Anthology: Realms of the Dragons vol.1

Glories of the sunrise, what manner of intellect could accomplish a feat like that?

Vercevoran pointed to a string of symbols and said, "Here. This is all there is, and it's merely the usual warning: 'When the King-Killer shines, then burns the Rage.'"

"It's not 'usual' to us," said Will. "What's the King-Killer?"

Vercevoran sneered but answered, "You don't even know that? It's a red star that appears in the sky every few centuries."

Will shook his head and said, "It's not there now."

"We already knew," Pavel said, "that Sammaster altered the elves' magic to suit his own purposes. They evidently tied this King-Killer to the enchantment, but he severed the link."

"It's a pity the undead whoreson was too impatient to wait for the star to return," the halfling said "This whole dung storm could have broken a century hence, when it would be somebody else's problem. Anyway, I guess the point is, what we just learned here is worthless."

For a moment, Pavel thought so too. Then he realized the possibilities.

"No," he said, smiling, "it gives us a cross-reference."

"A which?"

"A signpost, ignoramus. Something to guide us as we sift through the ancient lore. Now that we know the elf wizards drew power from the stars, we look for allusions to the King-Killer, and the heavens in general. With luck, it could save us tendays, even months of seeking."

Pavel turned to Vercevoran and said, "As could you. You've just demonstrated how valuable you could be. Let me explain exactly what's going-"

"Don't bother," the dragon said. "I don't care for the society of humans, my debt is paid, and I feel frenzy eating at my mind. I go to the Plane of Air, to wait out the Rage as my kind has always done."

The wyrm vanished, leaving only a fleeting ripple on the dusty air.