The dragons, p.34
The Dragons, page 34
part #2 of The Onis Chronicles Series
‘My monarch slumbers,’ Drorzyn told them. ‘I will go speak with him, and he shall decide what to do with you. You must wait here.’
‘Fonzar dwells in a cave on the other side,’ Turathyl explained.
They watched as Drorzyn hopped bizarrely away, back toward the water, and Laila noticed that he—and the surrounding Blues—did not have the same feet and claws as Turathyl and Gothäzer. Instead, they had thick webbing between their lengthy talons, making them more ungainly on dry land.
While everyone unconsciously found themselves huddled close to Laila, terrified out of their wits as all the dragons leered at them with an eerie quiet, the elf maiden stood firm. Reaching out with her mind, she sent soothing thoughts of goodwill and exaltation. Laila was hoping to keep them calm while they waited for Fonzar. It seemed to be doing the trick, but—unbeknownst to her—their hesitancy was all attributable to the Red and Silver hovering protectively over the comrades. Even though there were more than enough of the Blues to take on two such dragons, their substantial threatening size and presence compared to the water dragons were intimidating. They also had no desire to initiate a feud with either of their clans.
After only a few short minutes, which felt like hours to the companions, Drorzyn returned to the shore. As he hopped back over the pebbled surface, he warned Laila gravely with a light growl in the back of his throat, ‘Prepare yourselves. The Fearsome Fonzar approaches.’
CHAPTER THIRTY
Fonzar
Everyone’s sight—two-leggeds and dragons alike—focused on the sea as they saw two long white horns followed by a substantial sapphire-blue cranium, faded with age, break through the water’s surface. They all stared in anticipation as the dragon slowly emerged, its nostrils blowing out a spray of droplets, a beard of spines dangling beneath its chin. The ancient’s dark onyx eyes focused on the two-leggeds on the shore—his shore.
As the dragon gradually rose from the water, multiple rows of dorsal fins were revealed along his neck and back. The fins resembled the same pattern as the other dragon clans they had seen so far; the Silvers and Reds with their quills, which accumulated in mass with age.
Water streamed down off the Blue monarch, dripping back to the sea, and he stomped heavily onto the rocky shore while the other Blues all cawed and roared out in exuberance. His long muscular tail swayed back and forth, the spiked fins at its tip spread wide. He was not as massive as Ignisar nor Aeris but was nearly the size of Gothäzer, which was still quite intimidating. More so than his size, his general demeanor and guise as he glared at Laila and her friends were what had them truly concerned. Laila did not get the impression he was at all pleased to see them.
Raising her hands slowly to the Blue monarch, Laila spoke aloud in the ancient tongue, not wanting to startle the dragon with mind-speech just yet, “Fearsome Fonzar! We have asked to see you to discuss a future of peace between the races of Onis!”
The other Blues lacing the rocky hills like spectators in a stadium were wriggling restlessly, resembling waves over the island, each trying to get a good viewpoint as they prepared for the main event. They were eager to see what their monarch would do with these disrespectful pests that invaded their waters.
Continuing to thunder his way up the shore, the loose pebbles spreading beneath his steps, Fonzar did not seem very interested in what she had to say. He barely acknowledged she had spoken at all while shaking the water from his ears.
Laila continued anyway, “My name is Lady Lailalanthelus Dula’Quoy, daughter of Lady Leonallan Dula’Quoy, and the gods have bestowed on me all the spirits of Onis and the ability to commune with the ancients of this land. I have come to ask for your forgiveness for the wrongs of the two-leggeds’ past actions. We wish for your mercy and to establish peace between all the races so we can restore the land to its former prosperity.”
Moving leisurely over the island surface, Fonzar finally reached the spot he was aiming for on the shore, all the Blues hobbling out of his way as he approached. Then, he rested his tired, heavy body down on the pebbled beach and glared again at the intruders. Despite Laila’s introduction, Fonzar was more interested in the Silver and Red that had accompanied them.
‘Why have you brought these two-leggeds into my waters?’ Fonzar asked Turathyl and Gothäzer, annoyed, seemingly not having paid any attention to the elf maiden.
