‘So you’re stuck, and you think people are trying to kill you?’ Moonie asked conversationally. ‘That’s heavy, man.’
‘That’s about the size of it yes, hic.’ Will took another sip from the green, smoking cocktail glass. ‘These are really very good. I’ll have another when you’re ready.’ He waved his glass in the general direction of the bartender, a young druid with dreadlocks in his beard. ‘Why can’t you open it up again, this portal thing, then I go through, and you can close it?’
Moonie hissed through his teeth. ‘It’s not like unlocking a door and then bolting it again. There are rituals to be performed.’
‘Like what?’ Will asked, taking an unsteady sip of his refreshed cocktail.
‘Well, you know.’ Moonie waved his hands expansively. ‘Then there is getting enough power together, need the juice, and there’s making sure that no-one notices this portal’s been opened, that again will be some more rituals.’
Will nodded, ‘Rituals.’ He agreed.
‘Very very complicated, rituals’ Moonie said.
‘You don’t know how to do it, do you?’ Will said wearily.
‘Oh yes, in theory, we could do it, it’s the practical application that we may have some problems with.’ Moonie said expansively.
‘Such as actually knowing how to do it?’ Will said doggedly.
‘That would be one of them, yes. But it will be in the archives, and I’m sure for a good cause we could get hold of them.’ Moonie said, raising a glass, only to find it empty. He stared sadly into it.
‘I’ll drink to that! Two more here, barkeep!’ Will gestured to the bartender as two glasses appeared on the counter.
‘You remind me of my best mate.’ Will said, waving a finger at the younger druid. ‘He’s got those little knotty things.’
‘You sure he should have any more. That’s his fourth dragon’s breath.’ The barman asked, ignoring Will and addressing Moonie.
‘Sure, why not. If a man can’t drink when he’s on a hit list, when can he?’ Will said in resignation.
‘If he has many more, you’ll be saving them the job.’ The bartender scoffed.
‘I’m a marked man.’ Will gurgled into his drink. ‘They’ll never take me alive!’
‘How about unconscious?’ A familiar male voice said behind him.
‘Ceun! Anaya! Pull up a stool,’ He waved the glass in their direction, green liquid slopped over the top and sizzled on the bar top. ‘These green dragony things are great!’
‘You look surprisingly pleased to see us considering you ran away.’ Anaya said, taking a seat and gesturing with one finger to the barman.
‘I’m going home, hic! And I’ve had a lot to drink. Shhh!’ Will giggled.
‘Are you some of his assassins?’ Moonie asked. ‘Do you normally pop in and say hello first? I have to say, that is really very civilised.’
‘What does he mean, going home?’ Ceun wanted to know. ‘This place can’t still be active?’
‘Not at the moment. But I believe we can get it operational again. Recently we have been experimenting with the existential properties of a funky disco beat in the cosmic production of trans dimensional navigation of the astral plane. But it can wait. Opening the portal will be much more exciting.’
‘And you can do that, get it working again just like that?’ Ceun asked.
‘Not exactly. I mean when old Tiberus wanted something shut, it was done properly, but in theory, everything we need is here. What’s the worst that could happen?’ He said with a happy shrug.
‘Why are you letting this happen?’ Anaya hissed into Ceun’s ear.
‘Do you have a better idea?’ He said with a grin. ‘Aren’t you curious to see what the worst is going to be?’
~~
A veritable vat of coffee had appeared, and most of the druids seemed now to be at least reasonably sober. There had appeared a stream of chests filled with parchments, scrolls, and stone tablets. The druids had become madly animated in their heated discussions, and it seemed there were a few schools of opinion when it came to which rituals and in which order. Finally, the preparations concluded in a flash of robes and knees in full flight.
‘But shouldn’t you be hauling them in, isn’t this technically illegal, and if I recall, you tend to be generally against that type of thing?’ Anaya asked.
Ceun held her gaze. ‘In this case, it is for the greater good. If we can get him out of here and back to his people, then he will be safe, at least for the time being, and at least until we can find out who and what is after him.’
‘But we’ll have to find him all over again when he comes back!’ Anaya said, throwing her hands in the air.
‘It could be a while before he dreams again. By that time, perhaps he will have destroyed the device, and the whole thing will be forgotten.’ Ceun said.
‘Do you honestly think he is going to give it all up?’ Anaya said incredulously.
‘You’re delusional.’ She scoffed. ‘There is no way he’s turning down fame and fortune. He doesn’t even believe we exist!’
‘We have got to try, and I told you, no one is making you stay.’ Ceun said, turning away.
Anaya sighed. ‘Someone has got to stop you from getting yourself into real trouble. You’re operating on the wrong side of the tracks this time Hawke.’
Ceun smiled ‘Thank you.’
Anaya was exasperated. ‘And you can stop looking so smug! You may like these creatures, but you have no idea how their mind works.’
