Scales and Honor: Emerald Secrets
Chapter 11: Preparation
Veledar was having a nice dream. Nice from a dragon’s perspective anyway. He was circling high in an endless blue sky, enjoying the wind kissing his wings. Down below he saw hundreds of soldiers of various races trying to pelt him with their tiny little crossbows. Veledar laughed as he was soaring too high for them to even hit reliably. He swooped in and strafed some of his fire. His red-orange inferno spreading forth to incinerate the little soldiers before him in a chorus of screams. He spied Arcturus among the soldiers, surrounded by dozens of enemies, bashing them with his shield and retaliating with swift slashes of his glowing sword.
Veledar roared in anger. How dare they even try to kill HIS human.
The dragon swept down to catch a soldier in the head with his tail. The man fell to the ground with a thud. He then sliced two others with his claws, easily ripping into their flesh and spilling their blood onto the field. He planted his hinds into the back of another, crushing the man before smacking aside a dozen all to reach Arcturus. Once there he whipped his tail around, and proudly stood beside HIS human, roaring out a thunderous warning to the others. Teeth bared, Veledar prepared to slaughter anyone foolish enough to continue with their attempt to murder either one of them. The soldiers hesitated for a moment, bringing satisfaction to the dragon’s savage snarl. He saw them give each other looks of confusion and grip their weapons tightly in their hands. Then, instead of running, and much to the dragon’s delight, the men foolishly charged once again with a battle cry filled with false courage.
Well, I did warn them. Time to show these gnats why you don't mess with Veledar, or HIS human!
Veledar pounced on the first man, ripping his head clean off his shoulders with a slice of his claws. He opened his maw to incinerate five others. Fire licked at their pitiful bodies, and they collapsed to the ground screaming. But he was not finished with these foolish mortals. Lighting danced around his blood stained claws. He unleashed it like a flowing ribbon, it’s power rippling through the air like a wave. It cascaded from person to person, like a web of brilliant white light that connected them all for a fleeting moment. Those so bound by the light twitched, gasped, cried out, falling silent in the next second after. With the lights passing each man fell to the ground,smoke rising from their burned husks, never to rise again.
The others were quickly dispatched by Arcturus. The human was pretty good with that blade of his. With its shining light, it seemed to slice through the soldiers’ weak armor with ease, and when he wanted to, it would explode in an even large burst of light. This attack would radiate around those next to the target and send them flying back onto the ground. Veledar felt his chest fill with pride at HIS human.
Wait… am I blushing?
Veledar shook his snout and focused on finishing off the remaining soldiers. When they were finished, both were standing there with looks of satisfaction on their faces, breathing heavily. Veledar looked at his scales to see some scratches and places where the humans had drawn a little blood, but were hardly a concern to him. He swiveled his snout to Arcturus to see that his armor was dented and beaten in several places. Veledar got closer to him and they embraced one another in a hug. Veledar even draped his wings over the human, forming like a little tent that he and Arcturus found refuge in. Veledar closed his eyes, not imagining anything else on this earth that would make him happier. That's when he saw a bright light suddenly fill his vision.
Oh, Manticore’s bottom, of course it’s a dream.
* * * * * * * * * *
Veledar yawned as the thrill of the combat melted away from him alongside his dream, only to be replaced by the waking realm. Veledar opened his eyes, focusing on the sunlight streaming calmly through his opened window. Everything seemed to be like it was when he had gone to bed, that is, until he felt something currently stirring within his arms. Arcturus was still held firmly within his grasp.
Well that certainly is a new development. The dragon resisted the urge to rumble his approval, slowly stretching out his tail frill.
The human was snuggled against his raising chest, his eyes closed and still clearly asleep. Veledar just looked to him, and focused on how adorable the human looked right now. To think at one point they might have killed one another. How strange the strands of fate could be.
Veledar looked out the room’s window, out to the softly rustling leaves from the breeze, wafting in the pleasing scent of the trees. He closed his eyes and enjoying the serene moment, the birds tweeting softly in the distance. He sighed, kneading the human still in his grasp, glad he hadn't snuck out this morning. Thoughts of getting up and about occurred to him, to rise up and get started with the day. But that was dashed away with another sigh, flopping his head down to nuzzle the pillows beneath him. Scales rubbed against linen as the dragon rumbled, softly holding the human tighter.
It’s not like I'm in a rush anyway.
