Forbidden Places
By Richard LeBlanc
Chapter Six: Dragon rage
A few short moments ago - Toy maker and Enchanter were about to do battle. However, as they all stood in the shadow of a large angry talking dragon, that moment now seemed like a distant memory.
"This creature - it isn't like the others." Enchanter muttered.
"Notice that all by yourself?" Toy Maker muttered.
"Silence!" the dragon echoed. All of the people within the shadow of the dragon hopped back.
"You may talk big - but to me you are just another fly to be caught in my web!" Lord Arachnid stated coldly. He stepped forward and emitted a black bolt at the hissing dragon. Lithian glared at the arrogant wizard that had attempted to banish him.
"I think - not." Lithian hissed. With a wave of its huge claw-like hand - the dark spell was countered. The three wizards realized just how different this creature truly was.
"This dragon..." Toy Maker began.
"Is a wizard like us." Enchanter concluded.
"Not like you - stronger!" Lithian hissed as he cast a blue bolt of power at the spider wizard. Lord Arachnid tried to dodge - but it was no use. The bolt slammed into his head. Arachnid screamed out as the powerful spell began to take effect.
"Argh! Memories - spells - coming too fast!" he strained as he fell to his knees. Both wizards knew the spell that was being used.
"A brain geyser spell. How the hell did a dragon get one of those?" Toy Maker asked.
"Why don't you ask him?" Enchanter suggested.
"Shut up! Damn it! If he keeps that up - the spider wizard will die." Toy Maker muttered in disgust.
"The problem is?" Enchanter asked.
"Don't remind me. Let's see how badly the dragon wants this."  Toy Maker retorted. As he had done before he created the glowing red orbs of mana. Enchanter watched as a white light shot from orb to orb to form a triangle. Toy maker then focused blue mana into the triangle. Just then a large blast of blue power shot out at the dragon. Lithian roared and glared at Toy maker.
"What is he doing?" Markys whispered.
"He is attempting to power sink the spell." Enchanter answered. He then watched as the power began to slowly spiral towards Toy Maker.
"Check that - he is casting a power sink." He corrected.
"You try my patients little worm!" Lithian howled. It spun around and knocked Toy maker aside with his powerful wings. Toy Maker soared through the air and collided into the dazed spider wizard.
"Taste my elemental power!" Toy maker shouted as a red blast shot out from his gauntlet.
"I think not. You are not the only one with elemental powers." Lithian retorted. With a wave of his claw-like hand - a blue blast shot outward towards the approaching spell. Upon contact the two spells cancelled each other out.
"This is not good." Toy Maker muttered.
"Hey Markys - can you make this thing go away like you did that dragon?" Enchanter asked optimistically.
"Only had the one spell." She replied timidly.
"Of course." He replied as he watched the dragon almost double in size.
"You mad at me?" she asked hesitantly.
"No. Of course not. I just wish that there was something we could do to get around that flying, spell casting road block." He replied seriously as he watched Lithian go after Lord Arachnid and Toy maker.
"Tithian." She replied.
"What?" he asked hesitantly.
"Tithian hate Lithian - Lithian hate Tithian." She repeated.
"I'm almost afraid to ask. Is there anything else?" he asked curiously.
"No - everything cloudy still." She answered.
"Oh well - that isn't much to work with - but I suppose I've done more with less. Wait here." He stated calmly as he hovered up so that he was parallel to the dragon's head.
"Hey - Lithian?" Enchanter called out. The dragon turned around and saw the wizard hovering meters before his face. The dragon snarled.
"I had almost forgotten about you." It hissed.
"I'm crushed." Enchanter remarked. Before he could react - the dragon snatched him and held him in his powerful claws.
"A good idea!" Lithian roared.
"Wait! Hear me out!" he requested.
"Why should I?" he retorted.
"What have you got to lose by hearing me out? We are clearly no match for you right?" Enchanter asked as a dim aura began to glow around him.
"Hmph. You have some wisdom in that tiny head of yours." Lithian growled.
"Will you listen?" Enchanter asked calmly.
"You wish to beg for your life?" the dragon hissed evilly.
"Nothing of the sort. Such a thing would only disgust a dragon - a plainswalker as noble as yourself. All I ask is that you hear me out." Enchanter stated as his blue aura streaked with green began to pulse.
