Blast of the Dragons Fury (Andy Smithson Book One)

  Chapter Ten

  Gift in a Gold Box

  They arrived back at the castle in time for dinner. After washing up and changing back into his comfortable T-shirt and jeans, Andy joined the King and Mermin in the dining hall. He recounted everything he had seen and enjoyed during the festival. Then, remembering the dragon scale, he pulled it out.

  Handing it to the King, Andy said, “Alden and I found this earlier today. Do you know what kind of dragon it’s from?”

  The King passed it to Mermin to examine. The wizard held it up to the light, turning it over several times. He then put it up to his mouth and rubbed it against his front teeth, much like testing a pearl.

  “Andy, why did you bring this back?” the King questioned.

  “Well, I doubt whether Merodach would have told us if there was a red dragon at the festival. So I figured if this was the scale of a red dragon, Alden and I wouldn’t need to go retrieve one from the Dragon’s Lair.”

  The King chuckled. “I’m not surprised to hear you say that about Merodach. Even though he seems questionable in character, in all my dealings with him he has never once lied to me.”

  “You’ve dealt with him before?”

  “Yes, a few times.”

  “And?” Andy probed.

  “And…I think Mermin has finished his inspection,” the King evaded.

  “They only bwing male dragons to compete at the festival. It’s the scale of a male cwimson dwagon. No mistaking it. See here, there is a vewy light colored gway stwipe at the bottom of the scale. Cwimson dwagons are gway under all their scales. Male wed dwagons are wed under their scales and don’t have this gway stwipe. Some say wed dwagons are angry all the way thwough, which is why they are the fiewcest.”

  Mermin handed the scale back to Andy. He could just make out a light gray band along the bottom of the scale where it would have been attached to its owner. “You really have to know what to look for, don’t you?”

  “Mermin has studied dragons for many years. He knows every species,” praised the King.

  Andy forced a smile as the sovereign glanced his way.

  The wizard raised a hand. “Sir, if you will excuse me, I need to attend to the expewiment I have wunning up in the labowatory if it’s to be weady for tomowwow.”

  “By all means.”

  As soon as the mage had left, the King asked, “Andy, is something bothering you?”

  “Well…”

  “What is it? Tell me.” The King locked eyes with Andy.

  “Well, sir—” Andy’s gaze moved to the table and he hunched his shoulders. “You see, sir, I’ve never battled a real dragon, and the Forest of Giants, well…”

  “Ah, I see. You’re afraid.”

  The matter-of-fact summary made denial impossible and Andy pulled back.

  “Andy, that’s to be expected. Under the circumstances, I would be surprised if you weren’t. But don’t let your fear cripple you. This is not a normal quest you are embarking upon. You have been brought here to break the curse. It’s not every day you get a message sphere saying you’ll become a leader here. I have every confidence you’ll not only get this dragon scale but you’ll do far more.”

  The King brought a hand over and rested it on Andy’s shoulder. “Always remember you are here for a very important reason.”

  Confidence again flowed through the King’s hand and Andy met his gaze. I want to believe him.

  “You’ll do well. I believe in you.”

  Andy gave a slow nod.

  “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a few matters I need to attend to.”

  Despite the encouragement, Andy’s stomach clenched and he exhaled loudly. More mulling did nothing but make his insides churn.

  I wonder what Mermin’s working on. The rogue thought offered a welcome diversion.

  “I believe I have it!” the wizard exclaimed as Andy closed the door to the lab behind him. “All I need to do is a final test outside to make sure it works. I’m going down to the porch to test it.”

  “Can I come?”

  “Please do. If this is as powerful as I think, it could completely change life in Oomaldee.”

  Mermin threw a towel over the shiny dome that was the size of half a soccer ball and picked it up. As they headed toward the door, Andy noticed that his mailbox still stood sentry, but it was open and a gold envelope stuck out.

  “How long has this been here?” Andy asked as he grabbed it.

  “It must have just awwived. There was nothing in there earlier.”

  This gold envelope was also addressed to Andy, but now it said: To Andy, Son of Smith, He Who Shall Overcome His Fear.

  Why am I the only one who doesn’t believe that?

  It contained two letters this time. Andy read the first aloud:

  “The guide for true steps,

  To make your path straight,

  Lies in invention,

  Of words that negate,

  Fear, that is tempting,

  To harm and misstate,

  The control that you hold,

  Beyond armor plate.”

