The Battle of Iron Gulch: The Town of Superstition, #3

By R. G. Thomas

A strange mining town in the shadow of a mountain.
A hidden enemy, dangerous and… hungry.

 

On their hunt for the missing dragon, Thaddeus and Teofil find themselves stuck in Iron Gulch, a mysterious town at the foot of Wraith Mountain. With no cash, their group's only choice is to exchange chores for lodging at a local B & B.

 

As they explore the town, Thaddeus and Teofil soon discover some of Iron Gulch's more eccentric residents might actually be dangerous. Snooping one night in the mines, they uncover the new and deadly enemy and a bloody battle breaks out in Iron Gulch. Thaddeus' magic is new and untested, but he'll have to master his powers quickly to save the people of the town and the family he loves.

 

When the dragon suddenly returns, the tide of battle takes a drastic and fatal turn that changes their lives forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mitten Ginger Media
• Release date: Jul 17, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223813989

Book preview

Chapter One

N ever again, Astrid said with a groan. I’m never again listening to Thaddeus when he estimates distance.

Thaddeus shook his head, keeping his eyes fixed on the stones he was striking together, hoping for a spark to ignite their fire. "I said it looked like it was another day’s travel. Looked. Looked!"

All right, you two, Miriam scolded gently as she dropped an armload of small sticks beside Thaddeus. You know good and well, young lady, that judging distances takes quite a lot of skill. Do you recall those five days you hiked around Spectrum Cascades with your father and brother?

Thaddeus glanced at Astrid in time to watch her amused expression darken. Miriam’s smile had vanished as well, and his stomach tightened as a hot lump formed in his throat. Turning his attention back to the fire, he poked at the smoking pile of dead leaves with a stick, wishing he was someplace—any place—else.

The brother Miriam mentioned had most likely been Fetter, whose years-long deception had to hurt Astrid, Miriam, and Teofil. Thaddeus couldn’t imagine living with a sibling, growing up with him, sharing a bedroom, sharing meals and family events, secrets and dreams, quiet and happy times, arguments and misunderstandings, only to discover years later that sibling wasn’t really who he’d claimed to be. Fetter had in actuality been Isadora, the witch who fifteen years ago started a war within the magic community and turned Thaddeus’ mother into a dragon. For all the years since that battle, Isadora had disguised herself as Fetter and lived with the Rhododendron family, sharing a room with Astrid, who was closest in age. Astrid’s sense of betrayal had to be running pretty deep.

And they had no idea what had become of three-year-old Fetter when Isadora had taken his place. The whole trip they had talked of it around their campfires and during their hikes, and they all kept going back and forth between Fetter being alive and him not having survived that day. The unknown made all of it so much worse.

Risking a glance at them, Thaddeus was heartened, at least, to see them share sad, supportive smiles.

Well, there’s that again, then, Miriam said with an awful, heartbreaking sigh. Fetter, the ghost among us.

Yes, there it is, Astrid agreed. I just wish I knew whether he’s….

Oh, he’s still alive, Miriam said with a firm nod.

How can you be sure? Astrid asked, her voice quiet and heavy with grief.

Miriam got on her knees before Astrid and took her face between her hands, looking deep into her daughter’s eyes. I am his mother. I would know if he… if something bad had happened to him.

Astrid sniffled between Miriam’s palms. Even though you thought she was him all along?

Thaddeus winced, but Miriam seemed ready for the question. She smiled.

Even though she fooled me, Miriam said. I still know he’s alive somewhere.

Okay. I believe you.

Good. Miriam kissed Astrid’s forehead gently, then got to her feet with a groan. All this walking and sleeping on the ground is getting to your old mum.

Astrid wiped away tears and looked over at Thaddeus. Sorry, Thaddeus. I know you did your best with the timing.

He sat back on his heels and looked at the pile of sticks, still without a flame. We should reach Wraith Mountain tomorrow.

Astrid snorted a laugh, and even Miriam chuckled before settling in a spot a few feet away, where she picked up her knitting. Thaddeus sighed and sat back from the fire pit, annoyed at himself for underestimating the distance they still needed to travel, as well as his inability to get a fire started. He’d been in seven different Scout troops in the thirty-three towns and cities he and his father had lived in and not once had he been taught how to start a campfire. Maybe they’d always moved just prior to the fire-starting lesson, or he’d joined right after?

