Omensent: Birth of a Dragon Lord

By Barry Gibbons

In a wild untamed world, the entire race of dragons are enslaved by a sadistic sorcerer and trapped inside of a gemstone. Four centuries later, a boy is born with the blood of dragons flowing in his veins.Cursed by his bizarre appearance, yet blessed with amazing abilities,he sets off on a quest to investigate the rumors of a rampaging dragon, and to avenge his father's murder.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Barry Gibbons
• Release date: Jul 27, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465807489

Barry Gibbons

37 Year old writer. Resides in Plano, Il

Book preview

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Omensent

Birth of a Dragon Lord

Book one of the Dragon Lord Series

by

Barry A. Gibbons II

Omensent

Birth of a Dragon Lord

Book one of the Dragon Lord Series

by

Barry a. Gibbons II

Copyright © 2005/2011 By Barry A. Gibbons II

Smashwords Edition

License Notes

This Smashwords Edition ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

Omensent

The Dragon Lord Series

Omensent

Birth of a Dragon Lord

Book one of the Dragon Lord Series

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Omensent

Rise of the Shadow Dragons

Book two of the Dragon Lord Series

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Omensent

Wrath of a Dragon God

Book three of the Dragon Lord Series

****

Omensent

Revealing the Dragon

Book four of the Dragon Lord Series

****

Omensent

Princess of Dragons

Book five of the Dragon Lord Series

****

Omensent

Dragons Falling

Book six of the Dragon Lord Series

Prelude

The shadowy figure stood motionless in the darkness staring up into the night’s sky, contemplating the events that led up to this momentous night. He had spent the last two decades studying ancient texts, experimenting with rare and exotic magic long forgotten, and gathering the necessary ingredients to complete his masterful plan. It had taken several years of traveling to the most remote locations in the world, often placing himself in mortal danger to obtain his treasures, and many more years of trial and error to perfect his formula, and now, he finally stood on the brink of realizing his dreams!

After everything had been prepared, and the necessary ingredients had been gathered, he and his half-wit servant, Drok, journeyed into the heart of the Godstear Mountains so he could complete his work, and take his rightful place as the most powerful sorcerer that had ever lived!

He now stood in the center of an open clearing patiently waiting for the moon to rise. His long black satin robe billowed and flapped in the brisk mountain breeze, revealing the pale, nearly colorless flesh that lay hidden beneath. His weathered face was expressionless, like a granite mask. His flowing black hair was tied back in a long ponytail that reached the middle of his back, blending almost perfectly with his soft satin robe.

He remained motionless; his dark, malevolent eyes stared unblinking as he gazed into the heavens. He was so entranced by the beauty of the glittering stars that he scarcely noticed as Drok hesitantly approached, not wishing to disturb his master as he prepared himself for the complex series of spells he intended to perform.

The sorcerer finally drew a deep breath, and then exhaled heavily. It is time to begin.

He slowly turned and walked over to a small wooden table that his servant had erected at his command and knelt down, carefully adjusting his robe so it wouldn’t wrinkle. He made a curt gesture to Drok, who quickly brought forth an elaborately engraved pewter bowl which he placed in the center of the table, and a black silk pouch that was tied shut with a thin red cord.

The sorcerer carefully untied the cord from the silk pouch and gently withdrew a glass vial that was filled with dark red dragon scales, a small bundle of Dragon’s Bane, a plant rumored to grow only upon the deathbed of a dragon, and a small flask of dragon’s blood, which he had obtained from the body of an ancient beast that had been slain by a group of mercenaries.

The sorcerer mumbled a short incantation, and the pewter bowl began to glow with an unearthly light, illuminating the small clearing.

Drok gasped in astonishment, drawing a snarl from his master for breaking the silence. For a moment, he feared he had displeased his master, whose patience was short, and who was quick to deal out punishment, but the sorcerer seemed to turn his attention back to the glowing bowl. He breathed a silent sigh relief, then froze in terror as his master suddenly spun in place and seized him by the throat. Wave upon wave of pure energy suddenly tore through Drok’s body, causing him to twitch and convulse in incomprehensible pain, until finally, mercifully, the darkness overtook him. When the sorcerer finally released him, all that remained of the apprentice was a charred and smoking husk.

