The Second Prophecy (Part 1 of the Dragdani Prophecies) (24 page)

“
Don’t be
afraid of hurting me. If you can take a stronger hold, do so,” said
the Wolf. He felt her grip tighten. He knelt down closer to the
ground to help her. She had almost climbed all the way on when
Demala heard many ear-piercing squeals coming from all about them.
He counted twenty, though there was a very good chance there were
more.

The girl had
just put her leg over his back and held on as tightly as she could
when the very trees above shook with the weight of the creatures.
More squeals came from above them, and for a split second Demala
found himself wondering how many there were. Nevertheless, he had
no intention of finding out. So with the girl holding on for dear
life, he took off like the wind, shooting past trees, wild flowers,
and large bushes.

When they
cleared the last of the trees, they could hear the Valcotas
squealing, shrieking, and screeching after them, or perhaps at
themselves for their own failure.

As Demala ran
through that land, he could smell the burning of wood and flesh,
among other smells he recognized with ease. He knew the difference
between them well, for he had smelled them many times throughout
his long life. And now he could feel the guilt of leaving those
people to the host of Dempmage. Yet he knew there was nothing he
could have done to save the village.

“But at least I can save one,” he repeated to
himself.

As they
crossed the border into Opredanas, Demala did not head for the
Towers of Telian. Delsani had told him that he would be spending
time in the city helping the Grand Wizard. So the abnormally large
Wolf made a beeline for Cayer-Huld, holding out hope that he might
make it in time to warn the Wizards and Witches, so they might be
able to save what might be left of the village. Although he thought
he knew the outcome, he still pressed himself to get there in
time.

As Demala
practically flew across that land, he couldn’t help but notice that
the red grass and soil under his paws was very mild, as though they
had been doused with a light sheet of rain only a few hours
before.

It was one
hour before he saw the city gates, and this made his heart sing
with joy, though he did not know how they were going to get past
the gates, as he had never before been allowed in the city.
However, when they were only two feet away from them, he was
pleasantly surprised to see them open.

“
How?
” he said
aloud.

Just then, he
felt the girl’s grip tighten again.

“
It’s you,”
said the Wolf. “It’s opened for you. And just when I was beginning
to feel special.”

He walked in,
and immediately Wizards and Witches gasped as they went by. They
did not go far before a Ves-guard saw Demala. He drew his wand and
ran to him and said. “How did you -?” but before he finished his
question, he saw the girl on the back of the Wolf.

He was not as
shocked as Demala, for the Wolf understood the Wizard’s words
clearly.

“
What
happened to her?” the Ves-guard said aloud, while also wondering to
himself if the Wolf was who he thought it was.

“
I’ll tell
you, but first, please tell me if there is anywhere she can get
help,” said Demala desperately.

The Wizard,
finally realizing that he was right in his assumption, pointed his
wand up into the air, and three round red lights shot from its tip.
The orbs stopped in midair and started to write in the
sky.

Ves-guard needs assistants, wounded girl at the
city gates.

Suddenly,
lights of different colors flew up in answer. And within a few
seconds, Ves-guards appeared from every street.

“
Quickly,
take the girl to the hospital,” said the first
Ves-guard.

T
he closest took hold of the
girl, stood her up and Phazed her to the hospital as
instructed.

“Now tell me what happened,” said the
Ves-guard who first found Demala.

“
You’ll hear
all I have to say, but only in City Hall with the Wizard Delsani,”
said Demala. “And no stalling; many lives are on the
line.”

The Wizard
raised his wand to the air again, and again a flare shot up, only
this flare was green, and it seemed to go higher into the purple
sky than the others. It went through the imitation clouds that
floated just above the city that were contained by the dome that
surrounded and protected that magnificent place.

At first
Demala wondered why the Wizard shot the flare.
Perhaps he’s signaling someone that I’m
here?
thought the Wolf.

However, as
the thought ran through, his mind he saw an object glinting in the
sunlight. The Wizard saw him staring up at it. “It’s what we call a
Tear-Fly,” he said contentedly.

“
Yes,” said
Demala, “I’ve heard of them, but I’ve never seen one.” He stared in
awe at the giant winged water drop, and when it had landed, the
Ves-guard ran to it. “Two please,” he said. The Tear-Fly grew to
double its original size to accommodate the Wizard and the
Wolf.

They were on
their way to the City Hall, and would soon sit in the presence of
the Council of Wiz-Wit.

They lifted
higher and higher with every moment. Although their ascent ended
only a minute into their flight, they could see most of the city.
Demala was again in awe at the sights he saw, for the city was one
of the most beautiful sights any could see. Streets upon streets of
houses, shops, restaurants, and pubs. The Wolf saw people scurrying
around, getting along with their abnormal lives.

The Wizard
pointed out some of the sights as they flew on by.

“
My name is
Jert, and I guess that you are the Wolf Demala.”

The Wolf
nodded.

“
And this is
your first time within the city walls, is it not?”

“Yes,” said Demala.

“
Well,
if you look there’s the
Wiz-Wit Hospital (You Curse, We Nurse), the Sweet Shop (Tricky,
Leety’s, Sweety’s), the Colweup River that runs through the city on
its way to the ocean, the Pet Shop (Nothing Normal Pets), and the
Mortuary (You croak, we stoke),” said the Ves-guard with a small
snort of laughter. When the Wolf didn’t do the same, the Ves-guard
said, “You know: You croak, we stoke, because we Wizards cremate
our dead. It means, like, stoking the fire.”

“
Yes I know.
But don’t you think that name is a little inappropriate?” asked
Demala, turning critic.

