THE DRAGON LORDS OF ELEBOR - MIHIGO EMMANUEL (red seas under red skies txt) 📗

of the well towards Alexandria who made Frisbee like throwing motions that cast the water over the fire which only seemed to grow. He turned to Amber his voice strong and commanding while his eyes seemed to bore into her soul. “Can you do a rain spell?” he asked “Yes, but not without clouds.” She answered. “Get Nezza to telepathically tell Wizard and Albadeluz to simply keep the creatures together until I return, and when I do to slam them all into the one spitting them out. Then you and the girls should prepare to cast the biggest rain spell you ever have.” Amber nodded and ran out.

“Come with me.” He said to Ntende who followed wordlessly. They made their way to a large bookshelf. Mihigo pulled a book half way and the book shelf slid to the right revealing a tunnel. Mihigo motioned to Ntende to follow him. The tunnel led them out of a giant hollow tree. Mihigo scanned the area, then suddenly begun talking to himself. “You know what’s happening.” He said; ignoring Ntende who looked at him as though he had legs on his head. “I’ve read about you, I know you were once guardians of this forest. People think you’re a myth, but now more than ever they need you.” Ntende walked cautiously to his friend “Emma, you’re worrying me.” Before he could open his mouth to speak again the trees around them begun to shift as though waking up from a deep slumber “Why should we help?” said a voice. “Because this is your home and the people here have done nothing but respect it and treat it well, treat you well; But if you won’t do it for them do it for your selves, this forest is your home if it burns so will you.” Mihigo turned to leave when a root erupted in front of him blocking his path. “For centuries we have slept,” said another voice; this one deeper and more ancient than the last. “We have watched people come and go, seen the good and evil in man, watched as they forgot about us but kept our home safe, and have taken care of us and our children.” “We made a promise long ago,” the ancient voice said “If man shall ever need our help all he need do is ask, and we shall come to your aid; and so today hijodebosque we serve you.”

Mihigo turned to Ntende “Lead the youngest, strongest trees back to the village, when Wizard and Albadeluz slam the creatures into the original flame have some of the trees form a cocoon around it as tight as they can, then find a way to make them pour soil over the other fires to kill them before they spread further.” Ntende nodded and pointed at five trees “Follow me.” He said and tore off into the forest, the trees not far behind. Ntende could hear the crackling of the flames as he neared the village. When he arrived it was pure chaos; the flames had gotten past the barrier Albadeluz put up and were burning their way through the village. He turned to the trees and pointed to the three tallest ones “Two of you form catapults with your vines, as strong, wide and many as you can make. The other should form just as many shovels with its vines and fill your catapults, then you hurl them at the fires not the creatures; put out as many as you can.”

He signaled the last two to follow him as he made his way through the mayhem all around him. The trees deflected fire balls hurled at him as they neared the original flame which had grown enormous. Albadeluz and Wizard noticed the trees, their jaws dropped when they saw Ntende leading them. Do it now Ntende thought, as though they heard him Albadeluz and Wizard raised their hands and a humungous tornedo appeared sweeping up the creatures; with one final hurl they threw them at the source which boomed and cracked menacingly as it was bombarded by its own magic. It spit and cracked as it diminished into the size of a basketball. Ntende commanded the trees to form the cocoon around it immediately, and they did. Vines and roots burst from the ground around the flame and begun wrapping themselves around it, entwining and twisting to form a very tight ball; the flame inside struggled and roared trying to break free until it eventually died out. Ntende told the two trees to join the others in putting out the flames.

Cold winds rushed by, and a distant rumble could be heard along with an unfamiliar whooshing sound. Mihigo soon appeared standing atop one of the huge trees as they swung their leaves and branches to the rhythm of his hands and arms; above them heavy storm clouds gathered as Mihigo led the trees to the middle of the village where he climbed down to meet Ntende. “Great work.” He said pride evident in his voice. Alexandria, Nezza and Amber came out of the library gasping at the clouds. “Will these do?” Mihigo asked raising his voice over the loud whoosh of the building winds. Amber simply gaped at him. “This will take more than three.” Alexandria said as she gazed up at the clouds “How about five?” Wizard asked as he and Albadeluz joined them at the center of the storm Mihigo had brought. They raised their hands at once and yelled cloud burst! The clouds burst and down came the heaviest rain the forest has ever faced; the fire didn’t stand a chance, it fizzled out under the down pour.

