Scourge of the Dragons

Scourge of the Dragons

  By Cody J. Sherer

  This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental.

  Scourge of the Dragons

  Copyright ©2015 by Cody J. Sherer

  All Rights Reserved.

  Tales of Canai Series

  Book 1: The Wizard’s Council

  Book 2: The Tomes of Magic

  Book 3: Fall of a Guardian

  Other Works

  Legends of Canai Short Story Compilation

  Sanctuary

  Chronicles of George Jackson

  Book 1: Pioneers of the Stars

  Map of Palemedor

  Contents

  Map of Palemedor 4

  Scourged Lands 7

  Dragons and Knights 25

  A Champion of Night 46

  The Beginnings of a Journey 54

  A Champion of Shadows 59

  The Forest Realms 68

  The Dance of Shadows 73

  The Shadow Grows 85

  The Spirit Monks 103

  War 118

  Dragon Hunting 132

  The Four Kingdoms 145

  Seeking Allies 161

  Esclation 174

  The Arcane Academy 191

  Preparing For War 203

  The Great Battle 216

  Author Bio 234

  Scourged Lands

  Prince Hadrin gazed out over the evening realms. The lands he stood to inherit had become infested with a scourge that even the Prince couldn’t escape. Violet branches stretched out over the land like the shadow of a massive tree. He looked down at his hand and saw the deep-blue tendrils stretching forth on his forearm. The spread had quickened its pace in the recent years, causing Hadrin to wonder if there would be a kingdom left to inherit. He pulled his sleeves back down over his forearms and spun back away from the balcony. His father, King Obrin, had taken the worst of the scourge. The Prince was still able to hide the deep blues with long sleeves and cloaks. Small wisps of purple and blue lined the King’s chin and neck like a beard under his skin. Even his old scar on his left cheek had succumbed to the unknown curse.

  “Why did this foulness befall us, father?” Hadrin asked as he approached the King.

  “Through no fault of our own, my son. We formed a pact with the night dragons. They gave us long life in exchange for being their caretakers. The evils of the world have finally dealt a fatal blow to dragonkind and so we must pass on with them,” Obrin replied.

  “Is there no way to reverse it?”

  “Our greatest mages have attempted to reverse the effects, but it was for naught. The great night elf army vanquished several possible culprits. Whoever struck us down did so from the shadows. We are a dying race now, my boy.”

  The Prince turned away from his father, heartbroken at seeing the once thriving elf in such a state. There had been a time when the legendary King Obrin would have died before giving up. He looked out over the evening realms again, this time in an attempt to remember their glorious past. His eyes spotted something shimmering in the distance. A great host moved across the lands with a purpose unknown to Hadrin. He grabbed hold of the Wizard’s Orb and stepped out onto the balcony. The inside of the sphere showed the leader of the sun elves, King Erlkan.

  “Look father, our brethren from the sun realms have come to help us,” he said as the King joined him on the balcony.

  “Not to help us, son. Erlkan is here to ensure that the scourge dies with us,” Obrin said.

  “Why would you ask him to do such a thing?”

  “I did no such thing. The sun King is an arrogant elf that only has time for the solutions of his Empress.”

  Hadrin grimaced at his father’s words. There had been a time when Obrin only had positive words for his cousin. The Prince had once mistakenly thought they were brothers. Before the scourge had taken hold, Obrin looked like a silver haired version of Erlkan. They were both tall and thin with faces like stone. Unlike his cousin, the sun King’s appearance matched that which was inside his heart. The Prince was able to spot the air of haughtiness that the man exuded. Though the cousins were tall, Hadrin towered over both of them. His softer features belying the strength and determination within. Though tall for an elf, the Prince was short by the world’s standards. Among the so-called civilized races, only the dwarves were shorter than the elves. Hadrin’s stocky build and above average height often had the other elves wondering at his ancestry.

  The young Prince looked from the night elf King to the Wizard’s Orb and back. His father’s transformation had been so slow that he hadn’t realized just how drastic it had become. Everyone saw the strange tendrils plaguing his body, but few had noticed the changes in posture, skin tone, and mass. King Obrin looked pale, thin, and sickly. His cousin, on the other hand, looked as though he had escaped the ravages of time altogether. Though elves lived longer than the other races, time still had a negative effect on their bodies. King Erlkan looked closer to three hundred than over six hundred. Obrin looked more like Hadrin’s grandfather than his father. The scourge was stealing more than just the Prince’s future kingdom, it was slowly killing his father. Hadrin knew that it wouldn’t stop there either.

  “Come, my son, let us greet our guest and see if we can stay his hand,” King Obrin said.

  “Is there any chance he will give us more time?” Hadrin asked.

  “We are still cousins, that may help our cause.

  *

  Erlkan motioned for his army to stop as soon as he spotted the two riders. His task was a difficult one. He had attempted to get the others to send someone else, but they chose him on purpose. King Obrin might see reason coming from his own cousin, or so they had told him. There had been a time when the elves had seen his actions as noble. The night dragons needed caretakers, even if they were the most notorious of dragons. Erlkan felt that his cousin’s bravery had only increased since taking on the task. His sacrifices ensured that the most dangerous of dragons had been kept in check. The sun King cleared his throat as the whispers reached his ears. He would not abide his elves talking bad about their kin.