The sorcerer turned back to the glowing bowl satisfied that he would not be disturbed any further. He could not afford to be interrupted once he began the complex series of spells that he was preparing to cast, and the loss of his idiot servant was a small price to pay if he was successful.

He gently opened the vial of dragon scales and examined each for imperfections or signs of scale rot, then once satisfied they were acceptable, he placed them in the glowing bowl. He then selected several leaves of Dragon’s Bane, tore them into tiny pieces, and sprinkled them over the dragon scales.

Opening his robe, he carefully withdrew an enormous, magnificently cut ruby from an interior pocket, and held it up to the moonlight. It was flawless, sparkling with a brilliance rarely seen in a stone. He had searched for years to find a gem of such amazing quality before finally discovering the ruby in the lair of an ancient dragon. The creature was so old and decrepit that it didn’t notice the theft of its treasure until long after the sorcerer had fled.

With a trembling hand, he gently placed the ruby in the glowing bowl and carefully opened the flask of dragon’s blood. He paused momentarily to draw a deep calming breath. The next step was crucial, and there wasn’t any room for error. He carefully began to murmur the complex spell, quietly at first, and then slowly growing louder as he felt the magical energies build around him. As he neared the end of the complex spell, he slowly began to pour the dragon’s blood into the bowl. The blood hissed loudly, and then began to boil as it covered the bowl’s contents.

He finished the incantation that he had worked so long to perfect, then stepped back and watched in satisfaction as the bowl began to grow brighter and brighter until he was finally forced to shield his eyes to avoid being blinded.

A hush seemed to fall over the tiny valley, and even the wind blowing through the trees seemed to pause. Suddenly, an intense shaft of blinding light shot from the bowl and up into the sky, turning night into day. It could be seen for miles, and the entire mountain range seemed to fall eerily silent as the strange light began to pulsate with an almost hypnotic quality.

The sorcerer stared up at the sky with an exulted expression. It has begun! His triumphant laughter echoed throughout the otherwise silent mountain range.

**********

She slept peacefully, stretching nearly the entire length of her subterranean lair, resting comfortably on the cool stone floor. Her precious treasures lay scattered about the cavern floor in glittering heaps. Lumps of pure gold, huge uncut gems, and massive chunks of raw jade were heaped in piles throughout the cavern. A hoard to rival that of any kingdom, gathered together, then hidden away from prying eyes. She had spent her entire lifetime hoarding and collecting her treasures, though she found no real value in the trinkets. She just found them pleasing to look at.

She possessed the wealth of kingdoms, but she never worried that thieves might discover her treasure. In fact, there was very little in the world that could cause her worry. Her name was Tempest, and she was the largest, most powerful of the ancient magical dragons. She was the most feared creature in the world, and she was content in her glory.

Like most dragons, Tempest chose to remain aloof from civilization and the ways of man, choosing a life of solitude and contemplation. There were a few dragons, however, that took an active part in the events of the world, joining with humans or elves or dwarves in various wars and battles. Still others spent their time terrorizing isolated farm communities, destroying crops and devouring livestock for amusement. But for the most part, dragons chose to keep their own company.

Tempest had never seen any benefits in becoming involved with the events that shaped mankind. The lifespans of humans, dwarves, and elves were quite short in comparison to the lifespan of a dragon. The average dragon could live for tens of thousands of years, far longer than any other creature on the planet.

So she chose to remain apart from the world, not really caring what transpired outside of the Endless Forest, which concealed the entrance to her subterranean lair. She left only occasionally to hunt for food, or to just stretch her wings and feel the flow of the wind traveling over her massive scaled body, otherwise, she was content to remain in her lair, enjoying the treasures that she had gathered over the eons.

A small shadow suddenly appeared at the entrance to her lair, pausing only for a moment before moving closer towards the enormous dragon’s slumbering form. It crept silently closer, and then paused to admire the magnificent scarlet serpent as she slept.

