‘“Did you really do all of these things? You? Tell me the truth Isaac! Meet my damn gaze!!”’

“Argh!” Rising up in a hurry, Thug rose cleanly to his feet. Seeing grasslands, he remembered his situation. ‘No pain?’

“Thug!!”

A heavy weight impacted against his right leg.

“...you know healing spells too?” Only the high priestesses of Elenia could invoke holy energies to heal injuries. That he knew. Touching his head and only feeling dry blood, he sighed. “You…Agh! Stop clawing at me with the wings!”

As they had evolved from arms, dragon wings had the remains of a finger that pointed forward outside of the wing’s membrane, in a similar way to a bat’s. The difference was that this still retained the tearing function, used in rituals. “I am sorry!” Hare retreated a few steps, worry evident in her movements as she tried to retreat in an unstable manner, the wings being at the front and not that good at moving backwards.

Looking around, Thug saw they weren’t that far off the battlefield. ‘Are we in the same location?’ Thought as his eyes detected the same wall of ice, now halved. Looking behind, and seeing a tree dyed a bit in red, his hand rushed to his dagger. They were just a bit nearer the forest. ‘The sun is setting. Did they leave?’

“Does it hurt anywhere? I had a lot of trouble healing your back. It had completely shattered.” Hare jumped a shaky ‘step’ towards him.

Thug patted his body a few times, more to cure his disbelief than to check. “Nothing hurts? You could make a living with this. A good living I bet. Healing potions are expensive in my work field.”

“I see…” Hare lowered her head, thinking she had been the one at fault. If only she had attacked sooner, or used a counterspell.

“Well, it was the best fight we could have hoped for, not minding the ending of course. Seeing as I am not dead, they have decided to give up on their pursuit. Great job, Hare. Nicely timed breath.” Thug looked around, his half smile slowly disappearing. “Now, where is the nearest city located?”

Hare copied him and, pointing with her head to the northeast, added, “The knight left towards there!” Now calmer, she sniffed the air to get a better sense of position.

“So there’s a city, huh. Let's go to the northwest.” Decided Thug. Checking his pouch, only a meagre amount of provisions were touched. “Well, maybe we could hunt a bit here?”

Hare nodded several times, her tail dancing around as always.

“I will put you in charge. I will make the fire.”

“Can’t we do it together?” Asked Hare, her tail lowering.

Thug simply pointed to the quickly darkening sky. “I do not see very well at night.”

“Oh, Right! I will bring a lot!”

‘She is fairly big. Hard to see her as a pup.’ Almost eighty centimetres tall, the figure of the jumping dragon was two metres long without its tail, and it alone reached another two. ‘Was she always this big? The first time was smaller I think.’ Remembering the moment she had flown through the forest, he repressed a shudder as her wings extended to their eight metres of wingspan. ‘Thank the Gods it had been an elder forest. In a young one she would have… No sense thinking about it.’.

Grabbing his tools, he started the fire, preparing the surroundings so as to not start another wildfire.

………..

“The metalworker is here.”

“Let him in, Analyst Marc.” Ordered Ires, dressed in the common military uniform of the Empire, a green with some dark blue colours. Short and blond hair to never hinder her field of vision. Ice cold blue eyes that tore a hole into the paperwork she was manning. A robust physique that would be the envy of any soldier and athlete.

Unease stopping Marc, he added, “I advise you to be diplomatic. He is having second thoughts. As many as a drunkard can have.”

“Open the door already.” Curtly retorted Ires.

Biting his words, Marc nodded and left the room after opening the door, hitting the metalworker, an old man expert in his craft, on his way out.

“Did you call me, my Lady?” Asked Ruf, gazing round in the small study and dusting his hit shoulder. A minimalist atmosphere, there was only a desk, a few chairs and a window behind the lady. He did his best to hold in the wariness in his gaze.

‘Sharp eyes. Quick of mind. If this man is a drunkard, I am too.’ “Feel at ease, I have only come to ask something.”

“I answered all I knew about Jacob.” His eyes rushed to the sword at her back, regret apparent in them.

“I have come not for more information about Drael, the Snowbringer.” Cold words in a brusk tone. Humanising beasts was never a good idea, and the things knew best how to take advantage of it. Picking up her armour from the bag near her desk and putting it on top of it, she continued, “Get this repaired in a week.”

