Vegenrage: Dragon Reclaim (14 page)

“I did not know this, Glimtron. I am surprised you never told me this before.”

“Well, this is our first Dragon Feast together, and hopefully, this will be the last one.”

“I hope so, my old friend. I hope so. One thing is for sure. The dragons will not go quietly.”

“No, I am afraid they won’t, but neither shall we. I am going to rest and ready Glimtronian for his first taste of dragon come the morning. You should rest too, Logantrance.” Glimtron heads over to the rest of the dwarves and sits with them. They keep their spirits in good shape by telling jokes and talking about funny stories they remember. The elves are all around as well, talking on this nice night that they all know is the calm before the storm. Logantrance sits to rest, thinking about his home and what the dragons may or may not have discovered there. He hopes Vegenrage makes his appearance soon, and he quickly falls asleep.

CHAPTER 12
Gwithen Calls to Vegenrage

Mournbow has returned to the people in Valvernva with Inglelapse, his men, and a whole lot of Graybazells. Vegenrage and Farrah have warned the people that a dominant dragon has died, and they have all taken shelter in the woods. The sun has set, and this is good for the people who think it is better to travel under the cover of darkness. Vegenrage does not agree with this, but nonetheless, it does not matter when they travel by day or night. They are going to be out in the open. Mournbow has returned with over two hundred Graybazells, and the people load them up with provisions and weapons. Then they begin the march to Elbutan. Vegenrage talks with Mournbow and Farrah, and they told Inglelapse that a dominant dragon has been killed, and they had all better watch the skies.

It is a warm clear night, and the moon is shining bright. Vegenrage has realized that the dragon that was killed was not on the Planet Kronton but actually on Fargloin, and this is good because hopefully, the dragons will be drawn to Fargloin, away from the traveling party of humans on Kronton, but this is no guarantee. The party is traveling toward the Strait of Hercon and one of many different crossings they can use. The crossings have skiffs that are held in place by a rope, and as many as twenty can load onto the skiffs at a time and pull across the Strait using the rope connected at both sides of the Strait. They travel quietly, and the people are uneasy for good reason. They are leaving their home, and most of them have never been to Elbutan, and of course, the fear of the dark and unknown is inescapable. The night is quiet and, so far, nothing out of the ordinary. Vegenrage is starting to sense and feel a great ga
thering of magical power. He knows it is not on Kronton. It is on Fargloin, and he walks quietly, concentrating, trying to figure out what is going on. Many of the people approach Vegenrage and ask him if the book says what will happen to them. Vegenrage, of course, has absorbed all of its information and tells them the truth that the book does not elaborate on what will happen, only that they go to Elbutan and unite with other people once there. The people are actually relieved, thinking that at least for the journey there, they are safe. Farrah is close to Vegenrage and tilts her head to look at him. The moons here in the Maglical System seem to always be shining very bright, and the vision is good during the night, except when the clouds are heavy and rains are falling, and even then, there is usually a silvery white light, illuminating the sky. One other thing that Vegenrage is thinking about as he looks to the sky and never really thought about it until now or maybe he has thought about it is that all the planets here in Kronton, Fargloin, and Strabalster each have two moons. This is odd, he thinks, but Farrah gets his attention back on her.

“Hey, what are you thinking about?”

“Actually, I was just thinking that all the planets here have two moons, and there is always light even in the nighttime. You know, there is something else that has been bothering me too.”

“Yeah. What is that?”

“These books. These books on dragon prophecy. I had three of them in my library before it was destroyed, and all these books, the ones I have already read and the ones I read now, something is not right with them.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, they all have events that have happened, and these books were written long ago. But they all are too familiar with one another. They all kind of sound or read the same. I can’t figure it out yet, but I don’t actually know if they were written long ago or not. I can’t explain how they tell the future so well, and they were supposedly written so long ago. I find it hard to believe that people or even dragons can see into the future and tell what is going to happen a long time in the future. Of course, I thought the use of magic was just a dream too. Another thing about these books is that they all mention me. I am Vlianth, and I believe you are the human female they talk about with tainted mind, whatever that means. I have not figured that out yet. I was there when you emerged from your charm, and the books tell nothing of Alisluxkana. The books make no mention of you the beautiful woman who raced to save me from the dragons. I feel a setup, but I can’t figure it. The thing with prophecy is that when a lot of people hear a prophecy that is foretold, they believe it. Well then, they make it come true. Even though a lot of the writings in these books have come to pass, I do not believe them. We make our own future, and that is what I believe.”