  The words did little to reassure him, and Andy rubbed an arm, trying to stuff down his anxiety.

  “Sounds like whoever wote this knows you’ll do fine on this mission,” Mermin affirmed. “What does the second letter say?”

  Andy read:

  “In your provisions make lie,

  The key that is golden.

  But take not its cover,

  Lest enemies embolden.

  The right path you’ll follow,

  Ne’er alone on your quest,

  To bring you a journey,

  The end that is blessed.”

  “Sounds like you need to bwing that gold key you found. How ‘bout that, a packing list for your twip!” Mermin chuckled.

  Andy gave a weak smile. But it mentions emboldening enemies. Great, we have enemies before we even start.

  As the pair headed down to the porch, Andy motioned toward the object Mermin carried. “What’s it do?”

  “It should wemove fog for long distances.”

  “Really?”

  Mermin nodded.

  “You mean without cow farts? They smell so bad! What are you calling it?”

  “‘A New Beginning.’” A corner of Mermin’s mouth edged upward as he patted the top of the contraption.

  Andy caught the wizard’s meaning. It really will be, won’t it?

  They emerged onto the porch into dense fog, more dense than Andy had yet seen. He could barely see the wizard standing three or four feet away. Mermin set down the bundle on the floor and pulled off the towel. Then he tipped it up, inserted a small metal sphere into the bottom, and set it back down. Andy watched and waited for something to happen.

  “Give it a minute or two for the weaction to begin.”

  Andy was just beginning to wonder why the King had such confidence in Mermin’s abilities when the wizard began to come more clearly into focus. A moment later Andy saw the porch railing appear.

  “Mermin! You’ve done it!”

  A few minutes later, Andy could see the moat that surrounded the castle. And then he could start to see the faint outlines of the closest buildings in the city of Oops.

  “This is excellent, Mermin! Until this moment, I didn’t realize how gloomy the fog makes me feel. I think I understand why the King wants to break the curse so badly.”

  “That is a small part of it, Andy,” the King interrupted from behind, joining them.

  The pair turned to acknowledge him.

  “Someone told me you two were out here. The fog has oppressed my people for hundreds of years. Most times we like to think that the harder we work, the further ahead we’ll get. Hard work, while required, is no guarantee of success. In this case, my people have labored harder but it has not helped. We have lost our technological advantage. We are behind our neighbors in innovation and are, therefore, vulnerable to their attacks.”

  The King pause
d and gave a heavy sigh. “My stupidity has caused irreparable harm to this kingdom. I just hope it doesn’t cause our final demise. We must break the curse as soon as possible.” He turned and looked directly into Andy’s eyes. “You had nothing to do with the curse being cast upon the land, but I’m counting on you to help break it.”

  “I know you are, sir.” Andy swallowed. “I’ll do my best.”

  After lunch the next day, Andy headed up to Mermin’s library to retrieve the gold key as instructed by the letter. He knocked, but Mermin was not there, so he walked over to the shelf where he had left the gold book, picked it up, and brought it over to the large table. Clearing away some of Mermin’s clutter, he set it down and lifted the cover.

  As before, the only page was blank. Opening the compartment behind it, he found the golden key still there. But now a second gold object lay next to it. It looked like the hilt to a sword. Andy picked it up and turned it over. Four carvings had been inlaid around its circumference: one was a bunch of clouds with puffed up cheeks, another was a giant wave, the third was a flaming ball of fire, and the last was a pile of rocks. While the detail was beautiful, Andy had no idea what the symbols might mean. Near the top, two stones were set on either side, one pure white, the other ebony. Andy gripped it and pretended it was a real sword. He assumed the pose of a knight in his video game and slashed down, fighting an invisible dragon. A shiny blade shot from the hilt! Andy nearly dropped it.

  Andy brought the blade close and examined the full length. He ran a finger down the edge but jerked back when it drew a bead of red.

  “Cool…”

  Andy resumed his stance then jabbed and thrusted, jumped and bobbed all around Mermin’s library. His opponent was quick, and he had to dodge more than one blast of imaginary fire, but in the end, Andy plunged the sword into the dragon’s heart and watched the beast collapse. He danced in victory, whooping and hollering.

  “Andy?” the King stuck his head in the door of the library.

  “Oh, hi sir.”