Welcome, friend Dar. Tempest’s deep voice boomed, echoing throughout the cavern. She opened a huge eye and fixed it upon her unexpected visitor. It has been quite a while since you last visited. How have you fared?

The small figure stepped from the shadows, revealing a human-like child of about five years. He was thin, even for a child, with a wild shock of curly red hair, and pale skin dotted with multiple freckles. His eyes were a piercing blue and held a wisdom that spoke louder than words that he was no ordinary child.

I’m well, Tempest, my friend. Dar smiled. It’s good to hear a friendly voice. Though Dar looked like most any other child, he was, in fact, an Alena, a childlike sprite distantly related to the elves. His was an ancient race whose lifespan rivaled those of the dragons. The Alena and the dragons had always had a close relationship, though there were very few of the childlike sprites left in the world.

The great scarlet beast stretched her enormous body, and her strong ropey muscles rippled beneath her thick scaled hide. Her huge sail-like wings brushed the walls on either side of the cavern as she stretched, scattering her treasures carelessly across the stone floor. And how does the world fare on this beautiful summer night? She asked as she settled down before her tiny visitor.

It’s quiet. Dar replied, settling down on a large block of raw jade. You can hear wolves howling from ten miles away. The moon is full, the stars are shining, and the night is alive with energy.

The last time we spoke, you were preparing to pay a visit to your cousins, the elves. I gather it didn’t go as planned?

Dar snorted and rolled his eyes. It proved to be a hopeless cause. The elves are going to continue to isolate themselves on that rock they call an island and ignore the world around them. Ever since they discontinued relations with the dwarves they have become a closed society, although a few families have broken free and have settled here and there. They, of course, are now considered outcasts, and are forbidden to return to the island.

Tempest chuckled a deep rumbling chuckle that echoed throughout the cavern. So, what made you decide to visit me instead of enjoying this beautiful night?

Dar’s face fell. Something is bothering me. Everything seems peaceful enough, but something just doesn’t feel right. I was wondering if you sensed anything unusual?

Tempest closed her eyes in concentration, then after several moments, she grunted and shook her head. I can sense nothing strange. Is it possible that it is something else that is bothering you?

The childlike sprite shrugged his tiny shoulders. I don’t know what it could be. Something just feels… wrong.

Tempest started to reply, but suddenly reared grabbing her head, then she screamed in pain.

Dar scrambled back from the thrashing dragon in surprise. Tempest! Wh-What is it? What’s wrong?

If Tempest heard his cry, she gave no indication. She stumbled and clawed her way towards the cavern’s entrance with the tiny Alena following cautiously behind calling frantically to his friend. She lunged through the entrance of her lair and threw herself into the air with a single thrust of her enormous wings.

Dar jumped and grabbed hold of her long whipping tail as the great serpent launched into the air, then carefully struggled his way up the spiked tail and between the furiously beating wings to a spot near the dragon’s shoulders.

Tempest did not seem to notice that she had a passenger. She seemed entranced, ignoring Dar’s cries and pressing on relentlessly. They flew with blistering speed over the Endless Forest where they made their home, then passed over the northern edge of the immense stretch of woodlands and continued over the stagnant and stinking swamp that bordered the forest.

It wasn’t long before they reached the southern shores of the Misty Lake. Tempest didn’t hesitate as she plunged into the swirling cloud of mist that had hung over the lake for untold centuries.

Dar was forced to hold on with all the strength he could muster to avoid being swept from the great serpent’s back by the powerful wind currents that swirled above the lake. He was soon dripping wet and shivering from cold. Tempest was pushing herself as hard as she could, and he could clearly hear her massive heart pounding with exertion. Her breaths were coming in huge gasps, but she still pressed on towards her unseen destination, driven on by some irresistible force that seemed to obliterate all thought.

They soon emerged from the swirling mist and Tempest continued without hesitation over the rolling grasslands of the nomadic tribesmen, the Deola.

Several hours had passed since they had so abruptly fled Tempest’s lair, and the huge dragon still showed no signs of regaining her senses. The world below seemed a blur as they shot through the air, and Dar began to grow tired from his struggles to keep his seat between Tempest’s massive shoulders.