“That…that’s runic armour?!” Ruf advanced a step before stopping himself. “A, a week? Deciphering the enchantments alone will…”

The sound of a rolled up papyrus hitting the ground shut him up. “Here you go. I get from your words you can get it done.”

“...It would only be a stopgap measure. Restoring it fully is above the time you have given me.” An unknown emotion came to his words, “And, what is happening in a week, if I may be allowed to ask?”

“Taking care of the dragon of course.” She moved her shoulders, uncomfortable with the lack of weight in them. “Your testimony has been invaluable.”

“I didn’t ask for help for you to kill J…”

“Drael, the white dragon. Careful with what you say in my presence. I could report you to the Inquisition, you know? Helping or harbouring monsters is against the law.”

“He has a name nor is he a monster!” Fury broke through his facade.

“Then why did you report him if he is not a monster?” The confident smile of Ires further ignited him. Her words froze him. “You agreed with us. And you did the right thing. Giving monsters second chances is beyond foolish. Anything more?”

Not wanting to confront his regrets for longer, he shook his head, grabbed the bag and rushed out.

“A week?” Asked her new second in command, who had been sitting on a chair near the wall all along.

“That’s the week I give you to make the preparations to assault the mountain. I expect high ordinance to take out the different entrances. Having him run away would be a great annoyance.”

“A week?! Her mother took us two months to track down and half a month to prepare with all of our forces!!”

“Share the orders if you would.” Unshaken, Ires continued writing.

“This is ma…!”

“Share the orders.” Ires tone left room for no disagreement.

Hailing, she nodded and left the room.

Only when she was alone did Ires stop writing. Turning the chair around, her almost mad gaze fixed itself in the white moon. ‘No more failures. I have grown tired of both my subordinates and enemies. I will have this dragon head. And then I will crush Thug.’. The diary he had pocketed that way back had already been torn apart and thrown. She had learned all she needed. ‘No more running away. These two will be the first. The other two will be the second. And the mother will be the last stop.’. Until dragons were no more she would not stop.

……..

“You hunted a lot, huh.” Words that smelled of wonder and pride. Eight har…long ears rested in front of the bonfire.

“It’s only expected of me!” Hare said, pride overflowing. Surrounding them, an everlasting black sky, tinted with the white of stars and the dark of clouds. A cold and refreshing wind ruffled her wings and she let out an immodest purr of content. A hand found her head, and struggled to make itself be known as it caressed her scales.

“Good job.” Happiness and…something underneath? It was akin to the warmth of her deceased father. A wave of nostalgia came by, and she responded by coiling onto a ball near Thug, not wanting to break the contact.

Noticing her sadness, Thug, sitting near the small bonfire as the meat was being cooked, looked up and kept up the patting. “It is a nice night. Been too long in a city to not have missed this sky.” ‘Been out cold too long would be a truer statement.’

Half asleep, Hare murmured, “It’s warm.”

“Yes. It is.” Thug let another day pass by without asking. She hadn’t either. Slowly laying down on the grass, he wondered if he could have had something like this. He hadn’t cared about deserving it before. He would have taken it either way, for she had accepted him. But now, even after crushing the promise he had made to her? After reverting back to what he had been before?

The stars, immutable and indifferent, returned his empty gaze. He had saved her just because. Well, maybe not just because. He would have not forgiven himself. It had been egotistical, an excuse. He had saved the illusion of her kid, not Hare herself. He had seen a reminder of what it could have been and had dared not to break it. Neither had he intended to care for her.

“What does it make of me, then?” He mumbled to the sky above. Had he even been worthy of saving her? Moving his body a bit to reposition the grass below, he closed his eyes. ‘I fell once and she helped me to my feet. Maybe I have become strong enough to do so without her help. Pfff, as if.’ Stifling a bitter laugh, he slowly fell asleep. ‘A shame we won’t meet again, but I will never regret it. You made me see the world with a different palette of colours.’

The last thing he heard that night was the slow breathing of the life he had saved with his own hands.

……….

“Do I really have to be in this form?” Pouted Hare, her half smile betraying the little fire in her false fury.

“So you don't like the clothes we brought, huh.” Thug answered, in a betrayed tone of voice.

“No, no, no! I love them!!” Hare’s tail hit the ground with a bit of force, supporting her opinions.

“Then let’s get going.” Said Thug as he led the march again. ‘Cleaning the pouch is going to be goblins’ work.’ He could only pray for the rudimentary bag made of grass to keep the meat’s grease in it.

