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Scales and Honor: Dragon's Paladin
Chapter 4: Draconic Heroics

Chapter 4: Draconic Heroics

Chapter 4: Draconic Heroics

Veledar's wings carried him swiftly through the air. He pierced the fluffy clouds that stuck to him in the form of watery beads, startling any bird that dared to get too close to him. Ahead of him stretched the small human village he visited before, during his quest to recover his lost book. It had taken him a few days to work up the strength to return the place where he made a fool of himself, but to Veledar, the book was far more important than his pride, even if he’d never admit that to anybody.

Veledar felt his muscles tighten when he replayed the events in his mind. He could’ve slain all the guards and wreck the entire village, an option that remained available even now, but Veledar knew better than to give in to such basic impulses. He had to resist the urge to smash buildings for just a simple theft. He thought back to the days he spent around his lair, hunting, swimming, and even flying, while his mind focused on that human woman that had dared steal from him. It had taken several attempts of looking into his mirror to strike up a pose that, he figured, would not inspire fear in the humans. Veledar found such simple task deceptively difficult, especially for such a great dragon like himself. Why, every feature on his body looked like a potential weapon: the spikes on his back, his broad tail that ended with a leaf-shaped tip, even his horns could impale somebody! Veledar had no mind for killing though. No. He deserved something far better. He imagined a gathering of humans, with their soft, fat faces praising him for being so polite, sympathizing for the loss of his beloved book. He thought that, perhaps, they would even bring that woman to justice. This line of thought brought a smirk to the red dragon’s face, although he reminded himself not get too deep into his own fantasies. More often than not, reality turned out to be completely different.

The dragon tilted his wings to make a slight turn down towards the village. The small buildings grew larger with each wing flap. Small houses made of wood, of various shapes and rough sizes, made the village look like a collection of half cut stumps to Veledar. The amalgamation of human dens was spread out in random directions and only connected by a dirt road that was beaten down with the passing of too many hooves. He started to correct his flight as the center of this mess came into view. The dragon stretched his hind legs first, then landed with a spray of dirt and rocks, quickly followed by the most annoying sound a creature could conjure: human screams.

“Dragon! There’s a focken dragon!”

“It’s the red bastard again! He’s back-back to finish what he started!”

Veledar’s snout scrunched as more men joined in to point fingers at him and shout derogatory terms. This was definitely not the sort of reception he expected. Not when he landed so properly in their midst.

So Veledar drew his head back and unleashed a deafening roar to silence the unruly crowd. What a mistake, to think the humans had more than rocks in their hollow heads. As he looked around, his disappointment only grew further as the cowards sprinted to hide behind piles of hay, water troughs, wooden poles, and just about anything that would fit. The brave ones stood their ground, loud and red with fury.

“Leave us, Gods be damned!”

“We don’t wan’ ya here!”

“Aye! Don’t need your kind causing any more problems, ye wretched scaled beast!”

“Wait. Hold on. I-“ Veledar covered himself with a wing as the mob dwarfed his voice. “I don’t mean you any harm, you rowdy simpletons!” he growled again, then sat upright on his haunches. “I actually came here to-” one of his horns caught a banner hanging overhead as he turned his head.

“Grarrrr,” Veledar tugged the blue banner in frustration, breaking off the frail thing from the building it was attached to.

And it still remained locked around his horn.

“Let go, accursed piece of inanimate cloth!” Veledar sucked up his hiss of frustration as he flailed his head around.

But the banner was stubborn, stronger than he realized. The dragon couldn’t stop himself this time. He hissed loudly in frustration as he bowed down his head and scraped the blasted thing off with a forepaw. The banner crumpled under his claws into the pile of crap it deserved to be. Veledar breathed in and out as he looked with satisfaction to the shredded remains of the banner before he stomped them into oblivion.

“As I was saying, I don't mean any harm, humans. I simply think we got off on the wrong claw the other day-“

“Oy! Red scales!” A new voice joined the mumbling crowd. “That was me mum’s banner you just trashed! What she ever do to you, to disrespect her work like that?”

Veledar narrowed his eyes at the peasant, a simple farmer dressed in a brown tunic and frayed leather leggings. “That banner attacked me first! You’ve seen it. You’ve all seen how viciously it refused to let go even when I asked!”

The mumbling picked up. Some humans looked at him like he lost his mind, while others smiled and chuckled to themselves.

