\n Invading Will

\n Chapter 2

\n Part 2

\n By: D. C. Henry ("Ahndeleck")

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\n "Do human homes have trouble with things digging in? With just a small little piece of wood, I would thinks things come into houses all the time." Raogothcar said.

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\n "I live in the tower."

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\n "You live in that huge tower?" he said, "I've wondered what it looks like from the inside for days. I've flown all around and above it. Its very nice I think. What is it like inside?"

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\n "Its nice."

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\n "Is it like the inside of a den? Towers are made out of stone I've noticed. They must be a lot like a den, just much bigger. Why do you need such large towers Deanna, it seems too big to be very useful."

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\n "Dragon, be quiet and listen." She paused to be certain she had his attention. "I need you to come with me to Ravenstone for a short while. We have the Prince in a healer's house. Other than that mushroom, what else do you need for this sure?"

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\n "I don't think I'll need anything else. I'll just draw a small circle and-"

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\n "Good. Then we can get the circle on him tonight."

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\n They had both reached the mouth of the cave. The sun had already set, but there was enough life in the light to bring the clouds and sky into a bright orange and red glow. She could see the tower, the silhouette of a gargantuan black nail in the distance. Deanna guessed it would be close to midnight before she got back.

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\n The dragon crawled his way out of the tunnel then stretched beside her. If the dragon knew the city, she'd send him on his way there now, but she didn't dare trust his sense of direction in town. The idea of turning him loose upon the city seemed to be a terrible idea at best. Her horse stood watching them from where she had tied it when they went in. She strode over to it, untied the beast, and jumped up into the saddle.

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\n "Follow me."

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\n Deanna turned the horse back towards the run at a canter, hoping that the animal would let her keep the pace until she reached Alan. To her surprise the dragon was following her on foot not far behind. She couldn't remember of another dragon purposely following other humans on foot for longer distances. Most dragons would walk for a short distance or in town where landing was difficult, but not for such a long trip. Deanna wondered if there was something wrong with this dragon. He certainly didn't act normal.

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\n She guessed that dragons had their own strange ones of their kind. There were humans not right in the head, all through the city. She didn't see them very often, but had to deal with some of the more dangerous ones. A man that had gone wild and took a sword to anyone they could reach. She had struck him down herself. There had been a woman that had made plans to burn the entire tower down, she had the spells and fuel ready for her little idea. Of course there were other strange people in the town, people she didn't deal with directly, but heard about from Captain Gedaul. This dragon was just one of those people you hear about that think the world is out to get them, or that the cracks in the stone will swallow them up. He was just strange in the head, as well as young.

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\n The houses grew denser, and less farm-like as they approached the tower. It grew in the distance from a nail against the sky, to a great pillar. Now the tower was lit from within, windows shining from candlelight and mage lights. Most of the city before them shown with such lights. The sky had faded to a dark black, speckled with small stars, with patches of clouds making inky patches in the patterns above.

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\n "Deanna, will we get to see much of the city tonight?"

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\n "No, we're nearly there."

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\n She pulled the reigns to stop her horse in front of a small stone building. She had requested that the Prince be taken here before they met with the dragon. When it became obvious that none of the healers inside the city would be able to cure Alan, she had agreed with the King that a dragon would have to be called. She hadn't known that this particular dragon would have been so eager to get inside the city, and had assumed he would be just like the rest of the dragons they have. None of the other dragons would want so much as to dip a talon into the filth of a human city. They all seemed full of themselves and rotten to the core.

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\n She slipped off her horse and the dragon stood beside her. She noticed he was breathing heavier than he had been normally, and guessed he didn't normally walk this far. The building before them was mostly dark, except for one of the larger rooms on the side of the building. She could see the shadow of a woman moving inside the room, caring for Alan as best she could no doubt.

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\n "This is the place dragon. Come with me."

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\n "Its not very big is it? Will I fit inside?"

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\n "You'll manage."

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\n She nodded to the two guards at he door, who stood to attention as she neared. Finding the door unlocked, she opened it and stepped inside. This healer wasn't a busy man, but he did know his craft. On either side of the room lay two large wooden tables, each with plenty of moving space around them. On the walls in the nearest corners were bookcases filled with bandages, salves, small bottles, and other things that she knew were there but couldn't see in the night gloom. At the other end of the room were a pair of doors, one leading to a hallway, and another directly across from her that lead to where the man made his salves, and potions.

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\n "Look at all these things! Mother never had so many things like this. How can you keep everything straight?"

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\n She looked back at the dragon, who was standing right behind her looking from one side of the room to the other. His eyes were wide in boyish wonder, as if someone had given him his first candy. She couldn't share that wonder. She knew very little of what healers did, other than that they did a god job.

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\n "I don't. I fight dragon, not heal. Come on."

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\n She started towards the door leading to the hallway. The dragon's comment had been annoying. He had immediately assumed that she knew everything about humans, or that all humans were the same. She dealt with different types of humans every day, especially the ones that felt they were above the law or justice.

