The Search for the Red Dragon - James A. Owen [114]
“That’s what you call a checkmate,” said Charles.
“I’m not defenseless,” snarled Daedalus. “I still control Jason’s sons, and they’re more than a match for any of you.”
“No, you don’t,” said Stephen. “Perhaps you did, but you built them to follow my commands, not yours. And they’re not doing anything else you say.”
Daedalus trembled with anger but realized he was beaten. Carefully he began to back toward the Red Dragon.
“Will, Hugh,” called Stephen. “Stop him.”
The two brothers moved swiftly behind the inventor and picked up several of the stone blocks. Daedalus stopped. “What are you doing?” he cried. “Put those back!”
Stephen turned to his mother. “He was condemned to stay forever in the tower where he murdered his nephew,” the prince said calmly, “but he figured out a way around that.”
“That was the deal I struck with the King of Crickets,” said Daedalus. “If I helped him with his Crusade, he promised to have the prince of the archipelago free me from my imprisonment.”
“You were willing to sacrifice all these children merely to get out of a just punishment?” asked Charles. “What kind of monster are you?”
“I gave them wings!” said Daedalus. “I did more for these children than they deserved. And I deserved something in return. If some of them paid the price for that, it wasn’t my fault!”
Stephen walked over to the inventor and looked at him appraisingly.
“I release you from your bondage,” he said, and he reached out a hand…
…and pushed.
Daedalus screamed as he fell away from the stones and burst into flame. In seconds, there was nothing left of him but ash.
Aven looked horrified. Her son had changed in the years he’d been gone. He was no longer under the Piper’s control, but the experience had changed him nonetheless.
With Daedalus’s death, both Hugh and William finally seemed to come to themselves and, realizing they were no longer entirely human, began to weep.
The Piper’s shadow flitted back and forth above their heads, hissing.
“What do we do about him?” asked Charles.
“If you don’t mind,” a voice called from above, “I’d like a word with him myself.”
It was Peter. He and Jack were flying above in the Indigo Dragon.
“Now,” Peter said to the shadow, “let’s finish this, shall we?”
The shadow vibrated with hate as the airship landed and Peter climbed out. “You’re an old man now,” it growled. “What harm can you do to me?”
“Why don’t you come down here and we’ll find out?” said Peter. But the shadow stayed where it was, hovering just out of reach.
Aven looked both nervous and relieved to see Peter, who caught her eye and winked.
“We thought it was Orpheus,” John explained, “but it only laughed at us.”
“Of course it isn’t Orpheus,” said Peter. “This Longbeard killed Orpheus and left his head in the cave to taunt me.
“No, this fellow and I have a long history as enemies,” Peter continued, circling the shadow warily. “He may be only a shadow now, but I’d know him anywhere.
“Oh, we’ve had great battles, he and I. We are old adversaries. He’s the original specter of the Archipelago. He’s the Sinner King. He’s the Hook. But of all his names, you may know him best…
“…as Mordred.”
“Mordred!” John exclaimed.
The shadow circled them. It seemed to know it had been named—and in the naming, it had lost most of its power over them.
“You have nothing that can harm me,” Mordred said to Peter. “I cannot be defeated!”
“I have what you lack,” said Peter. “I still have my body.”
The shadow growled and suddenly lunged at the old man. But Peter was prepared for the attack and reached into his tunic. He flung a handful of glittering dust at the apparition, and with a scream that rent the air, the shadow spread out, then vanished, leaving only the ringing echo of its cry.
“Is it gone?” said Jack. “Did you kill him, Peter?”
“I doubt it,” Peter replied. “That was powdered silver—fairy dust. It’s enough to dissipate him, for a time. But I don’t think it can destroy him. After all,” he added, winking at Jack, “a shadow is a pretty sturdy thing, if you treat it right. But is is still just