DaveKuzminski

Raythe felt a hand brush against him momentarily. He opened his eyes, now hideous gems, from his years of slumber with unexpectedly renewed hopes of regaining some freedom as he observed a cloak drop back out of the way over the shoulder of a stranger. Could this stealthy young warrior slipping past Raythe's prison be his true salvation at last? Raythe felt in that brief moment a sense of purpose, just and true, within the warrior's mind. Now he excitedly waited in anticipation to be drawn when, instead, the warrior boldly advanced against Raythe's possessor.

Come back. Draw me from this crystal prison. I will fight for you.

However, with the contact already broken, Raythe's thoughts couldn't get through to the warrior. For the moment, Raythe could only watch as the warrior drew his weapon and faced off against Faedon the Cruel in the dimly lit room of the black tower.

Faedon's grandfather had imprisoned Raythe with a spell that converted Raythe from flesh and blood to a weapon ever since known as the Dragon's Breath. Raythe could still breathe fire, but only when wielded by one with both courage and a just cause. Because Raythe was no more useful than an ordinary forged sword to Faedon for that reason, he'd been imprisoned in a huge slag of crystal that also served as a display sheath.

Since being locked away, few believed Raythe truly existed. Even fewer had seen him and lived long enough to tell others. Still, from time to time, some of Faedon's minions had dared oppose Faedon in hopes of taking his place after hearing Faedon boast of Raythe's powers. They had hoped to use Raythe, but could not activate his mystical force as a result of their own lack of virtue. The few who tried had died before Raythe was slipped back into the crystal slag each time to sleep some more.

Yes, parry, slash, and parry once more. You do well, young warrior. You are already his match in skill with a blade. With me, you will do better. Watch out for Faedon's tricks!

Long had Raythe wished to fly the open skies once more on great wings. However, he knew he was condemned to remain in his prison until some stalwart soul liberated him. Even so, Raythe knew that his eventual freedom would be limited once that happened as someday it must for evil could not always prevail. Once more Raythe felt the warrior come into contact with him.

Draw me, brave one. Let me fight with you.

"Who calls to me?"

Duck, Kalish! Be wary of Faedon's spells!

The contact broke between them once more as the agile youth just barely dodged another of Faedon's blows. Still, it was long enough for Raythe to read the youth's name from his thoughts without disturbing his concentration against Faedon the Cruel. Raythe could only watch and pray that Kalish would win the day. It was clear already from their brief moments of contact that Kalish possessed both the courage and just cause to fully liberate Raythe from the crystal.

Faedon scowled. He sensed something was wrong. "Death calls to you, young fool."

"I prefer death over slavery if freedom is not to be cherished," Kalish said.

"Come closer and I'll accommodate you."

Dodge to the left. Avoid Faedon's trap.

Kalish spotted the ivory bone chip lodged between two gray stones of the ancient floor. Deliberately avoiding that spot without knowing for certain just why, Kalish leaped to his left. Just in time, Kalish avoided the massive stone that Faedon cast loose from above with a surreptitious spell motion from his free hand.

Faedon scowled once more as he realized he'd have to replace the stone later without having received any benefit from a trap that had served him well several times before. Quickly, he spell motioned with his free hand to engage another trap.

Leap back over the stone Faedon cast down at you.

Just as the point of the hidden spear emerged from the wall when Faedon summoned it, Kalish suddenly changed direction and ducked back to his right. As he did, his body came into contact with Raythe once more for a brief moment.

Throw your sword at Faedon, wheel about, and draw me. Together, we can defeat him.

"Who's talking to me?" Kalish asked as he leaped back out at Faedon.

Then Faedon's sword broke as the two men clashed once more with mighty blows, but the warrior could not take advantage before Faedon drew a dagger. Faedon stood his ground with his dagger in his right hand and forcefully thrust his left arm outward with the fingers of his left hand spread. Jagged lightning leaped out at the warrior.

Kalish staggered backward to avoid the lightning without success. Shocked by the bolts, he dropped his weapon. Quickly, he tried to reach down to retrieve it only to withdraw his hand as more bolts of lightning struck the fallen weapon.

"Now you shall die," Faedon said as he advanced slowly as if savoring his victory.

Draw me before it's too late.

Kalish tried to retreat more only to feel his back firmly against the crystal slag. He felt behind him for an edge so he'd know which way to move to place the huge block of crystal between him and the death that Faedon carried closer.

Reach up some more and grasp my hilt. I will arm you with the power of fiery death. The Dragon's Breath can defeat Faedon.

Faedon leaned back slightly and raised his dagger for the fatal thrust when Kalish suddenly felt the scale-encrusted hilt of a sword inside his open palm. In desperate need of a weapon, any weapon, Kalish grasped the hilt. Instantly, the crystal slag shattered permitting him to easily draw forth The Dragon's Breath.

