The Phoenix Ring(27)

Aidan tried to think of something about Thunderheart that only the real hero would know, but unfortunately all of Aidan's knowledge was general.

"I can't prove to you that I am Marcus. But I would like to know what has been happening in the past sixty years, so if you could fill in some blanks that would be great."

Aidan just stared suspiciously at the stranger.

Finally the cheery smile faded.

"Look kid, I'm real, all right?" he said cuffing Aidan on the side of the head.

Aidan stumbled backwards, shocked.

"But if you're real… then where am I?"

Marcus smiled again.

"Finally we're getting somewhere. Take a seat. You are currently inside my ring. You just completed your Soulrock test, so I guess it's kind of yours now. Sorry about that, the test had to be tough in order to make sure not just anyone with a lot of power could use this ring. Anyways, there is a very complex spell that a wizard can use to push his Arror, or life magic, into a Soulrock. I used that sixty years ago, when my phoenix made some sort of magic to attack Malcommer's army, because the other option would have been incineration. The spell had never been used before, so most people probably assumed me dead. Am I going too fast for you?"

Aidan's jaw had dropped.

"You're Marcus Thunderheart?”

Marcus opened his mouth and closed it again.

"This might be harder than I thought."





Bartemus saw the mages running towards the battlefield, screaming, "Slay the riders," a second before the dragon surrounded the three children. It was at that moment that he gave up on saving them. He knew that they would foolishly attack it, instead of trying to stall for time.

This was in the background for the warlock, who was in a fight with a fierce red creature that actually carried two riders. Well, it had carried two, until a well-timed lightning incinerated the first one.

The second was still alive, though part of his tunic was on fire. And he was mad with rage.

Bartemus had seen creatures go berserk before, and he knew what the magic felt like.

A berserk warrior that could not feel pain was an inconvenience to a warlock, but a dragon rider in sync with his steed, wielding the power of magic and the dark force of revenge was a dangerous opponent indeed.

The old man ducked out of the way of a swiping claw and sent a cobble from the ground into the creatures throat, quenching the fire that was about to erupt.

The beast's inner fire fought against the well lodged stone for a few seconds before it began to expand. Bartemus saw the dragon's eyes bulge once, and then the creature fell out of the sky onto its back, crushing the still screaming rider.

The warlock turned just in time to see the pedestal that held the Phoenix Ring shatter into a million pieces, and a hole appear in the building next to it.

But if the boy called the ring, then…

Bartemus felt a flash of power as the boy put the ring on. It was a power that he had not felt in sixty years, but he knew it as well as his own.

It was Marcus.





"So let me get this straight, you're about to be eaten by a dragon?" Marcus asked.

"I assume I already am, unless time freezes when I come here." Aidan answered glumly.

"Actually time doesn't freeze, your mind is just sped up. And it only happens during the calling ceremony, I never figured that part out. Tell me, did this dragon have spines coming up out of the sides of its head, and all along the back?"

"Yes, actually." Aidan said, becoming more amazed every second.

The hero began to pace around the room, warlock's robe flying around him.

I am standing in front of Marcus Thunderheart. Timothy would give his right arm to be here now Aidan thought.

"The problem with a Spineback is its speed. The spines on the back are poisoned, and the tail is stronger than any other dragon of a similar size. The only nice thing about it is that it doesn't have an inner fire."

Aidan's mind was now completely numb.

"You are going to have to drop and roll out of the way as soon as you leave this ring. Do you think you can do that?"

Aidan nodded.

"After that you have two options. Either you can cast a spell towards the rider, or you can put a curse on the dragon."

Aidan's mind finally started to process things again.

"But I thought dragons were immune to magic." The young mage said.

"No, they are creatures of magic. Only their scales are anti-magical, or whatever you want to call it. The trick with a dragon is to place the curse right inside its mouth. Do you know the leeching curse?"

"Yes," Aidan said, "That's the first curse I learned. I took away Edwin's power with it."

"Edwin is still alive? What about Bartemus and Malachi?"

Aidan nodded and Marcus laughed.