Deller needed to get out. He had been cooped up in his palace for too long. His wives were annoying him. His people were annoying him. He had remoulded Mangor into an ostentatious reflection of his ego. Statues of him abounded. Streets were named after him. All paid for by the subjugation of his people. His soldiers had been halted at the city of Pride. No one had dared to explain the details but he knew enough to make him angry. Now the reports were that Kingsport was holding out against his might! It looked as if there would be a prolonged siege. He did not want that. It was time to move. It was time to show this meek world who was boss.
His museum was finished. He realised that it needed one thing. A portrait of him in all his finery. Showing his power, his wealth and his perfect good looks. At the entrance, there was a space for it. No one would doubt his supremacy once 'the space' had been filled. So on the promise of untold riches, he had gathered a dozen of the most renowned artists of Mangor to paint his portrait. Sat on his throne with his good side forward; as if he had a bad side! Someone would pay for that comment. He was becoming very bored and very angry. Untold riches, Pah! He was of a mind to put them all to the sword if they didn't make him look like the mighty king he was.
It was time to check out the work so far. He held up his hand for effect and stood. His body servant approached and re-arranged his finery so he could walk amongst them. These painter types were not the best smelling. He approached the first. All morning he had been wondering where the faint odour of high onion was coming from. Here was the source. Thankfully the likeness of himself was poor. More like shapes stuck together. With a nod to his henchman Grekko, the wretch was forcefully removed from the chamber. Four pictures had captured his magnificence to various degrees. These artists were allowed to remain and continue. The others were removed.
Deller returned to his throne. Composed his features to be most kinglike, re-arranged his stately robes with the help of his body servant. His thoughts began to wander again.
The drill-pod, that he, Beko and Kane had arrived in had recently been retrieved. It had been a trip down memory lane for him. Bringing back that daring escape from The Governor. He still couldn't believe he had 'got away with it'. The technology of the drill-pod was limited but could be put to very good use here on Agios. The crystal tracking device would lead him to vast deposits of magic crystal he was sure. The explosives would come in very handy with the siege of Kingsport. They were en-route this very minute. He had forgotten about the holographic lizard probes that were on board. They would be very useful in guarding strategic areas of his kingdom without the use of soldiers. If only the lasers had been still viable. That would have made things so much easier. Technology here was just not good enough. He could find no-one with the skills to replicate them.
His reverie was rudely interrupted by Grekko.
"My Lord." It had taken ages for Grekko to get the hang of addressing him so. He wasn't there for his intelligence. Deller forgave him. "My Lord. One of them probe things has just started to go off. Red flashy light and it sounds like the screech of a strangled leera. Parkin says it is the probe at the ravine crossing in Upton. Sorry to interrupt." He then quickly retreated from the chamber.
***
"What on Agios was that?" Todd threw himself to the floor in surprise. Dorky ran a flight to the North then stopped cowering.
Klem had crouched into a spring-like position, surprising himself at his lack of cowardliness. "It was only a click. Nothing to ...". Then there was a loud whirring noise to go with it. "Okay, now I am worried."
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
There was a flash. A bright silver light appeared at the entrance to the ravine bridge. The three stared at it in awe. It was a giant lizard. Not quite a dragon, but close enough to worry them. It just didn't look right. It was silent for one thing. It made no roar and as it moved it made no footfall.
"I can see right through it. Like it is made of water. What can it be?" Todd was now more puzzled than scared and approached the apparition with a sense of wonder.
"We are all protected by the crystals. There is no need to be afraid." Klem had pulled himself together and regarded the silver dragon with no fear.
Dorky, Todd and Klem all stood before it. It was as if it spoke.
"You will go no further." a voice said. "By order of King Deller."
"Bloody Hell." Said Todd. "He knows we are here."
Looking around they found what they knew must be the source of the vision and the sound. It was a box with some holes in it. It had been placed on a windowsill of the lookout tower. They found that if they covered one of the holes the dragon disappeared. The other holes they were not so sure about and they could only surmise that it could see them.
"We can guess that The Mangorians will be on their way now," Klem whispered.
"Why would they be bothered with us? We are surely not important to them."
"I hope you are right but maybe Deller has eyes everywhere, don't forget we escaped from his slave camp quite dramatically. We may be known to him." Klem put the box into his back-pack.
"Okay. It sure does make that rotting, rickety, rope bridge a little more welcoming." Todd gathered himself for the crossing of the ravine. "Are your paws up to this deathtrap of a bridge Dorky?"
-We shall soon find out-
The three hesitantly but determinedly set off across the bridge.
There was a light breeze blowing from the south. By the time they reached the middle of the ravine, it felt like a hurricane. Dorky had gone first with Klem close behind. Hands were much more preferable to paws here. None of them wished to test the power of their crystal. Seeing Dorkys' paws scraping on the rotting rope, Klem had no option but to lift him onto his back and slung his furry body, half into his rucksack and half onto his head. Leaving only one hand to hold the rope. Precarious as it was they eventually made it across.
Once on the other side, they paused and gathered their thoughts.
"Do you think we would have done that if we didn't carry the crystal?" Todd thought aloud.
"No, I don't think I would have had the guts to do that. It certainly makes us different knowing we are indestructible." Klem replied.
-We have all come a long way in a short time. Not just in distance.- Dorky reflected. He sniffed the air. - I can see our quarry ahead. It is not how I expected it to be. Half a day to the west I can see an enormous ball of green light. It looks to be supported on four wedges of rock. The centre of the light is high in the air. How can this be?-
Klem flicked his long curly hair and held it out of his eyes as he followed Dorkys gaze. "I don't understand." He exclaimed. "I can't see the magic but I can see the four rocks that you see. Unless. Invisible." He muttered.
"That's it!" Todd excitedly blurted out. "The source of the magic is high in a mountain. Viridianas' egg must make it all invisible. Like the magic is constantly turned on."
"So this must be Missing Mountain. The Sisterhood of the Dragon must use the power to conceal a whole mountain!"
"What? Who?" -What? Who?- Dorky and Todd questioned in unison.
"Some of Uncle Bobs' stories are becoming a bit more believable." Klem prepared to tell the others all he could remember of Uncle Bobs' daring adventures. "Let's find a place to sleep for a bit and I will tell you all I know,"
***
Deller eventually followed Grekko into his war room. Parkin was there closely observing a very glitchy holovision.
Deller shoved him out of the way "Let me look imbecile." After some scrutiny, Deller gave a puzzled grunt."Find out who they are and what they are doing there. No one has crossed that bridge in years. They look like kids. That furry mammal looks like a badger. They must have a death wish to go that way. I want them followed and questioned. Wait. That amulet around the blonde one's neck. That looks very much like a yellow crystal. Yellow? Power of healing. They cannot be harmed! Send my men to capture them I must interrogate them. They may not be harmed, but they can rot forever in one of my dungeons."