"Huh. Noble you say. You are the first to notice. Hmm. You are up to something. Are you stalling for time so that your friends can aid you in dealing with me?" he asked lowly as he looked over at the two wizards that were watching the conversation closely.
"They - are hardly what I would call friends. Both would gladly place a knife between my shoulder blades given the appropriate opportunity. I travel with them only because it is necessary." He stated calmly. Lithian snorted and held Enchanter inches away from his huge fanged mouth.
"Wizards - tend to be like that." Lithian added.
"Yeah. So - why are you hearing me out? Don't tell me I'm winning you over." He replied with a smile.
"No. I am debating if you are worth the stomach ache I will surely get when I devour you whole." Lithian replied with a snort.
"I would have to say that I wouldn't be worth it - but that's just me." Enchanter stated as his aura shifted from blue to green streaked with blue.
"Perhaps it would be better if I just disemboweled with my claws." He suggested as a huge claw slowly made its way towards the head of Enchanter.
"Wait - aren't you the slightest bit curious as to why we are trespassing on your domain?" he asked curiously. The dragon almost smiled but shook his head and continued to move the claw even closer.
"What if I said that it would interest you?" he added.
"There is nothing you could say that could remotely interest me. Make peace with your gods - for you will shortly be joining them." Lithian replied calmly as the claw was only a few feet away from his head.
"We are here on a quest." Enchanter stated as the claw slowly moved closer.
"How noble - I'm sure." He replied unimpressed.
"Not noble - anything but - we are after another wizard - one named Tithian." He replied. the claw stopped inches away from his head. Enchanter could hear the loud dragon growling as rage began to well from the depths of the giant dragon.
"Tithian..." the dragon hissed. His grip on Enchanter began to constrict.
"You - are kind of crushing me." Enchanter muttered. Lithian instantly released Enchanter and watched as he floated before him.
"What is your business with that forest dwelling whore?" he grunted.
"Tithian - went on a little bit of a rampage some time ago - the exact time is uncertain - but what is certain is that each of us - has a stake in wanting her head as a trophy." Enchanter replied. Lithian studied Enchanter and then looked down at the other two mages he was dueling with.
"Tithian..." the dragon hissed lowly.
"I take it that you are not overly fond of her yourself?" Enchanter asked.
"I hate her with a passion that doubles with every passing minute. A hate that is thousands of years old." Lithian replied with a growl.
"Well, why don't you just kill the bitch then? I mean as you are so strong and powerful - surely she would be no match for you." Enchanter asked seriously.
"Unfortunately - that is not so. Tithian - and I are almost equal. Her power is strongest where she dwells as holds true for me. I once tried to fell the whore in her territory and barely escaped. Powerful wards weaken us if we wander to far from our territory." The dragon muttered in disgust.
"I see. A deal perhaps?" Enchanter began.
"I'm listening." Lithian replied coldly.
"I am wagering that the wards that weaken you - will have no baring on us. Let my friends and I pass. Let us exact your revenge - and ours as well on this - creature that calls herself your equal. What say you?" Enchanter offered seriously as his eyes glowed blue.
"Huh. You and your foolish friends are no match for me. What makes you think that you will fare any better against her?" he asked coldly.
"You are a master of counter magic as well as knowledge lore. As powerful as you are - add that knowledge to the mix and you are almost invincible. I am wagering that Tithian - has no such knowledge. She won't be able to stop what we will do to her." Enchanter added as his eyes churned from a glowing blue to green.
"True - but she is still a crafty opponent." He stated coldly. Enchanter almost wanted to growl himself but managed to remain in control of his frustration.
"Heed my advice great one - alone - the three of us wouldn't stand a chance in hell against her - but together - three powerful mages - can best one crafty opponent. Ask yourself this great one, what have you to lose by letting us be the instrument of your fury?" Enchanter asked as his aura began to pulse again.
"You do have a point. If you succeed - you will deal with my greatest enemy. If you fail - she will slay you herself. I stand to gain everything - and lose nothing." Lithian began with an evil laugh.
"Win - win situation. You can't beat that." Enchanter added - the aura - faded away.
"Very well. You may pass. But know that I will be watching you all closely from my lair." He began as he doubled in size.
"But if you are foolish enough to believe that betraying me is an option..." he began with a growl.
"We wouldn't be that foolish." Enchanter reassured. Lithian shrunk down to his natural size. They could all hear his laughter as he flew back towards the water. They all watched as he dived up and then splashed into the waters from whence he came.
