Chapter 6: Restrained Questions

The morning sun slowly pierced through the overwhelming amount of gray clouds cluttering the distant sky. Its warm rays descended from the heavens briefly, illuminating the green treetops that swayed every so often in the cool spring breeze. These verdant giants were alive this morning, during the first day of spring. Birds with vibrant plumage flew quickly through the curtain of leaves, darting from branch to branch like little thrill seekers determined to test their mettle. They seemed exhilarated, to bask in the embrace of blessed warmth, now that winter relinquished the frigid grasp it had over the land. Mammals of all species and sizes also seemed to spring from their dens like little flowers, helping turn the forest that had been crippled by the winter’s frozen blanket into a verdant realm that was bursting with life.

On this particular morning, a young doe grazed in a nearby field, her brown and white fur cast in the shadow of the nearby trees. Though her ears flicked this way and that, she was blissfully unaware of the crimson scaled hatchling that stared at her from the tall grass.

The little dragon prowled on all fours, trying to keep his red body from showing through the foliage. His haunches stood tense, ready to spring, like the limbs of a cat on the verge of pouncing its prey, with his tail swaying from one side to the other. His front claws fidgeted for a moment, digging into the soft earth with excitement from the prey yet uncaught. Though he felt the urge to pounce, his wings remained close to his body, biding their time to flare.

The hatchling opened and closed his snout, displaying rows of sharp teeth. Oh, how much he would’ve loved to terrify his prey. Show it what a powerful dragon he was!

Unfortunately, such approach would surely lead to failure, so the dragon shook his head and closed his blue eyes, trying to focus on the current hunt, not the taste of what was to come. As he advanced towards his prey, he breathed carefully, not smelling the usual stench of fear erupting from an animal on the brink of death. He grinned to himself, proud that he had snuck this close to her undetected. He was almost poised to strike when he heard a crack from what sounded like a nearby tree branch, causing the doe to lift her head. She sniffed and bolted into the trees, its legs almost slipping in haste.

The wrymling pounced from his hiding spot to find his claws grasping at thin air instead of the succulent flesh he imagined in his mind.

“Manticore’s bottom!” The wrymling snarled angrily, smacking his tail on the ground with a dull thump. “I was this close to catching it!”

While his claws tore through the earth in frustration, his mind raced with what could have gone wrong. By all accounts, he made sure to be downwind, kept hidden from sight, and remained as silent as a dragon could be. His eyes squinted as he thought to the twig snapping. The dragon’s nostrils shuddered as he drew in a deep breath. A familiar smell he knew far too well was the source of all his pains.

“Veledar!” A feminine voice shouted. A silver wrymling pounced from the grass, tackling the red one.

They rolled around, smacking and clawing playfully at each other, following up with a bite to the shoulder.

“Get off, pest! Get off I said!” Veledar protested, pushing the annoyingly clingy silver wrymling off him. “That wasn't funny, Adalina. You ruined my hunt is what you did.”

“You hunt?” Adalina laughed, rising up onto all four paws and smirking with a wide grin. “What hunt is that? I don't see any prey laying around.”

“That's because you soured it with your clumsy paws and your…your stench! Your stench is what drove my prey away!” Veledar stuck his tongue out at her.

“Why did you even go out?” Adalina brushed the insults off without a care in the world, her amber eyes filled with curiosity instead of anger. “You know momma doesn't like it when you wander off on your own.”

“Grah! She’s silly, to think I’m helpless as a squirrel. I was going to show her what a great hunter I am.” He strode over to her. “I’m ahead of any dragon my age. Probably the best that ever lived!”

“That's not true.” Adalina stuck her tongue out in mockery of him. “Momma is a way better hunter than you. She kept us fed. What did you do? Scare a deer like a clumsy little hatchling.”

“Shut up.”

“Not until you admit you’re still a hatchling instead of this great dragon overlord.”

