Shadow of the Beacon

Author: Erusi

The beacon roared, the searing light scratching at the sky. It’s width and power lit the heart of Coldarra up in a snow white light, betraying the blue grace that normally covered this part of the Tundra. The call echoing to all corners of Azeroth, heeding that call, portals were opening up all around it, fellow blue dragons stepping forth. Aben and Maren gazed down from the top of Coldarra, having lit the beacon to call forth Kalecgos, their eyes drew to each of the portals checking for the one they hoped to call.

Suddenly the beacon cut short and the last of it’s light met the clouds before Coldarra returned to its normal blue glow.

“Aben!” Maren looked down with worry across his face. Darendrak below had pulled the core from the beacon furious in his expression, knew something was up but knew not who was to blame.

The two stepped off the platform and dropped a portal at their feet and then one further down, giving the appearance that they too had just arrived. Gracing a plinth with their footfalls, they gazed around as the other dragons either took their places or circled above entering from portals.

“I know not who has called us together,” Darendrak roared, “But treachery is abounds amongst our brethren.” His wings flapped hard against the cold air, buffeting those who stood below. “My order stands, dragonflight. I would have you seek out our power. Restore to us that which ha-...” He paused and gazed at the gathering.

“Lendra,” He peered, “Where have you been?” She quivered slightly at his interrogative tone, “Tending the prisons. Daren.” She came back nervously.

He continued his peer, to an almost narrow stare “Stay after we have finished here.”

“The beacon was lit in error, the core will be locked away until such a time as it is truly needed. Pass word to our brothers and sisters, Coldarra remains safe.” He landed awkwardly, a few noticing his avoidance of one of his claws.

Aben and Maren looked to each other and Maren split in two, one shimmering beyond visibility whilst the other stood and gazed on at Daren. “Stay here,” Maren whispered, blinking across Coldarra to where Erusi had gone.

In the snow bathed room floated a solitary arcane prison, it too had received a fresh dusting of snow from where the window had recently been blown out. Maren, keen not to leave footprints took to floating above the ground as she moved closer to the prison. Contorting her fingers between each other, twisting both hands, wrists and elbows she began the incantation to unlock the prison only to hear the beating of wings behind her.

“Lendragosa,” Daren landed, transforming and holding his crippled hand in the other. “I need you to add this to our...others.”

Lendra took barely a moment to view the prison before recognising it’s contents through her expertise of having dealt with them for thousands of years. “You...are sure one of our own needs to be locked away?” She quizzed.

“Yes, she has betrayed us.” Daren snapped. “I want the arcane prison sealed and bound to your life. So long as you remain alive, this prison shall never open.”

“We have never dealt in such trading, the prisons themselves stay locked because I will it, not because I bet my life on it.” She returned.

“Do it, or I shall seal you in one myself.” Daren snarled at her.

Lendra sighed a deep sigh, “Kalec will hear of this Daren.” She began the incantation, calling the prison to her, pressing her fingers against runes and running hands down the sides of it. She breathed an icy breath onto it, a rune never seen before gracing its sides. “There. So long as there is life in my, this prison stays locked.”

“Thank you.” Daren tossed her a small cube. “Catch,” He added.

A hairs width from her hand she caught the cube in magic, hands cupped “...you would think to use my own prison against me?” Lendra pushed the cube towards him with all her might. He met it with similar strength and it wobbled in mid air, equal distance between the two of them. Where she had used both hands he held forth only one, she knew he held more power where she had the element of surprise.

Recoiling one hand she ran her hand across the arcane prison behind her, distorting the new rune and drawing something very different. “See, the thing is Daren. What you have in power, you lack in intelligence.” Lendra flashed her spare hand out to the side and then drew it back to forcing the cube onto Daren.

“Pathetic,” He spat, “You have doomed yourself Lendra” The wave of magic bounced around the room, ricocheting off the walls, to his ignorance. “No,” She smiled. “I have simply distracted you.” She grinned even wider as the wave smashed into Daren, the rune changed significantly on Erusigosa’s prison.

“This prison is bound to you now, Daren. Should you end, she shall be free.” Lendragosa lowered her hands, “I accept my fate, only because I have sped yours up.” Speaking her last words saw the cube connect with her chest and entomb her.

Darendrak roared, engulfing the two cubes in arcane fire. Maren in her panic had lept up and gripped a side of the cube, her fingers torched by the blistering magic. She winced but stayed as quiet as she could. Daren leapt from the room, transforming and darting into the sky. Maren dropped to her knees and cupped her hands together, trying to heal her hands she buried them into the snow to relieve the burn.

Out of the swirling snow stepped Aben and offered a hand to Maren. “Come sister, we need to retreat. Today is not our day.” Taking the hand with one and opening a portal with the other the two fled Coldarra. For now.