"Great gamble Enchanter. Now we have a dragon wizard breathing down our necks." Toy Maker muttered.
"Not - now. It took every ounce of mana I have at my disposal to get that beast off our backs. If I hadn't done what I did - we would be battling that thing until the waters ran dry." Enchanter retorted as he slowly floated back down to where the others were.
"So - we have to concern ourselves with a spell casting dragon?' Arachnid asked.
"He was more than a dragon - more than a wizard. I can't put my finger on it - but there was something almost familiar about him." Enchanter stated as he leaned against a tree.
"In some far distant land - in some isolated place - there is a small insignificant peon that might actually care about that discovery of yours. How about you lose the philosophic tones and explain where all of this is going? Some of us are in a bit of a hurry." Arachnid stated seriously.
"I am saying that - he wasn't from here - but some power has bound him here. I power I have sensed before. There are strong forces at work here. Forces that are moving us towards something - or someone." He explained seriously.
"Well, that was overly dramatic." Toy Maker muttered unimpressed.
"I'm being quite serious." Enchanter stated.
"You kidding? If you three work together - nothing could stand in your way." Markys added happily.
"Uh - sure. Whatever. So how are we going to get wherever we are going. My senses are telling me that this is an island and that we must be elsewhere. And no disrespect intended Toy Maker - but I am not looking forward to another experience on one of your artifacts." Arachnid stated.
"If it wasn't for me - that dragon would have killed you with that brain geyser." Toy Maker pointed out.
"You expecting a medal?" he retorted.
"When I chose - to take you down - you will know - long before it happens. Subtlety is not something I am known for." Toy maker retorted seriously.
"Does the brat have a means of crossing the waters?" Toy maker asked.
"Don't call me that!" she retorted crossly.
"That answers that." Arachnid muttered.
"Then I guess it falls on me then. Come along." He replied as they all walked towards the distant beach. Within moments they were all there and were looking at the nearest island that appeared to be nothing more than a black spot on the distant horizon.
"So now what?" Arachnid asked.
"Now - we ride across the waters." He replied with a wave of his hands the waters before them churned. The waters splashed as a war barge appeared in the waters.
"Now - as Arachnid as cold feet. We will go across in this - and he can float!" he stated as he glared at the spider wizard.
"I would sooner trust that dragon than ride in that floating coffin." Arachnid retorted. Enchanter stepped between the angry wizards.
"This will get us no where. The child wants us to travel together - or she won't take us any further. That means I don't get what I want Toy maker doesn't get what he wants - and it means that you won't get what you want. Like it or not - we are stuck with each other. Let's try - not to make it worse than it already is." He suggested. The two wizards continued to glare at each other as though Enchanter wasn't there.
"We sail - whatever you chose - is of no consequence to me." Toy Maker muttered as he turned and entered his boat. Enchanter looked over at Arachnid.
"Whatever you are seeking - you will not find if we don't work together." Enchanter stated. Arachnid shifted his glare over to the wizard that was addressing him.
"Whatever you are trying to accomplish by playing mediator - it will gain you nothing. I trust you no more than I do that - bitter artificer. Remember that." Arachnid stated as he walked into the barge.
"You handled that well." Markys stated with a smile.
"I don't know if I will be able to keep those two apart for very long." Enchanter commented.
"They will listen sooner or later. I believe in you." She replied happily.
"I hope you are right." Enchanter stated as they too got onto the tiny warship.
"Everyone get to the front of the ship." Toy Maker stated as the ramp slowly went up. The ship jerked a bit as it moved free of the ground below and began to drift outward.
"How exactly - are we supposed to deal with Tithian - whoever or whatever that is?" Arachnid asked.
"If we keep our wits about us - I'm sure we will do fine. Let's not talk about it right now." Enchanter replied seriously. Arachnid shook his head and looked out at the distant island.
"How long is this going to take?" Arachnid asked impatiently.
"I can speed things up - I just wasn't sure if that was what everyone wanted." Toy maker stated with a smug smile. He got up from where he was and placed his hand on a large crystal. Enchanter watched as Toy maker began to focus his power into the barge. Just then the barge began to move faster and faster until they were moving faster than an arrow in flight.
"Wow! We're going fast." Markys said as she leaned over the side. Enchanter quickly reached over to ensure that she didn't fall over the edge.
"Is this one of your creations - or past acquisitions?" Enchanter asked curiously.
