Cloak & Dagger: Book II of The Dragon Mage Trilogy (19 page)

The dwarf carefully jotted down the locations of each cave opening, making sure to note elevation in their coordinates.

“It won’t do you much good,” said a lizardman suddenly.

Rebecca looked up at the speaker but said nothing.

“They’ll kill you and eat you,” continued the lizardman.

“That’s probably better than what you’re in for,” said Rebecca.

“How so?” asked the lizardman.

Rebecca decided to follow through on a hunch. “The orcs blame you for the poisoned water. They’ll kill you if you don’t give them clean water. You’ve created a problem and now you have to fix it.”

“Oh, we will!” sneered the lizardman, “once the humans - and dwarves for that matter - have been eliminated!”

“That’s enough!” snapped Lynch from across the cell. “We don’t consort with the enemy. Just keep your mouth shut until we get out of here. It shouldn’t be much longer.”

“How do you know you’ll get out of here?” demanded Rebecca.

“Easily,” said Lynch. “In exchange for our freedom, the orcs will be given clean water. They can’t refuse!”

Lyrr leered and some of the lizardmen hissed in laughter.

“Besides,” continued Lynch, “we’re too important to kill.”

Lyrr smirked and Lynch gave him a dirty look.

Rebecca could only shake her head. Orcs were not inclined to negotiate, but in this case, the lizardman had a point. Water was a precious commodity. Even orcs would have to negotiate with the lizardmen if clean water was at a premium, and lizardmen were the only source to obtain it.

Although they hadn’t said so outright, the lizardmen didn’t deny it either. Rebecca was quite certain they were responsible for the poisoned water. How they had managed to do it on such a large scale she did not know, but she hoped to find out. As the poisoned water ran across the land, everyone would be affected, from humans to dwarves, and even elves. This was something that needed to be stopped at all costs. But she couldn’t do anything as long as she was stuck in a cell. She needed to escape!

Suddenly, stomping feet could be heard and a contingent of orcs appeared on the path to the cells. They stopped in front of the lizardmens’ cell and one orc unlocked it with a large, steel key. Rebecca recognized it as being of dwarven origin. Strangely, the crest emblem engraved on its side was unknown to her. She thought she knew most of the nobles’ emblems, but this one appeared to be far older, perhaps dating back to the dragon wars.

“Come,” ordered a large orc, beckoning the lizardmen to exit their cell.

“It’s about time,” snapped Lynch, standing and leading his group out of the cell.

Just before exiting, Lyrr turned to the dwarf and said, “See you later.” He leered.

The prisoners walked in a single file between the orc guards and marched around the bend out of sight.

A short while later, Rebecca could see the lizardmen being led up to the round platform. An orc with a golden emblem on his breastplate stopped them and ordered everyone to turn and face another path that led to the platform. A moment later, a lizardmage wearing a black cloak with red fringes appeared, flanked by two of his own guards. He nodded to the orc captain.

“The kegs of water have been delivered. Release the prisoners.”

Near one of the larger caves above, an orc wearing chain mail appeared. The torchlight from the sentries flickered eerily off the chain mail, giving the orc an unusual glittering aura. The orc made a hand motion and re-entered the cave.

Apparently satisfied, the orc captain signaled his guards to release the prisoners. He handed the keys for the shackles to the black-robed lizardmage.

Lynch turned his back to the lizardmage and exposed his shackled wrists.

The lizardmage just hissed in laughter. He turned around and walked off the platform. The former prisoners scampered after the lizardmage; their shackled hands making them look comical in their gait. Lynch followed more slowly, muttering to himself. Lyrr seemed to be enjoying himself, leering at the orc captain as he passed.

The captain left the platform via a different walkway and the other orcs went about their business. Things became quiet.

Rebecca sighed. She wished she could get away as easily as the lizardmen had. She picked up her pack and retied her shoulder strap.

Suddenly, a short grunt, followed by a scuffling noise, made the dwarf look up. Somewhere down the walkway something was afoot. A yell was followed by a holler and sounds of fighting could be heard. Steel clashed against steel. Yells of surprise were replaced by cries of pain. Some orcs appeared on the walkway, running from something. Behind them, Rebecca saw an unbelievable sight. A disembodied sword flailed madly in all directions. It flew through the air and slashed at the orcs in front of it. Unable to flee, the orcs turned to combat the phenomenon, but to no avail. The sword sliced the arm off one orc before plunging deeply into the abdomen of the other. The first orc screamed in agony while the other one gurgled its last breath, falling to the floor in a heap.

