Scales and Honor: Darkened Skies

Chapter 1:Crimson Sky

            Veledar took a breath of the crisp air, pounding his tan membraned wings against the cerulean, cloud dotted sky. The golden rays of the sun shown down to warm and sparkle off his crimson scales. Like he was some great treasure for all to behold. For of course he was, in his own mind. He angled his wings, his tail frill of his tail catching the wind as he entered a spin. The world swirled around him as he let out a joyous trill.

            He pounded his wings harder against the air, his lungs tingling as his segmented scales clinked softly with the swelling of his chest. The dragon released a pleasing sigh as his frills on either side of his head twitched in the wind. Veledar angled a wing, soaring around a pristine white cloud like he was on the hunt, his sapphire  eyes scanning down towards the vast tapestry of the countryside below. Vibrant crimsons, dazzling golds, bright viridians, and flat browns painted the ground below. It made it look like a vast quilt knitted to be pleasing to his eyes alone. For who else could fly this high above the ground and view such beauty? He smiled with the next flap of his wings, quickly tucking them against his back as he entered a divebomb. He enjoyed the rush of gravity pulling him down, the winds wrapping around his scales in their embrace and whistling past his senses. For anyone else this might have been terrifying to watch the ground come rushing ever faster with each passing second. But he was a dragon, and this only thrilled him to no end, brought warmth into his paws and made his scales tingle with bliss. He fought the roar building in his chest, to vocalize the single thought permeating every corner of his mind.

            I love the sky.

            It had been far too long since he could do this. To be this free, to go wherever he wanted, unburdened by the ground below. He spread his wings wide, catching the uplift into a glide as his membranes ripped. He closed his eyes, thinking about how this was a much needed thing.

            Especially after my stay in the city of light.

            That accursed city that held the reason for his previous adventure. The book of stories that he had treasured for all his years, a tome that was a reminder of his dead brother from long ago. Stolen by a human king and locked away in a lab by the nation of Lumara. He had tried to retrieve the thing with a group of adventurers he had met along the way. The quest had not ended the way he had thought it would, and had surprised even him.

            I found a different treasure.

            His gaze focused onto a small collection of wooden buildings planted on the great quilt below. They rose up from the ground like mahogany stumps. These structures marked the first town that he and his companions had visited in this nation. The nation of Drenedar. He let out a small trill as he flapped his wings and started his descent towards the town. He recalled just three months prior he had landed into another village, catching his horns onto a banner and thoroughly embarrassing himself in a way not befitting of a dragon. He wrinkled his snout as he remembered ripping the thing into tiny little pieces.

            Not the best first impression.

            This time however he had made a much better one. He had made sure all the banners had been taken down before he revealed himself to the stunned mortals. He dipped a wing, passing over a red  tree and scattering any loose little leaves in his wake. Like some sort of great explosion. He eyed one of the collection of mortal buildings, a grey painted thing that had seen better days. He had expected things in Drenedar to be clean, pristine, well taken care of. For that was what he had heard in all his travels before coming here. He had not expected to find each building smeared with dirt and covered in arrows jutting from the wood like numerous thorns.

            Orcs...That is what the scared humans, wolven and elves had said. How the collection of raiders had descended onto their village. Taken and pillaged from them by ax point. Time and time again bringing the people under their blood smeared boots. Forcing the town to provide food for their ravenous horde. The perfect outlet for a dragon trying to make a name for himself. He could already imagine the story they would tell.

            The day the magnificent Crimson Sky saved them from the orc raiders, and graced them with his beauty. Maybe they would even build a statue to honor the occasion?

            The red's white claws nearly scraped the a pale brown roof that was covered in shillingles that made it look like a collection of dragon scales more then a home for mortals. He beat his wings, easily speeding over the rooftops. Not a soul could be found walking the cobblestone streets. What had been full of life at one point was now nothing more then a hollow shell of what it once was. Windows had been bared, doors shattered onto the ground, some had even been burned to resemble horrid twisted corpses. Burned wood and sweat permeated the air, twisted images coming to his mind of what cruelty these orcs could inflict. Who would have thought he would be here helping them? Especially after they had only intended to stay the night, a brief return to civilization from the time spent avoiding gryphon patrols and sleeping under the vast star filled sky. They had been going to stock up on supplies for their destination, the port city of Struport. For that was the location that supposedly contained the next part of their quest, one crystal of many his elven companion had said.

            Veledar chuckled as he remembered Shandalar's brow wrinkling as he scoffed at the idea of needing such a tiny magical crystal. Oh how he had loved to see her icy blue eyes glare at him, narrowing as the anger she supposedly didn't have bubbled to the surface, threatening to be released like a storm. The dragon sighed. The one night stay of course had not gone to plan, the villagers telling them about the orcs and how they desperately needed help. His group offered their assistance, and he being the loyal dragon he was to his friends, agreed to help with a twitch of his tail frill.

            Now he would have helped the town for a fee, make a deal for those poor souls. Possibly suggest they construct a statue in his brilliance. He even knew what pose he would take for such a wondrous thing.

            Head up,slightly turned, wings neatly tucked, and chest swelled proudly.

            His companions of course had different ideas about the definition of help.  They had even offered their assistance for free. The idea had made him wrinkle his snout as the words were repeated to him, his jaw falling in disbelief. It was only the tender stroking of his snout by his human mate Arcturus Lund did his jaw close, and the bitter pill become easier to swallow. Course much was able to be done with the man's tender hands touching him. It was a weakness that he had come to enjoy, the warmth and affection warming his strong heart.

            There was a statue of a dancing women in the center of town that Veledar passed over, his tail almost striking the sturdy grey stone as he passed. Bromwich was engraved into the base of the stone, the towns name on full display in proud letters. In the dragon's opinion it was another stupid name for a mortal hovel. Sounding more like something that one of them would eat instead of a proper powerful name. He gave a final snort before passing the thing, and heading towards the town-hall. The place that all his companions had gathered for their defense of Bromwich.

            “So ya finally came ta help us after all da work is done!” The loud voice of his dwarven ally Merlia Gallogalar called to him. The skilled ranger was standing proudly on a dull blue, scaly roof, her shining steel tipped boots glaring in the sun. She set down a quiver of green feathered arrows, lining it up with at least a dozen others at her feet. “Figures ya do dat ya red scaled baby!” She shook her fist at him, her emerald eyes filling with the fierceness he had come to expect from her in battle and when not. He did enjoy playing with her quick temper, enjoying making the dwarf turn red.

            “I never said I was going to help set up your little traps.” He chuckled, landing in the street before her with a quick backwing. His magical flying harness' rings jingled slightly as he stretched out his serpentine neck with a sigh, flicking his tail behind him. “Besides..Looks like you managed to do it without my help. I figured you could handle this task with your own expertise....Besides..” He stretched himself out like a cat with his haunches in the air, a tongue curling yawn escaping his maw. “I was doing work.”

            “Oh I bet.” She crossed her dark studded leather clad arms across her chest. The golden dwarven runes that lined the hide on full display. “I saw ya spinning and diving in da air. Lots o work dat be.” She tossed her braided red hair to the side before thrusting a finger less gloved finger at him. “You was playin, an don't even try to deny it. We both know it.” She thumbed back towards her pristine white bow with golden strands running from the middle to the ends. “If ya lie I can always turn ya into a pin cushion wit da bow ya gave me.”

            “Borrowed.” He sighed, sticking his tongue out at her. “Figures that you would forget that critical detail dwarf.” He took a few steps, not leaving her with his eyes. Despite the grin on her face, and he calling her a friend, he knew her threat was genuine. He had never seen a better archer in all his years of life, and that was before he gave her a bow that helped her aim. Heck it could even hit around corners if she had seen the person before she let loose her sharpened stick. “Fine..You caught me. I was enjoying myself with some flight time.” He held a paw to his chest, trying to appear hurt with drooping frills. “I know you...As a dwarf cannot understand the pain that I feel every time that I am not high up in the clouds..” He spread his forelimb out towards the sky above. “In my domain.”

            “Hmmph. Stuff it dragon. I can know ya pain. Krotos there likes it as well.” She gestured to her side and towards the gryphon laying down on his side.

            “Yup, he was definitely playing.” Squawked the gryphon before he ran his beak through his near pristine navy fur. “Defiantly recognized it.” He chirped, preening away like he usually did with his yellow beak with an orange stripe down the front.

            “Course here I am complainin. Probably for da best ya up dere.” Merlia chuckled, slapping her white furred breeches. “Nothin up dere for ya to trip on. Or get ya head stuck in somethin.”

            “Or crash into a house.” Krotos laughed, pulling out a seafoam teal tipped feather.

            “Oh...So you two think this is funny huh?” He wrinkled his snout, casting a glare to the cackling harpies he called his friends. “I'm not that clumsy. You make it sound like I can't go two feet without catching something with my...” Veledar turned to check on his tail, make sure the mischievous thing wasn't countering his point. To his relief it sat there not hurting anything, more importantly, not his reputation. “See nothing tripped on or crashed into today!”

            “So...dats a record of wut?” Merlia turned to Krotos, scratching under his grey furred neck. “One day?”

            “More like an hour!” replied Krotos with a smirk, and tap of his tail on the roof.

            “I'd watch your sharp tongue there kittybird.” Veledar snorted, flicking his tail slowly behind him. “Or I will practice my revenge on you for each little insult that dare leaves that beak of yours.”

            “Oh.” The gryphon tilted his head to the side with a smirk. “I can..but will this revenge be in a most pleasing fashion? Perhaps something like how you tend to your paladin every night?”

