Crossroads 04 - The Dragon Isles (26 page)

Tbe
Heights
of Aurialastican

 
         
Shimmer
led Mik and Ula up through the clear waters toward the sunlit surface above.
All morning, the sea bottom had been
rising
steadily,
a sure sign that they were nearing land once more.

 
          
They’d
traveled on the surface the previous night—each tethered to their constantly
moving steeds by leathery seaweed harnesses. They took watches in turns, though
Shimanloreth watched longer than his friends. Ula had disquieting dreams, but
nothing else disturbed them during the night. They ate a light breakfast and
spurred their hired draken rays toward the dragon capital at Aurialastican—
traveling below the water again when the sun came up, lest Lord Kell’s spies
should be watching.

 
          
The
rays—huge batlike creatures with indigo bodies and pale, dappled bellies—moved
quickly through the crystalline waters, gaining speed as the rising sun warmed
their powerful winged forms. Now, at the height of
noon
, they burst from the water and into the
open air once more.

 
          
The
drakens soared high into the air before settling gently onto the ocean’s
surface.

 
          
Mik
Vardan tied his enchanted necklace to his belt again and took a deep breath of
the clean summer air. Ula looked stunning in her jewelry and scant drapery; her
sculpted blue figure glistening in the sunshine. The ring of dolphins tattooed
on her shoulder sparkled under the noonday light.

 
          
Their
goal, Mik discovered as he wiped the sea water from his brow, was an equally
breathtaking sight.

 
          
Clouds
wreathed the towering mountain peaks of the Misty Isle. Sunlight played off the
snowy upper slopes, making them glitter orange and gold. Long swaths of verdant
forest ran down from the high slopes to the edges of breathtaking fjords.
Brilliant white sand beaches lined the islands’ shores. These natural wonders,
though, paled next to the glory of the city itself.

 
          
Aurialastican
dominated the entrance of a wide bay at the mouth of a vast fjord. Mist filled
the defile’s far reaches, making them appear unreal and ghostly. Aurialastican
seemed the only solid thing in an ethereal landscape.

 
          
The
city was larger than anything Mik had ever seen in Khur; as large, seemingly,
as great Palanthas itself. Its buildings shone in the afternoon sun: white as
marble, polished as silver, burning like bronze, glittering with glass and
crystal. The metals beloved by the great dragons formed the city’s decor. Gold,
though, predominated.

 
          
The
yellow metal glowed warmly amid the city’s rooftops, towers, and minarets.
Golden banners lined the city’s broad avenues, waving in the breeze. Even the
leaves of the trees lining the city street glistened with golden color. It was
easy to see why Aurialastican was considered a myth in many parts of the world.
It was also easy to see why it was called the “City of
Gold
.”

 
          
But
though the buildings lining the shoreline were impressive, the architecture on
the ridge beyond them was even more astonishing. Huge monuments—as much
sculpture as edifice—dominated the plateau: gigantic trees, mountains, ships,
dragons, rings, pyramids, columns, as well as many abstract shapes. Some were
made of brightly shining metal; others had been carved from stone or coral;
still others seemed to have been shaped from the living rock itself.

 
          
The
single unifying theme of these monuments was their titanic size. Every one
dwarfed the largest building in the city below. Clearly none were fashioned by
human hands; they had been shaped and erected by dragons.

 
          
Mik’s
jaw hung open in wonder. “Is
that.
. . the Dragon-
heights?”

 
          
“Yes,”
Shimanloreth replied.
“Repository of dragon wealth and
glory.”

 
          
Ula
laughed. “It takes your breath away the first time you see it.”

 
          
Mik
found his eyes drawn to one of the bright pyramids on the ridge. Reflections of
the sun on its surface, though, made it impossible to see clearly. “One step
closer,” he thought, and in his mind the image of the huge diamond became clear
once more.

 
          
They
steered their draken rays through the shallows and into the
port
of
Aurialastican
. Many tall ships lined the docks: galleys,
caravels, galleons, longboats, fishing vessels, and several shell-like ships
that could only have come from the undersea kingdoms of the Dargonesti. Proud
sails, emblazoned with all manner of fantastic creatures—especially
dragons—fluttered in the warm breeze. Brightly-colored banners flew from the
tops of mastheads. The air was alive with the creaking of timbers and the shouts
of mariners. The strong scent of wood and ship oils drifted across the warm
breeze.

 
          
Mik
gazed at the flotilla as they drew close to the docks. “Some of these ships
have gemstones at their helms,” he said. “Are they used to navigate the Veil?”

 
          
“Possibly,
yes,” Shimmer replied.
“Though they might be for other
purposes as well.”

