Dialogue Essay: The Clawbraw

“What? That’s impossible.” Luke said. Billy shook his head no, “I wish I were wrong.” Billy put his hand on Luke’s shoulder. “Come, I’ll explain,” Billy said as the trio walked off, on their way to see Alaba.

Before they got too far, a fog rolled off the foreboding land, and visual devastation could be seen in every direction. People and animals alike were strewn everywhere, savaged and bloodied.
Horrified, Billy murmured, “What in God’s name have we stumbled into?”

“Danger, great danger. This is the work of the Witches goblins, the Clawbraw.” In a panic, Billy turned and looked in all directions, “What in heaven's name are you talking about?”

“They are ghostly beings in search of flesh and souls to devour. But don’t worry if you
stand stone-still they can’t see you.” Said Luke as they continued on their way to the castle. A few moments later Luke noticed it was only him and Dooly walking together... “Where’s...?”

Dooly cut-in, and said with a laugh, “Turn around.” Luke shook his head, and walked back to where Billy was standing, stock-still. “They don’t come out until midnight,” Luke said with a chuckle.

With a deep sigh Billy, yelled, “This old boys gettin’ the hell outta’ here NOW!” And began walking as fast as his old frame would carry him.

“Slow down Billy or you’ll be dead from a heart attack before we get out of the forest.”

***

It was close to midnight, when they finally reached the castle. From where they were standing the twinkling of candle was flickering in an open window of the kings conjuring room, just above the odd carvings that embellished the massive doorway that led into the castle.

“Hurry, let's get in there.” Luke said, “Follow me, I know the way in.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice,” Billy said.

Within minutes the trio began moving down its bare and desolate hallways, inlaid with corroded rounded stone beams, making his way to Alaba’s conjuring room. The soft gleaming of candles burning gave the impression that the room was vacant.
But standing in off in the shadows stood Alaba draped in a long washed out dark green cloak, his lengthy gray hair partly concealed by his frayed green pointy hat.

“Ahh Moclar, a face I have not seen many years and your hairy little friend. What brings you back so soon my young prince?” Alaba said, intruding on the familiar hush of the room. Moclar returned the greeting with a grin and a nod back at the king.

A lock of Luke’s blonde hair fell over his forehead when he uttered, “It’s never too soon to see family.” “We’ll said my son, but I can sense there is much on your mind.” As the king spoke Luke’s eyes were drawn to a leather-bound book on table near Alaba.. There was nothing exceptional about it. To anyone else it would appear to be no different then the many hundreds of other ancient and worn books cluttering the walls, together with scrolls and dusty parchments strewn everywhere. But the book gave off a threatening aura, one that Luke’s dark side, that of the dragon, could perceive. It was filled with spells, evil spells that could only be known through a witch’s sixth sense.

“Are you aware of what’s going on with Zoe and the
others?” “I am aware of everything. Even what you think is hidden does not escape my perception.” “You know about...?”

“Ebadah!” Alaba said with a cold dead stare.

***