me.  I am Skalaar the Dark.  I’ll destroy you and all who stand in my way.” 

The dwarves backed off when they noticed I was about to breathe my last breath.  Facing this dragon would mean my death.

“Skalaar the Dark.  Good, now I know what to write on your gravestone!”  I surged forward with my flaming sword and found the beast’s black heart.  He roared and thrashed, but my sword had found its mark.  I let it burn, hot and deep.  I called to the flame and it answered me.  Skalaar the Dark died at the end of my sword as I fell to my knees.

 I felt many hands on my body pulling me back as the dragon fell.  I saw the woman who had bound my wounds.  She was lovely for a dwarf.  I reached out to her and she held my hand.

 “Please my companion; Jerrik...he’s all I have,” I pleaded.

“We have him,” she said as darkness overtook me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 13

 

 

 

“I thought she’d be dead by now.”

The voice was familiar.  I opened one eye and peeked at the woman who had bandaged my wounds.

A deep voice echoed through the cavern, “No, this one’s special.  It will take a lot more than that to kill her.  Please, leave us, she’s waking.” 

My stomach was on fire and I couldn’t move.  I looked around for the second voice and spoke, “Why are you holding me?”  I sensed his magic.

“Hush child, you’re safe here.  I had to restrain you.  You were thrashing about in your nightmares and kept re-opening your wounds,” the voice said.

“I’m awake now, let me loose!  Don’t use this magic on me.”  The thought of being held down again made me want to vomit.  I felt violated by the unwanted action upon my body.

“Let me go, now!”  I yelled.

I felt the magic dissipate and my control return.  I laid my head back and sighed.  I wouldn’t cry, not now.

I looked around again for the source of the booming voice.

“Who are you?”  I asked the strange man who stood at the foot of the large bed.

He was at least six inches taller than I was and had bright yellow hair, deep red eyes, and golden skin.

“My name is Dannik.”  His voice was like the low rumble of thunder.

“Dannik.”  I repeated his name.  I knew what he was.  He didn’t hide his true form well.

“Yes, and you are Crimson.”  He nodded his head.

“Dannik, are you a good dragon or a bad dragon?”

I had to admit, after killing Skalaar, I was nervous about meeting another dragon.

He smiled.  “Would you be alive if I were evil?”

“Yes actually, I would.  Evil thrives on seeing as much pain inflicted as possible.  An evil person would bring me back from the brink of death just to see me escorted there once again, as painfully as possible.”

He nodded and wrinkled his brow.  “True, true…I see your point.” 

“Come closer Dannik and let me see the truth in your heart.”

“And how do you intend to do that?”

“Your eyes, they speak what you aren’t willing to admit.” 

He stepped up to my side and looked into my eyes but not for long.  He only showed me what he wanted me to see.

I pointed at Dannik weakly.  “You’re one to be watched dragon.  You’ll be a great friend or a terrible foe one day.”

He shook his head in agreement.  “I don’t know you Crimson, so I’ll also have to reserve judgment for a later date.  Until then, get well.  I’m not one for fighting sick little girls.” 

“How sick is she?”  Jerrik asked from the doorway.

“She’s a hothead and a pain in the ass,” Dannik said.

“Jerrik!  You’re safe.”  I couldn’t have lived with myself if he had died.

“It’s alright, I’m fine.  The dwarves and Dannik are fine people.  They’ve taken care of us.”  He walked over, knelt next to the bed, and put his hand on my shoulder; everything else was bruised and lacerated.

“How long have we been here?”  I asked.

“Four days,” said Dannik.

I tried sitting up but Jerrik held me down.

Jerrik removed a wet cloth from my forehead.  “You have to be careful, your wounds aren’t healed.”

“It’s been four days, I should be fine.”  I lifted the sheets and looked at my stomach.

The wound still looked fresh, I didn’t understand.  I looked at the wound with confusion.  “Damn, did I do that?”

“Well, yes and no,” Dannik said.

“Explain yourself dragon.”  If I had my sword, it would have been at his throat.

“Well, you were pretty damaged.  Things weren’t working right so I had to reopen you and…rearrange things.”

I looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

He objected to my glare, “I do have some experience.” 

“I have no doubt you know what insides should look like.  You’ve probably spilled enough of them.”  I was angry that someone had his hands inside of me.  The thought made me sick.

“He’s a friend Crimson,” Jerrik whispered.

“He’s a dragon, and I have little patience for dragons right now.  I’m not ready to trust anyone.”

“You trust me,” he said as he brushed my hair back.

“Only you.”  I touched his hand.  “Are you alright Jerrik, really?”

He lifted my hand and gave it a little kiss.  “I’m great, although a little angry at you for not allowing me to have a hand in killing that evil bastard.”

“It doesn’t bother you that Dannik is a dragon?”  I whispered.

“No Crimson, he’s good.”

I nodded.  I had not seen any evil in his eyes, but I still didn’t trust him yet.

“I’m sorry about the dragon Dannik.”  I apologized just in case he really was good, I didn’t want to offend him.

“Don’t be.  I was no kin to that evil beast.  I could never harm another like he did.  I’ve defended myself in the past child, but I would never…”  He shook his head.

It appeared that Jerrik and Dannik had been getting to know one another.  They seemed to be as ease around each other.

Jerrik leaned closer to me and whispered in my ear, “Crimson, I wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for you.  Thank you.”  He said placing his hand on my heart.  “I owe you my life.  I’ll follow you to the grave to repay my debt.”

He rose and walked away before I had a chance to protest the promise he had made.  He pledged his blood to me when he made the ancient vow.  He had bound his heart to mine.  I never fully understood the blood bonding.  It was a vow that was blessed by the Light and he would always be able to feel my need if I was in danger.  It was not a vow to be taken without serious thought.

“He has deep respect for you,” Dannik said after Jerrik was gone.

I closed my eyes.  “I know.”

“He called you Master Crimson when we brought you in.  You are a bowmaster?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm, and you will be his teacher?”

“I might become his teacher yes, but only by necessity.”

“You are a master with the bow then?”

“Yes for almost seventy years.”

“Impressive!  How old are you?” he exclaimed.

“A hundred and one.”  I held up a finger.

He nodded as if he already knew.  “I see you haven’t mastered this yet?”  He pulled my sword from its scabbard.

“Under different circumstances that comment might be funny,” I said holding my stomach.  “Could you put my blade away please?”  I was fiercely protective of my weapons and didn’t know this man.

“Why did you wait so long to train with the sword?  From what you say, you were a quick learner with the bow.  You could have already mastered your sword if you’d applied yourself.”  He sheathed my blade.

“I didn’t know I would live so long.”

He hesitated for a moment, looking me over with squinted eyes.  “What are you exactly?” 

“You don’t know?  How old are you?”  I asked, hoping for insight into my heritage.

“Almost as old as this mountain and I’ve yet to see your kind,” he said.

“Any ideas?”

“I don’t think you’ve begun to understand your full potential.  You are powerful; I heard how you slew the dragon.  You control the element of fire, you walk in Shadow, and you have a strong will.”

“Are you trying to flatter me into liking you?”

He laughed.  “Is it working?”

“Only a little,” I said to the dragon.

“I noticed the birthmark.  It’s magnificent.  I’ve never seen one before but I’m sure it’s a mark of your non-human heritage.”

“I doubt everyone you know goes around lifting their tunics for you.”

He laughed.  “True, but that’s not your only non-human feature.  Your eyes and your ability with them show your heritage as well and the lack of color in your hair.  You were born with it Jerrik tells me, and then there’s the shadow walking and the fire.  You can do these things without a drop of magic in your bones.”

“That doesn’t mean I’m not human.”  I was disappointed that he couldn’t help me with my questions.

“Yes it does.  By the very nature of your abilities.  You can do these things without employing magical means.  No human can control fire or walk in Shadow without powerful magic.  Naturally that makes you non-human.”

I laid my head back and sighed.  “Thanks for the pep talk.”

“I didn’t mean to upset you.  You may very well be half human but the rest is up for speculation,” he said.