 
          
“Where
do the gems that pierce the Veil come from?” Mik asked.

 
          
“From
the dragon Oligarchs, to reward the worthy,” Shimmer replied.

 
          
“Others
of us have to
earn
our boons,” Ula said.
She stepped off the back of her draken onto the well-maintained dock and
extended a hand up to Mik.

 
          
He
hopped up onto the ancient timbers beside her. “Let’s hope we can find the next
key amid those monuments,” he said, glancing at the Dragonheights once again.

 
          
“Let’s
hope,” Shimmer added, “that we shall be allowed to look.” He joined the others
on the dock, then let go the reigns of his draken ray and whispered something
to it. The lead ray dipped its head, as though nodding yes,
then
all three steeds disappeared back the way they had come. “They’ll find their
way home,” the bronze knight said.

 
          
The
three companions walked down the wharf toward the bustling city.

 
          
People
of all kinds crowded the harbor’s wharves: elves, dwarves, humans,
minotaurs
, and even a kender or two— though these last were
always being chased by someone. Occasionally, a metallic dragon would flash by
overhead. They saw brass, copper, bronze, but never
a silver
or a gold. Most of the citizens were so used to the sight that they never even
glanced up.

 
          
The
treasure seekers passed bars, inns, and eateries, all with smells that made
Mik’s stomach rumble. He convinced the others to stop at an open-air tavern for
a bite. It was a small place with a green tabard over the door that read
“Hender’s House,” and a number of tall, round wooden tables set up out front. A
tall scraggly-haired man in a white apron bustled back and forth between the
tables taking orders and serving meals. Mik ordered yellow bread and spiced
stew; Ula and Shimmer had the same. In short order, the air was filled with the
aroma of sage and boiled meat.

 
          
“What
did you mean, earlier,” Mik asked Shimanloreth, “when you said you hoped we’d
‘he allowed
to look
’?” The captain took a bite of the
stew and savored its taste.

 
          
“Dragons
guard their secrets jealously,” Shimmer replied. “Few are permitted to climb
the Dragonheights—though I believe they will let me do so.”

 
          
Ula
laughed. “Fd
like
to see them stop you,” she said.

 
          
Shimmer
fixed his orangish eyes on the sea elf. “I would not,” he said simply. “You two
should find a ship to hire while I search for the third key.”

 
          
“I’m
in this all the way to the Dragonheights,” Mik said. “I haven’t come this far
to turn back—or to stay in town and search for boats while you do the hard
work.”

 
          
“He’s
earned the right, you know,” Ula said. “Besides, I’m not sure the sailor trusts
you quite yet, Shimmer.” She grinned at the knight and winked at Mik.

 
          
Shimanloreth
nodded slowly. “Very well,” he said.

 
          
“Well,”
Ula sighed, standing and stretching, “I guess that leaves it to me to find a
ship for our treasure hunt. I’ll probably have to buy a captain as well. No
offense, Mik.”

 
          
“None taken.”

 
          
Ula
extended her hand to Shimmer, and he placed a pouch of coins in it. She took a
moment to judge the weight and frowned playfully. “This will do for a start,”
she said. “See to the bill, will you?” She pushed her stall stool away from the
table and turned to go.

 
          
“Ula,
wait,” Mik said.

 
          
“Hmm?”

 
          
“Let
me hold on to the green key,” he said. “It may help in locating the other one
we’re looking for.”

 
          
“I
suppose it might at that.” She took a moment to undo it from her web of jewelry
and placed the emerald artifact into the sailor’s hand.

 
          
“Thanks,”
he said, tucking into his belt pocket.

 
          
“Take
good care of it.”

 
          
Mik
nodded, and she disappeared into the crowd.

 
          
“I’ve
known her a long time,” Shimmer said when she’d gone, “yet I still do not
understand her.”

 
          
“She’s
not so hard to figure out,” Mik replied.

 
          
Shimmer
paid the outdoor tavern’s bill and they left. It didn’t take them long to push
through the city’s crowded streets onto the long avenue leading up to the
Dragonheights.

 
          
Mik
craned his neck upward, trying to take in the amazing structures towering over
them. Halfway up the steep road they almost seemed no nearer at all. Turning a
comer Mik came into view of a distant pyramid. Atop it rested a glittering
crystal globe. The gem sprayed shimmering beams of blue light into the
afternoon air.

 
          
Mik
stopped and stared at it. The crystal grew larger in his mind and became the
great blue-white diamond. The diamond blazed like the sun, and the sky flashed
with lighting. The world sank away and he soared high in the sky, gazing down
on the Dragon Isles. All around, storm clouds loomed.