“A Boy and His Dragon”
by: Brenna “Snakelady” Dawkins
“Part IV: Same Book, Different Cover”
~PG-13. This chapter may contain unsuitable content for children as it will have a bit more violence and adult situations, though I shall try to tone it down a bit. The kids go on to rescue the denizens of Stalmoore and discover something surprising about the town. Renee also transforms at last! ~
“. . . and I dream I can spread my wings, Flying high, high, I’m a bird in the sky, I’m an eagle that glides on the breeze, High, high, what a feeling to fly, Over mountains, and forests, and seas, And to go anywhere that I please . . .” Eagle by ABBA
Renee closed her eyes and wished it were all just a bad dream. They had decided to split up and surround the arena of fire. Her body tingled with the nightmarish spell the creature was casting. She felt her skin twitch and crawl as it reacted and the thing inside her seemed to writhe, whether in joy or agony, Renee couldn’t say, but it was an unpleasant sensation either way. She had found a spot on the way down the side of the cliff where she could rest and hide and still have a good view of what was going on in the circle of fire. She almost wished that she could bring ‘it’ to the surface because ‘it’ just might be helpful in such a situation like this. But the Jester had no way of knowing how to call ‘it’.
She hoped that she wouldn’t be the first of the party to get down to the bottom where the action was. Mustering some courage, she skittered down the cliff face, trying her best to be silent and remain hidden. The closer she got, the more her body wanted to react to the heavy-duty magic the creature was producing. An annoying tick worried her calf muscle and made the dangerous descent even more difficult to navigate. She wondered if the others were just as affected as she.
The Jester made it to the bottom and warily eyed the bright wall of flames that were very close to her local. The wafting heat emanating from the hellish blaze was intense and Renee had to wonder how such an incredible flame could be maintained for so long with nothing to feed it except magic. She didn’t know how the men trapped inside the inferno could stand the heat. Nervously, she rubbed her wrists. She had expected the places where the manacles had bitten into her skin to still be an eye sore and ache, but the aching had stopped after her first nights sleep after her rescue and the wrists wounds looked like they had several days worth of healing already. She rubbed them anyway. It had been a habit she’d acquired over the past couple of days and it served to remind her what she owed the Young Ones.
She was now close enough to the Master of the Souls to hear the words he spoke. They chilled her despite the proximity of the flames. Renee was glad that she couldn’t understand what it was he was saying for she feared for her sanity. She closed in but didn’t get very far. He was standing high on a marble platform.
“Your timing is fortunate!” The Master of the Souls voice boomed suddenly in comprehensible English. At first she thought she’d been seen then she realized the Master of the Souls was looking in the opposite direction from her.
‘My God,’ she thought, ‘whom has he spotted?’
“I can use another. But you aren’t from Stalmoore. However, that shall not be a problem. I can use you’re souls as a grounder.” His voice grated like a razor blade over her ears. She was amazed that she had not been spotted. She almost had cleared the arena of fire and was able to see whom Master of the Souls was addressing.
Hank, Eric, and Presto were pinned by the monsters gaze, seemingly unable to move as if they were glued to the floor. Once she finally got a good look at the Master of the Souls, it was clear he wasn’t human. Massive ram type horns curled themselves into a heavy burden atop his gigantean head that reminded Renee of a strange mix between a bull and a ram. The torso was humanoid, but like the head, massive and dense with bulk and obscene power. And it had a short, stocky tail. It wasn’t what she had expected a Minotaur to look like, at least, not from all the Greek myths she had read. She didn’t even know if that was what it was but it was the closest thing to it. But that didn’t matter at the moment. What mattered was that Hank, Eric, and Presto was in danger of losing their souls to this thing. Her fear, if possible, seemed to soar to new heights. Where was Diana? She looked for her friend and could not spot the Acrobat.
She’d have to act now, not wait for Diana . . . “Hold it, Beef Brains!”
Renee sighed with relief as Diana confronted the creature, staff extended and poised for action.
“A woman. And not from Stalmoore.” Master of the Souls said bemused, “I have no need of you. Your soul would not work towards my needs, but I will kill you anyway.”
Stalling for time, Diana replied, “What are your needs?”
His imitation of a laugh was something she hoped never to hear again. Renee continued to sneak in, still unnoticed.
“To keep Tiamat and all her kind forever in check and under my Masters control. And why have you come? To stop me? I feel I must tell you that no one has the aura enough to withstand my magic. If you turn back now, woman, I may spare you. But your men must remain as the lambs of the spell.”
Renee didn’t like the sound of that. What did that mean? Hank, Eric, and Presto lambs? Then it hit her. Sacrificial lambs were often used back in the old days to complete a spell. She would not let this fiend harm a single molecule on her friend’s heads, or souls for that matter. But what could she do? They were the ones with the magic weapons. She herself was a magic weapon, but she had no idea how to initiate it. But, he had detected everyone but her. What did that mean? Was it the influence of ‘it’ inside her? Maybe that would be her advantage. She was only a few feet behind Master of the Souls now; there was no way she’d turn back, no matter how terrified she felt. She felt ‘it’ sigh inside her, her body electric with the proximity of such magic.
The Master of the Souls raised his hands and she could see the magic snapping and crackling in-between them as he powered up to destroy a defiant Diana. Something in Renee snapped and she yelled a blind challenge as she leapt upon the Master of the Souls back. She had startled the beast and he roared angrily as she latched onto his back calling up ‘it’s’ strength to hold on as tight as a feeding tick. Diana leapt and rolled out of the way as the Master of the Souls tried vainly to grab the Jester, spinning in wild circles as he fought. Her arms were wrapped around his thick neck in a chokehold. He grabbed them with his clawed hands and tried to pry them loose but to no avail. Renee had her own magic and she was drowning under its influence. She lost herself to ‘it’, drawing on the seemingly inexhaustible source. The ‘it’ was in command now, she took backseat and let ‘it’ ride her, as long as it was to save her friends, then she was okay.
They tumbled off the marble platform and fell rolling into a cave that Renee had crawled around as she had descended from the heights. The impact of hitting the cave wall separated them and they both found themselves sprawled on the cavern floor.
“YOU!” The Master of the Souls growled with hate and confusion, “I did not sense you! Why can I not see your aura?”
“Like I aught to know that?” Renee pushed herself up off the hard ground. Her anger was mounting. She felt strong and the weight of the anger pushed aside her fear. “Come on then!” She tempted fate, preying that ‘it’ would not let her down, “Let’s see what you got!”
The Master of the Souls roared, “Insignificant human! Aura or no, I will destroy you!”
He lunged at her; a mass of muscle and evil bore down on the Jesters tiny form. Her reflexes were faster than they were normally, being modified by Venger’s magic. She danced out of the beast’s way, delighted at such a graceful and well preformed move out of her.
“You are no human! No human moves like this.” He collected himself as he stared at her, then his eyes widened, as he perceived what she was, “Of course! Why did I not see it before?” He grinned wickedly, “You are one of them in disguise! Well, your Goddess cannot help you! I will see to that! Once this spell is finished, your power will be gone.”
“What are you talking about? I have no Goddess.” Renee said.
Master of the Souls chuckled, “Do not mock me, I know you are here to free Karna! Well, once I destroy them all, my Master will rule the Realm!”
“Aren’t you the Master?” She asked, curious to discover just what all this insanity was about.
“I am a Master, but only over souls. Venger is my Master. After all these centuries his plan to kill Karna will be realized.”
“Karna? But she’s just a kid! What, she’s here now?” She wondered where he could be hiding her. What had happened to Sheila, Bobby, and Uni? And what was that he said about following Karna for how long . . .?
The Master of the Souls slowly approached her, his hoofs thunking and scraping the floor, “I will not play this game. Venger can only rule the Realm with Tiamat out of the way. I will not allow you and your friends to stop me.”
