The Secret of the Dragon - The Revelations of the Sacred Papyruses Read online

Still held captive by the enemy dragon, Hayex wriggled about vainly trying to untie himself. He moaned under the suffocating gag tied around his head and mouth.

  “Shut up, if you do not want to be silenced forever!” threatened the intruder, hiding in the weeds, hoping to surprise Califax.

  Searching for his enemy, the traitor searched a small part of the forest. When he returned, the gargoyle was gone. He turned to see the young dragon grasping his shining sword.

  “Who are you? Do not you know that this Grail will save our countries?” demanded Califax angrily.

  Just as he finished questioning the hooded dragon, a hard blow to the head knocked him unconscious. After a few minutes, Califax awoke from his stupor, without his sword, and without the Chalice. He found himself before another enormous Pantesux dragon flanked by the first one, also camouflaged by a black hood.

  “I did not really think you could do it, Califax. Your father would be very proud of you. It is too bad that you will not live to see him.” he threatened.

  “Who are you? What you are doing is an attack against our countries. If I do not take the Chalice to Dragonia, the entire Region of Fire will be devastated by Helion’s wrath.” he pleaded his cause.

  “When that happens, I will be very far away, my friend. The power of this relic will take me to unimagined heights.” he said, looking up to the sky.

  “What are you planning to do, dragons? We do not know how the Chalice works. It could be very dangerous.” he warned.

  “I know very well what I must do.” he asserted, taking the hood off his head simultaneously with the other dragon.

  “Crulux? Tradux…?” Califax exclaimed, astonished, before such a revelation.

  Tradux sketched a sinister smile.

  “You father ordered me to send Crulux and Dragax to search for you. He could not give me a better chance to obtain the Chalice.” informed the traitor, with cynicism. “Too bad, none of you will return alive.” he said while he stabbed Crulux who, surprised by that infamy, looked straight into the eyes of his murderer before he died.

  “You are an assassin, Tradux!” protested Califax, after witnessing the brutal act.

  “I am foresighted. Thus, I will not have to share the power of the Chalice with anyone.” he asserted, while taking his wineskin out of his bag.

  Califax took advantage of that brief moment of his enemy’s distraction to grab the deceased Crulux’s sword and to attack the traitor. The clash of the swords rang through the forest, and the flames of the dragons illuminated the dark celestial vault. In spite of being more agile than Tradux, Califax could not manage to subdue his experienced opponent. However, the young dragon would not give up.

  The fast twists and the violent movements that the dragons drew with their swords in the air were followed by strong tail swats that they inflicted mercilessly to one another. Only the silent light of the stars in the sky witnessed the terrible duel between the two committed dragons.

  The battle of these titans soon came to its end. With a quick turn, followed by a great blow with his tail, Califax managed to disarm his enemy. Finding himself defenseless, Tradux remembered that Califax’s magic sword remained in the pasture below. He quickly dove to the ground and armed himself with the fantastic weapon. Tradux confronted his opponent knowing that he had a superior weapon in his claws. After a short exchange, Tradux disarmed Califax by cutting the lesser sword in half. Once again, the young dragon found himself at the mercy of the traitor.

  “I will give you the opportunity to witness my glory.” Tradux said with pride. “Later, you can join my cause. Once I have the power, I will fill the Chalice with my blood and you will drink of it to seal our pact. Would you drink of my blood, Califax?” inquired the traitor, with a macabre outburst of laughter.

  “Never!” Califax exclaimed bravely, remembering the horrible nightmare that haunted him through out his adventure.

  Tradux filled the Chalice with wine and drank eagerly, spilling a little of its content, while Califax felt his stomach heave at having to watch that scene. Then, the traitor filled and emptied the cup two more times. Nothing happened. Perhaps, the power of the Chalice was nothing more than a lie, or at best, an unfounded myth.

  “It does not work!” he exclaimed furiously, and tossed it away scornfully.

