Adventurers Wanted, Book 4: Sands of Nezza (33 page)

“The desert river flows,” said Virgil. “We saw you break the curse on the river.”

“And the eastern wind is about to start blowing,” said Alex.

“I will go south with you, my king,” Shelnor declared. “As I have sworn.”

“And Ossbo?” asked the messenger.

“The dragon will come, and with him, the king,” answered Shelnor.

“I will prepare the fastest horses,” said Caftan, moving toward the tent door.

“No,” Alex called out. “I can travel faster than any horse of this land.”

“But how will you reach Ossbo if not on horseback?” Talbot questioned.

Alex didn’t answer but headed for the door.

“Wait, Master Taylor,” said Shelnor. “Take my ring. My family will know for certain that you come from me if you have it.”

“Thank you, Lord Shelnor, and do not fear. Your city will be safe.” Alex left the tent, followed by Rallian and the others. Stonebill fluttered down onto his shoulder.

“I will come with you,” said the bird.

“You will be hard-pressed to keep pace,” said Alex. “No, I would rather you fly south with Rallian and the army. Bring me word when they are five days from Karmus.”

“As you wish,” said Stonebill.

“I still don’t see how you’re going to get to Ossbo without a horse,” said Rallian.

“First things first,” said Alex, remembering he needed to summon a storm to hide the armies of the north. “The storm will last until I rejoin you near Karmus. Avoid cities and towns as much as possible, and march as fast as you can in the rain.”

“But there is no storm,” said Caftan, looking up at the clear sky.

Alex lifted his staff and pointed it toward the east, speaking the magic words softly. Tempe had told him that the rains would come late this year, and now he understood why. Using both his wizard and his dragon magic, he reached out and summoned the rain that was already there. He poured the power of the dragon into the magic, knowing he would need that power to make the storm last. The tents of the army fluttered in the breeze, and Rallian and the others looked to the east. Alex lowered his staff, and as it touched the ground, a blast of wind came howling out of the east.

“When you see the dragon, look for me,” Alex shouted over the wind.

With his final words, Alex changed himself into an eagle and rose above the camp of King Rallian. He looked down at the stunned faces of his friends, and with an angry screech, he shot like an arrow toward the city of Ossbo.

Chapter Twenty

The Dragon of Ossbo

The wind grew stronger as Alex flew east, but he didn’t change his shape again until he was well away from the camp. When he did change, it was into his second true form. As a massive true silver dragon, he moved faster than any bird could fly. He was able to outrace the storm he had summoned and cross the land between Luthan and Ossbo in far less time than it had taken the messenger. The joy of being a dragon filled him, and as he followed the road toward Ossbo, his anger toward the armies of Bray burned hotter inside of him.

There was something more than anger in Alex’s mind. There was the feeling of connection to the land and the magic of Nezza that he had felt before when in his dragon form. The great dragon Salinor had told him a little about the connection, hinting that Alex would learn more in time. Now new feelings came to Alex’s mind, feelings of sorrow and of a great hope—sorrow for the wars that had gone on for so long, and hope that a true king would return and restore order and peace once more. There was also hope that the magic of Nezza would be free to help the people of this land after being held back for so long.

Alex accepted his feelings and focused his mind on what lay ahead of him. He knew that Bray’s army would be terrified when he arrived, and so would the people of Ossbo. The people of Ossbo would see what he did to the army attacking them, and he hoped that would take away some of their fear.

It took Alex a little more than an hour to fly over the land that had taken the messenger six days to cross. It was raining hard by the time the city of Ossbo came into his view. He saw that part of the city was burning. Bray’s army had set up catapults and was shooting huge jars of burning liquid over the city walls. Alex let out a thundering roar as he swooped down on the unsuspecting army that surrounded the city.

With his first pass, Alex let loose a jet of flame. A cloud of steam rose from the wet ground as the dragon fire spread out like water. The catapults burned, and the jars of liquid exploded, spreading the fire into the invading army’s camp. He could hear terrified yells, mixed with the pained cries of those caught in the flames. Alex felt no mercy for the injured as the rage of the dragon took control of his mind.

He dove again, blasting the tents of the army with fire and ripping them away with his claws. This army would pay for their evil deeds and for the evil of their weak lord. It was time for the wars of Nezza to come to an end. If the lords of Nezza would not end the wars, then the dragon would.

Again and again, Alex dove down on the fleeing army. He tore great trenches in the earth with his tail and filled them with fire. The land glowed orange and red, and the air was filled with smoke and steam. A few soldiers tried to shoot arrows at the dragon, but the arrows that struck him simply shattered on his true silver scales.

He dove again and was about to destroy a large collection of carts, but he stopped himself when he saw that they contained helpless prisoners. His rage flared as he realized that the army of Bray was using the prisoners to force the people inside the city to surrender. How many people had they already killed? How could men be so evil?

The storm kept pace with Alex’s rage. Lightning shattered the darkness, and the rain pounded the earth like a rolling drum. The rain had put out the fires in the city. Ossbo would not be destroyed by fire, but Bray’s army would be.

The army was broken long before Alex grew tired of attacking them. A few small groups began racing back to the south as fast as they could go. Alex let his thoughts reach out to one group, looking for a name to go with the face he could see so clearly. It came as he flew over the company: Bray.

The dragon’s rage got the better of Alex, and without considering the consequences, he destroyed Bray and his men with a huge ball of flame. One evil lord was gone. If another took his place, then the dragon would make sure he met the same fate.

Enough,
a familiar voice said in Alex’s mind.
You have done enough. Return now. Help those who need you.

“Salinor,” said Alex. “How . . . How did you know?”

