The Dragon's cave

Finally we reached Irrat. There we spent a few days in the Sacred Mountains, waiting for the right moment. 

I stubbornly referred to my companion as Victoria, watched my actions and restrained my emotions, remembering to repeat like a mantra: "This is Alex's wife, Gemma is not here." It didn't help much, but at least I stopped acting like an idiot.

To tell the truth, I'd lost the habit of camping during my years in the Looking Glass, but there was no way around it. Victoria didn't seem to mind the lack of amenities at all. 

We settled down for the night, choosing a rather cozy hollow in the rock away from the path. We were sheltered from the wind by a steep wall on one side and a huge, brown, mossy boulder on the other. Victoria lit a magical fire that crackled merrily on the bare rocks, warming us as well as a natural fire, and immediately began cooking with the same magic.

I looked at her, deep in thought. The fact was  that I had gotten lost. Funny, I always thought I had an absolute sense of direction and a photographic memory. Still, I find the way to the pass where I had met the dragon, either because I had forgotten it after all those years in the Looking Glass World, or, more likely, because the local mountains were truly an enchanted place, unwilling to open up to uninvited guests. Hard as it was, I had to admit my own powerlessness, first to myself and then to my companion.

"Just relax," Victoria chuckled, "this is not a problem at all. We'll find another way. In the morning." 

So we ate and went to bed. I thought it would be a sleepless night with her so close to me, but I fell asleep immediately. I suspected it was magic, but I didn't tell the beautiful witch about my suspicions.

The next morning, Victoria began to work her magic. She drew a circle on the ground with Helyswort, even though I offered to take the Heart of Night; then she stepped into its center, called me there, sealed the circle, and turned to me.

"Take the sword," she commanded, handing me Helyswort, "hold it with both hands and think of where you and Alex are right now."

 I imagined the steep slope of the infernal mountain; the alluring peak, no longer distant; myself, sprawled on the stone; Alex's boot, with little crumbs falling from under it.

Victoria put her hands on mine, looking into my eyes.

I felt dizzy, and at the same moment I found myself there, on the rock, exhausted, working my ass off to pull myself up just a little more, to make one more titanic effort. Sweat pooled in my eyes, gravel hit my face, my fingers were bloody... What the hell was I doing there?

And then I was back in the center of the magic circle: sword in my hand, Victoria beside me.

"It's clear," she smiled. "Now we're going to fly."

"What?"

"Get your things!"

I obediently slung my backpack over my shoulder and slid Helyswort into its sheath.

"Stand behind me and put your arms around my waist," she continued.

So I did.  The gust of wind pushed us forward, spinning us in a whirlwind, and we took off. It was cooler than hang gliding! The wind whistled in our ears; trees, clearings, lakes and mountain creeks whizzed by. It was a pity that it was all over so quickly. We descended and found ourselves on a windblown cliff.

"Is it the right place?" Victoria asked.

"It seems so," I replied doubtfully, looking at the bare rocks around me.

"Hide under the Veil and look down," she offered.

So I did, looking with some surprise at the two figures clinging to the sheer rock.

"You're a real master," I said to Victoria after crawling away from the edge and removing the Veil of Wind. 

"No big deal," she smiled cunningly, "let's go look for a dragon."

It took us another two hours because there were sharp and dangerous rocks all around. Finally, the dragon came out of his lair just as we were standing on the cliff above the passage. 

Vic almost fell down when the huge dragon's head appeared right below us. We pressed against the rock, hoping the dragon wouldn't look back.

The dragon, however, did not. It stomped in place, turned its head from side to side, and moved forward. When even the tip of the monster's spiked tail was hidden behind the rocks, we rolled down the ledge to the cave entrance.

"It's so scary," Victoria exhaled.

"Don't say that, it's cute," I countered. "Its Hallydarian relatives are far worse. Well, we have about an hour, so hurry up. I hope there are no traps in there."

"No traps, I’ve already checked," she replied.

The dragon's lair was a really nasty place. First of all, it stank. Second, the floor was covered with a thick layer of bones that crunched underfoot. It was dark again, as dark as the eye could see.

"Vic, how about some light?" I asked.

"Turn on your magic vision," she advised.

"How?" I didn't understand.

