Dragonvein (Book Two) (3 page)

The sudden thump of the large, leather bound book being tossed onto the floor by his feet startled him. Ganix’s normally kind demeanor was now hard and determined. Ethan sat down beside the book and opened it to a page near the end. At this point, it was very familiar. He must have read the same entry a thousand times by now.

“No warm up today?” he asked.

“No,” replied Ganix. “From now on we will be working on one thing, and one thing only.”

Ethan’s shoulders sagged slightly with disappointment. Casting the few small spells he had so far managed to master was one of his favorite activities. Dragonfire was by far the most impressive, but it often took far too long to cast to be practical. He had also learned how to levitate small objects, and create tiny balls of flame that he would send crashing into the stone walls.

Ganix had been a great help to him during his studies. Though unable to wield human magic himself, he could understand many of its concepts, and had been instrumental in deciphering some of the book’s more confusing passages.

Ethan looked at the text and concentrated. Even though he had it fully memorized, he could never get close to connecting with the power of the spell unless he could make a direct visual link with the words.

Slowly he began to rock back and forth. The words had to be spoken exactly, each syllable perfect. As he began reciting the spell he felt a warm rush of energy passing through him. With the other spells, this was a welcome sensation…but not with this one. The waves of heat continued to build in intensity until they felt as if they might push him over.

He reached the bottom of the page, but Ganix was ready for him and quickly turned to the next. Ethan was able to continue without pause all the way to the end of the spell.

Almost as soon as he finished, a blinding flash of white light erupted into existence. For a few seconds it was scattered and without form, but soon it merged into a tiny ball that hovered just a few inches above his head.

Ethan could feel his heart pounding with excitement. He had never gotten this far before. Reaching up, he touched the glowing ball with the tip of his right index finger. It was ice cold, and sparks of energy radiated out in minuscule flecks.

After hesitating for just a second, he wrapped his hand around the ball and squeezed. The light instantly penetrated his flesh, sending surge after surge of violent shocks coursing through his entire body. He jerked and gasped uncontrollably.

‘Hold on to it!’ he ordered himself.

But the pain increased with each passing second. He tried to stand up, but a fresh wave of power from the barely contained light pierced his flesh and shot down his arm. The pain was unimaginable. He let out a horrific scream.

Then everything went black.

Chapter Two

E
than could feel
a cool rag gently wiping his brow. His limbs were numb, and for a moment panic gripped him as he realized that he could neither move nor open his eyes. Gradually however, sensation began returning. He let out a soft moan of relief, even though the numbness was now being replaced by extreme fatigue and soreness.

“Don’t move.” It was Kat’s voice. “Ganix said that you are to stay in bed for today.”

Ethan forced his eyes open. The chamber was barely lit, and even though Kat was sitting just beside him, he could see her only in silhouette.

He forced a smile. “So you came down here to take care of me?”

“Of course,” she replied, sounding a bit offended. “Unless you’d rather Jonas do it.”

“No, no. Thank you.” He attempted to sit up, but Kat pressed her hand to his chest and eased him back down.

“What part of stay in bed for today didn’t you understand?” she scolded.

It was clear she had no intention of allowing him to get up, so he settled back down in his cot, trying to ignore the aching in his muscles. After a brief silence, he asked: “Where is everyone?”

“Markus and Jonas left just a few minutes ago to eat,” she told him. “King Ganix has also been here off and on to check on you. I expect he’ll be back quite soon.”

“How long have I been out?”

“Just a few hours. That’s all.”

A sharp spasm shot through Ethan’s left leg, bringing a twisted frown to his face. He reached down to rub the painful limb, and in that moment realized that he was completely naked. With eyes popping wide, he pulled the blanket right up to his chin.

Kat laughed playfully while tugging at the corner of the blanket. “What’s wrong?”

“Stop!” snapped Ethan. “That’s not funny. Did you…I mean, how did I…?”

“Jonas undressed you, you big baby,” she told him, still laughing. “I offered to help, but he wouldn’t let me.”

Ethan’s eyes scanned around for his clothes. They were a few feet away, folded in the corner.

Kat followed his gaze. “Don’t bother with those yet,” she said. “Ganix told me he would need to treat you once you were awake. He said you’d be sore and tired.”

“He’s right about that,” Ethan admitted.

She reached down and produced a small, orange colored mushroom. “Eat this. Ganix said to give it to you if he wasn’t back and the pain was too much.”

Ethan inspected the offering for a few seconds before popping it into his mouth.

Immediately, he grimaced in disgust. “That’s revolting!” he exclaimed, pointing urgently to a pitcher of water on the floor beside Kat. Her laughter renewed as she handed the jug over.

“I’ve never tasted anything so disgusting!” he gasped between large gulps.

But disgusting or not, very quickly the pain in his muscles began easing. A short time later he was feeling light headed and finding it increasingly difficult to keep his eyes open.

