CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR:

  THE WAITING ROOM

  Sitting on the floor with her back against the wall now for hours, Deelah looked at Garrick and Cerelene’s daggers, now at her sides. Then she closed her eyes, but unlike her sister who was praying, Deelah was trying to imagine that she was somewhere else.

  When the thief heard the familiar footsteps of Elias coming toward her, she opened her eyes quickly and tried to mask her fear as best as she could.

  “Deelah. What is wrong?” asked the Knight of Providence, sitting down next to her, knowing full well that she was worried. After Deelah leaned her head comfortably against his shoulder, Elias continued, his voice calm and uplifting. “You saved Anya from a wyvern. I watched what you did to a giant that was almost three times your size...”

  “Yes, but this is a sovereign dragon!” exclaimed Deelah, more in worry than anger. “Firebaugh is immense. His breath is fire. One flap of his wings blow trees to the ground.” When Elias ran his hand over her short, blond curls, Deelah’s voice quieted. “Who knows what else the ancient dragon can do.”

  “As long as you stay with me, I will protect you,” replied Elias. “After that, you must trust in Elion. He has brought us all together here for a reason.” After the knight was silent for a moment, he grabbed Deelah’s hand. “You are as skilled as you are captivating. You will carry the Holy Ring of the dwarves out of The Cloud Shroud Mountain. I have no doubts.” Then once Elias stood and walked away from Deelah, Anya sat down next to her.

  After Deelah watched the knight walk over to his shield, she looked straight ahead, out into the tunnel.

  “I have never met anyone like him, sister. I admire him,” confessed Deelah. “I know that you have been the lead cleric of Valtross for years. I know that you have told me the very same things he has over the years, but...”

  “But he is handsome,” replied Anya with a smile, grabbing her sisters hand lovingly.

  “... and he lives it. He has never judged me,” continued Deelah. “His belief in Elion, in his goodness. Elias makes me believe that I am more than I think I am.” Then Deelah looked over at Anya. “...and more than I think I can be.”

  “And he is handsome,” repeated the cleric, squeezing the thief’s hand.

  “Yes, sister, he is handsome,” sighed Deelah, looking up with a smile. “Have my feelings been that obvious?”

  “Deelah, be careful,” began Anya, her face serious. “I will not say to stay away from him. There is no better man that mother and father...that I would choose for you, but remember, he is a Knight of Providence. His first allegiance is to Elion and above all else.”

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  When Deelah nodded silently, Anya stood, retreated to a corner of the room, closed her eyes and began to pray again.

  Seeing Anya readying herself for the battle that loomed ahead, Garrick began to check his weapons. The time had come. There was no denying it. After patting Onyx on his side and smiling at Tal, who was sleeping on the mystic wolf's head, the mercenary walked over to Maldrin, as the wizard studied his spell book.

  “Are you ready, my old friend?” asked Garrick quietly, as the old wizard whispered words that only he could hear. After a few seconds Maldrin’s lips ceased to move and he looked up.

  “I have been studying this spell since we left my cottage, my boy,” replied the wizard, gripping his staff tightly. “I am ready.”

  Leaving the old wizard to his preparations, Garrick moved to Cerelene. The elf maiden had called Azure to her and was now checking her bow one last time. Like Garrick, Cerelene had nothing but dragonbiter arrows in her quiver.

  “Well, my royal elf maiden. How do you feel?” asked Garrick with a sarcastic grin.

  “You have not called me that for a long time, Garrick,” smiled the elf maiden in return. Then she pulled her red, braided hair behind her back and patted the chain mail on Garrick’s chest. “Tell me, mercenary. Are you ready?”

  Leaving Cerelene, Garrick went to Ondibar. The dwarf still had his battle axe on his back, but he was looking down the tunnel toward where Firebaugh was. The dwarf’s face was an expression of anticipation.

  “The holy symbol of your people lies within that room, Ondibar. Is it time to take it?” whispered Garrick aloud.

  The mercenary watched as the dwarf pulled his mighty battle axe from his back and pointed it at the treasure room.

  “The Holy Ring will soon be worn again by a dwarf,” declared Ondibar. Then he looked up at Garrick. “And my axe will draw blood from the one who has kept it from us for far too long.”

  When Elias stepped next to Ondibar, Garrick put his hand on the knight’s shoulder. “We have come a long way, Knight of Providence.” Then the mercenary looked at the large shield that The Sacred Blacksmiths had made for Elias to carry. The shield that was made for this moment. The shield that would protect them all as they escaped.

  “It is time,” proclaimed Garrick.

  Elias slid the mechanism that was located near the shield’s handle. In an instant, metal pieces moved out from within the shield. Then after sliding the mechanism back, the knight looked the mercenary in the eyes.

  “Garrick, you led us to the mountain,” spoke Elias. Then he looked at the dwarf. “Ondibar guided us to Cloud Veil.” Finally, the knight looked down at the shield. “I will protect us as we leave.”

  Garrick heard footsteps behind him. When he turned, Deelah walked past him and stood next to Elias with her daggers in her hands.

  “Well, thief. You have proven yourself already,” declared Garrick, pulling a dragonbiter arrow from his quiver. “Are you ready to aim higher?”

  Deelah looked around at all of her companions, starting and ending with Elias. After her gaze left the knight, she looked up at the mercenary. “Not only am I ready, Garrick...” She placed a dagger behind her belt, then opened her hand and continued, “in a few moments these fingers will clutch another Holy Stone of Elion.”

  When Garrick turned around to call Onyx to him, he saw Anya still silently sitting in the corner. As he walked over to her she opened her eyes. Garrick stopped. Did Anya’s eyes glow for a moment? After Garrick blinked a few times he finally went and stood in front of Anya.

  “Cleric of Valtross. How do you feel?” inquired the mercenary, giving Anya his hand. When Anya stood up, the cleric fixed her white robe and grabbed her staff firmly.

  “My faith has eclipsed my fear,” said Anya quietly. I will use every power I have as a cleric. I will hold nothing back.” Then after she pulled her hood up onto her head, she announced.

  “I am not afraid anymore.”