I laid in silence for a few minutes and thought about why I was here and what I was going to do next.

“I don’t like running away from my enemies, not that I’ve had many in my time.  You know they’re after me, Dannik.  I wonder how this is going to end.”

“It doesn’t appear they know you’re here.  Why don’t you stay awhile, I could give you some training with your sword.  It won’t be in the Elven style of course but I have techniques that have been tried and tested for thousands of years.”

“I bet you do.”  I was astonished that a Master of his years and experience would offer to train me and wondered what motivated him.

“Let me see your blade.”  It was a personal question.  One that would leave him exposed and he knew why I asked.  I wished to see how much he trusted me, or how much he wanted me to think he trusted me.

He pulled his sword from nowhere and held it across his left arm.

The blade had a wicked curve and a golden dragon winding around the hilt. 

“Dannik, it’s beautiful, may I?”  I didn’t attempt to take his sword.  If he trusted me, he would offer it.                 

He considered his actions for a moment then reached out and handed me his blade. 

I took it in my hands and felt its weight.  It was perfectly balanced and lighter than it looked.  It was larger than mine was but could be wielded one handed if necessary.  I handed it back to him.

“You have me at a disadvantage, dragon.  You seem to trust me.  Do you think you know me so well?  Or maybe you feel I’m no threat to you?”

“I know neither to be true.”

“Are you going to offer more of an explanation for your actions?”

“Do compassion and mercy require an explanation?”

I laughed at the thought of someone that could be so virtuous and honorable.  “They would if they came from me.  I have neither anymore.”

“The Dark One is your enemy.  If training you gives me a hand in his death I would be honored to be your Teacher.”

I had not considered that Dannik might have lost loved ones to the lich.

“I‘ll consider your offer, Dannik.”

He smiled and nodded.  “Are you comfortable?”

“No, but I am as good as I’m going to get being cut in half.”  I looked around.  “I take it this is your bed?”

It was at least eight feet long and big enough for five people.

“Yes, but you’re welcome to stay here as long as you wish.”

I looked around the large cavern.  There was a small river of lava running at the edge of the cavern, which kept the room hot.  The lava flowed into a second cavern and disappeared.

“What’s in there?”  I pointed at the far wall.

“My forge and armory.”

“Oh I see, you’re a sword master, healer, an armorer and a blacksmith?”  I was being sarcastic.

“No, sword master, physician, master armorer, master smith, among others.”
“  You forgot mage.”

“Well, yes.”

“Have you mastered all your skills, or do you currently train?”  I asked.

“No, I have no skills I haven’t mastered.  It has been a long time since I have endeavored to learn something new.  I was considering taking up a new skill though.”  He picked up my bow and inspected it.

“You’ll be training Jerrik, will you not?”

“It seems the bow master he was training under will no longer be able to fulfill his duties,” I said without feeling.

“I’m sorry.”  He reached out and touched my hand. 

I pulled my hand away and put my arm over my eyes.  “I’m going back to the forest when I’m healed enough to travel.  I will decide then.  May I be alone Dannik?”  My words were kind but my tone was not.

This was the first time since my family died that we were not being chased.  I had no time to dwell on my loss and I was not going to break down now. 

“Get better and I’ll take you there myself.  It doesn’t take any time as the dragon flies.”

“You’ve got a deal Dannik.”  I would have rolled over but I couldn’t move without ripping my wound open.

“I’ll be back later.”  He put a bowl of fruit next to the bed.  “Eat something if you can.  You need to get your insides working again.”  He walked out and left me to my grief.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 14

 

 

 

I was healed within four days but Dannik made us wait another four before traveling.  He said the inside took longer to heal.  I was inclined to believe him since he was the only person ever to see mine.  The dwarves were hospitable and loving but it was time to leave.

“Jerrik and I are ready to go,” I said to Dannik.

He handed Jerrik an armful of furs.  We left through the entrance where I came in and Jerrik was reminded of the reason we were here.  A cold wind blew and an icy chill filled the air.  Snow covered the peaks and his furs barely cut the chill.

Dannik took a running leap and jumped off the edge of the cliff taking his true form as he fell.