CHAPTER NINE

People whooped and cheered at the great hall of the village; it was as its name described. As large as an arena the building stood out with its domed roof, and like all buildings in the village it was made entirely of thick twisting vines and leaves. Ntende sat at the high table next to Wizard and Albadeluz, set on a stage looking out at the people of the village; they were milling in through the three arched entrances. They made their way in to the hall filling up all empty seats and talking animatedly. Ntende thought back to the reason he was here. After the rain storm passed Mihigo had been taken to a healer to get some burns he had attained when he saved Ntende checked out. Later that day Amber came to find him and informed him of a celebratory dinner to be held in honor of the village’s new Hero’s. He asked to go find Mihigo but she told him Alexandria had gone to tell him about the dinner. “Besides you have to get the proper hero attire.” She had said with a wink before taking him by the hand and leading him away. As they walked she began enthusiastically telling him about how she’d already been to the tailor and knew the perfect materials and fabric that would complement his form and bring out his eyes. “Just wait, you’re going to look soo great…” she trailed off “What’s wrong?” she asked seeing the troubled look on his face. “You remind me of my sister. She always complained about my fashion sense, trying to get me to the mall and putting holes in my cloths so I had no choice.” “You must miss her.” “Yes, I do.” Amber felt sorry for him, she may have never known her family but at least she didn’t know what she was missing. ‘I have to make him feel better.’ She thought as they neared a small door set into a large tree. Her face lit up “We’re here.” She declared.

Amber knocked on the door and was answered by a short plump woman wearing a shabby brown dress, with some white spots Ntende assumed were its original color. This brought a smile to his face that quickly diminished as he wondered how she was going to make him look great as Amber had put it. “Amber darling come in, come in and bring your friend.” She stepped aside to let them in. The inside was entirely wooden, from the floor to the ceiling, everything besides her cloths were wooden. But as Ntende looked around he realized there were no widows; the only source of light coming in through the roof as shafts of sun light. But there was something else, Ntende looked up again and realized there was no roof, just the inside of a hollow tree; he glanced at the door and at the woman worriedly. A giggle escaped Amber’s lips. “Something funny dear?” the woman asked. She gave Ntende a winning smile and turned to the Plump woman. “Tuisenge, this is my friend, he goes by Blaze but that’s not his real name.” “It’s a pleasure to meet you Blaze.” said Tuisenge “He needs something to wear for the dinner tonight.” Amber said with a twinkling in her eyes; “Yes, something worthy of a hero.” Tuisenge looked Ntende up and down as she stroked her chin; then her eyes lit up “I see it.” She proclaimed. “Come with me, we have some work to do.”

She led him into a back room that was lit with glowing crystals set into the roof, and smelled of sweets. All around cloths and fabric hung off hangers and hooks. Tuisenge put him up on a stool in front of a mirror. She disappeared behind a heap of fabric and returned with a measure. Taking his measurements and choosing the fabric took twenty minutes, then came the day long wait for the surprise as Amber put it. He had tried to have them make a suit but as soon as Tuisenge heard his explanation she refused to make it, but said she understood the gist of it and would make something that fit in the occasion and made him comfortable. When she set out to begin the task Alexandria walked in “I thought I might find you here.” She gave Amber a meaningful look who simply smiled back innocently. “Hi Alex, is Lionel with you?” Ntende asked “That’s why I am here Albadeluz wants to see you both, Lionel is already with him.”

Once at the library Alexandria and Amber left to go get ready for the dinner. Mihigo pointed out the dinner was to be held after sun down but all he got for an answer was giggles, smiles and waves goodbye. “Thank you for meeting me, you must want to rest before tonight but I think this is important.” “Lionel found a spell to protect your given names the morning of the attack yesterday. I have looked into it and think you should cast it, but only if you intend to use your given names.” Mihigo and Ntende glanced at one another. A smile playing on Ntende’s lips “You really think we wouldn’t recognize a test.” “Only those with the gift of magic can cast.” Mihigo said getting up. “You have second sight.” Mihigo sat back down. “That means nothing.” He glared at Albadeluz “You want to go home, I understand.” Ntende opened his mouth to speak but decided against it. “This is my home” he gestured around “but I wasn’t always around.