I think we’ve gathered all the sticks for at least a mile, Teofil declared as he walked up out of the quickly gathering darkness. It seemed to Thaddeus that the closer they got to the mountain, the faster night fell. Teofil dumped a great armful on the pile Miriam had delivered, then stretched his back.

Thaddeus took the opportunity to admire Teofil. He was handsome in a country boy way, with high cheekbones, a rather large nose, and a thick beard around his jaw that was of the same blond as his messy thatch of hair. Though Teofil was a garden gnome, he stood taller than the rest of his family, and not too much shorter than Thaddeus. All the years Teofil had spent working in Leopold’s yard had given him strong shoulders and arms.

Thaddeus turned away from Teofil to glare at his lame attempt at a fire. Fat lot of good it’ll do us since I can’t get the stupid fire to take.

Teofil sat beside Thaddeus and leaned in to peer at the fire pit. It does look a bit….

Cold? Astrid offered.

Manners, Astrid, Miriam said without lifting her eyes from her knitting.

Teofil stuck out his tongue at his sister, and she returned the gesture.

Is that a greeting? Dulindir dropped an even larger armload of sticks than Teofil’s on the pile. His hair glowed where it fell halfway down his back, reflecting the light of the stars just starting to shine in the darkening sky.

Elves, Teofil grumbled. Always showing off.

Dulindir, are you able to start a fire? Thaddeus asked.

The elf gave a single nod, then knelt on the other side of the campfire. He waved his hands slowly back and forth over it, curling and stretching his long, thin fingers. The insects humming around them stilled, and it seemed to Thaddeus that even the gentle breeze—a constant across the open plain they were crossing—had paused. Thaddeus leaned in closer, his eyes widening as he watched Dulindir. Teofil leaned in as well, his attention seemingly just as riveted.

There’s no heat, Dulindir stated. You need a true flame.

He reached into a small pouch he carried tied at his waist and produced a box from which he drew a wooden matchstick. He struck it on the side of the box and held the tiny flame to the leaves, and a moment later the kindling caught.

Thaddeus tossed the stones he’d been striking together aside. Nice trick. I could have done that.

Yet you did not, Dulindir said. He stood up and stared out over the tall grasses toward the darker outline of the mountain.

Smart aleck elf, Thaddeus muttered.

You might as well get used to it, Teofil said. Seems like he’s with us for the long haul.

The tone of Teofil’s voice conveyed perfectly his annoyance with Dulindir. Thaddeus figured it had a little to do with the elf’s personality, and a whole lot more to do with Teofil feeling protective of his older sister, who seemed to be quite taken with Dulindir. From what he’d seen, Dulindir felt the same about her.

Thaddeus looked off toward the black outline of the mountain and pulled his knees up to his chest, wrapping his arms around his shins. His butt felt numb from sitting on the ground, and his feet ached from the distance they’d walked. Add to those pains the ache in his shoulders from having dug down into the hard dirt to create a fire pit, and Thaddeus truly missed his comfortable bed back home. He looked forward to the time they would all stretch out around the fire to get a few hours’ sleep before striking out at first light for, hopefully, the last day’s walk to the base of Wraith Mountain.

The fire crackled, and tiny sparks and embers spiraled up toward the velvety purple sky that stretched overhead. More stars had appeared, and Thaddeus smiled. Teofil and Astrid had told him the story of Faux Flora, a fairy princess who had lived among the treetops. To fool the Plains Dwellers who wanted her to live with them instead, she built a replica of herself that was swept up into the night sky, where it now resided as a constellation Thaddeus knew as the Big Dipper. The story had been the nugget of the idea for the gliders that brought them all back to Miriam and his father from the abandoned village of Bower’s Grotto and the legendary Well of Tears, just in time to save his father’s life.

Something rustled in the grass out in the darkness.

Thaddeus got to his feet and Teofil stood alongside him.

Did you hear that? Thaddeus whispered.

I did, Teofil replied.

Where’s your father? Miriam asked.

A chill of fear went through him, leaving him as cold as if he’d once more swallowed water from the Wretched River. He was in motion before he realized it, sprinting out into the darkness that surrounded their small campfire. The grasses parted around him, the sounds of the tall blades like conspiratorial whispers. He stopped a short distance from their camp, not wanting to get too far from the light of the fire.

