Out in the far-flung fields of Sir Perry Mannigold's estate, a sinister mound was silhouetted against the rising sun. Long and dark was the shadow it cast across the rows of torn wheat. In all the time since its death, there was not a single sign of decay. Gleaming, black scales still captured the light and covered its muscular frame, whilst twisted, barbed spines rose along its back and appendages. It seemed so alive, as if this unnerving stillness was nothing but a ploy to lure prey into letting their guard down. Meanwhile, two dozen men on horse-back and over sixty infantry remained a safe distance away— in their hands they held aloft the banners of Eadenfros and the Royal Omnirian military. Away from their company, two men were standing only a few feet from the corpse.
Sir Perry eyed his friend with a mix of humor and curiosity. Although, Perry could hardly blame the man for such a reaction. He stood there beside Perry, stock still and wide eyed, staring blankly at the dragon in front of him.
“I trust this evidence is satisfactory?” Perry asked with a smirk.
Archduke Regalus Finch hesitated to answer.
Amidst his racing thoughts, Regalus realized that he had forgotten to take a breath; and so he drew in air through his nose and braced himself. But before answering, he looked nervously over his shoulder at the men who were gathered behind him. Finally, Finch cleared his throat and opened his mouth to speak.
“I would ask that we be provided with the creature’s head as proof,” he said with feigned confidence. “And, of course, I will do my best to convey to the council the enormity of your success.”
Sir Perry smiled to himself at the offer. He rather enjoyed seeing Regalus so out of his element. And it was true that his testimony to the Advisorship Council would be beneficial to Perry and his own ends. Ultimately, he was glad he could count on Regalus. After all, the two had a mutual fondness for one another.
“Perry…” Regalus muttered with a tone of caution, “You really killed this beast?”
Regalus wore a concerned look, eying Perry as if seeing him for the first time.
Perry had expected as much; though, of course, such scrutiny was not exactly welcome. The power to do such a thing — to kill a monstrous creature that had threatened an entire nation— was not something that could be ignored. If he was to take sole responsibility, it is likely that fear and resentment would grow; and then Perry might quickly devolve from lauded hero into frightful villain, if given enough time.
“Be truthful with me, Perry,” Regalus warned. “I am no fool on these matters. I have seen your roster and know the breadth of your forces. This creature is certainly beyond them.”
Perry relaxed his shoulders and exhaled.
“We had help,” he admitted.
“From who?”
Regalus gave him a moment to open up; but when Perry did not answer, he stepped in closer and spoke once again.
“Word of this incident is already spreading,” he whispered, “To Eadenfros and beyond. This story will spread from Omnirius soon enough, if it has not done so already. There will be no hiding. I ask that you be truthful with me, so that I may have all the information before any lies are given time to fester.”
“I have an ally,” Perry answered, “An Elfkin from the west. It was by his magic and skill that we had even the slightest hope of victory.”
Regalus’ expression did not change; he remained quiet as he considered this new information.
“And what do you plan to do with this Elfkin?”
Perry was surprised by the question.
“What do I plan to do?”
Regalus did not yield an inch as he studied Perry with an unfriendly dispassion.
“Regalus, you don’t seriously think I would do anything to endanger our people?”
“Perhaps not. But can you the same of the Elfkin?”
Perry stepped in close to Regalus and a palpable tension brewed between them.
“I would ask that you mind your accusations,” Perry said in a firm yet seething tone.
“Can you be so sure that this audacity you display towards me is not the result of Elfkin enchantment?”
The two held each other’s gaze for a moment. Then, Perry backed away and smiled wryly.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
“I need no enchantment for that, Regalus.”
“Indeed you do not,” he replied with a folding of his arms. “Always the pariah, even after all this time. Ever since you were a boy, you never knew how to show respect to your superiors.”
“That’s not entirely true…” Perry mumbled.
Regalus sighed with a smile at the man who stood before him. Then, he turned once again to the dragon and studied its imposing form all the more closely. And as he did, his faint smile spoiled into a frown, before finally breaking into a look of guilt.
“Perry…” he spoke, barely above a whisper.
“What is it?”
Regalus seemed at war within himself, fighting, mustering the courage to speak some truth. “I…I am sorry, Perry.”
“For what?” Perry laughed, trying to lighten the mood. He did not like seeing Regalus so downtrodden. It was foreign to him.