“As I was saying, before the banner got in the way of things, I came here to discuss the theft that happened at my lair a few days ago.”

“Did you hear that? The dragon says he hates Gerald's mum!” shouted a woman hiding behind a wooden post.

“Heard’im too, spouting hatred and callin’ it honey!” another man answered.

“Oh, shut it Voskren. I never really liked the crone, always naggin’ about me debts! I’d rather hug the focken dragon than work with that old hag again!” replied another man.

“Aye! I can attest to that too! She never gave anyone fair prices. Y’know, mayhap this be a sign from the gods, to bring dragon here an’ rid us of the crone’s greedy fingers!”

“Are you hit in the head? This beast isn’t here to help us. He’s here to pillage and destroy until there’s nothing left but dust!”

“Focus and listen, you chatty monkeys!” Veledar hissed in irritation. “I’m not here to fulfill your weird prophecies, and I am even less qualified to act like a mediator for whatever menial issues you have between yourselves. I wanted to talk about the theft that happened in my cave a few days ago! That’s all.”

“How warm you speak,” an old woman walked slowly towards him, aiming her cane at his head. “You destroyed a house for no reason. Attacked a girl in her home. Harmed her father while she watched. Oh, if you would see her crying…her cheeks still wet from all the tears she shed even after you left.”

“Attacked? I did no such thing, you ill-speaking fossil!” Veledar turned to lock eyes with the old woman, his nostrils flaring with irritation. “The wall simply got in the way. Maybe you should make your homes bigger, so that a polite dragon doesn’t have face such problems again.”

“Aye? An’ who pays for all the work? You?”

“I don’t mind, as long as you rename the village in my name.” A toothy smile spread along Veledar’s snout. “And maybe build a gate engraved with my likeness. Or should it be a statue? I think a statue fits me much better. Right here in the center, where everybody can marvel at the fine looks of Crimson Sky, slayer of poverty, beloved of the people!”

The crowd burst into the loudest, longest fit of laughter Veledar had the misfortune of hearing. He didn’t stop them this time. Instead, he looked around at the growing crowd of people that was starting to get far too close for his liking.

“I do love a cult, but you’re all starting to get a bit too close for my liking.”

“Only to see ya betta!”

Cheers accompanied the brave fool’s words.

Veledar didn’t buy that. “Aren’t you afraid of what damage I can inflict to your feeble little bodies if you anger me?”

“Na we’re not!”

“Because,” a man clad in a guard’s uniform continued. “We all heard the tales of how this Crimson whatever you call yourself turned tail and ran from our mighty guard force.”

Veledar closed his eyes as yet another collection of laughter filtered through the crowd.

“Crimson Sky! Hah, more like the fearful strawberry!”

“Shiverin’ Raspberry sounds betta cause the scales look like a-”

Veledar had enough of this barbaric nonsense. He flared his wings, then bounded towards the guard who instigated this feast of insults.

“Listen here, you pink little worm. I restrained myself from turning your valiant defense into armored steaks, but my patience wears thin, and your lack of respect slowly makes me reconsider the wisdom of my choices.”

“Oh G-god,” The man started sobbing. “Pppp-please, don't kill me, oh mighty dragon. I’ll-I’ll clean your scales. Polish your claws! Just please don’t kill meeeeeee!”

“I might hold onto your promises,” Veledar got off the man, then helped him onto his feet. “See?” he turned towards the townsfolk as the man dusted himself off with a blessed smile on his face. “I can be reasonable to those who behave themselves.”

“He’s bloody right!” The guard stammered. “This dragon is good!”

“Bull’s piss!”

“I don’ believe tha’!”

“Don’t listen to them.” The guard hugged one of Veledar’s forepaws. “Talk to me. Anything you need, anything you want, I’m the man for the job.”

An obedient pet was not what he had in mind, so Veledar gently pushed the man away. “I’m searching for the vile woman that stole my book! She’s the mother of the girl I allegedly attacked, though I swear by my fine scales I did no such thing.”

“The woman whose house you destroyed?” a man shouted.

“Damaged!” Veledar growled, “That thieving, manner-less female stole a possession of mine and I demand it returned at once.”

No suitable answers came until an older man joined the fray. “You there! Why are you tormenting my guards like that?”