“He’s beautiful Jerrik.  I’ve never seen a golden dragon before.”

Jerrik laughed.  “I agree, he’s the most beautiful dragon I’ve ever seen, but the only other one I’ve seen was trying to kill us.  I didn’t stop to gaze upon his beauty,” he said.

Dannik landed on a nearby rock.  We covered our faces to block the frigid gust of wind.

“It’s going to be cold,” I said to Jerrik as I adjusted the furs around his neck and head.  I think he could tell I was stalling.  I didn’t want to go back and see my dead family.

He hugged me.  “We’ll get through this.”

I nodded and looked at Dannik.  If a dragon could make a sympathetic face, I would say that was what I saw. 

“We’re ready,” I said.

He lifted off and grabbed us in his great talons.  We were in flight a second later.  He spiraled down the mountainside as we slowly became used to the new heights.

It was much warmer at the bottom but Jerrik had become chilled.  The cold had seeped into his bones.  He rubbed his furs and shivered.

“Come here.”  I opened his furs and put my body against his warming him with my own.  A few minutes later, he stopped shivering and had a big smile on his face.

Dannik approached us.  “That’s an interesting ability you have.”

Jerrik grinned.  “I agree.  I should be fortunate to be frozen half to death more often.”  Jerrik snuggled in closer.

“Take your furs off and leave them here.  We can pick them up if we return,” I said.

Jerrik looked at me.  “What are we going to do if---

I put my hand up and cut him off.  “Jerrik I don’t want to think about it right now.  Let’s just go and see what we find.”

He stripped down to tunic and breeches, bow, and dagger. 

“I can take you to the edge of the forest, but if it sings I can’t enter,” Dannik said.

“It doesn’t.  The forest has been silenced for now,” I said.

“You can hear it from here?”  Jerrik asked.

“I could if it sang.” 

 Jerrik looked confused.

I tried to explain.  “After the White Forest accepted me, I could never travel far enough to not hear its music.  If I listened, it could find me.”  Until now, I had thought everyone in the forest could feel the music as I did.

“The elves don’t have that ability,” Jerrik said.

Now that I thought about it, nobody even noticed that the forest was getting quiet before I mentioned it.  I was shocked that I was more in tune with the forest than the elves were.

“Huh, I always thought everyone heard it the way I did.  It never dawned on me to question anyone about what it should sound like.”

“Well, it’s soft and subtle.  It’s so delicate that after awhile you don’t notice it unless someone points it out to you.”  He was smiling at the thought of hearing it again.

I shook my head.  “Jerrik, it’s not singing.  When I hear it, it’s loud, but I don’t just hear it with my ears.  It pulls me in as if my heart were attached to it by imaginary strings.  My mind buzzes with its opus.”

They stared at me, confirming the feeling I had inside about being a freak.

I rolled my eyes.  “Let’s go.” 

Dannik took us to the edge of the forest and found a clearing to land in.
“I must walk from here.”  He took human form.

There were charred and singed trees but the forest was still intact.  It was healing itself but it would take time.

“You were right, it’s not singing,” Dannik said.

“It will, in time.  It’s been injured and the pain of its people has wounded it deeply.”  I laid my hands on the ancient trees as we walked. 

 

We followed a small path to the outskirts of the village.  Jerrik’s home was a picturesque cottage off the main trail.  His parents were nowhere to be seen.  I feared the worst.

“Do you want me to look Jerrik?  You don’t have to go.  I knew your parents.”

He shook his head.  “You never told me you knew them.”

“We can talk about it later.” 

He nodded and walked toward the cottage.

“Dannik, maybe you should stay here,” I said.

“I think you’re right child.  Go to him, he’ll need you.”  He lowered his head.

A low fog covered the footpath to his home.  The mist swirled around him as he slowly walked up to the door.  My heart beat faster as he put his hand on the door.  The cottage had been gutted.  Once fine Elven furniture littered the garden in front of his home.  Traces of ash lined the windowpanes.  This was not going to go well.

Jerrik slowly opened the door and fell to his knees.

