Swords of the Six (34 page)

"But surely you don't think that
I
can protect a multitude from ruin? There are things out there that are far deadlier than a Sea Serpent, things against which my sword will seem as nothing more than a child's plaything."

The dragon raised its hand and growled. "Do not put such weight on your own strength, Ilfedo.
I
will give you the power necessary to complete your task—indeed, I will give you a gift such as has never before been bestowed on any creature in all of Subterran."

Claws groping, the dragon reached into the pool. The water rippled around the dragon's fingers and mud clouded the current. The dragon's claws ripped into the pool's floor. Slowly he pulled a sword from the water. "Behold your sword, Ilfedo! It has the living fire upon its blade from the ends of the world and the hardiness of diamond in its handle."

Long and elegant, the double-edged blade of the sword mirrored everything. Flames burned within the blade and without, entwining themselves around the metal, wreathing it in red and yellow fire. He could almost see through the sword's semi-transparent guard. A gold vine wound around it, then entwined around the handle, reinforcing the leather gripping underneath.

The dragon beckoned to him, holding the sword by its blade, pommel extended. Before reaching for it, Ilfedo handed his child to Caritha. She stood back while he approached the mighty creature.

Stretching out his fingers, he closed them around the weapon's handle. Immediately flames sprang from the sword's blade with greater intensity. Tongues of fire snaked toward his hands. He let go before the fire touched him.

But the dragon held out the sword again. "You need not fear the power of this weapon, Ilfedo." It rumbled deep in its throat. "Take it!"

Inhaling a deep breath, Ilfedo reached out and closed his fingers over the sword's handle. Again the flames within the blade leaped forth with great ferocity. This time he pulled it from the dragon's claws and held it before him.

The flames snaked up his arms, spreading over his body. Braiding thickly, they covered him from his head to the soles of his feet. Yet they did not burn him. In fact he felt energy pour into his muscles as he'd never felt before.

As suddenly as the fire had covered him, it receded into the sword. Leaving him decked in an armor that glowed with fire and white light of such magnificence that he hardly believed his eyes. On his head he found a helmet, its surface was smooth as glass. He rapped it with his knuckles and, satisfied that it felt thick, he marveled that it weighed like a feather rather than heavy metal.

He twisted his body this way and that, trying to discover a flaw in the design. But he found none. Whichever way he moved he found the armor as flexible as cloth, as breathable as cotton, and as comfortable as silk. The breastplate also proved to be solid. Fire danced within the armor as if it were a window to another realm.

The armor's glow presented a dazzling sight indeed. He felt that the armor was not a mere garment. No, it had become an extension of him—even of his being. He could feel it as though it were his skin

The five sisters stumbled away from him, eyes wide, mouths agape.

Flexing his sword arm, he swung the weapon in a long arc. The blade sang through the air. A strange new strength surged into his body. He felt capable of doing almost anything.

The dragon smote the ground, and his elegant, horned head dipped in Ilfedo's direction. When he spoke, his words rumbled as a solemn prophecy. "Use this weapon for good, Ilfedo, and it will aid you. If you ever use it for evil then it will, of its own accord, turn against you." He heaved a breath, lifted his head, and blew flames into the air. "I must leave you now with one final piece of advice. Mark well what I say because the time will come when you will need these words:

"When your land can no longer sustain you and your people, when the beasts and the birds become scarce, you will look to find another. On that day you must seek out the dragon Venom-fier, for he will be your strong arm and you will be his mighty shield."

Ilfedo lowered the sword and gazed up into the dragon's honest face.

Flexing his wings, the dragon spoke in a low voice.

"Dragon great, dragon fool

One wise, the other cruel

Venom-fier, to man a friend

The other may be his end."

Spreading his leathery white wings, the dragon launched himself into the sky and flew out of sight.

Ilfedo stood in silent awe. Everything had occurred so quickly that he worried he'd not taken it all in. He looked down at the magnificent sword in his hand. "Return to your former state," he commanded.

Immediately the armor of living fire disappeared and the sword diminished to flames simmering within its blade. A sheath had appeared beside his other one and he slid the sword into it.

The cries of his child reminded him of why he'd come to this place. He turned to the grave, wishing to mark it. But he found that the topmost stone had already been chiseled—by a dragon's claw. The name of 'Dantress Mathaliah, beloved wife and daughter' brought tears to his eyes again.

Darkness covered the landscape. Ilfedo redrew the sword given him by the dragon. "Light the way," he said. The weapon blazed, then covered him in the armor, and by that light he led the way home.

THE END