Farrah stops and clutches her gut.

“Yes, Farrah, I feel it too. Another dragon has died. A young one.”

“Vegenrage, I can see it. I can see it happening. It is raining, and that thing that rose from your body. Vemenomous. He is fighting with another dragon, a brown one. The brown dragon is biting Vemenomous’s neck and clawing at his body. Vemenomous is too strong. He is flipping the smaller dragon over and onto the ground and using a breath attack like no other, killing the brown dragon. Vegenrage, he is too powerful. He has the combined breath attack of all the dragons and can cast magic without speaking. We have to stay away from it.”

The people traveling notice Vegenrage and Farrah off to the side and come closer to find out what is going on. Vegenrage hides nothing from them and tells them that the new dragon is killing a smaller dragon. He also tells them that this is a good thing because they are not on Kronton, and not only is the dragon being killed by this new form of dragon, but another dragon, Cormygle, is killing dragons as well. This is good because it will keep the dragons occupied, while the people make their way to Elbutan. Vegenrage urges the people to keep moving and returns to Farrah who has fallen to the ground on her hands and knees.

Someone from the passing group of people approaches Vegenrages and asks him. “What is wrong with Farrah?”

“I am not sure. Just keep moving, please. I will tend to her, and we will be moving with you shortly.”

Many of the people are concerned about Farrah. She is bent down and seemingly stuck on the ground. Vegenrage keeps the people away from her, talking with them and ushering them forward on the path they are taking. Farrah has seen Beteese killed by Vemenomous, and she sees all the dragons around Vemenomous. She sees the whole scene as Vemenomous punches the ground with the dead dragon in his hand and sees all the dragons in slow motion as they fly away from Vemenomous, and he rests by the carcass of Beteese and feeds on it. He looks right at Farrah like he is right in front of her, and she can do nothing but watch.

“Farrah, you are my queen. I am close, and you are my guide. You will bring me to Vlianth for the second time, and you cannot fight it. You cannot stop it. You were meant to be my queen. You were meant to mother the next generation of supreme beings. You will be my queen.”

“No!” Farrah shakes her head. She yells no again and stands, running away. Vegenrage runs after her and grabs her by the arm.

“Farrah, Farrah, listen to me. He is using telepathy, nothing more. You can stop his telepathy. You have to be strong. You are the key, Farrah. You are to be his undoing.”

“I can’t stop it, Vegenrage. I can’t stop him from entering my mind. He is going to use me to get to you. He is too strong, too big, too powerful.”

“Hey, hey, you know what they say. The bigger they are, the harder they fall.”

“What are we gonna do, Vegenrage? What are we going to do?”

“Listen, Farrah, you are just as powerful as he is. You saw the breath attack that he used to kill Beteese with. You saw it. Well, you have the same attack. You have that same power, and Vemenomous does not want you to know this because with this attack, you can kill him.”

“What are you saying? That I am going to breathe some horrible destruction from my mouth like he does?”

“No, Farrah, you will cast it from your hands like a fireball or a magic missile. When the time comes, you will know.”

“I don’t want it. I don’t want to be the caster of death and destruction. He is using me, using me to get to you so he can kill you, so he can rule everyone and everything.”

“It is you, Farrah, you and me, that are going to make sure death and destruction are not a way of life, but we have to be strong, and we have to see this through. We have to be the end to this Vemenomous, or he will rule through the use of fear and destruction.”

“Vegenrage, do you know this? Do you see the future too?”

“Not like you do, Farrah. I too held and used the Staff of Barrier Breath, and I can see when Vemenomous attacks, but he tries to block my visions. You, on the other hand, he sees you as his queen, and he knows you see him. He sees me as an enemy that can bring him down, and he knows my feelings for you. That is why he is using you, to get to me. You have to outsmart him. You have to make him believe you are weak to his vision. You have to make him believe he has control over you. The fight is upon us, and you are here because you are strong. You are meant to play a very important role in the events that are about to happen.”

