Chapter 9

The brave companions began the long ascent. Dordrü went before the others, showing them the safest way. They stepped where he stepped and grasped where he grasped and in this way the three made reasonably good time, for under Dordrü’s expert guidance they were able to make the ascent safely without having to move at a snail’s pace.
      Nevertheless, there certainly were tense moments when looking back Talen saw that a long drop awaited him should his grip fail, or his foot slip. Though little of the climbing involved the scaling of near-vertical bluffs or clinging to narrow crevasses with one’s fingernails, he nevertheless was amazed whenever he dared look down at just how far they had progressed and with what seemingly little effort. Indeed, had he known before they started just how distant the ground would appear from their progressively higher perches on the mountainside or in what startlingly precarious positions he would find himself during the climb, he would likely have shrunk from the task in abject fear.
      Yet, on they did climb and remarkable progress they continued to make, till finally as they pulled themselves up onto a narrow niche-like formation they saw that Dordrü had ceased climbing and was now kneeling behind a great boulder wedged into an angle of rock.
      ‘Are we there?’ asked Talen as he knelt to catch his breath.
      ‘We are very close,’ answered Dordrü. ‘In fact, this is as far as I go.’ Then turning and pointing through the brief space behind the boulder he showed them that they were indeed come nearly to the ledge where the Dragon had oft been seen to perch. To get there they would have to climb back down to a ledge just a short distance below and follow along toward the west till they came to a natural stair-like formation. From there they would be able to climb to the opening of the beast’s lair.
      ‘I will be waiting in the cave we passed near the mossy crag,’ said Dordrü. ‘Call for me on your way down and we will descend together the way we came up.’
      ‘Very well,’ said Raavan.
      ‘One of you may take my shield, if you wish,’ said Dordrü, holding forth the rectangular accoutrement for their inspection. ‘It is covered with Dragon scales, and will offer you some protection from his fiery breath should you need it.’
      ‘No thanks,’ said Raavan.
      Talen took the shield and saw that though it was heavier than his own he still could lift it with some effort. Trading his own shield for Dordrü’s he thanked the Dwarf and hoisted the bulky accessory onto his shoulder.
      ‘Good luck,’ said the Dwarf as he climbed down the way they had come.
      Now the wizard and the Elfling paused a moment to take in their surroundings.
      ‘What exactly am I supposed to do when we are in the beast’s lair?’ asked Talen.
      ‘I will tell you in just a minute,’ replied the wizard, for he had now started to remove his outer clothing to reveal his armour beneath. His sword he also removed and propped against the rock wall. At his suggestion Talen followed suit, removing his Dwarven cloak, his sword, and his bow and quiver. All were placed well back into the niche for safe keeping.
      Finally Raavan drew from a pouch at his belt a transparent, pyramidal object which he handed to the Elfling.
      ‘What is this?’ asked Talen.
      ‘It is a crystal prism,’ answered Raavan. ‘It is made of mistalyon , a very rare mineral found only in the high mountains of Sulunerea, and is imbued with various magical properties, of which I do not have time to explain. I have one too, see?’ At this the wizard pulled forth another prism from the same pouch. Now Talen saw that the crystal reflected light in a most peculiar way, projecting different colours at different angles, so that when he held it up to the brightest part of the cloudy sky and peered into it the view was rather dazzling.
      ‘Are you quite done playing?’ asked the wizard impatiently. ‘Right, then. What I need you to do is simply to hold this high above your head, being careful to hold it only by the corners, like so. You must hold it quite still—as still as you can manage. Let me see you try it now.’
      Talen complied with the wizard’s instructions, holding the talisman as high above his head as his arms would allow, while also striving to relax his muscles so as to keep the prism quite still.
      ‘Very good,’ continued Raavan. ‘Now, what I want you to do is to stand just within the entrance to the beast’s lair, in clear sight of the Dragon, and to hold your mistalyon aloft.’
      ‘Where will you be?’ asked the Elfling apprehensively.
      ‘I will be lurking in the shadows within the drake’s nest,’ replied the wizard, ‘but never-you-mind what I am about. You just stand there as still and silent as ever you can, and you will be quite safe, I warrant it.’
      ‘Won’t the Dragon wonder why I am standing there holding this thing over my head?’ asked the Elfling.
      ‘No, he won’t,’ replied the wizard. ‘In fact, he won’t even see you.’