Renee had enough. She let her anger swell, consuming what little control she had left. The Master of the Souls reached for her. Her anger fought to be released and she obeyed. He was closer than comfort would allow. She felt her right hand grow hot and she balled it up in a fist at her side. She thrust all her anger into that fist, willing it to do her bidding. Without a second thought, she reared her fist back and opened her hand just as he was about to lay hands on her. With lightning speed, she punched the Master of the Souls with everything she had. The force of her hand did not stop at the mere impact of flesh. It dove through, cracking the ribcage and breaking though to the other side. His chest was up to her shoulder and her now blood soaked hand clutched at something soft and yielding as it hung suspended on the other side of the Master of the Souls now dead body.
She jolted to her senses, fighting down the force that had given her the anger and strength to preform such a terrible deed. Renee was horrified. She tried to withdraw her hand, but the body was stuck fast. Grimacing, she placed her other free hand against the creature’s chest and pushed. Finally, the horrible dead weight of the Minotaur slid off of her arm and collapsed in a heap on the floor. The Jester dared to see what it was she was holding. She was glad she had an empty stomach and tossed the Master of the Souls heart as far from her as possible.
The shock of what she had done began to sink in. She had killed. Dumbly, she stared at the thick, sticky blood, which coated her arm up to her pushed up sleeve, which rode up on her shoulder. Renee had begun to shake, her nerves screaming against reality. She felt like screaming herself but wanted more than anything to get out of the cave and down off the mountain. She wanted to run. So she did, right into Eric who was running into the cave to find her. They collided and fell backwards, hitting the ground hard. The impact jolted her out of her shock. She had landed hard on her tailbone, Eric the same. The Cavalier was soon followed by Hank, Presto, and Diana who stopped just behind the two.
“I thought you were toast!” Eric panted.
Renee saw her friends were alright and unharmed, “I . . . couldn’t keep ‘it’ away.” Her voice quavered and she limply held up her right arm. They all saw the horrible gore and none could turn away, “I didn’t want to keep it away. The only thing in my mind was to keep him away from you all . . .” She let her arm fall listlessly and turned her head away so she couldn’t see the horror and disgust that must be on their faces.
She felt a cold gauntleted hand caress her face tenderly. Renee was afraid to look up. She hated herself for the crime she had committed. She couldn’t blame them for hating her for it either. Renee felt her face being forced to turn and look. She did, reluctantly, and found herself staring into the Cavaliers gentle eyes, full of not loathing and hatred as she had feared, but of sympathy and support. Tears welled in her own blue eyes.
“It’s going to be okay.” Eric said quietly.
“But I killed him.” She said and wanted to flinch as she said the truth. Saying it made it even more real. “I wanted ‘it’ to come and help me kill him and I did!” Her shaking returned.
The Cavalier embraced her and murmured soothing words to her as she cried with her head on his armored chest. When her emotional fit ended, she sniffed and leaned into Eric gratefully.
Hank was the first to break the silence with a gentle voice, “Come on, we got to get everyone down off the mountain.”
“Wait a minute.” Renee reluctantly sat up again but was glad that Eric still had a supportive arm around her. “Weren’t you all frozen?”
“It wasn’t long after you and Master of the Souls entered the cave that we could move again. And the wall of flames went out at the same time.” Presto offered up the explanation, not voicing the fact that they had all been freed when the monster had died.
“So the men are free too?” Renee asked.
“Thanks to you.” Diana said, “You saved us. You did what you had to do.”
Renee knew Diana spoke the truth, but the reality was that she wished that there had been another way. One of the townsmen entered the cave.
“We have found an easy way out of the High Mountains, come, let’s go home.”
“Wait!” Renee jumped up awkwardly, “Master of the Souls said something about having Karna trapped here! We have to find her!”
Hank and the others frowned at the news then were amazed when the Stalmoore native laughed out loud.
“Mind letting us in on the joke?” Eric asked, annoyed.
The townsman replied, “She is now free. Come and you will see!”
* * *
There was general chaos once the Young Ones arrived with the entire complement of Stalmoore’s men. They discovered that Sheila, Bobby, Uni, and Karna were all right after all. Karna was very happy to see everyone.
“We knew you could do it!” Sheila greeted them, grinning from ear to ear.
“I want to thank you all!” Karna said, possibly even much more happy than Sheila and Bobby. “Do you know what you’ve done?”
“Beat the bad guy, got everyone’s daddy back, and basically saved the whole town?” Eric ventured.
“You’ve saved me.” Karna said quietly.
They were silent. Renee stepped up to her, voice serious.
“The Master of the Souls implied some very interesting things about you, Karna.” The Jester replied.
Karna looked up at Renee, “I’m sure he did. He and I do go way back.”
“What are you talking about?” Sheila asked, confused.
“Venger is my enemy. The Master of the Souls works for him.” Karna explained.
“But you’re just a kid. What are you talking about?” Presto asked uneasily.
“There will be a celebration given in your honor. Let’s not dwell on this now.”
“Dwell on what?” Eric asked, “There’s nothing to dwell on. Let’s party!”
Later that evening, they feasted. It was some of the best food they’ve had since they dined with King Rahmoud. Too bad Renee could only watch the others eat, mindful of the Dungeon Master’s warning. The whole town turned out for the happy event. Renee felt closer to the gang than ever before. She felt like she’d become a true member of their party. She looked across the table at Eric longingly. Diana noticed and nudged her discreetly.
“Go for it.” The Acrobat whispered to the Jester.
Renee fought back a blush for being caught ogling the Cavalier. No. Not now. Not after what she had done to the Master of the Souls. Besides, she was sure he was still pissed about Sir Dae.
“All he could talk about once he was unfrozen was getting to you.” Diana grinned and took another bite of mashed potato.
Renee sighed. Well, maybe, if she could get her courage up.
There was dancing right after dinner. The music filled the packed square, reminding Renee of some of the medieval music she often heard at the Society for Creative Acronyms tourneys. Hank had twirled away with Sheila. Presto had asked Diana for a dance and Bobby and Uni cavorted with Karna. That left Eric and her. Eric was standing off in a corner of the square, watching the townsfolk enjoy themselves. She gathered her courage and crossed the square, avoiding the dancers that would cross her path. She was nervous and forced herself to cross the rest of the way. Eric spotted her as she came up to him.
“Hi.” She said lamely.
“Hi.” He returned.
Uncomfortable silence nestled in-between them. At the table, she had tried to rehearse to herself what she should say to him. It all went blank and she was left floundering for her next line. She wasn’t used to this. Usually, it was the guy who picked her up, not the other way around. She never had known how hard it had been for the guy until now.
“I’d ask you for a dance, but, I’m not a Knight.” Eric said still watching the crowd, his face unreadable.
“But you are! You’re my Knight in Shining Armor! My KISA!”
He shook his head, “I’m no Sir Dae.”
Frustrated, she smacked her fist on his chest, his armor bonged lightly (she was mindful of what her fist could do and pulled her punch as she did it). He looked at her now, startled at her reaction. She grabbed his draped cape across his front and drew close to him, chest to chest and locked her fingers behind his neck. She wanted him. She decided she wanted him to know it once and for all.
“I never was interested in Sir Dae, Eric. You have always filled my heart since we first met. No one else, do you understand?” Her heart thudded in her chest.
He wasn’t resisting her. In joyful elation, she realized he now wrapped his arms around her tiny waist. A broad grin threatened to split his face and his eyes betrayed his love. Her grin matched his as she savored the closeness. He closed the distance between their lips and then finally came the sweet, sweet kiss she had been longing for after all this time.
In the square, Sheila nudged Hank and pointed, herself grinning happily as she spied the Cavalier and Jester kissing under the moons. Hank smiled and hugged Sheila closer to him, putting his cheek against hers as they now watched the Jester break the long and sensual kiss. He watched as Renee took Eric’s hand and led him away. She was going in the direction where their rooms were at the Inn. Hank grinned as he realized what they would soon be up to and wished that he and Sheila could take such liberties.
