The entirety of Surton Spire was in a bit of an uproar. Having their king newly awaken from a ritual of death was a blessed sign of their nation’s power. They looked to their king with awe based in many factions: loyalty, admiration, and a heavy helping of fear.

Monsters often obeyed that time-honored tradition of the strong lead the weak. Who could possibly lead if not for the dragonkin that had conquered death?

However, just a short time after his awakening, their king had decreed he would set out to a village south of The Spire. In all the years of ruling, Gohdin had remained a recluse—venturing beyond his inner Sanctum Mortem only if absolutely necessary.

Now, this newly revived being—untethered by exhaustion, by hunger, by thirst, or by the endless madness to complete the ritual—set out into the world against his Captains’ protests.

“You are all in command of your usual tasks. I assume you can retain control for a few days?” Christoph wanted to sound proud and commanding, but the gathered Captains looked puzzled.

“Days, my lord?” The largest, Jeseph ‘The Wall,’ of these leaders spoke at a sluggish pace, but it was not without thought.

“Days is what he said. Days is how long we can attempt to emulate his rule.” Sashro spoke for the group who all bowed.

They’d gathered in a large, seemingly emptied, chamber near the base of the mountain. Christoph had no idea just how elevated he was in relation to the outside world, but there were sloped walls of dark stone with expertly carved pillars at equal intervals. Their words echoed as they spoke and gradually walked the length of the grand chambers.

There was a scent in this room; one like those he’d recalled from the pastures. There were animals nearby, but Christoph couldn’t pinpoint any of them. There were foul smells and sweet ones. It was as if he were surrounded by different species, yet he only saw himself, the four Captains, and his two escorts trailing a good distance behind.

This was not a decorated expanse of opened area. Only a few banners to the great Gohdin fell from the walls here and there. Torches were used between these circularly carved images like beasts standing in the stone. Christoph felt as if he’d imagined the smell of animals because of these pictures.

He hadn’t.

Though it was quiet, their footsteps echoing for an annoying length of time, there was something else to this room. Christoph had no clue of the inhabitants, or as to why his servants questioned him.

“Rrrr.” This was the first that Bo’Ra’Set spoke to Christoph. “Master, would our drakes or wyvern not be better options for travel?” The muscular form of the man swayed behind Christoph. Thick, golden locks forming a mane around the man’s head shook as he moved. A sun encased his face; long strands of hair waving like heat over the land. From within these hairs came two dense horns that reached straight out to either side and then curved forward and up into sharpened points. They were smoothed and white like ivory tusks with black tips—the darkened pigments seemed to bleed into the white.

His blonde facial hair flowed directly into the mane that surrounded his head. The rest of him was a tanned man wearing only a glimmering breast plate with majestic carvings of lions on it. Beneath the armor was where the tan skin began to disappear into a sea of gold. His body morphed from that of a hairy man into that of a mighty lion. Though fur covered the four legs, bulging muscles rippled through the streaks of golden fur. A lengthy tale swung lazily behind him; much more under control that Christoph’s.

“Drakes or wyverns?” Christoph wasn’t sure of the words. He’d perhaps heard of drakes once or twice, but dragon was the more common name he wasn’t associating with it. Wyverns were entirely new. I have more studying to do, he lamented.

“Mhm!” Sashro stepped forward to intervene. “Of course, your majestic draconic servants. Might you fly through the sky and hasten your journey?”

With that, Christoph’s eyes opened wide believing they were discussing dragons of legend. He could picture the scene. Flying into his home village on the back of some mighty lizard with wings that tore the roofs from the buildings and a roar that split the grounds.

“No!” Christoph blurted out the response, and each of the Captains stopped to watch. The two following guards also halted with wide eyes. “I mean,” he looked to Corallan and Sashro for assistance. Neither apparently knew that the other knew the secret, but with his eyes darting between them they began to piece it together.

“Of course, that would draw far too much attention.” Sashro nodded quickly. “This is not an act of war but the simple trip of an unknown traveler. Discretion would be best.”

“Yes, our master-r-r must not be placed in danger-r-r.” Corallan skittered around the monstrous Jeseph; who dragged one leg back to not bump into her shifting limbs. “We must protect-t-t our king from danger. Such mounts would-d draw unwanted-d attention.”

“Rrrrr.” Bo’Ra’Set stroked the hairs that grew just beneath his lip. “Makes sense to me.” His muscles flexed with each stroke of his hair. His green eyes were still on the ground as he considered the restrictions to their choices. “Then perhaps some of the common steeds. Grrrr,” his occasional growl made him seem less threatening since it was a human’s voice and not the lion’s. “We can prepare three for your departure, my Lord.”

“Very good.” Christoph had ridden on a few of the smaller horses his village had used in the fields, but he’d never gone on long journeys or ridden with a saddle.

“I will gather the three strongest for you, Master.” Bo’Ra’Set moved toward one of the inlayed circular carvings some distance away. His muscular legs carried him quickly over the distance while the others stood by and waited.

I guess I’d need a strong horse. Christoph patted his torso realizing he was much heavier than he’d been as a human. I just have to make it there. I have to give them what I can… and… tell them. The thoughts of sharing such depressing news of the battle sent a shiver down his cold spine.

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“Master,” this voice was booming. It felt like small vibrations shook Christoph’s eyes. Jeseph had dropped his head to a bow. “Are you so against us sending the proper troop or guard with you? I would feel better if you took one of us along, at least.” He moved a bit slow, but there was intention and fire in his eyes. Christoph expected that there was far more behind those wide, brightened eyes of sky blue than he’d first expected—just as he noticed the purple waves that seemed to flow as a barrier between the pupils and the blue.

