Eyes of the Dragon

Chapter 07

Back in the safety of his room, Tian studied the Book of Zaaz. He learned many useful details from the book, one of the most interesting was that the former land of Zaaz was in the middle of the current Rakhan Desert. Authored by a mad disciple of Xyrix, it detailed the location of Xyrix's temple and by comparing those ancient maps to more current ones, Tian was able to find where the temple was situated.

In the back of the book, Tian found a few scribbled notes that had been written much more recently. Between the footprints, the mention of this warlord, and the notes themselves, he was ready to believe that the warlord had visited the library as well. The notes read like the scrawlings of a madman, the first said:

I've found it! Why did I not see it before? A thousand nights have I sought to (something  blotted  out  for  several  lines). The prison is merely a host of specters playing their mad symphony alone.

It has taken many tries to get it just right. I'm not sure whether the (unintelligible) is framed in corroded souls, or if the song is seen at odd angles. In either case, I shall infuse myself by means of (blotted out) to achieve the desired effect.

Tian wondered if he had gone back later to blot out parts, of if he had done so even in the throes of whatever had inspired him. He felt that knowing the answer to that would tell him much about the man who was his enemy. In the second note he read:

The result has left me...more receptive to the outer elements. I must probe deeper if the true nature is to be opened to me.

There is a rare confluence of stars that might aid in this. I must be prepared. I must know if the vessels of Zan-rei are the anchor, the barrier that keeps his dark majesty from the world.

Tian shuddered to think that someone would willingly subvert the sacrifice of Zan-rei and release Xyrix. He was more convince than ever that warlord Kharzon was a madman, or at least mad with a lust for power. The final note revealed:

No! Oh gods, he sees me! What horrors fill my mind and guide my hand under that dread scrutiny He has shown me the emerald way of his salvation, and I groan under its terrible weight. Even in dreams do I see his will made manifest in the world. He speaks to me as he does to all his favored in the dark corridors of sleep. He has gifted me with visions, terrible visions, of his will. The second reign will be more glorious than the first! Yes, the return is nigh. Just as Zaaz was the place of his death, so shall it be the place of his rebirth! I will be among the first chosen when he returns, when black stars break open the heavens once more and blood falls like rain!

The full horror of the plan revealed the danger to Tian. He had no idea that when he set out from his temple to recover a relic that it would end up being something so monumentally important to the world. It felt too immense for just him to handle. Tian wondered if he should return to his temple to seek further aid, although that would mean a delay of weeks for the time to travel back to the mountains and then back to Darmane. That would be if he could even convince some of the skeptical monks there that what he said was true.

Grandfather Dragon had entrusted him with the quest. A vision sent by Zan-rei, through the very amulet that he wore, had selected Tian as the bearer of this quest. The young monk looked down at the carved dragon amulet on his chest, questions burning in his heart.

Curling into a lotus position on the floor, Tian decided that the only thing to do was to commune with the spirit of Zan-rei. Through his meditation he would find guidance. Now that he knew the spirit of the Ascendant Dragon truly existed, something before he had believed in his heart without proof, perhaps he would find the guidance he sought.

More time passed as Tian sat motionless. Unlike his previous failed attempt at meditation, the young monk found his center and once there he felt himself tap into something beyond. A presence that called to him as if from far away. He knew without knowing that it was Zan-rei. The Eyes of the Dragon had carried his spirit far away, but through the amulet on his chest Tian could still reach the spirit of the Ascendant Dragon.

Zan-rei called out to Tian. Warning him of the dangers that lay on his path, but also of the greater dangers that would follow if he were not there to stem the tide of evil. Events were in motion, and there was no one else who stood at the ready with the knowledge and the skill to stop Kharzon from calling back Xyrix. Time was flowing out of control. Darkness would cover the world unless Xyrix was stopped.

A knock at Tian's door intruded on his meditation, it sounded distant at first. Only as he came back to his body and senses did the sound of the knocking increase to a normal volume. For a moment longer the young monk sat motionless, reflecting on the truths revealed to him. Then he stood from his seat on the floor and walked over to open the door.

Kayla stood at the door, wry amusement showed first on her face as she found Tian shirtless once again. However that quickly gave way to surprise and concern as she noted the long scratches down his chest and stomach. They were closed and looked halfway to being healed, but were still long and ugly.

"What the hell happened in that library," Kayla sputtered as she walked into the small room.

Tian looked down at his chest and touched the wounds carefully, "They were much worse this afternoon."

"That's not very comforting," she growled, "or an answer. What happened?"

Shaking his head, Tian walked over to her, his eyes alight, "I found everything I needed to know in the library, but there was a magical guardian that I fought. It was very difficult to defeat, but I did prevail in the end. Now I know why Kharzon has the eyes and what his plans are. I must leave soon, did you find out for which port he sailed?"

Kayla sighed and moved closer to Tian, "Are you sure you want to follow him? All my sources tell me that he's very dangerous. He has his own army, and he's crazy. He'd kill you as soon as look at you."

"I thank you for your concern..."

"Shut up," Kayla interrupted, "I know that we've only known each other for a couple of days, but so much has happened in that time...don't treat me like a stranger."

Tian face became more solemn, "I know that Kayla, I will not deny that I feel a connection with you that is unlike anything I have every experienced, but this is bigger than you and me. It is even bigger than returning a valuable relic to my temple. Kharzon is going to release a demon lord that ruled an entire kingdom long ago, he will take the souls of his victims and use them to increase his power. An eternal dragon had to give his life to stop him before, and now he might return again...if I do not stop Kharzon it could mean the end of everything. Everything, Kayla."

She looked down at the floor and then out the window, Tian thought he saw tears in her eyes as she turned away from him. He could not bring himself to look at her either, she aroused feelings in him that he did not fully understand. Another look at her face might be enough to make him reconsider leaving, and that he could not do.

Kayla stared out the window for a while longer, neither spoke, until finally she turned around. On the table beside the Book of Zaaz she sat a bag of coins, then she walked past Tian to the door of his room and spoke without turning around, "I thought you might feel that way. Kharzon went to a small trading post called Balik on the edge of the desert. I took the liberty of getting you passage on a ship called the Sun Dancer. It leaves with the tide tomorrow morning. The captain even gave you a discount when he heard you beat some sense into his men back at the Mermaid Inn."

"Kayla, thank..." Tian stopped, "I hope I see you again someday."

She did not turn around, but looked down at the floor again before opening the door to leave, and saying, "Just stay alive, then we'll see about the rest."

Tian watched her leave and his heart sank, he did not want to see her go, but he could not ask her to come with him to almost certain death. He was sure that if he had asked she would have come along, just as he was sure that she knew he would not ask. Unlike before, Tian did not deny his feelings or even attempt to push them aside. His communion with Zan-rei made him realize that in order to win the day he would need everything he had inside, every single bit of it.