Eric swallowed hard as she took his hand and led him to their rooms, or room, rather. The town had given them all a free place to stay for the night. At first, he’d been happy to get a bath and a nice soft bed all his own. But once he realized Renee’s intentions, all he wanted was to lie next to her and. . . Oh my God! It was really going to happen! He was glad he had his gauntlets on because his hands were terribly sweaty. He almost stumbled behind her but never slowed. Eric’s pulse sped in anticipation. Was this his great reward the DM had mentioned? He couldn’t imagine anything greater than this, this beautiful girl from his homeworld, wanting him in ways he had never been wanted by anyone before.
Renee nodded to the Inn Keeper as they entered, not bothering to sign in. Everyone in town knew them. Eric was led to her dark room. “Should we, ah, light a lamp, or something?” Eric said, attempting to keep the tremor of nervousness from his voice. He was proud that he was mildly successful.
“We aren’t planning on reading anything.” Renee said and he was relieved to hear the nervousness coming from her voice as well.
She led him inside and shut the door. Eric blindly reached for her and found her lips again. He then started to run his hands up and down her arms and then her waist as she wrapped her arms around his neck. She smelled his sweat created from wearing that armor all day long and from the present situation. He smelled good despite it. However, the armor was distracting and in the way. Fumbling in the dark for the straps on the side, she worked at getting it loose, refusing his attempt at assistance, their lips locked all the while. Finally, the stubborn straps realized they were no longer needed and she lifted the breastplate up and over his head and set it aside. She felt his muscled chest for the first time, felt his fast paced heart hammering hard against her hand . . . she refused to let the image of the Master of the Souls heart in her hand interrupt that rapturous moment. He was so close she could feel him against her, excited and wanting more. They searched for the bed and fell upon it.
Eric was on top of her and his breath became ragged as he tried to calm himself. No need to rush things. Finally, they had a safe place to rest, they had all night long, plenty of time to enjoy themselves and explore. He removed his gauntlets and mail shirt and the rest, tossing them to the floor carelessly. He heard Renee remove her hat and shirt.
‘OH GOD, OH GOD, OH GOD!’ Eric thought as he lay on top of her soft form, bare skin against bare skin.
“Eric,” she broke the silence reluctantly. Her voice was whisper soft, “Please, I have to let you know something.”
“Yes?” He froze where he was.
“I’m, well, I’m a . . . virgin.”
So was he. “We’ll go as far as you want to.” He added softly then, “I wont hurt you.”
“I know. I just wanted you to know that you were my first. And, Eric, I want it all. From you.”
His heart leapt and he felt like shouting with joy, but he reigned himself in and they proceeded to seal their love throughout the night. He gave her everything he had.
* * *
Something was causing the bed to jiggle annoyingly. Eric was slowly roused from a deep sleep. The bed continued to shake and jiggle. A sharp pain shot though his leg as something jabbed, no, stepped on him. His eyes flung wide open.
“OW! HEY! UNI WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” Eric yelled as he realized that Uni was walking back and forth on their bed. The unicorn bahhed anxiously and moved up to the head of the bed, all the while jouncing him and Renee into wakefulness with every step she took. She came up to Eric, “HEY! Watch where you’re stepping, dumb unicorn!” He twisted his waist, rescuing his groin from a painful tromping.
“Eric, wait. Something’s wrong.”
“BEYEAH!” Uni nodded her head.
“I’ll tell you what’s wrong, we have an annoying squirt of a unicorn in our bed. Shoo! Go bother, Bobby!” He waved her away with his hand.
Uni snorted and shook her head. She looked at the door frightened and then stared back at them.
“Eric,” Renee said uneasily as she grabbed his arm, “I don’t like this. I think something’s wrong with the gang.”
Eric looked hard at the unicorn. He’d never been that good at reading Uni’s expressions let alone understanding what she said. Of course, he never tried to before. ‘Great, Lassie, is Timmy in trouble again?’ He thought sourly. He had been looking forward to just lying in bed with Renee all morning. He had thought that they had completed their quest and had expected a little down time. He wanted to revel in what they had done that night. It had been better than he’d ever imagined it was going to be. He sighed. He hated the Realm. No rest for the weary.
Very reluctantly, he slid out of bed naked, Renee did likewise, just as naked. Eric put his clothes on with practiced ease.
“Go on, I’ll soon be behind you.” Renee said, buttoning her shirt.
He hesitated just a moment then nodded and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him and Uni. Renee was aching in new places so it was hard to lean over and put her shoes on. She took a few practice steps, trying to retrain her legs. By the time she made it to the door, she thought she could walk much more easily.
When she made it out of the Inn, she had to take a startled step backwards so she could come to terms with what she saw. Venger was before her in the town square, sitting triumphantly upon his black nightmare. Her friends, all of them, Hank, Sheila, Diana, Presto, Bobby, Uni, and, and Eric were trapped in a cage made of energy. Venger grinned in her direction and nodded.
“Let them go.” She hardly had breath to speak. Her anger roiled inside her. She saw the faces of her friends, of Eric, oh Eric! “LET THEM GO, VENGER!” She shouted, hating the face of evil.
“I think not. Not until I have what is mine.”
Renee took a moment to realize that he meant her.
“I do belong to someone here, but I will never belong to you, Venger.” She said, eyes flashing.
He laughed outright then. “Is that so. I did not bring you into this world so you could belong to the Cavalier. I gave you some of my power and I expect to use it.”
Renee’s throat was dry. The ‘it’ sought its way out, not wanting to wait any longer. She had not told Eric what she now was, not told anyone! Only Presto knew. How could Eric want her after she lost her battle to ‘it’? Then she realized that she could put Stalmoore in danger by transforming there on the spot. It was then that she realized the town was empty. Completely. She tried to demand what Venger had done to the Stalmoore citizens. She opened her mouth but all that came out was a rasping growl. Renee snapped it shut. She was afraid. It felt like something was shredding her insides to pieces. Agony flooded her entire being and she knew that there was no stopping ‘it’ now.
She was dimly aware of Venger laughing at her plight and was that Eric’s angry voice? She couldn’t understand what he was saying. ‘Dear Eric, I’m sorry!’ She convulsed with the might of the power and then was aware she was screaming. Her muscles stretched, bones snapped, lengthened, and knitted, only to snap again and reknit. Bones she never had sprouted from an unknown deposit. Her muscles climbed the new bone like vines around a column. Pain lanced through every muscle, joint, every cell it seemed cried out testament to the new change. She was aware of nothing now except for the excruciating process of transformation. Organs were added and reinforced, muscle, bone, and tendons, veins, even her heart and brain seemed to warp and change as if they had always been pliable. It seemed an eternity, but in reality, only minutes.
She only opened her eyes when the mighty pain receded. She felt, different. First thing she noticed was that she was gazing down a long and scaly blue snout. Her eyesight had changed as well. She realized that her head towered above everyone, but her sight compensated for that and she could zoom in like a camera lens on the small group below. Colors were enhanced, scent was enhanced, and hearing was enhanced.
“So, my dragon finally comes to me! Welcome! Because of Dungeon Master’s interference, I have been waiting for you. If he hadn’t interrupted us, you would have known everything there is to know about being a dragon queen by now. But he tried to bind my spell. It only weakened it; it did not destroy it. It destroyed your aura temporarily, making you very difficult to find once I discovered you missing from the Forgotten Dungeon. But I knew you’d be with the Young Ones. Now, I will be very generous, my dragon.
“I will take your friends and lover here to my castle. I will give you six days to learn how to be a dragon. On the seventh day, if you do not appear at noon, I will kill the Young Ones. There, that should be incentive enough for you to learn.” He chuckled as Renee opened her massive mouth and tried to blow him away with flame. But she had no idea how to call forth her breath weapon. Did she even have a breath weapon? She tried to roar angrily, but the attempt was a miserable defeat. She could only warble her distress. She couldn’t even roar, what kind of a dragon was she? Helplessly, she watched as Venger soared away with his nightmare and her companions. She warbled again, loudly, a pitiful attempt at voicing her misery.
* * *
At Venger’s castle, they remained in their cage, under an orc guard. They sat morosely in their confines, huddled together, waiting. Eric was very quiet. Hank worried about him. Before this, Eric would have been most vocal in his complaints. Watching the one you love getting transformed into a giant blue dragon was something he couldn’t fathom going through personally. So that was what ‘it’ was. Hank recalled her defeat of the Master of the Souls. If she can take on the Master of the Souls and win, surely she can take on Venger?
