A freezing wave of water woke me up, tearing me from my deep sleep. Alcohol and exhaustion had tired me out and we fell asleep atop Uldru's saddle before we thought of climbing back down.
Rachel shrieked and clung to me, shivering from the cold.
A blanket was covering both of us, now soaking wet and cooling us down until I kicked it away.
Thurn was standing atop the saddle, a bucket in hand. “Good morning, recruits!”
“We aren't recruits,” I complained, weaving a spell to dry us off. It's just a heating spell that tops out, not even a real drain on my mana at this point.
“Yes, you are,” objected Thurn, stashing the bucket on the saddle. “You haven't even finished your first mission. Get up and take care of your dragon, she's wrecking the camp searching for you.”
Eva stood up and started climbing down, not even fully awake. “I'll calm her down.”
“No, it's my responsibility. I should go down,” I said, grabbing the rim of the saddle and pulling myself up.
Rachel groaned but let go of me, settling into the now warm and toasty blanket. “I'll be right there.”
I kissed her on the forehead and climbed down.
The crew was already packing everything up, the tables having been chopped down and stowed away for firewood. The kitchen was still standing and served some sort of baked goods.
Dosor skipped from one group of people to another, forcing her way into the middle to sniff for food or me.
I was sure we had left enough food with her but it was the first time she slept away from me.
“Dosor!” I whistled midway down Uldru, attracting Dosor's attention. “Stop bothering the crew.”
Her head snapped to me, a leg bone that remained from yesterday's feast stuck out of her mouth.
The guy standing next to her waved her away, yelling something I was too far away to hear.
Dosor bounded over like a wolf with her tongue hanging out of her mouth, rushing over the muddy gras as I descended.
I barely touched the ground when Dosor tackled me against Uldru's belly, licking my face.
“Alright, alright,” I giggled, trying to keep her away. I didn't try too hard. “Sorry for leaving you alone.”
She purred and laid down on the ground, pinning me between her and the wall of scales that was Uldru.
“Come on! I won't do it again,” I reassured her, patting her snout and horns.
She didn’t move, keeping me stuck there.
Uldru slowly moved, laughing a deep roar-like laughter that had the entire camp looking up at him to check if everything was alright. The people attached to the scaffolding clung to it, the deep rumble shaking his entire body.
I scratched Dosor’s scales, wrapping around her snout to reach her horns, where she enjoys it the most.
She simply lifted me up and stood on her hind legs, starting to awkwardly waddle back with her wings catching any stray furniture strewn around and throwing it over. Her tail swung around wildly, trying to balance her body by relocating her weight.
I told myself that the yells were not related to us.
We got to our camp and found it just as we left it, a tidy mess of a campfire with a tent next to it. The food hadn’t been touched.
Dosor dropped onto the ground, cushioning my descent but pinning me next to the supplies.
I patted her. “Alright, let’s wait for the others before we eat breakfast.”
She exhaled a puff of frosty air but didn’t move again.
I enjoyed the solemn moment, watching Mom’s crew pack up their tents. Dosor’s warm scales were comforting and I spent my time drawing blueprints into the air with illusions.
Improving our gear was a constant thought plaguing my mind and the combat didn’t help it either.
I shouldn’t have been hurt that easily by a young hydra. My enchantments should have prevented the damage that the impact caused.
Dosor breathed out a cloud of frost that tore through my illusion like paper.
“Hey!”
Ethan sat down next to me, biting into one of those weird baked goods before asking “Having a good time? We thought you’d like some breakfast.”
He handed me one of those baked goods as I laughed mirthlessly. “Yeah, I love being pinned down on the ground.”
“Noted,” said Rachel, giggling like a gremlin.
That… was probably one of the things I didn’t get why it was funny, was it?
I bit into the baked good.
“Why is this filled with beans?!” I asked in confusion. That was the last thing I expected in this… well, it does kind of look like something wrapped.
Ethan laughed as he answered “It’s something they picked up from the North, A thin bread dough filled with Beans, meat, other vegetables and some sort of cheese. Good for using scraps.”
Eva nodded, finishing off the last of her food. “I got the recipe but I doubt that I’ll get it right on the first try.”
Rachel joined us, sitting on Dosor's other side. "So, how's the prince of enchantments doing this morning?"
