Dragon Game Read online

  Chapter 6

  “There it is,” Hela said.

  She stood at the bow, staring through a set of magically-enhanced binoculars. We were just passing a stately zeppelin, one of several that we’d seen, but that’s not what she was talking about. Her focus was on a blob just coming into view on the horizon.

  I and the others joined her.

  “You sure?” said Lux.

  Hela tapped her binoculars, drawing attention to the ancient runes painted on them. Magically augmented binocs, I thought. Cool. I wondered if they could do X-ray vision. I wouldn’t mind seeing what Robespierre was packing, if you know what I mean. Because I can explain.

  “I’m sure,” Hela said.

  “We’ll be on them in five minutes,” said the pilot.

  Hela nodded her chin at Lux. “Ready?”

  He nodded. “I’m ready.”

  “For what?” I said.

  “To cast a spell of invisibility.”

  “I can do one of those,” I said.

  He smiled, humoring me. “Maybe. But I’ve made quite a study of the art, Jade. It’s, ah, kind of a specialty of mine.”

  “You would’ve known that if you’d been paying less attention to me and more to the briefing,” Robes told me, flexing his bulging biceps.

  “Well, I can’t help it,” I said. “I mean, just look at those things.”

  He laughed, and we shared an honest grin. I was beginning to think these guys weren’t so bad. Damn it. Betraying them would be a lot easier if I could dislike them more.

  “Do it,” Hela told Lux.

  He muttered some words into his cupped palms, and an orange energy began to glow inside them, filtering through his flesh and bones. His chant grew louder and he spread his hands wide. The energy flooded out and enveloped the entire ship. As it washed over me, my ears popped.

  “Well done,” Hela said.

  I peered at another zeppelin we were just nearing. “So they can’t see us at all?” I said.

  “That’s right,” Lux said. “Even with sophisticated magics, we should be invisible.”

  “Nice.”

  He stood straighter and gave a courtly bow. “Why, thank you.”

  Turning to Robes, I said, “So what’s your specialty?”

  He flexed his fists, drawing my attention to tattoos stretching across his knuckles. When he made a fist, they glowed slightly. I nodded. His strength had been magically boosted.

  “I’m muscle,” he said needlessly.

  “Of a very sophisticated kind.” I couldn’t help but be admiring. Such spells were dangerous, and they only bonded with people of strong wills. If they didn’t bond with you, they could kill you. He had survived real hazards to do what he’d done. I realized that his boastful attitude wasn’t just bluster but was well earned.

  “And you?” I asked Sabetha.

  She fluttered her silver eyelids at me, and instantly I felt dizzy.

  “Mesmerism,” she said. When she stopped batting her eyes, I stood steadier. “In case we encounter any guards Robes can’t clobber, I’ll put them to sleep.”

  “A non-lethal crew of criminals,” I said, admiringly. Damn it, I really hadn’t expected to like them. But the bitter truth was that if I was ever tempted to join an actual gang, this would be it.

  “What’s your deal?” Robes asked me. “Tell me it’s sex magic. You’d be a hell of a distraction.”

  “Lay off her,” Hela told him, and he sighed.

  “I’ve been on my own for a long time,” I said. “I’m kind of a jane-of-all-trades. But I think Gavin put me down as an expert at penetrating magical wards, like for safe-cracking.”

  “You’d better be what he said you were,” Hela told me. “Where we’re going, we can expect powerful wards.”

  “Just what are we stealing, anyway?”

  “You don’t need to know that.”

  “Alright, your turn,” I said. “What’s your specialty?”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Management.”

  I swallowed. “Oh. Good. You look like a … manager.”

  She relaxed, just a bit, and I breathed out. “Also, goblin magic,” she said. “Not that there’s that much use for it in this world. And I’m not bad in a fight.”

  I could have guessed that much.

  “We’re there,” Lux said. He stood beside the pilot, staring at something over my shoulder. I turned and shuddered to see us approaching the zeppelin that was our target: the wizard’s aerial mansion. And it was truly a mansion, although one unlike any I’d ever seen before. Gleaming polished wood, all glimmering of brass fixtures and sparkling with multi-faceted windows, it hung suspended from the massive burgundy envelope. Jutting balconies thrust out from the sweeping sides of the ship, and eerie lights burned from the windows, which twinkled like chandeliers.