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Veledar turned his snout to see a man walk towards him in a suit of clanky, shining metal armor. He carried a sword and shield, and he was flanked by at least a dozen more guards with spears and crossbows. “I say again, dragon whatever your name is, what manner of ill curses have you inflicted upon my guard there?”

Veledar hissed with amusement. “I was telling your minion here that my property was stolen by a woman that lives here, in your village.”

“Which woman is that?” the man asked, raising one of his large grey eyebrows.

“The one that lives near the edge of town, in the house I…allegedly damaged, though it was nothing more than a slight dent. Barely noticeable.”

“You mean Jizrah?” The captain scratched through his beard. “She has been gone long before her house got smashed to pieces. Left poor Vern here ‘lone with his daughter. You accuse her of thievery?”

“I do,” Veledar groaned. “I assure you that human woman is a mischievous, selfish thief that got on the wrong side of a dragon. Now, would you kindly point me in the direction she went? I would like to talk to her privately.”

“I won’t obey your instructions, dragon. You come here to our peaceful town in a rampage, destroying houses, wrecking banners, threatening guards! Makes me believe you have nothing but ill intentions hidin’ beneath your those shiny scales of yours!”

Veledar strolled towards the man. People parted before him like water, muttering praise and insults alike. He had been polite, and though some smarter individuals appreciated his arrival, most of the mob still saw him like pestilence incarnated. How thick were they? Haven’t they understood he could burn them all to cinders?

“Now you listen here, white beard.” Veledar stuck his snout into the valiant captain’s face. “I have been nothing but polite and infinitely patient with your angry mob, while your people have responded with only with rudeness and intolerance. That aggravates me, but no more than safeguarding a thief who stole from me!”

Veledar snorted angrily as the captain stood his ground. “Do you forget that a dragon stands before you? That I can, with but a simple yawn, unleash true devastation upon this village?” His eyes narrowed on the man who gulped emptily, his blue eyes filling with genuine worries. Veledar knew he overstepped again by using fear to persuade these people, but there was simply no other way to get past their inferior intellect.

“Now humans, all I seek is a thief. Provide me with her whereabouts and I shall take my leave in peace, just like I did when I first arrived here.” he shouted, flaring wings and thrashing his tail, smashing a water trough in two.

“She went s-south, towards the capital! Please stop destroying my mum’s store!” shouted the mumbling man others referred to as Gerald.

Veledar turned towards the man. “Where can I find this capital? How far is it from here?”

“I dunno, I dunno!” the man gulped, “Best I figure it's about two weeks travel by horse. Just follow the road south! You can't miss it!”

“Ya! Has floating castles and such!” shouted another person from the crowd. “Hard to miss for a dragon.”

“See? Was this any harder than throwing petty insults at me?” With a flap of his wings, Veledar once more found himself back into the tranquil realm of the high skies, thankful to be away from that boisterous group of miscreants. He was also grateful for the amount of self-control he exhibited under duress. A few days ago, he would’ve surely unleashed his wrath upon the village.

While he flew, Veledar wondered how big this capital was. He had never ventured deep into human controlled lands, but he figured anything man-made couldn’t be much bigger than that village. Still, the floating castles posed a few problems.

If they are even real, Veledar shook his snout and laughed at that simple joke, for not even dragons had floating castles, and he was certain one of his kind would’ve built such a thing.

It wasn’t long before his eyes spotted the rough dirt path the man had spoken about. It stretched as far as his eyes could see, winding the earth like a serpent. Veledar felt bad for the humans that had to take the long and slow path, but he quickly shrugged it off with another beat of his wings.

Minutes later he found himself miles along the path stretched out before him. His eyes fell to a rather large green hill covered in a sea of flowers. However, what stood apart from the multicolored flora drew his attention. From the tree line came a figure running for its life. Arrows zipped past her, barely missing the flowing brown cloak that flew behind her back. The figure made it several hundred feet before at least two dozen other humanoids came in fast pursuit. They were hooting and cheering as they bounded through fields after their prey. They soon had the brown cloaked person surrounded with weapons drawn. Veledar could see that they were talking, but he knew not of what. He circled overhead as the cloaked figure removed their hood to reveal a brown-haired female.

The woman found herself beset on by all sides as the crowd closed in with sharp blades and even sharper grins on their faces. The woman seemed to be holding her own with a series of flips and kicks to the jaw that caused some thug to collapse to the ground a bloody mess. She pulled out a rapier to cross blades with the few that would have struck her, then laughed loudly as her rapier found its mark, to hide the fear that Veledar could smell. He honestly was surprised that nobody spotted him.