“Well, obviously.” Veledar rolled his eyes and stomped his paws. “But that's not fair. Momma is all grown up! When I’ll be her age, I will have a gigantic cave filled with treasure and-and humans to do my bidding! I’ll be their new king!”

“Somehow, I doubt they will listen to any word you say. Besides, they love their current king.” Adalina remarked. She darted away into the grass and crouched into a similar stance that Veledar had. “Besides, while you will be proclaiming yourself the king of humans, I will be busy ruling the whole world. You have such simple views, Veledar. Still a hatchling in both body and mind.”

“Am not!” He shot back, sniffing the ground where the doe had been.

He could probably track the damn prey to wherever she had gotten off to. Prove to his sister he was the better offspring, and make his mother radiate pure pride in the process.

“Hey, Adalina...Hey!” He shouted as, once again, his sister tackled him to the ground. After another round of play biting and scratches, Veledar had his sister pinned to the ground, smugly looking down on her.

“Stop these stupid games! I need to hunt.” He let her go as she sighed.

“When will you be back from this extremely important task?” she asked. “It's been boring without you around. Momma’s been making her usual trips. That leaves the cave silent. And cold…” Her head dipped slightly.

Veledar almost felt bad for mistreating his sister. With his head bowed in shame, he moved closer and nuzzled her scaly neck. “Once I catch this doe, we can have the rest of the day for ourselves. What do you say?”

“Deal!” Adalina smiled back. “You know…it’s male dragons who usually provide for their mates. Bring me something good!”

Veledar blushed slightly as her warm tongue rolled over his cheek. What did she mean by that? He shook his head off the strange butterflies that caught hold of his scales, but Adalina was already gone, off toward the mountain top they called home.

Left alone, Veledar quickly dashed after his missing doe, quietly as a young dragon could be, careful not to crush a twig under his paws or tangle his horns in a bush. The doe was easy to follow for a hunter with keen senses. His mother had told him once how elves hunted without relying so much on their instinct of smell, which made him wonder how they caught any sort of prey. The doe's path took Veledar up the river that ran down his mother's mountain, snaking its way up patches of loose rocks that looked like they could dislodge themselves at only the slightest of nudges.

The dragon stopped when he caught sight of the doe once again. She was standing in a ring of trees, oblivious to the threat hiding in the shadows.

Veledar crouched low into his hunting stance, his tail once again twitching in anticipation, He wriggled his haunches, and when the doe went down for another bite of succulent grass, he pushed the ground with all he had and latched himself onto his prey. His claws found new purchase into the doe’s hide, and his teeth quickly followed. Veledar fell along with his prey, blood spraying everywhere around him. In a moment, the anticipation, the thrill, the concentration, all of it dispelled once he picked up his prey by its dead, clammy neck.

Veledar would’ve celebrated his victory if his eyes didn’t catch two fawns staring back at him from the river’s bank. They were brown in color, naturally smaller than their dead mother. They scampered off into the underbrush, still watching with dread-filled eyes from the new hiding spot.

“I…I’m sorry,” Veledar muttered to himself. He was well aware of the fact that simple animals could not comprehend his words, but still, he felt like he had a duty towards the two orphans. “I will honor her. She did not die in vain.”

That said, he grabbed the doe by the scruff of the neck and started to drag the corpse back home, to share it with his sister. Every once in a while, he’d throw a look back to the blood-stained spot where he ended the promising life of a mother. How could he tell Adalina something like this?

The answer was simple. He wouldn’t. Instead, he was going to spin this into a tale of bravery that would surely make his sister proud -and perhaps even envious- of his skill.

*

“Wake up!”

Veledar didn’t really want to, despite the voice’s desires. It was a distinctive male one, quiet at first, as if the sound was muffled through a piece of cloth. Veledar tried to ignore it, but the voice returned with renewed fury. The scenery around Veledar started to blur and fade away. His limbs seemed to lock up with the ground, and with a growl of panic, Veledar merged with the earth, darkness filling up his eyes in an instant.

