The Ruins

Ishloche Chapter 2

KRAG

Krag kept busy, trying to build an indestructible boat. Namani was a very dangerous host. Krag still couldn’t believe that he was real. He made a fire and melted whatever metals he could find. He coated the rafts bolts and armored the oars. They had to make a fleet to get everyone across.

With what they had left, he made arrow heads and spears. He was grateful for the teachings of his father, especially when it came to weaponry and black smithing. Krag tried to show Tordin how make them too. His men would need to know in case something happened to him.

“It is an important skill to be able to melt metal and make it strong again. “ Krag told him. “You need to try hard and focus. “ he thrust the sword into a water pail.

“No, no your right, it is a big task, no I don’t think so either.” Micca said to himself. He shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. He would appear and disappear just as fast.

“That crazy fool,” Tordin laughed. “Why do we have him with us again?” He asked Krag.

Krag pulled the sword from the water and began to bang on it some more. “Because we need all the help that we can get, and maybe he will be good for a distraction.” Krag told him. They both shrugged and laughed. They continued their metal work, making piles to be taken to the next group, who were sharpening the edges. Another group of men were gathering food and loading the rafts.

Krag had the direction of assembly line work down. They were making a lot of progress. Once the sails were sewn, and they had a few more supplies, they would be ready to cross the river.

The legend of Namani, was a whole other problem. No one knew how to kill him, or what he was for sure. He was some kind of fish dragon, dinosaur. He didn’t like anyone in his area. The biggest problem, was that this was his area. All of the waters connected. He could be anywhere. Krag scanned the water tops for any sign of unnatural movement. There was none.

Ramal wanted to have all of the answers. She wanted them now. “Fairies?” She yelled into the trees. “Please come back.” She spun around looking for the glow. She stopped and scratched her head. “Didn’t they say that help would be coming?” She pondered aloud. What does that mean? She pulled a piece of jerky from her satchel. What else could possibly be up here? She wondered. Or who? If the creatures taught my mom and she taught me, then what do I know that could help me? Her song called and calmed the deer. I hummed another tune that brought the fairies? Ramal was very confused. She wanted to remember everything that her mother had taught her. She racked her brain trying to think of the other songs. They wouldn’t come.

Suddenly there was a low growl from behind her. The tree she was now leaning on started to shake. Ramal jumped forward. “What the hell?” She saw fiberoptic lights in the place of where the sound came from: Blue, green, yellow, purple, orange and back again. “What are you?” She peered around the tree. It was gone. Branches cracked to the right of her. She looked hastily. Branches crashed to the left. Ramal ran toward it.

“What are you?” She asked again. She drew her sword and made a stance. “How are you so fast?” The growl came again from right behind her. She could feel the heat from his breath against her skin. She shivered as she slowly turned to face it.

One taloned foot stepped toward her as he bent his head down to see her better. His huge emerald eyes looked at her from the front of his elongated face. The fins on top of his head ran down his spine and circled his head like a lion’s mane. His nostrils blew out again as he studied her. He blinked. His scales changed color around his head. Green, yellow, orange and then blue, alternating throughout his scales.

“You called me.” He said. “I am Ishloche. Your Earth dragon.”

Chapter Two

Lanai was baffled at the help that she had received and by the source from which it came. Jakombie was very beneficial. He got her out of the hands of her captors, led her through the tunnels, and kept her hid from the search party. He seemed to be more human than Zombie or Orc. She thought that she could, probably, trust him.

“Supplies. We need to get together.” Jakombie said. “Must leave this cave. Soon,” he stammered.

“Yeah, I agree.” Lanai told him.

They started looking through the things that Jakombie had already gathered. Lanai found a cloth bag and some rope. Jakombie brought jerky and a canteen to her. He also grabbed a lantern and some matches. She found a knife in the corner. Other than that, they pretty much had rocks and dirt. The trip was looking bleak. They covered themselves in the cave dirt to stop the smell of their blood.

“Ok, we’re ready.” She said. She stood against the cave entrance.