He was not prepared for the scene that unfolded in front of him.  I quickly went to him and got him to his feet.  I shut the door to block the stench coming from the cottage. 

“Don’t look anymore, Jerrik.  Let’s go.”  I turned him away and led him down the path. 

He didn’t speak.  I saw what had caused his pain.  Their bodies had been dismembered.  They had been eviscerated and partially eaten.  The ghouls had been here.

“I’m sorry, Jerrik, so sorry,” I said.  “We need to keep moving.  We’ll come back for them when we’re leaving.  We’ll give them a proper burial.” 

He nodded and followed me without speaking.

Dannik looked at me and I shook my head.  He nodded and followed as we led the way.

Bodies littered the forest, none of them intact.  If there were survivors of this massacre, they were gone.  I knew if they had not returned to care for the dead, they were not coming back.  The White Forest had been abandoned. 

We approached the small clearing where Alyssanna was tortured and killed.  Her body still lay on the table where she had been defiled.  I froze on the path.  My legs would not carry me any further.  My inability to protect my sister weighed heavily on my conscience. 

Jerrik wrapped his arm around me and put his hand over my eyes as he led me into the house.  I held onto him like a child.  I could not look at her.

We stood it the kitchen.  Jerrik didn’t try to push me away in my grief.  We needed one another; we didn’t cry but shared our sorrow.

Finally able to let go, I pulled some fresh linens from the cupboard and handed them to Dannik.

“Dannik, could you…” he took the linens and put up his hand.

I didn’t need to finish speaking; he took the sheets and went outside. 

I stayed in the kitchen with Jerrik and had tea prepared when Dannik returned.  We sat around the table wondering what to say to one another.  Dannik fiddled with his teacup and Jerrik gripped the arm of his chair in pain, sorrow, and anger.

“It’s been three weeks.  Where is everyone?  Why have the dead not been cared for?”  Jerrik was angry at the lack of respect for the dead.

“Perhaps they’re all gone, dead,” Dannik said

“There were close to three thousand elves here.  I only saw a sprinkling of dead.”  Sprinkling did not sound like the right word.  It almost made the atrocity seem natural.

“You say the Dark One is a lich, a necromancer?”  Dannik continued playing with his teacup.  He was as uncomfortable with this conversation as we were.

“I don’t want to hear this, Dannik.”  Jerrik stood and walked out of the room.

“Crimson, we have to face the fact that they may all be the walking dead now.”

“I hope you’re wrong.”

“Me too Crimson.”  He looked down at his cup.

“I laid your sister in the clearing.”

I nodded. 

I went to Alyssanna’s room and sat on her bed.  There was a small box sitting on her nightstand.  I picked it up and noticed my name on it.  There was an engraving on the bottom.

My best friend, my sister, I read it aloud.

It was tradition for the bride to present a gift to the first maiden.  I knew this would have been her gift to me.

I opened the box.  The ring inside was beautiful.  It was mithril with an obsidian stone in the center.  The stone had a phoenix carved into it in minute detail.  I took the ring from the box and looked closer.  When I touched it, it started to glow faintly. 

A third piece?  I whispered to myself.

I put it on.  I knew what it could do the second it touched my finger.  I took the obsidian bow from my back and pulled the string taut.  I channeled my fire through the ring.  In the place of a regular arrow, one of fire formed.  Hard as mithril, and pure fire.

“That’s impressive.  I have never seen such exquisite use of natural ability.  Who made the ring?”  Dannik asked as he looked at the ring on my finger.

I slowly released the string and held the arrow in my hand.  I let it dissipate and looked at the ring.

“It was to be a gift to me.  My sister was to be wed upon my return from my last mission.  I suspect it’s also one of the four pieces that would be used in the Dark One’s undoing.”

 “I don’t understand.”

“I’ll explain on the way back to the Red Mountains.”  I had made up my mind as soon as we found out Jerrik’s parents were dead.

“So you’ll be coming back with me then?”
“  Yes, and if Jerrik wants to train with me, he’ll be coming also.”

“I’ll come with you Crimson, anywhere you go, I’ll follow,” Jerrik said stepping from behind Dannik. 