Dad? Thaddeus called. There was no answer, and so he tried again, a little louder, squinting into the dark.

Dulindir and Teofil had followed him, Dulindir’s hair glowing with starlight and illuminating the immediate area.

He was walking off in this direction the last I saw him, Dulindir said, pointing.

A shout that sounded like his father prompted Thaddeus to break into a run.

Dad! Thaddeus shouted. Where are you?

Thaddeus, wait! Teofil called, and Thaddeus could hear him coming up behind. But Thaddeus could not wait. His father had been gravely ill just days before, grazed by a troll’s poison dart, and Thaddeus worried he might not be strong enough to fight off another threat.

In his panicked rush to find his father, Thaddeus very nearly passed him by. A rustling off to his left brought him to a stop, and then Dulindir stood beside him, his hair illuminating the area and his short sword in hand. Nathan lay on his back, trying to pull a small animal off his chest.

Thaddeus realized it wasn’t an animal at all; at least not one with which he was familiar. The creature was small and dark in color, with short but powerful-looking limbs, each of which appeared to end in hands tipped with claws. Spikes ran from the crown of its slightly flattened head along its spine to a stubby tail.

Dad! Thaddeus exclaimed as his father struggled to keep the thing from biting his neck.

Stay back! his father shouted without looking at him.

Goblin, Dulindir said, looking over his shoulder as he waved his sword. They are rarely alone.

Frustration, fear, and anger seemed to collide within Thaddeus as he stood helplessly by, watching his father fight for his life. He clenched his fists and bit his lip as a warm tingle started within his chest. It traveled down his arms and pooled in the palms of his hands, stinging slightly as it instilled within him the need to act, to move, to do something, anything.

Thaddeus thrust out his arms, fingers curled into claws as he released a shout of rage. The heat in his palms seemed to leap from his hands, directed right at the goblin. With a jolt, the creature stopped struggling with Thaddeus’ father and peered over its scaly shoulder to fix Thaddeus with a hostile look. It felt to Thaddeus as if he now held the goblin in his hands, even though he stood at least a dozen feet away. And the goblin seemed to be feeling Thaddeus’ touch as well, because it pulled out of his father’s grasp and turned to face him, still standing on his father’s chest.

When the goblin moved, it seemed to move within Thaddeus’ grip. The feel of the creature was so disgusting, Thaddeus reacted without thinking. He cried out in disgust and flung his arms to the side as if throwing the thing far away from him. To his astonishment, the goblin was hurled off his father’s chest and sent spinning high into the air, an annoyed and surprised yelp fading away into the night.

The heat in Thaddeus’ palms cooled immediately, and he stood staring down at his hands. Dulindir, Teofil, and Thaddeus’ father all stared at him as well, and then his father broke the stunned silence by falling back flat on his back and laughing long and loud up at the night sky. After a moment, the rest of them followed suit, including Thaddeus. The laugh felt odd but refreshing to Thaddeus, and he reached down to help his father up.

He clapped a hand on Thaddeus’ shoulder and squeezed. Apparently, either you or someone you care about needs to be in danger for you to conjure magic.

Thaddeus grinned and shrugged. I guess so. Hopefully I can learn to do it without the danger.

We’ll work on that, his father promised him.

We should go back to the fire, Dulindir said. He had his back to them and held his sword up as he stood staring out at the grass, which was shifting quietly in the slight breeze. Light hurts their eyes, and goblins very rarely travel alone, especially this far from a mountain.

Thaddeus helped his father pick up the wood he had dropped when he was attacked, and they went back to the fire. Once they explained what happened, Miriam and Astrid were as concerned as Dulindir about the appearance of a goblin.

What do goblins do? Thaddeus asked.

They’re vermin, Dulindir said with a sneer. He added a few branches to the fire as he talked. Scavengers. They eat what other, darker creatures leave behind.

Thaddeus made a face and looked at his father. They’re like vultures?

In a way, his father said. They’ve been known to attack people if they’re hungry enough, or if they’re cornered and feel threatened.

Great. Thaddeus sighed as he pulled his knees in close to his chest and stared into the flames. There are an awful lot of magical creatures out here that want to kill us. Isn’t there something nice and happy and welcoming?

Fairies, Teofil offered.

If they’re not lying and trying to trick you, Astrid added.