I chuckled. "The prince of enchantments got a wake-up call in the form of a freezing bucket of water, as you know. But all in all, not too bad."
Ethan grinned. "You and Dosor seemed to have a heart-to-heart moment over there."
"Dosor just missed me," I replied, taking another bite of the bean-filled baked good. "Didn't you, girl?"
Dosor rumbled in response, her tail flicking back and forth in apparent agreement.
Rachel stretched, her eyes gleaming mischievously. "So, what's the plan for today, oh prince of enchantments?"
“Pack up and start our journey to Khazur,” I explained, nudging Dosor to let me go. “We still have a revolution to deal with. Also, please don’t use that nickname.“
“Okay, oh mighty hero,” teased Rachel, cleaning off a bean from my chin and flicking it into Dosor’s waiting maw. “Let’s get going then.”
We quickly finished our breakfast and fed Dosor before packing up and mounting Dosor.
Riding across the once bustling campsite, now turned back into a quiet swamp, was a quick affair with Dosor’s constant growth and training.
Mom sat with Uldru, just waiting for the last preparations to get done and cuddling up to him. Her helmet was in her lap as she was fiddling with her knife.
She had a way of conveying volumes with just a look, having never needed to hide her emotions since she always kept her helmet on.
Her weathered face helf a mix of pride, concern, and perhaps a tinge of nostalgia, but that was just my best guess.
“Caleb,” she said, standing up and walking over as she saw us approaching. “You and your crew are stepping into a world of uncertainties. But you’ve faced a hydra, and however small and young it was, that’s no small feat. I’ve watched you grow from a child fascinated by dragons and enchantments to a Dragonknight I proudly call my son. I couldn’t be prouder.”
I felt a lump forming in my throat. She wasn’t one to express sentiments openly, and her words carried a profound significance, even if it was kind of embarassing.
She extended a hand toward Dosor. “Take care of my little Knight. You’ve got a unique bond, and that’s something you should treasure.”
Dosor nudged her snout against Mom’s hand, as if understanding the gravity of the moment.
“Mom,” I began, struggling to find the right words. Damn it.
She interrupted me with a smile, her eyes twinkling as she patted Dosor’s snout. “No need for fancy words, Caleb. Just do what you do best and make me proud. And remember, no matter where you fly, I will always look over you.”
Rachel squeezed my waist, trying to reassure me.
Mom pulled out a pouch and tossed it up to me. “A sending stone, charged with enough mana to contact me wherever I am. You can ask me for help with anything, combat or else. Once you ask, I’ll reply as soon as I can but you’ll have to charge it.” She stopped a second, her smile widening slightly. “Not that that’s going to be a problem anymore.”
With that, she stepped back, allowing Dosor to begin moving.
The air crackled with a mix of anticipation and nostalgia. Dosor spread her wings wide, catching the wind in her wings.
“What is she doing?” asked Rachel, clutching my waist in fear.
Ethan laughed loudly, scooching in his seat to stay steady. “She’s gonna take off! Hang on.”
With an almighty push of her wings, we soared into the sky. Gusts of winds, nothing compared to the ones Uldru makes when he lifts off, caused Moms braid to whip around wildly.
As the swamp shrank beneath us, I couldn’t help but steal a glance back at Mom.
She stood there, her hand raised in a silent farewell, and I knew, even though we were heading into the unknown, a part of Dragon's Heart would always be with us.
----------------------------------------
The journey through the mystical lands unfolded with a mix of excitement and trepidation. The rhythm of Dosor's wings guided us through diverse terrain, transitioning from the dense swamp back to the plains as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow across the horizon.
One evening, as we traversed through a desolate landscape, we stumbled upon a hidden oasis—a small bustling marketplace that seemed to materialize out of thin air. The air was thick with the aroma of spices, and the sizzling sounds of various dishes being prepared drew us like a magnet.
Eva, with her keen archer's eyes, was the first to notice the lively gathering below. "Looks like we've stumbled upon a feast, and Dosor seems eager to join in," she said, her eyes glinting with anticipation.
Dosor descended gracefully, her wings folding with a flutter as she landed in a vacant area near the marketplace. As we dismounted, the vibrant tapestry of colors and scents overwhelmed our senses. Stalls were adorned with fruits we'd never seen, and the air was tinged with the enticing fragrance of exotic spices.
