And so it was that the three companions became twelve plus a noble eagle and their leader Lord Andras riding at the head of the line. For many more days the company rode into the foothills of the mountains, growing ever closer to that red glow atop the highest peak. Lord Andras told them many stories from far away over the sea. Of great battles and busy doings in that vast empire so distant and foreign to Rodrick and his friends. Lord Andras told them of other foes he had fought, of great minotaurs and many-headed beasts. He also told of the mighty deeds of his father the Emperor, who had slain the sea serpent, the old ancient writhing one who had begat all the terrible worms of the world.
As the autumn days drew short and the first snows were seen high up on the mountain peaks the company grew tougher and stronger from their long days of travel. Each morning they practiced their swordsmanship sparring with one another and each evening they discussed strategy and the various theories of dragon slaying. Dartanion flew up high above them and told them which paths were best to take. Although their rations were thin the woods of the foothills held much wild game and they frequently brought down a stag or wild mountain goat with which to fill their hungry bellies and strengthen their hearts.
Although they had not seen the dragon since they had left the village of the Fallen Ones they saw many signs of the dragon’s presence. There were uprooted trees and scorched hilltops. Here and there were left the sad remains of an unlucky heifer which the dragon had made a meal of. Occasionally the screeching roar could be heard late at night and in the morning acrid smoke would hover in the air.
The oak forests gave way to tall fir trees and their path became lost amongst rocky hills. Smoke hovered always on the slopes and hardly a breeze would stir it. Dartanion could no longer see through the dense foliage to guide their way. The horses were slower and slower to make much progress and many times the group had to turn around and back-track many miles to find a way through the wilderness. Finally after many days with little progress forward they came to the end of a long valley which was walled in on three sides.
Lord Andras halted the party, “My dear friends we have reached another impasse. It seems every way I lead us we get no further into this wilderness. Everywhere our path is twisted and fowled by dragon magic. It creeps into both the land and our hearts. It is as if the only way into the mountains is to sprout wings and fly just as the dragon does. You see each of these roads I take leads to another dead end. The beast is clever and has picked a well defended mountain peak to make its home. I fear I cannot find a way to get up to the high mountain. If only my father the Emperor were here to advise me, or your good King Celtas would surely know the way to the heart of the mountain.”
Sir Rodrick added, “If only we could seek the council of Druis the wiseman of my village, he would know what to do. But he is an old man, long in years and bent over. He could not make such a journey as this.”
Lord Andras gave sir Rodrick a peculiar look, “This Druis you speak of. I have heard of him! Why have you not mentioned him before? For he would give us the wisest of counsel in our present predicament.”
Sir Rodrick was taken aback, “He is wise indeed but merely a village elder, no more, and a crippled old man who can hardly help us when he is back at the village many leagues away.”
“He is no mere village elder,” Lord Andras intoned, “He is a magi, a great prophet and friend to my father the Emperor as well as your dear King Celtas. He came long ago from the end of the world to bring his knowledge to the Empire and now he travels the kingdoms of the world spreading the light of knowledge.”
“If only we had known!” Cried Sir Rodrick, “If only he had told us he could have been a great help to our quest. But he is far away in the Castle town, advising the steward and helping to govern the kingdom.”
“He is very wise,” Said Lord Andras, “It could be that the Castle is just where he is needed most. After all, your King is absent and the steward will need advisors to govern the kingdom. But perhaps we may inquire of him anyway. For Dartanion is swift and can cover distances in mere days that would take many weeks to ride on horseback. We may send him a message through Dartanion and ask for his advice.”
That night the companions discussed their plans and Dartanion the noble eagle agreed to fly to Castle Town to speak to Druis the wise-man. Dartanion ate double portions of dinner and roosted up in a tree to rest before his long flight across the kingdom.
In the morning Dartanion left them flying swiftly westward toward the castle. The company of men stayed behind trying to find a way to get through the labyrinth of canyons that stood at the foothills to the mountain.
Dartanion made incredible haste, covering fields and hills that had taken days to pass in mere hours. He flew swiftly down valleys and followed the course of great rivers back over the long reach of the Kingdom. He alighted on tall trees each night to rest and brought word of the band of heroes to those towns which held the love of the kingdom in their hearts. Everywhere he stopped the people were astonished to meet the talking lord of the skies and they wanted to pass along other messages between town and hamlets along his long path back to the Castle town.
