The Hero’s Right Hand

The weight of centuries weighed on Sariel as she slowly recollected her past. Tension tightly gripped each of our hearts watching the pained expressions of our friend. It was hard to catch my breath with the information she divulged. For the first time since we met she openly admitted to feelings of grief and fear. The flood of memories compiled into seconds caused unimaginable pain. Not to mention she felt them for the second time.

Involuntarily, she reached for her father’s hand. Vulnerability was difficult to express for anyone but more so for someone who prided herself on silence and stoicism. Edthecridaldyrth held his daughter’s hand gently. In the moment he looked less draconic than her. The emerald claw in elderly elf palms looked painful. But it was nothing compared to the pain in his eyes. It was obvious he felt shame for sending off his daughter alone. 

“I researched many beings during my travels before joining you all. Based on my deduction, Veil is a changeling,” Sariel said.

“But that’s only within the last fifty years. And the early memories are from over 400 years ago. You’re missing multiple centuries of memories,” Aisha replied in awe.

Avant purred softly and pushed his head into Sariel’s open hand. She petted him softly but remained quiet.

“What could possibly cause a being to lose so much time?” Vofric asked. “I cannot think of a spell or artifact with such an effect.”

I hummed. “You’re assuming it’s blocked by external factors. Sariel, think hard. Is there anything, no matter how small, that you remember from those centuries?”

My words could be construed as insensitive but I hoped that our scrutinizing elf understood my intentions. Noticing the smallest details was one of her strong suits. Something in her mind would catch a memory if it was important enough. With a slow breath she shut her eyes and focused. Her head twitched and bobbed as if dodging a blow.

“Lapses. Brief flashes. I do not know how much time passed between them. There were often new faces and I rarely understood their speech.” Sariel said as she opened her eyes. Shaky breaths escaped her mouth. “There was mention of… the demon king. I presume it was Veil or his descendent speaking. They had silver eyes.”

“I am having trouble understanding his motives,” Edthecridaldyrth said. “Why would the demon king wish for the world’s inhabitants to find common ground?”

Sariel huffed. “Ed, it was a lie. They did not seek acceptance for monsters. We were sought out for experimentation. We— I was easily fooled after years of isolation.”

“No, I am also to blame. I should not have sent you alone.”

I asked quietly. “But why experiment on you? What connection does a dragon have to the demon king?”

“Power,” Aisha muttered. “Dragons are powerful beings and Veil stumbled on one that couldn’t transform. What if the demon king can’t either? The experiments could have been to find a solution.”

“Meaning his subordinates have worked towards return for centuries,” Vofric sighed.

Aisha let out a frustrated sigh. Her fifteen years of training were already an issue when it came to facing the demon king. If his underlings had been preparing for centuries, it’d be even harder to face the demon king.

Edthecridaldyrth was similarly perplexed but for different reasons. Joy from finding Sariel was a reminder that he failed her. Not only had she been experimented on but specifically for the demon king’s gain.

“438 years I have searched. After only five I broke our promise and traveled the world,” Edthecridaldyrth said. “Shusyoun was a distraction. They knew nothing of the travelers. During my search I learned of a group spreading misinformation to remain hidden. Any settlement they visited was ravaged by kidnappings and deaths. But I refused to give up. A dragon cannot succumb so easily.”

“I needed trustworthy individuals to aid in my search. There were few that remained who knew my true form. It took little convincing for them to agree in assisting me. Divisions were made within their clan so only those in roles of leadership directly communicated with me while others gathered information.”

Sariel stared at the damaged walls and empty coffers littering the room we sat in.

“Why did you part with so much of your treasure?” Sariel asked.

“By providing income, the adventurers could focus on the search. Some had families of their own. My request would cause enough hardships and I wanted to ease their worries,” Edthecridaldyrth said. “Over time our rapport was enough for them to continue the search. Barbatos continues to aid me even when my coffers have run dry.”

Vofric furrowed his brow. With hesitation he inquired, “I understand that you trust others based on their actions and not their race. Even so, how can you ally with a clan of demons? Did you not suspect they had ulterior motives?”

“I did not,” the dragon replied. “Barbatos is not a clan of demons. Their ranks are filled with individuals from many races. I believe their name originates from a belief that a demon can only be defeated by another.”

“So it’s a group of adventurers that help people while fighting demons,” Aisha said.

Without thinking I said, “I wonder if they’re preparing to fight Aeraza.”

The room fell silent as soon as I uttered his name. I quickly covered my mouth and whispered again. Every sound in the cave seemed to amplify as the silence grew louder. Aisha muttered to herself quizzically. It was unlikely that saying the demon king’s name would summon him but we’d agreed to be careful. Normally it was easy since the lack of a magic circle forced the change in vocabulary. But it was harder to change how my mind identified our foe.

Only I knew how much facing the demon king scared me. Aisha’s life was on the line. It always had been but knowing what threatened her made it worse. For fifteen years all I knew is she had a daunting task in front of her. Whatever came at her couldn’t be too powerful. But learning Aeraza’s identity changed my outlook.

“Why is everyone silent?” Edthecridaldyrth asked quizzically. “Aeraza’s name holds no power.”

“But it should be sealed. Why can we say it without the magic circle that allows for it to be spoken?” Aisha asked.