“When first we had convened — the other council member’s and I— the decision was made to leave Viemen…alone and unguarded.”
Perry’s smile faded.
“I am so terribly sorry,” Regalus said again, his voice straining as he continued. “We—”
“There is nothing to apologize for,” Perry said firmly as he placed a hand on Regalus’ shoulder. The two locked eyes and an understanding passed between them.
“You were right to be afraid,” Perry began, “You could not have known. You have your duties to the people and to the council. I hold no grudges.”
Regalus pushed Perry’s arm away, ashamed to receive such warmth and consideration.
“And what of my duty to my friend? Do not be so quick to forgive me, Perry. I left you to die—!”
“Yet here I stand,” Perry said with a shrug.
Regalus stared at Perry for a few moments, perplexed and astounded.
“You are too kind,” he chastised, resigning himself to defeat. “More kind a man than you have any right to be.”
“It would bring me no joy to see you suffer in regret, Regalus. Nor would it undo what was done. I think our efforts are best directed elsewhere.”
“Perhaps you are right,” Regalus sighed. “There are other, more frightening matters which need attention.”
“What do you mean?” Perry asked with mounting concern.
“For starters,” Regalus began with a sarcastic grin, “There is the frightening matter of your rising popularity.”
Perry turned with surprise to Regalus. His look of shock said it all. At this, Regalus laughed to himself before answering.
“You are creating quite the stir in Eadenfros, Perry. There are rumors of your Elfkin companion in the south, but in the North all accolades are being given to you alone. Even your father cannot escape it.”
“I do wish I could see the look of ire on his face,” Perry said dreamily as he stood beside Regalus.
“It is not just the Omnirian gentry, Perry. Travelers are coming from beyond even our most distant borders. We have received word from both Auborn and Fenvir as well. There have even been emissaries from beyond the western mountains, though I haven’t the faintest idea how they came to know of this so quickly.”
Even Perry could not contain his surprise at this fact. Omnirius had, since even before the fall of the Omnir dynasty, remained relatively cloistered from the rest of the world— partially as a consequence and partially by design. The idea that his actions would cause such a change was truly unexpected.
“And what of the Advisorship?”
“We are set to convene in a few days time— once I have confirmed the death of this creature, that is.”
Perry nodded in agreement, though still he burned with unanswered questions. Questions that he could not risk Regalus being made aware of.
Zorren was already well aware of Telhari’s pressence, even prior to this incident. Though Zorren may likely already know of what happened, when word breaks to the council of what took place, the nobility will certainly not stay silent. Even if it was in name only, Perry was still a Mannigold: Lord Perry Mannigold, son of his Grace, Archduke Ainsworth Mannigold I. If Perry had in his ranks one with power enough to equal an army, it would cause an upset in the balance of power. If the rest of Omnirius was to become aware of Telhari, then it would have to be handled delicately. However, the growth of power and attention for the Starspawn is precisely what Perry had been hoping to achieve, though he had not expected it to manifest in such a way. But, for now at least, Regalus could not be trusted with such information. And so, Perry resigned to do what was asked of him and he pressed the issue no more.
“We can remove the head for you,” he told Regalus, “But after you are done with it, I would like to have it back.” Perry then turned to look at the men that Regalus had brought with him from Eadenfros. “A dozen should do.”
Regalus looked frantically from Perry to the dragon, and back again.
“Are you sure? Will we be able to cut it?”
“It is much easier to cut now that it is dead,” Perry said as he waved toward the men. “And, if you need help, I would be glad to assist you.”
“Hmph. In a rush, are you?”
Perry smiled as he patted the sword at his waist.
“As a matter of fact, I am. I’d like this to take no more than a few hours.”
It took a few moments before the men gathered the courage to approach, after which a small group of seven rode over on horse back.
“Your Grace?” one of the men asked after coming within ear shot of Regalus.
“Bring a few more men over,” Regalus commanded. “We will take the head.”
The man gulped a few times then nodded and rode back toward the group to gather the others.
As the man left, Regalus saw Perry from the corner of his eye begin walking toward the dragon.
“What exactly do you have to do which is so important that it cannot wait?”
Perry stopped in his tracks. He paused a moment, then drew the sword from its sheath and held it aloft as he turned back to Regalus.
“We’re having a party.”