I have a feeling you won’t like it, but in this particular scenario, you have a surplus of dying energies going to waste.
You’re suggesting we steal energy from the dying? Maija asked.
‘Stealing’ is not the right word, Tarron replied. You already take the lives of your enemies so willingly. Why not harvest their fleeting energies before they’re gone?
To be clear, Anders said. You’re talking about the kurr and any soldiers operating under Merglan’s command?
That is correct. I can show you how to take the energies of those dying and store them in the crystals. It’s actually quite humane, you know. Taking the energy from them will end their suffering quickly and painlessly.
Anders looked to Maija and shrugged, “If it will help save the lives of those fighting for our cause and bring a swift death to the kurr who are already too seriously injured to survive, I don’t see the harm in it.” From Maija’s responding look, he could tell she wasn’t quite as eager to harvest the essence of dying kurr. He thought of the way in which Ivan had taken the soul from the green dragon and absorbed its powers and asked, We won’t have to physically remove it, will we? This can be done with magic, like when we use the crystal’s energy?
Precisely, we will do this with magic only. I won’t let your hands get dirty, as some would say.
“Okay,” Maija said aloud.
Anders nodded and agreed, Alright Tarron, show us how it’s done.
Riding their dragons to as many of the dying enemy as possible, Anders and Maija filled the sapphires in each of their weapons with life’s pure energy, a power source they could use to fuel the healing required by their injured allies. When the sapphires were rich with power, Anders and Tarron instructed Maija in the healing ways as they moved across the battlefield. They were able to save countless more lives than Anders could have the last time he’d used his magic to heal the Rollo warriors in Eastland.
While Anders and Maija finished their work, Anders saw the rebel army forming into ranks. With those in charge leading them to pack up their camp and return to Brookside, Anders could sense the overwhelming satisfaction in knowing that their fighting had been for the preservation of their homeland. The people of Brookside and the surrounding area could return to their homes, no longer fearing an attack from an occupying army. Any survivors among the opposition had fled into the Bareback Plains. If the elements didn’t claim them, perhaps the riders of Equine would.
Kirsten and the others searched the battlefield for the two tapped crystals and scavenged any weapons that could be useful in case more of Merglan’s forces arrived in the future. Suddenly, a movement in the sky caught Anders’ attention. He looked out over the Frozentip Mountains to see a flight of dragons. Anders called to Maija and pointed toward them. Staring at the mass of dragons as they flew northwest over the mountaintops, Anders wondered what could cause such a migration.
He thought perhaps they were taking advantage of the freedom from potential oppression now that Merglan had been subdued. The more he thought about this theory, though, the more he knew it was wrong. Anders felt a pit in his stomach again. His instincts told him something had gone horribly awry in Cedarbridge. In his heart he knew this meant evil would follow. What kind of evil, he did not know.
Standing at the bow of his elven ship, Nadir watched as the densely forested coastline of the Glacial Melt Bays faded into the darkness. With their ships weighed down by the extra dwarfs, the elf fleet sailed away from the fallen Everlight Kingdom. He felt a firm hand pat him on the small of his back and saw the dwarf leader at his side. Unable to see over the ship’s stern railing, Remli leaned his back against it and crossed his burly arms over his chest.
With the base of the dwarf’s thick beard pinned between his arms and chest, he said, “I know exactly how you’re feeling.”
Nadir glanced down as the dwarf king raised his eyes up at him. “I doubt it,” Nadir said with a sigh.
“You weren’t the only kingdom to fall,” Remli said. “Had it not been for your ships, my people would have been at the mercy of the long-legged beasts that roam the Eastland territories.”
Nadir scowled, “Hardstone has fallen? But how?” he asked.
“Dragons,” Remli replied.
“But your kingdom has survived hundreds of years of living alongside the wilderness of dragons. How did this come to be?” Nadir asked.
“How is it that Merglan flipped the most secure prison in the five nations on its head?” Remli asked in response.
Shaking his head, Nadir said, “It was planned. That’s the only way I see that it could’ve come to pass. So you think he orchestrated the dragon attack?”
“Why didn’t he come burn your ships as we sailed away from Southland? The evil slug had this takeover planned far in advance,” Remli responded.
“What happened?” Nadir asked.
“We were all set to meet your ships to carry our army to Southland. My army was marching out the front doors in full, the entire dwarf force. That’s when they struck. Dragons by the tens came swooping in, burning and crashing into the entrance. I lost a quarter of my army before they could clear out. I just hope there were survivors to lead those who remained inside through the mines and to safety,” Remli said.
“From what I’ve heard, the way out from the mines isn’t exactly safe,” Nadir said.
“We haven’t had a goblin attack in quite some time,” Remli said.
“What of the dragons?” Nadir asked.
Remli shook his head, “They broke through, swarmed the entrance of the city like wasps to a beehive. They covered the entire base of the mountain as we fled, making sneaking into the cave exits impossible. The dragons had to have been given detailed instructions as to what to do. There isn’t any other way to explain why wild dragons would band together to attack us, especially with such perfect timing. This was Merglan’s doing; I know it and I know he’s turned your kingdom inside out.”
“All who were able to escape the city are aboard these ships,” Nadir said. “A fraction of my army and a host of angry elves and injured citizens.”
“Truthfully, I had hoped your army would be greeting us with the ships. With your speed, we might have been able to infiltrate the caves and lead an escape,” Remli said. “But now, we are more helpless than if we had stayed in Southland.”
“If Anders returns to the city, Merglan will kill him,” Nadir said, rubbing his face with worry.
“The boy and his dragon live?” Remli asked.
Nadir nodded, “But for how long depends on his absence from the Everlight Kingdom. He flew after Merglan’s apprentice and did not return.”
“Hopefully he’s realized the events and is purposefully distancing himself from the elf capital,” Remli said.
A light emanating from behind him forced Nadir to look over his shoulder. An elf carried his family’s pocket mirror, the one he used to communicate with Natalia. Thanking the elf, Nadir looked to see Natalia’s war-weary face staring back at him. “Natalia, I’ve been trying to reach you. Merglan has taken over our capital.”
Natalia shook her head, “No, that’s not possible! There were thousands of orcs that came from the east, but Merglan wasn’t with them.”
Nadir frowned, not understanding her explanation.
Remli stood on his toes trying to see Natalia in the mirror. With a strained voice, he said, “Maylox, is she there? Does my daughter live?”
