A Charge of Valor

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

Thor woke as first light broke over the horizon, casting an eerie blood-red glow over the fields of ash, over the valley of exploding volcanoes all around them. It had been one of the most harrowing nights of his life. They had all decided to settle in, to wait out the night until the dawn, when the dragons left their lair.

All night, Thor’s dreams had been punctuated by the exploding noises of the volcanoes, by bursts of fire, by the searing heat of lava streams all around them. More than once he had been awakened by dreams that he was sleeping on the edge of the sun, only to see a stream of lava coming at him, and having to roll out of the way.

It was harder to breathe here, too, the clouds thicker, ash everywhere; he was nearly gasping for air by the time they awakened, ash in his ears and eyes and nose, on his cheeks, all over his hands. He looked at the faces of his companions, and saw that they were stained by ash, too. He could tell that none of the others had slept well; they all seemed sleepless and on-edge.

There arose another distant roar, the ground shaking, and the harrowing noises of the dragons began again. The first light broke to a chorus of screams, a huge cacophony splitting the air. As they all turned and looked over the ridge, watched the horizon, one dragon after the next lifted into the air, leaping out of the cave, off the edge of the cliff, their long claws dangling as they flapped their wings, flying higher and higher, screeching and arching back their necks. The creatures were hundreds of feet long, some black, green, purple and some scarlet, covered in ancient scales. They flew close to each other, then far apart, constantly weaving in and out in an intricate pattern.

One after the other leapt off the cliff, taking off in unison, like an army. In the distance, one dove down and breathed, filling the sky with flames, and Thor at first wondered what he was diving for.

Then Thor saw it. He was shocked to see, on the horizon, a contingent of Andronicus’ army, led by Romulus. There, on the far side of the sea of lava, marched hundreds of men, shields held high, heading towards the dragon’s layer. The dragons had spotted them.

Horrific screams arose as the dragons dove for them and breathed streams of fire, burning right through their shields. The shields melted and the soldiers, screaming, went up in flames; they panicked and ran towards each other, setting others aflame. It was chaos.

The rest of Romulus’ army continued to march forward, and the rear rows stepped forward and hurled spears up at the low-flying dragons. But the spears merely bounced off the thick scales.

More dragons plunged, grabbing soldiers with their claws, and flying up with them, high into the air, playing with them, letting them drop, screaming, then diving down and catching them. They did it again and again, until finally, when they tired of the game, they flew the soldiers over the volcanoes and dropped them in. The men shrieked as they sailed through the air and were engulfed in flames.

Romulus’ men were getting slaughtered. Finally, they turned and fled. But the dragons would not let them go. They chased after them, raining down fire on them, eviscerating nearly all of them.

“Now is our chance,” Thor said, turning to the others. “The dragons have all fled the lair. They are preoccupied. We must quickly get the Sword, before they return.”

“But how?” Reece asked. “We can’t cross that sea of lava.”

Thor knew they were right. They couldn’t cross that sea. Even if they had a boat, it would melt in moments.

Thor closed his eyes, needing to draw on his power now, more than he’d ever had. He allowed himself to feel the power of this place. To become one with it.

As he did, he felt a very distinct energy. The energy of a dragon. It made him open his eyes wide in shock, as a current ran through him, from his fingertips to his toes. He felt a tingling, a throbbing in the very tips of his fingers, and as he opened his eyes, he saw a lone dragon lingering in the cave. It was smaller than the others, dark purple, with huge red, glowing eyes.

It turned and looked right at Thor. Thor sensed its name: Mycoples. It was a she. He felt her speaking right to him.

With a screech, Mycoples suddenly lifted into the air, flying right for them.

“A dragon is left behind!” Indra screamed. “It comes our way! We are finished!”

“No, we are not,” Thor answered calmly. “Do not attempt to injure it.”

The others listened, Reece lowering his spear and O’Connor his bow.

Thor felt the tremendous energy of the dragon rolling through him, and he felt a new power, radiating through his body. He raised his hands high to the sky, and turned his palms upward. He felt Mycoples coming towards them, and felt himself summoning her. He felt her wanting to come, as if she had been waiting for him. He felt a stronger connection to this beast than he had to do anything in his life.

Mycoples screeched as she neared. All of Thor’s friends braced themselves in fear as she dove, but Thor did not. He knew she would not breathe fire, knew she would not attack. He knew her better than he knew himself.

Mycoples lowered herself slowly down to the ground, her great wings flapping, landing right before Thor. The ground shook as she did.