      ‘Why won’t he see me?’ asked the Elfling.
      ‘Because in a moment you are going to be quite invisible,’ explained the wizard, ‘as am I. Now, just be silent for a moment, and don’t fidget.’
      Now with one hand on the Elfling’s shoulder and the other clutching his staff the wizard closed his eyes and began to issue a whispered incantation. Needless to say, Talen was quite excited and anxious about the whole affair, and he little knew what to expect from one moment to the next. If he thought he might feel some sort of tingling sensation as the magic worked its effect he was disappointed to find that he didn’t, for he could feel nothing different about himself when before his very eyes the wizard began rapidly to fade from view. A second later Raavan was completely gone—invisible! —though Talen still could feel the old man’s hand on his shoulder.
      ‘Am I invisible now, too?’ asked the Elfling.
      ‘I can’t see you,’ replied Raavan. ‘Can you see yourself?’
      ‘O, my goodness! I am invisible as well!’ exclaimed the Elfling. ‘Is this the work of the crystal?’
      ‘No,’ replied the wizard. ‘The mistalyon has another purpose, as you will see shortly. Now, if you are ready, we will get on with our task.’
      Leaving most of their things behind they descended to the crumbly ledge below. Here they would have to proceed on hands and knees, for the rocky wall protruded too far for either of them to safely stand. They crawled along with the greatest care, for it seemed almost that every move sent little bits of rock and earth tumbling over the ledge. They were at least glad that the ledge was free of ice and snow, for they had left even their gloves behind.
      They crawled for quite a ways before finally reaching the end of the ledge. At this point they were again able to stand, as they now were faced with a rough stair-like formation that appeared to have been naturally carved into the rock. When they had climbed about twenty feet they saw that on their right hand side an opening in the rock yawned widely toward the west. This they approached as quietly as ever they could, for they knew that they had now come to the beast’s lair.
      Standing at the entrance to the cavern they saw that it turned abruptly to the north to delve straight into the mountain. As they stood there, invisible even to each other, they realised they would need to agree on some cue or other to indicate that their visit was over. Good-bye or good-day each seemed likely enough, and so they agreed that when the wizard uttered either of these to the Dragon it would be time for them both to leave.
      For now, it was time for them to make their entrance. Grasping onto the pouch that hung at Raavan’s side Talen followed the old man as he silently crept into the cavern. When they had rounded the corner and gone a short distance beyond they paused for a few moments to adjust their eyes to the dark. The cave continued straight for some distance, then curved a bit to the right. They proceeded very slowly.
      They had not gone far before they realised that the cavern had suddenly opened into a large hall, though just how large they could not see, for the darkness here was nearly complete. With two hands on the Elfling’s shoulders the wizard guided Talen to a place near the wall just to their left. Here the Elfling was left to stand alone as the wizard silently moved away.
      Talen’s heart was pounding in fear and anticipation, for though he could see very little about him he could hear quite clearly the measured breathing of a large beast not terribly far away. At his feet he began to discern rough shapes in the darkness. Many bones there were, and not a few broken swords and other weapons. Close at hand was the crushed skull of a man.
      Soon Talen remembered his task. Reaching into his pocket he drew out the prism and held it over his head as instructed. He set his body firmly against the cavern wall so as to help him remain still, and in this position he remained as he waited for further events to unfold.
      He did not have long to wait. Soon a light appeared some distance away, very dim at first, but quickly growing in intensity so that now he could begin to see what great dimensions this hall possessed. It was in fact quite enormous, with a high ceiling from which many varied stalactites depended, and a smooth outer wall opening onto a number of further passageways. The floor was quite smooth as well, though copiously littered with bones and other detritus.
      Most riveting, however, was the great figure inhabiting the middle of the chamber, for there upon a sprawling bed of dazzling trinkets lay a very large Dragon curled in sleep. His scales were black and gold, his great wings silver and black, his fleshy tail ended in a wicked point like a large arrowhead, and on his feet were long, pointy talons, each as thick as Talen’s thigh. Most alarming of all was the creature’s head, which was long and slender, terminating in a slightly curved beak. The beast lay facing in the direction of the Elfling.
      Suddenly the creature’s breathing became less regular. More shallow and rapid it was now, as if something had disturbed its peaceful slumber, its mind struggling to rise from the depths of a dream back toward the realm of wakefulness. Now its eyes opened and it raised its head to look about alertly with its great, shiny orbs.