  “Wow,” I said.

  Robes whistled. “That’s some pad.”

  “Suck it up,” Hela told us. To the pilot, she said, “Bring us in.”

  He nodded and turned us broadside to the zeppelin, then brought us closer. His mate threw ropes across to the railing of a balcony and tied us off. We were now moored to the mansion.

  Hela gestured from me to the window. “I believe you are our expert on window wards.”

  “That’s me,” I agreed. “An expert of wards of all types. A ward wonder, really.”

  “Just get it open.”

  I wondered if all goblins had crap senses of humors. Or maybe I just wasn’t that funny. Hiding a sigh, I moved toward the balcony, stretching out my palms to feel the magical energies it radiated. I winced. This place was heavily protected, Hela had been right. Its wards were thick, strong and deadly. Just like Ruby’s coffee.

  “Can you do this?” Hela asked me, apparently sensing my unease.

  I patted my belt of spellgredients. “Gavin gave me access to the Guild’s magical storeroom. He said the commission he’d get off this job would more than cover the loss of his rare spellgredients. With these things, I can get us in.” If we don’t all die first, I didn’t add.

  I mixed a few of the spellgredients in a small stone dish, muttering spells over them, then flung the resulting dust at the energy barrier. It shimmered. Stretching out my hand again, I could sense the change.

  “Follow me,” I said. “The hole I created in the ward isn’t very wide.”

  Ducking, I slipped through the opening and alit on the balcony. Hela followed first, then Robes, Sabetha and Lux. The pilot and his mate stayed on the dirigible. They were our getaway drivers.

  Knowing my job wasn’t done, I went to the door of the balcony and disarmed the ward there, too. The others followed me into the darkened interior, and Lux closed the door behind us, then said a spell to make us invisible. The shadows deepened around us. We’d really done it. We were inside the wizard’s mansion. The air was cool, and the small hairs on the nape of my neck stood at rigid attention. This was a bad idea. Surely there were easier ways to get to Nevos.

  “This way,” said Hela.

  I jumped at the sound of her voice. Was she crazy to talk at a normal speaking level? There could be guards here!

  Seeing my shock, she tapped her throat, where a red jewel glimmered. “Goblin magic,” she said. “I can speak and only be heard by those I wish. The rest of you, speak in whispers. I can mask the sounds of others, but only a little.”

  Keeping her head low, she led the way down a hall, around a turn, then ascended a polished-wood staircase. The rest of us followed close behind, keeping our heads low and our footsteps light. We might be cloaked, but the dude that owned this place was no pushover. Even his guards were probably magically powered. The place was posh, that was for sure. Everything was made of the finest materials, from silk pillows to teak doors, from oak paneling to granite counters. I had to admit the wizard had taste. When we passed windows, the panorama of the city was laid out below us, and I had to resist a gasp of awe. I might have to get a zeppelin.

  It was clearly a wizard
’s home, that was for sure. The very air crackled with power. Strange artifacts on shelves seemed to blur and twist, the laws of physics being warped in their vicinity. But although the place was handsome, it was cold. No family photos, no funky art or throw pillows. It was all browns and golds and silvers, and the only artwork was abstract or surreal. The floor seemed to hum beneath my feet, and I could detect the subtle rocking of the zeppelin. Still, it was easy to forget we were in a mansion flying through the skies, at least until we hit another window.

  Those got fewer, though. Hela led us deep into the interior of the mage’s lair, and I wondered how she knew where we were going. They must have been planning this for a while—ever since Nevos came to this world, anyway. Just what was he after?

  “Hold,” Hela said, and drew to a stop, crouching. The rest of us followed suit.

  Ahead of us, a pair of long shadows draped the ground through an archway. Then the men the shadows belonged to stepped through. Dressed in flowing black robes, each held a black wand in his hand. Wizards. But I somehow knew that neither of these were the mansion’s owner. These were guards.

