There was a tavern in Pride called The Dragons Head. It served fantastic food for all the family. It discouraged drinking too much, and it was clean. It was also never full; apart from the back room. It was the place to be. Things could get a bit raucous here from time to time. It was here that some of the ex-mangorian soldiers, some of the refugees and some of the lower echelons of Pride had started gambling and overdoing the ale.

Klem and Todd had spent a couple of days getting to know the town. Pendulum had found a library at the guild house and was getting stuck into some obscure magic texts. Tia it seemed was avoiding them and the most they saw of her was a silhouette walking up dragons mount and looking out to sea. Frustrated with the halt in their journey they decided that it was probably best if they hung out at The Dragons Head and listened out for any gossip concerning The Red Man.

Klem and Todd had never really been keen drinkers of ale, but they certainly made up for it in the last couple of days or so.

It was late one night around chucking out time that the two of them had got into a bit of a mess. They were arguing about who had drunk the most ale and whose round it was next. They sat in a side room, poorly lit with a single, ship oil flame. Many of the 'new regulars' had made their way back to either their lodgings or their temporary refugee camp. All were being paid by The Guild in tokens for food and drink, depending on their skills and labour. Klem and Todd had been tending the ekwids for their wage.

"Just one more Todd?" Klem was not yet slurring, but it was not far away.

The air became suddenly cool. Both their dulled senses could just about make out movement in the shadows.

"There must be some drunks outside?" Todd looked questioningly at Klem. The small window did throw some odd shadows into the room now and again. They sat there, ale in hand. Staring at the shadows moving. Dim expressions covered their usually, intelligent faces.

Pieces of orange light danced at the other side of the table. The darkness drew back to allow the dust to oscillate and shine. Todd grabbed his friend's forearm in an immovable clench. Both jaws hung agape. Klem almost dropped his stout. He falteringly managed to edge the jug onto the table. The wavering motes drew together into the rough shape of a person. At first an unsophisticated outline and slowly melting into a fearsome red-bearded warrior.

The terror of the moment was slightly lessened as an excited voice manifestly from the ceiling could be heard.

"Well done Greaves that's exactly where we wanted him." The voice was a matter of fact and wise beyond belief. Then as if a portal was closing the voice was shut off.

The Red Man looked dreadful and frightening to Klem and Todd. The excess stout was not helping them to comprehend the phenomenon. They sat transfixed.

Looking slightly confused for a moment and then steeling himself for the task he had been set, he stared at them. Speaking clearly, in a rehearsed fashion he began.

"The fate of Agios is in your hands.

Your future is to save your lands.

Where you go now is more than dire.

Go North into the dragon's fire.

Viridiana waits for you.

She hoards an egg as dragons do.

Beneath the egg the crystal shines.

The green gem shard will change our times.

The witches that revere her.

Won't want to let you near her.

The luck and light they do abuse.

The magic is for you to use.

Without this prize, your people die.

Your choice is none; I do not lie."

The Red Man smiled at himself. He appeared relieved to have remembered the whole verse. Flicking his eyes up to the ceiling and then back to the room. He waited a few moments and then lifted his right arm as if to comfort the dumbstruck pair.

"Remember these words."He said. "Agios depends on you." With that, the portal in the ceiling shone light into the room, and The Red Man became indistinct, turned into many flashing particles and the particles went back from where they came.

Klem and Todd turned to each other and simultaneously yelled: "Why us?"

The next morning Klem arose groggily. He knocked quietly on the door of the room next to him. A regular snore. A groan. Then regular snoring again. Best to leave Todd to sleep it off.

He grabbed some cheese from the kitchen. He had missed the breakfast rush, and there was no cold meat left. Making do with some boiled eggs and the cheese he made his way outside into the warm sunshine. All the guild were about their business. The children of The Guild were playing chase through the gardens. Some were swimming in the circular pool, others kicking a ball about and making shrieking noises. Gardeners were tending the roses, and the long grass was being hacked down. They also kept a surreptitious eye on the children.

The water of the pool looked inviting. Klem preserved his modesty by leaving his underclothes on; sliding nervously into the warm liquid. There he felt refreshed. The sounds of happiness around him helped calm him, in a way, he never thought it would. The water soothed him, and he found it easy to lie back and float. The effects of the previous night washed away.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

After some time of thoughtless relaxation, he put his mind to the state of affairs. The Red Man was real and not a product of overindulgence. What had he said? He tried to remember the rhyme. He started by picking out the words he could remember. The fate of Agios is in your hands? Dragons, North, witches, crystals, Viridiana? Death? Why had he and Todd been singled out for The Red Mans' rhyme? It must be important. Guilt struck him. Finding peace here in Pride was all well, and good but his family were in the middle of a war. Agios was in the middle of a war. It was up to Him and Todd to find this crystal and use it to help against the Mangorians. He should find Pendulum and ask for his advice. With that in mind, he swam to the rim of the pool and heaved himself out.

Tia wore a dress of dark blue, and unusually for her, the bows in her hair matched the colour of her dress.

"Hi, Klem. Would you like to walk the mount with me? It is a beautiful day."

With a moment's hesitation, Klem looked into her pretty face, smiled helplessly and agreed. Finding confidence in her attention, he tried not to stutter.

"I would love to, the view from up there must be amazing." He dressed quickly and bashfully, falling into step beside her he felt delighted in her company.

At the back of the gardens of The Guild trailed a worn path leading to the foot of Dragons-Mount. They walked together silently until they started to climb.

"Is Todd all right today? I have never seen you without him."