“Do you think she’s really going to come for us?” Presto asked.
“Of course she will, Presto.” Diana replied, studying Eric’s back that was turned away from them, “She’s our friend. And anyway, she loves Eric. She’s going to try.”
“But, she’s a dragon. What was it Venger said about teaching her to be the queen of the dragons?” Presto persisted.
“But Tiamat’s the queen of the dragons.” Sheila added.
“If Tiamat is out of Venger’s way,” Hank said thoughtfully, “and he intended to replace her with Renee, he’d have control over all the dragons in the Realm.”
The sudden enlightenment didn’t bring them any comfort.
“But she wont let that happen.” Diana insisted. Presto hoped she was right. Eric did not say anything and just watched the sky.
Renee tromped around the vacated Stalmoore, heedless of what buildings fell beneath her weight. She had struggled with getting accustomed to the several tons of scale, bone, and muscle she gained. She had no control over her wings and they flapped uselessly at her side, creating destructive, miniature whirlwinds. It had taken time to learn how to place her four feet to walk, how to use her long tail as balance and how to keep her wings out of the way. But she eventually did and it took the whole day. This was no good. It was going to take her longer than six days to not only learn how to be a dragon, but how to find Venger’s castle as well. She had no idea where to look for it. Angry at the hopelessness of her situation, she purposefully whipped her tail around to smash a building. The hapless construction fell without a fight but it didn’t make her feel any better. She was about to pass the demolished building by when she thought she detected some kind of pattern from the lay of the debris. She tried zooming out her vision for a wider picture. It took her a moment to realize just what she was looking at. To her astonishment, the debris from the building she had just wiped out formed what looked like a very crude topographical map. The single iron spire on the buildings roof was placed in an area that looked like a substitute for mountains. The spire could only be one place, she deduced, Venger’s castle.
Well, at least she knew how the lay of the land would look from the air. However, getting up in the air was the new problem. She scanned the beckoning sky overhead that was growing full with stars and multiple moons. Renee flexed her new pinion muscles and the wings flapped awkwardly. A teetering building she had knocked a hole in earlier tumbled due to the wind gust she created. She’d need to strengthen her flying muscles if she wanted to get very far, so she worked at just flapping. Renee knew she must look just ridiculous standing on the ground and pumping useless pinions, but from all the nature shows she’d seen, this was what fledgling birds had to do to build up strength and wind. She did this off and on for several hours well into the night until she gave up to exhaustion and slept deeply until the second morning. Her wing muscles felt soar from the unaccustomed workout she had done. But she wouldn’t lax. She had to be a true dragon to save Eric and everyone else. She worked herself with a conviction borne of desperation. She was not going to give up.
On the six day, there was a new addition to the cage. Sir Dae was unceremoniously thrown into the Young Ones prison. The Knight was without his shield and sword, just as the rest of the Young Ones were without all of their magical weapons.
“I shall seek thee ‘till the end of my days, foul one!” Sir Dae called out to Venger who was nowhere to be seen. The Knight took notice of his surroundings, “Ah, the young children. The Horned One has captured you as well? I see you have some new companions. Where is the fair Lady Renee?”
Hank shook his head, surprised there was no reaction from Eric who had only turned to see Sir Dae get thrown in but had turned right back around to watch the sky.
“She’s on her way to get us out. She just has to find us first.” Was all Hank would say about that situation.
“What are you doing here, Sir Dae?” Diana asked.
“Well, my sources informed me there was a hideous blue dragon in the area, laying waste to a now evacuated town. I went to find the creature and slay it, but I was captured by a slew of orcs and was brought here.”
Hank spared a glance at Sheila who shook her head.
“I think we have more important things to worry about. We’re scheduled to be killed tomorrow if Renee doesn’t find us in time.” Hank replied to Sir Dae.
“I see. The fair maiden to the rescue, then? That is something new.” Sir Dae said thoughtfully.
Presto and Hank eye balled each other, then Presto whispered, “I don’t think she’s a maiden anymore.”
Hank had to smile at that. Presto shrugged and grinned back.
“Where’s Dungeon Master when you need him?” Bobby said, repeating one of Eric’s favorite mantras.
“Beyeah!” Uni said and walked over to Eric’s side and leaned up against him to offer him some comfort. Eric kept his eyes glued to the sky but he did put his arm around the unicorn and she folded herself in his lap like a puppy. The Cavalier, to everyone’s amazement, then started to absently stoke Uni’s soft hide.
Bobby watched the unusual gesture and was worried for Eric. He knew Eric was in desperate straits when he was welcoming the affections of a unicorn he barely tolerated otherwise.
“We gotta do something.” Bobby said with his fists clenched. “We can’t just let Venger have his way!”
“I don’t think there’s anything we can do, Bobby.” Sheila put her arms around her brother and hugged the young Barbarian.
“Yeah. It’s all up to Renee.” Presto sighed. He recalled his dream again that first night they had freed Renee. A blue dragon diving at them, screaming, looking like she was ready to devour them. “Uh, Eric, there’s something I think I aught to tell you. Well, you see, our first night with Renee, I had a dream. I dreamed she was a blue dragon controlled by Venger. I didn’t tell you because I thought it wasn’t my place to. I’m sorry, I guess I should have let you known.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Eric said softly, still watching the sky and petting Uni. It was his first words since they arrived at Venger’s castle, “She could be a giant slug and I’d still love her, no matter what shape she was in. You know what they say; you can’t judge a book by its cover. Well, her cover might’ve changed, but her text is still the same. And she loves me. She’s coming for us. She’s coming for us.”
The gang was silent. Sir Dae frowned.
“You say the fair maiden Renee is the dragon?” He asked, confused.
Presto was sorry he’d said anything, “Uh, yeah. Venger turned her into a blue dragon.”
Sir Dae did not say anything to that. He kept to himself then and wore a thoughtful look for the rest of the day. Everyone was loath to disrupt the mood. Each member was testing the waters of despair, except for Eric who never ceased his heavenly vigil.
* * *
Venger strolled out of his chambers with confidence. If he destroyed the children today, he’d win. If Renee actually managed to arrive at his castle, he’d win. He took pleasure in the thought. Of course, if Renee arrived before noon today, he never said he’d not kill the Young Ones anyway. Well, time to go and rattle the cage. Noon was fast approaching on this the seventh day and he wanted to see the children frightened. Nothing would give him more pleasure than seeing the end of that meddlesome bunch. If Renee did not make it here at all, he could find her afterwards and use her to kill Tiamat. Too bad the Master of the Souls had no time to complete his spell and leave the Goddess of the Dragons forever ineffectual. With her out of the way, Tiamat’s powers over him would have been null and void and he could bind her to him, giving her a part of his power, yet fully under his control. But as so happened with so many attempts in the past, those damned children (CHILDREN, mind you) had always thwarted his plans. Well, no more! He’d had enough. Today would see the end of them, once and for all.
Outside on the flagstones, he approached the cage bearing a vicious grin. Look at them. So beaten! So downhearted! He wallowed with his glory. But, as he had learned the hard way, he was prepared for the unexpected.
“Shadowdemon.” He called.
A thin wisp of night formed into a demonic shape in front of Venger.
“Yes, Master?” It asked with no mouth.
“Is the weapon ready?”
“Yes, Master.” Shadowdemon confirmed, “You just need to give the word.”
“Excellent. Go and wait by it. I want a clean shot if it must be done.”
Shadowdemon bowed humbly and melted back down into the shadows. Orcs had gathered around Venger as he sauntered haughtily up to the cage, thoroughly enjoying the gang’s misery.
“I have won.” He taunted, “After everything you’ve done, after all those years wasted, in the end, I have won. I shall long remember this day!”
“Stick your dumb horn where the sun doesn’t shine!” Bobby retorted angrily, feeling helpless. He hated feeling helpless. If only he had his club then he’d wallop Venger good.