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\n Behind the door, the hallway led to two rooms, both on the right side. The nearest of the two rooms, was where Alan had been laid. The second room was dark and silent. Deanna left the door open behind her for the dragon and went to the open door. Inside Alan lay in a large bed in the center of the room, an elderly woman was standing over a washbasin near the side of the bed wringing out a small moist cloth. In the furthest corner of the room, an elderly man sat in a small wooden chair snoring quietly. Another pair of guards stood at the wall opposite from the bed.

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\n The guards saw her at the door and drew themselves up. The old woman turned with a blank expression, then turned back to Alan and laid the moist cloth on his head. With everyone in the room, the dragon wouldn't be able to move about. She motioned for the two guards to come out and wait in the hall. Deanna stepped aside to let them pass by then went to the old woman's side.

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\n "How is he doing?"

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\n "He holds on to life," she said with a soft voice, "and better than I or Normand thought he would. Though it hasn't been easy for him."

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\n "Hello," the dragon said from out in the hall, then looked uneasy at everyone in the room.

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\n "Hello, I heard that Deanna would be bringing some help." The old woman said, "Let me get out of the way for you though. We don't see many dragons here, but we know they need their room when they do come."

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\n Deanna followed the old woman to the other side of the room. The old woman took a chair next to the old man, and Deanna decided to stand next to the window. She never did feel comfortable standing in front of windows, they were too easy to shoot through.

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\n The dragon looked at her from the door. He looked confused, almost as if he had forgotten why he was even there. Annoyed that he couldn't remember, she nodded and pointed down at the prince. Perhaps her impatient expression would remind the dragon of what he had come to do.

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\n "Right, I guess I'll do something then."

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\n He stepped slowly into the room, gingerly putting each foot down as he went. The boards creaked with his weight until he came to the edge of the bed nearest the door. He sat slowly and looked down at prince Alan.

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\n "Um, do you have any paint here?" the dragon looked at Deanna, "I think it would definitely help, and I don't know if I brought enough."

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\n "Why would I have brought any?"

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\n "We have some," the elderly woman said, pointing to the small stand near the dragon, "Its in the drawer beside the bed. It might be a little old so you might need to stir it."

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\n Deanna noticed the dragon's spines fell, and lowered his head as he opened the drawer. While the old woman was talking, the dragon wouldn't look at her, and now she could see the dark brown patch on the bridge of his nose. She wasn't certain if the dragon was just prideful and didn't want to use magical aids from humans, or if he was mad at himself for not being prepared. She would have never have been in his situation, she tried to be ready for any situation that came her way. But there wasn't anything she could have done to protect Alan from this, and for a brief moment she felt the heat of anger burn in her cheeks.

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\n The dragon shook the vial of blue paste for a moment and set it on the drawer next to the wash basin. Then he turned back slowly to Alan, and leaned over him as best as the dragon's bulk would allow in the small room. He reached out with both paws as he sat on his haunches, and pulled back the sheet over Alan.

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\n Small dark brown spots had appeared on his chest since earlier in the day. Deanna guessed that the spores were working very quickly. She hoped that getting the dragon's help would be the right decision. Alan had been sick for a long time, far longer than anyone would have liked, much longer than she could stand. The idea of getting help from one of the local dragons never came as a solution, none of them would have been right. They would have wanted something in return, too much in return.

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\n The dragon reached up with one paw and opened the leather bag at his chest. After rummaging inside for a moment, he pulled out one of the smaller mushrooms he had picked from the cave and laid it on Alan's chest. Deanna crossed her arms impatiently as the dragon opened the vial and stirred the contents with the tip of a black talon.

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\n He started the circle he drew went from Alan's neck to his waist. Deanna sighed and leaned against the wall, the circle was going to be a large one. After each branch of the circle, and each symbol, the dragon would dip his talon in for more. She was glad to see he was being careful with the prince, his talon barely touching his skin. When the dragon had first drew on Alan, she had her hand on her sword in case the dragon decided to injure him. She couldn't trust those brutes.

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\n It seemed an hour passed before he dragon finished the final stroke and looked up at them. She was glad he was finally finished. The dragon replaced the lid on the vial and placed it back inside the drawer beside the bed. Deanna stood up from the wall and waited for the dragon's attention.

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\n "The circle is finished." The dragon said, "It might take some time before the cure really starts working though. Mother always said it takes some time for this sort of circle to work well. Just leave that mushroom on him for another few minutes and then you can burn it. It won't be dangerous though. The circle will ruin it."

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\n "Good," Deanna said, "come with me dragon. I want to know everything you can get from those things."

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\n "I should stay and make sure that he'll be alright. I don't know how well this will work, I've never tried this circle for a magical illness before. There is no telling how the circle will react to the spores."

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\n "If you wish," the old lady spoke softly as she stood, "I can keep watch if you show me what you made for the prince. I can see some of what you did, and I think I could keep an eye on him if you show me the rest."

