Chapter 15 Face-Off
Face-Off
Caden clung to Raziel’s back as they flew to the crater. His eyes stung and watered as the air whipped over him. He had to squint to see, but the crater was huge and the Behemoth sat in the center in it like some monstrous spider so it was hard to miss.
The many heads snapped and snarled at each other and at the air as if simply enraged at the other’s existence.
The tails whipped across the ground, scouring more earth from the crater’s bottom while others smashed downwards, crushing stone and pummeling dirt.
Its heads flung back and let out roars. Lightning, fire, water, gas and more gushed into the air creating a storm above the heads.
Caden hunkered further down against Raziel’s back.
Something was wrong.
One of the heads, a ruby one, hung like a broken stalk on the ground.
It wasn’t moving. Its eyes appeared closed.
A long purple tongue lolled out of the cracked jaws as if it were unconscious or worse.
Caden pointed towards it, but then realized that Raziel could not see what he was doing–or that he was doing anything at all–and communicated telepathically with the Black Dragon Spirit.
Raziel! Do you see that broken head?! What happened there? Caden asked.
Seeing the Behemoth hurt had his heart soaring.
He knew from the visions of the past that the Behemoth could be harmed, could be stopped, but that had been with all of the Dragon Spirits grinding it down for Raziel to then perform the coup de grace, the final blow. It was just him and Raziel this time.
And Iolaire, he reminded himself.
I see the snapped head. Perhaps a fight on the Material Plane? Raziel theorized. Valerius was with Illarion and Mephous.
You think Mephous did this? Caden’s eyes widened. But he really shouldn’t have been surprised. The Green Dragon was second in power only to Raziel. But that means Valerius was near a big battle…
He is fine, Raziel said. I would know otherwise. Mephous has kept its word to me… so far.
Caden couldn’t help asking, Does that mean you guys are going to be like best friends now? Hanging out in each other’s lairs?
Raziel emitted a puff of smoke that drifted back, causing Caden to cough and wave the air clear of the sulfurous stink.
If everything gets settled with the Behemoth, Caden said, what’s going to happen with Illarion and Mephous? Are we just going to stand back while they imprison people in camps?
That was done out of fear and a lack of imagination, Raziel answered, sounding more like Chione or Esme in his opinion than the normal taciturn Black Dragon Spirit. Now that they have options--and help--I think that will work itself out.
I’m glad. I hate there being conflict between the Dragons, Caden confessed.
There was another snort of smoke that had Caden gasping and gagging.
Hey, cut that out, Raziel! You’re smoking me out here! Caden complained as he drew in fresh air.
How could I not blow smoke at that?! Dragons are always in conflict. That is our nature, Raziel chuckled.
Well, it’s not Iolaire’s nature! Caden protested.
He felt Raziel smile at the mention of the White Dragon Spirit’s name. No, but Iolaire is special.
Caden’s eyes suddenly stung with tears from another source. I just want to have Iolaire back. Bring Iolaire home.
Caden immediately thought of Reach and Earth, but, though Raziel agreed with the sentiment, it said, Home is wherever Valerius, Iolaire and you are.
Caden let a few tears sneak out. They were blown away by the wind. I feel the same way, Raziel.
Yes, Little Dragon.
Caden rubbed away any remnants of tears. Now was not the time for those. They had to save Iolaire.
The Behemoth seemed unaware of their presence. Whatever had happened to that ruby Dragon head had truly shattered the Behemoth’s concentration.
The Behemoth is so certain of itself. It isn’t even looking for trouble, Caden said.
We do not leave our lairs so it was safe enough, Raziel answered.
It’s something more than that though. It seems really mad, but also scared? Can the Behemoth be afraid?
Of course! Raziel seemed amused by this. It avoided our notice for as long as it could because it knows we can destroy it.
And it did lose a head, Caden acknowledged, Maybe it thinks it's going to lose a few more?
More than a few, Raziel darkly promised.
Whatever was going on in the Behemoth’s mind, it was distracted from them flying towards it. Raziel was flapping its massive wings only occasionally but more often, gliding and riding the currents. It was a stealth attack for now.
So what’s the plan? Caden asked. I’m a little concerned about sticking to your back when you’re fighting the Behemoth.
You will not remain on my back, Raziel sounded amused. You would be hurt. You will fly off and hide yourself nearby.
Uhm, hide where? Behind what? That crater is pretty barren, Caden said.