“We’re not finished yet, Venger. We still have an hour till noon.” Hank said, hoping against hope that their miracle would come, a miracle with California license plates and a thing for obnoxious, rich boys in armor.
“Yeah, don’t forget, it was Renee who killed off your Master of the Souls. She’ll come!” Diana said with more conviction than she felt.
“You still think she will come? Out of what? Love? Love does nothing but make you stupid and weak! If she does come, she’ll be mine to control. She has a bit of me in her. You are all doomed.”
“Dry up, Venger.” Presto said, tired of the evil one’s gloating. He’d almost wished he’d just get it over with and kill them.
Venger chuckled. “I can wait. A decade, a year, an hour, I can wait. Can you?”
Sir Dae did not say anything. Sheila remained silent and wondered how Eric could keep his hope up after all this time. She supposed love did that to a person, it gave one hope.
Time passed.
“It is time this is finished.” Venger said, eagerness resonating in his voice.
Everyone stood, if they weren’t already. Even Eric, after letting Uni out of his lap, stood and finally looked at Venger.
“She can never be yours, Venger.” The Cavalier said simply.
“Foolish! You have bedded a dragon. A Knight does not love a dragon.” Venger sneered.
“He is not a Knight!” Sir Dae said with blind conviction, “He is a ronin. A wanderer without a lord. Do not insult the order of my brothers by calling him a Knight.” “Silence!” Venger roared. “It is noon, your dragon has failed! Time to die!” Venger raised his hands with a look of pure joy playing havoc with the twisted tissue so used wearing hate. A beam of intense, blue white light flared up in an almost solid column behind Venger.
“This is it gang,” Hank said and the friends huddled close together, watching the eerily silent beam Venger summoned, “I want to thank you all for being good friends.”
Everyone murmured quick, heartfelt goodbyes and waited for the beam to descend upon them. But it remained behind Venger, getting brighter and wider. Suddenly, the ground opened up within the lights epicenter. The stone disintegrated and a small shock wave sent Venger hurling forward into the cage.
“WHAT?!?” He growled and looked back at the destruction. No orcs remained. Indeed, whatever the light had touched had been vaporized and a huge, gaping hole had been carved into Venger’s castle. Angry, Venger looked up. Hearts caught in their throats, the kids followed his gaze.
The sky was full of billowing, white clouds. With heat in his eyes, Venger searched for the source of the deadly light. They heard a long, ear achingly loud peal of thunder. Soon after the thunder came the maker. A small mote punched its way out of the clouds. Presto saw it first and could not believe it.
“It’s her!” He said with relief. Eric was right. He was glad his dream was not what he thought it meant. He knew it now; she was coming, not to destroy them, but to rescue them.
“Wow!” Bobby said as he watched the dragon fall faster and faster, “She’s really moving!”
“I thought she had a fear of heights and of falling.” Sheila said, but wonder still was evident in her words.
“Love conquers all.” Hank said in admiration as the blue form streaked towards them like a bullet with a temper.
Eric wanted to cry out for joy. Not for a minute did he ever doubt that she’d find them. Diana laughed happily and patted Eric on the shoulder, watching the blue projectile come ever closer. Venger growled and waited for Renee to finish her lightning descent.
Renee lengthened her blue fuselage, trying to make herself as streamlined as she could. She didn’t trust Venger not to strike her friends before she got there. She couldn’t risk another shot of her breath weapon with Venger so close to the gang’s cage. She knew she had to get closer and intended to get as close as she could to stop Venger. She could see everyone out on a balcony and used her new telescopic vision to pinpoint everyone. Even from her great height, she could make out everyone’s individual expressions. She was relieved to see Venger had put off his spell of death for her friends to wait for her. ‘Hang on, I’m coming!’ She thought and tried to ignore the fact that the ground was rushing up to her at a very alarming rate. Renee had decided that she’d tried to land on the balcony or the roof near by. Of course, she’d been concentrating on learning to fly, not to land. She wasn’t worried about landing, that wasn’t the priority. ‘Come on, come on, come on.’ She goaded herself and wished for even more speed.
Venger backed up and raised his hands, eyes on her. No, he would not control her. She knew she could resist him. He tried to call her and she visualized Eric to block out his summoning. The pressure of his call was pummeling her brain and she fought. In anger, she roared again, the reverberations of the thunder issuing from her throat bounced off the roofs of the castle and the surrounding mountain peaks. She shoved the image of Eric firmly in place, neatly blocking out everything except the anger and rage she held towards a certain hated being. Renee knew she had to break soon, but she had no idea of knowing when. All she wanted was to get closer so she could blast Venger away. Not yet, not yet, she repeated. At last she came upon the interval where she thought that she had to start breaking. She was really close now and she unfurled her wings, astonished at the strength of the wind as they threatened to push her pinions back. But she endured it, straightening her translucent sails, hearing the leathern membrane snap like a sheet in the wind as it added on to her surface area. She felt herself begin to lift as she tried to angle the sails. Using her tail clumsily as a rudder, she felt embarrassed at being so ungainly and unpracticed as she tried to steer her body towards the castle.
The gang watched as she overshot the castle and made a wide, uncertain bank, preparing to return at a slower speed and lower altitude. Venger smiled, prepared for this. If he could not make her his, then she would belong to no one. She had successfully ignored his summoning. Ah well, it would have been nice to have a pet dragon but . . . he was quite prepared to take care of this snag.
“Shadowdemon.” Venger said, taking pleasure in the kid’s triumphant expressions, knowing how soon they would fall, “Now!”
“As you wish, Master.” Shadowdemon swirled around the war machine and gave the orcs operating the weapon the order to fire.
Eric was elated as he watched her come for him, for them. She was visibly unsure and unsteady in her movements, but she learned how to fly, despite her fear of heights. He knew she had done it all for him. Renee was very close now. So close, he could see individual scales on her blue hide. He flung his arms up and gave a joyous shout that she could hear. She trumpeted back, a short, sharp burst of guttural sound with a brassy ring to it.
Then Eric heard the heavy thunk of something being launched. His face paled then as he saw the massive spear being spat out by a wicked looking, heavy wooden launcher. The others saw it too; everyone did, except for Renee who had eyes for Venger.
“NO!!!” Eric screamed and watched in horror as the pronged spearhead found its mark.
Renee shrieked in pain as the spear embedded itself deep in her chest. It had traveled through her natural breastplate and had buried one third of its shaft into her body, the tail end was still attached to the war machine with a very long, magic chain that could not be broken. Renee faltered. Eric clutched at his chest reflexively and doubled over, groaning in sympathetic pain. Diana grabbed him to hold him steady, fighting back her own tears. Sheila had her hand covering her mouth, eyes wide and unbelieving. Bobby had the look of shock on his face. Hanks face was a mask of anger while Presto fought against removing his glasses so he wouldn’t have to watch. Sir Dae seemed unmoved.
She fought like a fish on the end of the line but the line would not snap. Then she felt herself being reeled slowly in. Pumping her wings hard, she jerked back again and again, gasping each time at the new, profound pain. She knew they were reeling her in so they could kill her. Desperate, she did the only thing she could think of. Opening her mouth, she summoned her lethal breath weapon. There was a steady glow deep in her throat and then suddenly and silently, the pillar of light reappeared and fell upon the orcs and their weapon. It was like a laser beam, almost solid, never weakening from mouth to strike point. An instant later, there was no weapon or orcs or ground for that matter. A circular hole was cut into the earth where the beam had been moments before. She bugled her triumph, ignoring the broken length of chain still attached to the spear in her chest.
Folding her wings, she dove and at the last moment, landed hard on the flagstones, shaking the whole castle. She stumbled and fought to recover her balance. Her whipping tail knocked over one of Venger’s towers. Breathing heavily from the exertion and pain, she lumbered up to the energy cage. She protectively walked in front of the cage, placing her body between the Young Ones and Venger. The way she had almost wrapped herself around the cage, the kids could see her wound. The spear was now partially covered in blood. Red rivulets ran corkscrewed down the long shaft like a grisly barbers pole. Her loud breath was like a smiths bellows. Renee bumped her plated nose against the bars of the cage and ignored the electrifying shock. Eric ran up to her and reached his gauntleted hands through the bars and laid them on her nose.