Veledar opened an eye and tried to move his limbs, only to find that he could not. He was currently strapped to the floor of a wooden room, with leather straps that felt slightly too tight. The room was lit by a single lantern hanging by a large dark red door, and somehow, the dragon realized could open his mouth. Veledar did the first thing that came to mind. He took a deep breath, letting his glands flare open to let out the molten fire brewing within them. He was going to show those foolish humans how stupid it was to keep him contained in an environment predominantly made of wood. Veledar growled. Hissed. Spat. Yet no matter how much he struggled, fire refused to spring forth, and he was only left with an unpleasant burning sensation in the back of his throat. It was then that he noticed another belt, tight around his neck, right where his fire glands were, its purpose to keep them tight enough to render him unable to breathe out his blazing fury.

“Wicked pink-skinned rats!” Veledar unleashed a hiss of frustration. He tried to thrash around in hopes to loosen up the bindings. There had to be a weakness somewhere. Had to.

“Try as hard as you like, dragon. All this growly effort of yours serves to make you tired,” laughed a man's voice.

Veledar's eyes squinted. “Why don’t you come closer, and see what else I can do?” He hissed. “I would be surprised if you managed to keep your breeches clean more than a few seconds.”

“Ah, as much as I’d enjoy proving you wrong, I find myself quite content to observe you from here. Besides, the paladin wanted to have words with you. Preserve whatever strength you have. Why, it’s your only chance to explain yourself.”

The paladin? Was that the man in the fancy metal suit? Veledar wasn't completely certain. He had the eyes of a hunter though, unafraid as Veledar leaped to his men and knocked them out one by one.

“By all means, bring this paladin thing in here,” the dragon said. “I would like to talk to the coward that sneaks into the lairs of innocent dragons to ambush them in their sleep with his little army of metal-clad ants.”

The man laughed again. “Mighty words robbed of their meaning considering your current position. You still believe you’re innocent?”

“I know I am! Bring your leader here so I can tell it to his face. What was his name, by the way? The one with the fierce eyes and silver armor.”

“Forgot already?”

“Human names are like the birds that relieve themselves on the roofs of your homes. Only you care about the stench they leave behind. Me? I’m hardly ever hit by their…” the dragon smirked. “Is it considered rude if I make an ungainly comparison between their droppings and the fur you wear on top of your head?”

“My. He was right, after all. You’ve got a way with words, beastie. They pour out of your mouth like a waterfall. Haven’t you accused the paladin of talking better than he fights?” the human chuckled. “It’s…it’s just amusing, with you all tied up and everything.”

“Yes,” Veledar narrowed his eyes. “It definitely looks like the droppings of a-“

“Oh, come on, don’t go there,” the human brushed Veledar off. “His name’s Arcturus Lund, dragon slayer and Paladin of Lumara. You ought to feel lucky he didn't drive his sword through your eye as you lay broken at his feet. Heard that’s what he did with the last red that got on his angry side. Heh. For all your size and scales, you die just as easily as the birds you prattle about.”

“Delude yourself all you want, human. I was hardly broken by your foul trickery.” Veledar jerked in his restraints a little. “Do I seem weak to you? Helpless? You would not have done such a thorough job with these restraints if you thought me broken. Now go. Fetch that paladin of yours, I dry my throat uselessly by talking with one so filled with fear that he will not even show his face to me.”

Silence filled the next few seconds before Veledar heard the man leave the chamber. A soft sigh left his maw. It was obvious they did not want him dead, otherwise he would have had his guts opened up in his lair by that annoying, loud-mouthed, self righteous paladin.

“I’ll show him when he gets here.” The dragon strained against the leather once more. “He’s just a human, after all.”