            Veledar just chuckled in the back of his throat as Krotos added a wink. There was no way he was going to allow the craft bird to get out of this one without a little flash of teasing from himself. “Perhaps I will pin you down, and drum my talons across your beak until you admit your wrong doings. I had a gryphon friend who hated getting that done to him.”

            “See? He was playing.”

            “That's only because little kitty bird like you do it all the time. Don't think I haven't spotted you flying blissfully in the sky with me. You're just as guilty as I am.” He snapped his head to Merlia with a snort. “Why even need my help anyway? You have Krotos there, and he's the one with nimble claws.”

            “No hes been..” Merlia turned with a red tint to her skin, glaring at the gryphon who had not ceased his preening. “Have ya been doing dat the whole time instead of getting stuff ready?”

            Krotos stopped mid preen to eye the dwarf as her hands shifted to rest at her waist. “Perhaps?”

            “Why in bonnie blazed would ya be preening at a time like this when I needs ya help?” Merlia shouted, shaking a fist towards the lazy bird.

            Veledar just chuckled and left his friends behind with quickened steps through the street. He swished his tail playfully as the sounds of their loud conversation faded away with each paw placed on the cobblestone. He gave one last smirk as he heard a loud word that should not have come from a classy noble woman, but Merlia often held nothing back in that regard. He pressed on with a breath towards the “Safe” spot his cleric friend Asterion had made out of the town hall.

            “Safe.” The cleric had said with his gruff voice, almost as if having the dragon's protection didn't already make them safe. The bovine man had flicked his tail against the furred almond cloak that rested around his muscled shoulders, and prattled on about defenses before Veledar just had to get away from his voice. The dragon's eyes came to the large building that towered over all the others, almost double in height from any other building that graced Bromwich. It appeared to be made out of the same  sturdy wood as the rest of the other buildings, even having the same color pallet that was present in every other building. It's main differentiating feature besides the height was the presence of a large golden bell at it's top. No doubt this accessory was used to sound the alarm in situations just as this, a call to protect their very place from being destroyed.

            That's why they have me after all.

            The brown furred cleric was now standing before the hall's navy wooden doors, pounding his strong hands against the surface with dull smacks. His large spell book was slung around his neck with a leather strap,  rattling with each powerful strike.

            “I think if the orcs are going to be coming they will be using more then just their fists to assault said door.” Veledar grinned, showing off his pearly whites and pointing to the minotaur's efforts.

            “It is a strong wood dragon.” The bull snorted, giving the door one last good bang for good measure. “It won't come that. We are strong, this door is just a formality. A safety net as your paladin would describe it.” The cleric rose his silver warhammer, the surface gleaming in the sunlight before the dragon's eyes. It's beauty reminding the dragon to take this item should his companion end up dying.

            “Oh yes. I am sure they will be quite intimidated by you when I reveal myself before them. I can see them positively shivering in their boots.”

            “Do not discard my contributions dragon. Or you shall find yourself bleeding and bruised without me to coddle you back to health. And I would not risk the wrath of the gods myself.”

            The gods? Really?

            “Last time I checked little minotaur, you were flesh and blood same as anyone else. Despite your boast, you're not a god.” Veledar slunk over, with his next breath. “You preform parlor tricks that Korde in his wisdom bestows upon you. Your deity could take all your powers away with a flick of his tail.” Veledar rose his head high with a pompous snort. “I..On the other hand need not such permissions to cast my spells.” The dragon glared down as the cleric looked speechless before him. The bull only heaved the warhammer into his other hand with a sigh.

            “We shall see who the gods favor dragon. A pompous headstrong, scaled dragon with the ego of a mountain. Or the cleric that seeks to do honorable battle.”

            “That all you have in your bag of insults little bull? I have heard better come from the dwarve's mouth back there. Perhaps you should have some time with her to gather your faculties. I'd think wisely about what you say though. It was I that freed you from the Emerald Ladie's clutches back in the forest of despair.”

            “And who then ended up healing you while you lay broken and beaten aboard the destiny?”

            Damnt.

            “I gots it!” A green scaled blur suddenly darted under Veledar's next step. He had to retreat his limb in a desperate attempt to not crush his kolbold companion under foot. “I gots it! I gots it!” Feku cried out, dashing over to Asterion so quick the dragon was almost certain she had teleported. She was carrying a sturdy looking wooden shield in both hands that was almost the same size as she was. “Sorry  Crimson Sky!” She shouted over her shoulder, her little claws catching a rock and causing the kobold to stumble. At the last moment she shifted her weight, catching herself with a smile. “Not today ground!”

            “Whatever is it that has you so happy?” Veledar chuckled, snaking his nose down towards the pair.

            “I lost....A shield....for Asterion!” She gasped, her purple eyes closing as she held above her head the brown painted shield with a multicolored first of Korde right in the middle. The smile she had on her face right now looked to dominate her entire snout.  “I spents all day painting it for you!”

            “You made that?” Veledar pulled his snout back, frills trembling in surprise. “I had no idea you...”

            “I painting it!” She thumbed her chest. “Arcturus been helpin me get worse every day!”

            “You mean better?” The dragon smirked, fighting laughter as the kobold's eyes narrowed.

            “Yes.” She hissed before suddenly snapping to Asterion without a hint of anger in her voice. “What...do ya think?” She tapped her tail against the ground, practically bouncing in excitement.

            “It's crudely drawn, and put onto an item that I generally do not wield.” replied Asterion gruffly, his stern demeanor crumbling away as the kobold's head dipped. “B...But it is a fine paint...and the best things for battle are generally not pretty anyway. It will serve me well in the coming battle.” This seemed to do the trick as the kobold mood brightened as she lifted her head.

            “YAY!” Feku jumped, clapping her claws together with a joyous clack.

            “Hmmpf.” Veledar snorted, raising his head. “Shows that once again you have rocks in your head. I can do battle and still stay pleasing to look at.” He shifted his snout to look down the cobblestone street that was barren and smelled of lingering humans and wolves. They were not as bad as horses of course, a small miracle to be counted for sure. “Speaking of things that are pretty...Have you seen Arcturus?” He flicked his tail gently as he tried to not seem too excited at finding his human knight. He purposefully looked away from the bull and kobold and instead focused on the elf of his band of adventurers.

            Shandalar was her name, a wizard from the land of Rothdell to the east. She stood straight across the way with her hands raised and flowing as if she were dragging water across the air. Sections of the street sprang up with every motion to rest at several feet high. She had used this trick to provide cover for his friends as they had escaped the human castle in Entis. The elve's brown robes flowed just as easily with her fluid foot steps. It truly looked like that she was a dancer, so good at that her movements did not distract her focus. All her motions flowed into the next. Veledar hated to admit it as he watched her weave the magic around her with practiced grace, that it was beautiful. Despite that fact another was also true to the dragon's irritation, that the woman's mastery of the arcane arts was superior to his own. He reminded himself that despite not being a dragon, the elvish mage had spent a solid one hundred to two hundred years of life ahead of him. He wrinkled his snout as suddenly Asterion stomped his hoof against the cobblestone with a loud clack.

            “You're not listening are you? Dragon!”

            “Yes?” Veledar shifted casually to the bull who had his arms crossed, his eyes filled to the brim with annoyance. “You know...Just to enlighten you.” He flared his sharpened teeth to the stern warrior. “That it is not wise to stare at a dragon like you are doing currently. It's...rather rude of you.”

            “I shall look at you however I wish dragon. Your intimidation does not work on me.”

            And this is why I loathe him sometimes.

            “Fine minotaur, you have my attention.” He smacked his tail with a dull thwack against the stone as he rolled his eyes. “Now where is that human that I call my mate? You know the one..With his brown hair, green eyes...wears a metal skirt that clangs together at times?”

            “He's inside with Lyndis.” Asterion pointed to the town hall.

            “Both of them?” Veledar pulled his head back, looking past the cleric to the door. “What could be needed that both of them are occupied by a handful of peasants?”

            As if on cue, the doors parted  wide with a loud creek. From the safety of the town hall came the leather clad half-elf rogue that had joined him in trying to get his book back. Lyndis Kuxion strolled out, green sash around her waist pulled tight. Hanging from her neck was the grey cloak of invisibility that he had given to her, fastened with a golden broach. She was chatting away, her amber eyes not on where she was walking but instead to that of Veledar's mate Arcturus. The once dragon slayer now a proud paladin to a dragon goddess.

            The emerald eyed man was currently chatting to Lyndis, stride filled with purpose as the sunlight shined off his silver armor.  Veledar's tail twitched as he gazed to the human whose presence made his hearth beat a tad faster, to his red and silver tabard to his metal plates that had saved the man many times over in their last adventure, every part of him made the red dragon want to hum, and trill.

            Arcturus ran a hand carefully through his short hair, letting out a sigh as he and the half-elf came to a stop before the red dragon, offering him a smile.  “Just gazing at us now?

            “I think 'es bloody love struck.” Chuckled the rogue. “You can tell by that look in his eye. Smittin as it where.”

            “Trust me princess.” Veledar smirked, “If I was gazing long fully at anyone right now it was not you, but that of my Umraadi.” The dragon lowered his snout, nosing at the paladin with a flicking tail. He closed his eyes when he felt the man wrap his own limbs around his head and stroke the underside of his jaw. The touch brought a warmth to the dragon's heart, and made him snort his happiness.

            The human laughed, scratching in just the right spot to make Veledar groan slightly. “Have a pleasant flight?” Genuine concern flowing with his words as he scratched, making the dragon's digits tremble.