Hare struggled to follow his early walk, which Thug slowed down a bit each step. As if a mirror of their first walk together, Hare, thanks to her inquisitive nature, started to ask all kinds of questions.

“From where came all this grass?” Was her fifth question.

“Well, the grasslands came to be when… I have the local folklore a bit forgotten but…” Tried to remember Thug. After warning her, Thug started to explain, “ Take it with a grain of salt. A long, long time ago, this land was a never ending tropical forest, filled to the brim with the best creations of Apex, Goddess of the Natural Orden. Rejected by humans, she instead took under her wing the monsters that fought against our rule, and this forest had been her gift. From here, the monsters started to gain traction and conquered nearby cities and kingdoms, enlarging the Cursed Lands, the grasslands we are on.”

“In the end, Karax, God of Bravery and, that long ago, War, had to intervene before the human alliance fell to the Goddess’ pawns. Gifting his powers to the best of the human race, these heroes led the charge and managed to disperse the chaotic and badly disciplined monster forces.”

Smelling the lies, Hare shook her head. “You are not tricking me! Why is this made of grass?!”

Thug could but laugh, “It is way simpler. My take is that the har… long ears eat the tree saplings, stopping any tree from growing. Add to it the little value of the lands compared to the rich coast and you get a plain untouched by human hands.”

“But why doesn’t the grass grow up to be trees? What is a tree?”

Now Thug didn’t know how to respond. ‘What is a tree?’ He himself got caught in Hare’s pace. For better or for worse, two humans came to their sight by the northeast.

Readjusting Hare’s hood for her, Thug tried to press forward before Hare, sniffing the air, bolted towards the two figures, far into the distance. “For Dice’s damned…!” Thug rushed behind her, being outscaled in energy and speed.

“Hey?! Something wrong?!” The left figure stepped forwards as if to shield their partner, relaxing after seeing it was just a kid and her paternal figure, they thought. Seeing her horns, the figure’s alertness grew again.

“Have you met my brother!? Is he fine?!” Hare almost collided first head with the man, his build visible even under all of their winter clothing.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

“Your brother?” Asked, with a bit of pity and worry, the wife. “Is he lost?”

“No, no! He is fine. But he left home before mother kicked me out, so I have not seen him si…”

Thug, finally catching up, grabbed Hare and pushed her back. “Sorry for the disturbance.” Nodding at the man, Thug gestured to them to continue their journey. His eyes never left the right hand of the man, dangerously close to his newly purchased dagger.

“We can try to he…” Whispered the woman to her companion, who promptly ignored her, marking a new, quicker, pace.

“Wait!! Have you never seen my brother, Dr…”

Now Thug covered her mouth with his hand, pushing her forward. “Stop, it’s not a smart move. We will talk, so hold it in.”

To his surprise, Hare accepted the excuse.

….

“So you smelled your brother in those two?”

“Yes! Can we check on him, please? I have…a rare feeling of danger…” Hare’s gaze lowered, together with her tail. The scent had been focused on the dagger.

Thug sighed and looked to the northeast. ‘Why would a dragon hunter leave their prey? Because a juicier one is near… Could I win again?’. The pleading hand of Hare, which had found his coat, dispelled his doubts. ‘In the worst case they both can fly away.’

“So be it. Let’s go to Troglod then.” Thug did his best to gulp his misgivings. He would not be the one to tell Hare to forsake her family. ‘Now to redo two days of progress…Another five days of walking…’

…….

Troglod, a city created by the falling of the dwarf clans of the mountains, built upon one of the ruins of their cities and home to the one and only sewage system of the whole Empire, even if it had been stolen. A bulwark of the Winter Wars, it had fallen into a semi trading city, a job it failed to perform in a stupendous manner. Badly maintained roads on the smaller side, gates focused on the defence and small streets made for urban warfare. It was past its prime. Both Greengate and Mountainhold were better commercial hubs, to the west and east of here respectively.

Nonetheless, its stubborn residents made the situation work with their stupendous metalwork. Adding that to the artificial increase of demand thanks to its little industry, it had become the house of the best ironworks in the East Duchy. Even if it had diminished in both volume and splendour, it remained as a reminder of human supremacy upon the dwarves.

“Identification?” Asked the gate guard, cladded in the grey uniform of the city.

Not uttering a word, Thug showed his mercenary id.