As he drifted off he could feel Kat’s hand resting on his brow. The last thing he saw before sleep took him completely was her sad brown eyes gazing down at him. He knew how she felt about him. Part of him even wished he could feel the same way about her. But none of that mattered. The fact remained that she was still little more than a child.

When he woke again he realized almost at once that the blanket covering him had been removed, though his rising panic soon subsided when he saw that he was now wearing a pair of soft cotton trousers and shirt. Kat was no longer there, but Jonas was sitting quietly on a nearby chair, reading and sipping a cup of wine.

Jonas noticed him stirring and immediately placed the book and cup on the floor. “How do you feel?” he asked.

Ethan took a moment. The soreness was gone and he was no longer tired. “Just hungry, I guess,” he replied.

“Food is being brought,” Jonas told him.

“So how long was I out this time?”

Jonas shrugged. “Not long. A day. Maybe a day and a half. That bloody mushroom was a bad idea. It was meant for dwarves, not humans.”

Ethan sat up and stretched. “I suppose King Ganix told you what happened to me.”

“Yes, of course he did.”

Ethan had been expecting Jonas to scold him for putting himself in danger. But the old man continued to simply sit there, his face expressionless. Just then, a young dwarf boy arrived with a tray of porridge and fruit. Ethan thanked him and started into the meal without hesitation.

“I should try to release Lylinora again soon,” he said after swallowing the last mouthful.

Jonas’ face was still unreadable. “Should you? From what the king told me, your last attempt nearly killed you.”

Ethan waved his hand dismissively. “I was fine. It just knocked the wind out of me.”

Jonas huffed. “You should never underestimate what magic can do to you. I’ve read the spell. Even your father would have struggled with it.”

“So you think I should just give up?”

“I don’t know. I thought you might possibly be stronger by now. But I can see I was allowing my fears to cloud my judgement. I should have persuaded you to stop long before this.”

Ethan shot to his feet. “Stop? I can’t stop.”

Jonas remained unimpressed by his outburst. “Why not? Why would you continue to risk your life? You were lucky this once. But next time…”

“Next time will be different,” Ethan insisted.

“Different how? Different in that you will succeed in killing yourself?” Jonas rose from his seat. “The simple fact is, you’re not ready. And in truth, no one should expect you to be. Me in particular.”

“King Ganix thinks I can do it,” Ethan countered.

“King Ganix is a very wise dwarf,” said Jonas. “But he is not a mage. He can’t possibly know the toll such a spell takes on someone like you.”

“What do you mean:
Someone like
me?
”

“I only mean that you are untrained. In your father’s time, you would never attempt this type of magic until you had been studying for many years.”

“But I don’t have many years,” Ethan shot back. “Shinzan sure as hell isn’t going to wait around until I am
properly trained
.” Anger seeped into his tone. “And for your information, I’m a whole lot stronger than you think.”

“I have to admit that you’ve come far. But I still think this is too much for you.” His eyes turned to Lylinora. “She is safe where she is for now.”

“I need her,” he protested. “I mean,
we
need her.”

Jonas smiled warmly. “I know you think that you love her. But you don’t. It’s just infatuation. You haven’t even spoken to her.”

Ethan glared. “I’m not infatuated, and I
don’t
love her. At least…not in the way you’re saying. Is she beautiful? Yes. But she’s also the only one in Lumnia who can teach me real magic. The elf prophecy says…”

“To hell with the elves,” barked Jonas, cutting him short. “And to hell with their prophecy. They don’t know the future. If they did, they wouldn’t have been defeated.”

Ethan threw up his hands. “It sounds to me like you think
we’re
defeated.”

“All I’m saying is that you’re not ready yet. You need more time.”

“There
is
no more time,” he retorted quickly. “Or would you rather me just give up and turn myself over to Shinzan.”

Jonas’ face tightened. But before he could reply, the door flew open and Birger came running into the chamber. His expression was grave.

“There’s been an attempt on King Halvar’s life,” the dwarf shouted before anyone could ask what was wrong.

Ethan felt a chill run down his spine. “Is he all right?”

Birger nodded grimly. “Yes. But three of his guards are slain.”

“Who did it?” Jonas asked.

“We don’t know yet,” he replied, his fury barely contained. “King Halvar was attacked in his private chambers, but his guards fought the assassin off. All I know for certain is that, whoever it was, it was no dwarf.”

Ethan started toward the door, but Birger caught his arm.

“The king has ordered that you stay here,” he said. Seeing that Ethan was still determined, he added: “There are ten guards at the entrance. They won’t let you through.”

Grumbling with dissatisfaction, Ethan jerked himself free. “So where’s Markus?”

“Helping in the search for the assassin,” Birger told him. “He believes it was a Rakasa.”

This news caused both Ethan and Jonas to stiffen.

“How did it get here?” demanded Jonas. “I thought no one could enter the mountain without your people knowing about it.”