  Meanwhile, Califax asked himself what had happened. Why did Tradux feel no change? Then, the traitor began to sense a strange flavor in his mouth. It was a sweet flavor, almost like blood, and trying to wash it away, he drank directly from the wineskin. An intense heat, which ate away at the dragon’s entrails, overcame him. With his claws on his throat, he tried to breathe in air, and an intense red light, as an ignominious halo, glowed around the beast’s body. Califax could barely believe the terrible spectacle before him. He stood at a prudent distance, as if to anticipate the outburst of the saurian. Then, the light intensified until it reached a white heat, much like the hot coals of a gigantic oven, twisting and contorting the unfortunate traitor until he was reduce to ashes while howling frightfully.

  After that terrifying spectacle, all that was left of that dragon was a mountain of burnt residue that the evening breeze softly scattered about the forest of Briton. However, the Chalice remained intact, as if nothing had happened. Minutes later, Hayex, who had remained hidden behind the shrubs, came wriggling out like a worm, since he was still tied and gagged. After being released form his bindings, they rejoiced, though scared at what they had witnessed.

  “What a frightful thing, my friend! Do you think it would be a good idea to take the Chalice to Dragonia?” pondered the gargoyle.

  “Perhaps there is some ritual to avoid being devoured by its power. We must to alert Filox of what has happened.” he said, picking up the Chalice from the ground.

  “I have a better idea,” suggested Hayex. “Why don’t we ask Dee the Magician before taking it to Dragonia? Perhaps he has an answer to this mystery.”

  Thus, Califax and Hayex took flight on a southern course, to the river basin of the DeeRiver, home to the mysterious magician and sovereign to the dark fog of Briton.

  In spite of the great uncertainty that the Grail caused, after that experience, they would not take any more chances. From now on, they would guard the Chalice until delivering it to the very claws of King Rasux.

  ***

  10

  The Power of the Grail

  The pale light of the dawn was just beginning to touch the golden plains, when the two adventurers reached the refuge of the mysterious Dee, the magician.

  Appearing one again from the fog, the dragon and the gargoyle, which still not adapted to such demonstrations of prestidigitation, sought the advice of the wise man of the forest.

  “Sir: I have the Holy Grail in my claws, but I do not know how to use its power.” the dragon informed the magician.

  “Only the sovereign wearing the crown with four points can make use of its power.” said the magician in a deep voice.

  “Who is this sovereign? How will I be able to recognize him?” he inquired humbly.

  “His crown is made of courage, restraint, justice, and wisdom and it must be exposed to the light of the solstice.” intoned the magician.

  “But, how must he use the Grail, sir?” Califax insisted.

  “The secret of the Grail will only be revealed to the one that with humility and love in his heart transmits its power by asking the right question.”

  After these mysterious words, just as he had appeared, Dee the Magician disappeared in a sea of thick fog.

  “I hate it when he does that!” exclaimed Hayex. “I still had many questions to ask to him.” he complained bitterly.

  “What do you think he meant by transmits its power by asking the right question? And who would the sovereign that wears the four-pointed crown be?” asked Califax.

  “I do not know. I didn’t think that the Grail held a secret either, my friend.” explained Hayex.

  “Perhaps, Filox knows what all this means.” he s
aid, taking his chin into his claws.

  “What is the solstice?” asked the gargoyle.

  “It is the longest day of the year, when summer begins.” he explained. “We need to hurry, since according to the prophecy, the sovereign must drink from the Chalice in the solstice. …And Helion drank with him, the day that his brilliance shone longer than that of Selion, and the nations were release.” Califax remembered.

  They then undertook the trip to Dragonia with their minds and hearts full of doubts. Would the Chalice really be able to save his race? That question tormented Califax during the entire trip back home.

  For some time now, the green pastures of Briton had announced the arrival of spring, and summer’s eve was very close at hand. They hurried to get home before the solstice.

  They flew in a northerly direction, toward Oban, bordering the southern portion of MountBen Nevis, until reaching the northern bank of Loch Ness, where they stopped to take short rest at noon.