Not in the crater, on the edge of it. Anywhere nearer would be death. I would not have you even that close, but you need to call Iolaire to you when it is time, Raziel said.
Speaking of which, where is our White Dragon Spirit?
Caden scanned the ground, looking for Iolaire. Surely it would be separate and then… and then what? Would the Behemoth eat Iolaire in order to absorb his Spirit?
Oh, gods, please no!
Or maybe it would be a situation where Iolaire would be pulled into the Behemoth physically and melded into the bigger body.
That’s bad, too. Really bad! No!
Or maybe Iolaire would become pure spirit and be sucked inside of the Behemoth and a white head would simply sprout from the Behemoth’s massive shoulders.
Ugh, that’s horrible too! Caden shook his head. I have got to stop imagining what could happen and just look to see what is happening. Because surely it can’t be worse than what I’m thinking!
But no matter where he looked, there was no Iolaire around the Behemoth’s massive body.
Caden frowned. Iolaire was small to be sure.
But he should have been able to see the White Dragon Spirit from this distance.
Caden closed his eyes and tried to sense Iolaire’s presence, but while Caden could feel the Behemoth’s life force, he couldn’t sense anything else.
He opened his eyes and gripped Raziel’s back tighter in frustration.
I don’t see Iolaire, Raziel! Do you? Caden asked.
In the back, Raziel’s voice was soft, which confused Caden.
Caden squinted. The back? I don’t see anyone behind the Behemoth.
Not behind. On the Behemoth’s back. The white head, Raziel said, sounding so strange and not like itself at all.
The white head? I--I don’t understand! If Iolaire is just a head then the Behemoth has already… has already… taken control… no...
And that was when he saw Iolaire. The white head was on the back.
Just like Raziel had said. It wasn’t moving like the others.
It was looking in a completely different direction and the head was a little slumped as if depressed or forlorn.
Caden felt like he was an ice statue. He couldn’t move.
He couldn’t even think! One of his hands lifted to his throat and he scrapped at his own flesh as if he were sunk into the Behemoth’s monstrous body.
Iolaire… he thought. IOLAIRE!
The white head stirred. Raziel growled.
Do not call Iolaire yet! You will draw the Behemoth’s attention as much as Iolaire’s, Raziel cautioned.
But Raziel, it’s already absorbed Iolaire! Aren’t we too late? The moment those words left Caden’s consciousness, he wanted to claw them back. He feared even thinking them would make them manifest, would make them true.
No, we still have time. But Raziel did not sound as certain as before. I am still free. That means that Iolaire is resisting. We must free it.
Yeah, yeah, definitely, Caden said, swallowing hard. Go over the plan.
In moments, you will leave me and fly down to the edge of the crater. Secrete yourself there so that the Behemoth does not see you, Raziel instructed. I must defeat the Behemoth. That is the only way I know to separate the other Spirits from it. At that time, you will call to Iolaire--
Wait, wait, wait, you’re going to do this by yourself?! Caden gasped.
What other Dragons are there, but me? Raziel asked. The others are in their lairs, far from here. Even if they would leave them, they would not get here in time.
But--
There is no other way, Little Dragon, Raziel interrupted gently.
You had the others to help you last time! And it nearly killed Mephous and--
How did you think this would go? Raziel asked softly.
Caden felt like a fool. A real idiot.
I thought that Iolaire would be separate and once we came it would join with me and then we could… fly away. Back to your lair, Caden admitted.
You think I would leave a fight? Raziel sounded bemused.
To protect me and Iolaire? Yeah, I think you’d dance a jig with Xipil, Caden said. You’d do anything. That’s why you’re willing to do this even though it’s crazy!
You thought to cling to my back in battle, Raziel reminded him.
I… I’d do anything too. Just not lose you or Valerius or Iolaire! Caden admitted.
Little Dragon, Raziel chuckled softly, I see, yet again, that Iolaire chose wisely when it chose you.
I wish I could have your back! But I’m just weak and frail and human! Caden practically spat the last word out.
You are brave and fierce and I feel your love. It will fuel my fire, Raziel told him.
Caden was blinking back tears again. His vision was blurring. But he knew that now was the time for him to leave Raziel and fly to the crater’s edge.
I love you, Raziel, Caden said.
And I you, Little Dragon, Raziel answered with no hesitation.
Go get Iolaire and make that crater bigger, Caden said through blinding tears as he leaped from Raziel’s back.