One that managed to capture him. What would Adalina think of him? He, the mighty Veledar, captured by humans for who knew what reason. Veledar truly had no idea why Arcturus ambushed him like that. Could be an order from a deluded higher-up, or maybe he acted as the hand of vengeance for the flower thieves that stole from Trixie’s garden. What if that fierce healer-woman spoke the truth? An entire village of children might’ve perished because he decided to brush off the pleadings of a desperate woman.

No. That can’t be it. Her mate almost pissed his pants. He would’ve fought if the stakes were that high.

Nevertheless, Veledar emptied his mind of theories as his eyes shifted to stare at the door, waiting for the sound of the guard’s steps. There was no need to think so hard when answers were going to grace his ears soon.

He did not have to wait long, as only a couple minutes passed before he heard steps heavier than the man that had left. What he would say to the paladin crossed his mind. Would he start with an insult? Or perhaps a boast? That was a bit too crude. Maybe the best course of action was to taunt him again and find out what the humans truly wanted with him.

Veledar was still in thought when a soft slick and turn of the knob opened the door in front of him. Standing there was accursed man that captured him -Arcturus- still wearing the same shiny armor, only this time his helmet was off and he carried no weapons Veledar could see.

“You know… coming in here to lay eyes on a trapped dragon with no weapons to protect yourself with is not exactly a sound decision.” Veledar couldn’t help himself even if his mind rebelled at the unwise choice to start off this dialogue.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Even Arcturus agreed it was stupid through a soft, disappointed sigh. “I see old habits die hard with you dragons.” The human’s eyes quickly scanned the straps before stepping closer towards his captive.

“You can leave us now.” Arcturus said to the guard behind him.

“As you wish, sir.” The man said as he shut the door softly. “Be careful with the…beast.”

“Yes, leave us so you don't die of boredom when I walk your precious paladin in endless loops of dialogue.” Veledar said drily, his blue eyes moving onto the main event. “How do you feel, Arcturus? Knowing that you only came here to have your time wasted? You can bark orders to your minions, eat something fancy, perhaps even rest. And out of all these more enticing options, your first choice is to come here, to me.” Veledar smiled as a wicked thought crossed his mind. “Maybe the reason you’ve come here is to admire my radiant scales. Who knows? Given the way you look at me now, you’ve probably watched me through all the hours I slept, crippled by a late sense of guilt. After all, how could you, a man with a sense of morality, with honor, restrain such a noble dragon? You feel bad. Admit it.”

Veledar had hoped to get a reaction out of the paladin, but there was barely any to speak of. This man stood like a mountain, straight, confident, and completely emotionless.

“This is going to turn into a very drab affair if you keep looking at me like that. I have been known to kill humans with boredom before.” Veledar grinned.

Arcturus said nothing. Instead, he pulled out a scroll from his pouch and rolled it out until it was held tight in his hands.

“What you say bears no significance to me, unless spoken with purpose. I will be asking you a series of questions, and if you truly care about your future, you better do your best to answer truthfully, dragon.”

Veledar was taken back for a moment. The human said the last word with such disdain, such anger. He guessed it was no surprise coming from a man who literally earned his living by claiming the lives of dragons.

“Engage in whatever fruitless endeavor you see fit, paladin. Though I must warn you. This crusade of yours is nothing like the stories of old.”

“Why do you believe such?” Arcturus asked, poking his head out from the scroll. “Loosen tongue and see the veil behind your words lifted.”

“Why am I not dead, for one? The heroes of your stories believe only in blind justice. They do not give dragons like me second chances. All they care about is returning home with a dragon’s head in their cart, to be cheered and admired by the gloating crowd of simpletons. The king, mayor or whatever grants them land, title, then our hero finds a woman, falls in love, mates, lives happily ever after off the blood spilled. You find such tales heroic. I find them disgusting to the last.”

“Amusing, but far removed from the truth.” The paladin said. “My king wanted you alive so you can face justice for your crimes against our kingdom.”

“Crimes? What crimes?” Veledar hissed. “You keep babbling about these crimes as if you found me bathed in blood amidst hundreds of corpses!” Veledar’s claws scraped against the floor in anger. “You’re no better than the rest of your guild, fattening your pouches with gold bought with the lives of innocent dragons.”

