The Shadow Dragons - James A. Owen [116]
“Burton’s right,” John said, looking at Artus with admiration. “I think it might work, Artus.”
“What might, John?” asked Jack.
“The Horn of Bran Galed will summon the Dragon shadows— and draw them all away from the Summer Country,” said John. “It might make our job harder here, but at least for the moment, it would spare the rest of the world.”
The Caretakers looked at one another, then nodded their agreement, and the King of the Silver Throne walked outside, put the horn to his lips, and blew.
The note was clear and pure, and took long moments to fade.
“What happens now?” asked Jack.
“We wait,” said Artus. “The last time, I—”
Suddenly, without warning, the skies went dark all around the Nameless Isles.
Swirling up like an impenetrable fog, the darkness rose on all sides, leaving only a small circlet of open sky above the ring of islands.
“Is it an eclipse?” Nemo asked.
“I wish it were,” said Jack through clenched jaws. “Do you see what I’m seeing, Charys?”
The centaur nodded grimly. “I fear there is no way to strategize, no way to rally for opposition like this,” he said, wheeling about. “All we can hope for is a quick, noble death.”
“What is it?” Nemo asked as Charys trotted away to organize the captains of the Dragonships. “What are you both so afraid of?”
“That’s not just darkness,” Jack said. “It’s shadow. And it’s not just any shadow. It’s the shadows of the Dragons”
“What can we do?”
“We fight as long as we can,” Jack said, “and pray for a miracle.”
“Why hasn’t the darkness covered the sky completely?” John said. “Why haven’t the Shadows simply fallen down and overwhelmed us?”
“It’s why I built Tamerlane House here,” said Poe. “This grouping of islands is among the oldest lands on the Earth, or hadn’t you noticed? They form a giant Ring of Power. The original rings were built by the giants—but they modeled them after this place. The shadows cannot come in, but neither can we leave.”
“And in the meantime, the armies of the Shadow King will sweep through and devastate us,” said Charles. “Wonderful.”
“We have our own armies,” said John, “and I have faith in them. We just need to hold out until Rose can return with the sword.”
Burton laughed. “Do you really believe that that’s going to help?”
“You’ve chosen your side, Richard, whether or not we’ve accepted you back,” said Twain. “Our fate is now yours—so if you have something useful to contribute, now’s the time.”
“I’ll tell you what I can,” said Burton, “although it may be too late. He is bringing an army you cannot fight.”
“Cannot defeat?” said Charles.
“No,” said Burton. “Cannot fight”
“Shadow-Born?”
“No. He took the cauldron only so that it could not be used against him,” said Burton. “The Spear of Destiny is more compelling, and easier to use. All he need do is speak one’s True Name, and bind them, then he can take the shadows with the spear. Using the doors of the keep, we could catch the Dragons unawares, and with the shadows of the Dragons, he has no need of anyone else’s.”
“But if the Dragon shadows cannot cross into the Nameless Isles,” said John, “then it’s a stalemate.”
“Aren’t you listening?” Burton exclaimed, pounding his fist on the table. “Stupid little Caretaker. Years ago I warned you, and still your vision is too small.
“Once you have been defeated, his conquest of the Archipelago will be complete, and the shadows of the Dragons will sweep across the Frontier and back into the Summer Country. But he won’t need them to defeat you, because he has an army you cannot fight.”
“The only enemy a man cannot defeat by combat is himself,” said Shakespeare.
“Finally the idiot savant speaks wise,” said Burton.
“What are you talking about?” said John.
“This,” Burton said, rising to his feet. He strode to a curtain and threw open the shutters. “Look and see for yourselves. Your enemies have arrived.”
The Caretakers crowded around the windows and looked in the direction Burton was pointing.
A Time Storm was forming out over the water. The clouds roiled about, flashing with lighting, as seven shapes emerged