Gnomes, Miriam said with a smile as she worked on her knitting.

Elves, Dulindir said. When Teofil snorted quietly, Dulindir added, Well, most elves.

Some elves? Teofil suggested.

Enough, boys.

How did it feel? Thaddeus’ father asked him. When you did magic. How did it feel to you?

Thaddeus grinned and placed a hand over his chest. "It started here with a warm feeling; then it traveled down my arms and into my hands. My palms itched, and I felt… I don’t know, restless? Like I just had to move my arms or else I would go crazy."

His father chuckled. You get used to that feeling, and you’ll learn to control it. It’s good that it started in your chest.

Why’s that? Thaddeus asked.

That means it comes from your heart, so it’s pure.

Pure?

Magic that stems from the heart, or from the desire to help, is a pure form of magic, Miriam explained, then looked at Thaddeus’ father. Sorry to jump in, Nathan, but it’s how Rudyard and I explained it to the children.

No worries, his father replied. That’s a good explanation.

Thaddeus looked between them. But it seems like I can only manage to use magic when I’m angry or frustrated or scared. Does that mean anything?

His father shook his head. As long as the desire is to help yourself or another, then it’s the purest form of magic.

I’m almost afraid to ask, but what’s the opposite of pure magic?

Dark magic, Dulindir said. That kind of magic comes from selfishness and greed. It is petty and jealous and spiteful.

Thaddeus stared into the crackling fire as he thought about what he’d just heard. Finally, keeping his eyes on the fire, he asked, But what if the person really, truly believes the spell he’s casting is for the best in that situation? What if they believe deep in their heart and soul that what they’re doing is for the good of everyone involved?

The silence that followed his question went on so long, Thaddeus finally looked up to find his father staring into the fire with tears in his eyes.

Dad?

Those people are the most lost, Miriam said, her voice so sad and quiet Thaddeus had trouble hearing the words over the sound of the fire. And the most dangerous.

Isadora, Thaddeus whispered.

His father wipe away his tears with the back of his hand. Her, yes, and others. Azzo Eberhard is one, her partner from the attack.

Logan, too? Thaddeus asked.

His power to transform into the Bearagon is dark magic, his father replied. He took a breath, cleared his throat, and then put an arm around Thaddeus, pulling him close against his side. But enough talk about pure and dark magic. What do you all say we get some sleep? We should reach the foot of the mountain tomorrow afternoon.

I’ve heard that before, Astrid muttered.

You shush, Miriam said, inspecting her knitting with a frown. I’ll take first watch. I seem to have knitted myself into a corner anyway, and I need to find my way out.

They settled in beneath blankets around the fire, Thaddeus feeling safe where he lay between his father and Teofil. A light touch on his hand made him turn his head to find Teofil smiling at him, his fingers warm where they curled around Thaddeus’.

Sleep well, Teofil whispered.

You too, Thaddeus whispered back.

His fingers intertwined with Teofil’s, Thaddeus looked up at the stars and, with an expansive yawn, fell asleep.

Chapter Two

They awoke the next morning to a thin layer of mist hanging just above the blades of grass. Thaddeus yawned and stretched, then sat up fast when he realized he had slept the entire night. No one had awakened him to take his watch. His father was building up the fire for breakfast, and Thaddeus asked why no one had woken him.

It wasn’t just you, his father replied. Miriam, Dulindir, and I took longer shifts. We felt you, Teofil, and Astrid all needed the rest. You three have been through a lot, and we wanted to make sure you were all well rested with us coming into a town today.

Thaddeus frowned. Why would that make a difference? A thought sent a shiver through him. Are you expecting us to be attacked? Like what happened at Leopold’s house?

His father shrugged one shoulder but avoided looking at him, focusing instead on placing sticks within the fire. That could happen. But we also don’t want to approach a small town with a bunch of dirty and exhausted kids. It’s going to be hard enough to pass for normal with the group we’ve got.

Thaddeus had to admit his father had a point. Teofil, Astrid and Miriam were shorter, but not so short as to attract too much attention. Dulindir, however, was even shorter than them, and his pointed ears could be hidden beneath his long blond hair, but his clothing and overall manner would attract attention.

Well, thanks for the extra sleep, Thaddeus said.

You’re welcome. How do you feel today?

He shrugged a shoulder. Okay, I guess. Tired, even though I slept through the night.