“That word again. Innocent. Why should I believe a word you say?”

“Because...because of the facts!” Veledar snarled again. “How did you find me? Tell me! Say the truth for once instead of demonizing me!”

Veledar noticed a tense in the human’s jaws before he spoke. “Asleep.”

“Asleep how?” Veledar pressed on. “Did I hold a captive in my paws? A dying knight? The pitiful remains of my last meal?”

“No, You had a…something akin to what we give to our children.”

The words felt heavy on the man’s tongue, and Veledar extracted much joy from his clever ploy. As embarrassing as it was to admit, a mighty predator like him slept with an inanimate gryphon. Veledar was slowly, but surely, cutting his way into the human’s frail heart.

“A toy. Out of all the things I listed, all the dreadful weapons those simpletons are afraid of, it had to be a toy. Tell me, paladin. Was my gryphon so threatening that you had to wrestle him away from me along with the entirety of my hoard? You said you want to judge me for my actions, but I would like to hear again of the charges brought against me. I admit to damaging a man's house and one woman's banner, but this hardly matches the crimes you’ve committed against me!” Veledar snarled.

“Is that so?” Arcturus brought the scroll up again. “Let’s see if a wall and a banner are what is listed here.”

The paladin listed what Veledar already knew, but the similarities ended after his first couple of words. What followed after was a cacophony of nonsense, including murder, kidnapping of children, and stealing from merchants on the king’s roads.

Veledar's maw went agape with disgust. He heard nonsense before, but this amalgamation of filth felt like hedgehogs burying into his ears. How vile was this human king? To fabricate such lies in order to get an innocent dragon captured?

“That…” Veledar let his fierce growl sink into a depressed sigh. He had to play his part, even if that meant striking a blow to his pride. “That cannot be what you truly believe, is it? You are a dragon slayer, yes, but I have to hope the paladin in you is stronger than that. My mother…she told me tales of resplendent men that carried the light of the sun upon their armor. Men who are sworn to valor. Men who are just.” His eyes slowly rose from the ground to look at Arcturus. “Are you one of these men, Arcturus?”

The paladin’s gaze faltered, but only for a moment. “I…there have been some who see things differently. I trust word of mouth to a degree, but the written word holds much more power.” Arcturus answered, to which Veledar snorted in disgust.

“Fine. Trust that pile of stinking horse crap if it makes you feel any better.” He turned his eyes as much as he could away from this joke of a paladin. “All I know is that your people stole from my treasure and accuse me of things that make even my stomach revolt at the thought of d-doing such things!” He strained against the leather, making Arcturus back away from him for a moment. Veledar slumped to the ground when the straps refuse to budge, pleased to see the human breathe a sigh of relief as he stepped back to his previous spot.

“I admire your fighting spirit, dragon. Perhaps you even hide some chaffed scales beneath those bindings. Do you truly believe that all these charges are simply lies fabricated to implicate you?” he said, his hand moving to stroke his chin. “That does not make any sense no matter from which angle you look at it.”

“Just like your title, paladin.” Veledar spat that word, eyes narrowing at the distasteful human.

“What?” Arcturus eyes widened for a brief moment. “How dare you accuse me like he did?”

“He? You’ve gone and captured another dragon, have you?” Veledar pressed on, driven by an innate urge to see this human implode on himself. “Are you reading him the same lies? How many are there in the bowels of the ship besides me? I’m just curious, to know how many lives are enough to sate your thirst for innocent blood, dragon slayer.”

“No!” Arcturus stomped the ground. “I haven’t captured more. You are my only mission.”

“I don’t believe you,” Veledar said, making the human clench his fists.

“Stop it. If you’re trying to use my anger to your advantage, know that I am trained well against the poison that courses through your tongue with every word you speak.”