The ghostly shadow of the Godstear Mountains suddenly loomed into view through the darkness. Tempest seemed to double her efforts and began rocketing through the narrow canyons and over treacherous cliff sides at breakneck speed. They rounded a peak near the heart of the mountain range to find the sky lit by a bright pulsating beacon of light which seemed to be emanating from a small valley far below. The light throbbed with a strangely hypnotic quality as it lit the sky, and the waves of power that flowed from it caused the tiny hairs on the back of Dar’s neck to stand on end.

Tempest flew straight for the shaft of light, ignoring Dar’s frantic pleas for her to land. The sound of the beacon’s call pounded her senses, drowning out all thoughts and sounds. All that mattered was that she reached the strange pulsating beacon. It called to her, drawing her closer with its irresistible pull, and the great scarlet serpent found it impossible to ignore its call.

As they drew closer to the light, another dragon, a large dark red male, appeared from the darkness and began to circle the pulsating beacon. It abruptly veered from its circling and flew directly into the light where it instantly vanished without a trace.

Dar gasped in shock and horror. He could not believe what he had just witnessed! He renewed his efforts to bring his friend back to her senses, but she continued to ignore his cries.

Tempest began to circle the shaft of light as two more dragons appeared from the darkness only to disappear into pulsating beam. Banking sharply, she suddenly flew directly towards the beacon, unable to resist its call any longer.

Dar called out to her one last time, and then threw himself from her shoulders. Twisting as he fell, he watched in horror as Tempest disappeared into the light. He cried out helplessly, not wanting to believe what was happening around him. He twisted back around to see the treetops below rushing to meet him, and quickly threw out his arms and legs in an effort to slow his descent. He willed his body to become as light as the air around him, and immediately began to slow in his free-fall until he was floating gently towards the trees below.

As soon as the treetops were in reach, he threw out his arms and grabbed a sturdy branch, then flipped back into the air like an acrobat and snatched hold of another branch on a neighboring tree. He scampered nimbly down the tree to solid ground and paused for a moment to get his bearings, then sprinted off in the direction of the pulsating shaft of light.

As he drew closer to the source of the strange light, he slowed cautiously and melted into the shadows to avoid detection. The intense brightness of the beacon of light forced him to shield his eyes, but he was able to make out a black-robed human standing before the source of the throbbing light that had just claimed his friend.

Dar could only watch helplessly as hundreds of dragons disappeared, one by one, into the light, until it seemed that virtually the entire race had vanished from existence. Finally, as dawn approached, the shaft of light began to fade, leaving only an eerie silence in its wake.

The childlike Alena was forced to allow his eyes to adjust to the sudden darkness before venturing out into the clearing, but by that time it was already too late. The dark robed figure was nowhere to be found. Dar searched the entire clearing, but all he found was the charred husk of a young human male, and fresh claw marks in the soft dirt near the edge of the clearing resembling the tracks a dragon would leave behind as it launched itself into the air. He desperately searched the brightening skies for any signs of a dragon, but saw nothing.

Sinking to his knees, he began to weep uncontrollably. Eventually, exhaustion overtook him, and he finally lapsed into unconsciousness.

**********

The dark sorcerer rode atop the shoulders of a mighty scarlet dragon high above the Godstear Mountains, basking in his new-found power. He now had complete control of the most powerful creatures in the world! They were enslaved inside of the ruby, which harvested their magical life essence to be used by whoever possessed the enchanted gem.

The spell he had created had worked far better than he could have ever dreamed. He had expected the incantation to attract only a few of the great scaled serpents, but virtually the entire species had been drawn to him, only to be trapped inside of the huge ruby which he wore on a thick gold chain around his neck.

Laughing with insane glee, he ordered the beast on which he rode to dive down and destroy a small peasant village below. The mighty beast roared in hatred and outrage, trying desperately to fight the uncontrollable impulse to follow the sorcerer’s command, but the sorcerer grabbed the glowing ruby and drew upon its power to force the snarling beast to obey his will. The enormous dragon screamed in helpless fury, then dove at the cluster of tiny grass huts and their unknowing occupants, breathing its terrible fire. The screams of pain and horror from the terrified peasants echoed through the mountains, accompanied by the sorcerer’s malicious laughter and the dragon’s roars of indignation.

