It had been almost three days since the Ulthraki lord Magnar had been killed by the sword of Vince. Progress towards Weptswur had been halted after that. Fintan had become too weak and the two ended up setting up camp in a cave along the outskirts of Weptswur territory down below a foothill. Vince had worried much for those three days, the only words that arrived from Fintan's mouth were "eat" and "water". He had not risen from a laying position, and his eyes had large bags under them. Vince had the wherewithal not so ask Fintan questions, but in sitting in silence Vince had far too much time to think about the events prior. It must have been the magic that's done it. It was too much on his body. Vince peered down at Fintan's body, it was motionless in a deep sleep that had gone on and off for over a day now. Periodically Vince would move the furs and blankets over him more securely or move them off based upon how bad his fever was. Cold sweat met Vince's hands as he wiped away streams of sweat from his cheeks.

The time had come to pass however, and the two started for Weptswur again. The young Magi Knight smiled silently to himself as they began again, it was a comforting feeling to be on the move again. He was beyond restless, but he had to move slowly in order to match the pace of Fintan. His chills had subsided a fair bit but as he glanced at Fintan, he noticed heavy beads of sweat dripping down his temples.

Suddenly it occurred to him how little he had thought of himself, which was a startling thought. He realized he had not actually unpacked what had happened back with the Ulthraki's in terms of his own involvement. He had killed the Earl of the Ulthraki clan, and many of the clansmen with him—and he had done so by virtue of some unorthodox Magi sword maneuvers. He began recalling upon what he had learned as they walked. Never strike a sword through a man while he is down...Make peace where there is conflict, the blade is a last resort not a first solution...Conceal the stone, for allowing its aura to be seen attracts the selfish hearts of men. He had failed all of the oath sworn words he could remember. Not only that, but he feared what Fintan thought of him. Does he know that I have a gift for dark magic? It was always taught in the temple that an apprentice who shows signs of developing traits of dark magic is to be stripped of his possession of the stone, and the stone to be destroyed for its properties are then corrupted. How much does he know?

Vince judged by the position of the orange sun above that they had been moving now for around three hours. The time had flown as he had time to let his thoughts wander. Surely, they are not even close, they did not even have horseback to move them along quicker. Vince peered at Fintan and judged by his heavy breathing they would not be moving for much longer. It was a risk as well, travelling by the royal road—a direct shot to the Kingdom of Weptswur. There were sure to be knights and kings guard patrolling these roads, and they certainly would not be welcome in this time and age. All associated with magic and power were seen negatively by many—especially after the war. All perception of Magi had been skewed and now was being loped in with the sorcerers out north. Vince had heard Fintan explaining it one night to Magnar as they discussed what the path through Weptswur would look like and what to expect. So odd, how that had seemed so recently but now here they were, days later, travelling the charted path with thirty-odd less men, and Magnar the Madman was dead, and the blood on his hands.

Vince brought his hand to his forehead and winced hard as he lagged behind Fintan now. His head was swirling. No, not again. I can't do this now. He began to stumble and falter. He cried out now but even his own voice was not audible now. He could see the rough outline of Fintan coming towards him to check on him. He tried to tell him what was wrong, but nothing came out of his mouth, he could not move either. The pain in his head came to summit and he thought his head was going to implode.

Suddenly he had never felt more alive. He opened his eyes and his was atop of the dragon from his visions now. He felt his many limbs clutch into the leather skin of the black dragon as the wind licked through the top of his head and ran down his back. He could feel the heat radiating off the dragon's back from the molten fire within its body. A strange smile came over his face. He glanced back and the sight bewildered him—it was the dark castle and fortifications of the Castle of Light and Angels. It clearly lacked light now, and dark beings swarmed the walls. Deranged Men squealed down below by the moat. And sentries stood guard as small as ants from where Vince's dragon soared above. He did not know where he was off to, but he sensed the dragon did. We are to do the lord Steed's bidding, and by all means we must. Vince felt a jolt of energy through his core, the dragon was connected to him. He felt an odd sense of ease and comfort. He was invincible as long as he was atop this dragon.

He watched below them now as they soared over acres and acres of battlements where men and orcs alike were aligned neatly in massive swarms of organized chaos. Ugly orc screams filled the air and his dragon reared his head back and roared a resounding response to the mighty army. Vince raised his spear into the air. He realized they were all cheering for him, for them. Him and his dragon. He let his own growl of thunder erupt from his lungs that surprised even him. It was met by an equaling resounding roar of support, and onward the dragon flew. Away from Mestrane, beyond the indestructible fortifications below. Below them the dead grasses of Meadows swayed wildly from the wind of the dragon's large body. Below the body of the dragon a shadow so large that one would guess nightfall had approached. Vince's raised a limb to his neck and felt his gills. He was a beast, and he would do the bidding that his King had set before him. He must, it was his will and it was the dragon's will—and together they were bonded.