            “That I did.” He purred, pushing insistently at his human's armored chest. For a brief moment he wished that the stupid piece of metal were not there. “Was good to stretch the wings of course...Dive across the sky, and make all of you earth bound mortals jealous of my scales.”

            “What a sight to see.” Arcturus moved one hand to brush at Veledar's cheek. “Sorry that I missed it.”

            “Next time you should join me up there.” Veledar rumbled in the back of his throat. “It was starting to feel lonely up there without you with me.” He pulled back and offered the affectionate human a lick across his pleasing face. “I think you have wormed your way into my heart little human.”

            Arcturus smiled, hand still gently on the dragon. “I already knew that my dearest dragon.” The man tapped his breastplate with several dull knocks. “I can feel it in your heart...remember?”

            “Oh yes. The bond we share.” The dragon's frills twitched slightly, remembering all the times this magical connection they shared allowed them to sense each other's emotions, share spells, and even provided the human with a basic understanding of the draconic language.

            “Ahem.” Lyndis cleared her throat loudly, tapping her boots on the ground.

            “Yes Lyndis? Do you want something?”

            “I was talking over with your human on what to do before you drew his attention with your nosing.”

            “Whats wrong with a good nosing?” He raised a brow with a smile. “ I missed him, and it allows him to tend to me in a most pleasing way.” He gestured to the doors with a tilt of his head. “Why did you even go with my mate in there anyway? Last I recalled he had a very good way with words.”

            “Actually.” Arcturus coughed, “I needed help for this...They...wouldn't listen to anything that I had to say.”

            “They actually took one listen and told him to get the fock out of their village! Said they didn't need no help from a bleedin tin man from Lumara!” Lyndis burst out  before rolling her eyes. “You'd think the bastards would be grateful for the help. Buuuut nooo...With how rude they responded, I almost didn't want to help them.”

            “But are they not your people?” Veledar tilted his head to the side. “Should you not always want to help them? You know...despite the bad business sense?”

            “Hey!” Arcturus pouted, crossing his arms.

            “Oh please Arcturus, we both know you're bad at that. If you were not you would have charged the town a fee for our services. Don't worry.” Veledar waved slightly to his paladin. “I will of course rectify the problem once the current orc business is settled. I imagine they will be sent packing the moment they see that they have to content with such a powerful and formidable dragon such as myself.” He swelled up his chest, smirking to his amused looking friends.

            “And here I thought your bleedin ego would be deflated because of the whole adventure to Entis.” Lyndis chuckled, shaking her head slightly side to side. “But there you focken go, spoutin your tongue like that. You'd think that you were the greatest thing to ever...”

            Veledar flashed her a grin, making her hold the bridge of her nose.

            “Yup..Just realized who I was focken talking to. Try not to whollop them with your oversized head your brightness.”

            “Please Lyndis, that is not how dragons do battle. Unless it's a special kind of battle.” He growled lustfully as the rogue started rifling through her pouch, and pulling out a small blackened cylinder.  She extended it out to reveal that it was a spyglass.

            “Did you spot anything from up high O greatest thing ever?” She asked with a sarcastic tone, before uttering a quick word and easily jumping to the roof of the hall with hardly any effort. “Or were you too busy thinking of yourself? Or perhaps about the lewd things you do with your mate?”

            Manticores bottom.

            Veledar wrinkled his snout, he of course had forgotten to do that while enjoying the delight of flight. Perhaps if he had been a tad more focused he could have helped them in this moment. But how could he not lose himself to the sky? Shandalar had them hide over the last two months as they traveled, and brief moments of flight had hardly satisfied the flying need lurking in his bones. “None that I saw, course you try spotting a bunch of green skins in these hills.” He rolled his eyes as he took a step next to his human, who was giving him a knowing look. The man knew he was lying. “Oh Arcturus, don't give me that look. Unless you are transfixed by my scales.” He rumbled, raising his brows playfully and licking the human across his face with a long slurp.

            “There may come a day that dragon licks wont get you out of something.” His human chuckled, wiping away the slime coating his face.

            “Yes..But tis not this day human.” He smiled, almost tempted to give the human he adored another lick but he held his need in check. There was plenty of times to tend to each other after this little orc business was handled.

            “Found them!” Lyndis shouted out from above. “Looks to be nearly sixty in number, if I can count them correctly. Sodding hard with all their wolves moving about how they are.

            “Only sixty?” Asterion sighed, stomping his hoof with a disappointed snort. “I was hoping for more this day.”

            “Raise your head! Perhaps they are rather weak!” Feku smiled.

            “You mean strong?” Veledar chuckled. “I think Asterion likes hard challenges.”

            “Yes.” Feku hissed, sticking her tongue out as flashes of red started to dot her green scales. It made the kolbold look like a rosebush.

            “So...” Veledar lowered himself, stretching his wings with a yawn. “Hop up my lovely knight, and let us go meet them? I think it is far past time that we show them an entrance befitting of a dragon.” He grinned, showing off his teeth with a wiggle of his tail.

            “I'd not try that if I were you, O great overlord. They got plenty of spears and bows. And if they look like what I think they are, this could be bad.” Lyndis shouted from above.

            “Pfff.” Veldar scoffed, rolling his eyes. “Pointy sticks Lyndis? They will have to try harder than that. My scales are like powerful armor, it would take many to even pierce it.”

            “How about explosive tipped spears your brightness? Do you think that could break open your scales?”

            “Explosive?” Veledar flicked his tail. “As in the dragon powder from the story with Swirling Storm?” His digits trembled slightly as he thought in disgust of his own scales being blown open by that material. Yet another mortal weapon that he hated.

            “That would be the one.” Arcturus nodded, placing a hand onto Veleadar's side with a sigh. “How did you not remember that? We talked about it while crossing the border.”

            “How can I be expected to care about pointy sticks you lot throw? And the powder in the story was not used on spears.” He snapped his jaw. “Besides, what does it matter when I can strafe them with fire from my maw. What good is their stick then?” He rose his head with a final snort of victory. Surely they could not come up with a counter argument. Sure these explosive sticks might be mighty, but not against a flying dragon who would hit and run them with flames.

            “You have to get close eventually.” Lyndis grumbled, causing the dragon to throw her back a growly chuckle.

            “That would be a victory for me then. I say again o' bravest knight whose heart beats just for me.” He smirked, nuzzling the human he cared for. “Shall you grab your shield, steel your nerves and mount me?'

            Lyndis burst out laughing from above as Krotos' loud squawk sounded from behind.

            “Oh shush your snouts, you know what I meant.” He gasped when even his human joined in with the laughing. “And you Arcturus? You keep that up and I will make you pay whilst I am mounting you!”

            “You know I'm right,” Arcturus grabbed hold of the dragon's head in a tender touch. His words losing the sting that would have come from anyone else. “I would want nothing more then to leap into the sky atop your back, soaring high above and scattering this band of orcs with hardly any effort.” The man sighed, patting the crimson scales. “But..By the sounds of the townsfolk, these mercs if you want to call them that contain some casters and what not. So before we go gallivanting on forward on your beautiful scales...”

            Veledar released a croon at the compliment, purring under his human's ministrations. “See if you..”

            Arcturus silenced him by placing a hand over his snout. “Listen Veledar...If they have spells to strike you from the sky...Pull you to the earth...Then our advantage would be lost and we would be stuck out there surrounded. So trust me..” The man's eyes met Veledar's own, ensnaring the dragon's focus in their caring gaze and wrapping around the dragon's heart. In that moment, anything seemed possible in those emerald spheres.

            Veledar sighed and closed his eyes as Arcturus leaned forward and planted a kiss onto his scales.

            “We can keep you in reserve. Have you as an element of surprise. And when we do..” Arcturus gestured with a sweep of his hands to all their friends setting up walls, arrows, and inspecting gear, “The positions, the defenses, the dragon. We will have more advantages then you can shake your tail at.”

            “I can shake my tail at a lot of things.” Veledar rumbled delightfully in a growly sort of way.

            “Yes.” Arcturus sighed, chuckling. “You do have a wonderful tail.”

            The dragon rewarded his human with another lick across the face, and a purr. “Lyndis!” Veledar turned towards the rogue who still was looking away like she was the atop of a vessel of the sea. “How much longer till they are here?” He lifted his head away from Arcturus' pleasing touch, vowing to return.

            “Most likely within the hour if they keep up that pace theys doing. Plenty of time to set up final traps, arm weapons.” The half-elf folded up the spyglass with a soft clink, and stashed it back inside her pouches. “Never seen them so bold before in all my life.”

            “I'm glad that they are.” Asterion grumbled, gesturing to Feku to help him with some potions that he was sorting. The glass bottles clanked together softly as he spread them out onto a brown mat.

            “Well not everyone gets a boner for blood shed like you do!” Lyndis laughed, leaping down from the townhall and rubbing a golden ring around her finger. One that she had gotten from a vault of treasure from Entis. Her boots touched the ground without a sound. Not even a kick up of dust could be found as she smiled up at her friends. “Man got to love this ring of the feathers. I can think of plenty of situations that this thing will come in handy.”

            “You would not need such a thing if you could stop yourself from falling dearest rogue, or be good enough where you wont have to use it.” Veledar rolled his eyes, the item he had picked from the vault treasure had been a necklace with a dragon head on it. It had a magical aura about it but he had been unable to figure out what it did.

            “Think outside the cave dragon, you do many of things with it. Not all of us have wings to lend to our aid and make long falls safe.” Lyndis looked  passed the houses and towards a place Veledar could not see. She eerily looked like the Emerald lady for a moment and made the red's scales shiver.

