Spirit Hound
November 7, 2021
“Trust me!,” Master Athros said. “You just might learn something.
Darach looked around at the blackened stone buildings of the ruins of Drocmanad as the wizened mage opened a small, ornate box to reveal a fist-sized gem etched with sigils.
“Why can’t we just read the accounts in the archives like all the other students,” Darach said.
Caman laughed. “The masters are always telling us to take some initiative in our studies. What could be a better example than this.”
“What exactly are we learning from Master Athros having us steal a Keysight Gem from the conclave vault?,” Darach said.
“It’s borrowing, not stealing,” Athros said, “And this is perfectly safe. Besides, why just read about a tragedy in some old tome written by a scribe that wasn’t even there when you can watch the event happen yourself?”
“Why would any sane person want to watch the people of Drocmanad being roasted by fire drakes?” Darach said. “I’m just fine reading the written account.”
Athros snorted at Darach’s concerns, removed the gem from the box and placed it on a waist- high stone plinth in the center of the town square.
“Gather round, boys.” Athros said. “And remember what I told you. Focus your mind on the gem and repeat the mantra together with me.”
Caman eagerly took his place by the plinth and placed his hand on the gem. Darach came closer but hesitated to touch the gem. He looked up at the elderly master, looking for signs of madness in the bright blue eyes that sparkled with excitement.
“I … I brought this from the vault … just in case.” Darach said, holding out a small silver hammer, etched with sigils.
Athros scoffed, snatched the hammer from Darach’s hand, and tossed it into the empty fountain. “No need for that spell-killer!” he said. “This is all perfectly safe.”
Shaking with anticipation, Athros stood before the plinth, twisted the ends of his mustache, smoothed out his long, white beard, and placed his hand upon the gem. When Darach didn’t do likewise, Athros glared until Darach complied.
“All together, then.” Athros said, beginning to chant the mantra.
After a brief pause, Darach and Caman joined in. The gem responded to their efforts and grew warm to the touch as a spark of light sprang up within. Moments later, several shafts of light lanced out of the gem and formed a rectangular frame in the middle of the air – its edge resting on the stone paving of the square.
The frame of light began to hum as the three of them repeated the mantra. Then a dull thump sounded from the frame and they all turned to watch. The roiling tendrils that filled the frame faded away and a clear, distinct image formed. Or it would have been clear if not for the flames and smoke that greeted their sight.
Screams rang out from the image of the Drocmanad that was. Buildings burned and people ran in terror as an untold number of fire drakes besieged the town.
“Amazing.” Athros said. “See, I told you it would work. We can watch the attack unfold in perfect safety.”
Darach gave Caman a worried glance and they both looked up at the face of their mentor, his attention riveted on the scene of devastation and mayhem.
“Look. Look.” Athros said, pointing. “There’s one of them now.”
The boys turned back to the frame in time to see an immense creature come charging into the town square with a limp human form dangling from its maw. Shaking its head back-and-forth, it flung its victim to the side – right in the direction of the frame. The body hit the ground with a thud, one arm falling towards them and across the edge of the frame.
Athros snapped out of his reverie at this – surprise evident on his face. “I didn’t think that was possible,” he said. “The codex said the keysight gem opens a window to the past that allows one to view the events. This seems more like a doorway.”
“I wonder if it works both ways.” Caman said.
“Just don’t do anything stup- ” Darach began as a rock Caman hurled passed through the doorway, bounced once, and struck the side of the fire drake’s snout.
“Bullseye,” Caman said.
The drake’s head snapped in their direction, its attention now focused on them. It huffed once and fire erupted from its mouth. Flames spilled through the doorway as Caman dove into the empty fountain and Darach pulled Athros down behind the plinth. When Darach looked up, Athros’ beard and robes were burning and the drake was lunging towards the doorway.
“Turn it off,” Darach pleaded.
“It’s too late,” Athros gasped as the drake’s head crossed the plane into their time. “Darach, catch.” Caman called out.
The sight of the drake’s open maw closing on him was enough of a distraction that Darach failed to catch the spellbreaker hammer flying towards him. It bounced off the plinth and spun in the air before he managed to reach up, grab it, and swing it down onto the gem. An ominous crack sounded from the gem, the light blinked out, and the doorway snapped shut – severing the drake’s long neck. The enormous head hung briefly in the air before crashing to the ground at the base of the plinth. Darach and Caman stared at the head in shocked disbelief as the heat from it caused the blood to bubble and hiss on the stones.
Wide eyes staring out of a soot-blackened face, Athros got to his feet. He snuffed out the tiny flame burning on the end of his mustache with his fingers, straightened his charred masters robes and proclaimed tremulously, “That … ahem … concludes my lesson on how to slay a fire drake.”
~ ~ ~