"Yes, well he may have a bit of a sore head. We had a bit too much stout last night, and he probably needs to sleep it off. I seem to have fared better. We had quite a strange evening to be fair, and I was about to go and find our friend the wizard to talk to him about it." Klem flicked his wet hair from his eyes.

"Pendulum. He is a lovely old man, isn't he? He spends hours with the children showing them tricks, or spells as he calls them. My brothers and sisters just adore him."

"He seems very happy here," Klem added, thinking to himself that Pendulum hadn't lost his temper lately so he wouldn't mention it to Tia as maybe he wasn't the best person to entertain children. Hopefully, Pride had already calmed him down.

"What happened last night that was so strange?"

It was impossible to resist Tias' questions, so Klem, feeling comfortable in her presence told her about the appearance of The Red Man and his rhyme. And all the bits he could remember.

Tia became pensive, gave Klem a thoughtful look, and they continued up the steeper part of the climb without a word. They walked past a small rock slide on the way to the summit, and it was only when they reached the sea view that Tia turned to Klem and looked deep into his eyes.

"I see that you are destined for adventure." Her intensity made Klem blush. "I may have some answers to your riddle."

"You can't! Surely?" The surprise almost made him stumble.

Tia reached for the amulet around her neck. The yellow crystal shimmered in the sunlight. Set in a clasp of silver on a thong of leather it radiated unseen power.

"This is the crystal given to me by the dragon, my friend the dragon, Cascadia. It is magical. I think you should have it. Your need is great."

"I cannot take it." Klem felt humbled by the offer. "It is a gift from a dragon meant for you. It would be wrong to accept."

"Then I will summon Cascadia and ask for her advice."

For the second time in two days, Klems' jaw dropped. Tia held her amulet and called the dragons name."

There came a loud crying of gulls from the rocks beneath them, and the birds bolted out to sea in an angry crowd. Behind them came Cascaria, the movement of her beating wings vibrating the salty air; each of her multicoloured scales flashed in the sunlight. Alighting surprisingly gracefully on the summit; for one of her size, the beast threw a wary look at Klem and a questioning one at Tia.

"Why is he here? Have you told him our secrets?" Her voice was a booming whisper.

"He is a friend. He is in great need of our help. He will love you too."

As if to solidify Tias' statement Cascaria stared intensely at Klem. It was as if she was looking into his heart. She appeared happy with what she saw there.

Klem trembled with the awesome majesty of the dragon. After his initial fear subsided, he felt the emanation of a new feeling. It was a sensation of unquestioning love. He realised that this feeling was not unlike the way he felt about Tia.

"Klem Is in need of a crystal."There, she came right out with it. "He is separated from his family, and the Mangorian army stands in his way. The gem could help him and also better the fate of Agios."

"Do you think my powers are fancies? To be handed out like sweets to children? I trusted you, Tia. I thought we were friends."

Cascadia bent her long neck forward aggressively and stuck her snout close to Tia's face.

"But I know you are a good friend, and you would like to help others. I came to you for advice like good friends do." Her words had the desired effect. The beast drew back her snout and looked more sympathetically towards Klem.

"I understand. Now, did you want me to give any more sweets out, maybe his friends need one each? Or would you like me to fly over your enemies and burn them all alive? That would save time and crystals? I tell you now that will not happen. I am your friend and maybe this whimpering pups' friend, but I will only help if you or he are in desperate danger. I will come in your time of need, but other than that I will not get involved in the struggles of Agios. I am not of this world and will not be a part of its conflicts. I will hear more of this pups story and then decide if he is worthy of my aid. Does it speak?"

Klem took a deep breath. Gathered his wits and put his heart on the line.

"Our village was invaded. We were split from our families. We were captured and enslaved. We managed to escape. We must find our families and make sure they are still alive and help them if we can. We think they have been taken to Kings Port and that is where we were headed but circumstances led us here, and now The Red Man has given us a riddle to solve. I think the power of Pride and maybe the power of Viridiana can help us to help Agios and find our kin." Klem gasped. It all rushed out of him like a fart from an ekwid. He didn't know he had it in him. But put like that his plight seemed almost straightforward.

"Viridiana you say! Where does she fit into this?"

"I do not know. The Red Man's riddle spoke of a green shard. I guess it is similar to your yellow shard. It has the power of luck and light. I think we must find this crystal. Please, will you help us?"

"Your tale is a good one. I am sorry for your plight. It seems you have no control over your destiny. I am loathed to get too involved. But I will be your friend. Which is a shame really as I was going to eat you. Hoping, you were not too tough. Unlike the natives around here. I can help you a little. Viridiana is known to me. She nests in 'The Missing Mountain.' That is to the far North of Upton. I have on occasion dined with her on the Dragon Isle. Lately, though, I have not seen her. I will give you a shard of pride and power and call you friend. Watch the skies for your gift."

Cascadia lifted her wings. On the summit of Dragons-Mount, it was only moments before the wind caught, and she glided home.

Klem looked at Tia. She smiled happily back.

As she explained the magic, Klem stood there enthralled in her friendship. This simple, kind girl had lifted his heart. He felt alive. His task was not over. He hoped she would travel with him and Todd to Missing Mountain and share the adventure.

They both turned to go back down the mountain. Klem felt the urge to hold her hand and steady her progress. Before he could do that though, Tia turned to the sea and there on the horizon was the biggest boat that Klem had ever seen. It had three masts and was using all its sails. Tia stopped in her tracks to wave frantically at the far distant vessel.

"He is here! He is here!" She yelled. "My Anton is here to take me to Turo. Come Klem we must pack, we both have adventures awaiting."

Klem pulled back his redundant hand and downheartedly stuffed it back into his pocket.