Finally on the morning of the fourth day Dartanion crossed the old forest and came into Castle town. He flew twice overhead to announce his presence and then landed in the highest tower of the Castle to speak with the Steward of the Kingdom.
Into the tower came the royal attendants and Stalmar, the King's Steward. Stalmar addressed the eagle, “What tidings do you bring us, lord of the skies, for it has been long since we have heard from King Celtas and even the heroes we sent forth have not returned. Meanwhile the Dragon grows ever hungrier and we have little to satisfy him.”
Dartanion replied, “I am sent from those very heroes you mentioned and I seek the council of the wise man Druis, for I fear we will need his advice to find our way through the perilous mountains.”
At the mention of Druis Stalmar narrowed his eyes at the eagle and made a small gesture to the guard by his side. “We no longer take the council of Druis for he is a traitor to the kingdom,” Stalmar said, “as are any who would seek his guidance.” The guard pulled out a great sack and tried in one swift movement to throw it over Dartanion but the Eagle was too swift for him and struck out with his sharp beak drawing blood. Dartanion wheeled about the room, feathers bristling and claws slashing at the guards trying to restrain him. With one final whoosh the mighty bird shot from the tower and away from the castle just escaping as the castle guards shot arrows after him.
That night Dartanion slept in a tall tree hidden in the old forest. He did not know what to do or what treachery had befallen Druis the wise man. When the moon had reached its peak in the sky a small sound was heard in the forest. A beautiful singing voice could be heard, dreamlike and soft coming through the trees. Dartanion roused himself and his keen eyes saw a figure in green silk sliding through the moonlight like a fairy. It was the Queen, secretly walking through the moonlit woods and singing with a voice as beautiful as the night. At the sight of her, Dartanion knew she was of noble birth and a fair and important woman. He flew down to meet her bowing low and introducing himself.
“Is it me you wish to see your grace, for it is unusual for one such as myself and one such as yourself to meet in such a dreamlike place?” Dartanion said with charm.
“Lord of the skies,” the Queen replied, “I have indeed come here seeking you this night, for I, The Queen of the Kingdom have heard of what has taken place in the castle this day and I have managed to elude Stalmar to come to speak with you. Many terrible things have happened in the Kingdom since the departure of our heroes and I fear that many more terrible things will happen before my King will return or the heroes reach the lair of the Dragon.”
The Queen then told this tale, “After the heroes left Stalmar took control of the Castle and locked me up away from the people. He tells us that King Celtas will never return and that he will be our new King. He plans to force me to marry him even though I feel in my heart that King Celtas is alive and well and will return and that my daughter the princess is still alive in the Dragon’s lair. I still have hope that the heroes will succeed in vanquishing the dragon and rescuing her. I fear too many of the people have lost hope and now they follow the dark path that Stalmar has set for us. Stalmar has brought the royal court under his spell and tells them that they must submit to the dragon. Each month he chooses a maiden from the townsfolk to give to the dragon as an offering. He takes her to the tallest tower in the Castle and lets the dragon take her without even trying to fight the beast. He also leads goats and calves away onto the hilltops to sacrifice them to the dragon. Everyone lives in fear and it seems that Stalmar is becoming a dragon himself, asking more and more from the people, hoarding up treasures in the castle to give to the dragon. Taking their daughters, sacrificing their livestock, and even preventing the harvest. Druis tried to stop him but Stalmar locked him away in the dungeon. I wish King Celtas would return or that the heroes would vanquish the beast. I fear that the townsfolk have little left to give and soon their lives will be forfeit to the dark designs of Stalmar and the dragon.”
After the Queen told her tale she cast herself down to the forest floor and began to cry singing a song of lament. She sang a song so sad that even the eagle shed a tear and spread his great wings over her to comfort her.
When the first pale light of morning touched the horizon the Queen became silent and Dartanion looked into her kind eyes, “Do not despair my Queen, he said, for not all hope is lost. Even now the heroes are at the gates of the mountain, searching for a way to get at the dragon. And they are led by my Lord Andras, son of the Emperor himself. They will not fail to accomplish their mission. And take heart my dear Queen, know that your King Celtas is alive and well, he is crossing the narrow sea and he is desperate to return to you and to his kingdom.”
Dartainian dried her tears with his soft feathers and the Queen rose with the shadow of a smile on her face, for hope had again been rekindled in her after long days of despair. She left Dartanian to return to the castle before anyone noticed her absence. And she told the noble bird where to find the dungeon and poor Druis who was kept imprisoned there.
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