“So did I,” said Birger, not even attempting to hide his concern. “Perhaps there is an entrance we are unaware of.”

“Or perhaps one of your people has betrayed us,” suggested Jonas.

Birger’s eyes narrowed and he bristled with rage. “Watch your tongue. None of my people would ever do such a thing.”

“Really?” scoffed Jonas. “So you think Shinzan knows your own mountain better than you do?”

Unable to come up with an immediate response to this suggestion, Birger simply glared angrily at Jonas for a few seconds longer. He then spun on his heels and stalked out.

“King Ganix will be here shortly,” he called back. I suggest you keep such accusations to yourself when you see him.”

“Do you really think a dwarf is involved?” asked Ethan once Birger was gone.

“I can’t see another explanation,” he replied solemnly. “Birger may not want to admit it, but I doubt anyone could get into the mountain, let alone the city itself, without help. And if that’s the case, we’ll need to decide quickly how we should react.”

The pair of them waited for more than an hour before King Ganix arrived.

“The assassin has been killed,” he announced. “I would have rather he be taken alive, but the beast was unwilling to give up.”

“Was it a Rakasa?” asked Ethan.

Ganix nodded grimly. “We’re still trying to figure out how it got into the city without our notice.”

Ethan glanced over to Jonas, but he remained silent. “What do we do now?” he asked the king.

“That depends,” Ganix replied. “I know that Jonas is opposed to you continuing your efforts. And part of me agrees with him. But I also believe Lylinora must be free if we are to have any chance of success. It will take years for you to learn sufficient magic alone…perhaps decades. We need her to help you
now
.”

Ethan walked across to Lylinora’s crystal prison and ran his finger over its smooth surface. He could feel the tingle of energy caressing his skin. She was safe here. He knew that to be true. But he also knew that she needed to be free. And, in spite of his denial, he did love her. The fact that he didn’t really know her made no difference at all. He would never be whole until he knew one way or the other if she could love him in return.

Turning away, he retrieved the book of spells from the corner and settled down on the floor directly in front of the crystal. His determination was absolute as he opened the book to the appropriate page.

“This is foolish,” objected a clearly startled Jonas. “You have only just recovered from the last attempt.”

Ethan ignored him and continued to stare down at the words. As he heard Ganix walking over, he closed the book. “I don’t need it this time,” he said, handing it to the king.

Ganix took the book and backed away.

Ethan closed his eyes and concentrated. In the darkness of his mind, a pale figure appeared. It floated and rippled like the reflection of some ghostly spirit. Its face was almost clear enough to see. A feeling of familiarity struck him. He had seen this figure before. But when?

Say the words
, it whispered to him. The voice was distinctly female, but distant and hollow. He wanted to say something in return, but before he could, the vision had vanished. Even so, Ethan was at once filled with renewed confidence. Without knowing why, the words of the complex spell suddenly made perfect sense to him. He almost started laughing. How simple it was. How did he not see it before? His body began to sway back and forth as he recited the incantation.

He felt the rush of energy penetrating his body as the magic began to build. This time there was no pain; quite the opposite in fact. It felt oh so soothing. The words flowed effortlessly from his lips. He could see them taking form as they commanded…no…persuaded the magic to weave into action. As before, a ball of white light formed just above his head. But this time, rather than reaching up, he held his hands out in front of him in a gesture of invitation. The light began to pulse, then slowly descended until it was hovering just above his outstretched palms. Ethan smiled, then closed his hands gently around the glowing ball. The light immediately began absorbing into his flesh, causing his entire body to shimmer with magical energy.

Rising to his feet, he placed his hands against the surface of Lylinora’s crystal.

“I release you,” he said almost inaudibly. An instant later, Ethan could feel the power draining away from his body. He took a few steps back.

“It’s done,” he said.

The words had barely passed his lips when the crystal began to melt away, as if made from ice rather than stone. In that moment he understood everything and his heart was filled to bursting.

Again he closed his eyes. The figure had returned, and this time he could see her clearly. It was a woman in her late forties, though still quite beautiful, with flaxen hair and kind green eyes. She was clad in a flowing white dress and her arms were open wide as she smiled lovingly.

‘Who are you?’ he asked inwardly.

He thought he should know her. Somewhere deep within his mind he knew the memory was there, but it was just out of reach. Then she began to fade. A pain stabbed at his chest, causing him to stagger back. The knowledge…the understanding of magic…that was fading as well. He cried out unintelligibly and fell to his knees. Moments later he felt hands on his shoulders holding him upright, but couldn’t tell if it was Ganix or Jonas.

“No!” he screamed. “Please! Stay!” But she was gone.

Ethan opened his eyes. The crystal had dissolved to the point where the tip of Lylinora’s nose was now exposed. Jonas was standing beside her. He looked at Ethan with a mixture of concern and elation.