Veledar had to give at least a brief smile. He might not have managed to persuade the human of his innocence, yet seeing him simmer felt just as satisfying. “Stings, does it not? To be accused of falsehoods. If not me, who else were you speaking about?”

Arcturus sighed. Arms crossed, he paced around the room, lost in thought for a bit. “It was another dragon, bearing crimson scales not very different from yours, and no, it isn’t my desire to expand that topic further. Instead, I’d like to hear why you tarnished my title.”

“You know why, human.” Veledar said. “In the tales I’ve been told, paladins had a sense of honor and virtue. They could wield impressive magic, inspired bravery in their allies, and fought against the agents of evil across all world. Whatever you are is nothing like that. What you wield is an empty name, a mockery of what my mother’s tales spoke of.”

Veledar noticed the human stop and study his response. Good. He had gotten under his skin at least. “Tell me, slayer. How many dragons have found their end at the tip of your blade? Rumors say you come from a family with a particularly vicious taste for dragon blood. That you have this urge, this drive to kill that only ceases when you take a dragon’s life.”

A dark frown creased Arcturus’ face. Within two long strides he was upon the cage, armored hands wrapping themselves tight against the bars. Veledar could choose to maim the human, but the pain inflicted by his words felt more satisfying than any physical wound.

“What you heard is no truer than the claims you deny!” Arcturus spoke. “I’ve only ended one dragon, and I can assure you, it was quite an effort to put him down. I also did not murder him in his sleep or anything ridiculous of that sort. Merely brought the light of justice down upon that…that monster.”

“Is that how you live with yourself?” He mocked the human by poking his fingers with the top of his snout. Arcturus pulled back immediately from the dragon’s moist breath. “Admit you are a dragon murderer. Say something true just this once.”

Arcturus put his right hand to his nose and squeezed gently at its length with his eyes shut briefly.

Veledar accepted the gesture for the time being.

“In exchange, I also wanted to know why you did not kill any of the soldiers I sent into your cave,” he said, reopening his eyes and looking into the dragon’s eyes. “That was something I did not expect to see.”

“You already know that answer. I am not the monster you or all of the oafs in that village paint me out to be. Are we not talking without raking at each other’s hides right now? Imagine how fruitful our encounter would have been if you would have talked with me instead of charging me like a dumb orc.”

“I couldn’t take any chances,” Arcturus said flatly.

“Spare me the lecture. Just because another red dragon fractured your heart, that doesn’t make me guilty of the same sins. Now, if you don’t mind, I would like to know what your plans with me are. My limbs are starting to feel really stiff.” Veledar would have thrashed his tail, but the leather strap on it stopped that, of course.

“We are several days away from the capital. Unfortunately, that means we’ll be holding you tied up until the time comes to face justice for all that’s written in this scroll.” Arcturus replied, placing his quill at the top of his clipboard. “May the Gods forgive me if I’m wrong. Like I said before, I cannot take the risk.”

Veledar’s snout crashed back on the ground. This human paladin was disappointing him further and further. “Not that pile of dung again. For the sake of the paladins of old, can you at least pretend I’m speaking the truth? Does this sound like justice to you? A trial based on lies and your people's hatred for dragons?” Veledar replied harshly. He noticed Arcturus would not meet his gaze, clearly the human was conflicted about this issue.

“It does not.” he admitted as he looked into Veledar's eyes. “But it is my king’s will you defy. The words of dozens of villagers that claimed to have seen you perform these very crimes. I…” the human faltered. “Tell me again you did not do those things. Slowly.”

What the human was up to,Veledar did not know, but without hesitating, the red dragon picked his head up, his unwavering gaze staring straight into the human’s eyes.