  A soft breeze blew across the water of that beautiful lake. Califax watched it and remembered his encounter with his friend Nessux.

  “Do you know Nessux?” asked the dragon.

  “Who…?” asked the surprised gargoyle.

  “He is a giant species of dragon that lives with his family, here, in this lake.” he explained.

  “I do not know of any dragon that lives in this lake, my friend. Are you sure?”

  “I had just arrived to Briton when I stopped to drink water close by this place, and then, Nessux came out to greet me.” he explained. “Let us wait a moment. Perhaps, we will have good luck and I will be able to introduce you to him.” he suggested.

  “It would be very nice to meet him.” Hayex said to dragon. “I hope so.” he thought.

  They waited in silence, as the wind blew softly over their faces, refreshing and relaxing their minds as they breathed in the gift of that majestic natural landscape with all their senses. At that moment, they felt a peace in their hearts, a feeling that they had not experienced for a very long time. They felt privileged and gave thanks for being part of that vast and unique universe.

  However, their time of contemplation did not last long. The humans, who had gathered in large groups around the lake in search of the day’s fish, surprised them as they basked by the lake. The humans attacked with ruthless ferocity as they repeatedly shouted, “Lucifer! Lucifer!”

  They quickly flew away from the storm of lances and stones. Once again, they had to escape the treacherous two-legged beings. They flew to the middle of the lake, but various boats full of furious men were waiting there to brutally attack them.

  In the middle of that clamor, Hayex, being seriously wounded by a lance, fell. The dart had penetrated his torso very close to his heart, and the blood began to flow profusely, dyeing the lake a fatal red color.

  Califax, filled with rage and fury upon seeing his innocent fallen friend, returned to rescue him from the water before he drowned. At that moment, the men had those ‘diabolic creatures’ within reach of their weapons: The men had them surrounded!

  Ina show of his great powers, Califax changed his color to litmus blue, and extended his powerful wings while holding the injured body of his dear friend with his front claws. Turning around, he blew out an enormous flame meant to scare away his untiring persecutors, but it was useless. The men were armed with huge shields of iron and copper, and they closed in closer around the two friends, in a circle. They covered themselves from the tenacious and fiery attacks from the dragon. Having come so far, Califax’s mission seemed close to an end.

  The final attack of the men was at hand. Brandishing their sharp swords, they fatally approached the dragon to finish his life and that of his companion. All of a sudden, the boats began to rock dangerously back and fourth, and several of the navigators fell resoundingly into the lake.

  One after another, they fell into the water without explanation for such a strange phenomenon. Some tried to return to their battered boats when an enormous head emerged from the depths. It was Nessux! Upon seeing that terrifying creature, the men swam desperately for safety. However, shortly before they reached their boats, other enormous creatures with long necks blocked their way. Nessux’s children had joined in the rescue of his friends while giving the aggressive humans a lesson.

  Califax reached the edge of the lake and tried to revive his faithful companion, giving him breath and heat from his nose, but Hayex did not respond. The large amount of blood he had lost left him in pale as death.

  “Wake up, my friend, please!” he cried between sobs, but, this time, Hayex was dead.

  Having driven the men away, Nessux and his offspring gathered around Califax. Sadness and desolation seized those beings. They cried over the death of the gargoyle and over the enormous pain in the young dragon’s heart.

  “None of this has been worth the trouble. None of it!” he bellowed to the sky, sending out a dreadful roar of pain that was heard all over the region.

  With the inert body of Hayex in his arms, Califax undertook the trip back to the Region of Fire. Without stopping to rest, he arrived at CapeDuncansby and lined up with the Orkney Isles.

  Absorbed as he was in his deep sorrow, he did not notice the presence of various Viking ships that, again, adored him as the god Thor. This time he ignored their adulation. He wanted only to get to his destination as soon as possible. Perhaps Filox would have a miraculous remedy to revive his dear friend. Although, the truth was, he had never witnessed such a miracle on any of his own kind.