      Presently it spoke in a deep, rumbling voice: ‘I smell you, Man. Why don’t you come out of the shadows? I will find you anyway.’
      There was no reply as the light disappeared to pop up again behind the great beast. Craning his neck the creature strained to ascertain its source.
      ‘Come now,’ said the Dragon as he scanned the chamber for any sign of his visitor, ‘there is no need to be coy. Come out and introduce yourself. You’re clearly a brave man to venture here so. What is your name?’
      Suddenly the wizard appeared in the shadowy mouth of a passageway near the beast’s great tail.   ‘Some call me Raavan,’ said the wizard. ‘Do you know of me?’
      ‘Should I?’ asked the beast as he regarded Raavan curiously.
      ‘I am a wizard of the Kastairi, master at Aberlaven and one-time student of Fangren.’
      ‘Hmm,’ said the Dragon, ‘it does ring a bell. Have you come to seek my wisdom, wizard Raavan?’
      ‘I have come to enlist your aid, if you will give it,’ said the wizard.
      ‘Really?’ said the Dragon, who suddenly lunged at the wizard. But his long, toothy jaws closed on empty air, for the wizard had dissolved into the dark and was now standing in clear view on the opposite side of the room. Turning, the Dragon saw him there.
      ‘Well,’ said the Dragon, ‘I at least know you were not lying about being a wizard.’
      ‘How could I lie to one so noble?’ replied the wizard.
      ‘Now you seek to flatter me,’ chided the Dragon.
      ‘But are you not worthy of flattery and great praise?’ asked the wizard. ‘Are you not the most worthy and honourable of Talathren’s many descendents? Or is there another who is indeed nobler?’
      ‘Nobler than I?’ said the Dragon. ‘Thorodrim the Great? I think not.’
      With that the Dragon again lunged at the wizard and again bit into nothing more substantial than air. Now the wizard appeared off to Talen’s right.
      ‘Then, will you not consider my boon,’ replied the wizard, ‘that you may thusly show your brethren how you are indeed nobler than they? That the fire of your tribe is hotter than theirs, and your courage more unyielding?’
      ‘My fire, wizard, is hotter than the very coals of Helh,’ boasted the Dragon. ‘Would you like a taste of it?’ With that he opened his mouth and spewed a narrow stream of flames at the wizard who once again proved not to be there. Though the flames were not near enough to pose Talen any danger, still he could feel their heat from yards away.
      ‘Yes,’ agreed the wizard from behind the Dragon’s great form, ‘it is very hot indeed.’
      ‘Now you mock me,’ charged the Dragon and another stream of yellow flames licked the place where the wizard had been. The cycle continued as Raavan nimbly appeared and disappeared at random, always escaping the Dragon’s fury at the last possible instant.
      ‘I mock you not,’ replied the wizard. ‘But I wonder that you do not recall the ancient articles of allegiance between the order of wizards and the Dragons of old.’
      ‘Such things do not hold sway over me, I am afraid,’ said the Dragon.
      Another lunge earned the beast another mouthful of air.
      ‘If my father has made promises to you or your kind,’ said the Dragon with a quick snap of his great jaws, ‘you will have to take the matter up with his shade.’
      More flames followed.
      ‘I certainly cannot be expected to answer for his mistakes,’ continued the beast as he gazed alertly about.
      ‘Will you not reconsider?’ pleaded the wizard. ‘Is there nothing I can offer in exchange for your aid?’
      ‘Foolish man!’ said the Dragon. ‘I take what I want. I have no need to enter into any agreement with a lesser mortal. Now begone! You have disrupted a fine dream, and I grow weary of your company.’
      ‘Very well,’ said Raavan. ‘If you cannot be persuaded...’
      There was no answer from Thorodrim, for he had lain once again on his bed of treasure and to all appearances was intent on resuming his nap.
      ‘Well, then,’ said Raavan. ‘I bid you good-day .’
      With that the wizard disappeared once again and the Elfling took his cue to exit. As he was about to leave the hall Talen was startled to hear the Dragon speak once again: ‘And be sure nothing slips into your pocket on your way out, wizard—I just counted all of it yesterday.’
      ‘I wouldn’t dream of it,’ said the wizard.
      ‘I didn’t think so,’ said the Dragon.