However, the woman’s victory streak seemed to be coming to a close as a blade nicked her shoulder. A solid fist collided with her gut, knocking the wind out of her with a gasp, then another took her on the side of the head. She collapsed to the ground as the men closed in to mock her in their usual sneering voices.

“Awwww, what’s the matter, Lyndis? Where is that smart mouth now? Bleeding all over the place?” one of the men laughed, spraying his spittle all over the ground.

“You’re the ones who’ll bleed!” The woman grunted. Lyndis sprung up to stab the man through the chest with her rapier. She flipped over his dumbstruck face, but when her feet hit the ground now stood four of her copies. They all moved hair from their faces to reveal small pointed ears.

“Fock’s sake! Nobody told me the bloody half elf was a mage!” another man shouted as they rushed the four standing half elves. Veledar chuckled to himself as the warrioress sprung from man to man. Her attackers seemed unable to spot the real half elf amongst the copies, but Veledar of course had spotted the real one right off the bat. It was all a matter of close examination, for the copies of the half elf could not land a blow, lest it caused them to vanish, so Lyndis was having them duck, dodge, and jump around the frustrated thugs. Through all the chaos, she would get in a good stab, and a man would collapse to the ground in a pile of screams and blood.

“I got her!” came a cry from a thug as his sword struck her shoulder. Lyndis gasped aloud as her illusions vanished under her lack of concentration. The man followed with a punch to her face, causing her to fall to the ground.

“You’re a feisty bitch, lass, but your games end now,” the man breathed heavily at the bleeding Lyndis. He turned his head to the side to spit out some blood.

“Well, ye can go get yerself bent,” Lyndis groaned back. “Only took twenty four of ya to get me, ya bloody small cocked basterds-“

The man slapped her in the face to silence her vile tongue.

“You know, before we be getting this one to the boss, I figure we should have a little bit of fun.” One person hissed, to which the others chuckled and nodded in agreement.

“Don't worry, princess,” the man said, putting a rough hand to her chin. “We won’t go too hard on ya. Gotta preserve whatever prettiness we can for the boss.”

Veledar had enough. Fighting to the death was fine as long as the person deserved it. However, to violate the other person was simply crossing a line. With a flare of his nostrils and a swell of heroic pride, he swooped in and landed behind the man. Veledar smiled as the collected survivors of Lyndis backed away in terror as he spread his wings and unleashed a loud, angry roar. They stood before him like cowering rats, their faces draining of color, their hands tightening over their weapons, and dread filling their eyes.

“Well boys, seems your moment of fun has come to an end. Maybe if you wouldn’t have laughed like snorting pigs, my partner wouldn’t have heard your squeals.” Lyndis laughed in a series of coughs, then, with the other men distracted, she twisted of her captive’s grasp and in one fluid motion she pulled a hidden dagger and sunk it deep into the leader’s skull. With a dull thud, and a quick gasp of pain, the man collapsed dead onto the ground.

Veledar watched as the men barely cared for their leader’s fall. Instead of running, like common humans, they charged him in a feeble display of bravery. They carried their weapons high as they shouted cries of false bravery. With a flick of his red tail, Veledar let loose a deep breath of orange and red flame that enveloped six of the charging men in its fury. They collapsed in screams as the fires consumed their burning bodies. Veledar bounded from the rest, brushing them aside with his scales.

“Retreat!” one of the men cried. Veledar had to admit. This might have been the smartest thing one of them said so far. The man looked around to find that he was the last one there, as his compatriots had left him the moment Veledar had incinerated the stupid six. “Wait for me, you focking cunts!” The man shouted as he sprinted for the trees. Veledar considered chasing the man down and ending him, but in a way, it was better to let him spread word of his greatness. He turned back towards Lyndis, for despite this show of force, she was still standing before him.

She did not move as her messy hair waved with the wind and her eyes of amber locked onto his movements. “Nice work. Wha’d you want?” She asked.

“A simple thank you would be enough,” he said, striking a rather regal pose. “I did rescue you from a real bind, have I not?”

“I think I dispatched more of them than you, dragon.” She smirked, limping over to one of the dead men and rifling through his pouches. “Name’s Lyndis Kuxion. What should I call my valiant rescuer?”