“Thank you Jerrik.”  His loyalty was heartwarming.  I knew he would be there for me whenever I needed him. 

“I’ll be back shortly.  I have something I need to do.”  I wanted to see the house next door where my father had been taken.

“When I return, we’ll gather the remains and burn them.”

“You burn your dead?”  Dannik asked.

“Sometimes.  It is a matter of choice.  This is a matter of necessity though.  We cannot have the bodies defiled any further and we have time constraints.  We can stay here tonight, but we must leave soon.  The forest is waking and you can’t be here Dannik.”

“I agree whole heartedly on that matter,” he said.

 “I’ll meet you out front when I’m done.”

I walked to the house where my father had been taken.  I didn’t think he would be here but I had to check.  The woman and her mages had teleported him who knows where.  Without a body, I would have no closure.  I sat in the place where he last knelt. 

“Father, I’m sorry I couldn’t save Alyssanna… or you.  This is my fault.”  I put my hands to my face but held in the tears. 

There were a few drops of old blood where my father had been bleeding.  I reached out and laid my hand on the wooden floor.  My hand burned and I left my print on the hardwood.  Marking the place where my father was taken.  I would have the Dark One and his bitch or die trying.  I stood with new resolve and walked out into the clearing.

Dannik and Jerrik had already started piling bodies into small piles.  Alyssanna’s body lay by itself wrapped in sheets.  I knelt next to her and touched the sheet.  Dannik and Jerrik stopped and stood respectfully behind me.

Words were not necessary.  This body was an empty shell and we would see each other again some day in a better world.  I let my black and red flames touch the sheet.  The fire was hot and there would be no remains.

I stood.  “Let’s finish this unpleasant task and get some rest,” I said.

 

 

We spent the rest of the day collecting the bodies.  Dannik used a spell to detect the dead and we recovered a hundred and twenty seven bodies.  I shuddered to think where the rest were.  I walked the forest putting the bodies to flame.  We had put them in small bunches so we would not burn down the forest. 

We had a private funeral for Jerrik’s parents.  We buried their remains, there was no chance they would return from the dead, and Jerrik preferred a burial to a funeral pyre.

We returned to my family home to rest. 

“Dannik, I’m adding master baker to your list,” I said as we ate his sweet bread.  There was not much else in the house to make.

“What now?”  Jerrik said.  I was worried about him.  He was doing better but the hurt was deep. 

“Dannik, there’s a guest room through that door.  You can stay there for the night.  There’s a tub down the hall from your room.  If you fill it, I’ll heat it for you.” 

“Thank you.”

“Jerrik, you can share my room if you wish.”  I couldn’t put them in my father’s or Alyssanna’s room.  It didn’t seem right.

“I’m going to take a bath,” Jerrik said walking toward my room.

I waited awhile and went to the spare bathroom. 

“How hot do you want it Dannik?”

“How hot can you make it?”

“Are you serious?”  I asked with my brow raised.

“Just make it hot, real hot.”

“You got it.”  I said putting my hands into the water.  “Thank you for your help today Dannik.  This wasn’t your responsibility and it was an unpleasant task.”

“I feel the need to get you to trust me Crimson.  I don’t want there to be any doubt between us.  You’ll be my Master soon and I yours.”

“I’m beginning to see your heart Dannik, but I don’t trust easily.  Not now anyway.”

“I can wait.  I’ll earn your trust and we’ll become good friends.”  He started to undress.

“I hope so Dannik.”  I left quickly, not wanting to see a naked dragon-man.

Jerrik was sitting in the cold water when I got back to my room.  I pulled the soaps from a shelf and set them on the table next to the tub.

“Are you going to heat this up?” he asked.

I went to the foot of the tub and put my hands in.  He laid back and closed his eyes. 

“That feels so good.  Have I ever told you that you make me feel warm inside?”

“Funny.”

“I thought so.”

I walked around and undid his hair and he dunked his head. 

I soaped up his hair and massaged his scalp and neck. 

“You can wash off now.”  I stuck my hands in the water to wash the soap off and he grabbed them.  “There’s room for two in here.” 