The sword did not hesitate as it swung back and decapitated the screaming orc, silencing the horrible sound forever. Lunging forward, the sword flew in swift motions toward the cells. It stopped of its own accord in front of Rebecca’s cell.

The dwarf’s neck hairs stood on end and she held perfectly still, hoping the sword would not assault her.

Suddenly, a large key appeared out of nowhere. It flew toward the dwarf and landed at her feet, making her jump.

“Hurry up!” hissed a familiar voice. “Unlock the door while I keep the guards at bay!” Already two more orcs were running up the walkway to do combat with the mysterious sword.

“Alric!” cried Rebecca joyfully. She picked up the key, hoisted on her pack, and ran for the door. Using the dwarven key, she fumbled with the ancient lock in her haste to escape.

“Hurry!” cried Alric. “I can’t keep this up much longer!” Two more orcs were down, only to be replaced by four more.

The lock finally clicked and Rebecca exited her prison. She drew her dagger and prepared for battle. Unfortunately, she couldn’t help the invisible elf for fear of hurting him by accident. More orcs appeared on the walkway.

Alric swore. “We’re not going to get through that way. We’ll have to go the other way.” He parried several blows by sword wielding orcs.

Rebecca looked in the opposite direction, the same direction that ultimately led to the round platform. “Follow me!” she cried.

The dwarf and elf bounded down the walkway with a group of orcs in pursuit. Along the way, they encountered two more orcs. With momentum on her side, Rebecca stabbed each of them with her dagger before they could react. One fell off the walkway, flailing wildly as its body burned with magical energy. It was dead before it hit the bottom of the cliff.

The other one stared dumbly as the hole the dagger had left in its chest ate away at its insides. Alric grabbed its arm as he ran past and flung the orc after its companion. It fell silently, too stunned to react.

The companions reached the round platform and began to run across to the walkway on their left. As they reached it, they saw a wall of heavily armed orcs marching toward them.

Changing direction in mid-flight, the duo tried the next walkway. Again, a large number of orcs approached.

The companions spun to face the last available walkway and their hearts sank. The orc captain and his guards were already there.

Alric and Rebecca returned to the center of the platform and looked around uncertainly. Their escape routes were blocked. Orcs surrounded them on all sides.

Alric swore. “Where did they all come from?”

Rebecca knew what the elf was thinking. “Your actions were honourable, Alric. It’s not your fault we didn’t succeed.”

Alric withdrew Rebecca’s hand axe from his pack and handed it to her. “I almost forgot. You might need this.”

Rebecca gripped the axe in her free hand.

“I’ve got your crossbow in my pack too,” added Alric.

“I’ll get it later,” muttered Rebecca. She eyed the approaching orcs warily.

The orc captain scowled menacingly at the pitiful duo. He took a step forward and was about to speak, when a yell behind him made him turn around. A bright burst of light preceded a low rumbling sound. The light increased in intensity and the rumbling sound increased. The platform shook and several orcs were thrown to the floor. A moment later, a large fireball blasted down the walkway, striking the orc captain’s guards like a tidal wave of fire. An instant later it claimed the orc captain himself, burning his flesh and bones where he stood.

With no time to spare, the dwarf and elf threw themselves to the side, rolling to the safety of a side walkway, right into the path of a group of orcs. Fortunately for the duo, the orcs were fleeing back the way they had come, intent on saving themselves from the inferno that had just claimed their leader.

The fireball flew right across the center of the platform where the dwarf and elf had just stood. It flew to the opposite walkway in pursuit of more fleeing orcs. Those who didn’t move quickly enough were swept away by the tidal wave of fire. Moments later, the fireball smashed into the far wall with a loud explosion, ending its existence.

The dwarf and elf rose shakily to their feet, along with orcs on the other side of the platform.

“Come this way!” cried a faint voice.