Veledar sighed as he felt Arcturus heart beat in his smaller chest. It felt right to have the human here with him. Not as stuffed animal replacement, or even to keep him safe. Was he growing fonder of him? What a most interesting thought. He wondered what the human would think on the matter. If anything, his friendship was treasured far beyond other mortals he’d met. Course that number couldn’t exactly be that high. He cuddled with the human for untold minutes. Truthfully, he lost track of time, content to linger in this pleasurable act. However all good things had to come to an end. Arcturus started to squirm within the dragon’s warm prison of scales. The dragon groaned of disappointment, thumping his tail in a most defiant manner.
I guess it's time to get up.
Veledar let go of Arcturus and slunk to the floow with another tongue-curling yawn. He groaned as he stretched as much as the room would allow him to, growling with displeasure as he would have to stretch his wings, tail, and neck outside. He curled back towards Arcturus, who was still half asleep on the bed. Veledar nosed the human lightly to get up, insisting on his waking. If he had to rise, then so did he.
"I don't want to get up." Sleepy hands pushed against the dragon’s nose, but the red wouldn’t be deterred that easily.
With a roll of his eyes the dragon returned his insistent snout, almost rolling the man over. "It’s not like I’m eager to get out of my nest, but if I’m not sleeping the day away, you’re not either!" he hissed.
"Well this is quite a change of schedule." Arcturus sat up, stretching out his arms. He groggily stood up, failing to fight off a yawn. “You’re up first.”
Well we certainly think the same on this matter.
Veledar chuckled to himself, "I was just saying the same thing, and yet it was not the first odd realization I made this morning."
"What was the first?" Arcturus cracked his back slowly, from the base to the top.
"Oh, nothing important," Veledar lied as he scratched his head with his a wing tip, "Don't let it trouble you. Now, I don't know about you, but sleeping works up my appetite.” He titled his head to the side, licking at his snout. “What has the innkeeper prepared for us this morning, I wonder?"
"Wow.” Arcturus laughed, crossing his arms across his chest. “You’re prime example of how lazy dragons can be. By the time this quest is through, you’ll have forgotten to hunt. Too used to being pampered. Are you being domesticated?"
Veledar scrunched up his snout at the mere thought of that.
That couldn't happen… could it? No. Of course not! Veledar shook his head off that ridiculous idea. He spun around read to lead his human downstairs. He was stopped by a pair of grasping hands along his scaled tail.
"Watch the tail please!" Arcturus laughed.
Veledar curled back to realize he’d almost whipped Arcturus with his tail. The amused looking human regarded him a smile. He wiggled the scaled appendage free, bringing life to his draconic pride.
"Well perhaps you should’ve taken the initiative and led the way instead of the big cumbersome dragon," Veledar held his claw to his chest. “I’m huge. What’s’ your excuse?”
“Hungry.” Arcturus mumbled.
“That’s one way to get out of a debate,” He led Arcturus out the door into the hallway, and down the stairs to the alluring scents of garlic potatoes, and some bread stuffs called wallaces.
Or were they called waffles?
Another drag of the pleasing air brought with it the tantalizing aroma of cooked venison. Veledar’s maw begin to water at the mere thought of sinking his teeth into that fresh, succulent meat. The innkeeper greeted him with a smile. Veledar just nodded towards him, trying to focus on not knocking anything over with his tail. Luckily the tavern had prepared for him, moving most chairs and tables clear away from him. He’d have thanked them for being so considerate, but he was dreadfully hungry.
He plopped down near the others. Lyndis and Merlia were already there, digging into their food.
He turned to the barkeep, rubbing at his growling stomach."I would like my meat raw this morning, kind sir,"
"Why in bonnie blazes would ya want it like dat?!" Merlia spat, stabbing down her fork and snapping to him in quite a huff. "When dey go slavin away ova a hot meal!"
"Ask Arcturus. He can tell you why." Veledar said calmly. He watched Merlia turn to the paladin with a look of confusion on her face.
"I may have suggested he was too pampered and much too used to cooked food." Arcturus sat down in a chair next to Veledar, ordering a plate of the food being cooked.
"So why in blazes did you do dat den? Now I gotta put up wit him eatin raw meet at da table! Dat no way for a proper dwarven lass ta begin ‘er first meal o’ da day," Merlia took an angry sip from her steaming coffee, grumbling a plethora of curses into the steaming brown liquid.
"If you don't like it, you can always see yourself removed from said table." He grinned wiggling his tail, flexing the tan frills. “I can help with that.”
"Leave, he says," she pointed her thumb to him and laughed to the others, "Ya and pass up on da adventure of a lifetime? No tanks,dragon." she sighed, "Guess I'll haf ta just manage while ya scoff dat down."
"I guess you will." He internally praised himself for that small victory while he waited for his delicious meat.
