Eye of the Dragon

[biggizmo54]

for you reading enjoyment...with Maxi's permission...upcoming short novelette.

an' this 'ould be th' luck o' th' Irish to view such a story...any th'likes o' ye ou' there meet find this 'ere a bit entertainin'

[Red Hot]

Wow - a COB short novelette!
You ROCK, Biggizmo and Maxi, thanks for giving the great writer permission to submit this!

[biggizmo54]

actually...I haven't gotten the permission as of yet...you there Maxi...It is ready

[biggizmo54]

Dragon’s Eye







The year was 2012 and no different from last year or the year before. The only difference was that this was the year of the dragon. Some cultures believe in old dragon. Some cultures believe in old superstitions, good luck, and prophecies. No one could imagine this prophecy would come to manifest itself beyond superstitious horror.
Miranda’s husband is a business partner with Ethan. Their ideas met nearly six years ago in Belgium while at a gem showing featuring the “Dragon’s Eye Sapphire”. A bright blue oval stone with a seven point star in the center. Total caret weight equivalent to a two pound block of cheese. The only mystery to this stone was to how it could be the only sapphire in its location when found. The basalt quarry is not a typical geological locale for sapphire. Ireland was no nearer a natural place of origin either. Yet, this stone was mined in the highlands of Ulster. Here, the most precious stone known to any Irish was the Blarney Stone. Kiss and make a wish. Perhaps you could be blessed with finding the precious pot of gold belonging to Sir Michael O’Brannon. Cursed by an ancient legend, when the banshees caught him stealing the sacred gold from a dying leprechaun O’Brannon tricked old Bruce of Dublin into giving him the location by pretending to be lame and blind. Having caught up the treasure in his careless haste, he dropped the one coin upon which the wise leprechaun set a trap to any should it be found. This one coin held the musical note upon which legions of banshees were instructed to be accountable for. We’ll get back to the matter, later though.
St. Patrick’s Day is three days away and Martell wants Miranda to return to Belfast with him for the Annual showing of the Dragon’s Eye. The stone was returned to Ireland shortly after the Belgium exhibit. Historical Authorities convinced Parliament officials that the stone should be returned and placed in an undisclosed location except on the Eve of St. Patrick’s Day when it would be set up for viewing by invitation only.
Miranda was excited about the trip, but had a lot of work to do before the final arrangements could be made. Miranda had wondered if records that were kept at Vital Statistics back in the thirties could be even found. It was not a question to do research for Martell. She was used to last minute preparations or demands from her boss. After all, it’s all for our future. “She thought I just need to research some archives to find the descendants of Sir Michael O’Brannon”. The only known descendant of O’Brannon left Ireland on the Titanic to sail for America. Kathryn O’Brannon changed her name to Catherine Bradley. By reason where her English was refined considerably so not to be recognized as lower class. She acquired enough from the sale of her estate to gain first class passage to America. It was recorded in Baltimore General Hospital of a birth to twin girls and given up for adoption after her unfortunate death. Adoptions, in those days were harsh to siblings and not many were kept together. This made it difficult to keep track of family trees. A stroke of luck turned up some particularly interesting information. Both siblings had families within the Baltimore area. Furthermore, they were provided with the genetics to bare twins in multiple births. Now, this was all sounds too convenient, but it did make Miranda’s job a bit easier. The last of seven generations to the O’Brannon bloodline had been orphaned. The parents to Geoffrey McKinley perished in the plane crash flight 81. Edward Kemp was orphaned when his parents and sister consumed by Mt. St. Helens eruption while on vacation.
Now that they’ve been located, all that remains are the invitations with all expense paid trips to Belfast for the Annual festivities.
The phone rings on a timely note, and Miranda is relieved to be finished with her research. “Hello… Oh Marty. Yes, just finished I’ll fax them tonight. The tickets should be ready to pick up at 10”00 a.m. What if they don’t agree to attend? You’re so sure of yourself. I guess that’s why I put my heart into your hands. Okay… see you on the 16th … Bye!”
The necklace had been handed down from generation to generation, firstborn to first born and that’ all Ethan knew. A gold shamrock shaped coin the size of a quarter hung on a herring bone chain believed only to be a good luck piece with no know meaning to the inscription on its worn edges. A curator said it was of an ancient dialect, possibly Celtic or Goidelic, but wasn’t sure, but wasn’t sure. Offered a modest market value for the gold, but snuffed at the chain is worth maybe $18.00 retail. What a stuffy little man, almost, arrogant in his small frame. Ethan believed he knew the value of this coin, but won’t disclose the truth. He was so intent on watching Ethan as he tucked it back into his shirt. Ethan was sure it’s value would hold a bit longer.
Ethan stared out the small window as the plane began its final approach. Locked in his own thought he hadn’t noticed it was raining. When the airliner touched down, a seemingly gaseous cloud surrounded the wing. Startled, Ethan gasped and thought the place was igniting from the fuel tanks. This, he quickly shrugged off noting the contrail spinning behind the jet engine.
He had always had a fear of flight. All he really knew of his family was some freak accident had taken his family away from him. He saw the TV Version flight 81. The place cart wheeled and then exploding as it broke in several pieces. Resting in the chilly water mixed with jet fuel. Those who didn’t die from the initial impact or burning to death strapped to their seats had drowned or were eaten by the alligators. Everglade Bar-B-Q had a whole new meaning that day.
“Surely, this will be a dreadful story,” thought Ethan. The cab rolled up the cobbled road toward the castle that loomed in the grey background of a cloudy afternoon.