“I swear by my integrity as a dragon that I have not done any of those things. I only damaged the house accidentally in pursuit of my…well that’s private, but again, I did not harm anyone physically. Might have called them pink-skinned rats a few times, but that’s just a truth your species has to live with. You have a myriad of jokes about us too, right? Tell me one. Go on. Amuse me. I know I will not get any justice here, so might as well try to have a bit of fun, before…”

Veledar let his words wither. Arcturus sat in silence, looking at nothing in particular, as if contemplating Veledar's reply. He waited for the human to say something about deceit. Honestly, he had no idea why he even put up with this ridiculous charade. One way or the other, he was going to end up roasted in the capital city of Entis, surrounded by the biggest, meanest group of pink-skinned rats a dragon could ever see.

“I believe you.” Arcturus said, much to Veledar's amazement. “Now tell me what happened, in your words, and leave nothing to assumption.” Arcturus settled down near Veledar's head and put the quill to the paper. “Also, for the purpose of this note, I will need a name to refer you by. I can simply write dragon if you don't want to tell me.”

“Write Crimson Sky on your paper, human. I want your king to know the dragon he has wronged this day. Although mark my words, I do not believe he will listen to anything I have to say.”

Arcturus started writing down the moment Veledar started speaking. Crimson Sky spoke about the theft, the little girl's house, his trip to town, and finally the fight with the bandits. The dragon of course spoke with much flattery about his actions. Although he insisted that someone threw the banner he had ripped at him. Crimson Sky mentioned how he heroically swooped in to save the half-elf Lyndis and how the half-elf woman had been in awe of his greatness.

Arcturus doubted, of course, that the strong, spirited half-elf had really bowed before the dragon’s greatness, but he humored the dragon anyway. Veledar snorted when he finished, causing Arcturus to flinch slightly.

“Is that satisfying for you, dragon slayer?” he asked, raising a scaly eyebrow.

“I prefer you not call me that.”

“It is what you are though.”

“As you are a dragon. I will say again that I did not murder the other red wyrm out of cold blood. He was a monster that had done plenty of killing before he tried to end my life. Then…just before he faded into the depths of death, he took something very precious from me. Some things can’t be replaced, Crimson Sky…no matter how much we struggle.” Arcturus replied. Veledar noticed he reached into the pouch on his belt and seemed to be feeling for something within when he said that last part.

“So he took back a gem, coin, or possibly a piece of art as a memento of your confrontation. I imagine you deserved whatever happened. Your people seem very skilled at twisting stories according to their needs.” He hissed.

He watched the human’s response for the moment. Arcturus sighed and seemed to grip whatever was in his pocket tighter, then wrote more on the paper, but the human now looked drained. Veledar guessed whatever he said had hurt the human deeper than intended.

“Perhaps you are telling the truth as well, and I am wrong to assume vile things of you.” Veledar said, causing Arcturus to look at him once again. “However, I am curious as to what is going to happen to me now. What is Crimson Sky’s fate? Will he be sentenced to death? Perhaps tortured?”

He saw what could be described as confusion in the paladin's eyes, so he pressed the point harder. Perhaps he would even be able to manipulate the man now that he gained a small measure of lenience.

“Would that be the just or noble thing for a knight to do?” he said, watching Arcturus return the gaze.

“I will make sure the king hears your side of the story,” the man stood up, putting his clipboard to his side, much to Veledar's disappointment. “Do you require anything? I can have food brought to you if you want. It's not the best we have, but should keep you satisfied until…well, you know.” Arcturus said.

“I wish to be set free, not feast on whatever scraps you find on your tables. Now send me my armored jailer back. I have a few words to share with him.”

“Will do. Fare you well, Crimson Sky,” Arcturus said before walking out of the room, letting the guard from before slip into his shadowy corner.

“Well if it isn't the mysterious armored monk, coming to marvel at my ferocious beauty. What’s the matter? Are my scales so dazzling they tangled your tongue?”

“Aye. You are a sight to behold, tied up like a juicy ham eager for the fire’s licks,” the guard chuckled. “Reminds me of this roasted lizard I ate once. Kinda looked like you, minus the wings.”