"It was something I picked up in my travels. It was a dark and dreary place. I of course modified it to suit my needs - but other than that - the design is the same." He replied calmly. Everyone slowly got up as the distant island seemed to get bigger. As they got closer - they got a vague notion of just how big the island truly was.
"Big place." Arachnid pointed out.
"The source of the forbidden lore. That is where its secrets are hidden." Enchanter added. Toy maker removed his hand from the crystal. The barge began to slow down until it was moving as fast as it was before he empowered the artifact.
"Why did you stop?" Arachnid asked.
"I don't know these waters. I don't want us getting stuck on a reef." He explained. The island loomed closer in the distance.
"By the look of it - we have three choices. We can go towards the dense forests to the east - the mountains to the west - or the desert to the south. Any suggestions?" Toy Maker asked seriously.
"We could follow the coast." Enchanter suggested. Toy maker and Arachnid looked over at him as though he had grown a second head.
"What?" he asked defensively.
"There are two reasons why that won't work. One - we won't discover anything if we hug the coast." Toy Maker began.
"A second reason would be a large spell casting dragon that is watching us from under the water." Arachnid added. Enchanter silently nodded.
"Point taken." He muttered. Within a matter of moments the barge was almost within reach of the shore. It was then that a small flock of white sparkling birds began to fly over the barge. Toy Maker paid no attention to them at first - but both Arachnid and Enchanter seemed almost mesmerized by the innocent looking birds.
"What are they?" Enchanter asked quietly.
"I don't think I've ever felt so at peace with myself." Arachnid added. Toy maker looked over at the two to see if they were serious - but by a casual glance he could see that they were.
"You must be joking." He muttered as he looked up at the birds. Whatever they were seeing - he wasn't.
Those damn birds are doing something to both of them - but not me and Markys? He thought as he looked over at Markys who was distracted by a fish that was swimming beside the barge.
"I guess that it is up to me. A grapeshot catapult - should do the trick." He muttered. with a wave of his hands - the artifact he called for appeared before him. he loaded the device and looked up at the small flock of white birds.
"Take your pick birds - leave now - or I will shoot you from the sky." Toy maker warned. On that note - the small flock began to flutter away. in a matter of moments - Enchanter and Arachnid began to return to normal.
"For something with such a tiny brain - they sure chose smart." He muttered.
"Markys - I know you have an idea as to what those things were. Why weren't you or I affected by those birds?" he asked seriously.
"Those - were the doves of the windy beach. They fly around the coast of the mainland. Strong people and creatures are calmed by the patterns of light created by the fluttering of their wings." She replied coolly.
"What - happened? I feel like I was in some sort of fog." Arachnid asked.
"A bunch of white birds bewitched you. It is a long story that I believe could be told later." Toy maker answered calmly as the barge drifted onto the shore.
"White birds? Must be the doves of the windy beach. I thought that they were all killed off by orcs and goblins almost a century ago." Enchanter commented.
"So where are we going?" Toy Maker asked as the ramp lowered. They all made their way off the barge and set foot on the mainland of the Forbidden Isles.
"Map say mountains." Markys stated. Enchanter looked over at the map in Markys' hands and saw that a dotted line went towards the mountains.
"So it would seem." He confirmed.
"Then let's get moving. None of us are getting any younger."  Arachnid stated. Toy maker was forced to agree with him. with a wave of his hand the two artifacts that he had brought into play vanished.
"Enchanter?" Markys began.
"What?" he replied. Markys extended her arms out.
"I need a hug." She added with a pouty face.
"I am going to be ill." Arachnid stated in disgust.
"Wait up - I'll join you." Toy Maker added as they walked away from the two.
"Don't listen to them." Enchanter stated as he gave Markys a friendly hug. He then carefully lifted her up.
"You're so nice." She stated happily as she hugged him.
"What can I say - it's the kind of guy I am." He replied with a wink.
"Why can't everyone be nice like you?" she asked innocently.
"Maybe someday they will. Time will tell." Enchanter replied as he carried Markys to where the others were not so patiently waiting.
"Can we be on our way now?" Toy Maker asked.
"I don't see why not. Come along gentlemen. We have a new land to explore." Enchanter replied dramatically as he walked by the two wizards.
"Is he for real?" Arachnid asked lowly.
"God I hope not." Toy Maker replied as they followed Enchanter and Markys away from the shore.
To be continued...
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