  “May I ask what you’re doing?”

  “Just fighting a red dragon with my new sword!”

  “May I see that?”

  The King’s eyes grew large and his mouth dropped opened. He gasped.

  “What’s wrong, sir?”

  “Where did you get this?”

  “Right here, in the book. I was getting the key to pack it for my trip, and I found the hilt next to it.”

  The King handed the sword back to Andy and took a knee before him.

  “Wait…what are you doing, sir?”

  The monarch bowed his head. “I am your humble servant, Andrew, Son of Smith.”

  “What do you mean? What are you doing? Stop it! Get up!”

  The King unfolded himself and slowly stood. “Andy, this sword is named Methuselah. It is the sword that divides good and evil everywhere. That’s what the black and white stones on front and back represent. The fact that it’s gold is significant, for most believe gold embodies excellence, wisdom, light, and perfection. The carvings—wind, water, fire, and earth—are representations of the foundations of physical and spiritual perfection.”

  Andy inspected it more closely. Whoa. “But who would have put it in this book…that only I can see?”

  “Until now I thought Methuselah was only legend. Many stories have been told about the battles it has fought to execute judgment and justice.”

  Andy stiffened.

  “Legend says it appears only when there is a significant showdown about to happen. And it only presents itself to the one who has been judged worthy to wield it in victory. I’ve never seen or heard of it appearing in my lifetime. For it to show up now, and to you—I don’t know what we’re up against…” His voice trailed off.

  Andy waved his hands, trying to make the King stop. “Please, don’t say any more!” He grabbed the gold key, slammed the book shut and reshelved it, then bolted for the door.

  Out in the hall, the blade retracted back into the hilt, again making Andy jump. Only quick reflexes prevented it from hitting the floor. He raced to his room, heart galloping.

  Andy threw open his door, jettisoned the hilt at the foot of his bed, and crash-landed across the pillows. He panted as he eyed the piece. The afternoon sun shining through the fog-clouded window seemed intent on cheering him, but his mind kept replaying all that the King had shared, like a YouTube video on auto-repeat.

  What have I gotten myself into? It sounds like a whole lot more than just retrieving a red dragon scale, as if that’s not bad enough.

  He wiped his sweaty hands on the covers. When can I go home? I miss Mom and Dad…and even Madison.

  Andy punched his pillow hard once, and then again and again and again. He stopped only when feathers began flying everywhere. He ruffled his hair as they drifted down, scaring them off. His bed now looked as if a thick layer of snow had fallen.

  Why me? There’s no way I can do to this!

  “You’re right, Andy! You can’t do this on your own,” his inneru interrupted. “You need help.”

  What? Oh, it’s you… As the thought launched, a second amethyst-colored stone landed on his bed, barely missing his head.

  “Hey, watch it! You almost hit me!” Where do these things keep coming from? As before, it started pulsing and a trumpet blast sounded when he picked it up.

  “Methuselah has appeared to you, Andrew Ferrin Smithson. It is the sword of your forefathers by which you will become known. Evil must be extinguished from the land, by your hand.”

  “My forefathers? What do you mean?” The message paused.

  “You have not been told, but your ancestors came from Oomaldee.”

  What? Really?

  “It is not I who gives Methuselah, but One far greater. It is given and taken as the times require,” the message continued. “You have been chosen to wield it for such a time as this.”

  No! You can’t be serious! You can’t mean me!

  “Stop!” his inneru interrupted. “Listen!”

  Andy slumped and the message continued, “Take courage. You do not yet see your own abilities because you have never been tested. You have never demonstrated to yourself or anyone else all that you can do. Put your fears aside and trust that you will succeed in the challenges that lie ahead.”

  “What kind of evil are we talking about?” Andy swallowed.

  The sphere gave no reply but disappeared, its message complete. Once again it gave no indication who had sent it.

  This evil sounds really bad.

  “This is not about you,” intoned the voice in his head.

  Andy sighed. “How did I get myself into this mess? I didn’t ask for this.”

  “It’s about all the people in the land of Oomaldee. It’s about the King, Mermin, Alden, Marta, Hans, and everyone else.”

  “I know…” Andy rubbed his arm.

  “You don’t usually think about others first.”

  Andy scowled but had no evidence to counter the accusation.

  “Maybe this is your chance to change that.”

  He exhaled heavily. I’m not going home anytime soon, am I?