Once everything had been laid to ruin and the occupants slaughtered, the sorcerer ordered the great serpent to land in a small secluded clearing and slid from its massive shoulders.

The mighty beast whirled around to face its captor, snarling in outrage. Who are you, human? She demanded, her whip-like tail lashing out and shattering a boulder, reducing it to dust. What have you done to me? What have you done with my brothers and sisters?

Ignoring the towering beast, the sorcerer casually walked over and settled on the soft moss that blanketed the earth beneath a large oak tree. You will stand watch as I rest. He ordered the dragon, closing his eyes in exhaustion. It had taken an incredible amount of energy to perform the incantation, and he desperately needed to rest and replenish his energy. He knew that the enormous serpent could easily rip him to pieces, but he wasn’t concerned. The spell that enslaved the dragons was from the most ancient of magic and could not be broken. The beast hadn’t any choice but to obey his commands as long as he possessed the gem.

When he awoke several hours later, he opened a large sack that hung from his belt and produced a heavily-seasoned haunch of deer, and a rawhide flask of wine. He took his time as he ate his breakfast, his cold calculating eyes lost in thought.

The dragon watched in seething silence, wanting nothing more than to destroy its captor, yet helpless to act.

When he was finally finished, the sorcerer tossed the scraps aside, then rose to his feet and carefully brushed his robes clean. He glanced over at the dragon, who stared at him menacingly. What are you called? He demanded, ignoring the look of death in the dragon’s eyes.

The dragon growled a deep rumbling growl, and sooty smoke curled up from her nostrils, then after several long seconds, she sullenly grumbled. Tempest. She snarled angrily once more. Who are you? Why have you done this? The enormous beast’s massive body trembled in fury.

Silence! The sorcerer roared, staring at the helpless beast with contempt. You will speak only when commanded to speak! His eyes bulged insanely. I am known as Balik the Sorcerer, and I am your new master! He paused for a moment to allow this statement to sink in, and then continued. I hold in my hand, He held the glowing ruby aloft for Tempest to see. "half of the most powerful object in the world. It is of my own creation. Inside of this wondrous gem is your entire species. Every dragon alive, large and small, young and old is now trapped inside of this beautiful stone. It harvests their magical life essence and stores it for my use. It now controls you, and every one of your kind. I call it the Dragon Gem."

Tempest recoiled in horror. You must be mad! You cannot do this!

Balik laughed malevolently. But I already have. We will now depart for my keep, and then, once I have sent you to join your brethren, I will continue to the town of Crete, where at this very moment, a master swordsmith is putting the finishing touches on the Dragon Gem’s counterpart, the Dragon Sword. The sword is the key to unlocking the gem’s full power. It has been crafted from the purest steel, infused with the most ancient of magic, and quenched in the blood of a dragon. Once the sword and the gem are joined, the gem’s full power will be unlocked and mine to control!

Tempest snarled in rage, causing the sorcerer to fall into another fit of mocking laughter.

Yes, my scaled slave. He sneered imperiously. Thanks to you and your kind, this world will be mine to control, and nothing will be able to stop me! He cackled insanely. Now, bow to your new master!

The mighty scarlet dragon screamed in helpless fury, her entire body trembling with uncontrollable hatred. She wished nothing more than to rip this puny human to sheds, but the power that the cursed gem had over her was undeniable. Almost without even realizing it, she lowered herself down to allow the sorcerer to scramble atop her broad shoulders, and then, once he was settled, she launched herself into the air with a powerful thrust of her massive wings.

They flew southeast over the mountains until they reached the foothills that separated the Godstear Mountains from the rolling grasslands of the nomadic Deola, then the sorcerer ordered Tempest to settle down in a courtyard outside of a forbidding keep that had been built of diseased-looking blocks of limestone. There weren’t any windows decorating its exterior, and there appeared to be only a single ornately-carved arched doorway leading inside.

