Doomraga's Revenge by T. A. Barron

Author:T. A. Barron
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2009-01-01T06:00:00+00:00

16: SHADOWS

What we see is useful, provocative, or inspiring. But what we don’t see is essential.

True to his promise, the regal Bendegeit, having satisfied himself that Marnya hadn’t suffered any broken bones, agreed to help Basilgarrad. He spun around on the glittering waves, splashing water in all directions, and started to lead his beaming daughter and their now-honored guest back to his hidden cavern. There, where his magic was strongest, he would grant the boon.

As they neared the mouth of the cave, the three unconscious guardian dragons, sprawled on the rocks, began to stir. Just as Basilgarrad sailed by, the dragon with the scarred snout awoke fully—and gaped. Seeing the dastardly intruder who had bested him was upsetting enough, but to see that intruder swimming contentedly alongside the highlord and his daughter was more than the guardian could bear. He roared wrathfully at Basilgarrad and lunged at his foe, spraying blue icicles on the rocks.

Alas, he failed to notice that his tail had been tied into a knot with the tails of his companions—a small precaution that Basilgarrad had taken before leaving them. As a result, the lunging water dragon suddenly came to a halt and hurtled backward. He smashed, with more angry roars, right on top of his companions. All three guardians fell to kicking and biting each other, only tangling themselves more.

“Ahoy there, Scarface!” called Basilgarrad as he sailed past. “Have a nice nap?”

No answer came but for a chorus of growls, roars, and bashing heads.

Moments later, the highlord and his daughter plus Basilgarrad reached the luminous cavern. Torches, holding the phosphorescent light of the sea, projected the three dragons’ shadows against the walls. The green, blue, and purple paua shells glowed even more radiantly than Basilgarrad remembered. He shook himself with anticipation, knowing he would soon learn the answer to his—and Avalon’s—biggest question.

Glancing up at the high ceiling with its colorful mosaics made of sea stars, he said to the highlord, “Something tells me that a new mosaic might be added sometime soon.”

“And what prrrrrompts you to say that?”

“Just a guess,” said the green dragon mirthfully. “A historical scene would be nice—say, the first water dragon ever to fly.”

Bendegeit’s eyes gleamed with amusement. “Perrrrrhaps you arrrrre rrrrright.”

Marnya chortled gleefully. She turned her azure gaze on Basilgarrad, watching him with gratitude.

Floating in the center of the cavern, the highlord of the water dragons cleared his throat, a deep rumbling that echoed around the walls. His expression now serious, he faced Basilgarrad and commanded, “State the question you wish me to answerrrrr.”

The green dragon’s eyebrows lifted. “What—or who—is behind Avalon’s troubles? The fighting, the fraying peace, the spreading blight. Who is causing this?”

Bendegeit inhaled a deep breath, as if he were breathing in the very question. Then, with a powerful slap of his flipper, he struck the water’s surface, sending a great fountain of spray into the air. Countless droplets, sparkling in the torches’ light, rose toward the ceiling, slowed their ascent, then hovered for an instant before raining downward.

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