She stomped across the room, nearly colliding with a charging druid. As if someone had blown a whistle, the activity stopped. The dance floor was now replaced with a spiral of stones, and in its centre, a pedestal which, until recently elevated a spider plant, but now held the unsuspended glitter ball. At seemingly random points within the spiral, runes were etched which matched those uncovered from the monoliths in the stone circle. Will watched in wonder as a few blades of grass began to creep through the carpet.
‘It’s reverting to its natural state.’ Moonie volunteered. ‘Ah, it feels good to flex the old magicks again.’
‘And this is going to send him back, is it?’ Anaya nudged a stone with her foot.
‘There is a fair to middling chance.’ Moonie fussily placed the stone back in position.
‘This antiquated thing? It will probably blow up and turn him into chopped liver.’ Anaya said.
‘Whoa!’ The effects of the dragon’s breath were wearing off, and Will was no longer feeling invincible. ‘This could blow me up?’
‘Of course not; well, not much.’ Moonie soothed. ‘Now come and stand in the middle, placing your hands on either side of the globe.’
‘That’s the glittery thing.’ Anaya added.
‘I know that.’ Will snapped. He turned to Moonie. ‘This is safe, isn’t it?’
‘There is no danger. This device has been used for centuries.’ Moonie gently tried to direct Will towards the ball. He wasn’t moving. ‘I’d say I’m cautiously optimistic.’
Will shrank back in horror.
‘Look at it this way. If you stay here you’ll be toast anyway, so you might as well go with a bang!’ Anaya shoved the reluctant human into the spiral.
Will looked entreatingly at the druid. ‘Don’t I even get to say goodbye?’
‘You just did. Now come along, we don’t have very much time. We could all be locked up for this anyway so the sooner you’re gone, and it’s safely disassembled the better. Now stand still with your hands upon the orb, when the door appears you simply push through it and you will be safe in your own bed.’
A hand appeared on Will’s shoulder. ‘You have to destroy the device.’ Ceun said, squeezing slightly.
‘But…’
He was cut off. ‘Don’t prove me wrong. You can’t forget this. Your invention is dangerous. Please don’t make me have to find you again because next time I won’t be so… polite?’ The hand squeezed harder.
‘Um right.’ Will said.
‘If you’ve finished intimidating the subject, can we get on?’ Moonie asked petulantly.
Ceun backed out of the circle as Will shouldered his backpack and braced himself against the ball. The druids formed a circle and began to chant, quietly at first, then rising in volume until the first standing stone began to glow a pale blue. In quick succession, the corresponding spiral rune matched its colour. One by one the stones and runes began to glow, marking a trail towards Will. As the final light appeared, the spiral began to turn slowly, then gradually faster and faster until Will’s stomach began to feel like he was on a very unpleasant fairground ride. The spiral started to rise through the ball until it was indeed a revolving door. Will’s hands were all ready to push, and that’s what he did.
Unfortunately, the door didn’t move. He tried the other side, but that didn’t seem like a door at all, it was too solid. Will tried again, he barged the door with a shoulder, but all that achieved was potential bruising. Backing against the door, he pushed as hard as he could with his feet.
Meanwhile, the druids were trying to maintain power. Finally, there was nothing for it. Will took a run up and charged full pelt towards the door, just as the power failed. The door folded in on itself and disappeared as Will flew headlong out of the circle, tripped on a stone and slid dramatically across the floor until he collided with the edge of the bar.
Deciding it was best not to move until he could work out which way was up, Will stayed where he was. ‘What happened?’ He gasped.
Moonie was shaking his head. ‘You did push the door?’
Will glared at him. ‘Push, kicked, barged. You name it. I did it. It would not open.’
‘That is very unusual.’ Moonie scratched his beard. ‘They’re usually hair-triggered.’
‘Are you sure you did it right?’ Will asked, struggling upright.
Moonie drew himself up in offence.
‘But something was stopping you getting through.’ Ceun interrupted. ‘There is definitely something that doesn’t want you to go home.’
‘Something or someone.’ Anaya said.
‘You can do that here, stop me waking up?’ Will asked.
‘It isn’t necessarily being done in Morpheus.’ Ceun said thoughtfully.
‘Um… gentlemen?’ Moonie was tugging gently on Ceun’s sleeve.
‘You’re sure it was working correctly, that everything was set up?’ Ceun looked towards the druid, but the other man’s eyes were fixed firmly on the centre of the circle.
The commotion had woken the dragon. It had been twirled most uncomfortably and was feeling quite dizzy and sick. Enough was enough. Residues of magick sparked from its scales as the steadily expanding dragon stretched its wings and looked for the source of its discomfort.
‘Is that a…?’ Will gasped as he got to his feet.
‘Dragon.’ Ceun supplied. ‘That would explain how you have been so easy to find.’