Scoffing at his name, the guard shook his head and let them pass.

Hare, as if in a trance, trotted forward in a hurry, stopping several times to sniff around. Thug, not knowing what to say, as he had never felt a bond with his siblings, silently followed her, not having a better idea. What he did was stop in a nearby store, needing a new vice to stop his wandering mind.

After two hours, Hare walked them into a small forge, an independent store, where the scent was everywhere. The storefront was filled with tables on which rested several items. From horseshoes to swords, passing by a…flintlock pistol? Not holding in his curiosity, Thug eyed it, ‘An exotic design. I do not know what purpose the wider tube serves, but it looks way bulkier.’

The sound of Hare hammering the door startled him of his warrior’s curiosity and, before he could stop Hare, the door was flung open.

“Brat, stop ham…” Ruf’s voice was cut short when he recognized the horns of the kid.

Hare beamed in happiness and, with an almost dancing tone, she asked, “Friend of mine brother, do you know where he is?”

“F…friend?” A slight crack in his grumpy voice. Noticing his conflict, Thug stopped and he limited himself to watch.

Smiling, Hare nodded. “My brother Drael marked you! As a trustworthy person deserving of friendship! And the friends of my brother are mine! So, could you tell me where he is? I am dragon five! He should have talked about me!”

“He…he had a family?” A whisper more than anything.

Thug stepped forward. “Hare, can you check this map for me? I need your help. That table should be enough to work on it, right?”

Hare nodded, happy to be relied upon, and rushed to one of the tables where the metalwork was displayed.

Ruf’s unfocused eyes followed Thug as he walked towards him and positioned himself face to face with him.

“Wanna go inside?” Started Thug, rare comfort in his words.

“Jacob…had a sister?” Ruf’s mind started to remember their conversations. Forgework was always exhausting, not that Jacob had ever complained. A calm fellow, it was rare to see him smile. Professional, maybe too professional. Still, his passion had been true. ‘“I apologise for being bad company. I never learned how to joke, well, it was more of I hadn’t been allowed to. My sister would have loved to torture you with questions.”’ And his words too. Jacob had never lied to him, he just had refused to listen.

Putting a hand on his shoulder, Thug nodded, shielding him from the swarm of people, as they were near a busy road at noon.

“I know the feeling.”

“What do you know?!” Snapped Ruf, needing a target to vent his frustrations. Hare jumped at his angry voice. Pushing away Thug’s hand, he repeated, “What the Nethers do you know?! I was drunk!! I had been betrayed!! He never told me anything! He is a monster, a plague, a human-eater! I did what…I did what I had to.”

“Yet you already know the truth.” Thug’s voice didn’t lose its soft tone as he retreated his bruised hand. “You still say ‘he’.”

Ruf crashed on his hands and knees, propelling Thug into a crouching position. Tears flowing out, he struggled to get out, “I…I betrayed his trust! I…I thought nothing would come of it. I would just report it, gain a few coins, and he would run away with my conflicted feelings! They…they had come with swords…with fenix dust. And he has yet to run. He knows nothing yet. I despise this me. I…I became a coward overnight.”

“I know.”

His hands clawed into the soil, dirtying themselves. “I…I was hurt and I feared for my life! A dragon…how could I believe such a thing from a respectful fellow like him…He was weird, yes, but the good kind of weird. Weirdly kind. Weirdly diplomatic. Weirdly passionate…I felt wronged by him and sent assassins to repay the joy he had brought into my lonely life!”

“I know.”

“I…I am sorry…I regretted it once I awoke the next morning…I tried to contact him but he was nowhere in town. Tainted barrels, why did I order him to bring an ornamental vase the next time he came to the store! I…I…”

Thug grabbed him by the shoulders. “I know. And he may never forgive you, nor he should have. The damage you have made today will always remain within him. But you can be better. You can mitigate the wrong you have made today, and bow to never make it again. You can turn into a person who would never do such a thing.”

“...how?” Vacant wet eyes returned Thug’s gaze.

“You already know.”

Energy coming back to his glare, Ruf cleaned his eyes with his arm. Following that, he prostrated himself in front of Thug. “Please! Save my friend! I will reward you with everything I have! My store, my skills, my time…even…even my life!! Please, save my student! He lives on the nearby mountain! The eastern side, near the biggest tree, has its entrance! It still has to have apples!”