Balik climbed down from Tempest’s shoulders, and then looked back at her with supreme contempt. I must go to retrieve the Dragon Sword. It is almost time for me to take my rightful place as ruler of the world. He laughed insanely. You will rejoin your brethren now, slave. Be sure to inform them all that they now serve me.

You’ll never get away with this! Tempest snarled. One day we will be released from our prison, and then you shall pay for what you have done! This I swear!

I doubt that very much. The sorcerer sneered, raising the Dragon Gem in one hand. A shaft of crimson light suddenly shot from the gem and engulfed Tempest. When it vanished, so had the great scarlet serpent.

Balik quickly turned and approached the entrance to his keep and was pleased to find that there weren’t any charred corpses decorating his doorstep. He was forced to secure his home from intruders, and often discovered the remains of would-be burglars lying about.

Sorcerers were viewed as evil, disreputable creatures that were shunned by normal society. Hated and feared, magic-users were forced to take special precautions to protect their lives. There had been numerous attempts made on his life over the years, some by assassins hired by various people who feared his power, others by warriors looking to make a name for themselves. He once had an entire mob of angry peasants lusting for his blood. He was rarely disturbed after the bloodbath that occurred that evening, though he still found the occasional burglar that had discovered the hard way that one should never enter the domicile of a sorcerer without invitation.

He quickly negated the enchantments that protected his home, and then entered the forbidding keep. He paused for a moment and made a strange gesture. The torches that lined the main corridor suddenly burst into flame, lighting the musty unadorned hallway, and revealing a number of arched doorways.

At the end of the long corridor stood an elaborate black marble staircase that led to the upper floors of the huge keep. But instead of heading up the staircase, Balik went through one of the arched doorways and into his large study, firmly latching the door behind him. He knew that no one could possibly enter his home without his knowing, but was not one to take chances.

He approached one of the many large wooden bookcases that lined the walls of the room and mumbled a short incantation. The bookcase suddenly swung free from the wall, revealing a narrow winding staircase that led deep into the bowels of the keep. He quickly descended the stairs to the huge room that served as his laboratory, and then paused for a moment to look around.

The walls of this room were lined from floor to ceiling with shelves and bookcases that were literally overflowing with old books, moldy scrolls, and ancient parchments. In the center of the room was a large oak table, its surface cluttered with jars filled with strange, unrecognizable creatures suspended in a yellow-tinged fluid, beakers that were filled with foul-smelling substances, and long test tubes filled with bubbling liquids. Against the far wall sat a large stone desk that had been painstakingly carved from a single block of black marble.

Balik crossed the room and removed the gold necklace from which the Dragon Gem hung, gently placing it atop the desk. Kneeling down, he carefully pried loose a stone from the floor, revealing a small hidden compartment. He took the gem from the desk, paused for a moment to admire its breathtaking beauty, then gently placed it into the compartment and replaced the stone.

He had decided early on in his plans not to take the Dragon Gem with him as he traveled to retrieve the Dragon Sword. The temptation to join the sword and gem may prove to be too great for him to resist, and it would take an immense amount of effort to control the power that would be unleashed. He wanted to be sure that he was safe from prying eyes and unwanted distractions before attempting the last phase of his plan.

He immediately started back up winding staircase, eager to retrieve the Dragon Sword from its creator.

It hadn’t been easy to locate a swordsmith skilled enough to undertake the crafting of such a superior sword that would also be willing to do business with a sorcerer. Most common folk refused to have any dealing with magic-users whatsoever. But after searching far and wide, he finally found a dwarf whose skills were renowned, and who was also willing to deal with a sorcerer, for an outlandish price, living in the nearby town of Crete. The short, thickly-muscled dwarf was a distinctly unpleasant character who was rumored to dabble in the Dark Arts, so he was able to understand the complex and detailed instructions he needed to follow when crafting the Dragon Sword.

After he had given the dwarf the instructions and necessary ingredients, including a large barrel of dragon’s blood in which the sword was to be quenched, he gave the dwarf half of the agreed price and promised to return in two weeks.

Balik quickly made his way out of his keep, pausing only for a moment to replace the enchantments that protected his home, and then set off on foot to the nearby town of Crete.