“There is no need.” Christoph put up one hand and hoped it wouldn’t tremble as the four strongest beings in The Spire had gathered around him. “I don’t expect I’ll be interacting much. I just have to check on a few things.”

“Of course, my Lord. I would continue to insist, but your secrecy assures me of the importance.” Jeseph’s low and powerful voice fell over Christoph.

Yeah, secrets are going to be pretty common. “Yes. I will not be gone for long, but there is something I’d like to do.” The remaining Captains all looked on with prying eyes hoping to hear more of his wisdom should he be willing to share. More, huh? “I… I… There were visions.”

The three remaining Captains, and even the two guards at a distance, nodded in wonder as they listened to the tale. Are they buying this? I mean, I had a vision, but they’re just going to accept this?

None spoke, so he continued, “There are some I am meant to meet, others I am to see again, and others that will not want to meet me.” Yeah, show some strength. He clenched one claw in front of him so they got his meaning. Unaware of the lie he’d just spoken, his false intentions were taken quite literally.

“Then we shall prepare accordingly. Every one of them will know the name, Gohdin!” Jeseph’s face broke into an enormous grin. He boomed a chuckle as he believed himself to understand his master’s intentions. Christoph shared in this grin, but he wasn’t aware to what extent the lies had reached. “Meet who you must, Master. We will protect your home and kingdom until you return.” The goliath bowed deeply; the pieces of his shield and his mighty warhammer swung slightly on his back.

“Good.” Christoph nodded in agreement. I’m getting better at this, he thought with a surge of pride. Though, he’d not noticed the tilted head of Sashro continuing to turn like a rusted gear at the mention of visions.

Then came the sounds of stone dragging over stone. Christoph turned to see where the noise came from—a bit of a flinch while the Captains casually glanced over. Bo’R’Set had disappeared into one of the distant side-chambers that were cut into the walls. From one of these openings, there were the sounds of dragged stones, a sounds like water spilling over the floor, and then the clopping and cries of horses. Three splashes of water were each followed by a neigh. Once three distinct creatures had begun to sound out, there was a series of whispers, and then silence.

The heavy stone being dragged rang out again before it slammed back into place. Christoph waited patiently, though with a bit of anxiety, for what would actually come out from behind the walls.

Bo’Ra’Set began to walk back at a more relaxed pace. He walked with his shoulders swaying as the lion legs carried him with almost no vertical motion. Behind him were three horses of impressive sizes. Each was covered with plated armor that rose over the face and fell down the neck. The saddles had several pouches and bags attached as well as skirts of silvery armor dropping around the tops of the legs.

These horses followed the Bestial Star without question or panic. From the magical suspension they’d come from, the beasts thought only of the commands of their leader. Trotting calmly to the group, Bo’Ra’Set smiled and showed off the steeds that had succumb to his Beast Master subclass. He’d spent most of his life perfecting the abilities tied to the beasts and creatures of nature. His words were their law, and his will was their action. Another example of the powerful leading the weak.

“The three finest horses in the armored class, rrr.” The muscular creature rolled his shoulders as he allowed everyone to examine the fine specimens. “I considered the warhorses, but since secrecy is vital, these are more discrete.”

More discrete? Though Christoph had never actually heard the word in his life, he was able to piece together the meaning. I don’t think anyone could not look at them. He looked the horses up and down. They were majestic beasts. Toned. Well-kept. Brushed and fed. Or at least, they were before they’d been suspended in The Stables that Christoph had yet to see.

“Is the armor necessary?” Christoph looked out of the corners of his eyes to gauge his groomsman’s reaction.

“Grrr,” the lion-man stroked at the hairs beneath his lips. “I’d prefer you to be protected, my Lord. Should you order me to remove the armor, we can do so.” He didn’t seem happy about it, but these were the largest horses available that weren’t specifically trained for the lust of battle. These were meant to carry a person and protect them instead of trampling those that remained in its path. It would be necessary for the sizable dragonkin to ride the largest of the horses, but he also wished to protect Gohdin. That, and the displeasure in the King’s voice made the Bestial Star guard his throat out of instinct. “Rr. I’ll have the workers finish this right away.”

Bo’Ra’Set gave a loud whistle. Four goblins came rushing into The Stables—tiny monsters running into the dimly lit expanse of empty space. He began to shout his orders, careful to not yell in his master’s direction, to his subordinates. Turning to the horses, he nodded his head to the side and each of the three steeds began to move. Once the goblins took hold of the reins, the horses were led off to another section of The Stables to have the armor removed with haste.

“They will be ready soon, my Lord.” A golden mane whooshed by as he bowed deeply. The horns on his head were at a perfect angle to rush forward and gore someone in the group, but the lion-man had risen up from his bow with devotion in his eyes.

These are my vessels. Christoph looked over the creatures before him. The lion-man with the mane like the sun and the thoughts of beasts. The chittering insectoid that possessed a false human beauty like a biological decoy concealing sharped claws and mandibles. The goliath whose lengthy limbs swung like trees during a storm that watched the world with quieted eyes of blue and violet. And the scarred wizard that had been both student and teacher that sees the world through the burning darkness of failed glory.

I am their king. Christoph pulled his shoulders back, now able to stand straighter with the tail aimed down, and spoke to his subjects, “I will be gone a few days. I will send word to Sashro should we require assistance. Continue your tasks, and I will return.”

“Yes, Lord Gohdin!” They all answered in unison with a bow.