  “King Erlkan, my cousin, it has been too long,” King Obrin said as he dismounted.

  “I could not agree more, old friend. We were unsure if you would receive us favorably,” the sun King said.

  “Truth be told, we receive you warily. Everyone knows you are here for the night dragons. They are our lifeblood now, much like you and the sun dragons. Can we persuade you to give us more time?”

  “They are no longer your lifeblood, cousin. They’ve become your noose. Let us rid you of their scourge. There is still the possibility of salvaging your kingdom.”

  “The night dragons are not behind the scourge. They’ve been infected just as horribly as the rest of us,” Hadrin said.

  “It cannot be. Has it been so long that your son is all grown?” Erlkan turned to his cousin, his face full of shame.

  “My son had his fifty-second celebration no more than a month ago,” Obrin said, placing his hand on Hadrin’s shoulder.

  “I’ve failed you as a cousin. I should have been here twelve years ago for his rituals. At the very least I should have brought a family gift within the ten year window. Where have the years gone, Obrin?” Erlkan asked.

  “We’ve lost much more than just the past several years.”

  “Mostly because of me, I know. What choice did I have? It matters not, we must focus on the now. The dragons can wait, my kin completed the ceremony. I must know all about it.”

  *

  Hadrin pulled the leather jerkin over his head. It was a little tight, but he was close to the same size as he
had been twelve years ago. He strapped the breastplate on over the leather. His image in the mirror was far more regal than he ever felt. Servants and advisers alike had always told him he would make a good King one day. He strapped on the rest of his armor and then pulled the helmet down over his head. Every member of the elven royal line received custom ceremonial armor when they came of age. It usually was a combination of the styles of their combat armor and their family crest. For Hadrin, the combination was lighter armor with silver and blue highlights. He made his way out into the hall and was surprised to see both of the Kings wearing their armor. His father’s ceremonial armor was heavy with silver and orange and Erlkan wore heavy armor with gold and green.

  “You do not know how fortunate you have been, cousin,” Erlkan said.

  “My position is much less envious than your own,” Obrin said.

  “I would give it all up for a true family. You have a son to share everything with. It makes you wonder.”

  “What are saying, your highness?” Corin, one of the sun King’s Captains, asked.

  “The Empress is a woman to be served, not a woman to love,” Erlkan replied.

  “How can you say that about her majesty? The Empress means everything to elvenkind.”

  “Enough, you insult our hosts with your ignorance.”

  Silence filled the banquet hall as Corin glared at the sun King. The elven Captain’s hand slid down to his sword as he stood. Erlkan sighed as he scooted his chair back. He stood up and drew his own sword. The two stepped out into the center of the hall and faced each other. Several other elves lined up alongside Corin. Obrin stood up and drew his sword. He staggered over to his cousin and stood at his side. Hadrin could tell that the two of them were severely outmatched, but his father had forbidden the blacksmith from making him a sword. He stood up from his chair and joined the two despite being unarmed. Dozens of elves joined each side of the fight. Ultimately, more sided with Corin. Erlkan held up his hand.

  “I had heard the rumors, but I had never thought it would be you,” he said.

  “How did you find out?” Corin asked.

  “The necklace. It belonged to her father. That is her most prized possession. The fact that she gave it to you tells me everything.”

  “She never loved you.”

  “There was very short period where she did, but our marriage was political. We both knew it would not last. Corin, this is between you and me. Let the others leave.”

  “You are so very mistaken. She wants all three of imprisoned for spreading the scourge to the sun dragons.”

  The entire room gasped at the revelation and some of the elves that had sided with the two Kings switched to the Captain’s side. Erlkan began to protest the claim, but the warriors on both sides were already prepared for a fight. The fight was short and bloody, with many elves on both sides falling. Both Kings had stayed near the Prince to ensure his safety, but in the end it didn’t matter. Their opponents had managed to disarm both of them and take all three into captivity. They led the three down to the dungeons to keep them safe while they formulated a plan for how to get the three out of the night elf kingdom without alerting the populace.

  *

  Wrotan eyed the two elves warily as he approached the massive door. Neither of them moved as he pushed the door open. The audience chamber much smaller than what he would have expected for an elven King. It lined up well with what his father had told him, but it still felt strange to see a King that cared so little about making his surroundings seem overly grand. The elves in the audience chamber looked different from those outside. There was a certain strength about them that the two outside were missing. He cleared his throat as he approached the throne. The two elves looked at him without saying a word and then turned back to their conversation.

  “I am here to see the King of the evening realms,” he said.

  “Your kind is not welcome here, please leave,” one of the elves said.

  “Is this the famed elven hospitality I’ve heard so much about?”

  “Who told you about our hospitality?”

  “My father, he was something of a friend to the King. I am here to pay my respects and to pay him back for his kindness to my old man.”

  “The King is otherwise occupied, shall I let him know that you came to visit?”