Laila, naturally, heard Fonzar and took a step confidently toward him. Avoiding looking him directly in the eyes, she bowed her head to him, her heart racing, and replied in mind-speech, ‘Fearsome Monarch, they have vowed to aid me, the Omi Méa of prophecy, on my quest to bring an end to the war.’
Her dragons solemnly nodded their heads, confirming, while Fonzar’s eyes grew a little wider, bewildered by her mind-touch. And yet, he still returned his attention to the guest dragons.
‘I remember the prophecy,’ Fonzar stated, unimpressed and unamused, ‘but I don’t see what it has to do with me. We have stayed away from Onis for a long time and leave the elves alone so long as they stay clear of the water. I believe we have been more than fair. But to bring elves to my island is an insult to the great mother dragon! Leave with them now, and I shall overlook your transgression out of respect to your father Ignisar and to Aeris by sparing her successor.’ Growling with agitation, Fonzar added, ‘It has been a very long time, but I remember you both, Gothäzer of the Reds and Turathyl of the Silvers.’
Stepping forward, Turathyl bowed her head in homage to the water dragon monarch and replied, ‘Fearsome Fonzar, much has happened in Onis since you retired to your waters. Life has been dwindling on land, affecting all of us. Things cannot continue to get any worse than they already are, or we shall all perish, even the dragons. The war and plague over the land continue to spread. The land’s slow death is now spilling into the surrounding waters, killing the vegetation that your sealife—your food—needs to survive.
‘The prophecy predicted a Great Spirit would be sent by the gods when the land needed it most and the two-leggeds had endured their suffering. The truth is, we have all been suffering as the land continues dying. We need to stand united with the two-leggeds against all who would challenge the prophecy so that the Omi Méa may fulfill her destiny and restore the land for all creatures of Onis. I would presume that if she can find a way to clear the land of the plague, that it would affect what is happening in your waters as well.’
Fonzar thought for a moment and replied, ‘I have noticed the sea life has not been what it once was.’ Sighing a heavy growl, he continued, ‘What is it that you want me to do with these two-leggeds? You bring them here to ask forgiveness, and they don’t even know the damage that they have done! This child isn’t any older than a hatchling!’
Understanding the Blue monarch’s skepticism, the Red stepped forward, his mighty stature towering over the resting Blue monarch’s form as he raised his head regally. ‘My father insisted that I protect the elf and her companions and show the other clans that the Omi Méa has the support of Ignisar behind her,’ Gothäzer explained. ‘He believes this elf to be the Great Spirit of prophecy and that it is the will of the gods for all the clans to come together if Onis is to heal.’
Fonzar growled softly at the notion, not sure what to believe. There was no doubt that Ignisar was the eldest and wisest of the remaining dragons, but the Blue just couldn’t grasp why he would join league with two-leggeds. At only a few hundred years his junior, and the second eldest remaining dragon, Fonzar liked to give an impression of being just as wise as Ignisar, not to be overshadowed by the Mighty Red Monarch.
‘And I assume Aeris must be in agreement as well if she sent her successor,’ Fonzar mused.
Bowing her head, Turathyl replied, ‘I am Turathyl, former successor to Aeris of Silvers’ Mountain, and now Monarch to the Silvers of Lochlann Mountain.’
Fonzar stared aghast from her statement. He then mightily lifted his mass off the pebbly surface, standing firmly on all fours as he fumed, ‘Explain yourself!’
Taking a deep breath while she contemplated how to respond tactfully, Turathyl began, ‘It is no secret that Aeris harbors much hate toward the elves for the belief that they killed our mother, Onis Caelis. That hate has been enduring and has spread beyond the elves to all two-leggeds, blinding the entirety of Onis to the possibility of peace.’
Turathyl went on to explain in detail the events leading up to her revolt against Aeris, including her promise to the wolf-god who had raised Laila that she would protect the Omi Méa at all costs. She reminded Fonzar of the words of the prophecy and that she, among nineteen of her brethren, defaulted from Aeris's clan, tired of the war and hatred and ready to find peace.