“I weep for your faulty sight, human.” Veledar snorted, blowing some dust over the floor. How dare this guard insult him by calling him a common lizard.

“You a winged lizard then. No, a serpent, like the trickster from my mother’s tales. D’you happen to hear the story of Lenrogor the Muffin Thief?”

“I might tell you if you call me by my name, title, or species, you pink skinned brute.”

“Lizard wants to play games now?”

“Grah but you’re thick! I am a dragon you metal-clad, urine drenched urchin! Is the king so drowned in debts that he snatches illiterate orphans from the streets to serve as his knights now?” He grinned at the last bit, thinking he had the human backed to the wall.

“Oh, hahaha! Good one, good one! Can’t have a discussion with a dragon without resorting to petty, thoughtless insults. Just you wait until the rest of Lumara gets a piece of the great comedian. Then we’ll see who’s laughing, serpent.”

Veledar stuck his tongue out at the man before tugging on his leathers one last time, then slumped to the ground defeated. He closed his eyelids and tried to think back to the dream he was having before he was so rudely awakened by the brute’s shouts inconvenient shouts.

*

Arcturus swiftly ran back to his quarters with the manuscript from the dragon rolled up under his arm. He was currently holding his hand to the ridge of his nose. He had just received a message from one of the king's wizards consisting of an unexpected change in his orders. Instead of bringing the dragon back to the capital, he was charged with killing him while he was still firmly bound in the hold of the ship. The news struck him particularly hard after the unpleasant discussion he had with the dragon.

What if Crimson Sky is right? That nagging voice in the back of his mind kept whispering thoughts Arcturus would have considered treasonous under normal circumstances. However, the more he pondered, the more he realized how rotten this course of action was. In serving his king, he could very well send an innocent creature to a premature death. Arcturus didn't know if he could read dragons as well as he did people. He tried not to think about what Crimson Sky had said about justice, honor, and doing what was right. Clearly the dragon had a silver tongue. With its life at stake, he’d not leave any stone unturned, no matter what terrors lurked underneath. As he closed his eyes for a faltering moment, the image of his burning house sprung to his mind.

Selena…Geoffrey… Dread Flame’s talons locked around his useless leg, forcing Arcturus to watch as his family withered before his very eyes…

The paladin placed a hand on the sturdy door that led to his quarters. He took a moment to regain his bearings, then opened the door and collapsed onto the cot with a thump. Despite everything his gut was telling him, a big part of him still believed the dragon. There had been some stretching of the truth involved, but he could still not shake the truthfulness in the creature’s cerulean eyes. They had not wavered, nor were they filled with malice when he spoke. He imagined how it would have looked if the dragon was any other species. Would there even be a debate on this matter?

“Selina…” He whispered, pulling a small locket from his pouch. He flipped open the silver case to reveal a picture of his wife and son, side by side. “If only you were here to soothe my troubled mind. What would you do, hmm? Is a dragon’s life worth going against my kingdom? Betraying a king that trusted me to…”

Arcturus’ words faltered. He came here to capture the dragon, not end his life based on an order sent through a mage.

“Gods be good, what am I getting into?” He sat up with his hands on his face. He knew what Selena would have said. She would have reminded him about his oath, strengthen his wavering beliefs with her sweet, calming voice. She would have also pointed out that none of those words referred only to humans. Was not every life precious in its own, intricate way?

Arcturus sighed. He imagined her face all scrunched up, annoyed that she had to renew his faith yet again, but in her eyes hid love too, not just concern.

He stood up, stashing the locket back into his pocket. If he was to kill the dragon like his king commanded him to, an innocent life would be lost forever, and that, he could not allow. Not as a paladin.

Arcturus grabbed his pack from his table and started packing his belongings.

“If any of you are watching, now would be a good time to grant me your favor,” he whispered to the skies as he slung his shield around his back. He did not yet know how he would go about this task, but one thing was certain. Today, Arcturus, paladin of Lumara, was going to save a dragon from the clutches of impending death.