  As one, they swung their gazes toward us.

  “Run and die,” said one.

  “Shit,” said Robespierre. “They see us.”

  Hela stood, and the wizards’ attention went to her.

  “Interesting,” said the other wizard. “I haven’t seen a goblin in awhile.”

  “Should we keep her as a trophy?” said the other.

  The first one smiled. “Maybe her head.”

  They raised their wands toward her.

  “Wait,” said Sabetha. She glided forward, a nimble, voluptuous form glittering of silver. The wizards’ wands turned to her. “You don’t want to hurt us.” As she spoke, she batted her eyes.

  The first wizard blinked. “Don’t … want …”

  “Fool,” said the other. “She’s laying a spell.” Glaring at Sabetha, he said, “That’s the last mistake you’ll ever make.”

  Energy gathered on the tip of his wand. He was about to incinerate her. But Hela was already in motion. A flick of her fingers and a tiny blade flashed through the air. It struck the mage in the throat. He collapsed backward, blood spurting. The wand fell inert to the floor. The other mage started to turn to him, but Sabetha stepped forward and touched him on the hand. He turned back to her.

  “You want to go to sleep,” she purred.

  He smiled tiredly. “I think I’ll take a nap.”

  She pointed to a corner. “That looks like a nice spot.”

  “Yes, a very nice spot …”

  He lowered himself into the corner, closed his eyes and instantly began to snore. Sabetha snatched up his wand and tucked it away. The other wizard had stopped moving, and his blood trickled onto his chest and began to soak into his clothes. Sabetha stared down at him regretfully.

  “He was an asshole,” she said, “but he had a strong will.”

  “Stronger than Lux’s concealment spell,” Hela said.

  “Sorry about that,” Lux said. “But you know how it is. No spell is a hundred percent. Keen minds and powerful magic can pierce any illusion, especially if luck isn’t on your side.”

  “Let’s hope it’s on our side the rest of the way,” said Robespierre.

  Hela pushed on, and we pressed close behind her, hoping Lux’s spells would hold up better if we stayed in a bunch. At last we entered what looked like a study, and Hela moved to the far wall. She removed a painting of vaguely disquieting abstract symbols, revealing a gleaming safe.

  “You’re up,” she said to me.

  I nodded and moved forward. My fingers shook as I reached out my hand to feel the wards on the safe, and my heart thudded in my chest. Shit had gotten real, and now I wasn’t sure who I was more afraid of, Hela and her gang or the wizard and his. Hela’s gang might try at being peaceful, but when push came to shove they could be just as deadly as anyone. And I didn’t like the thought of disappointing her. I doubted she gave a lot of second chances.

  “Gehaim mala,” I chanted, using a stone engraved with ancient runes to carve through the magical barrier I’d sensed. I could feel it folding away. When it was completely parted, I moved to the safe. In less than two minutes, I had it open. Darkness gaped where the door had been, and I peered in, honestly curious.

  Then, suddenly, the world changed for me. Everything became clear, and also terrifying. Because sitting right there in the shadows of the safe was the golden antler of a Hind.

  “Are you all right?” Robespierre said, coming to stand beside me.

  Breathlessly, I nodded. My eyes fixed on that antler. Could it be? Could this place really belong to … him? Because the last time I’d seen that damned thing, it had been in the possession of my arch-nemesis, the evil mage Vincent Walsh.

  “You look white as a ghost,” Sabetha said.

  I shook my head. “Never mind. Is that thing what we’re after?”

  Surprisingly, Hela reached her green hand into the safe, shoving the antler out of the way, and grabbed up another item instead. Before I could get a look at it, she’d stuffed it in a pouch at her waist and had turned back around.

  “Let’s go,” she said.

  She moved out the door, and the others followed her. I stayed where I was, my attention returning to the safe. To the antler. Walsh had gone through a lot of trouble to get that thing, and I just knew that couldn’t be a good thing for my side. I reached out a hand toward the antler, meaning to steal it back, but just then the safe door slammed shut. Startled, I jumped. I tried to open the safe again, but it was frozen fast.

  Weird.