A jovial man with a wide grin approached us.
He was pudgy, dressed in an immaculate suit with a cane and monocle, the epitome of nobility. He looked like he belonged in a bad joke about nobility.
"Greetings, travelers! Welcome to the Oasis Bazaar. You've arrived just in time for our nightly feast. I am Blid, your guide to everything your heart desires!" he shouted out, gesturing towards the markets.
Intrigued, I motioned for Dosor to follow him. We delved into the labyrinthine lanes of the market, each step of hers revealing dozens of new foods and wonders.
“Try these dates,” he offered, handing us plump, golden fruits without paying. “All the way from the Celestiaharvest.”
Their sweetness exploded on our taste buds, a burst of flavour we’d never experienced.
As we ambled along, hearing fairy tales of different worlds, orcs living alongside dwarves, and other outrageous stories, Ethan sought to one up the old guide.
He told stories of all the Dragonknights, exaggerating to the extreme and portraying each of the Knights like gods.
Exotic nuts, unknown berries, and aromatic herbs were all but thrown into our arms, quickly filling our bags and turning our boring rations and supplies into feasts for the rest of our travels.
We found a stall selling grilled meats skewered on sticks unlike any we’ve seen before.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
The vendor, a skilled chef, expertly seasoned the meats midair with a blend of spices that sent our mouths watering.
Dosor stopped abruptly, snaking her head over the stall and barely keeping herself from snatching a few skewers for herself.
“Go right ahead!” yelled Blid, grabbing a skewer for himself. “It’s all you can eat. Do not worry about our supplies, we get our wares right from the sources.”
Dosor immediately snatched most of the skewers in the air and swallowed them including the wooden skewers, crunching the wood between her jaws.
The chef laughed and quickly prepared four more, conjuring a cone of fire that somehow cooked them perfectly, and tossed them up to us. “For the road!”
Eva tapped Ethan’s shoulder, having spotted something she was curious about. “There.”
I followed her gaze and spotted a hanging fruit that resembled a mix between a pineapple and a mango. The vendor laughed heartily as she expertly plucked two fruits from the display and tossed them to Blid.
“Dragon’s Heart, meet the Dragonfruit!” he exclaimed, slicing it open with a tiny pocket knife to reveal a vibrant, pink-and-white interior. “A fruit of legend and myth. It was harvested from the corpses of monsters by his lieutenants and presented to a King as a proof of loyalty. Some tales even depict it as a fruit of the gods.”
Weird, I had never heard of a tale like that.
We each accepted half a dragon fruit and tried it.
Its flavour was a symphony of sweetness and slight tartness, a subtle flavour starkly contrasting the extreme foods we had been eating.
Our impromptu feast continued as we enchountered a stall dedicated to exotic beverages.
The vendor, a wizened woman with a mischievous twinkle in her eye, stood on a stool to hand me a cupt filled with a sparkling effervescent liquid.
Rachel instantly got curious, setting her head onto my shoulder and eyeing the drink.
“This is our special Ambrosial Nectar,” she declared. “It’s said to invigorate the soul and bring luck to those who partake.”
I took a sip and handed it to Rachel, enjoying the dance of flavours on my tongue. Citrusy notes were followed by a hint of floral sweetness, leaving a lingering warmth as it went down.
The lady winked at me as Rachel drank it, stage whispering “It’s supposed to help with young love as well.”
As the night deepened, the marketplace transformed into a kaleidoscope of lanterns, casting a gentle glow on the revelry. Musicians played melodic tunes, and dancers twirled to the rhythm.
Dosor, having satisfied her appetite, settled in a comfortable spot.
We found ourselves a spot amidst the festivities, sharing stories and laughter as we indulged in the culinary wonders of the Oasis Bazaar.
The night unfolded like a dream, the exotic flavors and vibrant atmosphere etching a lasting memory. Dosor, with her contented rumble, seemed to relish the camaraderie as much as the feast.
As the first light of dawn painted the sky, we found ourself in a clearing surrounded in a circle of mushrooms, no signs of the Oasis Bazaar surrounding us. Our bags were still filled with remnants of the exotic fare.
Our confusion didn’t hold long as we continued, figuring that they must have moved on.
Weird, but not impossible with magic.