            “Whats on the mind? You seem positively lost.”

            “Just...” A sigh escaped her lips with a shrug of her shoulders. “These sort of things used to be kept in check by the sodding military. Forts and things would scout problems such as these, then with the right application stop them from happening.”

            “So this is not typical? To have scores of orcs riding around and taking what they want?” Arcturus rose a brow with a skeptical voice. “Not even once?”

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            “Okay smart arse, this happened once in awhile, but it never lasted for long. Hasn't happened in decades if I recall. It's a troubling sign that something is wrong...” Lyndis crossed her arms as a breeze washed over them. “Especially with the news my country surrendered to yours.”

            “Don't worry Lyndis.” Veledar spoke proudly, hoping his optimistic tone would raise his friends spirits. “We shall get to the bottom of this, just you watch. Your people will have a story to tell about how the great Crimson Sky came to save them from the roaming hordes of orcish savagery.” He grinned wide at the thought of being a hero. He liked the the sound of that more than he should have, it made him picture all the smiling faces as they spread words of his deeds like a wild fire in a dry summer.

            “So you're giving your word then?”

            The red chuckled at the idea. How could she doubt his words like that? “Of course I'd be giving my word Lyndis. I say on my very scales that I will help you and your people. Imagine all the favors I can get from the crown when this is over!” He grinned wide, raising his head to appear more regal. It did not even phase him when the rouge let out a sigh and placing a hand on his side.

            “Knew you had a big heart beneath those pompous scales and swollen ego.”

            “Hey let up knife ears. I am risking my hide in protecting these people!”

            “Only because your mate is the one doing it as well.” She struck back, punctuated by a tapping of his scales with a finger.

            “Not so! I care all so much about this patch of dirt and wood that you call...You call...”

            Damnt I forgot.

            “Its on the tip of my tongue I swear.” He glanced back to Arcturus who was rolling his hands as if trying to coax the answer out. “I...” Veledar snorted. “Manticore's bottom.”

            “The town's called Bromwich you red jester.” Lyndis playfully smacked him on the shoulder, earning her a quick snap of the dragon's jaws. “I'm just foolin with ya drake. Best keep those tougher scales on your hide. I'd have left by now if I couldn't stand ya.

            “See? I knew I was rubbing off on him.” Arcturus chuckled as they began striding towards the makeshift walls that Shandalar was erecting.

            “Ugh...Don't remind me.” The dragon rolled his eyes. “Next you know it I will be doing all my good deeds for free and wearing a metal skirt such as yourself.” He extended his headfrills, letting out a small hiss. “I bet in several weeks I will even be calling myself a knight.”

            “Would that be oh so terrible my mate? I think you would look rather dashing in some armor made for a dragon.”

            “Well...” Veledar rumbled his approval, already picturing the silver armor sparkling in the sunlight like how his mate's did on occasion.  His tail brushed over one of the stone walls being summoned up from the ground. “That would be rather nice.”

            “Looks like we're ready doesn't it?” Lyndis gestured to the boarded up windows, the summoned walls, and Merlia up high positioning some boxes for cover. “Suppose we should tell Navarra should bring out any volunteers she rounded up from the townsfolk.”

            “Volunteers?” He turned quickly to the half-elf. “They are actually going to help us? I figured they were going to huddle away in that wooden box of theirs while we did the real work.” He smirked and offered the woman a puff of air from his nostrils. “I guess that will be excellent. Even more mortals to witness my greatness.”

            “I wouldn't count on much from them though.” Arcturus sighed. “Anyone that was good at fighting was taken care of by the raiders. All we are going to have is some militia that have hardly ever held a weapon in their life...So I figure we hold them back in reserve, only use them as a last resort. Let us bear the burden of the attack for now.”

            “Thanks.” Lyndis smiled, placing a hand to Arcturus' shoulder. “I'll go back and spread the word  to the others.” She gestured to Veledar with a smirk. “You tend to our resplendent overlord there and keep him hidden.” She gave them both a wave before running off towards a collection of humans and wolven that emerged from the town hall with twitching fingers clutching sword or spear. They hardly wore any armor, only the clothes on their back. Their faces were one of worry, eyes darting from side to side as if unsure of how the events were going to unfold. Veledar pitied them.

            But they will see me in action...Hopefully then they will have their faith restored.

            “So...” He nudged his human with his nose. “Where shall you hide me? He looked back towards some building that would hide him if he crouched low enough. “I could also simply use invisibility when they get close. Don't want to keep them waiting too long to gaze upon my glorious red armor and my fierce human mate.” He puffed out his chest, several scales clinking softly together. “I give them several seconds before they let out the most scared scream you imagine and go running from this place...Never to return.”

            “Ever the optimist you are.” Arcturus mumbled, a hint of worry lurking in his eyes as he gazed to the townsfolk.

            “Hey..” He licked the man across his face with a swish of his tail and a playful growl. “Don't fret my mate. You have me  to protect your armored arse when things get messy, and no one gets a crack at it but me.” He grinned lewdly, making the human chuckle and laugh.

            “Save that sort of talk for the victory you silly thing you.” The man placed a hand onto the dragon's nose. “Just try to stay out of sight until they are right on top of us. Then we can spring our attack, guarantee they will be surprised from finding a dragon suddenly among them.”

            Arcturus's words made a good deal of sense after all. Veledar nodded, and gave his mate a departing kiss before slinking towards one of the large structures and pressing himself up against the sturdy wood. He settled in with an excited breath, looking to Lyndis who had briefly chatted with the peasants who looked more ready to tend a field rather then fight against orcish raiders. He saw their eyes go to him, a sense of awe spreading through their faces as they took positions around the townhall, their last bastion of defense. Lyndis leapt once more to the top of the structure, spyglass already in hand and extended. She held it out, watching the movements of their devilish foes and calling out whenever they got closer.

            Veledar felt his heart beat faster with each moment that Lyndis announced the imminent arrival of their foes. He kneaded the ground with his claws, twitched his tail and wiggled it over the cobblestone. He could feel his wings begging him to take flight into the air, drag him into is domain. It was where he belonged.  Not to be stuck on the ground like these humans and their horses. He spied Krotos finally taking a stand across the way instead of lazing around. Merlia drew her first arrow and knocked it, nudging the gryph with a bout of laughter. Like they had shared some great lewd joke.  Asterion made sure to bring Feku back to the townhall, and hide her among the collected volunteers. She seemed to protest at first, but a simple pat from the bull was enough for her to sigh and nod in agreement of his choice.

            The dragon narrowed his eyes as the seconds felt like hours, the wait almost unbearable as his mind tried to seduce him once more into ignoring his mate's plan. He once recalled Arcturus telling him that his scales were relaxing, perhaps he could try something like that? He gazed down to his fine red scales, watching the smooth armor rise and fall with his steady breaths. For a brief moment moment he felt the rising anticipation in his chest start to recede, and his wing's siren like call fade away into nothing.

            “Getting ready for the battle?” Arcturus nudged him, starting to sift through his pouches around his waist.

            “Hardly...You know my place is in the sky..To be grounded such as this is something that I do not find comforting.” He stuck his tongue out, only for him to retract it when Arcturus set his hand carefully onto his nose and rubbed. The pleasing touch brushing aside the worry.

            Damn his touch.

            Veledar sighed and refolded his wings against his back. “I will make it a rule that you must tend to me each time that you make a request of me that is not befitting a dragon.” He purred, closing his eyes, the coming battle almost forgotten. That was until Lyndis shouted the  arrival of the orcish raiding party. “So...Whose the one that is going to try talking to the orcs before the battle?”

            “What makes you think I was going to try talking with the raiders first?”

            “I know you Umraadi.” Veledar chuckled, wiggling his tail. “You will make the attempt for peace despite my want to greet these raiders with flames.

            “That could be the case clever dragon...But..” Arcturus gazed out to the broken buildings, the barren streets,and to the shivering and scared people. “These raiders have done much to these people. It might seem like an injustice to not do something about them.”

            “Hmm..Then we go get her parents, whoever is in charge of the land. We then come back and snatch the land back from these vile orcs. Sound like a good plan?”

            “That does sound good, but we need to survive the day. I will threaten them with violence and death if they push us. If they still proceed to come at us I will warn them we have a dragon that will burn them alive.”

            “And that's when I leap out with some flare. Perhaps shoot some flames at them, while spreading my wings. Then I can roar the loudest I have ever done right in their surprised faces.” He grinned, showing off his sharpened teeth.

            “Gods...with that smile you look like the villainous dragons from the stories of my people. I'm sure with your little display of draconic fury it will instill fear into their hearts.”

            “And run tail like every other foe we have faced thus far.”

            “The hydra didn't run..Nor the construct...Or the elemental warriors.” Arcturus counted off each one on a finger.

            “Oh shush you. Let's pretend those encounters didn't happen.” He nosed the man, falling silent as the chants of orcs soon caught his senses. They were loud, booming, probably would instill fear in any mortal that heard it. Lucky though he was a dragon, and such petty things did not work on him.  He waited in anxious silences as his friends took positions around the town. Merlia pulled tight her bow with Krotos at her side with leather armor wrapped around vulnerable joints, crouched and ready to pounce at any foe that got close. For a brief moment with the gryph's crown feathers extended and fierce gaze the dragon forgot he had been a simple guard back at Entis. He honestly looked like one of his fierce adventurer friends. He wished that the brave gryphon could handle his own, would be a shame to lose one that did bring smiles to the dragon's snout at the many lewd suggestions offered.