“Looks like we may be in a bit o’th’weather!” exclaimed the driver. His heavy heard turned only to the slight in Ethan’s direction and his voice seemed too high for such a large man, almost a cheery air of thick Irish accent.
It is said this is th’ very estate of Sir Michael O’Brannon. Legends “ave it th’ wee people laid a curse upon ‘im and any o’ ‘is descendants disappeared ‘e did. Some say’e turned to stone, and th’ leprechauns ‘ad rolled the’ stone away so’s nere t’ be found.”
After a short spiel of the evening’s events we were all ushered to our accommodations. Quite lavish, actually, nearly Victorian décor with a medieval touch of old Irish Renaissance, fitting for the holiday trip. The clatter of fine silver and china mixed with stories of Irish Nobles, superstitious folklore and 100 year old brandy had set the events of the evening gala into an unforgettable mode. Sleep for all could only be a blessing. Clearly everyone was weary from the flight and the ordeal of the evening.
No one could expect the weather to be so perfect after the night storm.
Edward was out on the balcony breathing in the morning air when his breakfast was brough in.
“Would ye’ be takin’ yer meal out ‘ere Mr. Kemp? It’s such a find day don’ ye think?” asked the servant.
Without an answer, the cart was placed near the door leaving Edward to consider this decision. Without further word the door closed behind her.
Martell and Miranda were just finishing the meal when Ethan and Edward entered the den, a massive room ornate with delicate drapery, velvet clad Chippendale chairs, and a familiar dark menagerie’ from the Middle ages. Even the polished armored suits seemed to belong in this setting.

[biggizmo54]