More than once, Vegenrage has calmed Farrah down and got her to breathe calmly. She always seems to find comfort in the strong embrace of Vegenrage, and then once again, Vegenrage seems to bring her senses alive as he tells her that the two of them should go see the white mare. There is never any fear in Farrah, no matter what the danger, as long as Vegenrage is near, and she is following him. She sees him as an indestructible force. He killed Alisluxkana and Drase, and she was there, and all she ever wanted was to be with him and fight with him. She toughens up, and a smile grows on her face. “Okay, Vegenrage. Let’s go. Let’s go see what the white mare has to say.”

“Yes, we have to go find something out. Listen, there are no dragons on Kronton at the moment. This is the best time for us to go. This may be the only chance we have to unite the dragons with the races of man. Gwithen, the white mare, has been calling to me, asking that I meet with her. She shows me visions, guiding me to her home. She intends for me to come alone, but you will be with me. There is a chance we can unite the races of man with the dragons to fight together against Vemenomous and Cormygle. This is a chance, not a good one but a chance, and we should take it. What do you think?”

“I think we should go. We should try.” Farrah and Vegenrage rejoin the traveling party and make their way to the front of the line and talk with Mournbow and Inglelapse.

“Mournbow, Gwithen has been calling to me. She wants to unite the dragons with the races of man to fight against Vemenomous and Cormygle.”

“You can’t be serious, Vegenrage. This is an obvious trap. The dragons and races of man can never unite. We are considered food to them.”

“We are considered food to the male dragons, not the female ones. Gwithen has never once been known to attack the races of man nor has Mezzmaglinggla. They may have been present at some points during the battle between men and dragon, but they have never killed men for food. I must admit they have captured men, but there is a chance the female dragons may see wisdom in our uniting, and I have to accept this invitation to see what she has to say.”

“He has faced Blethstole, and I do think that as dangerous as any dragon encounter.”

“Yes it is, Inglelapse, but what about the party here? They said they would help protect us? I see everyone losing a lot of confidence without the two of them here with us. This could be a trap to get Vegenrage and Farrah in one place at the same time alone.”

“Mournbow, you are strong, and the people here are stronger than they think. Inglelapse is here, and the dragons are on different planets right now. You will be able to guide and handle yourselves. We will be very close. If need be, we can be right back here in an instant. Inglelapse can see to that.”

“You tell everyone. You make them feel at ease with the loss of your presence if even only for a couple of hours.”

“Okay, I will.” Vegenrage gathers all the people and tells them that there is a chance the races of man can unite with the dragons. He admits the chance is not a good one, but if he does not meet and talk with the white mare, then there is no chance. The dragons are off, fighting against Vemenomous, and this is a good time for him and Farrah to go meet with the white mare. They can be very quick and be back before the dragons make their way back to Kronton if they are even coming back anytime soon. The people do not like this. They want the added security of magic users with them, especially ones that have faced and killed dragons already. The people here are not fighters; they are not warriors. Vegenrage can see the fear in their eyes and finds it too difficult to leave them. He has explained that if he does not go, then the dragons will continue to feed on the humans, and this is the only chance to possibly stop this. The people do not buy it and beg Vegenrage not to leave them. Some with fear in their eyes, some with anger in their eyes, and some with tears in their eyes, thinking Vegenrage and Farrah will leave them after it was them who motivated the people to take on this journey in the first place. Vegenrage is overcome and cannot bring himself to leave the traveling party and vows to see them to Elbutan. They continue on to the crossing at the Strait of Hercon, and Vegenrage walks with Farrah by his side.

Back in Cloakenstrike’s home, he has read many passages from
The Ugorian Stand
to Fraborn and Bastrenboar. He tells them that they have to make their way to Ugoria and wait, undetected, to strike and take the Snow Gold Trinket. Fraborn lost his golden armor in the cave at the Quawlaren Waters. Bastrenboar still has Elvennell, which is fantastic against elves, and they both have their fantastic swords, but the lesser dragons and dragons, well … not much is real good protection against them. Cloakenstrike wades through his Bag of Holding and gets some more really great stuff for the humanors. He gives Fraborn a Ring of Invisibility that when worn makes him invisible, and he gives Bastrenboar Boots of Speed that allow him to move at incredible speed and allow him to jump far and high. Cloakenstrike has mastered his fight ware, which are his helmet, necklace, cloak, and a whole lot of different weapons he can choose from. Cloakenstrike finds a rare and very special armor for Fraborn. He pulls from his Bag of Holding, a very thin lightweight chain mail called Fyshria, and hands it to Fraborn.