Richard Knaak - The Legend of Huma

“Hu—Huma.” Several of his teeth were missing. “I was right—in the end.”

Dracos smiled indulgently. “He babbles like that occasionally.”

With great effort, Magius turned around and spat on the garments of the renegade. Galan Dracos became furious and stretched an open palm toward his captive. Magius screamed as his body rippled from the renegade’s torture.

Gwyneth moved forward. “Test your spells against me, Galan Dracos.”

The phantasm smiled nastily. “I have more power than you could believe, but I do not choose to use it now. I have merely come to show Huma the foolishness of his dreams of victory.”

Huma rolled forward, desperately trying to reach his tortured friend.

Magius shook his battered head. “Don’t, Huma. There’s no reason anymore. Defeat Dracos. That’s all I ask.”

Dracos raised both hands toward Magius. “Your time is up, my friend.”

With a gesture, the renegade sent shafts of green light at his captive. The shafts seemed to pass through Magius, and he screamed as if each were a steel lance. He wavered just a moment, then toppled forward to lie in a heap, very real, at Huma’s feet. His death was no illusion. Huma shouted and struggled to move. The others stepped forward, but Dracos was already fading out of existence.

“The price of defiance, Knight of Solamnia. The price you all will be paying before long unless you embrace my mistress.”

“No, renegade,” the knight said, raising himself high. “If anyone pays a price, it will be you.”

He could not tell if Dracos heard him, for the last was said to empty air.

Bennett and Kaz stumbled forward. The minotaur was the first to speak. “Huma! Are you all right?”

Without answering, Huma looked intensely at the crumpled form of Magius.

“If you seek vengeance, Huma, I will gladly stand at your side.” Kaz had never cared for the magic-user, but he had, in the end, gained respect for him.

Huma shook his head. “Vengeance is not the way.” He raised an arm. “Help me over to him.”

They did. It was odd, but now Magius looked at peace. He certainly had never looked this calm in life.

Putting the mage’s head down softly, Huma gritted his teeth and rose by his own power. Bennett and Kaz waited to assist him, but he waved them off. When he finally stood, Huma turned to face the three.

“I need your help —all three of you. It is time that the balance be restored. It is time that Galan Dracos and his dark lady learn that where there is evil, there must also be a balance with good. Magius was living proof of that. In his time, he wore the robes of all three Orders, ending with the white of Solinari. From evil to good, the pendulum swings both ways. It is time it swung to our side.”

“You intend to seek out the castle?” asked Bennett.

“I do. I ask your help and that of any surviving from our band. If you hesitate, I will understand, for it is surely suicide.”

Kaz seemed ready to burst with indignation. “If you expect me to turn from any battle, especially this one, you know nothing of my people. I may not be a Knight of Solamnia —” he ignored the sharp look from Bennett “ —but I know when I must fight. I will join you.”

Bennett nodded. “I will come. I am sure those who can still ride will say the same.”

“Give me a few minutes alone, then. Bennett, please tell the Grand Master what has occurred here. I would like him to give Magius a proper funeral no matter what occurs.”

“As you wish.”

Both the minotaur and the knight departed. Huma stared at the body of Magius, remembering simpler times. He was interrupted by a female voice.

“What of me, Huma? We were interrupted by this tragedy. I do not ask for a response to my feelings; I do not even hope that you can return my love. I will say this: In the matter of Galan Dracos and Krynn, I am still your partner. When you fly into the maw of the Dragonqueen, it will be I who will carry you.” She waited for a response. Huma could say nothing. “I will be waiting, ready when you are.”

He heard footsteps then. They faded until he could hear nothing more. Huma did not move from the spot until clerics from the temple came to carry Magius to a place where his body could rest.

Huma limped toward the group. All of the original members who could still ride were ready. There were eight men in all, and eight dragon steeds. Lord Avondale could not accompany them because of his wounds, but he was there to see them go.

Huma spoke first to Avondale. “Any word on your men?”

“Bogged down, but still very much alive. Your Grand Master has released the ground forces. They are advancing. The ogres have ground to a halt.”

Huma nodded numbly. He heard only part of what the Ergothian was saying. The renegade’s killing of Magius had been a desperate act, an attempt to break Huma’s spirit. Indeed, he felt broken and confused as he entered into this, his important and shining hour.

“Wish us luck, cleric.”

“I’ll do better than that.” Avondale reached up to his own neck and tugged on a chain. As he pulled it over his head, a medallion, buried under his armor and clothing, came into view. “Lean forward.”

Huma did. Avondale placed the medallion around his neck. “You are more deserving of this than I.”

The knight took the medallion in one hand and gazed at it. A representation of Paladine stared back at him. The medallion seemed comfortably warm in his hand. “My—gratitude.”

“Do not thank me. Find Dracos!”

Huma nodded and rose. The others were all mounted. Huma walked over to the silver dragon. He started to say something to her, thought better of it, and mounted. Someone handed him his lance. He noted that the footman’s lance was again strapped onto the silver dragon.

On his signal, they rose into the air, determined to make their way past the enemy and seek out the stronghold of the mage. Huma held up the small, greenish sphere and concentrated. He willed it to lead them to the citadel.

The sphere glowed brightly, rose from his hand, and began to fly toward the mountains in the west.

The eight pairs followed.

The battle was turning into a slaughter. The dragons, spurred by their fear of their mistress, charged again and again at the lancers. They were repulsed each time with heavy losses.

More than a fifth of the lancers and their mounts had perished in the meantime, overwhelmed by sheer numbers. The ground forces also had suffered, especially at first. Once they learned of the effectiveness of their lances, however, casualties dwindled. Soon, no dragon dared come near. Their magic and breath weapons still rained chaos on the knights, but there was a limit to those powers, and many of the Dark Queen’s children became easy prey for flying lancers, so greatly had they exhausted themselves.

Despite their intentions, Huma and his band could not avoid the battle completely; it was too widespread by now. More than once, they swooped down to help a remnant that was in danger of being overrun. The children of Takhisis were in no way defeated, though. They had formed into groups and were charging whatever point seemed weakest. Already, many had broken through and were heading toward the Keep. They would be in for a surprise, Huma knew. The Grand Master was no novice. More than fifty knights and dragons were ready to fly at a moment’s notice.

Below them, the ogres and their allies were a mass of confusion. They were now being forced to fight a war on two fronts, for the Ergothians had found good ground and were harrying the southern flank with great success.

The sky suddenly became dark all around them, and Huma and his companions were filled with a sense of terrible, oncoming evil.

Lightning bolts moved with terrifying accuracy, striking dragons and riders and leaving few remains. The advancing Dragonlancers faltered, were pushed back. The children of the Dark Queen began to fight with new energy.