Rebecca looked down the walkway where the fireball had originated. In the distance she could make out a flaming figure. It was the burning man! She grabbed at Alric’s invisible form and managed to grasp his cloak. “Come on, Alric!”

The dwarf and elf ran down the walkway after the elemental, who always managed to stay just far enough ahead of them to light the way. Where there were other intersections the elemental would slow down so they could follow the correct path.

They ran and ran.

Rebecca, not accustomed to running, panted heavily.

Alric, who had expended a lot of energy, was tired as well.

“I can’t go any further!” gasped Rebecca.

“Me neither,” said Alric. The sword stopped moving as Alric stopped to lean against the wall to catch his breath.

The dwarf staggered to a stop next to him.

The light ahead of them dimmed and vanished.

“Who was that?” asked Alric. He removed his cloak to cool off and made himself visible in the process.

“I think that was an elemental,” said Rebecca.

“An elemental!” exclaimed Alric incredulously. “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” said Rebecca. “I overheard the lizardmen talking about trying to capture it.”

“Isn’t it controlled by anyone?” asked the elf. “Usually whoever summons it controls it.”

“I don’t know,” said Rebecca. “This one seems to be acting on its own. When I rescued it from the orcs, it ran away and I didn’t have a chance to talk to it.”

“You rescued it from orcs?” asked Alric in surprise. “What did I miss?”

Rebecca relayed the events leading up to her capture.

Alric responded by explaining how he had come across the orc cavern. After spying on their operation and stealing some water from their stockpile, (the elf handed Rebecca a fresh wineskin full of water), Alric had been about to go back to the rendezvous when a group of lizardmen prisoners were ushered in. He had spied on them for a while, and not long after he had spotted some orcs carrying Rebecca to a cell next to the lizardmen. It was then that Alric had formulated a plan to rescue the dwarf. He had to wait for Rebecca to regain consciousness before making his move. Alric had thought most of the orcs were gone when he had fought his way to the jail cell. He had been wrong.

“At least we escaped,” said Rebecca, “thanks to the elemental.”

“We could have been killed by that fireball,” reminded Alric.

“True,” admitted Rebecca. “But he was still trying to save us.”

“I guess,” said Alric. “I would sure like to talk to him, or it, or whatever.”

“Me too,” said Rebecca.

A light appeared ahead of them in the tunnel and the companions braced themselves.

“I’m not running anymore,” stated Rebecca.

“Agreed,” answered Alric. He readied his sword.

The light increased and a flaming figure appeared at the end of the tunnel. It approached cautiously. “I hope you weren’t harmed by the fireball,” it began. “My - power - is often much stronger than I expect. It can be unpredictable.”

“We’re fine,” said Rebecca. As a show of good faith she put away her dagger. She looked at Alric.

Alric reluctantly lowered his weapon. He chanted a spell and it shrunk into a dagger.

The elemental paused. It appeared agitated. “Do not try to summon me!” it warned in a low tone.

“We’re not using summoning magic!” explained Rebecca quickly as Alric sheathed his dagger.

The elemental relaxed.

“Thank you for saving us,” said Rebecca.

“You did the same for me,” answered the elemental.

Alric gave the dwarf a sharp glance. He had thought the dwarf had been exaggerating about saving the elemental.

After an awkward silence, Rebecca spoke. “My name is Rebecca.” She indicated the elf. “This is Alric, my companion.”

The elemental nodded. “My name is Tyris. My gender in this existence is male.”

“Pleased to meet you,” said Rebecca.

“Why are you both so far from home?” asked Tyris.

“I’m on a quest to find lizardmen lairs and report them to my king,” explained Rebecca. “The dwarven army will be dispatched to eliminate them.”

“A difficult task,” observed Tyris. “And you, Alric? You are much further from your homeland.”

Alric was caught off guard. “I - uh - well -.”

Rebecca elbowed the elf in the ribs and he continued. “I’m after a particular lizardmage who crossed me not too long ago.”

“It seems they’re trying to poison the water,” added Rebecca. “We have to stop them.”

Tyris nodded in understanding. “If your quest is to hinder the lizardmen, then allow me to help. They continuously try to summon me for their evil purposes and I will have none of it. If you wish to neutralize the poison, I may not be able to help directly, but I will aid in whatever way I can.”