“Bellena, think about the opportunity you are throwing away,” Alira begged.

“An opportunity to destroy the world. No, thank you.”

“Oh of course we wouldn’t destroy the world. What would be the sense of that when the world has so much wealth that could all be ours? Let’s work together. You have the staff that can bring the stone dragon to life, and I have discovered the way to do it. We could make a great team.”

Years before Alira and Bellena were even born, their fates were entwined when Alira’s great-grandfather, Khandar, a sorcerer, had sculpted the abomination known as Kle’oth, the stone dragon. He had used his magic staff to bring the monster to life and rule the world through terror and domination. Bellena’s own great-grandfather had given his life to stop Khandar and the stone dragon, by sending his soul into Khandar’s staff. His sacrifice broke the enchantment, destroyed Khandar, and turned his evil creation back to stone. The presence of his soul altered the staff, making it unresponsive to anyone but a member of his own family. His family had used the power of the staff for the good and benefit of the world. Bellena, the last of that family, had inherited the responsibility of guarding the staff and using it wisely.

“Bellena, be sensible,” Alira went on. “I have my great-grandfather’s journals and I know how the staff works. It will be only a matter of time before I find a way to break the spell that keeps me from touching it. If you work with me now, I’ll be generous, but if you fight me, I’ll destroy you.”

“Get out of my house, Alira. If you come back here again, I’ll have the guards release the dogs.”

After Alira left, Bellena crept down to the hidden crypt far below the cellars of her home. There the great dragon stood, a demonic smile frozen on its granite face. Bellena removed the staff from the stone chamber where it was hidden, raised it in the air and felt the hum of power as the twin orbs at the top of the staff began to glow. She took a deep breath and slammed the staff down on the stone floor, smashing the orbs to bits.

Alira stood outside Bellena’s home, a satisfied smile on her face. She had never intended to share the power of the stone dragon with Bellena, even if the other woman had agreed to her proposal. All she needed was a way around the inability to touch the staff, and by now she was sure Bellena had given her just that. Just as she had boasted, Alira had discovered the secret of the staff of Khandar, how the soul of Bellena’s great-grandfather could be removed by breaking the twin orbs.

Deep in the crypt, the dragon’s smile widened.


Arakun
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