Crete, a small, insignificant little town full of small, insignificant people, was separated from his isolated home by several miles of forest with a single overgrown trail that was rarely ever used. Balik almost never visited the town, whose superstitious inhabitants were terrified of the mad sorcerer, and the villagers never traveled more than a few miles into the forest in fear of crossing his path.

It was nearly midday when he finally emerged from the forest and reached the edge of Crete. He crossed a small wooden bridge that spanned a swift flowing stream that bordered the town, and quickly made his way towards the dwarf’s workshop, ignoring the looks of fear and disgust that he received from the townsfolk.

The dwarf’s shop was near the town's center, as were a number of other merchant’s shops, though the dwarf’s establishment was a great deal shabbier than any other building nearby. The whitewash that the builder had generously applied to the stone facade was peeling and had long turned to a dingy gray from the fumes and soot that poured continuously from the forge’s chimney. A rickety cart stood outside, broken and obviously forgotten, and a number of rusty tools lay scattered about the area carelessly.

Balik cautiously entered the smithy and paused to look around. It was completely dark inside of the shop, save for the fire that raged in the forge, and it was stiflingly hot. Standing next to the forge was the dirty, soot-covered dwarf, who stood staring back at the sorcerer with fearful eyes.

The dwarf was taller than most of his kind, standing nearly four feet tall, with thickly-muscled arms that were covered in hundreds of deeply-pitted scars from a lifetime of working at the forge. His long gray hair was oily and matted, and he had a great shaggy beard that looked as though it had never seen the likes of a comb.

The sorcerer slowly walked across the shop, his eyes gleaming eagerly in the dim light. Where is my sword?

The dwarf gulped audibly, then hurried over to a workbench and gently lifted a wrapped bundle, which he quickly brought to the sorcerer.

Balik snatched the bundle from the cringing dwarf and tore off the wrapping, an insane look in his cold eyes. He gasped in awe at the sight of the flawless sword. It was superbly crafted, and radiated with power, seeming to almost possess a life of its own. The hilt was crafted in the image of a dragon in flight, its wings forming the hand guards, and its long tail curling to form a setting for a gem of exceptional size.

The sorcerer examined the setting closely, checking for even the smallest imperfection, then turned to stare at the trembling dwarf. It is perfect! You have done well. For that, I’ll allow you to live. Without another word, he turned and left the terrified dwarf, tossing a large pouch of gold coins onto the floor on the way out.

He quickly made his way out of town, pausing only once at the bridge to glance back to make sure he wasn't being followed, and to make a mental note to return one day soon to lay waste to the offensive little village.

He continued his way towards his isolated keep, eager to put his plans into action. When he reached the forest that separated his keep from the village, he allowed himself to relax, sure in the knowledge that he was now the most powerful man in the world. He had traveled the path through the forest countless times before and had never once encountered another traveler on the trail. Everyone knew that it led to the mad sorcerer’s keep and were sure to keep well clear of the area.

He followed the trail deeper into the forest, debating with himself which continent he should conquer first. After much consideration, he finally decided to begin with his homeland first, starting with the huge mining colony of Galanras, whose rich mines were known to produce the purest gold in the world.

Balik smiled to himself. Galanras would be an ideal place to begin his campaign. It would provide him with the funds to supply an army of massive proportions. His eyes gleamed as thousands of possibilities ran through his mind. Soon, the entire world would be at his feet! He quickened his pace, eager to begin his plans.

He was almost halfway through the forest when he stopped, staring intently into the surrounding forest. He suddenly had the most eerie feeling that someone, or something, was watching his every movement. He waited for several moments, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. He decided it was just his imagination, and started back down the path, then heard a strange twang echo through the forest.

He suddenly realized that there was one fatal flaw in his otherwise flawless plan. He had to stay alive long enough to complete it.

Those were Balik’s final thoughts as he fell to the ground, his heart fatally pierced by an arrow.

Everything fell silent in the forest for several minutes, then a misshapen pig-faced creature emerged from a grove of bushes and cautiously approached the dead sorcerer.

The troll, standing nearly eight feet tall, had a thin skeletal frame wrapped in tawny muscle, and was garbed in