“You can’t fight Venger by yourself.” Eric told her.
She barked at him a complicated range of noise that he couldn’t decipher but knew was a negatory answer. She would.
“No, please don’t!” Eric pleaded.
She barked again and drew her head up and over the cage. She studied the bars for a moment then clamped her jaws over the top of the cage. The electrified bars ripped energy currents throughout her mouth and head but she ignored them while she tried to break open the cage. She increased the pressure she applied and felt the cage give. With one final brutal jolt of power, the cage zapped her wildly just as it flickered and disappeared. Renee managed to keep her jaws from snapping shut on her friends inside. They all got a closer than was comfortable look at what the inside of a dragon’s mouth was like.
“Our weapons.” Hank said. Like a dowser drawn to water, she was drawn to the weapons of power. It helped to be a dragon for something like that after all. They were in the crumbled tower and she shoved her head in under the ruble and brought it back out again after a moment. Turning about, she brought her head up and shoved it in-between the kids. Opening her jaws revealed the weapons of power inside. But before they could reach in to retrieve the weapons, she shut it again.
“I think she has something in mind.” Diana determined.
Renee did a half turn and placed her foreleg out before them. She flexed her muscles and the scales all the way up her forearm and withers lifted slightly, forming a crude staircase. She stared at them and gestured with her long nose to a point on her back.
“She wants us to ride her.” Presto said, not really relishing the idea. He peered over to see why Venger hadn’t done anything to stop any of this. Venger seemed to be in the middle of completing a spell. “Let’s do it!” He stepped up on her talons and started to climb.
Eric was next and the others were right behind. Even Sir Dae had grudgingly mounted Renee. Her dorsal spines and rough spun hair that matted her spinal column gave them all something to hold onto. She crouched, spreading her wings and leapt skyward. Everyone’s head snapped back from the power of the take off. Renee had cleared the ledge of the balcony and let herself fall so the air could fill her sails. They were lifted up and over Venger’s castle and with her wondrous, new vision, found a suitably safe location to drop them off. Eric didn’t want to dismount. He knew she would go back to fight Venger. Finally, he was the last to slide down off her withers to the ground where the others were waiting.
“Don’t, please, Renee! We could still fly away and escape.” He pleaded the dragon. She had her nose close to him without bumping him. She snorted, the gust causing his red cape to billow out behind him.
“Eric, if she doesn’t face Venger now, he’s going to try to call her again and again. He’ll never leave her alone unless she can break his hold on her.” Hank said, hoping the Cavalier would understand
“He’ll never leave us alone!” Eric cried, “Ever since we came to this dumb place he’s been following us! She’s in no shape to fight. Unless you’ve misplaced your head within the last hour, Renee has a huge spear sticking out of her chest! I say we get out of here, find her a healer, find her a way to get back to the way she was, and find our way home!”
Eric was able to reach for the dangling chain that hung from the spear and grabbed hold of it. He tried to pull it out, but even bracing himself and using all his strength was not enough. He yanked and tugged and groaned until Renee had to bat him away with the tip of her tail. It hurt and Venger wasn’t going to wait forever. Renee barked at him and moved Eric over next to Hank and the others using her tail again. There was then an explosion over the castle in the distance. Everyone turned to watch as two massive demons broke into the Realm, summoned by none other than Venger.
“That monster has spawned more evil!” Sir Dae said outraged, “He will die for this!”
She spit the weapons of power onto the ground, then Renee let forth her thunderous roar effectively deafening everyone. She spread her wings and despite Eric’s very vocal protests launched herself straight towards the hideous creatures that were flying in their direction. Eric ran after her but had to stop short at the cliffs edge. He watched as she winged her way to certain doom.
“She can’t win!” Eric moaned as he watched the woman of his dreams effectively sign her death warrant.
Renee swept upon the two demons that were almost twice as big as she was. Maybe her smaller size could be put to advantage. She fought back the incredible waves of fear and reached for one of the demons with open jaws to bite down. The monster was deceptively quick and easily outmaneuvered the unsure and unsteady Renee. The monster feigned to the right and she snaked her head in the direction only to find that her target had moved with seemingly lightning speed and managed to get close enough to her to swipe her with a clawed foot. The powerful claws easily tore through her natural plating and she squawked with the new pain. She piked and dove down under the two demons. They moved to surround her so they could foul her wings. She had to concentrate to fly. It was hard to keep track of multiple enemies when you had to remember how to maneuver in the air. She was sideswiped again and received multiple claw lashes across her left thigh. ‘Breath weapon,’ she thought, ‘that’s my only hope.’
She called the beam of light to her. Thinking hard, she gathered the energy inside and flung it at one of the demons. It was ineffectual. The demon had absorbed the tremendous energy beam and laughed. She was finished. Her breath weapon had been the only thing she had and she had thought it would have been enough. She just missed another claw strike from one of the demons, but received an icy bolt of breath that smashed into her side from the other demon.
“Someone, please!” Eric desperately beseeched his saddened friends, “Do something!”
Sir Dae was unsympathetic, “The only good dragon is a dead dragon. Let them destroy the beast, then I can destroy the demons.”
Eric’s head snapped around and he felt the rage bubble within him at Sir Dae’s words. “What?”
The kids held their breath as they watched the Knight and the Cavalier square off.
"You heard me. She is a dragon. I have sworn an oath to kill all dragons. Those demons will save me the trouble. One less dragon in the Realm, one less monster roaming the hills.”
Eric’s fist was flying before anyone of the kids knew what was happening. The gauntlet mashed into Sir Dae’s nose causing blood to fly. Eric controlled himself enough to keep from leaping onto Sir Dae. He knew he’d never win a physical battle with the Knight. Taking him by surprise like that had been the only way.
“You broke my nose!” Sir Dae said as the others watched on in shock. The Knight glared at Eric who still had his fist poised, though now his hand was slightly stained in red. Sir Dae knew he could take Eric on and win, but he didn’t suspect that the other children would not sit idly by and watch their friend take a beating. Sir Dae backed off, “We will meet again, someday, boy. We will finish this.” Sir Dae haughtily turned and walked away.
Eric’s blood continued to boil as he stared after the departing, so called Knight. Hank came up behind Eric and put a supportive hand on the Cavaliers shoulder. Eric didn’t say anything and continued to watch the battle of the titans. It was clear Renee was loosing. She was tiring. He watched morosely and helplessly as one of the demons latched onto her back that effectively kept her from flying. The demon was strong enough to support itself and the blue dragon. The other aimed for her stomach with a deadly array of claws. Renee bellowed in pain echoed by a cry out of Eric. He watched as her gut was ripped open, blood gushed in a thick, sickening river as it sprayed out from the deadly wound.
“My GOD! Can’t someone . . . anyone do anything?” His voice broke and he fought back the threatening tears.
Presto tore his hat off and twiddled feverishly, “Please, magic hat, hear my shout and give us something to help Renee out!”
A spray of light fanned out and upwards complete with a mixture of sparks and hellish smoke. A portal opened up above them and two familiar something’s came out. Eric happily recognized his gold dragon now spinning overhead and another apparition that Eric could not summon much joy for followed her. Tiamat winged her way after the gold and both towards the stricken Renee.
“Wow, Presto!” Bobby said awed, “That just might do the trick. But why would Tiamat help?”
“Anything to thwart Venger, I suppose.” Diana suggested.
“Well,” Hank said, “At least the cavalry is on the way.”
“Too late,” Eric said grief stricken as he watched the demon let go of his blue dragon and she fell listlessly. “She’s finished.”
