“There’s still no sign of her,” he whined.
“There wouldn’t be,” Talon said bluntly. He placed a hand on his companion’s shoulder in what was almost a sign of compassion.
“What do you mean by that?” Teryn asked, confused by Talon’s seeming change of heart. “Those warriors may have slowed us down a little, but there can’t be that many more left.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Talon warned. “I recognize those ant-warriors. They live in colonies that number in the thousands and their anthills are as big as mountains. No doubt they’ve already brought Valeria to their queen deep in the bowels of their lair. Not even with our combined skill could we hope to breach such a structure.”
Teryn’s eyes narrowed. “How do you know all that?”
“Didn't you ever read your history, Teryn? Those demons are known as Maktuul. Foul Death Beasts that roamed Kallor freely a thousand years ago after the fall of the Sages. I would think even one as dumb as you would have heard of them.”
He felt like a moron as he made the connection. He had indeed seen the Maktuul in Gallian’s book, and now recognized the beasts he had fought for what they were.
“That I have,” Teryn replied at last. “Then that must mean . . .” He could barely even vocalize the next bit. “Valeria must be their . . . their Tsema. Their full-moons sacrifice.”
Talon nodded in grim agreement. “That would give us until tomorrow night to rescue her before she's sacrificed.”
“We have to go get her!” Teryn yelled as took off again.
“It’s no use!” Talon insisted. “We have to get help.”
Teryn stopped in his tracks. He hated to admit it, but Talon was right. “But who could help us fend off thousands of Maktuul?” he asked in desperation.
“Several large armies, I guess, but we'll never get their help. At least not in time. Only one being is capable of helping us – the Great Dragon of Kallor.”
Teryn stroked his slight goatee as he thought about what Talon was proposing for a moment. If the legends were true, surely the Great Dragon would be able to burst through the Maktuul compound and come out unscathed.
But if Gallian’s book had been right – and it had been so far – the Great Dragon no longer had the strength to go much of anywhere. Still, it gave him a glimmer of a chance. Which was more than he had now.
“Let’s do it,” Teryn said at once. “We’ll use my teleport spell to get there faster. That is . . . if you’re up for it.”
“Oh no you don’t!” Talon shouted. He grabbed the young mage roughly by the arm. “Enough of this little quest of yours. You’re coming with me to Coontan.”
Teryn shoved at Talon’s hand but it wouldn’t budge. His face turned crimson. “I’ll just teleport away without you!” He grinned at the big man. “Then where will you be? Wouldn’t want to return to the king empty-handed, would you?”
Talon grimaced for the briefest second, then his face took on its typical blank expression again. “Fine! But if this takes too long, I’m pulling the plug. Let's get going!”
Teryn motioned for Talon to stand close to him.
“Hey, look on the bright side of things,” Talon continued as he moved in close.
“Yeah?”
Talon winked at him. “At least we know Valeria’s a virgin.”
It took Teryn a moment to get the connection, but when he did, he let out a slight chuckle. “I guess there’s always that.”
Teryn concentrated his magical energies on a single thought and called upon the ancient Tytin magicks once again. “MOVE DRAGON!”
* * * * * * * * * *
If Terwain didn’t keep reminding Teryn that teleports tended to take an hour or more, he would have sworn it had been only a few seconds. Anyway, they had reached their destination and were standing on the top of Mount Malabohr. The Great Dragon lay before them, breathing heavily and clutching an oddly shaped sword in one of its giant claws.
Both humans gasped in awe at the sight of the magnificent beast, for it was not only massive, but beautiful as well. And yet, it looked to be in some sort of pain.
Teryn was positive the Great Dragon had noticed their presence, but it had not moved at all. “Um, mister dragon, sir, um . . . we were, uh-” Teryn said quietly with a tinge of fear in his voice, trying not to upset the dragon.
“What do you want?!” The Great Dragon's voice boomed in reply.
“O Great Dragon of Kallor. We came to ask a favor of thee,” Teryn replied. He was trying his best to mimic the respect and decorum Sage Gallian had shown the beast.
“Alas, I can do no favor for anyone. I am bound here due to weakness. I am afraid I am too old to help people these days. I am truly sorry, for I am sure your quest is important to you and others, but I am of no use now.”
“But, Great Dragon, a young girl has been kidnapped by the Maktuul. She will be sacrificed tomorrow night if you don't help us,” he pleaded.
“What?! Kidnapped by Maktuul? That's impossible!” The Great Dragon’s snout lifted from the ground, eyes blinking and teeth gnashing in the air. “Sage Gallian killed them all a thousand years ago!”
“He speaks the truth, Great Dragon,” Talon interjected. “Look at this wound on his arm. Is it not from a Maktuul warrior? How else could he have gotten such an injury?”
The Great Dragon opened one of its giant eyes a little bit wider and stared at the black scar on Teryn’s forearm for a solid minute. “Why, you are correct. It is a wound from the blade of a Maktuul.” The beast shook a little and struggled to stand up straight. “Come closer, Little