"I am the sword of justice. I am the sword of freedom. I am the sword of truth. Tyranny shall now pay!" Raythe proclaimed loudly for both men to hear as he broke free from the crystalline prison and swung in a deadly arc in the hand of the now mighty warrior who had liberated him.

Startled, Faedon still attempted to block the blow. However, his dagger and magic were too puny against the greater force that had finally been unleashed from its years of slumbering. The Dragon's Breath melted through the dagger without stopping and crossed imperviously through the lightning bolts to slash into Faedon the Cruel with terrible exacting vengeance.

Faedon's face bore a mute look of shock as his head fell from his shoulders. Horrible spells spilled from his open body as it slumped to the stone floor. Quickly, the spells fled for shelter elsewhere before the Dragon's Breath could deal with any of them.

Then all was quiet. Raythe shone brilliantly as sunlight long since banished from the tower holding him finally felt its way through the baffles and lit up the grisly interior of Faedon's evil sanctuary.

"For freeing me, I will serve you in freeing your people," Raythe said.

Kalish stared in awe as he suddenly realized the sword he held was speaking to him. "You were the one speaking to me?"

"I was. I am Raythe, once a dragon, now the sword in your hand known as the Dragon's Breath."

"Then you're not a legend?"

"Not anymore, now that you've defeated Faedon the Cruel. Together, we shall liberate your people. Let us go now. I miss the great outdoors and long to see it again even though I shall never fly or walk again."

And so it was that Raythe gained a limited freedom. Together, they eventually inspired Kalish's people to rise up and break free from their remaining oppressors.

butchiesmom

I love your work but it's late and I need to sleep, I plan to check this and the last one you posted, tomorrow.

hugs,
Gail

DaveKuzminski

Thank you. This story came about when a quirky idea came to me about trying to show the story from the viewpoint of something that ordinarily wouldn't have one. As well, I wanted to see what I could do with a pure fantasy story and this is one of several that came about in finding out. I'm pleased that it seems to hold up since I've read very little in the fantasy genre.

butchiesmom

I really enjoyed this story! Dragon turned into a sword, encased in crystal, waiting for a just and true person to free him! I've read quite a few dragon stories in my time but don't think I've come across this twist before!

I could see everything going on, all the action! The traps Faedon released, Kalish backing into the crystal, drawing the sword and killing Faedon! I love reading your stories for that reason.

I've made a few suggestions to tighten up the story a bit. I hope you don't mind.

He opened his eyes, now hideous gems, from his years of slumber with renewed hope of regaining freedom as he observed a cloak drop back over the shoulder of a stranger.

Could this stealthy young warrior, slipping past Raythe's prison, be his salvation at last?

Raythe felt in that brief moment a sense of just and true purpose, within the warrior's mind.

He excitedly waited in anticipation to be drawn, when, the warrior boldly advanced against Raythe's possessor instead.

Faedon's grandfather had imprisoned Raythe with a spell that converted Raythe from flesh and blood to a weapon known, ever since, as the Dragon's Breath. He could still breathe fire, but only when wielded by one with both courage and a just cause.

Still, from time to time, after hearing Faedon boast of Raythe's powers, some of Faedon's minions had dared oppose Faedon in hopes of taking his place.

The few who tried, died before Raythe was slipped back into the crystal slag each time to sleep again.

Even so, Raythe knew that his eventual freedom would be limited once that happened, as someday it must, for evil could not always prevail.

Once more, Raythe felt the warrior come into contact with him.

The contact broke between them once more as the agile youth barely dodged another of Faedon's blows.

It was already clear, from their brief moments of contact, that Kalish possessed both the courage and just cause to fully liberate Raythe from the crystal.

Deliberately avoiding that spot without knowing why, he leaped to his left.

Just in time, Kalish avoided the massive stone Faedon cast loose from above with a surreptitious spell motion from his free hand.

Faedon scowled once more as he realized he'd have to replace the stone later without having received any benefit from a trap that had served him well several times before. (I'm not sure but I've read this sentence several times and feel it might be clearer if rewritten.)

Kalish changed direction and ducked back to his right, just as the point of a hidden spear, summoned by Faedon, emerged from the wall.

Faedon's sword broke as the two men clashed once more with mighty blows, but the warrior could not take advantage before Faedon drew a dagger.

Faedon stood his ground with his dagger in his right hand and forcefully thrust his left arm outward, the fingers of his left hand spread.

However, his dagger and magic were too puny against the greater force which had finally been unleashed from its years of slumbering.

The Dragon's Breath sliced through the dagger without stopping and crossed imperviously through the lightning bolts to slash into Faedon the Cruel with exacting vengeance.

Faedon's face bore a look of shock as his head fell from his shoulders.

Quickly, the spells fled for shelter before the Dragon's Breath could deal with any of them.

Raythe shone brilliantly, as sunlight long since banished from the tower holding him, finally felt its way through the baffles and lit up the grisly interior of Faedon's evil sanctuary.

"Not any more, now that you've defeated Faedon the Cruel.

hugs,
Gail