”I trust you slep well?” Martell asked. It was more a statement and neither Ethan nor Edward offered a rebuttal.“Good! Our host is expecting us out in the Courtyard. We are invited to wear the costumes slected. So, let’s all get ready.”
As if by some queue the four quests were presented with a rather large box. Each had their name embroidered onto the fabric, which covered the box.
Ethan was amused by the elaborate boxes and began to study the needlework. Except for the names, all were alike in every detail, sort of ancient setting with Knights, dragon, and battlefields.
As the group gathered adorning their costumes, each looking like pageboys or squires of old, they heard a man speaking loudly to the select group before them:
“Am damh blendraic
Am damh blendraic
Am damh seacht mbeann
Neelam derc, am damh blendraic”, he continued on with a broken translation:
“I am a blind dragon
I am a blind dragon
I am a stag of seven pair tines
Sapphire see, I am a blind dragon.”
“Ogma, Ogma seacht draic…” then the sky began to blacken with horrid clouds of grey. Gathering and swirling above their heads like a cyclone, but in slow motion. Thicker and darker they became. Howling screeching winds began to claw at the gathering, but no one moved as if in a trance..
It was then, that Ethan remembered the little old man at the Curio Shoppe. There he was his eyes blazing in his direction, and pointing a crooked finger at Ethan.
“Give me my gold!” Ethan clutched the coin within his shirt. Not realizing he had been for quite some time. He didn’t know why, but he brought it out as the small man scurried over towards him. “Give it t’me, O’Brannon!”
The Dragon’s Eye began to shimmer as the clouds fell upon them. Turning to a grey green, these clouds began to form a shape. Just at that moment, the little man snatched the coin from Ethan’s fingers and ran back to his previoius position. Ethan was frozen in place, as was everyone else in the Courtyard. The little man flicked the edge of the coin with a fingernail.
"Come forth ye wyrm O’neelam…
Come forth an’ see agin…."
The sapphire was taken up into an enormous clawed hand-and then the screaming, tearing and clutching at the crowd as they stood motionless, a legion of banshees darted and hovered, shrieked and clawed with every pass. The greenish grey cloud had now fully formed before them.
"Tis th’ fyerdraic ‘o’ neelam. Come t’ consume m’ enemies from ancient days past. Blendraic be m’ slave an’ e be obliged t’ m’ biddings”
Ethan watched as the banshees took the souls from each person standing. They fell like rag dolls to the earth. Their broken bodies were torn hideously from the banshee warriors, all but Edward, Ethan, Miranda, and Martell.
It was clear to Ethan now, the inscription on the coin, and the little man. His face had grown hideous and he waved around a briar cane as if were conductor at a symphony. Ethan now knew he was not a mortal man. Edward was now clutching at his head, gasping for air, and now spinning in agony. You see, Edward was supposed to go on vacation with his family to meet his doom in the ashes of Mt. St. Helens.
“A curse upon ye’ Edward O’Brannon… Th’ name can be changed, but ye canno’ escape the bloodline. Ye be cursed an’ canno’ die to breathe the ashes an’ sulfurs of hell. An’ ye’ be feeling’ th’ fyres an’ want’ to die bu’ ye won’.”
At that moment a boulder broke through the earth and opened in two pieces hollowed out in the form of a large man. With a wave of his cane the banshees cast Edward into the stone and closed the pieces around him. The breath of the dragon sealed the stone before it sank into the earth.
Ethan couldn’t move, he tried to run, he begged for release. It was to no avail.
“First born, were ye’? It took m’ near 800 years to awaken from m’ slumber of death an’ now, I’ave th’ gold which was stolen from me by Michael O’Brannon. Did ye not know..; a leprechaun can smell ‘is gold. ‘Is treasures are bu’ many. This one… is more than jus’ a treasure.
T' is th’ Key t’ all m’ treasures, a pot o’ gold is no’ jus’ a pot o’ gold, these are payments t’ the banshees t’take th’ souls of th’ dead mortals. We leprechauns live below an’ canno’ ‘ave mortal souls wanderin’ about in their sleepless eternity, so we pay th’ banshee warriors t’ cart ‘em off t’ walk in th’ storms o’ th’ skies. Their cries an’ moans an’ weepin’s are all bu’ lost in th’ howlin’ winds an’ cracklin’ thunders o’ th’ mortal world. We are bu’ a cheery people an’ canno’ ‘ave em makin’ us all sad n’ such.
Michael O’Brannon di’ no’ escape the banshees. He's now m’ all seein’ eye. Turn im t’ stone I tried, bu’ is royal blood made ‘im more valuable than jus'
Stone, Sapphire treasure, a magical stone, th’ eye o’ m’ dragon.
Th’ coin e’ dropped was lost bu’ fate ‘ad a way o’ bringin’ it t’ ‘is seed. Were no’ for th’ year o’ th’ dragon, I might’ o’ lost it forever.”
Ethan wondered where all this was leading and what did he have to do to get out of this mess. Why was Martell and Miranda just standing there and smiling at him…
“Kiss th’ Blarney, make y’ wish!”
Martell and Miranda knelt down to the stone held each others hand and kissed the Blarney Stone together. At that same moment, a glow appeared about them, just before they both transformed into statues of gold.
“What happened?’ Ethan asked.
“Greed! Hee hee hee hee! Pure greed! They asked for eternal life and to be adorned in gold. Hee hee hee hee. Their love will ne’er tarnish, an’ gold is eternal”
“As for ye an’ yer’ fate. Ye shall ne’re die. Ye shall stay in this land for’er, among th’ beauty o’ th’ land.”
With a wave of his cane the leprechaun vanished. All was as if the day never happened. The sky way clear blue as the leprechauns eyes. The dragon was gone in a puff of smoke. All was back to normal, except one thing…
Ethan began to scream but no sound came forth. He could not move his head to see if anyone was around to help him. He could hear the sheep in the fields; he could see the shadow of the castle in the late afternoon growing longer in the lush green grass. He could also see his own shadow now. The horror he beheld in his mind could not be eased. No thought would ever relieve him of his living nightmare.
Bruce of Dublin, the King of the Leprechauns and wizard to the wee people had placed Ethan McKinley O’ Brannon inside the Sacred Tree of the Castle Courtyard. A tree which had withstood many wars, centuries of storms, and even
three fires. This tree was blessed by the Irish Gods.
In his mind he could see the coin. The inscription which could not be told:
“Am damh derc seacht mbeann’
The sun had not yet settled beyond the hillsides. The shadows of the tree and the castle formed an image upon the next hill. It appeared to be a stag deer.
The old dialect finally came to Ethan’s mind-
Am damh derc seacht mbeann
“I am a stag of seven (pair) tine.”

[biggizmo54]

sorry...had to post in two parts...maximum charactures to be 10,000
my story is over 14,000...enjoy.....

[Red Hot]

Clap! Clap! Wonderful! Marvelous! Woo hoo!
You need to enter this in a contest, Biggizmo!
This was very descriptive and full of action!

[biggizmo54]

I am afraid it was too long and not that interesting to our forum members...a quick glance at the story and its length ...'nahhh...too long'...I thank you Red...I am going to enter this into contests...maybe thinking of getting it bound. There is a writer's guild that takes in short story material for compilation books...maybe that is the route to take.