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This should be quick, the dragon reminded him. We melt his body to lava and that is all. The greatest weapon shall not be revealed to the rest of Modena too soon. Vince gripped the dragon's large spikes that ran down its spine and squeezed to show he got the message. He wasn't sure whether that was proper dragon communication or not, but he was pretty sure he didn't know dragonspeak. It didn't feel real, but he knew he wasn't dreaming. This was how Gerd died, he thought. No don't think about that, not now. This is wrong, something has overtaken me. The thoughts gnawed at him now, suddenly disinterested in the magisterial landscape below him. They were flying beyond the Meadows now, and past the grass plains which led to the forest beyond. And beyond that, he knew the Carnakanes would be. Wait who are we smoldering to ashes? Vince was somehow conscious that the dragon whose back he rode would hear him. We ride for the magi apprentice, the cave dweller. Egalo is his name. Vince's blood froze now, and he felt a jolt of anxiety through his body. He felt a warm sensation run through his body, and the thrill of the dragon took his worries away and soon he could not remember why that name bothered him...Egalo. They rode over the tan sands of the Carnakanes. Winds blew ripples and waves through the sands down below. Darkness descended over the land below. He lost focus again. Egalo, I know him. The dragon's belly grew hotter and Vince could feel it's blood boiling. You were picked because we must do this. Prove you are worthy, or you will be melted to liquid with the Magi scum. The voice was so deep and powerful now that Vince could feel its power pushing hard on his brain. He put his hands to his head and closed his eyes. He removed his hands, staring at them in horror. Those weren't his hands. They were short of flesh, made of cords and odd muscle. He turned to reach for his spear with his back limb and he maneuvered it to his strong hand. He felt the electricity running through the spear. Purple glow emanated from it, and his heart beat quickly when he realized where the glow was coming from. The stone. That's my stone. What's it doing here? He was jolted back and flung to the back of the dragon's spine as the dragon lurched forward quickly, squealing and roaring as it approached its target. Vince pulled himself forward and saw Egalo down below, riding a stallion as fast as its leg would carry it. He glanced back as he rode. Vince could see where he was headed. Up ahead were the caves. That's where Randor and Egalo were held captive. He's headed back. It didn't look good for Egalo. The dragon was well within range to blow all the fire its mighty lungs could allow right through Egalo's skin and flay him right there. Vince felt rage over take him, well if it's going to happen let it be now! He realized there were thin reins up by the dragon's neck. Yes, master, let us fly quickly. Let us do the lord King's bidding, the dragon seemed pleased by Vince's new urgency. Vince yanked on the reins and downwards swooped the giant dragon. Egalo and his stallion were consumed by the darkness of his shadow.

Vince spied Egalo's hand goes to his pocket. He has his stone. Dust and sand kicked up around Egalo and soon consumed him like a storm. Swirling all around him, the sand began to fly through the air, covering Vince and his dragon in soot and grains of sand. It was impossible to see. He felt the dragon roar in rage, and his belly heated up so hot that Vince screamed at the top of his lungs and dug the butt of his spear into the dragon's massive gills in his side. The dragons released the hot fire from his belly. The world lit up around them. The flames danced and battled against the thick waves of sand that had now risen up to one hundred feet. The flames died and flickered out and Vince could feel himself holding on for dear life. The sand was coming in thicker now. It slammed against his body in chunks and threatening to knock him off the back of the dragon. The dragon reared his head upward and soared up and up above the clouds of sand and smoke. Vince choked on the thick air and emanated his purple light from his stone. The spear in his hand rattled with energy but he had no way to use its power. He could not see Egalo anymore. Vince felt enraged, but even worse he could feel his dragon beginning to lose his strength. Vince began absorbing the energy off his spear and letting it fill his body. He slammed down the beams of purple light into the horns of the dragon's back and instantly his strength was transferred to his dragon. Vince tied himself to the reins to keep himself on, but he could feel his body shutting down. He had done too much. The dragon slammed his body down towards the ground after the trail of sand and dust following Egalo's stallion. Vince managed a weary eyed glance beyond the mighty leather head of the beast. Egalo was less than a hundred yards from the cave mouth. The sand spell was faltering. No, he must live! He is a knight of the realm! Vince doubted the dragon heard him, not now. He was going for the kill. Vince raised his spear which lacked its purple glow and stood as he grasped it. He saw Egalo enter the cave mouth. Vince shook his head, tossing the spear off into the sky around him, and clutched the reins. The dragon was headed straight for the cave's mouth. He means to swallow him whole! Vince jerked the reins up as hard as he could, and before he knew it, they were colliding. The dragon's head lurched clumsily into the top of the cave rock, erupting an explosion of rock and boulder as the majority of the caves came crumbling down in front of the cave mouth, blockading any chance of catching Egalo. Vince's body tumbled like a ragdoll and slammed hard into the cold stone rock. It tumbled in circles through the falling debris and rubble and became just another item amongst the pile of ruins. Even still, his stone shone a radiant purple, even through the cracks of the rocks as they lay. He awoke to Fintan inches from his face, with a blade to his throat and a look of rage in his red face.

"You fooled me well apprentice. A necromancer you are, and a necromancer you will die!"