A smirk sprung up. “Dammit old man. This was the moment you were supposed to grab your hammer and follow us.” Rising up, Thug turned his back on him. “Still, I will accept. But a mercenary always takes a cut before starting the job.”

Hope returned to his eyes. “...everything here is yours.”

Thug shook his head as he ‘tsh’ed at him. “Never pay too much at the start. I could run away with the money.” His smirk grew. “I want that flintlock pistol.”

“The revolver?” An unfamiliar word came from Ruf’s lips. “It’s in the experimental stage. Jacob and I were working on it. I don’t recommend it. It is dangerous.”

“Does it work?”

“One time out of two.” Ruf gulped. “And it tends to explode when it doesn’t.”

Thug started to laugh. His laugh grew to almost a roar before he had to rest and take air, further startling Hare, who had stopped looking at the map. “Old man, you made the best weapon for me. I love betting my life at bad odds. And fifty out of fifty is one of the best I have taken lately.”

Grabbing the weapon, Thug hastily nailed it in his coat, letting it hide inside it. “Let’s go, Hare.”

“You aren’t taking anything more?”

“I repeat, never pay too much at this stage.”

Ruf froze for a bit as he overlooked how they started to walk towards the direction of the mountain. Recovering his nerves, and not understanding his niceness, he screamed, “Thank you, mercenary! Consider my store your second home!”

Thug simply waved back, not turning around.

After a while of walking, Hare asked, unsure of if she should. “Is he fine?”

“Now he is. He is better than before, that I can tell.”

Noticing Thug’s clenched hands, Hare whispered, “And you?”

“Me?” Only then did Thug notice that his body had clenched up. He had to breathe in for a couple times before he managed to calm down. “A fish in a tree…Yes. I am.”

“Re…really?” Her tail stopped moving.

“Really…That just, struck too close to home. I was in a similar position, once.”

“And how did you recover?” She whispered, not knowing if she was probing too deep.

A sad smile. “Someone said something similar to me.”

“Like what you just did?!” Hare’s tail danced a bit around. “Sharing goodness is a thing to always take pride in! I am sure the one that helped you back then is proud of you.” Light words, her try to lighten the mood as she dramatically puffed out her chest, a move that always made Thug happy for an unknown motive.

Thug couldn't help but laugh at her excitement. The sad smile now a bittersweet one, he ruffled her hair. “No sweat on my back. It’s what we are supposed to do, ain’t it?” ‘Would you have been proud of me, Irania? Sorry for speaking your words, I suck at consoling people.’

“Yes!” Her tail now in full swing, she nodded happily.

…..

“This tunnel is pretty well made.” Thug commented as they entered the cave. Getting out of the city had been fairly easy. Nobody went near the mountain. Rumours of an evil dragon residing there had already taken hold of the province. Returning to Thug’s comment, it was an understatement. The slope of the tunnel was unnoticeable. The walls were a perfect rectangle with not a nick nor stone out of place. Smooth marble filled with endless engravings too old but still legible. Dwarven architecture was always a sight to behold.

“Of course! It’s the home of my brother!” Hare added.

“Didn’t know dragons knew how to dig.” ‘Nor build.’

They had to walk a little more for, after five other rooms, they reached the old throne room. Now, it was filled to the brim with tables and bookshelves, displaying the collection of Drael. From wood carvings to dresses. From ceramic works to swords and buckets. From paintings to models of alien cities. The room was also breathtaking, as Thug’s torch was not enough to lighten it all. The roof was unseen too, leaving an impression of gigantic magnitude.

But what conveyed a true sense of wonder was sleeping…well, now awake, in the middle of the room, in an empty space.

A head half the size of Thug rose from the ground. In a low growl that made the caver rumble, its white scales shining in mesmerising light plays, it spoke, “What brings a mortal to my…”

His terrifying atmosphere was dispelled by a happy scream from Hare. “Brother!!” Turning into her dragon form, she rushed, or jumped, to bump heads, or horns, with him. The typical greeting between dragons who were extremely friendly one to another.

“Sister? I am happy to see you but, why are you…” A dangerous glint in his eyes appeared and, using his wings to rise to his four metres of height and its twelve metres tail to head, he turned towards Thug. His wings propelling him upwards, he towered upon Thug, who instinctively backed a few steps, almost dropping the torch.

“Brother Drael! Don’t be rude! He is my partner! Thug!!”

“A thug?” Doubt was apparent in his voice.