Mycoples turned and looked at Thor, her long tongue spitting, then retracting. Her soulful, glowing red eyes met his, and he felt as if he were meeting someone from another lifetime.

Mycoples turned and looked away, proudly. She sat there, as if waiting.

“Follow me,” Thor said to the others.

Thor jumped up onto Mycoples’ back without a fear, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. The others all looked at each other, dumbfounded. They stood there, too frozen in shock to move.

Then, one at a time, they all followed, jumping onto Mycoples back behind him, Indra taking Krohn.

As they all got on, Thor leaned forward and stroked the dragon’s neck. Her scales were thick, smooth, and the feel of it electrified him. He leaned forward and whispered in her ear.

“Old friend,” he said, “bring us to your home.”

Mycoples jerked, and leapt up into the air.

She shot straight up, and Thor grabbed on with all his might, as did the others; they screamed and held on for their lives. Mycoples finally leveled out, flapping her huge wings as she flew them over the sea of lava. They were completely at her mercy; if she decided to drop them, they would all be dead in an instant. Yet Thor had never trusted anyone or anything more in his life.

From up here, as they looked down, Thor had the most incredible view of the Land of the Dragons, spread out below them. It was desolate and harrowing and breathtakingly beautiful. It was indeed a land of fire and power, all lit up by the blood red sun of the first light.

As they neared the lair, Thor stroked her neck, and Mycoples dove down low, right to the mouth of the cave, setting them down at the entrance. They all dismounted.

“Wait for us,” Thor whispered to Mycoples before he left. She purred, blinking slowly and flapping her wings once, as if she understood.

Thor turned with the others, and they all raced inside the cave. There wasn’t much time before the other dragons returned, and every second counted.

Thor was astounded. The cave was packed with mounds of treasure, towers of gold coins, jewelry, treasure chests, weapons—every manner of gold and treasure they could find. It was like an endless treasure tunnel, light gleaming off of everything, and as they ran through Thor had to check himself and resist the impulse to stop and examine, to reach out and grab some.

They ran and ran, Thor feeling the energy of the Destiny Sword ahead, pulling them in.

Finally, breathing hard, they turned a bend, and there, at the end of the cave, sitting right in the center, on a special pedestal, it sat.

The Destiny Sword.

They all stopped in their tracks, breathing hard, all staring, eyes opened wide in wonder. They were all too flabbergasted to say a word.

“Now what?” O’Connor asked.

“If no one can wield it,” Elden asked, “how can we bring it back? The thieves took a dozen men just to carry it.”

“Legend has it that only a MacGil, the true MacGil, can wield it,” Thor said. “There is a MacGil among us.”

They all turned and looked at Reece.

But Reece stood there and shook his head.

“I am not firstborn,” he said. “I cannot be King. I cannot be the Chosen One. I’m just another MacGil.”

“Still, you are a MacGil,” Thor urged. “You must try.”

The distant rumblings of the dragons arose, shaking the cave. They were beginning to return.

“Hurry,” O’Connor said. “We haven’t much time.”

Reece stepped forward quickly, hurried over to the Sword, raised two hands, and with all his might, he tried to hoist it.

He grunted and groaned from the exertion—but nothing happened. It did not budge.

“We have nothing to lose,” Indra said. “Why don’t we all try?”

Thor looked back over his shoulder, watching the mouth of the cave, as the others all rushed forward, led by Elden.

One at a time, Elden, then O’Connor, then Conven tried to hoist it. Even Indra tried.

But it would not budge.

They all tried together.

Still, it would not budge.

“Come, help us!” Elden screamed.

Thor rushed forward, and as he neared the Sword, the strangest thing happened: the others all suddenly backed away, as if its energy repelled them. They cleared a wide circle for Thor.

Thor stepped forward, laid one hand on it loosely, and he felt an energy rush through him unlike any he’d ever experienced. It was like he was grasping the sun. Like he knew what it meant to be alive for the first time.

An intense energy shot through his arm and shoulder and his entire being, as Thor leaned back and suddenly hoisted the sword, easily, high overhead.

The others all looked at him with wonder and awe. An intense golden light shone off him, brighter even than the treasure, illuminating the cave, enveloping them all. As one, all of his friends dropped to their knees and knelt before him.

Thor could not understand what was happening. It was all too surreal.

Here he was, holding the Sword of Destiny, the sword that only a MacGil, only the Chosen One, could wield.

Who was he?