----------------------------------------
Our travels led us to a quaint village nestled in a picturesque valley. The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers and the sound of a distant river.
As we approached, we noticed a group of villagers gathered near a dilapidated bridge, arguing about something.
A villager, an elderly woman with a weathered yet warm countenance, approached us first. “Greetings, Knights. What can we do against you?”
I didn’t exactly get what it was but Rachel nudged me, noticing something off.
Dosor, sensing our eagerness to help, lowered herself so we could comfortably talk with the villagers, but keeping a safe distance.
“We’d be honoured to help,” I replied, sharing a glance with the crew.
Rachel sharply nodded her head towards the bridge but the rest stayed neutral.
The elderly woman showed us a strained smile as she replied “Thanks. Goblins have been pestering us for a while and some of the younger members of our community decided to destroy the bridge to deny the goblins their only way to approach our village. They didn’t consider anything but the goblins.”
“What do you want us to do?” I asked.
The elderly woman sighed, her shoulders sagging with the weight of the predicament. "We need the bridge repaired. It was a hasty decision made out of fear, and now we're cut off from essential resources on the other side. If you could fix it, we'd be grateful."
Dosor rumbled softly, a low and comforting sound. Her presence seemed to resonate with the villagers, offering an unspoken assurance.
Eva, always pragmatic, stepped forward. "We'll repair the bridge for you, but we need some details. How many goblins are we talking about? And have they caused any harm?"
The woman nodded, appreciating the straightforward approach. "There are a handful of goblins, but they've been more of a nuisance than outright dangerous. They steal food, create chaos, and, well, contribute to the overall misery. We've tried driving them away, but they always come back."
Ethan, with a glint of determination in his eyes, chimed in, "Leave it to us. We've dealt with goblins before. You focus on keeping your village safe and repairing the bridge."
Rachel, sensing the woman's concern, added, "Once the bridge is repaired, we'll help you set up some magical wards to deter the goblins. Our Knight is one of the best enchanters I know. They won't bother you again."
She hesitated for a brief moment before nodding, turning around to the rest of the villagers. “Mark, Jason! Get those damn kids away and start building!”
She turned back and warned us “You better deliver on your promise. We'll start reconstruction immediately.”
With that, she turned and walked away, joining the villagers in their preparation.
I motioned for Dosor to move on and she jumped over the river.
Rachel spoke up as we dismounted. “Well, she really doesn't like us,” she said, dropping to the ground.
Eva immediately started looking for tracks, asking “Really? Why do you think so?”
Rachel just laughed mirthlessly but I wasn't quite sure if that was a joke or not.
“Found something,” said Eva, sticking low to the ground to follow her trail. “Tracks for at least a dozen goblins, recent ones. They must have checked out the broken bridge. Didn’t cover their tracks at all.”
“Can you find their lair?” asked Rachel, checking the tracks herself.
Eva nodded. “Shouldn’t be too hard. Goblins aren’t known for their subtlety. I’ll check where they are coming from and get back to you.”
“I’ll join you,” said Ethan, grabbing his swords from Dosor,” for some protection.”
As Eva and Ethan set off to follow the goblin tracks, Dosor kept a vigilant eye on the surroundings, her tail swaying with a sense of anticipation. She was too excited to fight these goblins.
Rachel leaned against a tree, watching the villagers bustle about with the reconstruction, shooting suspicious looks our way. “They’re not exactly rolling out a red carpet for us.”
I chuckled. “Well, we did just show up out of nowhere and the Knights rarely patrol this area. It’s understandable that they might be a bit wary.”
Dasor rumbled softly, an almost reassuring sound. She as with me.
While we kept watch, the villagers started cleanly tearing down the remaining structure to build up new foundations. We checked over our gear but didn’t need to put on armour as we practically lived in it while on missions, enchantments and daily maintenance taking care of the dirt buildup.
Eva and Ethan returned after a while.
“Found the goblin lair. It’s deeper into the woods, in a cave system. They seemed to be holed up there,” reported Eva, before pointing to Ethan. “He did some more intense scouting.”
He had a proud smile on his face, glowing as he conjured up a three dimensional map of some cave system in the palm of his hand.
“Wow!” exclaimed Rachel, staring at the projection.