“Nah.” Recovering or, at least, faking his usual confident smirk, Thug answered. “Thug. Name’s Thug.”

Drawl licked the air with his reptilian tongue, too surprised to show decorum. “You named yourself a brigand? What dishonour did you commit?”

“Too many to count.” His smirk now shined true.

Noticing the ashamed smell, so faint his sister didn’t catch it, he slowly nodded, piecing the puzzle together. “I see. You have chosen a good way to make amendments. I thank thee for saving my beloved sister.” Lowering his head, he showed proper draconic respect, as letting your sight leave the other was a show of honour and trust.

Struggling to climb on his back, Hare started, overjoyed with their new friendship. “And I have a name now! Hare!! Isn’t it cool?!”

Not knowing what to make of Thug naming his sister after a common prey of dragon pups, Drael looked back again to Thug.

“Quick on both mind and feet. Beautiful skin. And a love for winter. Doesn’t it suit her?”

“It lacks the weight a dragon’s name should have.” Its low tone was now tranquil, even if reproachful.

“I despise loud things, what can I say?”

That made Drael stop to think for a few seconds. “A thing that I, too, dislike. It is a good choice. And it is time, too, we push aside the barbarism that has plagued our race. That it was our way was not, nor is nor it will ever be, a valid excuse for the destruction we cause.”

“I see a lot of goods p…”

“Do not end that sentence, partner of my sis… my sister Hare. Everything here has been crafted by me. I have taken upon the burden of maintaining the old dwarven fortress too.”

“My bad. I apologise.” A serious tone and a curt nod.

“Can we start talking about our journey already, brother?!” Answer, angrily, Hare. “I have a lot to talk about! Did you know that quimeras exist?”

Playing along, happy to see his sister, so timid and shy, energetic, “I do not know of that quimera you speak of…?”

“Well, you see…”

Thug, not wanting to intrude in family time, returned to the tunnel and sat against the rock. Picking a cigarette from his pouch, which he had brought in the city, he ignited it and took a smoke. “Damn. Tastes like crap. I would cut an arm for some booze.”

………

Carefully grabbing his slumbering sister by the neck with his mouth, Grael, or Jacob, carried her to a spot filled with cushions. It was his sleeping spot when he was working in his human form. fingers were, after all, a luxury dragons weren’t awarded with.

“She is sleeping like a rock, huh? You oughta have been a good brother.”

If only an eyesore wasn’t here. He didn’t need to turn his head to inspect the thug, as his monocular vision, granted by having each eye on a different side of the head, let him keep tabs on him independently. “Regretfully, you give me honours I do not deserve. But I do not trust you enough to confide you with my worries about my current stance.” Slowly laying to rest his sister, he turned to look at the mercenary. A few jumps, that made the chamber tremble, got him close enough to approach the thug with his head, leaving only a palm between his fangs and Thug’s throat.

“Nice breath. Smells better than mine.” Having gotten too used to dragons, Thug simply remarked.

“I do not get you, human.” He ignored that comment.

“For that you would need hands, right?” A common joke in bars where dice was often played. To get the character of someone you needed to roll the dice with them.

A puff of frozen air almost knocked Thug backwards, leaving dozens of small touches of ice in his clothes. “Do not humour me with your senseless blabbering. I will ask of you one thing. Did you do anything to my sister?”

Another smirk, an image Drael had come to hate. “Yeah. I tried to kill her twice. Is that all you wanted to ask?”

Drawl opened her mouth and almost bit Thug in half, stopping himself and only testing a chunk of his cloak.

“Hey!” Thug checked the missing chunk on his old cloak.”...well, I am not that offended. It is old after all.”

“Get out of my home, human. I have yet to erase you only because you have brought my sister unharmed. But you are a dangerous variable.”

“If you think I am dangerous you are going to die.” Lazily warned Thug as he started to search in his pouch with his right hand.

“You dare to threaten me?” Drawl breathed in unconsciously, almost breathing a cone of ice by muscle memory.

“I have come here to warn you. Ruf paid me to tell you you have dragon hunters at your tail.”

Warmth came to Drael’s eyes. Drawl completely trusted Ruf. “I see. I appreciate the warning. I will change my words of before. You will leave together with my…”

Grabbing a cigar and lighting it, Thug randomly said, “Let’s play chess.”

“Huh?”

“Better. I challenge you at chess.” A confident smile.

…………….