            Lyndis was among the worried townsfolk. Views getting tossed in her direction as the gathered mortals shifted and gripped their weapons with white knuckles. It was like she was their pillar of strength, and without the crafty half-elf they would turn and run at a moments notice. Arcturus might have been cursed out in the negotiations trying to secure the town help, but he figured the half-elf had pulled the princess card. That would explain the glances and such power that the worried people seemed to think she had. She was silencing any concern with a practiced voice of confidence, although when she cast a view to Veledar, he saw worry and concern in her eyes. Like they were begging Arcturus to come over and be the captain of Lumara that he was and take over.

            Shandalar was near Arcturus near the town square, close to where the dragon was hiding. How he wished to be standing proudly beside them right now with his wings spread wide. His talons digging into the dirt as he glared ferociously at the orcs that dared to attack this place. Each passing second he watched the elegant elf chant to herself, and stand tall with his mate. If the dragon did not know any better he might assume she was a statue with how still she was staying. She did not even flinch when the sound of drumbeats suddenly filled the air. Wrapping around everyone with their sound and making teeth rattle and shake.

            Veledar almost took flight. How his talons wiggled against the ground with each beat upon the stretched animal hide. It almost sounded like it was coming from inside his very head to the point it ached a dull pain. The red dragon groaned, tapping his tail against the ground with a quick snort of blackened smoke that curled up from his nostrils. He made a vow that when this attack started in earnest, the drum bearers would be the first to go. It was almost as bad as when Merlia had tried her new bagpipe out, unfortunately the dwarf had managed to keep it away from his poking claws. With the sound then came the smells to fill his senses. Fur, iron, and blood mixed with the repugnant odor of sweat, grime, and death of all those that had fought this collection of brutish warriors. If the urge to fly was strong before the feeling now was like a raging storm inside of him that made his wings tremble and flex in anticipation. It slithered against his scales, stroking his soul and begged with the sweetish words for him to take fly and scatter these orcs to the wind.

            I hope you know what you're doing Arcturus.

            He felt his frills on his head move on their own as he took a deep breath. The proud dragon lowered himself further to the ground, just in case an orc would get a stray look at him. If their plan was going to fail it was not going to because he wasn't able to properly hide himself when asked. He growled in the back of his throat, trying to silence the frightened whispers that he could hear being shared among the townsfolk. He could not resist creeping forward to steal a peek of the attackers beset them, and dragged himself along the cobblestone.

            What he saw before him was at least twenty five green skin warriors clad in furs and leathers that had been stitched together from various animals. Axes and spears were clutched in large hands, at the ready in case of trouble. Fierce eyes glared out from each one of the tall warriors, scanning for any attackers that might leap out at them from the ruined buildings. Crude metal plates were strapped to sections of their bodies not covered by furs, the once gleaming metal was now brown and rusted away from lacking any upkeep. They rode atop large grey furred wolves that stood taller than most horses.

            The furred beasts stood at six feet tall with ferocious looking eyes and sharpened teeth that looked as if they could pierce any hide short of a dragon's scales. Saddlebags were draped over their lupine forms, empty no doubt and ready for whatever they were going to get from this ravaged town. Lyndis had not been exaggerating from their numbers, the red dragon could see more emerging as they strode up the street slowly, a dangerous pack to be sure. Smug faces were worn among the large toothed warriors. Veledar snorted, they thought they had the upper hand here. Their literal army coming to face a lone group of people and scared townsfolk.

            What a surprise they are going to get.

            Veledar grinned to himself, wiggling his tail as the next breath did little to quell the racing of his heart, that threatened to explode from his chest. The red dragon snorted, trying to mask the noise as he ducked his head, already tasting the flames that would be coming from his maw in the next few minutes.

            Course..That's if Arcturus fails in his little talk for peace.

            He watched the human take a breath like the others, and fold his arms against his chest.

            Shandalar placed a finger to her throat, and quickly whispered a spell under her breath.

            “Who goes there in the fair town of Bromwhich?” Arcturus shouted, his voice suddenly sounding as though it came from a being ten times as large. “I would advise you turn and leave. The town doesn't want any visitors today I'm afraid.” The paladin gestured to the mass of weapons and nervous humans huddled behind the summoned walls. “So turn your little band of dogs away, and run along.”

            One orc willed his wolf to the front of the pack while the others slowed to a murmuring stop. The large, muscled green skilled warrior flashed a toothy grin as his armor settled into place with several clinks of metal striking metal. “Is that so human?” The orc bellowed, “We come to get our protection fee from dis here hovel and this is how we's greeted?

            “Protection fee?”

            “Aye! It's so da boyz ca keep on fighten and keepin dis place safe!”

            “What they going on about?” Lyndis suddenly turned her head to the townsfolk.

            “Protection? That's what you call it?” One woman from the crowd, thrusting an accusing finger towards the orcs. “You come 'ere, kill all that remains of our fighters...Take most of our weapons and then demand we pay you in sodding food or be killed? That is what you lot call protection?”

            “Well ya!” Laughed the orc, wiping his nose with his arm. “Or else you lot would 'ave been chomped on by the shamblin boyz! I 'eard dey like chompin on humies! Much more den chompin on us boyz!” The warrior patted the top saddle of his mount with a throaty laugh. “So if ya want da boyz ta keep fightin for ya, ya got ta keep givin us supplies and such!” The orc rose his arms as whoops and hollers came from the mass of skin and teeth behind him.

            Veledar snorted a long burst of air. So these so called protectors sounded like bullies. Hell they sounded more like the villainous dragons that could be found in Lumara's stories. Whoever these shambling boys were sounded bad, and protecting the people was a good act...But forcing themselves onto the town and killing any opposition?  He growled in the back of his throat as he smacked his tail roughly against the building with a dull thud. Thankfully his friends came to their own conclusion fairly quickly, and he didn't have to voice his disdain for the orcs.

            “Sounds like you extort this town for everything it's worth! It might be better off without your protection orc!” Arcturus's lips formed into a sneer. “So we will be canceling this contract you seem to think you had today!”

            “HAH!” The orc laughed, causing the ones behind him to echo the sound. “Dat sounds easy for you lad. But what happens when ya leave this place? Who goes an protects da people afta you lot leave? I bet da shamblin boyz will have em for lunch faster than you can say gongalanpeshateo!”

            “I told you to leave orc!” Arcturus rested his hand to his dragon headed hilt of his sword. “This town doesn't want you here, and I am being more than fair. No go before you force our hand and we are forced to defend this place and spill your blood!”

            The orc's laughter suddenly stopped at the drop of a hat. Silence filled the air, lingering as orc and human stared each other down. “Ya lookin for a fight?” The orc raised a brow, unfolding his arms.

            “I warned you orc!”

            “I 'eard what ya said armor boy! Youse want a fight!” The orc undid an axe by his belt, thrusting it high into the air. “'ere dat lads? DA humie up dere wants ta fight!”

            ­Thats it

            Veledar grinned as the worried voices of the town worked their way to his senses. Time to show this town what a magnificent dragon he was. One surely worthy of song and praise by all. He leaped to the roof of a building overlooking the orcs with a single bound, his claws digging into the shingles. He silently thanked the gods he didn't slip, that would have really ruined his image. “Greetings orcs.” He shouted, puffing out his scaled chest and spreading his wings slowly as he gave each of the gathered mass below a good view of his sharpened teeth. “This town is under the protection of Crimson Sky, easy to say and obvious to the eye.” He placed a claw to his chest before flicking his tail and letting loose a thunderous roar that seemed to shake the building below him in it's wake. When he finished his thunderous greeting he simply stared at the mass of green skins. Surely none would want to do battle after such a display as that? Especially with his mortals behind him backing him up. These orcs would have to be stupid, dense, or....Veledar noticed that not a single orc ran from him. He did pat himself on the back as several of the warriors jaws fell low, and weapons were dropped to the ground with a series of clangs.

            “Well, well, well. Look it what dey got here boyz! These lot got themselves a fire lizard to defend em!” The orc laughed, pointing a gauntlet clad hand straight at Veledar. “Though he looks a wee bit runty! Dun matter, wese can still use 'is 'ide to make some fancy armor!” The orc rose his ax with a loud resonating cheer that worked it's way into the other orc's throats, the sound becoming a dull roar.

            “How DARE you!” Veledar roared, his sound startling even more orcs into silence as he smashed a paw onto the roof. “I am the GREAT Crimson Sky, slayer of beasts, conquer of the fiercest storms, savior of paladins and defeater of constructs!” The dragon took a forceful step on the roof, creeks greeted him as the structure struggled to hold his weight. “I have slain whole companies of Lumarian soldiers, what makes you any different little orcs? That human there has given you his demand...You take that or I will start incinerating you and your ilk from this world.” He hissed through narrowed eyes as several orcs backed away, terror spreading to their faces despite their cries moments ago. “And all that will be left of you will be able to be cast away with the wind.” Veledar tapped his claw again to the ground to make his point with a final snort, black smoke curling up from his nostrils.

            The orc leader even seemed to be thinking it over as he scratched his chin with his fingers. “Well boyz.” The greenskin chuckled, gazing up to the adventurers and townsfolk. “You 'eard dis lot. Dey tink cause dey brought a fancy group of adventurers and their pet dragon they all put a stop to da moon whisperin clan!” The orc pointed his gleeming ax head straight at Veledar's snout.