‘I regret to say that Aeris was not open to accepting the prophecy as the Mighty Ignisar has. She even refused to hear that we had been waging war against the wrong race the entire time; it was the dark elf elders that killed Onis Caelis and framed the elves, plotting to have the dragons exterminate their enemy.’
The Fearsome Fonzar stomped his front paw angrily, the pebbles spraying out like splashing water from around it while he roared savagely at them. The comrades all trembled, most of them nervously wishing they knew what was going on. ‘Do not spout your lies at me, Silver! Everyone knows the elves fear our power and wish to destroy us!’
“She speaks the truth!” Laila interceded, shaking as she stood up to the Fearsome Fonzar. “The dark elf elders even recorded their misdeeds! The elves were innocent!”
Looking appallingly at the little elf maiden, Fonzar spread his wings assertively and roared, ‘Of course you would say that!’ He then turned back to the dragons. ‘How could you fall for such trickery?!’
Maintaining her stiff posture, Turathyl explained, ‘It was the dark elf that revealed the truth to us, and we have been to their territory; his story confirmed.’
Fonzar glared at the dark elf with skepticism, his lip curling up, revealing his sharp fangs. Nikolean cringed, feeling his body tense under the contemptuous dragon's snarl. He instantly averted his eyes from the black death stare of the monarch while Turathyl continued, ‘Just as with the Silvers, the dark elves have also split into two factions: those that hold to the elder’s old ways of hate and power, and the Drakka, who wish to eradicate the misdeeds of the past so we may begin to heal this land.’
The Blue monarch shifted in his spot, the loose rocks crackling beneath him. He was having trouble believing they could have been mistaken for so long.
‘Fearsome Fonzar of the Blues,’ Turathyl said with benevolence, ‘With Aeris already making plans to put a stop to us, we must know; will you join our effort to end this war once and for all?’
After staring at his guests for a moment, Fonzar tucked his wings back against his side, relaxing his stance and resting his haunches back against the ground. He took a deep breath, and his blue armored chest rose and fell while he glared at them. Then the monarch closed his eyes in contemplation, considering in depth everything he had just learned. With their expansive lifespan, there were very few things that dragons felt rushed to do and a decision of this magnitude warranted more than a hasty response.
The island was disturbingly quiet as the eyes of every creature blinked with anxious anticipation at the monarch. They all waited for an unsettlingly long time, desperate to know his answer but too afraid to press him. At one point, Laila had worried that the monarch had fallen asleep as he sat with eyes closed, completely motionless except for the rise and fall of his chest from his heavy breathing.
The rest of the two-leggeds stayed close to one another, terrified. Glondora, having been able to hear the Blue monarch, decidedly took the opportunity of the long wait to whisper to her companions quietly—for a dwarf—what was going on. While all the dragons waited patiently in complete silence for Fonzar’s response, the boisterous whispers of the dwarf were the loudest sound at this end of the island. Fonzar peeked one eye open from his meditation and glared at the tiny two-legged.
Worried that Glondora had annoyed Fonzar by distracting him from his concentration, Hort signaled non-covertly at her with his eyes to Fonzar. He told her to hush incoherently through clenched teeth and tight lips. His attempts became increasingly exaggerated, frustratingly trying to get her to catch his hint. His wife cocked an eyebrow at him, wondering what was wrong with his face while her words trailed off with her thoughts before finally realizing she was being watched. Flustered, Glondora covered her mouth upon seeing the Blue monarch staring at her with one eye and, without thinking, mind-sent, ‘I be so sorry, yer royal-dragon-ness! Dunna’ mind me.’
Confused, Fonzar opened his other eye and stared at the dwarf.
‘And just how many Omi Méas are there?’ Fonzar questioned the Red and Silver, bewildered. ‘I thought it was just the elf.’
Before the dragons could respond, Glondora giggled, flattered and red-faced, then stepped forward to join Laila, eager for this opportunity. Having received advice and tips from both Davion and Nikolean on how to commune with the dragons, she was excited that the Fearsome Fonzar had heard her on her very first try.
