Atop the Tower Darkly
The Case Files of White and Doorchester’s Magic Shop.
Logan House Publishing Presents.
From the World of We Were Heroes.
The Case Files of White and Doorchester’s Magic Shop.
Atop the Tower Darkly.
By J.R. Logan. Discord
Curt and Emily stopped at an intersection. Cars along the road had stopped. Traffic lights had gone out. People looked up and out over the city's valleys of steel and stone. Between the buildings, a shadow flew above.
Scattered around the city, the heroes of Toledo watched the sky above. Few, if any, could fly. Both wizards could feel the magical presence of a dragon. Curt looked out the window of the car. "We need to get up high."
Emily leaned into his lap to get a better look. "The Tower," Emily said.
One of the tallest buildings in the city is the Tower on the Maumee. It had an open view of the river. Curt shook his head. "Fight a dragon in the historic district?"
"We could try talking first," Emily said.
"It might ignore us," Curt said.
"We have to do something. It’s a dragon and we're the only wizards in town," Emily said.
Atop the Tower building, Emily cast a protection spell on the roof. She Hoped the dragon fire wouldn't burn through. "This seems like a bad idea," Emily said. Now looking at the roof top.
"Ya think. Building security was not happy to let us up here. No fighting. We only talk," Curt said
The Dragon circled the Uptown. A rolling back out in the air as the magical energy of the dragon disrupted technology. Hero control tried to slow down the response. Nothing had happened yet. Not that anyone could get to the Dragon.
"A dragon was flying over the city, Curt thought. Minding its own business. Really, what could go wrong? He listened to the hero radio traffic. Then, he called in his position on the rooftop.
Emily stood back as Curt undid his ponytail. The wind changed around him. She could feel the lay line along the river supply the needed mana. With a crack of light, the bass guitar appeared in his hand. Lights on the roof top blinked out. It seemed the world became very quiet. The wind stopped as reality readied to bend to a wizard's will.
Curt ran his fingers up and down the frets in the spell pattern. Then, hit one string. The note and a wave of magic erupted from the rooftop. The Dragon passed overhead silently as a massive shadow. Over the river, it winged over to head back to them.
Emily moved closer to Curt as the Dragon landed on the corner of the roof, wings wide, blocking the moon. Eyes glowed red. That is never a good sign. It looked at the two wizards, then lowered itself to the rooftop. And they saw the rider.
Details are lost in the haze of the darkness. But the rider in complete steel was unmistakable—a gleaming suit of polished metal. Even in the twilight, the light danced over the armor. As the rider approached Curt, it removed the helmet. The radiant blonde hair spilled out to show thin, sharp facial features—pointed ears, long and sharp, projected from the mane of hair.
"I am Kellion Solaris—Knight of the Grand Selee Court. Order of the Dawn," He said.
"Curt Joseph Doorchester. Wizard for the Great Lakes Hero Association."
The Dragon snorted. The knight glanced back. "Are you challenging me, wizard?" Kellion said.
"No. Your arrival has disrupted the peace of the city. I would ask your intentions," Curt said.
The knight looked a little embarrassed. "I apologize for that. Give me a moment," Kellion said. He waved to the Dragon. The magical flux of strong-smelling dragon magic rolled over Curt and Emily in a radiance of white light. The Dragon diminished in size.
Curt turned down the radio as the heroes called out the light on the Tower. The magic had filled the coms with static. Then Curt looked back at the knight; next to him stood a woman. Stunningly beautiful and completely naked. Blue hair fell to her ankles. Curt couldn't help but look until Emily elbowed him.
She had taken a half-elf form, fuller figured than an elf but not a human.
"This is my companion Agathelox Adraxus," Kellion said.
Curt took a moment. "You're new in town. I get it." He looked around to buy time. "Let me call off the heroes before we have a misunderstanding," Curt said.
As Curt turned the radio back up, Emily stepped closer to the Dragon.
"You need some clothes," Emily said, offering her blazer jacket.
The Dragon looked at Kellion. "She never wears clothes," He said.
Curt got used to her. Now less mesmerized by her beauty and started to notice the details. Scuffs of dirt on her body and her hair unkempt.
Emily held out her blazer. The dragon girl looked at her and glanced at Kellion.
"Aga. We agreed to respect the local customs," He said.
The Dragon held the jacket, not knowing what to do with it. Emily helped her. Curt decided to break the awkwardness. "Are you on a quest?" He asked.
"Yes. I seek the new fairy queen of this land. I intend to court her," Kellion said.
Curt took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "How old are you?"
"Eight thousand, two hundred and seven of your years," Kellion said.
"Queen Mary Robin Redcap is eleven," Curt said.
"Oh?... Then I have time." Kellion turned to look at Aga the Dragon. "We'll be staying a while," Kellion said.
The End.
White and Doorchester’s Magic Shop stories can be read at Logan House Pub on Substack.
Thank You for Reading.
Copyright 2025. Logan House Publishing.
All rights reserved.
White and Doorchester’s Magic Shop stories can be read at Logan House Pub on Substack.
Thank You for Reading.
Copyright 2025. Logan House Publishing.
All rights reserved.