Chronicles of Den'dra: A Land Torn: Ancient Powers Awaken by Spencer Johnson Page A

uncontrollably and awake by the time Encer had pulled him back to the bed. Encer pulled up a chair and waited until Torroth had fallen asleep again. It wasn’t from the man calming down but from sheer exhaustion. Morning dawned a few hours later and Mytera discovered Encer slumped in the chair and Torroth’s fever broken.
    When Torroth awoke Mytera propped him up and he was able to feed himself. No one showed up to demand his presence not that Mytera would have permitted him to go so Torroth rested. He was still pretty quiet accept for his apologies for the trouble he had put them through. He did however perk up when he saw Inadar peeking around the corner at him. He eventually was able to coax a few words out of her or was it the other way around? Encer couldn’t tell. He kept an eye on the lad while he plied his wood chisels.
    Several hours had passed in this manner when the door burst open and a soldier demanded everyone’s presence in the village square. Verkal was mounted on his horse and the items taken from the villagers were lying on a table beside him. He waited until the last villagers had arrived before announcing the reason for the gathering.
    “ My men went back to the mouth of the valley in the light and found fresh dragon tracks all over the place. At first I began planning an evacuation of the village with my men defending you people.” Verkal paused as if to let this show of benevolence sink in. “I then realized that my handful of men would not stand a chance against the dragons that left the tracks so I set about finding another way to help you get to safety.” Encer found Verkal’s veneer of concern to be thin in its best spots.
    “ I had my men search your houses in an attempt to find whatever is keeping the dragons from attacking you and mercilessly killing you all.” Encer was now sure that Verkal had indeed been looking for an artifact that either controlled or repelled dragons.
    “ If whatever has been keeping the dragons away this long is still working why should we leave?” A young man asked impertinently then ducked behind a stouter bystander.
    “ Because.” The word devolved into a long protracted hiss as Verkal searched the crowd for the source of the question. “If it stops working then you will all be killed by the dragons that are angry already at being denied their prey.” Verkal made a feeble excuse in an attempt to disguise his true intentions. Most present knew that it was not out of fear for the villager’s safety that the man acted. If he could get his hands on an artifact that either controlled or repelled the dragons then he would become the most powerful individual on Den'dra.
    “ We have no knowledge of such an artifact.” Encer stepped forward and addressed Verkal.
    “ Pardon me if I don’t take your word for it. You once told me that the fugitive was not hiding here.” Verkal sneered at Encer and turned back to the crowd. “Tell me what it is you use and how you use it and I will leave you in peace.” At last Verkal no longer tried to hide his intentions. The silent throng before him was irking in its stubborn refusal to grant his orders.
    “ If we do then you will take it and leave us to the dragons.” Encer was prepared to withstand whatever punishment Verkal would mete out for having said what everyone was thinking.
    “ You miserable peasants have no appreciation for what you have. It could be used to end our wars and make humans the most powerful race on this continent. You however would prefer to use it to protect a worthless village. I won’t let such power be wasted.” Verkal dismounted his horse.
    “ What is it?” Picking up the iron shod walking stick he continued. “Is it something you say while you are holding it?” Picking up the dragon pendant he turned. “Or is it as simple as having it near you? Tell me!” Infuriated by the continued silence Verkal dropped the items he was holding and drew his sword. A couple rapid steps later he