  “Well?” said Sabetha at the door. “You coming?”

  Reluctantly, I followed. Sweat burned my eyes as we made our way back through the halls toward the dirigible. My gaze darted all around. Dear God, that was the golden antler! This is the house of Vincent Walsh! I’d been searching for him for so long, and now I’d accidentally stumbled into his very home.

  “So what was your deal back there?” Robes asked me. “You looked freaked. Shit, you still do.”

  “Nothing. Just let’s hurry. This place is bad news.”

  “Why do you say that?” said Lux.

  “I … think I know the guy that owns it.”

  Hela turned to face me. “Who do you think it is?”

  I swallowed. “No one.”

  She resumed walking, and we followed. I positioned myself close to Hela—close to her magic pouch. Somehow I had to steal that thing, or what was inside it. I had to take it, slip away, evade the others or trap them, make my way to the dirigible, somehow find Nevos …

  I resisted a sigh. It was no easy task I’d set myself. But what were my alternatives?

  “Almost there,” said Hela over her shoulder. “Just around this—”

  We rounded the bend to find a golem blocking our path.

  Chapter 7

  The golem stretched almost to the ceiling and was as wide as two linebackers side by side. Sadly it wasn’t as sexy. Lumpen and misshapen, the clay-made thing was shaped vaguely like a man, but it was crude and primal. Smoldering fire burned in its eye sockets. Bastard must weigh a thousand pounds, I thought. Wonder it doesn’t crash through the floor.

  “It’s blocking off the route to the balcony,” Sabetha said. “Lux, can it see us?”

  As if to answer, the golem took a lumbering step toward us. The floor jumped beneath my feet when it moved.

  “Shit,” I said. My plans to steal the pouch would have to wait.

  “You have something of my master’s,” said the golem, and its voice shook like thunder, rattling my eardrums. Hela gnashed her teeth and Robes stuck fingers in his ears.

  “Shut up!” I said. I grabbed up my crossbow and shot the thing, right in the chest. My bolt splintered.

  “You are getting sleepy,” Sabetha said, going before the golem.

  It swiped a huge arm at her head. Eyes wide, she danced back. Mesmerism wasn’t going to work on t
his thing.

  Robes gritted his teeth and stepped forward. He smacked a fist into a meaty palm. “Let’s do this, asshole!”

  It swung at his head. He ducked under the swing, then hammered a blow into the golem’s abdomen. The runes in his fists glowed as he struck. The golem staggered back. Grinning, Robes hit it again, then again. With each blow, the golem stepped backward. Then one of its arms hit Robes in the side, throwing him against the wall with great force. I heard a crack and Robes slid to the floor, dazed. Blood ran from the corner of his mouth, and one of his arms stuck out at an awkward angle.

  “Fucker broke my arm,” he said.

  I put my body under his good arm and helped him up, and together we staggered back to the others. The floor jumped beneath my feet, and the reek of minerals and clay grew stronger. The golem was right on our heels.

  “Run!” I said.

  The others didn’t need to be told twice. Together we fled back through the halls, one step ahead of the magical construct—the homeowner’s version of a guard dog, maybe. Walsh’s hound. I was sure this place was his. I couldn’t imagine him selling the antler to anyone so soon after acquiring it.

  “You will give it back or die,” thundered the golem. A crystal vase on an ornate holder shattered at the sound.

  Instinctively I ducked just as the golem’s huge fist passed where my head had been half a second before. I felt the whoosh of the air against my head. The fist pounded into the wall next to me, showering splinters. One sliced my cheek as I ran. That had been too close. Robes swore beside me.

  Hela turned into a broad doorway and the rest of us poured through it after her.

  The golem blasted through the doorway, throwing chunks of wood and masonry far out into the room. It bellowed loudly, making my belly quiver.

  There was no hope of stealing Hela’s mystery bag now. No hope of stranding them here while I slipped back to the ship and away. I needed to stick with the others for sheer survival, and even that was in serious question.

  “Here,” Robes grunted, and removed his arm from around me. He could run on his own now that he’d caught his breath. It had been his arm that had been hurt, not his legs, after all.