"Just wish for it. Well, hold on to your blade, it'll help if you're not used to it."

I placed my hand on Helyswort and wished. The sapphires in the hilt flickered in the darkness and I got the vision. It was not like in the Shadow, more like an image in a night vision device.

"Wow! It works!"

"I didn't doubt it," Victoria chuckled.

"But I did."

" Helyswort is a magic sword," she explained, "it shares its power with you, so you can even do magic if you want. You'll have to learn to do something worthwhile, but in the meantime you'll be fine with little things."

"What kind of little things?" I asked.

"Keep trying," she shrugged.

We walked along the winding path. There were no more bones beneath our feet, and the air grew cleaner. But there was no treasure either.

"Listen, Vic, can I ask you a question?"

"What question?"

"You're a damn powerful sorceress."

"It's not a question," she objected.

"I haven't finished yet. You couldn't do that before, could you?"

"I could," she chuckled. "It just wasn't necessary."

At that moment, my foot lost its grip and I flew into some kind of well. It was deep, maybe three meters. It was a painful fall, but I didn't break any bones.

"Arthur, are you okay?" Victoria called from above.

"I'm fine. But where am I?" I mumbled and looked around.

It was indeed a well, a round hole about a meter and a half in diameter. And there was nothing but me and...

"Vic! This is it," I yelled, rushing towards something dark and covered with stones.

I threw them away to find a carved chest with a heavy lock. I took the ring on its lid and lifted it. It seemed strangely light.

"Hey, Princess. Do you have any idea how I can get out of here?" I shouted.

The ladder fell to my feet. It might have been called a rope ladder, but it was made of power lines. Then again, after the Rainbow Bridge, what was an immaterial staircase to me? So I flew up with the agility of a monkey, as an unintended confirmation of Darwin's theory.

"What do we have here, Archie?" Vic hurried me along.

"Let’s see," I smiled.

The lock had no secrets and opened when I picked it with a hairpin. It was not even interesting! I wanted to look inside, but the sorceress pushed me away to check the chest for magical traps. 

"It's too easy for a real treasure," I admitted and lifted the lid.

The magical vision was helpful enough, but Victoria, burning with curiosity, also conjured up a glowing orb.

The chest was empty. 

Victoria sighed in disappointment.

"I hadn't hoped it would be this easy," I said and threw the chest back into the hole.

The rumble was deafening. Victoria jumped and covered her ears with her hands.

"Damn it, Archie. We've woken everyone in the neighborhood."

"Then it's time to go," I said, grabbing her hand and running towards the exit.

To tell the truth, I completely forgot to check the time when I was in the cave, and now I was afraid that we wouldn't be able to leave before the dragon came back.

We almost made it. As I looked out from under the overhanging ledge, the dragon had just emerged from behind a cliff, but was still far enough away.

Then I made a mistake. I should have thrown on the Veil and tried to slip past the dragon unnoticed. But considering the clumsiness of dragons, I decided to run. After pointing my companion in the direction of the nearest shelter, I ran after her, covering her from behind.

The dragon didn't try to follow us, though. It simply spat out a jet of flame, much longer than the one it had shown Alex and me earlier. If I had hesitated for a second, the story probably wouldn't have continued. At least for me.  I only got a little hair burned - not fatal, it would grow back.

Then we sat huddled behind the cold rocks and listened to the heavy footsteps of the approaching dragon. To tell the truth, it was frightening. There was not even room to take the three steps necessary to get into the Lace.

I gripped the hilt of my Helyswort, ready to rise and face death as a man should. At least I would buy the time for my lady to leave unhindered. Just now... A farewell kiss and a word of love. Just to find the right words.

Luckily, Victoria was smarter than me. She grabbed my hand and didn't let me make a fatal mistake. I tried to pull away, but she hissed irritably in my ear, "We have the Veil of Wind, Arthur. We can both hide under it."

The Veil!" I slapped my forehead in relief. "What an idiot I am. I completely forgot!"

So I owed my rescue from another dragon I met along the way to the beautiful ladies, namely: Sahara with her gift and Victoria with her vit.

We ran unhindered right in front of the raging monster’s nose and disappeared into the Lace.

There was one more guess to check.