CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  STORIES ALONG THE RIVER

  As they walked beside the water that led to The River Caverns, Garrick and company passed the time discussing the important and perplexing issues facing them. For instance, why was Firebaugh the only sovereign dragon that did not return to The Domain of Dragons. Or how hard would the upcoming uneasy trek up The Cloud Shroud Mountain be. And maybe most importantly, would the Holy Stone Garrick wore shine upon a dwarf before that.

  Would that happen in Valtross? Could it be in Tanisgroth, thought Garrick. They were both big cities on the way to fighting Firebaugh. However, the one thing all the friends knew was they had to keep moving and trust Elion. Especially with the invasion into The Dwarven Mountains.

  “This new invading force is Landon Rosser, I have no doubt of that,” said Maldrin, confidently. “Even after being on that island for a year. He has always been strong and resourceful.” Then the wizard stopped in his tracks and slammed his staff onto the ground. “The Barren Wasteland is not only vast, it has never been properly explored. I do not know what old magic he has found, but make no mistake, the commander in black armor is the same general that tried to take Aubrelon and all The Human Kingdom Lands from King Brock.”

  “And I am sure it is just fine with him to attack Dwarf King Ironhearth on the way to exacting his final revenge,” added Elias.

  After a nice flight in the sky above them, Azure floated down and promptly landed on Cerelene’s arm, sending Tal scurrying from Maldrin’s shoulder, to the refuge of one of the deep pockets of the wizard’s brown robe.

  “Oh come now Tal, you know Azure will not hurt you. Cerelene and I have taken care of that, right?” consoled Maldrin, caressing the squirrel while looking over at the elf maiden. Then Tal peeked her head out as she ate a berry, and looked up at the elf maiden.

  “My falcon always obeys me, little squirrel,” spoke Cerelene. Then she reached over and pet Tal’s head, as lovingly as she would caress Azure’s wing. “There is no mystical bond like with your friend Onyx and Garrick, but I have raised Azure since before she could fly.” Then, after the elf maiden was quiet a moment, she smiled nervously. “Though you might want to warn other squirrels you come across.”

  “I know, of course, that you elves are close with nature, but your relationship with Azure is not seen very often. How did you two come together?” asked Garrick, as he watched Onyx sniff the ground up ahead.

  “Azure was a gift from King Brock. I still remember the day she was given to me by Jardello, a visiting Knight of Aubrelon,” replied Cerelene, happily. “The old knight, along with the others that came to The Elven Forest, were on a goodwill visit. Jardello saw my love for animals and how I took to this falcon, and as I was of the royal court, the gift was made mine,” said Cerelene.

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  Seeing the river water quickly turning into rapids, Maldrin turned to Garrick. “We are almost there, my boy. Just around this upcoming rocky hill. Perhaps we should give our bones a rest.”

  Garrick nodded and called Onyx toward a nice grassy patch near the river. As the companions sat down and began to eat and drink before the battle they knew was ahead, the mercenary asked his old friend about the magical item they were seeking.

  “Tell us, Maldrin, of the Seeing Stone. I know we need it to spy on the dragon before we enter his lair, but how did it come to be in The River Caverns?”

  After the old wizard watched Tal scamper up a nearby tree, he turned to Garrick, Elias, and Cerelene, who were looking at him with interest.

  “Along with this staff, the Seeing Stone belonged to my master, Zendres,” began Maldrin, rubbing the carved griffins claw that adorned the top of his magical weapon. “Though they actually both originally belonged to his master, Kalimtyra.”

  Maldrin then looked toward the big hill where The River Caverns were up ahead. “It is hard to believe for me now, but it was years ago now that Master Zendres and I went into those dark caves and corridors. Zendres was always searching for powerful magical artifacts, and the day we went into the caverns together, not only did we not find the artifact my master was seeking, we lost the bag holding the Seeing Stone in the process.”

  “What was this magical artifact you were searching for?” asked Elias, after taking a deep drink of water.

  “The Crystal of Dragos Repelion,” revealed Maldrin, matter of factly.

  “I see,” spoke Cerelene with a smile. “Even some of you humans are still searching for it.”

  Garrick ripped off a piece of dried meat and threw it to Onyx. After the mystic wolf gulped it down, the mercenary spoke up. “I’ve been all over Danaria, my friend, and I have never heard of this crystal.” Then Garrick turned to Elias. “Have you?”

  Elias shook his head. Then the Knight of Providence and mercenary looked back at Maldrin, as Cerelene watched Tal, as she scurried between two small trees.

  “A powerful human wizard, Jairus Wrenmoth, along with the Lady Nastania, a powerful elven mystic, created the crystal together to defend against the dragons who were continually attacking The Tower of Mystics and Magic when it was being built,” recited Maldrin, having read the story many times. “But what they found out was that the Dragos Repelion could actually control dragons, and any animal within their sight. Once they found that out, they went to present their creation to the King Priest, but were attacked along the way by the dark elves of Wyvrell and the crystal fell from the sky."

  “And the legend is it fell into a cavern,” cut in Cerelene, throwing a rock into the river.

  “Master Zendres and I searched for the crystal, but we could not find it in The River Caverns. And on the way out, the monstrous serpent that roams deep within that dark place took us by surprise. As you can see, we survived, but during our escape, the bag holding the Seeing Stone fell into the serpent’s den,” lamented Maldrin, looking off into the distance.

  After the old wizard sighed, he continued. “Once we made it out of the caverns, Master Zendres said that my training was complete. However, he was then called away suddenly by The Wizard’s Council, and we never went back for the Seeing Stone.” Then Maldrin looked down at his staff, his face pensive. “In fact, I never saw him again.”

  “Sounds like you wizards like magical objects, but have a hard time holding onto them,” said Cerelene, trying to lighten the mood.

  “Do you know happened to your master, wizard?” asked Elias as he began to dig the tip of his sword into the ground.

  Maldrin looked up and locked eyes with Garrick for a moment, then he shifted his eyes to Elias and Cerelene. “I am honored to be with you both,” spoke Maldrin. “But I will keep that to myself. At least for now.”

  “I understand, wizard,” replied Elias, respectfully. Then he smiled at Cerelene. “I am sure we all have things we may not want to share.”