The same way you would know if I were to do what you have done,
Salinor answered, his voice kind and not accusing.
You have saved the city and broken Bray’s army, as you promised you would do. That is enough for now. Return, and help those who need you.

“As you wish, great one,” said Alex, his anger slipping away.

Remember this, child,
Salinor continued.
With all your powers of wizardry, with all your powers as a dragon, you cannot force the people of Nezza to make peace.

“But—”

You must help the young king find peace for his people,
said Salinor.
Force alone is not the path to lasting peace.

Alex flew back toward Ossbo, changing into an eagle once more as he went. Alex knew Salinor’s words were true, but he couldn’t see the path Salinor was talking about. Without magic, without war and force and destruction, Alex didn’t know how Rallian could win his crown and bring peace to Nezza.

The fields around the city were still burning when Alex arrived. He landed close to the city gate and changed back to his human form without being seen. Walking up to the gates, Alex could hear people yelling and running inside the city. He knew that many of the people must be hurt; he knew he needed to help them. Raising his staff, he pounded on the city gates.

“Open in the name of Rallian, king of Nezza,” Alex called out.

There was no answer.

Alex raised his staff once more, but this time he magically lifted the massive iron beam that held the gates shut and moved it to one side. When Alex struck the city gate with his staff again, one side of it opened in front of him.

“What the—?” A large man near the gate started, then stopped in surprise. “Who are you? What do you want? How did you open the gates?”

“What is your name?” Alex asked the man.

“I am Tilac,” the man answered.

“I am a messenger from King Rallian and Lord Shelnor,” answered Alex as he walked into the city. “I must speak with Lady Shelnor at once.”

“Yes, of course, but the gate . . .” said Tilac.

“Send men to the fields,” Alex ordered. “Along the south road they will find a number of people trapped in carts who need to be cared for.”

Tilac hesitated, looking around for someone to help.

“Quickly!” Alex commanded.

“At once,” said Tilac, and he began yelling for others to come and do what Alex had ordered.

Five minutes later, a group of men was assembled and on its way.

“Now, take me to Lady Shelnor,” Alex ordered Tilac.

“As you command,” said Tilac again, leading the way into the city.

The fire in the city had not been as bad as Alex had thought, but there were still many damaged buildings. There were dozens of injured people lying in the street with no one to help them. Alex was angry for a moment, but then he realized that the uninjured people in the city were busy looking through the ruins, searching for others who had been hurt.

“How long was the army of Bray here before the dragon drove them away?” asked Alex.

“Two days,” answered Tilac. “If the dragon had not come, the city would have surrendered in the morning.”

“Then it is well that he came,” said Alex.

“Do you know this dragon?” Tilac asked, apparently shocked by the idea.

“I know him well,” said Alex. “He came to protect your city, though I wish he had come sooner.”

“As do I,” said Tilac. “Though I never believed in dragons before this night.”

“It is hard to believe in things you’ve never seen.”

“Yes, very hard,” Tilac agreed.

Alex didn’t say anything else as Tilac led him into a grand palace, and finally into the private rooms of Lady Shelnor.

“My lady,” said Tilac, bowing. “This man is a messenger. He has asked to see you.”

“What madness is this?” said Lady Shelnor, getting up from a small bed she had been kneeling beside. “The city besieged, your lord off to fight at the gap of Luthan, and you bring a stranger into my private chambers!”

“Lady Shelnor, please,” said Alex, stepping forward. “I have come from King Rallian and your noble husband.”

Alex held out Lord Shelnor’s ring for Lady Shelnor to see as he spoke. Lady Shelnor hesitated for a moment before taking the ring from Alex’s hand.

“My husband is well?” Lady Shelnor asked after a long moment.

“He is,” Alex answered. “I left him at the gap of Luthan a few hours ago. He was preparing to march south with the king.”

“A few hours?” Lady Shelnor asked in disbelief.

“My name is Alex Taylor, and I am a wizard,” Alex said. “I have come to aid your city and drive off Bray’s army. I am here to help.”

“You, alone?”

“My lady, the siege is lifted,” said Tilac. “A great silver dragon came from the west and destroyed the armies of Bray.”

“A dragon? Don’t talk nonsense, Tilac. There are no such things as dragons.”

“He speaks the truth,” said Alex. “The dragon came because I called him. Bray’s army is scattered and destroyed.”

Lady Shelnor looked at the ring again and then back to Alex, her face full of questions. “You . . . you are a wizard?”

“I am.”

“You are a healer, too?”

“Yes,” said Alex.

“Can you . . .” Lady Shelnor began and then hesitated. “Can you heal my son?”

“Your son?” Alex asked.

“Young Lord Roland fell from the city walls while defending his people,” Tilac said softly.

“I told him not to go, but he disobeyed me,” said Lady Shelnor, a touch of pride mixed with the sorrow in her voice. “He would not let others defend his father’s city while he remained safe in the palace.”

“Where is he?” Alex asked.

“Here” Lady Shelnor pointed to the small bed where she had been kneeling.

Alex moved forward and knelt beside the boy. He looked to be ten or eleven years old. He was pale, and Alex could see that he was in a great deal of pain. For a moment Alex worried that Roland was already moving toward the shadowlands, but he soon saw that Roland’s spirit was still in him.

Alex took Roland’s hand as he let his mind and magic move outward. As his thoughts moved to find the injuries in Roland’s body, Alex slowly began to feel the pain that Roland was suffering. When he let his thoughts return, he felt drained.

Carefully, Alex moved his hands over Roland, allowing some of his own strength to flow into the boy. He shifted the broken ribs on Roland’s left side, pushing them back into place with his mind, blocking the pain by allowing it to flow into his own body. When he finished his work, Alex was dripping with sweat and shaking, but he was sure that Roland would live.