“Yes, I know, it’s my tub.”

“Come in,” he said.

I paused to think about it.

“Crimson, I’m not in love with you.”  He pulled me over and let me look into his eyes.

“I know you’re not.”  I don’t know why but the words hurt a little.

“Tomorrow I’ll become your student.”

I shook my head “Yes.”

“Tonight be my lover, we’ll comfort one another.”

I was already undressing and entering the tub when he said the words.

We washed each other, ridding ourselves of the taint from the day’s task.

“Crimson, I have nobody now.”  He put his arms around me and pulled me close.  He knew the words were untrue as he spoke.

“You have me Jerrik; there will always be room in my heart for you.  You’re my friend.”

He looked into my eyes.  The sorrow contained in them was unbearable compounded by my own.  I closed my eyes.

“I show you my eyes and you look away?”  He sounded hurt.

“I see my own sorrow in your eyes, I can’t bear it.”  I put my head on his chest.

 “Let’s push the sorrow away for now; we’ll have the rest of our lives to grieve.”

He lifted me from the water and carried me to my bed.  I had never had a man in my bed.  Before Jerrik, I had never considered bringing anyone home.  I fell into his arms and we drown our sorrow in each other’s embrace. 

 

 

Dawn came too soon and with it reality.

“Jerrik---” He put his hand up and hushed me.

“We’re going to be alright,” he whispered.

“I know Jerrik.”  I brushed the hair from his eyes and kissed him, we knew it would be our last as lovers.  We both knew it was time to move on.

Dannik prepared breakfast while we got ready to go.

“I didn’t think you two would ever get up.”  I sat across from Jerrik and poured some tea.

“Did you sleep well?”  I asked the dragon.

“I rested, meditated some, sleep eluded me.  I would ask how you two slept, but you’re the reason that sleep eluded me.”

“I would say sorry Dannik, but I’m not,” Jerrik said.  The deep sadness was still evident in both of us and Dannik let the rude comment pass.

“Master Dannik, we should be leaving, the forest is waking.”

“Is that why my head hurts so badly?”  He rubbed the back of his head.

“Probably.”

  I need to stop by my home to pick up some things,” Jerrik said without emotion.

 

We grabbed most of Jerrik’s belongings and were out of the forest by sundown.

“Should we set camp here or go up the mountain now?”  I asked Dannik.

“I can see fine and it won’t take long to get there.  Let’s grab Jerrik’s furs and get home.”

I flinched at the word ‘home’.  That word meant a lot to me, and I was leaving mine behind today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 15

 

 

 

We were back at the Redfist Stronghold within a few hours.  I took time to warm Jerrik before we walked down to be greeted by our new family.

“I took the liberty of having rooms prepared for both of you.  Maybe I should have just prepared one.”

“No, Dannik that wont be necessary,” Jerrik said.  “Crimson and I aren’t…um…”

“Two rooms are fine Dannik,” I cut short an unnecessary explanation.

“Just go past the grand hall.  They are the last two rooms before you head downward to the training rooms.” 

“Perfect, thank you.”  I walked away from the uncomfortable situation.

My room was large and inviting.  The floor was laid with red and white marble but the walls were plain unfinished stone.  A carver’s tools lay on a table with a note attached.

  “Make it your own.  Let the stones sing,” I read aloud. 

I have never heard a stone sing.  It sounded ridiculous, but I would have said the same thing about the forest had I not lived there.

I heard a knock at the door and Dannik entered.

“You seemed a little uncomfortable back there.” 

“We aren’t lovers Dannik.  Not anymore anyway.”

“I’m sorry.  You aren’t fighting are you?”

“No, he’s not my soul partner.  We gave each other temporary comfort during a hard time.  I care for Jerrik and he feels the same for me, but I’m not for him and he knows it.”

“Normally I wouldn’t recommend jumping into bed with a friend.”

“We didn’t jump Dannik…we fell…hard.”  I sat down.  “I need to be alone Dannik, I don’t feel like talking.”

He walked out without saying anything else.  I was not very appreciative of his wisdom at the moment.