‘No, it doesn’t?’ Disappointment, coupled with this new threat, was taking their toll on Will’s nerves. ‘It explains nothing!’ The dragon turned towards the noise and let out a half-hearted puff of smoke.’
‘You’ve been dragooned’ Ceun said.
‘Now you’re just making things up.’ Will wailed.
‘Someone has planted it on you to keep track of you. How can I explain? They have a psychic link to their master and will have been reporting on your whereabouts until they decide to collect you. Very clever, really.’ He explained.
‘You mean like a bug?’ Will asked.‘Don’t be ridiculous.’ Anaya said. ‘What possible good would a bug be?’
Will ignored her. ‘So who sent it?’
‘Do you want to go and ask it?’ Ceun indicated the beast, now all twelve foot of teeth and claws. ‘Be my guest.’
The dragon shifted position. It was watching Will with its head on one side as if listening.
‘Pfft, I would have noticed if that was following me around!’
‘It wouldn’t have been that size. They change to fit their surroundings. It could just have easily been in your pocket.’ Ceun said.
‘Or my pack? It seemed to get very heavy after I left you. Is nothing as it seems in this damn place?’
Ceun patted him on the shoulder. ‘That would have been where I’d have hidden if I were, you know, a dragon. It would probably explain the gorgonian too. Nasty tempers, dragons.’ He said, rubbing his chin. ‘It has its assignment, but it still needs to eat. My guess is it fed, and that’s when you noticed the difference.’
‘What does it eat, rocks?’ Will snorted.
Ceun stared at him. ‘Really?’ He said with a frown, ‘Well it can get me off its to-do list right now. It can have whatever it wants as long as we can leave it here.’
‘It might not be that easy to explain to the dragon. They are very single-minded. You can’t reason with it, can’t argue with it, can’t kill it. It will keep with you until it is called off or you die, whichever happens first.’ Ceun said.
Will digested the information. ‘But it likes a full stomach?’
‘Yes. Rocks, minerals, anything it can get really.’ Ceun agreed.
‘And we are in a circle full of rocks?’
Ceun pursed his lips. ‘We are indeed.’
Will picked up a stone from the outer spiral and tossed it towards the dragon. ‘Nice dragon, good dragon, have some nice mineral.’
‘Hey, what are you doing?’ Moonie hissed. The dragon sniffed the rock suspiciously, before swallowing it with a flick of the tongue.
‘Here’s the plan. We are going to back away very slowly and hope that it doesn’t take rejection too badly.’ Ceun hissed back.
‘And if it does?’ Will asked.
‘Once I start running, I would suggest that you try to overtake me.’ The bounty hunter replied with a twinkle in his eye.
‘You can’t leave that here!’ Moonie said, his eyes never leaving the dragon. ‘I’m sure it will just get bored and wander off.’ Ceun said unconvincingly as he, Will and Anaya inched towards the exit. ‘Eventually.’
‘That dragon is going to destroy the place.’ Anaya said.
‘At least we know the portal will be closed for good this time.’ Ceun agreed, ‘Now I suggest we move.’
‘You found him, and in one piece too?’ Rox said as they appeared outside.
‘For the moment.’ Ceun patted the little man on the shoulder. ‘I would suggest you take a break. Possibly quite a long one.’
There was a roar from inside. ‘Is that what I think it is?’ The sheen on Rox’s face paled. The others didn’t wait for an answer. When you are made of stone, and therefore on the top of a dragon’s snack list, you have an incentive to produce an impressive turn of speed in the opposite direction.
As far as the Dragon was concerned, events had taken a fascinating turn. Its nostrils twitched. On the one hand, its charge was out of sight, on the other he was in Dragon heaven, the equivalent of a human being trapped in a big sticky bun and having to eat their way out. The temptation! Licking its leathery lips, it nibbled delicately on the central column. Deciding it was indeed delicious, he swallowed it whole as the glitter ball smashed to the ground. The crash seemed to wake the druids from their shock. Still weak from trying to open the portal, their powers were no match for the creature who found itself suddenly showered with miniature cheeses, a small aubergine, a collection of pocket lint and a blue plastic bucket which bounced off its nose. The Dragon let out a belch with just enough fireball to deter any further interruptions to its meal. The Druids put their heads together. Perhaps given the number of them, they might have just enough juice left to send the beast away.
‘Ok, everyone. We need to think of the thing we most need, all together now!’ Moonie shouted. Eyes tightly shut, as one, they began the chant. The air shimmered with power as into being came a deluge of gin and tonic. It hit the Dragon square in the side of its face. Turning, the creature bellowed with rage sending a sheet of fire singeing beards.
‘You were all thinking of having a drink?’
‘It’s the thing I need most!’ One of the Druids shouted back.
Moonie sighed. ‘There is only one thing for it now… RUN!
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