I could only agree. That was mighty impressive, even I couldn’t do that and I was the one who chose to become a warmage!
“It’s a little trick my dad taught me,” explained Ethan, quickly pointing to a few different spots. “There are three entrances to the surface, barely any guards or patrols. These malformed caves here should be their nesting grounds or sleeping chambers”
Rachel raised an eyebrow. "Any signs of aggression?"
Eva shook her head. "Not really. It's more like a chaotic assembly of individuals than an organized threat. Wild animals, not intelligent. We should move sooner rather than later so we can hunt down the stragglers.”
Dosor snorted, a plume of frosty air rising from her nostrils. She seemed eager for action.
Ethan moved the focus of the map to one of the entrances, suggesting “This is the closest to the chambers so we should attack from there but I have a plan that might make this a cakewalk.”
Dosor grumbled and deflated, sinking into the soft grass. She was definitely a simple dragon.
She bit the air towards me, a silent threat to think twice before… thinking. She didn’t like being called simple.
“Go ahead.”
“Alright, it should make this as easy as our first spar,” said Ethan, moving the map to the other two. “We can block these two off and smoke them out, literally.” His grin only widened. “Throw down fires, ignite their houses, we just have to get enough smoke and fire down there until they die or run right into our waiting arms.”
He looked at Dosor, waving her off. “You’ll get plenty of action. The smoke won't kill all of them and those that manage to escape won't get a chance to fight back.”
That placated her somewhat.
“Alright, we'll go with Ethan's plan,” I decided, patting him on the back, “but I want all of you in full gear and prepared for something to go wrong.”
The crew nodded in agreement, preparing their gear as Dosor rose to her feet, her eyes gleaming with a newfound excitement.
Eva lead the way to the goblin lair, the blocking of the pathways unfolded seamlessly. Dosor, despite her reluctance at first, played a crucial role in blocking off the escape routes by using her massive form.
We gathered around the last remaining exit.
I used up all my mana to conjure up a small torrent of armed candlelights, venturing into the tunnel until I heard chaotic goblin chatter.
I saw the thatch huts just around a bent and send out my armed candlelights as a wave, catching all I could see on fire.
The chaotic chatter turned into panicked shrieks as they realized their home was turning into an inferno, so I ran.
I ran back up and to the crew, standing at the ready.
A wave of goblins followed shortly after and Dosor, with a mighty roar, unleashed a torrent of frosty breath, freezing the goblins and making them drop onto the ground.
Eva took out the few goblins that rushed after and from there on out, it was a slaughter.
The battle was swift and efficient. The goblins, disoriented and overwhelmed, had no chance against the coordinated assault. Some tried to fight back, but not a single one made it anywhere close enough to be a threat of us. The archers got killed before they got even close to threaten us, Dosor picking off every one that came close enough.
As the last echoes of battle faded, Dosor exhaled a victorious roar, the frosty air swirling around her like a protective aura. She dove into the tunnel to gather up the corpses and feast.
“No, Dosor, get back!” I yelled out. “The smoke is bad for you!”
She perked up with a goblin in her mouth, looking back at me before bounding over and laying down next to me.
Eva smirked. “Well, that went better than expected.”
I patted Dosor scales. “You did great. They never stood a chance.”
She started purring, glowing at the praise.
Rachel scanned the area, making sure no goblin was just playing dead. “Now, let’s seal this entrance as well and check the others. We don’t want any surprises for the villagers.”
Ethan nodde, still grinning from the success of his plan. “Agreed. We should set up basic traps too, just in case.”
“I’ll put up some enchantments on the bridge, that should suffice,” I said.
We quickly collapsed the last entrance and went back to the village, finding the elderly woman who had initially spoken to us waiting for us at the restored bridge.
Damn, that village worked fast.
"Looks like we delivered on our promise," Rachel called out, wiping sweat from her brow.
The woman nodded, a reluctant smile forming. "You did. I didn't expect you to be so... capable."
Dosor rumbled proudly, her wings stretching wide. The crew, too, shared glances of satisfaction.
Eva approached the woman. "We'll set up magical wards to keep goblins away. With these precautions, your village should be safe."
The woman, her skepticism slowly fading, thanked us. "You've done more for us than we anticipated. We owe you our gratitude."