            They all laughed to Veledar's growing annoyance. He wondered how confident they would truly be when he started breathing fire into them. He kneaded the roof below his claws, steeled his nerves, and opened his fire glands. He spread wide his maw, letting loose a red-orange plume of death that rolled down and spread before the collection of orcish warriors. He held the flames for several moments, daring them to advance upon their position. “What do you think of that little orc?” He growled, snapping his mouth and standing proudly. “You still think this puny dragon won't roast you alive?” To his growing dismay the orc leader didn't looked phased in the slightest, he simple offered Veledar a smirk.

            “Nice trick dere dragon! We've seen dat ting before! Now boyz! CHAR-” The orc stopped mid shout to catch an arrow with green feathers out of thin air. “Hah!” He laughed, holding out the thin wood. “Ya tink a thing like that will...” The arrow suddenly glew a bright white before exploding outward in a violent fiery burst of destruction. The closest orcs were violently ripped from their wolves and scattered to the ground as their leader was ripped to pieces from the explosion. Shouts and cries of surprise radiated through the orc's lines.

            “Get dese boyz!” Shouted another orc, who had recovered faster than the rest of his kin. The mass of orcs unleashed a deep battle cry as their wolves suddenly dashed forward with barred teeth.

            Veledar rose a claw as the wolves bounded over the stone, their warriors holding their weapon's high. He thought to chain lightning he had used before. “Sken qoe” He bellowed as lines of white blue flowed in the air around his claws. The electricity kissed his scales and made them tingle slightly before he thrust his claw outward, and guided the line of death towards it's target. The bolt struck the lead orc square in the chest, making him shake and tremble to death before little bolts flowed off of him and his mount like water. They formed a spiderweb of brilliant light that connected orc and wolf by strands of lightning. To his approval at least four more slumped down in their saddles, killed right on the spot.

            The remaining orc's charge closed in on the defensive wall that Shandalar had summoned as the defenders readied their weapons and rose shield to weather the incoming assault. Merlia laughed heartily as she rained down arrows of death into the coming horde, each one a glowing thing that broke into twenty other arrows of similar size before flinging towards their targets. Each one would strike an orc in a vital spot, drawing out shouts of pain as the metal head pierced their flesh. Several wolves were felled from rising sections of stone, tripping them up and having those behind them tumble to the ground, crushing their rider in the process.

            If they wanted to fight a dragon this day...They will get their wish.

            Veledar bounded into the air, flapping his wings as he soared over the stampeding horde of orcs. He opened his glands, and let loose another torrent of fiery death upon their ranks. Screams followed as flames licked at their skin, burning them away in a passing moment. He sailed away in the next instant, avoiding several arrows loosed at him. He tried to not to smirk as the front line lifted up into the air, caught by his wizard's reverse gravity spell. Though unlike the city of Entis, it did not last as long. From the ranks of the orcs came a spear that flew through the air so swiftly it seemed to have been propelled by magic. It sailed through the air towards it's intended target, the elf that had them all so bound. Arcturus was the first to react, pulling Shandalar back roughly and holding out his shield. The spear struck the surface and exploded with the force of a mini fireball. It sent the armored man tumbling backwards against the stone wall with a clang. With Shandalar knocked back, the spell failed. The mass of greenskins and wolves that had been risen into the air came rushing down to greet the ground. Veledar almost looked away as skulls shattered with sickening thuds, and the streets started to run thick with orc blood. The ones not caught by the spell continued on towards the adventurers with shouts of blood fury lingering in their voices.

            With a quick glance to see that his mate was fine, Veledar dipped his wing and circled the mass of greenskins. Arcturus had grabbed Shandalar and wisely ran back towards their defensive line as the wolves steady approached. The red dragon avoided several spears that looked like the one that had been tossed. He patted himself on the scales at such maneuvering, would be something he would have to brag to Lyndis about, and how her worries about such destructive weapons had been for naught. He let loose another wave of fire into their front lines, disrupting their charge as the lead orcs were incinerated without impunity. Those that survived were forced to ride through the lingering burning bodies of their comrades, and finally reach the stone walls meant to slow them down. Shouts sounded from the townsfolk as more arrows were loosed into the battered orcs, striking some from their mounts only to be crushed under paws.

            “This is where they fall!' Arcturus shouted, his  sword slashed out, sending an orc and his wolf flying backwards like they had been punched by a giant. The man smirked, rather enjoying the magical enchantment to strength that a magical band of his provided him. It was not long before Asterion had taken spot right beside him with his hammer held high, and a group of spear wielding townsfolk right beside them.

            “Bring da dragon down!” An orc cried as more of their number flung themselves at his companion's defense.

            Veledar spotted from among their number, several hooded orcs wearing layers of white furred hides. Feathers adorned their shoulders as they rose their large hands almost  in unison. From their fingertips sprung sparks of cerulean light that followed their every movement. He could see their mouths muttering something under their breaths, some spell no doubt.  One caster thrust his hands down, the movement coinciding with the feeling of an invisible force trying to force his wings together.

            Not today spell caster.

            With a focused breath he imagined his scales were the slipperiest they had ever been, as if oil had been smeared over it so that he would gleam in the sun. To his thoughts his scales took on a slight glow, the magical sensation soon being swept to the winds.  He would have smirked at the stunned magical wielding casters, but he had to dip a wing and avoid the bolt of lightning tossed by one of the other ones. The strand of intense cackling white light nearly grazing his scales with it's fierce passing.  In return he flicked his tail, spinning as he let loose his own lightning in kind. The bright arc of death wrapped itself around his paws, and flew out with a mere thought towards his foes. It crashed into the enemy mage with a shower of sparks, flinging the orc out of his saddle in a brilliant explosion of blue white light. The green skin struck the earth with a thump and did not rise.

            The last sorcerer circled his hands, summoning forth a great transparent lime green disembodied hand out of thin air. With a flick of the caster's wrist the great hand flew towards the dragon with grasping digits.

            “You summon hands to tear me from the sky?” Veledar roared, trusting his wings to keep him safely away from the rapidly approaching hand. It was moving far more quickly than he would have thought possible. He turned to shoot a red bolt of fire from his maw, the bolt impacting the hand but having no other effect to the shimmering surface. The hand continued it's pursuit of him unhindered.

            Damn this thing. He growled, angling a wing and turning round a building, beating his wings ever harder to try and stay away from the body part. He passed over Shandalar's walls, which the defenders were slowly pulling back from to heads towards the town hall. Explosions from spears followed in their wake,  blowing chunks of ground every which way. He opened his maw and covered their retreat, dousing the wolves and orcs with a spray of his fiery death. Cheers sounded upon his deed, making his heart grow warm and his thoughts to the hand dull for a moment.

            He peeked back to the hand, that now was within mere feet of his swaying tail. It seemed no matter how fast that he was, the hand was slightly faster. It would not be long until the grasping thing had it's magical digits wrapped around his glorious tail, maybe even bring him down to the ground. His mind went to the caster. All he had to do was break the orc's concentration and the hand would cease to be, if it was like every other spell in that regard. His breath grew hot as he turned towards the detachment of orcs, his eyes locking onto the hand's master. The red dragon felt several arrows splinter against his chest, his scales too tough. He cupped a claw, focusing onto a different spell then the lightning. He opened his maw, a sphere of swirling flames flying out towards the orc and detonating feet in front of his wolf. The green skin only got out a surprised yelp before the flames engulfed him and the thunderous explosion silenced his cry. Veledar let loose a roar of victory as the hand suddenly vanished, as if it had never really been there. He sailed away from the orcs, preparing another strafe of their lines.

            “Fire!” Merlia shouted out at the top of her lungs. The snaps of dragon fire rifles filled the air as the defenders defended their final line. It was like a row of force hit the orc wave, sending more riders to their deaths upon the ground. Human's with shields moved to the front, holding them ready to intercept the coming attack.

            Got to soften them up more. He growled, letting forth his fire to punish the attackers that dare threaten his friends. His inferno roasted the attackers without mercy, the intense flames searing flesh and bones with his passing. It caught fur, brought screams of pain, and filled the air with a symphony of agony. To his relief it looked like from the ground sprouted a line of figures made out of water. Humanoid in shape and formed together to take the brunt of the orcish charge. Shandalar stood next to his mate, hands risen with a slight glow.

             The mass of sloshing water beings were cut down by the orcs, but enough time having been bought for another wave of rifle fire to impact their ranks, and another pass of dragon fire to break them further. The dragon roared in pain as his senses filled with a rippling agony, a bolt of lightning having struck him square in the chest. His wings trembled as he lost a good amount of altitude, almost crashing into a building. He saved himself at the last moment with a turn of his wings and a quick flap that brought an ache to his membranes at the effort.

             Veledar circled the spellcaster, before heading straight for him. The red swerved to avoid some spears tossed his way, before he clamped down on the orc with his sharpened teeth. With a snarl the dragon violently tossed the flailing mage into a building. The orc instantly crumpled as his form impacted the wall with the dull smack. His lifeless corpse collapsed to the ground a bloody mess as the red quickly spirited away and avoiding the orc's retribution.

            “Is that the best you can do orcs?” He roared circling friend and foe alike as cheers sounded up from the defenders with his passing. “Flee!” He cried, unleashing yet more flames of death into the persistent orcs. He prided himself as several of their number started to break. They dropped their weapons and urged their wolves to scamper away as fast as the beasts paws could carry them.

            “What are ya doin?” Shouted an orc as more and more of their number either ran or were felled by the combined might of the adventurers, townsfolk and dragon. “Get back in dere! Ya can't let a few humies get da best of ya!”