The other two dragons fully engaged the demons. The battle in the sky raged but Eric bolted, heedless of the fury above them. The rest of the gang followed. They hurried to where they calculated the mortally wounded Renee would crash land in the mountains. Renee finally impacted with the side of a mountain. She made no motion as she bounced and rolled down to the bottom. She was either dead or unconscious, Eric thought gravely. After what seemed like hours, they finally approached the motionless form of Renee. She seemed crumbled and broken. When they rounded her hind end, they could finally see for themselves the extent of the damage. Bare ribs reached for the sky. Most of the organs in her midsection now lay slack and strung out on the ground in an ever-widening pool of blood. The spear shaft had been snapped in half with its muzzle still buried in her ruined flesh. Eric bit back a sob as he tried to come to terms with the nightmarish scene.
“Oh my God!” Sheila said and let unashamed tears flow.
“Is she . . . dead?” Presto asked.
“I don’t know,” Hank replied, feeling like he failed somehow. Renee was a part of the gang now and he failed to keep her safe.
“Hello, everyone.” A familiar voice coming from behind shocked everyone enough for them all to turn.
Karna stood there looking much older than her physical body suggested. She now wore that same expression of deep wisdom that they so often encountered on Dungeon Masters visage. Eric went up to her, eyes pleading. He realized that Karna was more than she seemed.
“Please,” was all he could manage to say.
“I can do nothing for her in this state.” Karna said then raised her hand when Eric opened his mouth to protest, “This is . . . complicated, Cavalier. My powers are weak after Venger had fractured my individual aspects and I only just managed to reabsorb them all again. One thousand years living as only one-one hundredth of your original self, well, it takes time for those aspects to remember how to communicate with each other efficiently again.”
“Wait a minute, you mean, you’re the Dragon’s Goddess?” Presto deduced on his own.
Karna nodded sagely. She moved to Renee’s still side and raised her hands. She muttered something quick and short and the spear magically pulled itself out, taking bits of meat with it, but it came out. Keeping her hands raised, she continued to mutter in a singsong yet guttural language. A warm glow enveloped the blue dragon and grew brighter. In a flash, Renee shrank down and was changed back into her human form. Her wounds looked even more horrific on her Caucasian flesh. Eric rushed to the Jester’s side and knelt. He touched her temple gingerly and tried stirring her into consciousness. Karna, kneeling beside Eric, laid a cool hand on Renee’s chest. A moment passed, then another.
“She is dead.” Karna replied.
Eric blinked, face gone ghostly white. Everyone stood respectfully silent, hanging his or her heads mournfully. Eric felt as if an emotion dam inside had burst. He could no longer hold back the incredible surge of grief and he crumbled with his head lying on Renee’s chest. He cried, sobbing loudly and let his tears soak her ruined silk shirt. His body shuddered with his torment.
Karna spoke quietly, “You’re dragon had rescued me, Cavalier. You loved one of my dragons. For that, I have just power enough to grant you one of two favors. I can either send you all home or I could bring Renee back to life.”
Eric brought his head up, throat tight and heart miserable, “You know what my vote would be.”
He heard the gang quietly confer to one another behind them.
“We agree. If there is truly a way, bring Renee back, please.” Hank said.
Karna nodded, “When the Dungeon Master gave me the formula for Renee’s breath weapon, the Waters of the Flame, he also gave me something else.” She took a hand-sized crystal ball from her hip pocket. Within it writhed what looked like liquid light. “Her aura. Dungeon Master managed to steal it before Venger managed to get a hold of her. It is her life force. He knew that it was a dragons life force that was what created weapons of power. If Venger had it, he could have easily controlled her. Now, in her death, his tie to her is broken. However, she is not completely dead, Cavalier. She did not return to the Dragon’s Graveyard. I have her life force and I can return it to her.”
The others watched on as she preformed the miracle. She closed her eyes to concentrate. Eric instinctively backed away when he felt the tingling of her divine magic. He held his breath and dared to hope that she could do as she said. The gang hung back as the Goddess sealed all of Renee’s wounds, then, holding up the crystal in one hand and her other hand hovering over the body, she spoke out loud in that same singsong language. The light in the ball traveled slowly across into her arms and ran through her whole body as if gathering up strength, then it shot itself out of her other hand and merged into Renee’s body. Karna sighed from the effort and lowered the ball. She placed it back into her pocket and motioned for Eric to return to her side.
“Did it . . . work?” Eric asked breathless.
She silently gestured for him to kneel next to Renee. He did. He cautiously reached out and slightly shook her, once, twice . . .
deadly array of claws. Renee bellowed in pain echoed by a cry out of Eric. He watched as her gut was ripped open, blood gushed in a thick, sickening river as it sprayed out from the deadly wound.
“My GOD! Can’t someone . . . anyone do anything?” His voice broke and he fought back the threatening tears.
Presto tore his hat off and twiddled feverishly, “Please, magic hat, hear my shout and give us something to help Renee out!”
A spray of light fanned out and upwards complete with a mixture of sparks and hellish smoke. A portal opened up above them and two familiar something’s came out. Eric happily recognized his gold dragon now spinning overhead and another apparition that Eric could not summon much joy for followed her. Tiamat winged her way after the gold and both towards the stricken Renee.
“Wow, Presto!” Bobby said awed, “That just might do the trick. But why would Tiamat help?”
“Anything to thwart Venger, I suppose.” Diana suggested.
“Well,” Hank said, “At least the cavalry is on the way.” “Too late,” Eric said grief stricken as he watched the demon let go of his blue dragon and she fell listlessly. “She’s finished.”
The other two dragons fully engaged the demons. The battle in the sky raged but Eric bolted, heedless of the fury above them. The rest of the gang followed. They hurried to where they calculated the mortally wounded Renee would crash land in the mountains. Renee finally impacted with the side of a mountain. She made no motion as she bounced and rolled down to the bottom. She was either dead or unconscious, Eric thought gravely. After what seemed like hours, they finally approached the motionless form of Renee. She seemed crumbled and broken. When they rounded her hind end, they could finally see for themselves the extent of the damage. Bare ribs reached for the sky. Most of the organs in her midsection now lay slack and strung out on the ground in an ever-widening pool of blood. The spear shaft had been snapped in half with its muzzle still buried in her ruined flesh. Eric bit back a sob as he tried to come to terms with the nightmarish scene.
“Oh my God!” Sheila said and let unashamed tears flow.
“Is she . . . dead?” Presto asked.
“I don’t know,” Hank replied, feeling like he failed somehow. Renee was a part of the gang now and he failed to keep her safe.
“Hello, everyone.” A familiar voice coming from behind shocked everyone enough for them all to turn.
Karna stood there looking much older than her physical body suggested. She now wore that same expression of deep wisdom that they so often encountered on Dungeon Masters visage. Eric went up to her, eyes pleading. He realized that Karna was more than she seemed.
“Please,” was all he could manage to say.
“I can do nothing for her in this state.” Karna said then raised her hand when Eric opened his mouth to protest, “This is . . . complicated, Cavalier. My powers are weak after Venger had fractured my individual aspects and I only just managed to reabsorb them all again. One thousand years living as only one-one hundredth of your original self, well, it takes time for those aspects to remember how to communicate with each other efficiently again.”
“Wait a minute, you mean, you’re the Dragon’s Goddess?” Presto deduced on his own.
Karna nodded sagely. She moved to Renee’s still side and raised her hands. She muttered something quick and short and the spear magically pulled itself out, taking bits of meat with it, but it came out. Keeping her hands raised, she continued to mutter in a singsong yet guttural language. A warm glow enveloped the blue dragon and grew brighter. In a flash, Renee shrank down and was changed back into her human form. Her wounds looked even more horrific on her Caucasian flesh. Eric rushed to the Jester’s side and knelt. He touched her temple gingerly and tried stirring her into consciousness. Karna, kneeling beside Eric, laid a cool hand on Renee’s chest. A moment passed, then another.
“She is dead.” Karna replied.
Eric blinked, face gone ghostly white. Everyone stood respectfully silent, hanging his or her heads mournfully. Eric felt as if an emotion dam inside had burst. He could no longer hold back the incredible surge of grief and he crumbled with his head lying on Renee’s chest. He cried, sobbing loudly and let his tears soak her ruined silk shirt. His body shuddered with his torment.