Jakombie listened to the walls for any signs of movement. He slowly removed the rock from its place in the wall. He peered into the darkness and squinted in every direction. Jakombie motioned her forward. They slithered through the opening, and he pushed the rock back into place, in case they had to return. His shoulders and arms bulging from the effort.

“This way.” Jakombie whispered. He pushed past her. He walked slowly through the dark tunnels with her right behind him.

There was a guard coming. They were searching the tunnels for Lanai. Jakombie signaled for her to flatten herself against the wall in a nearby cavity.

They held their breath and watched the Orcs pass. They paused just long enough to make sure the coast was clear. Jakombie continued down the tunnel that they started with. Lanai followed hm closely. Finally, they saw a small light ahead. The rocks were in place, just enough to cover a getaway hollow.

“Wait.” Jakombie told her. He went through the tunnels to the left and right of where they were, to make sure that there were no guards around. When he came back to her, they began digging their way out. They moved one or two rocks at a time and placed them carefully down inside of the cave. The rocks created a makeshift staircase to get out. Lanai went into the sunshine first.

Jakombie suggested that they go up to survey the land below for Orcs and the search party. The climbed slowly as to not draw attention to themselves. They stopped when the Orcs would go in or out. With their dirt covering they blended in. The rope and the knife came in handy as tools for their climb. The cliff side was just ahead. Lanai tied the knife to the rope and threw it up into a crevice. She made sure it was secure with a hard tug and then began to climb. Jakombie followed. They made it to the top and flung themselves down on the top to rest.

The sunshine felt amazing on Lanai’s skin. She had been locked in Gnork’s chains for weeks. She rubbed her wrists and sighed. Jakombie wasn’t used to not being in the cave. His skin was starting to burn. “Hmm, hurt.” He said to her. She noticed how red he looked. She handed him the canteen.

“Drink.” She told him. “We need to find cover.” There were trees to the north. “Come on.”

The Orcs were going through the valley toward the river. They searched high and low for Lanai. They grunted and moved forward. Jaqavious ordered them to search along the river banks. They came to a clearing and noticed the human army on the other side. “Aaaargh!” Jaqavious yelled. “Humans think they own everything! Look at them making a raft!” He swung his arms around. “ Twoloado take two comrades and go tell Gnork!” They moved back into the fields to hide, and wait for instruction. Going against orders was suicide. The Rocs looked alike but Gnork was much bigger, and meaner.

Jaqavious and the others went into the tall grass. He kept his eyes fixed on Krag and his men. Soon there would be blood. …

RAMAL

Ramal strode around Ishloche. She looked at every inch of him. She noticed the color patterns in his legs and wings. The fading ins and outs of the purple and blue. He was beautiful and mesmerizing. “I don’t understand.” She told him. She sheathed her sword once again. “How is any of this possible? What do you have to do with my mother? And how are you supposed to help me?” She asked him.

He snorted at the questioning. “Your mother had more manners.” Ishloche said looking at her. Steam came from his very large nostrils toward her. “You are very small for a human.” He circled her as she had done to him. “What makes you come here? What are you Called?” He squinted at her.

Ramal furrowed her eyebrows. She was entranced by him. “I didn’t mean to be rude,” she told him. “I am Ramal. I have never spoken with a dragon before.” She bent into a curtsey. When she arose she asked him again, this time albeit more softly, “how did you know my mother?”

Ishloche nodded slowly. “Ravania.” He nodded again. “She was my pupil in all things magical. There was none better. If you are here now, then you have been led by my scale that I gave her; to guide her. “ He swayed back and forth from hip to hip. Ishloche took in a deep breath. “I loved her,” he told Ramal. “She was my rider. “ He twirled his neck around and adjusted his body into a stretch. “How is she?” He asked.

Ramal was taken aback. She stepped backwards and her head snapped back as well. Tears came to her eyes and she screamed “She’s dead!” Ramal was shaking and crying again. She shook her head as her mother’s death came into her mind.

Ishloche tried to not be annoyed that she had told him this way. He saw her turmoil and her tears. “I am sorry. I did not know,“ he told her.