  The night before the solstice surprised the very tired young dragon as he flew over the middle of the North Sea. The sea was ravaged by a fierce storm. Finally, he had no other choice than to stop on one of the Shetland Islands and wait for the storm to subside. The seconds became minutes, and the minutes, hours, and his desperation grew as the gale worsened.

  Clinging to Hayex’s body, he spoke to him reminding him the achievements and blessings that they had achieved along their incredible adventure, but he received no response. Califax could no longer bear his suffering and fury in silence. He swore to return for revenge on those who had caused the death of his dear friend. If possible, he would cause the end of the entire human race, so great was the pain and bitterness that tore at the young dragon.

  At the break of dawn, Califax awoke with a start. Fatigue and anguish had overcome him, and he had fallen asleep without knowing it in the middle of the storm the night before.

  In spite of his not having eaten anything for several hours, he immediately took to flight. Even though it was early, he beat his wings desperately trying to reach the fastest possible speed. Sorrow and anger seemed to inject the necessary strength he needed to reach his goal in the least amount of time.

  Some hours later, Califax could make out the long yearned for Faroe Islands, which was home to the Region of Fire. His destination was in view and he beat his powerful wings even faster as the midday sun announced the imminent arrival of the summer solstice. Nevertheless, an ill omen was drawn in the sky above the region: Helion began to hide behind Selion.

  Upon finally reaching Dragonia, he went directly to the chambers of Filox, the teacher, who was, as usual, in his favorite place: The Royal Library of Dragonia. He was reading one of his many papyri.

  With his face grayed from hunger and fatigue, Califax fainted in the claws of his teacher, and Filox, astonished by the dramatic and unexpected appearance of his pupil, took him, with difficulty, to a stone armchair upholstered with fine moss. He then took Hayex’s inert body of from the young dragon’s claws and gave Califax a drink of water in an attempt to ease his thirst.

  After a few moments, Califax awoke. He alerted his teacher as to the nature of the terrible prophecies and they immediately went to the Royal Observatory.

  One of Filox’s assistants, who was there at the time, alerted others of what some had waited for: the return of Califax. News of his long-awaited return spread like wildfire throughout the entire city of Dragonia. Finally, it
reached the ears of his father, Novax.

  Without a moment’s hesitation, Novax, with his wife Darta at his side, flew to accompany their brave son, who was found in the immense vault of the observatory.

  Califax stood in the center of the observatory, the dome had an oculus, through which the rays of the sun would signal the arrival of the first day of summer but a strange phenomenon prevented its appearance. The solstice had begun without having shown the light of Helion.

  Panic seized the entire Region of Fire; its inhabitants flew out of control in every direction screaming and terrified. The unexpected darkness that surprised the dragons seemed to announce the fulfillment of the apocalyptic prophecies.

  Restlessness of even the most ferocious dragon became apparent in the observatory. The darkness that wrapped around Dragonia penetrated their very souls. “Helion have mercy on our souls!” cried many dragons.

  In spite of the confusion and panic, Califax took the Grail and poured a little water inside, keeping his characteristic calm. He waited a few minutes and the moon began to shift, revealing behind it the light of the sun.

  In the center of the observatory, the young dragon began performing a strange ritual. King Rasux, Filox, and Novax, as well as the rest of the Royal Court, became quiet before Califax’s serenity.

  “Your power emanates from a man and your power has returned to a man! If your power has not served man, then, whom does the Grail serve?”[99] he intoned softly, rising the cup towards the sun.

  After reciting those words, he brought the Grail to Hayex, and gently opened the lips of the gargoyle and gave him a sip from that simple cup. The attendants of that strange ceremony shouted indignation at the top of their lungs. Novax looked at his son with respect and admiration for his unselfish action, and with one gesture, he quieted the entire audience.

  An interminable silence filled the observatory, as the audience awaited the unexpected. Then, something incredible happened: Hayex’s body began to levitate in the middle of a refulgent bluish light, and the gargoyle turned back to his natural brownish color.