Sulfur Rites

"There weren't always dragons in the valley," Solis said as he and his companion darted behind a large boulder. They were both exhausted from their pursuit, but Solis had to tell her everything he knew.

Saviya gave him a puzzled look. "What do you mean? This valley is the home of Takelma, the oldest dragon alive, and she has been here for as long as anyone can remember."

Their conversation was interrupted by the sounds of marching. When it finally stopped, the elves peered cautiously over the ledge on which they were hiding. Two dozen Orc soldiers had gathered in a tight cluster and appeared to be looking at something that had been unearthed.

Soli lowered his voice to a whisper. "Before the darkness came, before the Necromancers and their orc armies." He pointed to the scene below. Before all of the chaos, this valley was home to simple human folk." The Orcs let out a series of fierce whoops and howls.

Saviya shuddered and pulled an arrow from her quiver. "I appreciate a history lesson as much as the next, but this is hardly the time."

Solis gave his companion a steely look. "I think I know why the necromancer has come." Saviya tore her gaze away from the Orcs and gave him a wide-eyed stare. "This is where Takelma's mate Rimanth died during the war of famine. I think Farasin is going to try to raise him from the dead. "

"Have you gone mad? Saviya balked at him. "There would be nothing left but bones…" as soon the words left her lips, though, she made the connection. "A bone dragon?" He nodded at her gravely. "Impossible." Her words were barely audible.

Solis gently grabbed her arm. "Why else would Farasin's scouts come this far inland?"

"I do not know," she admitted. "Thaldor only asked us to keep watch. Why wouldn't he have warned us?" She desperately searched his face for answers.

"Maybe he didn't know, at least not all of it," Solis reasoned. "The mage thought he would be here before us, of that, I am sure. Just as I am sure that these Orcs are searching for something."

The words hit Saviya like a punch in the gut. "if your right, and she succeeds…."

"Then there is no hope, and we all die." Solis finished for her.

“Araergio Bullecto, Altearbus Consienim,” The Necromancer hissed. Her incantation would break the invisibility spell, but it no longer mattered. Her orc scouts had spent months searching for the fallen dragon's bones, and now, after many moons of traveling, she stood at the very spot Rimanth had fallen.

"Araergio Bullecto, Altearbus Consienim," Farasin repeated, louder this time. Her words reverberated off the valley floor with a strange echo. Instantly, the ground began to hum.

Solis swore as he watched Farasin shimmer into view with every word she uttered. "By the God's, she's here, just as Thaldor feared."

Saviya tried to swallow her anxiety. The hawk, resting on her shoulder, shook out his wings nervously. Saviya gave her bird one last look. Kissing him on his beak, she released him to the sky. "Go Towodi," she said, "keep watch over us. The mighty hawk leaped from her, his flight giving Saviya courage, as she set an arrow in her bow and prepared to fight.

When the dirt and rock began to crumble away, a smile spread across Farasin's ashen lips, and her black teeth glinted like obsidian. "I command you to rise!" She shrieked, the wind picked up around the decrepit woman, and plumes of black sooty smoke began to seep from the ground. Her sapphire emblazoned robes whipped violently around her as she lifted her pale, thin arms. The clear blue sky was soon replaced with a deep midnight haze.

Saviya slowly stood up, trying to gauge the distance between her and Farasin. A gust of wind appeared from nowhere before she could even raise the bow. In an instant, it blew debris and fist-sized rocks in her direction. Solis threw himself over his ranger companion, causing them both to hit the ground hard.

Farasin continued her incantation. "Sanculso Caniis." The crystal on her gnarled staff began to glow a deep ruby red. It grew brighter with each word she spoke until fiery sparks spewed from her staff's tip like demonic fireflies. She now stood at the center of a wide tornado-like storm cackling insanely. "Rise, Rimanth, rise, for I command you to obey!" the Orcs took a collective step back, eyeing her fearfully. Farasin sneered at them before looking back at the pile of bones.

The sky lit up as a bolt of lightning slammed into the earth. The deafening sound had several more orcs diving for cover, but they were trapped between the gale-force winds that encircled them and the ground cracking open.

Farasin glared at them. "Pathetic maggots!" She screamed. "Stand your ground, or I'll feed your miserable souls to him."

The storm continued, accompanied by more bright lightning bolts, and the sounds of thunder. Saviya clasped her hands over her ears and searched the skies for her beloved hawk Towodi, but he was nowhere to be seen.

Despite looking like a frail dead thing, Farasin showed surprising strength in the heart of the storm. Unaffected by the winds, she slammed her staff down into the earth; red and purple tendrils of electricity shot out from it and engulfed the long-dead dragon. Rimanth's body lifted into the air, now almost fully reconstructed.

Several orcs were electrocuted and thrown from their positions, their screams barely audible in the raging winds. The remaining orcs used their shields to fend off the elements.

Farasin grasped her staff in both hands in one final effort and screamed to the now dark sky. "Clariicus Demoenus, Altearbus Consienim!" The incantation prompted the storm to hit its crescendo, blowing out in all directions; it flattened everything.

