“Lucky?” Zollin said. “Are you kidding? I think you could shoot the moon with that bow.”
“It is a good weapon.”
“You’re a great archer. You’ve really got a knack for shooting.”
“You think so?” she asked in genuine surprise.
“Absolutely. I’m very proud of you.”
She blushed. She was surprised at how good it made her feel for Zollin to praise her so highly. He could do practically anything, yet he saw her meager talents and valued them.
She stepped close and kissed him, hard on the lips. His eyes went wide with surprise and then she was off, pushing forward up the canyon, leaving him in a daze.
Zollin had to levitate them over a high ridge and down the steep cliff on the other side. They followed what appeared to be a game trail and came upon a small pool of water. A spring, high up on the mountain, fed the pool. It ran down the mountain and ended in a short waterfall that fell with a bubbling splash into the pool. There was obviously a channel that let the water flow away underground because the pool, although being constantly filled, maintained a steady level. There were bushes growing around the pool, and nearby was a natural alcove in the mountain. There were signs that the site had been used by others, Skellmarians most likely.
“This looks like a good place to camp for the night,” Zollin said. He lowered his pack and began gathering sticks for a fire.
“Are you planning on building a fire?” Brianna asked.
“Yes.”
“Good, I’m going to take a bath then.”
“That water is probably freezing cold,” he said.
“I’m not jumping into the pool,” she said. “I’ll use the spring water and just wash up. I’ll need a good hot fire to warm up with, and a little privacy.”
Zollin went to work. He found a large pile of wood. The sticks weren’t very thick, but he had enough of them to give Brianna a good warm blaze and then keep a fire going through the night. Once he had the fire going he made himself scarce by levitating up on the mountain. He was amazed how strong he felt. He was tired from the long day, and using his magic still took a toll, but he was much stronger. The internal levy he had constructed around his magic gave him focus, and because it blocked the magic’s drain on his physical strength and stamina, he felt his body responding to the weeks of hard work. He had spent time exercising through the winter with Kelvich. And over the last two weeks he had spent almost every day on long, grueling hikes through the mountains. His body had gained strength, and Zollin thought it felt good. He stretched his legs and back before sitting down on the ridge. He was high enough that he could see for miles in almost every direction. Only the mountain peaks rose higher than where he sat. All around him was a gorgeous vista, and he realized it was a sight very few people had ever seen. He took a moment to enjoy how fortunate he was, then he got down to business.
He needed to find the dragon, and so he let his magic flow. He pushed his mind out and let the mist of his magic filter down into the valleys and canyons far below. He didn’t try to touch everything. The dragon was a large creature and a magical one. All he needed was a hint of the beast, and he would know where to go. It took a while, and as twilight filled the sky and stars emerged so bright he felt like he could reach up and touch them, he finally found what he was looking for. The dragon was miles away, but heading south. It had taken as direct a course as it could, but it wasn’t flying. He concentrated on the dragon and could sense the beast’s pain. The wounds weren’t life-threatening, but they had left the dragon too weak and sore to fly. Walking and hopping on the ground had caused further pain. The beast was tired and weak, but also angry. Zollin didn’t know if he and Brianna could move fast enough to get ahead of the dragon, but they would have to try.
He stood up and stretched again, feeling the muscles in his shoulders and arms flex. He wasn’t large like Mansel. He would never have the thick, bulbous muscles his friend possessed. But he was strong, his muscles firm along his long arms and legs. He jumped off the ridge and let himself free fall for a moment. It was exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. Then he let his magic guide his fall, gradually slowing his descent. The effort superheated the writhing magic inside him, but the heat felt good, as his body had grown almost numb from the cold wind and dropping temperature on the ridge. His eyes stung from the cold wind, but he forced them open and looked for Brianna. She had built up the fire and was wrapped in a blanket near the blaze.
He floated down near the waterfall. Then he stripped off his own clothes and plunged them into the water. His hands burned from the cold but he scrubbed the clothes until they were clean. Then he used his magic and dried them. Next, he cupped his hands under the frigid flow and splashed the water on his body. The cold water was painful, but he worked hard, scrubbing his body of its accumulated filth. Dust, dirt, and grime had built up on his skin, especially around his neck. Finally he took a deep breath and stuck his head under the water fall. The water was so cold he struggled not to shout at the shock of it. He ran his fingers vigorously through his hair, which had grown shaggy. Then he shook his head and let the drops of water fly everywhere. It was hard to push the hair back over his head because the water rain down his back in icy drops that were painful. He pulled his pants and boots back on and used his shirt to dry his hair and shoulders. Then he hurried over to the fire.
“Where have you been?” Brianna asked.
“I needed a bath, too.”
“I knew that, but you weren’t around here. I’ve been looking for you.”
He squatted close to the fire, luxuriating in its warmth for a moment before answering.
“I went up on the ridge to see if I could find the dragon.”
“Any luck?”
“Actually, yes. It’s making better time than we are, but I think if we push ourselves we can catch it.”
“Is it flying?”
“No, I don’t think it can. It’s still pretty sore from what I could tell. Your arrows did some damage.”
“Well, maybe if we can get close enough, I can do more than wound it.”
“I hope so.”
They spent the rest of the evening talking and eating. They boiled some of their dried meat in a pot that Zollin quickly fashioned out of sand. Then they took turns sleeping. The fire was nice, the warmth very welcome, and the bright flames a comforting sight after days of freezing cold nights, but they were afraid it might attract unwelcome attention. Fortunately the night passed without incident, and they set out early the following morning.
They had traveled for two hours when Zollin noticed a strange, yet familiar, chanting music that he remembered from being near the mountain dwarves at the foot of the southern range of mountains in Peddingar Forrest.
“Do you hear that?” he asked Brianna.
“What? I don’t hear anything.”
“I think it’s dwarves. I can hear them singing.”
He let his ears lead them. He followed the sound and eventually came to a small cave. Zollin lowered his head and could clearly hear the sound booming from far below.
“Hello,” he said in a loud voice. “Can anyone hear me?”
The music stopped, and there was a long pause before a small voice answered.
“Who’s there?”
“I’m Zollin. I’m a wizard.”
“And who’s that with you, wizard?”
“This is Brianna, my friend.”
“Well, this is as bold as anything I’ve seen. A wizard in the highlands, come looking for dwarfs.”
“Actually,” Zollin said, still speaking into the cave. “We’re tracking a dragon.”
“You don’t say,” said the voice. “Well, what are you doing out there in the cold air, wizard? You’re welcome in the warm earth.”
“All right,” Zollin said. “We’re coming in.”
He took Brianna’s hand and led her into the dark cave. They both had to walk bent over. The light behind them faded, and they took a few unsteady steps in total darkness. Then a warm, orange glow appeared ahead of them. The cave led down, deeper and deeper into the earth, and finally opened into a large cavern, lit by roaring forges and glowing moss that grew on the ceiling of the cavern.