Performing magic is exhausting, no matter how much you learn to control it.

Did you ever perform magic while I was growing up? I mean, like, to help clean up the kitchen or fix something that was broken?

His father chuckled. No. I only used magic a few times during your childhood, and both of those times it was because we were in trouble.

Thaddeus raised his eyebrows. We were in trouble?

Pursued by sympathizers of Isadora who had revealed themselves.

Did you ever kill anyone? Thaddeus asked in a low voice.

His father looked around as if making sure the other members of their group were absorbed in their own conversations and not listening in. He leaned closer to Thaddeus, fixed him with a serious stare, and whispered, No.

His father’s smile and the gentle bump he delivered with his shoulder made Thaddeus smile as well. When his father went back to the fire, Thaddeus picked up a stone and tossed it back and forth between his hands. I know Isadora attacked the village, but she seemed to have singled out you and Mom. Why did she hate you two so much?

His father sat back from the fire and let out a breath. He looked up at the cloudy sky for a moment, then at Thaddeus. She didn’t agree with a lot of what we did. Which included our views about the village and the…. Well, the running of things within the village.

Thaddeus stared at him in silence a moment. That’s it?

Well….

She didn’t agree with what you thought should happen in the village?

No, not just that, but… it was complicated, you know?

Thaddeus shook his head slowly. No. I don’t know. But I want to.

Who wants breakfast? Miriam asked as she approached them carrying a small iron bowl.

Thaddeus held his father’s gaze a moment longer, then looked up and smiled at Miriam. What is it?

Mooshberry surprise, Miriam replied, holding up a spoonful of dark, thick goo.

The surprise is you don’t turn into a mooshberry after you eat it, Astrid grumbled as she sat up, rubbing her eyes.

Gratitude, dear one, Miriam said in a light and loving tone. We’re all tired of mooshberries, but they’ve kept us going through our journey so far.

Thaddeus had to agree with Astrid. He was tired of eating mooshberries—a kind of overgrown blueberry but with a sweeter taste—but he remained silent as he accepted his serving of mooshberry surprise and sat on the ground to eat between his father and a slowly waking Teofil. He thought about what his father had said, and a hard nugget of dissatisfaction formed low in his belly. Now was not the time to continue their conversation, but he would definitely be asking his father more about Isadora and her followers, including Logan Augustine, the boy who could shift into a combination of dragon, bear, and wolf known as the Bearagon.

We’ll be coming into a town today, Thaddeus’ father said, so we’ll all have to pay attention, not only for signs of trouble, but any indication we’re not blending in.

Astrid giggled and pointed her spoon at Dulindir. Guess you’ll have to wear a hat to cover your ears.

Dulindir moved as if he were going to flick mooshberry juice on her, and Astrid flinched away with a shout of protest.

Astrid, Miriam said without looking around at her. Mind your manners.

Yes, Mum, Astrid grumbled.

Was there any sign of the goblin that attacked you last night? Thaddeus wondered.

Not at all. You tossing it away like a football must have scared it off.

What’s football? Dulindir asked.

Thaddeus and his father tried to explain the concept of American football to the others, and before he realized it, Thaddeus had finished his mooshberry surprise. The others were done soon after, and they all got busy breaking camp. After smothering the fire with dirt, they shouldered their packs and struck out through the tall grass, Thaddeus’ father in the lead.

The sun had burned off the majority of the mist, but they still walked through a couple of patches. It settled on their skin and clothes with cool dampness, and the feel of it made Thaddeus long for a shower. They would need to rest one more night before starting up the mountain, and he wondered whether the town ahead might have a hotel. How would they pay for it? They couldn’t just sprawl out in someone’s backyard at night.

Will we be able to find a hotel, do you think? he wondered.

Don’t know, his father replied.

Do you have money?

Some.

Is it enough for a hotel room?

Don’t know.

Thaddeus sighed. I feel like we’re moving to another city all over again.

You were always very inquisitive during our moves, his father said, smiling at him over his shoulder. You like to know what’s going to happen before it does.

Thaddeus smiled and looked at the mountain looming ahead of them. That’s not necessarily a bad thing.

No, it’s not. It’s just not always possible.

I get it. I need to wait and find out along with the rest of the group.

We don’t know what we don’t know.

Yeah, yeah. Thaddeus