            The dragon swooped towards him with an eager breath, the sounds of combat fading away as his world became narrowed onto that screaming orc. He passed the shouting figure with a slash of his talons, lifting the warrior from his saddle and crashing him to the ground. Veledar landed onto all fours as the orcs scattered like sand before a windstorm.

            “Foul....dragon.” The orc snarled, spitting out a wad of blood as he pulled himself to all fours, limbs quivering beneath him.

            “You chose this orc.” Veledar bared his teeth, taking a forceful step with a flick of his tail. “You could have left from this place. Told the other's how protected this town was, and how magnificent the dragon who protected it was. But....No.” Veledar snorted, looking to all the other orcs who had begun to flee for their lives.

            “Oh..dun worry ya snout dragon.” The orc laughed hoarsely, grabbing at his side and coughing up some slime. “Wen da boss hears bout a dragon round 'ere he'll bring all da boyz. Then they will guts ya.”

            “Threats? Is that all you can muster now as you can hardly hold yourself up?” Veledar chuckled, lifting  his head high. “You can cease those useless things.” He enveloped the orc with his flames. To his surprise the warrior stood still, not even letting out a shriek as his body was burned away like a candle. He simply stared at the dragon with fierce eyes as his body blackened and withered away into nothing.

            When his flames had died he poked the blackened corpse of the oddly toughened warrior, just to be sure he was actually dead. Thankfully as his talon pierced the burned flesh the orc had not managed to preform a miracle. The dragon snorted, retracting his head away from the smell of burning flesh. He wrinkled his nose and almost sneezed as the townsfolk began to creep towards him with smiles and joyous shouts of victory.

            “It certainly looks like they high tailed it and fled!” He proudly beamed, the orc's words fading from him with each resonating sound the human's were shouting.

            “What a glorious dragon!”

            “So powerful!”

            “Like a gift from the gods!”

            Veledar could not help letting out a trill as each praise threatened to swell his chest ever close to bursting. Although this good cheer did not last for long. The shouts of praise soon muted as the defenders looked to the bodies that littered their town, and the ones that had been felled by the attackers. The twelve or so townsfolk soon approached Arcturus and Asterion for their wounds, the two warriors tending to them with glowing hands of healing energy.

            Veledar frowned, looking to his scales. He traced every red piece of his armor and tan chest plate. Luckily it looked as though the lightning bolt had not left too much damage to his form. He sighed in relief as his claw grazed his scales.

            “What are you doing?” Shouted one of the townsfolk. It was the older looking woman from before in ragged leathers with fierce brown eyes. “You cant just let them get away! They will tell the others about this! The reprisal will be even worse!”

            “What ever are you gabbing about?” Lyndis asked, striding over and stashing her rapier before Veledar could even open his maw. “Was this NOT all there was?”

            “Um...no..” The woman shifted her weight, the fire in her eyes seeming to flicker. “That was just a raiding party. They have an army of thousands to patrol this part of Drenedar.

            “Thousands?” Veledar pulled his head back in surprise, his frills flaring outward. “So..” He mumbled softly. “What that orc said was true.” He glanced off towards the direction of the fleeing warriors, the urge to fly after them rising forth in his mind.

            “You have to pursue them..Kill them...It will give us time to leave this place.” The woman shifted to Lyndis. “Please...beg him to go..”

            “So you want us to help you leave as well?” Lyndis folded her arms. “That wasn't part of the sodding plan. Why didn't you focken tell us about this before?”

            “Well...” The woman sighed, dipping her head. “We thought you might leave when told the exact  number of the force we were up against.”

            Veledar swung his head to his paladin, who was unaware of anything other then the people he was helping. He knew the man would help. Offer his aid to those that needed it. Would probably say that it was their place to help them.

            Doesn't mean I will do it for free though.

            “I will help you...On conditions.” He gazed down to the women with a practiced smirk.

            “Anything you want dragon.”

            “Apologize to my mate over there. Your people were incredibly rude to him and thus to me.” He sunk his snout lower so that he could stare eye to eye with her. “And two...I would like some good spirits if you have any...And three...Tell everyone about me.”

            “Of course!”

            Veledar pounded into the air almost instantly the words left the woman's mouth. He set course for the fleeing orcs as he heard his name shouted by his mate. “Don't worry Arcturus.” He whispered to himself, his voice almost getting lost in the winds. “I'm defending the helpless, protecting the weak.” Veledar smirked, and pounded his wings against the sky. “A Dragon worthy of song.”

*

            This was a good idea.

            Veledar grinned as the breeze of the sky wrapped itself around his scales and whistled by his snout. His breaths came faster with each beat of his wings, the excitement building up inside of him and threatened to burst his chest like a balloon.

            Crimson Sky. The great and powerful red dragon with the most resplendent scales. The one whose deeds halted the destruction Bromwhich...That is where the tales will start.

            The red drake dipped a wing as he imagined the catch he had made of Arcturus above his mother's lair. The moment that he had proved that he was indeed a heroic dragon. His claws had grasped at the man and prevented his untimely demise.

            His next beat of his wings carried him over the rolling hills, the small blackened dots of wolves racing along the sea of grass as fast as their paws could carry them. Sadly for the orc's who were urging them to go faster, the dragon was much faster. Veledar closed the distance between them, his digits tingling with anticipation as he clenched them in and out. If he focused hard enough he could already feel the orc's hide between his claws. He might have felt pity for the marauding orcs for his quick over take of them. What chance would they truly have against a dragon like him anyway?

            None...that's what.

            With a quick turn of his wings Veledar rolled through the air, avoiding several arrows loosed from trembling hands. He snarled, circling the pack of orc's like the great hunter that he was, his pity dying within him as he recalled all the murder, theft, and bullying they had inflicted upon that small village.

            They really brought this upon themselves.

            He passed them by like a red blur, flames getting loosed and catching at least three of the riders with his intense inferno. They fell from their mounts crying out in pain as the crackling heated waves claimed their lives.

            “Dragon!” The orc's shouted, their voices cracking and filling with fear. “'e's back! Someone 'it 'im!” The green skinned warriors soon dispersed into a wide formation, not one rider finding himself close to another.

            Of course it's now they learn.

            Veledar clenched his claws tightly with his next breath, swooshing towards an orc with a growl before he reminded them he had claws. His white talons dug into flesh of the orc, who tried to grasp hold of his ax. The man struck the dragon's armor in the wrong spot with a clang. Veledar didn't want an attack like that to go unpunished, making a slash with his claws. It was enough to glide through the man's leathers, his claws getting coated in the orc's lifeblood as it spurted out of him. The orc was lifted from his wolf and sent tumbling to the ground with a loud thud and gasp of pain.

            Without another thought the dragon's mind forgot about the warrior he had just killed. Instead his mind focused on the other orc's. His eyes filled with murderous intent before he leapt to them with a loud roar. His claws went from orc to orc as he dispatched them in a manner of ways befitting a dragon Some he sliced into with his claws, some he chomped down onto with his teeth. Other's were sent flying by his tail, and the unlucky ones were set to flame by his mighty breath, or scattered from their mounts with explosions of magical fire.

            “LEG IT!” One orc tried to yell before getting dispatched by Veledar's claws.

            It was not long before the entire company of retreating orcs was down on the ground, the mounts that did survive running away for their lives. Veledar swooped down upon the last orc still wiggling on the ground as wounded man tried to drag himself along the blackened grass.

            “So ya come ta finish my personally.” The orc growled, griping his spear tightly with his hands as he ceased his crawling.

            “Looks like you're the only one left.” Veledar hissed, lowering his snout and baring his teeth as he advanced on the orc. He spotted the man's arm start to tremble as his claw touched the ground, and saw a bead of sweat drip down his forehead. “I can smell the fear in you little orc.” His eyes narrowed, taking another powerful step. “Do you think your victims felt the same way before you killed them?” Veledar snarled, letting black plumes of smoke coil up from his nostrils like little wiggling snakes.

            The orc did not reply, only pulling his arm back with a groan and tossing the spear like his life depended on it.

            The spear missed the dragon by scant inches as he avoided it with a single bound to the side. His maw opened and he doused the green man with red orange flames that danced in the afternoon light. The orc collapsed to the ground screaming out his agony as he was consumed by the fire's hunger. Veledar watched with a swishing tail as the flames died away, and all that was left of the lone orc a blackened, charred corpse, that turned to ash the moment Veledar touched it with his talon.

            He silently savored the satisfaction of a job well done, the safety of the town achieved for the night from their orcish enemies. He rose his head, gazing out to the countryside. All the vibrant colors ever the brighter from the golden rays that seemed to bring life back to the hills. He settled onto his haunches and curled his tail around him with a sigh.

            They will speak of this for quite some time

            “He was so handsome.” He knew one townsfolk would say louder than the rest of them.

            “Brave!” Another would shout with cupped hands. Perhaps a guard captain or merchant with fancy clothes.

            He tapped his tail at the phantom praise before settling down onto a portion of the field not burned away with his flames. He closed his eyes in bliss, letting the warm ray's of the sun tease and kiss his scales with their relaxing and warming embrace. It was when a purr was threatening to escape his lips when he knew it was time to leave. Despite his want to spend the day lounging away he knew he could not. For he had a town full of thankful humans to greet, and a human mate that he would love to kiss.

            Don't worry mate.

            He glanced one last time to the smoldering corpses that had been left in his wake. He gave a snort of air before spreading his wings and bounding into the air. He circled the battlefield once before pounding his wings and heading towards the place any dragon could call their domain.

