A Wizard and his Dragon: The Novel

Chapter 2: Save what you can

Continuing the walk toward the cave entrance, Trent's nerves only increased with each step. The only thing to calm him down were the three spells he had just learned, reciting them over and over in his head as to not forget them when the time comes. It did not take much longer for the captain to signal his halt. They had arrived.





He signals everyone over to the mouth of the cave, apparently about to give any last bits of advice before the attack. Something seemed off about this attack however. This cave, there were no dragons on watch in the area. Not to mention the trek that was made to get here went far beyond the border. Why a dragon encampment would be here was beyond the young wizard. So many idea's began running through Trent's mind as he tried to figure out why here of all places when he suddenly stepped upon an object that let forth a monstrous crack. Stiffening, but quickly relaxing, 'The silence spell, only I could have heard that.' Looking down however, you realize soon why you were here. Upon the ground was the remains of an egg, almost as black as the night he was hidden in. 'A dragons egg? But if this is here then... My gods, were not attacking an encampment, this is a family den!' Unsure what to do and stricken with panic, Trent only continued moving toward the captain. Arriving you hear the final words the captain was giving to the men.





"-here now so we have to get used to it. Now remember, kill the dragons but let no harm come to the object they will be protecting, that is our mission. We bring that back at all costs. Now lets go." Hesitating slightly behind the group, Trent soon realizes he has no choice. If he deserted the group, his family would be put to death if they could not find him, as was the law. Desertion was one of the worst crimes one could commit in this age of war. With no other choice, He followed them all into the dark cavern, unsure what would be the worse crime himself. Slaughtering a family, or running from said slaughter.





It did not take long for the occupants of the cave to make their presence known. A tremendous roar shook the walls of the cavern and brought young Trent to his knees along with a few other men. The captain though kept his ground and started shouting orders, the first of which aimed at the young wizard.





"Godfrey, get your head out of your ass and cast those protection spells! We don't have much time 'till those beasts get here!" Shocked still, but about to do as told, the words formed on his lips, only to be swept away as the first dragon came into view. A large hulking black dragon, Standing at least 13 feet tall with scales shimmering in the firelight from the militia's torches. It's white teeth a stark contrast to it's ebony scales as it snarled at the attackers during it's charge. Soon after it was followed by a second dragon, standing only a foot shorter every feature matched, other than the the wings which thinner and more streamlined than it's partners.





Such thoughts however, where far from Trent's mind as he stood in sheer terror at their charging forms. Witnessing his fright, the captain enforced his next strategy. "Forget the wizard! We'll take these two on ourselves men. Have at them!" And the group charged into the furious pair of dragons, while Trent only continued to look on in terror. 'We're all going to die here, why now? I didn't want to be here, why?'





The men were obviously well trained. The dragon pair made quick work of two of the men with a swipe of claws, but the remaining soldiers quickly regrouped and attacked the exposed sides. Getting nothing more than gashes from the swords, the larger one swiped again taking two more as the smaller swiped it's tail toward the group knocking many down, but injuring none. It bought them time however and the larger unleashed a hot breath of flame into three more incinerating them inside their armor. Now with thirteen men left, the captain rethought his plan and called out once more. "We've wounded them, I want at least four of you on all three sides, they can't protect all sides at once. We will take them down!"





As the battle went on, Trent continued to stare at the carnage. Already seven of the men were dead and the battle had only just begun. The dragons were also wounded and that gash looked severe. With thirteen men left, it was highly likely none would leave this cave alive tonight. Shaking his head in disbelief, Trent's eye caught site of something beyond the dragons. What looked to be an extremely large opal gem sat within a small crater in the stone floor. 'An egg, that's right, this is a family den.' Looking over the dragon egg, one thought went through his mind at that moment. If I have failed at my mission, I can at least succeed in protecting an infant, no matter the species' Delving through his three spells, He finds the one he is looking for, Strictura Callum. Giving it's shell a steel barrier should keep it safe. Delving into his magic, he was about to speak the words when suddenly the larger dragon shifted it's attention directly to Trent. A wave of power suddenly captured his mind and Trent gasped out, nearly falling over. "INVIUS OBMOLIOR!" He shouted out, much to his own surprise. The words meant nothing to him, but as he spoke them, an array of colors began sweeping through the cave toward the egg. Red, green, silver, blue, purple, brown, all raced toward the egg and upon contact formed a black mass that enshrouded the crater that held the egg.





Surprise obvious on his face, he looked toward the battle once again. The two dragons now staring intently into his eyes, soon gave him a subtle nod and went back to their fight. That seemed to trigger something for Trent, as at that moment, he collapsed onto the rock floor of the cavern and was met with the darkness of a dreamless sleep.