Karna spoke quietly, “You’re dragon had rescued me, Cavalier. You loved one of my dragons. For that, I have just power enough to grant you one of two favors. I can either send you all home or I could bring Renee back to life.”
Eric brought his head up, throat tight and heart miserable, “You know what my vote would be.”
He heard the gang quietly confer to one another behind them.
“We agree. If there is truly a way, bring Renee back, please.” Hank said.
Karna nodded, “When the Dungeon Master gave me the formula for Renee’s breath weapon, the Waters of the Flame, he also gave me something else.” She took a hand-sized crystal ball from her hip pocket. Within it writhed what looked like liquid light. “Her aura. Dungeon Master managed to steal it before Venger managed to get a hold of her. It is her life force. He knew that it was a dragons life force that was what created weapons of power. If Venger had it, he could have easily controlled her. Now, in her death, his tie to her is broken. However, she is not completely dead, Cavalier. She did not return to the Dragon’s Graveyard. I have her life force and I can return it to her.”
The others watched on as she preformed the miracle. She closed her eyes to concentrate. Eric instinctively backed away when he felt the tingling of her divine magic. He held his breath and dared to hope that she could do as she said. The gang hung back as the Goddess sealed all of Renee’s wounds, then, holding up the crystal in one hand and her other hand hovering over the body, she spoke out loud in that same singsong language. The light in the ball traveled slowly across into her arms and ran through her whole body as if gathering up strength, then it shot itself out of her other hand and merged into Renee’s body. Karna sighed from the effort and lowered the ball. She placed it back into her pocket and motioned for Eric to return to her side.
“Did it . . . work?” Eric asked breathless.
She silently gestured for him to kneel next to Renee. He did. He cautiously reached out and slightly shook her, once, twice . . .
“Renee?” He whispered, his face near hers.
He yelped as her hand snapped around and grabbed his upper arm. Her eyes were wild as they were flung open to sudden wakefulness. Eric didn’t have time to be glad as she used her draconic strength to flip both of them over. Eric landed on his back, staring up into the face of the woman he loved. She didn’t seem to know what she was doing as she raised up her right hand while pinning him firmly with her left, raised it to strike.
“Renee! It’s ME! It’s ERIC! RENEE!” Eric said frantically, knowing how a blow from her would mean his death.
Her hand stopped in midarc. Her eyes blinked and a look of confusion wormed its way across her face.
“Eric? My Eric?” She looked at him closely, studying him. He saw recognition dawn, “ERIC!”
She fell on him and threatened to suffocate him with kisses. He hugged her tightly, unbelieving that she was as good as new. He could hear his friend’s exclamations of joy and felt as if he would burst from happiness.
RING!
The somehow familiar sound startled everyone. Renee, still on top of Eric’s prone form, rose slowly, trying to identify the curious sound.
RING! Again they heard the strange sound.
“That’s a phone!” Sheila finally recalled. It had been a long time since any of them had heard such a thing.
“Where’s it coming from?” Bobby asked as he looked all around for the source.
Uni walked up to Renee and nudged the Jester.
RING!
“Oh! I never checked out if this suit had pockets!” Renee said and searched both pockets frantically. She pulled a cell phone she had totally forgotten about out of one of them.
RING!
Everyone watched as Renee hesitantly activated her phone and put it to her ear.
“Um, Anderson.” She said even more hesitantly. Pause.
“Yasutake-san!” Renee said as she suddenly recalled who it was on the other end of the line.
Pause again, then Renee spouted forth Japanese in a seemingly fast-forward barrage while she conversed with the person on the other end. The others could only look on in amazement.
Eric interrupted the next pause in conversation, “Hey, ask this Yasutake person if he could contact our parents!”
Renee nodded and was about to relay the request when something zapped her cell phone and it vanished.
“Not yet, my pupils.”
“HEY! You just made me hang up on my boss!” Renee said peeved and was not too surprised to find the Dungeon Master with the still smoking finger. But she supposed it was for the best as she wondered what the roaming charges for a transworld call would be.
“But Young Ones, would you leave your duties unfinished?” The DM asked as he walked up to Karna’s side.
“If it would mean a way to get home without getting killed, then YES!” Eric growled as both he and Renee stood.
“Dungeon Master, what about Venger?” Hank asked and searched the sky, not finding the demons any longer.
“He will not be able to have such a powerful hold on Renee any longer. Tiamat and the last of the golden dragons have driven the demons back. Karna is returned to her Godly state, and Eric gets the girl.” The Dungeon Master commented with his usual knowing grin.
“Sounds like this duty is finished to me,” Eric said and wrapped his arm around Renee’s waist.
“Who exactly are you, Karna?” Renee asked curious.
“I am the Dragon’s Goddess. Fearing the second most powerful dragon Tiamat’s power, and mine combined, Venger shattered my being into its separate aspects and put them in the form of humans and scattered me across the Realm. The area where Stalmoore had stood had been a meeting place of dragons in the Realm for much longer than I had ever existed. It was a place that drew me together. But Venger kept an eye on Stalmoore as more and more aspects returned to the place of power. Once every aspect had returned, before I could merge, he had the Master of the Souls steal the male half of me. He had given Renee the power to become a dragon queen for when he had me destroyed; Tiamat’s powers would leave her and every other dragon in the Realm. He would have killed Tiamat and had made Renee the new queen, thus using Renee to control all the Realm’s dragons.”
“So you were, in reality, the entire population of Stalmoore.” Presto said.
Karna nodded, “Once separated, my aspects could no longer converse as I had when I had been whole. I was effectively alone, yet living together. One aspect could not confer properly with another. Now after a thousand years of separation, relearning how to make my aspects communicate properly again will take some time.”
Everyone slowly digested this piece of information. Renee had too many questions though and she knew that not all of them would be answered.
“Just what were the Waters of the Flame? And why could I not eat?”
Dungeon Master chuckled, “The Waters of the Flame was, as you might say, the pilot light in your internal furnace. It also reinforced your insides so they could withstand your powerful breath weapon. You could not eat because it would have made learning to fly an impossibility. It would have been a dead weight in your stomach. Now that you know the basics of flying again, yes, you can eat.”
“Dungeon Master, was all this pain and heart ache necessary?” Eric wanted to know. “That is life, Cavalier. Yes there is pain in living, but I believe the joy can and does balance it out, does it not?” Dungeon Master said. “To appreciate one or the other, you must know both.”
They were all buffeted by twin winds and the dirt and sand was kicked up as two dragons landed near them. The gold dragon ambled over to Eric and nudged him affectionately. Renee quirked up an eyebrow at the friendly exchange between the two.
“Am I going to have competition now?” She kidded.
Eric chuckled as he patted the familiar golden nose, “Never. We’re just old friends. You see, I’m kinda the surrogate father of her hatchlings. It’s a long story.”
“You, my KISA, are full of surprises.” Renee laughed joyfully.
Tiamat loomed over them, making the gold and the dragon form of Renee seem tiny. Her five heads snaked in towards Eric and Renee. Both bravely held their position as the dragon queen studied them.
She spoke in her razor voice, “You have summoned me. Send me back. I have taken care of Venger for you. Do not call me again.” She ignored Karna who calmly watched the exchange.
Presto nervously took off his hat again and tried to twiddle and keep his voice from shaking at the same time.
“Magic hat, the dragon queen has fought hard, please send her back to the Dragon’s Graveyard.”
A light grew from deep within Presto’s hat and oozed out to grasp onto Tiamat’s form. She roared with all five heads and allowed herself to be pulled into the hat back home. Presto felt elated that his hat had worked so well twice in a row.
“Now, my pupils, are you ready for your next adventure?” The Dungeon Master asked with a twinkle in his eye, knowing the Young Ones could not refuse for with every adventure, they took a step closer to home.
END
~Dungeons and Dragons are trademarks of TSR and Marvel. I did not receive permission to use the above characters and am not making any profit on this story. Renee, Karna, and the Master of the Souls, are my creations and are just part of my wacky imagination as I put the Young Ones through their paces.~