Page 54 of Dragon Heir

Will cast one last worried look at his friend before he turned his attention to his guest. “Raines is here no ordinary human, as you believe. I rescued him a decade ago when a powerful sorceress attempted to destroy him through a most dangerous magical curse. Only my physical strength was able to defeat his frail body.”

Ware’s eyes widened and Vargas’ mouth dropped open. She took another look at Raines with fresh, disbelieving eyes. “You would have us believe this normal human is capable of any sort of magic?”

Raines stretched himself to his full height. “I may not look it, Lady Vargas, but I am a most powerful wizard.”

Chapter Thirty

My mouth dropped open, as did many of those in the company.

Vargas snapped hers shut and scoffed. “Do not be ridiculous. If you were capable of such magic then we would have smelled the scent long ago.”

“I have not practiced since Lord Thorn rescued me,” Raines explained as he gestured down at himself. “You cannot smell what has long worn off.”

“And that is exactly why I wonder if you’re capable of performing such a powerful spell,” Will spoke up as he frowned at his servant. “And you are older now. The magic may be too much for your body to handle.”

“I would still like to try, My Lord,” Raines insisted.

Will pursed his lips but finally nodded. “Very well, but at the first sign of trouble, you will abort the spell. This isn’t only to save your life but that of the Tenky.” The little possessed demon growled and rattled the thick pitcher.

Raines bowed his head. “Thank you, My Lord. I will not fail you. I will make the preparations forthwith.” He hurried out of the room being sure to close it behind himself in case the thing should escape

I looked down at my bottled captive. “So how do we even get him out of here to get him downstairs?”

“We will wrap up the rug around the pitcher and carry it downstairs into the foyer,” Raines suggested as he nodded at the door. “I will have enough space there to work my magic.”

Everyone pitched and rolled the corners of the rug up to the pitcher. They were forced to stop when they reached me and I looked uncertainly at the foursome. “You guys ready to roll up if I jump back?”

Enna nodded from her corner. “Yeah, just don’t trip or anything like that.”

I snorted. “I make no promises, but here goes. On three. One. Two. THREE!”

I threw myself back and rolled across the floor. The evil Tenky threw off its flower-patterned prison and lunged at Vargas who grasped a corner. She punched his adorable little nose which flung him back into the center of the rug. The others threw the rug over the thing and wrapped it tightly around his squirming person.

“I’ve got this!” Enna shouted as she hefted the rolled-up rug into her arms and hugged it against herself. “Now get out of the way!”

We scattered except Allard who flung open the door. Enna raced through the doorway followed by the dragon lord and the rest of us. She stampeded down the stairs to the foyer where Raines had already dragged a small table into the center of the room with a glass bowl on its top. He closed his eyes and rubbed his hands together as if he were cold. I let out a tiny gasp as I beheld little flakes of orange magic that fell from his palms like showers of starlight. The tiny flecks settled on the floor in front of him and made a shimmering glowing hill. The faster he rubbed the more flakes came from his hands until he had a mound as big as a pumpkin.

“Where do I put this thing?” Enna yelled at him as she hurried up to stand on the other side of the table.

He nodded at a spot on the floor behind her. “Drop him there when I tell you.”

Enna scooted back to position herself in front of where he indicated while the rest of us stood on the sidelines behind her. The little demon struggled in her grasp and I could hear a horrible gnawing sound as he chewed through the thick rug.

“Hurry!” she shouted as she gave the rug a shake to delay the inevitable. “I don’t know how much longer this rug will last!”

Raines’ eyes flew open and he nodded. “Drop the rug.”

Enna tossed the carpet onto the ground, and not a second too soon. The tiny Tenky tore apart the strands it had gnawed to pieces and leaped out, its hideous sharp black teeth gnashing at the air. Raines thrust his hands forward in a pushing motion and a wind blasted out of his body. The orange flecks were taken by the gust and blew past the table where they struck the attacking Tenky.

The flakes swirled around the Tenky and clung to its body, creating a shimmering orange coat that suspended the creature in midair. The mutated little guy let out a hideous howl and thrashed bout, twisting its head and gnashing its teeth but unable to reach the flakes.

I looked up at Will who watched with a mixture of awe and worry. “Why couldn’t we do that upstairs?”

“I was uncertain this would hold the creature,” Raines spoke up as his eyes remained focused on his captive. Sweat speckled his brow and his body was as tense as a hunk of marble. “I am also uncertain I can hold him for very long. If he does break free you may do as you think best, My Lady.”

“Perform your spell and don’t worry about us,” Will commanded him.

Raines nodded and raised his trembling hands. The flakes that held the Tenky also rose and Raines beckoned them to him. The flecks lowered the Tenky into the glass jar where the light glistened as bright as a paper lantern and with the same soft glow.

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