I lay down on the generously stuffed mattress and closed my eyes.  The nightmares over the past few weeks were unbearable and this night was no different.  If I never slept again, I would be too soon, but my body objected to my attempt to remain awake.  The nightmares took over my world and my thirst for vengeance was renewed.

 

 

                I went to Dannik the next day with my sword in hand and a fire in my eyes.

Jerrik sat on the corner bench with a faraway look.  The nightmares had found him too.  He stood and bowed as I entered the room.  “Master Crimson,” he said quietly.

“Jerrik,” I said.

Dannik entered the room and we bowed with respect.  “Master Dannik,” I said.  He did the same to me.

“Master Crimson, Jerrik, before we begin, I have a gift for each of you.”  He walked over to a table in the middle of the room and removed the covering.  He picked up a bow and handed it to Jerrik.

“This is beautiful.”

I watched him caress it with his hands and realized how much I would miss the warmth they provided.  I sighed aloud and they looked at me.

“What?”  Jerrik asked.

“Nothing, I’m just tired,” I lied. 

The bow was white and was carved with images of the White Forest and inlaid with mithril.  Within the mithril were runes so small I almost couldn’t read them.

“You’ll do extra damage with that bow,” I said

Dannik picked up a scabbard that lay on the table and handed it to Jerrik. 

“I noticed you carry one of these too,” Dannik said. 

Jerrik took the dagger and traced its carvings with his fingers.

“Amazing, I don’t know what to say.”

“Words are overrated child,” he said

“Crimson, please accept this gift with our love and gratitude.  You almost lost your life in defense of yourself and this stronghold.”  He pulled back another sheet and revealed the blackest armor I had ever seen.  I was afraid to touch it.

“What is all this?”  I asked.

“Some good will come from the evil you destroyed.  Jerrik holds its bones; you will wear its hide.  You will both use these gifts to fight great evil in this world.  A great irony I think.”

I picked up the armor and inspected it.  It was beautifully designed.  The chest piece was soft and supple.  No mobility would be lost with this armor.  It was lined with what looked like a silvery silk.

“What is this?”  I knew it was not silk.  You could not line armor with non-durable materials they would be destroyed in a matter of days.

“Our secret?”

I nodded

“That is the finest weave of mithril you’ll ever find in this world.  You will never find the runes woven into the materials, there will never be an equal to this armor.

“What runes?”  I couldn’t find any.

“They’re woven in with a song.  It’s hard to explain, but when the material is woven, the smith must enchant the weave through an enchanted song.  The runes are impressed upon the material and will sing only for the one named in the song.  This armor bears your name.  It can repair itself at a similar rate to your healing abilities.  Sure, if you decide to fall on your sword again it will still probably penetrate the leather.  That sword of yours is nasty.  The armor itself is very strong though.”

I slipped the armor on.  It fit like a second skin.  There were mithril shoulder buckles and four up each side for easy removal.  Each buckle was adorned with flames.  I slipped on the other pieces, grieves and archer’s bracers.” 

“One more thing, hold up your sword,” he said

I pulled my sword.

“Now, let it flame.”

I let fire consume the blade.

“No, really let it go Crimson.”

The flame consumed my hand.

“More.” 

I let it go up my arm.  The bracers were not affected.  I held up my left hand and let it flame.  I quenched the flame and put on the matching sword belt and boots.

“It’ll also offer some protection to your under tunic if you choose to wear one, and your breeches.”

“Dannik, you’re amazing, this is wonderful.”  I was stretching and moving around the room.  “I almost feel like I was born with it on.” 

Jerrik didn’t take his eyes off me.  “Well, if you move like that on the battlefield, the enemy will be so distracted I should be able to take them out.”  He held up his bow.

“Jerrik,” I almost yelled.

“Sorry, but that is sexy…very sexy.”  He pointed at my new armor.

“It has to fit close to be effective,” Dannik said.

“Let’s try to focus on the task at hand.  We’re here for a reason.”

“Yes, I will train you with the sword every day for the first six hours and then you will train Jerrik and me with the bow for the next six.  I know it’s a demanding schedule, but you’ll get used to it here under the mountain.”