“
Well,
at first some thought So
but when the owner couldn’t change the sign, he made it so if there
is a death in the city, or if dead are brought here, the letters on
the sign vanish for a week to show respect for the dead and their
families,” said the Wizard.

“
Tell me, are
you an Anilang?” asked the Wolf curiously.

“
No, I’m not,
but the city is.”

“
What does
that mean?”

“
It means
what I said,” said the Ves-guard, grinning. “You know this city as
Cayer-Huld, though by some it is also called Anilang City. You see,
when the city was built, the two founders, the first Wizard Cayer
Varthker and his best friend (the Warlock) Huldcend Sayer, were
Anilangs who could talk to Dragons. They had a fairly good
relationship with the Dragons of the Ouertal Colony. This made them
believe that it would benefit Wizards and Witches alike to have
them as allies. So they made it possible for everyone within the
city to understand the Dragons when they spoke, and vice versa, so
they did exactly that.”

“
The
last time I checked, I’m
pretty sure that I wasn’t a Dragon,” said Demala
mordantly.

“
Oh of course
not,” said the Wizard hastily. “Every now and then a new animal
language is added to the city, and the Wizard Delsani has fought
for your right to come here, since you helped at the Battle of
Kealhal. With the help of the Grand Wizard who persuaded the
Supreme Witch, the Council of Wiz-Wit soon fell into line and went
along with the move.”

As their
flight was nearing its end, Demala could see what looked like a
great fortress far off in the distance. It was on its own aisle not
far off the coast, or at least that is how it looked to him. “What
is that place, there?” he asked as he nodded in the direction of
the fortress.

“
That’s the
old palace. It has not been used for over Six hundred years, since
King Dragdani last sat on the throne.”

“
And why has
it not been used since?”

“
The
last King didn’t use it, and
no one else can enter without the King’s
permission.”

“
When I was a
boy, there was a tale told to all youngsters who loved hearing the
old tales, even to this day some are told. But this particular tale
told that King Dragdani would return in our hour of need,” said the
Wizard meaningfully, as if remembering the tale had awakened the
memories from his childhood. “It was also said that when the palace
once again joined with the coast of the city, he would live there
again and our entire world would finally be at peace.”

“
Isn’t that
something like the Second Prophecy?”

The Wizard
suddenly looked offended. “No how could it be. The Prophecy tells
of his heir coming, not him,” he snapped.

“
I didn’t
mean any offence. And I’m sorry if you took it as though I did,”
said Demala apologetically, as the Tear-Fly touched
down.

“
That’s all
right. I didn’t mean to snap at you,” said the Ves-guard
shamefully. “It’s just that I’m one of the few that believe in the
story. I mean, for us to have peace, I think it has to be
true.”

They quickly
climbed out of the Tear-Fly and walked up the steps to the city
Hall entrance and were seen by most of the members of the Council
of Wiz-Wit, as they had just adjourned from their
meeting.

“
That’s the
Grand Wizard and the Supreme Witch standing together,” said the
Ves-guard pointing to them. And before he could say or do anything,
Demala ran forward to them.

“
You must
hurry,” he said urgently, “before it is too late. The town of
Kuople is under attack.”

“
A second
attack?” asked Berlanin.

“
Shall we
summon the Ves-guards?” asked Galfead.

“Quickly,” said Oruealth fretfully

Ves-guards
from all over the city assembled outside the City Hall, and against
the protests of the Council Jaucal, and Oruealth went as
well.

“Neither of you should go,” protested
Berlanin.

“
This is your
time to get a little experience at running the city, my friend,”
said Jaucal. “I would say that it would not be wise to pass up the
opportunity. Anyway, are you going to try and stop us?”

Oruealth grinned, for she knew as all others
did what the answer to the question was.

“
Of course
not, Grand Wizard,” said Berlanin.

The
y Phazed their way to the
Witch town only a few seconds later. When they arrived, they found
the inhabitants of the town dead.

“At least they put up a fight,” said one.

“
Yeah, but
they still shouldn’t have had to fight alone,” said his friend
beside him. And the first one nodded in agreement.

As they came
to the Town Hall, they heard cheering and laughing. And there were
the invaders. They were cheering and laughing because they had just
killed two of the villagers, a Wicca and a young
Warlock.

Consumed by
anger, the Grand Wizard stepped out into the sunlight, his white
beard glistening.

One of the Dark Wizards turned and met his
gaze. He choked on the wine he had just downed.

“One you missed,” said the old Wizard loudly
and firmly, as to be heard by all.

“
Who the heck
are you?” asked the Dark Wizard as he wiped the last remainder of
the spilt wine from his mouth and chin.

The others
stirred as the Supreme Witch and Ves-guards appeared.

“
You dare to
ask who I am,” said Jaucal furiously, “when you are the intruder.
If you don’t know, then I will be clad to show you.” He raised his
scepter high and said, “What’s wrong? You were so brave in
attacking the people of this town,” mocked Jaucal. “Or was that
because you took them by surprise? Maybe your backbones aren’t as
strong as you thought.”

The invaders
advanced further, drawing out their wands. Their dark robes flowed
in the wind that had suddenly come of the Grand Wizard’s
will.

“
You three
take that side,” said the wine-soaked one.

The Grand
Wizard put up his hand to those behind. “These are mine,” he
said.

“
So you have
overcome the yellow streaks after all, and you think you can best
me,” the old Wizard said, loudly addressing has enemies.

This fuelled
the anger of his attackers, and bright lights of green, blue, red,
and yellow flew toward the old Wizard. With his scepter, the Grand
Wizard swatted their spells away like puny flies.