“You speak of the silencing seal. It was cast during Aeraza’s downfall. Any who were born after that time are bound to it but those of us who lived during the spellcast are not. Our existence creates an anomaly in the seal, allowing others nearby to utter his name.”

Sariel grunted. “Why would the creators of the seal leave a glaring issue in a spell that affects the whole of the planet?”.

“Did you not teach her the intricacies of magic?” Vofric asked.

“She was a child when last we spoke,” Edthecridaldyrth said defensively. “The age of teaching them magic had not arrived.”

Vofric grumbled and nodded. “Apologies. I must remember you are from a different time.” He turned his attention to Sariel and explained, “All spells have a weakness, whether they are like Kargon’s reliance on physical contact or the limit of my and Avant’s supportive magic. The more powerful a spell, the more glaring its weakness. Whoever cast the seal made a choice to allow living beings to continue speaking of Aeraza.”

“Not to mention anyone within a specific magic circle,” Aisha said. “There are only a few beings who could have lived long enough for the anomaly to even come to light.”

“Exactly. But such refined definitions allow for a stronger spell to hold.”

Sariel nodded. “The magic circle was necessary for the prophecy to be passed down. Who cast the spell, Ed?”

The elder dragon shook his head. “I did not leave my abode during Aeraza’s uprising as I had no reason to fight. What happened afterwards is unknown to me.”

“What if I asked for your assistance?” Sariel asked.

Edthecridaldyrth let out a heavy sigh. He looked slowly at each of my party members. Avant received little recognition from the dragon. Vofric did not acknowledge the discerning eyes on him. I didn’t know how to react while being assessed. Aisha on the other hand, nodded and pulled her sheath from her hip. With a slow and deliberate movement she unsheathed Valefor for all to see.

“I see,” Edthecridaldyrth said. “You stumbled upon this cave on your journey to fight Aeraza.”

“Yes, we have reason to assume his underling is hunting a dragon,” Aisha replied.

“There are others in the vicinity of Mount Ikrali. Though what I consider nearby is likely months away for your party. Even so, I request that you continue your search as another of my kind is still in danger.”

Sariel asked, “Is it possible for you to carry us during our search. It will be significantly faster with your help.”

Edthecridaldyrth shook his head. “Our kind are territorial on most occasions. Worse, many fall into the identity others have applied to us. They are monstrous and violent. When I hunted and hoarded it was from civilizations that went extinct before my time. Others would rather be the reason a settlement goes extinct.”

“I have finally returned to you and again you refuse to join me. Join us!” Sariel huffed.

“In this case, you are correct. I will be at your side when you truly need me but this is a journey you have chosen. The daughter I remember is not the kind to seek me out for a solution.”

“Are you really willing to let her go after only just finding her again?” Vofric asked. “Can you trust us?”

Edthecridaldyrth nodded slowly and smiled. “Our first choice in who to trust was incorrect. However, I learned from the situation and was careful in whom I placed trust. It took many years before new allies joined my side.” He gestured toward us and said, “You brought Sariel home. In the short time I’ve spent with you, I see how you care for her. Likewise, I see that she trusts you. That is all I need to believe she is safe. To believe I can trust you.”

Sariel grumbled but didn’t contradict her father. He’d simply stated an obvious fact we’d all grown aware of. Since the events of Dawncaster we knew Sariel trusted us. Her mysterious habits and silent demeanor didn’t change that.

“Where is the closest dragon located?” Aisha asked.

“Two centuries ago the city of Khergrin was destroyed due to a monster raid. Few spires remained standing but they gave survivors hope. A reason to rebuild,” Edthecridaldyrth explained. “The area is now known as Spirefell with small villages built around the city's remnants.”

While everyone was listening attentively, my eye was drawn to Vofric. The way he reacted to the name Khergrin was odd. Primarily in the fact that he reacted at all. Normally the dwarf took information calmly no matter how severe. But now his eye twitched and a white knuckle grip held his knee. Surprisingly, no one else noticed. If I kept staring he would catch me like Sariel often did.

“Is the dragon’s temperament anything like yours?” I asked while turning my attention to the group.

Edthecridaldyrth inhaled sharply. “No. However, It matters not. If I were hunted, I would retaliate with all my strength. Any individual hunting my kind is likely aware and confident in their personal strength. The collateral damage during such battles is astronomical. Khergrin’s curse of destruction may befall Spirefell.”

“We will prevent it,” Vofric said. “The villagers must be protected by any means necessary.”

Sariel nodded. “We must hurry. The opportunity to evacuate the villagers before an attack may yet be possible.”

She got up to leave but stopped. For the first time she noticed the lack of exits. The layout of the cave was different than she remembered. Everything below the treasure chamber was sealed off. Her father had shut himself into the small space as a way of protecting himself. It seemed more like a cruel punishment for losing his daughter. Edthecridaldyrth led us out of the cave. His presence forced the hidden entrance open and light burst into the cave.

Even in his elf form the faint emerald glow of scales could be seen. As we walked by he placed his hand on each of our heads. Avant must have felt the same familiar sensation I did. It was like a more powerful version of his blessings.

“I am unaware how much this will help against your opponents but allow me to empower you nonetheless,” Edthecridaldyrth stated. “Eyes of the dragon watch over you.”