            Time past fairly quickly as he sailed across the bright sky like a crimson arrow. Soon the greens of the hills were replaced by the buildings of civilization, and cobblestone replaced dirt. Bodies littered the streets below as he passed over the rooftops, a grim reminder of what had transpired this day. He paid them no mind however, telling himself it was for the safety of those below. The mortals that had been taken advantage of by those orcish brutes. With a tilt of his wing he began his descent towards the gathered mortals below.

            He landed with a gust of wind that rattled loose banners, clothes, and tabbards. Any loose dirt in the area was cast away in the fierce storm created by his wings. His talons clinked on the stone as he resettled his wings against his back, and he worked a kink out from his neck. Almost instantly he heard the soft clinks of platemail that announced the arrival of his human mate, and made his heart grow warm.

            “Arcturus.” He turned his head with a grin towards the human who made his heart go all fuzzy. He saw a flash of concern on the man's brow as he trotted towards the red, as a feeling poked into his heart like a needle through cloth.

            “Veledar!” Arcturus said loudly. Thankfully they were away from prying ears so the dragon didn't have to remind him to not throw his name around.

            “Why hello there mate.” The dragon met the human, a rumble escaping his throat like rolling stones as his tail gently brushed the rough stone. He lowered his head and nuzzled the knight with tender care, the rumble soon turning into a soft purr.

            “Thank Bahamut you were alright.” The man placed his hand softly on his snout. Arcturus' touch making Veledar's tail shiver in delight as the knight caressed his cheeks.

            “The gods had nothing to do with it.” Veledar sighed, wrapping a claw around his human and pulling him slightly against him. “Our foes tangled with the Crimson sky, The paladin of Bahamut, and their mighty cohorts.” The red found a chuckle escaping his maw as he licked the human across his face tenderly, his tail tapping the stone behind him in delight as he settled onto his haunches.  “This was always the expected outcome when you contend with a great dragon such as I.”

            “There's always room to improve o great arrogant one.” Arcturus tapped his snout, “We both know your scales might be strong as steel, smooth and highly resistant, but you're not invincible dragon of mine.”

            “Shh..” He licked the human with a roll of his eyes. “Don't go blabbing that around, you're going to ruin this lovely heroic image I have going on right now.” He silenced the man's next concern with a quick push of his head against his armored chest. He sighed as Arcturus relented and embraced his head in a hug. No words were needed as the dragon closed his eyes, the closeness he felt right now was all he needed, and he could feel it was what his knight needed as well. “I wasn't worried about you, you know.”

            “That might be a lie if I ever heard one. I was certain you checked in on us several times during the fighting.”

            “Perhaps.” Veledar rose his head, looking away with a snort and his frills extending out. “I would dare you prove it though.”

            “The way you're looking right now, that little smirk on your lips.” Arcturus punched his scales with a soft thump. “I can also feel the concern you red scaled thing. When you swept over to defend our ranks...I felt it when you looked to us.”

            “Fine...I was concerned for you.” He quickly snapped to his human, offering a quick lick to his smiling knight. “But then I was reminded how skilled you were.”

            “And you trusted yourself to defend us.” Arcturus cupped the dragon's lower jaw in his hands.

            Veledar chuckled, smirking as he gazed into his human's emerald eyes. “Yes..There may have been a little of that as well.”

            “Well..” Arcturus sighed, rubbing the scales under the dragon's jaw gently. “As much as I'd love to stand here and chat away with you. Things have to be done, plans to be made. And..” Arcturus looked out to the dead orcs that littered the stone, a frown coming to his lightly bearded face. “Did you finish the other orcs that fled?”

            “I certainly did.” Veledar's chest swelled outward involuntary as he thought to his heroic deed. “It had to be done to protect this town from their wrath. It will give us more time to figure out what to do with them.” The dragon's gaze shifted from the paladin he cared for to the woman from before. She was currently chatting to Lyndis. The half-elf had her arms crossed firmly against her chest as Krotos lounged behind her on a section of grass untouched by the orcs or dragon's flames.

            “Still.” Arcturus sighed, shoulders rising and falling. “Doesn't feel right to chase down a foe whose fleeing from you. No honor in that is there?”

            “Would you rather the orcs return in greater number and sooner?” The dragon raised a scaly eye ridge. “More lives to be lost? This enemy did not share the same code of honor you did. This needed to be done.” Veledar snorted to punctuated his point,adding a good tail tap for good measure.

            “I suppose you're right.” He patted the dragon's cheek as they started padding over towards the townsfolk. “To the nine hells with them anyway. They were taking advantage of these people!”

            “Precisely.” He snorted, settling down onto his haunches as Lyndis started yelling at the lead townswoman from before. Her eyes were filled with flames  at the other woman, and for a brief moment. Veledar was glad she wasn't doing that to him.

            “So what do we bloody do now? You practically dropped this into our focken laps! Is their anything else you're lying about?” She snarled thrusting a finger towards the woman's face. “Do you secretly have tons of healing potions we could have used? A scroll to raise he dead?”

            “Or how about a humongous cushion so that your dragon hero can lie down on?” He smiled, showing off his teeth.

            “And what about that Navarra? What about one of those?” Lyndis gestured to Veledar with outstretched arms.

            “Uh..n..None of those.” Narvarra said softly, her voice lowering as she glared back to the half-elf. “We....are sorry for deceiving you like we did..But..” She looked over her shoulder at the town hall, her shoulders falling. “ She looked back to Veledar, her eyes misting and glistening in the sunlight. “We thank you great dragon with all hearts..but I pray that you will be able to help us a bit further.”

            Well that didn't sound too good. Sounded like another side quest to him, and he hated those. However the way the woman was staring at him, shifting from side to side with such pain in her eyes. He could do nothing but ignore that previous feeling and let out a soft sigh. “What exactly did you need my assistance with?”

            “We...can't stay here o' great Crimson Sky. The orcs will eventually return to make us pay for this attack on their men. We would request that you and your brave adventurer friends escort us to the Runswick, it's the next town over. It is said to have a good deal of fighters that could keep us safe from the orcs. So...would you be our protectors until we can find some of our own?”

            “So..you would give up your land?” He rose a eye ridge, “Just hand over everything to those that tried to steal from you?”

            “That's about right dragon.” Narvarra gestured to the ruined buildings, and  devestated streets covered in corpses. “We didn't have much left before you came along. All that remains of this place is the bleeding buildings and things.” She sighed and looked again towards the townsfolk chatting among themselves, “Things can be replaced, and our people cannot.” She swiveled her head back round, wiping her eyes with her fingers. “So....Will you do this for us great Crimson Sky?”

            “Why did you not go there when this trouble all started? When the orcs first gave you a problem?”

            “Our leaders at the time thought they could handle everything that was going on. Had their bloody heads up their asses if you ask me.” She crossed her arms, letting out a sigh. “By the time we were ready to make our choice the orcs had cut us off from the other towns. They soon killed our leaders after that.”

            Veledar refolded his wings. “So...What do you think Arcturus, Lyndis?”

            “You know where I stand on the issue.” The human knight nodded, “My blade will defend the helpless, my might upholds the weak. It is my sworn duty to help those in need such as this.”

            Good, always could count on you. Veledar made a mental note to snuggle and kiss the warrior in the future. Maybe mate him in victory. The red dragon fought the urge to lick his snout as he averted his gaze to his other companion. “And you?” He nudged her softly with his snout. “Now would not be the best time to hold your tongue.”

            The rogue sighed, pushing his snout away gently. “That you're right Crimson. These are my people. Despite our need to head to Struport....They have to be helped.” Veledar watched her view shift off of him and instead to the Shandalar, striding over with her hands crossed, and a stern look on her elven face.

            “I wonder how she will react to our decision?” Veledar grumbled, swishing his tail as the elf closed the distance rather quickly.

            “About how you seem to want to help every person in our way?” Shandalar rose a brow, “ I understand their plight, and their need for help. But we can't stop every time to help them. We are on a mission of vital importance, and each day we tarry people will die.”

            Veledar fought a growl in his throat as Lyndis looked back and forth towards the people and the wizard.

            “We're helping them if you want our focken help.” Lyndis shot back with a frown. “They need our assistance.

            “And I take it you feel the same way?” The elf gestured to Arcturus and then to the dragon, both who nodded  in unison. Shandalar just sighed, placing a hand to the bridge of her nose and shook her head. “Then I am forced to play along with your decision in the meantime. I pray that not too many souls go hurting because you could not turn away a pair of needful eyes.” She turned around on her heels, swiftly walking away to do who knows what. Veledar bet she would fume and go read her spell books, perhaps the plan for the crystals.

            “Thank you.” Navarra bowed, “I will tell the others to start getting ready and packing some things. We have a dangerous journey ahead of us, even one for a dragon.”

            “Even for a dragon?” Veledar scoffed, raising a brow. “What could possibly be out there?” He gestured to his friends with his neck.

            “Drenedar has plenty of things roaming around brave dragon, and since the surrender things have gotten worse. Orcs, bandits, it seems like everyone is trying to take advantage of the situation. But mighty dragon..What has everyone so spooked and concerned is not any of those I just listed. For what lurks in our land is far worse. Undead have been spotted roaming the lands in vast numbers unseen for many of years. Not since their invasion two hundred years ago.

            Veledar rose his head, puffing out his chest and casting a smug smile to the concerned woman. He looked to Arcturus, Lyndis, and each of his adventurer allies. “Don't worry Navarra.” He spread his wings and wrapped them around Lyndis and Arcturus, pulling them against him. “You will be safe within our claws.”