With the goblin threat neutralized and the bridge repaired, Dosor curled around the crew, providing a sense of security as we settled down for the night. The villagers, now more at ease, offered us a place by their fire, a gesture of gratitude for the unexpected help.
As we shared stories and laughter with the villagers, Dosor lay nearby, her eyes closed in contentment. The night passed peacefully, marking another successful mission.
----------------------------------------
Our journey led us through minding mountain passes and vast caverns that would have added weeks to our travel time if it weren’t for Dosor until we arrived at the grand entrance of Khazur.
Rachel had all of us change into our most formal outfits and clean up before arriving.
Massive stone gates, adorned with intricate runes, welcomed us as we approached. They were worked into the mountain, Dosor getting dwarfed by the dwarven craftsmanship.
We could hear the rhythmic clanging of hammers on anvils and feel the hum of enchantments that lingered in the air as we approached.
“Halt! State your business in Khazur,” approached us a dwarven glad, clad in brilliantly crafted armour.
I tapped Dosor on the neck to let her know to lower herself so we could talk with the guard, offering a respectful nod.
“We come from Dragon’s Heart on order of the currently reigning king in regards to the princess missing. We seek audience to help you with this problem without endangering her,” I said.
He scoffed and eyed Dosor warily, his gaze lingering on her formidable horns. “A Dragonknight? Well, I didn’t expect the old bag to call you for help. Follow me, and mind your manners. Boldrin Flamesmith is a man set in his ways.”
He turned and we followed him through the gate, Dosor not even having to duck to pass through the gate.
A city built into the very heart of the mountain unraveled in front of us, bridges, railings, and dozens of inventions I didn’t recognise making the city traversable in all three dimensions. The sheer scale of dwarven craftsmanship was staggering.
Massive intricately carved tunnels wound through the mountain, glass adorned with magical runes enabling us to see the entire city surrounding us. The entire thing was littered with runes, having one of the most intricate enchantments on it that I had ever seen.
The stone and metal, meticulously shaped and polished, gleamed in the warm glow of enchanted crystals that lined the passageways and glass tunnels.
The air reverberated with the rhythmic symphony of hammer striking anvil, metal getting quenched, and the hundreds of sounds required in their crafts. Dwarven artisans, clad in sturdy leather and adorned with tools of the highest quality, worked diligently on their creations.
The echoes of their craftsmanship filled the air, creating a melodic backdrop to the bustling life of the city that accompanied us for the entire ride, only getting louder.
The marketplace sprawled before us, vibrant with the hustle and bustle of dwarves engaged in lively commerce. Enchanted trinkets and artefacts were displayed in stalls, each radiating a subtle glow. Gleaming weapons, adorned with runes, and intricately crafted armour hung alongside tools for the home and magical cookware.
Magnificent statues of dwarven heroes stood proudly across all the walls, carved with an attention to detail that spoke of the dwarves’ reverence for their history. Glowing crystals embedded behind each statue bathed the statues in a soft, ethereal light, casting shadows that danced with the enchantments lingering in the air.
As we ventured deeper, the heart of Khazur unfolded before us. The grandeur of the Inner city was breathtaking.
A colossal chamber filled with molten metal, anvils, and the constant hum of enchantments being woven into the fabric of weapons and armour.
The architecture itself was a testament to the dwarves’ mastery over stone and metal. Ornate arches, pillars adorned with runes supported the colossal chamber, spouts providing water for the forges and select few homes that were allowed in the heart.
Bridges crisscrossed above and gone were the glassen tunnels, connecting different levels of the city. Guards patrolled the bridges and made the entire place feel safe, safe like a fortress.
In that moment, Dosor, despite her imposing presence, seemed utterly feeble by the sheer size of Khazur, a city that did so well for itself it was recognised as a country.
The city breathed magic, and we, Knights of the plains, had never seen anything quite on this scale.
I knew why Mom wasn’t able to take the mission. Uldru would have crushed half of the bridges just by getting into the heart and the tunnels leading to outposts and into the mountain were only accessible from further down.
The dwarven guard led us right to the heart, standing in front of the giant gate and turning back to us with a huge grin on his face.
“It’s quite something, isn’t it?” he asked, thumping the butt of his glaive on the ground.
I just nodded dumbly, the bastion that was the Heart of Khazur robbing me of my words.