“Crimson Sky, terror of thugs and slayer of unwashed men.” Valiant beamed with his great white teeth.

“Very well.” Lyndis spoke curtly.

Veledar moved closer to her. “Hey, would you be able to satisfy a curiosity of mine? Why were those thugs after you?”

“Well…” she started to say, cutting a pouch from another man. “Beat this group’s boss to a job, took his share of the treasure when I learned what exact kind of man he was, then kinda pissed on his name. You can imagine he wasn’t very happy to have his reputation smeared through filth. He’s lucky to get latrine duties now.”

“And what kind of job would this be? You don’t see many mages doing back flips like you showed back there.”

“Nope. Maybe not,” Lyndis said. “I like to think of myself as an adventurer, thrill seeker, sometimes a sword for hire. If you need something gotten, I can also do that.”

Veledar noted the swell of pride in her voice.

“You sound like a thief!” he snorted.

“I am very well not.” Lyndis laughed. “Where were you off to anyway, oh brave and beautiful Crimson Sky? We don't see many dragons around these parts.”

“I’m-“ Veledar stumbled over his words for a moment. “Yeah, I’m off to retrieve a thief that has stolen something of great importance to me.”

“Do you know where they headed? Maybe I can help you find them. For a price of course.” Lyndis moved over to loot another dead scoundrel.

“They say she went to the capital of this land, located somewhere in the south.” said Veledar as he shifted a paw through the flowers. For all the bravery and majesty he inspired in Lyndis, exposing such a blatant lack of knowledge made him feel exposed. Lesser, somewhat.

“Entis?” the woman’s eyes widened briefly before they narrowed down to the same confident look. “You can count me focking out then, dragon. Unless you want to live the rest of your life in chains or get your head parted from your body, I would suggest you count whatever was stolen gone.” Lyndis wiped her blade clean of blood, then sheathed it back at her hip.

“And let them get away with stealing from me? Do you realize how that sounds? To a dragon?” he said as he moved his tail, ready to thrash the ground. “Might as well tell me to cut off my own wings.”

“Aye. I imagine how bitter defeat sounds on that big boastful tongue. However, I am talking about real danger here, not whatever distorted scenarios you created in your mind. This is not a quest that ends in victory, but then again I guess you haven’t even heard what happened to the last dragon that went against Lumara.” Lyndis said, pulling out a brush and running it through her hair.

“Lumara? Where is this thing you speak of?” Veledar asked, puzzled.

Lyndis rolled her eyes at the dragon's ignorance. “This land is called Lumara, and the last dragon was killed by some veteran going by the name of Arcturus Lund. Word on the street says he’s quite the dragon slayer.”

“One mortal doesn’t scare me.” Veledar snorted in dismissal.

Lyndis gritted her jaws. “This one should. Didn’t you just hear what I said? Dragon slayer.”

“Can you see me trembling?” Veledar snorted again.

“Fine. What about millions of trained humans? And flying machines? And gryphons that can hunt you down no matter where you flee? I suggest you return home and count yourself lucky the king didn’t put a bounty on your head.” She looked towards the forest. “We’ve spoken enough about this matter. If you’re as smart as you look, you will consider my words before you do anything foolish.” she stated. “It was pleasant to meet you, Crimson Sky. I honestly hope you will quit this silly crusade. It would be a shame to lose a dragon so quick to jump to a lady’s rescue,” she smirked, “even if she doesn't really need it.”

Veledar watched the lady leave as he settled comfortably on his belly to contemplate his next move. Flying castles? Dragon slayers? Gryphons? Flying Machines? This place was sounding worse every time he learned something new about it. Worst of all, it was starting to sound like this place actually existed, and was not just a simple story from a peasant told to mislead him.

Veledar closed his eyes and tried to imagine what his mother would say at a time like this. She had always been the best at dealing with the lesser races, although she always interacted more with elves than with humanity, or this place called Lumara. The dragon frowned. He knew exactly what she would have said to him. His thoughts turned instead to the dragon slayer. This Lund character sounded familiar. Not the person, of course, but the name. He was certain he had heard it before, maybe in a story or two when he was but a hatchling.

The dragon shook his head. The sun moved a bit in the sky, and Lyndis was nowhere to be seen. Realizing he spent too long on this hill surrounded by corpses, Veledar spread his wings and returned home, the only environment where he felt confident to make the right decision.