Holding up her hands non-threateningly, she sent to the dragon, ‘Oh my! No, Yer Greatness, not I! I couldna’ even imagine! No. Only me Lady Laila holds all the powers o’ the land. I be Glondora Emberforge, Hydromancer o’ Lochlann. We be united by the spirits o’ Pynar.’
‘Pynar?’ the monarch repeated, more intrigued, and then asked Turathyl, ‘And what about the rest of these creatures?’
Laila smiled, glad that they finally seemed to have attained the Fearsome Fonzar’s interest. Pointing to each of them, she answered in the ancient tongue, “Nikolean Den Faolin, Rogue of Duep Nordor, can speak with the Silvers. Davion Collins, Human Pyromancer of Lochlann, can speak with the Reds. We suspect that Salyaman Dula’Sintos, Ranger Prince of Má Lyndor, will be able to commune with the Golds when we go before them. Each of them has linked with the dragon clans based on their elemental power.”
Nodding understandingly, Fonzar let out another growling sigh. He decided there was much to think on as he stared out over the group. The ancient dragon did not share the sense of urgency that they all felt with the warnings of Aeris’s opposition to the insurgents afoot. Instead, he took his time pondering before speaking while they all painstakingly waited yet again.
‘You have intrigued me,’ Fonzar finally said, addressing the dragons as well as Laila and Glondora this time. ‘You will stay here tonight. I would like to hear more about this “Pynar” that binds us and learn more about the Omi Méa. If you all survive until tomorrow, perhaps we can discuss an agreement.’
Nervous about what Fonzar meant by “survive until tomorrow,” Laila was hesitant to accept his offer but wasn’t certain he was actually giving them a choice in the matter.
“Thank you, Fearsome Fonzar. We would be happy to stay and answer any questions you might have.”
The dragon spectators all roared and cawed wildly, filling the skies with their intimidating songs. Laila and the others were chilled to their cores, scanning queasily around at the magnitude of beasts as their daunting chorus resonated over the entire island.
Despite the “invitation,” she sensed that the aura from the Blues was not exactly welcoming and could not help but wonder if coming here was all a grave mistake.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Intentions
Never in their lifetimes would any of the two-leggeds have ever thought that they would be spending the night surrounded by a myriad of dragons. Even the suggestion of such an idea would have been laughed at atrociously due to its absurdity. And yet, here they were; a high elf, a wood elf, a dark elf, a human, and two dwarves in the heart of the Blue water dragons’ den. To say they were intimidated or scared would not even begin to cover the extent of their fear at this moment.
Even Laila, who exuded a façade of confidence in the face of the Fearsome Fonzar and his countless dragons, was genuinely shaken to her bones, still unsure of which direction the Blue monarch was going to lean. Try as she might, she could not get a feel for where his thoughts were leading him and couldn’t help but see flashbacks of her confrontation with Aeris.
However, as the night crept by, it became apparent that the dragon’s interest was still not in Laila, which she found rather peculiar. Instead, Fonzar seemed more interested in her cohorts now, particularly Glondora. The hydromancer did her proud, seemingly at ease with the dragons that approached her as she mind-touched each of them to say “hello” and ask their names or tell them something about herself and their journey.
Of course Glondora was frightened, though she couldn’t help but feel exalted being here among all these ancient beings, being one of the first two-leggeds to commune with them in possibly forever. A part of her felt that even if she were to die here tonight in the grasp of one of these majestic creatures, it would have been worth the experience, and she was determined to make the most of it.
Fonzar primarily stayed to the side in observance of the perplexing tiny creatures with his clan, curious of this strange turn of events, deciding whether he wished to become involved.
Turathyl had headed back to the mainland to keep watch over the mounts, being assured by Fonzar that so long as the two-leggeds did not do anything untoward, then they would be fine. Gothäzer stayed behind with them, keeping watch over Laila and the human that had been growing on him. Laila did not like her dragon’s absence in the least, but she hoped that by letting Turathyl leave, it would show her trust in the Blues, helping sway the monarch’s decision.
To their relief, the Blues permitted the group to light a fire as a cold breeze swept over the island from the winter evening. They even brought them something to eat; a few fish and weeds of the sea and edible plants from the other side of the island for them to partake in.