Sometime later, Saviya awoke; the smell of Sulphur overwhelmed her as she tried to blink out the dust in her eyes. Solis was still shielding her with his body, although he lay limp, having also been rendered unconscious.

"Solis, wake up," Saviya whispered, straining against the elven warrior's body.

He stirred, lifting his head groggily, his cloak now tattered and torn, blood dripping down the side of his face. Saviya reached a hand toward him, but he brushed it aside before pulling her into a desperate embrace. It took a few minutes for the pair to gain their bearings, painfully aware of the unnatural silence that had befallen the valley. They were both lucky to still be alive.

Rimanth was vaguely aware that his slumber had been interrupted. Confused, he shook his mighty head, trying to understand what had happened. The dragon's once beautiful green and purple wings were now leathery black, and smoldering. Rimanth was a shell of his former self. No longer able to make his own decisions, his body filled with demonic energy. The massive beast raised its long-charcoaled neck to the sky and screeched in agony. Flames erupted from his mouth, and even Farasin paused in fearful awe of the conjured dragon's awful power.

In a panic, one Orc broke ranks and ran for his life. Without hesitation, the bone dragon fixed his gaze on the deserter. Farasin made a fist and then spread her spindly fingers out wide, triggering an attack. Rimanth roared, fire shooting out from his terrible maw and engulfing the Orc in flames.

Saviya was a seasoned ranger. She had battled Orcs, trolls, and even ice giants, but the sight of the Orc exploding in a fiery death had her struggling to keep her composure. Solis gently grabbed her by the shoulders and gave her a shake.

"Saviya, look at me." He tried to coax her, but she remained unmoving. "Savy, come on, I need you," Solis cried while shaking her wildly. Finally, she looked at him. Slowly finding strength in his deep golden eyes and steady disposition. Nodding at him with acknowledgment made Solis let out a sigh of relief. "Can you fight?" Again she nodded. Solis pointed to the valley below. "Then aim for Farasin. If you can kill her, it may kill Rimanth too."

With a deep breath, she stood up from behind the safety of the boulder. It took only a moment to lock Farasin in her sights. The young elf pulled back her bowstring and let loose an arrow. At the same time, Towodi, her hawk, acted as a distraction and shot down from the sky straight toward Farasin's head.

Solis knew the odds of the arrow killing its mark were precarious at best. Unsheathing his swords, he stood to his full height. Moving around the boulder, he prepared to defend his companion.

The arrow was perfectly balanced. It flew through the air and appeared like it would hit its mark. Although the hawk distracted many Orcs, the ruse did not work on the necromancer. At the last second, Farasin ignored Saviya's bird; instead, she jutted out her arm and lifted it to a ninety-degree angle; Rimanth's wing copied her movement, easily deflecting the elf's attack. Saviya's heart sank as the arrow skittered harmlessly to the ground, and Towodi was swept aside by the gust of wind the dragon's wing created.

Farasin redirected her gaze to the elves on the cliff above her. Keenly aware that the attention was now on them, Solis pushed Saviya behind him. Raising his swords, he called upon his ancestors in a desperate battle cry. Farasin laughed, and with a flick of her wrist, the bone dragon began to flap his wings, rising into the air.

"Death to you." The necromancer screeched, her staff pulsating as she pushed her energy into the dragon. The dragon obediently flew into the sky, his master's murderous intentions consuming him.

Rimanth, who had once been a fierce protector for good, was now relegated to a mindless demon incapable of independent thought. He would obey and destroy his master's enemies without question. His massive body turned to face the two elves, and he sucked in a deep breath.

Solis and Saviya dived behind the rocks, knowing it would not be enough to save them. "I'm sorry." Saviya cried out. Solis had no words. He squeezed his eyes shut and held her to his chest.

Death, however, did not find them at that moment. Before the bone dragon could unleash his hellish fire, another form appeared. The white dragon Takelma crested the mountain with blinding speed. Flying over the helpless elves, anger and fury consumed her at the sight of her resurrected mate. The newly arrived dragon emanated a pure light that blinded all in the valley below. She exhaled forcefully, neutralizing the fire breath that Rimanth had unleashed. He glided to the side, narrowly avoiding a collision. Takelma took in another breath and exhaled, freezing everything it touched.

Farasin howled in anger, narrowly missing the icy breath as she dived to the side. Knowing better than to take on a frost dragon in her weakened state, she commanded Rimanth to return. The bone dragon swooped down and grabbed the necromancer in his claws. Farasin and her bone dragon fled, leaving behind a dozen Orcs who now stood frozen solid. Takelma let out a roar before giving chase.

Towodi flew down and landed on his mistress's shoulder, nuzzling her pointy ear. Saviya stroked his feathered head and reached for Solis's hand. The pair stood together, unable to do anything but watch the dragons disappear over the horizon. They looked at one another, both grateful and sad for the mighty dragons, for that was not how their love story should have ended. There was nothing else they could do but wait for Thaldor and prepare to help Takelma, for a new war was about to begin.

.