  “I’ll tell you what you can do. You can drop the attitude. Elves are no better or worse than men. Where can I find the King?” Wrotan asked.

  “You are rather obnoxious, we have a cure for that,” the man said as he pulled his sword.

  “Hold a moment, I would like to know your name for when I need to inform your nearest of kin that you died an unnecessary and idiotic death.”

  “You may call be Torin. My brother is here with me, but you will die before you get a chance to bother him.”

  The hunter shrugged and took a step back. He reached down and put his hand on the hilt of his sword. His opponents drew their swords and spread out as they closed in on him. Their movements let him know that this was far from their first fight as a unit. He jumped backward as he drew his sword. His height and long blade gave him a significant range advantage on the two elves. Torin’s companion lunged forward in an overhead strike. Wrotan spun to the side and sliced him just below the ribs. The elf collapsed to the floor with a howl of pain. His compatriot let out a yell as he charged toward the hunter’s back. The man flipped his sword around and thrust it backward toward the elf, causing him to change course. They both spun and faced one another. Wrotan could see the rage in Torin’s eyes. He attacked with a quick thrust and the elf blocked it with all his might. The sword flew out of the hunter’s hands and crashed to the ground.

  “Any last requests, human?” Torin asked as he sauntered toward his unarmed opponent.

  “If you are looking for me to beg, you’ll get no such satisfaction,” Wrotan replied.

  “At least you can face your death with some dignity.”

  Torin brought his blade up to Wrotan’s neck before drawing it back. He whipped his arm around with pure rage. The Hunter brought up both his arms, using one to brace the other as the sword struck his gauntlet. As planned, the sword caught on the gauntlet as the elf tried to pull it back. Torin grunted as he tugged at the sword again. Wrotan yanked his arm to the side and the sword slipped out of the elf’s hands. He twisted the blade and let it fall to the floor. His opponent yelled as he charged. The Hunter dodged the first punch and retaliated with a fist to the gut. Torin stumbled back before shaking it off and throwing another wild punch. Wrotan let the padding on his shoulder absorb the contact and grabbed hold of the elf. He lifted his smaller opponent into the air and slammed him down onto the floor. Torin gasped for air as his opponent came down on his chest with an elbow.

  “Never fight when you are angry, fool. Now, where is the King?” Wrotan asked, grabbing hold of the elf by the collar.

  “Corin will have neck before you find Obrin,” Torin replied.

  “Have it your way.”

  The hunter pulled his arm back and then smashed his elbow into the elf’s nose. He checked his gauntlet before gathering up his own sword and his opponent’s sword. The audience hall only had one other entrance. He took the corridor down until it opened into the kitchen. There were several elves arguing with each other in the kitchen, but they stopped as soon as he arrived. Two of them drew their swords as they moved to intercept him. He grabbed a pot from the closest table and threw it at one of the elves. The elf knocked it aside, but was too slow to recover from the fist to the face. Wrotan turned to face his other opponent. He drew Torin’s sword and stepped forward to attack the elf. Before he could get in an attack, one of the other elves smacked the other over the head with a pot.

  “You can still save the King,” she said.

  “Where is he?” Wrotan asked.

  “Corin had them taken to the dungeons. That corridor, all the way down and then to the left.”

  “Thank you.”

  *

>   Hadrin paced back and forth as he contemplated escape. His fellow prisoners had already resigned to their defeat, but he would have none of it. This was his chance to actually do something. His father had always tried to keep him as safe as possible, but that also meant that he barely had the freedom to do what he wanted. He was thankful, but it was time for him to act like an adult. It wasn’t often that a member of elven royalty got the chance to do much before becoming King. Hadrin understood that, but he also knew that his people needed him now more than ever. As much as he loved his father, Obrin was no longer fit to rule. In fact, if the Prince couldn’t find a way to get them out, they’d likely both rot in a cell in the sun realms.

  “Father, there must be something you remember about the dungeon that can help us,” he said.

  “These are among the most difficult to escape. The builders suggested that we create a secret passage in the event of our own capture, but I didn’t much like the idea. Our only hope is that somebody from the outside finds us,” Obrin said.

  “That won’t happen. Jessien chose more than half of the Captains to go on the mission. She knew exactly what she was doing. My army is far stronger than yours. You did her a favor when you sought out our enemies in order to cure the dragons,” Erlkan said.

  “She knows us both far too well. Even if we were to escape, she would know our every move.”

  “Then the two of you must rely on me. I know it is a lot to ask, but I can do this,” Hadrin said.

  They all stopped talking when they heard footsteps. Corin and two of his soldiers stopped in front of the cell door. He eyed the prisoners before opening the door. Hadrin had to hold himself back as the Captain backhanded his father. Erlkan hung his head in shame, a look that the Prince had seen from his father almost every time somebody brought up the scourge. It amazed him how similar the two really were. Corin punched Erlkan in the gut. He turned to the Prince. Hadrin desperately wanted to wipe the arrogant grin off his face. The Captain motioned for his men to lock the two Kings to the shackles on the wall. He looked at the Prince for a moment before talking.

  “Perhaps we should see what you are made of,” he said.

  “Leave my son alone!” Obrin yelled.