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\n "Dragon," Deanna said, "tell her what you did and then meet me outside. And don't keep me waiting."

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\n Deanna didn't even wait for a response. She turned back to the open door and left the room. She nodded to the two guards to return to the room as she passed them. They saluted quickly, then went inside. She walked down the hall, through the large healer's room and back outside.

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\n The night had grown cooler. She scanned her surroundings, looking for any changed detail. She noted in the distance more of the city's lights had gone out, most notably was the small hut across the road. The entire household was up when they had arrived, but now the house was silent and dark. She wondered for a brief moment if she should have a guard investigate the house, but she remembered they had before they brought the prince. It wouldn't be worth the time, she decided.

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\n Whenever she personally worked on some situation, it always made her feel paranoid of the world around her. It had saved her several times in the past, perhaps this time it would even save the prince. If someone was willing to go to such lengths as to make something to poison the prince, then they would certainly try again if he was saved.

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\n She looked down the street, and was pleased to find it empty. She couldn't trust anyone outside of the guards out on the streets late at night. She looked back at the guards, who hadn't moved a great deal. They had obviously been talking while they were inside. When she went in they were on opposite sides of the small stone walk to the door, now they stood at attention on the same side. And she guessed one of them had kicked a large stone out into the street, she didn't remember the rock being there earlier. Every detail, they all could be important.

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\n Behind her, the door creaked open softly. She turned and saw the dragon fumbling with the door. He'd need room, so she stepped aside into the grass beside the walk and let the dragon emerge from he doorway completely. He sat beside her, and sighed.

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\n "I've never drawn a healing circle like that on someone else before. But the nice lady inside says he'll be fine. She seems really smart."

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\n "The Bell family here have all been very potent healers. They know what they are doing. Now what can you tell me about those mushrooms? I want to know absolutely everything, dragon."

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\n She saw him look at her, she wasn't looking directly at him, hoping that he would just get to the point and tell her what she wanted to know. His tendency to ramble and pick different topics than what was important bothered her more and more."

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\n "Why don't you call me Raocar like everyone else?"

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\n "The mushrooms, Raocar, what can you tell me?"

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\n "I don't know." The dragon said as he began fishing in the leather bag on his chest, "They look normal enough I think. The only thing that makes them very strange is they've got this strange feeling magic in them. Not quite like the normal magic in the rest of that cave."

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\n "What do you mean 'strange feeling magic'? That doesn't make any sense."

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\n "Well, it doesn't feel natural. I guess it feels like someone's touched the magic inside them." He pulled out one and held it before him, staring at it, "They feel like someone has changed the shape of the magic inside it. I haven't learned how to feel that well all the little bits and pieces of how the magic work inside. It's like trying to know the inside of the book before you learn to read, but you can still tell that one book is different from the other by looking at them."

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\n "So you really can't tell me anything useful."

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\n "Isn't that its made from magic helpful? What other helpful things do you want?"

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\n "How they made it? Why did they make it? Why do they want to kill he prince? Most importantly of all, who are 'they'?"

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\n "There aren't any circles on it, so I can't tell you how they made it. I just can't see the magic inside that well. I'm sorry Deanna."

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\n "I don't care. Dragon, give me the mushrooms so I can have Glen look at them later. Then go back to your den, I'll send someone to you if we need you again."

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\n The dragon fished out several of the mushrooms and dropped them into her hand. His spines had fallen flat on his face and neck, and looked as if he had been yelled at. She hadn't meant to sound so angry, but the situation needed answers and he didn't have any of them. The dragon stood and walked slowly back out into the street. Deanna watched him as he walked back towards the mountains. When he was further down the street, he jumped into the air and began flying towards the peak of the mountains to the east.

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\n "Pardon ma'am, but wasn't that a bit harsh?" one of the two guards had turned to her.

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\n "Shut up and get me a horse. I need to get back to the tower."

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\n She didn't need their comments, she felt bad enough for what she had done. The dragon had done his purpose, which was what was most important. She needed to be harsh on the dragon anyway, the last thing she needed was a dragon that felt they were friends. He would only get in the way if she let him become comfortable around her.

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\n "Anything else captain?" The guard returned with a fresh horse behind him.

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\n "No," she said as she climbed into the saddle, "Just keep watch and send word of any changes. I want to know everything that happens, even if the prince so much as sneezes."

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\n "Yes ma'am. I'll see to it."

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\n Deanna pushed the horse to walking, and turned down the street headed to the tower at the center of town. She would be able to get some rest tonight, now that Alan was safe. She hated worrying about him, she could never shake the worrying from her mind. She knew worry like that would only cause her to make mistakes, and yet she couldn't shake the feelings.

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\n Dwelling on Alan only made her feel more upset with herself. First the dragon, and then worry, she was letting things dig into her too much again. The only thing she could think of was the work she would have to do tomorrow. After she slept what little was left of the night, she would have to tell the council what she was able to tell of the dragon. Then came the matter of how to find who had done the poisoning in the first place. She would be working for quite a long time.