It did not take long for his food to arrive. Thankfully, although Merlia looked disgusted by the assortment of bloodied pieces piled on top of a large silver tray, she offered no complaint. To reward the dwarf’s silence, Veledar ate his meal swiftly, but not too quick as to not enjoy the flavor of the meat. Talk soon broke out between his companions over what spells to prepare for the mission of the day, what gear to bring, all boring things for a being already equipped with the sturdiest of armors. He mentally chuckled to himself as he needed none of that to summon magic from his claws.
Yet another things dragons excel at over mortals. Veledar sighed in fulfillment.
He did follow them out to the training area so they could go about preparing their spells. Each of his companions sat down and meditated on the spells they were going to be using. Arcturus had a different way of course, doing his morning poses with his sword. Veledar slightly fidgeted as he felt the boredom growing in his limbs. He decided to inspect the book that he had given Arcturus so he could use the spells. Veledar leafed through it, reading the spells briefly. Magic Circle, Cure wounds, detect magic, all pretty dull stuff to him. Although something caught his eyes. There was a picture of a sword on fire under the spell titled elemental weapon.
Now wouldn't that be something amazing for a dragon?
He pictured himself with his claws wrapped in flames, or possibly enchanted with ice magic. He grinned at the idea. Tail twitching with rising excitement, the dragon set the book back down, and looked to Arcturus, who was still doing his poses.
Well if everyone is still busy, I am going to stretch my wings a little bit.
The red dragon spread his wings and bolted into the sky, spearing through the verdant canopy like a bolt launched from a crossbow. He looked down to the figures of his friends, growing smaller and smaller, then turned his eyes towards the countryside to see what could be the large city of Entis, a small speck on the horizon. Veledar flapped his wings and did some turns, banks, dives, climbs, each one associated with an excited heart and rumble radiating down his throat. He roared his happiness, and when he had gotten his fill he angled a wing, and let the morning currents guide him back to the training area below. He let his paws touch softly on the ground, mentally praising himself at how careful he was. To his shock the girls were still kneeling in their meditation.
"Are you not done yet!?" He exclaimed, getting two eyes filled with daggers at his impatience.
"Well, I am done if you want to do some more flying." Arcturus walked towards him, stowing his sword within its scabbard.
Of course it was Arcturus. Who else would cheer him up?
"I thought you would never ask, Arcturus. How can I ever get tired of flying?" Veledar smiled as he led Arcturus back to the inn to retrieve his harness. In a few minutes, with the human's help, Veledar had the harness secured on his body. He stood proudly outside the inn after Arcturus had mounted up.
"We going up there, or are you going to stand around looking pretty all day?" Arcturus teased, but Veledar of course knew how to give it back to him.
"You think I'm pretty now?" He spread his wings giving the human much more of him to gaze upon, briefly glimpsing the small redness on Arcturus' cheeks. That made him rumble his approval.
“Just bloody fly, you silly reptile.”
“If you so wish!”. With a mighty flap of his wings, the dragon spiraled them above the canopy in a matter of heartbeats. Together they soared over the viridian tree-tops, rolling like waves along an emerald sea. Arcturus cheered, pumping his fist into the morning wind as Veledar joined it with one of his mighty roars.
"I don't think I will ever tire of this!" Arcturus shouted as Veledar began doing maneuvers once again. He opened his maw in a smile as he felt the human's joy. After all, it tended to be quite infectious. He found it hard to believe that a two legged, wingless being, even one as skilled as Arcturus might like flying more than he did, but with Arcturus cheering and shouting, Veledar had all the proof he could ask for.
"Don't you dare tire of it, Arcturus! We will make a dragon out of you yet!" Veledar shouted, his voice dripping with happiness. He did some turns next, then ascents, descents, and lastly a barrel roll. The entire time he kept asking Arcturus what to do next, hoping that the human would learn to predict his flight path simply by the movement of his muscles. Arcturus did a fine job at it, only getting the answer wrong a clawful of times. However, after that, he got every one of them right, much to Veledar's amusement. They flew over the forest for at least half an hour, before the dragon brought them back to the training area. Surely the girls would be done now.
He touched the ground softly once more. Crouching low with his paws, he allowed Arcturus to dismount him easily. He faintly hoped they were still preparing their spells, so he could get in more flying. He looked over and, to his disappointment, both dwarf and half-elf were done with their spells.
"Finally! Ya two makin’ us wait da whole day like one o’ dem pampered merchants!" Merlia chuckled, "Mighty rude of ya ta do so, dragon!"
"How rude to call me rude! If you did not take your sweet time preparing spells, I would not have taken so long." he stuck his pink tongue out at the dwarf. He then turned to Lyndis, "How about you, Lyndis? Are you going to chastise us as well?"
"Not exactly in the mood for anything too energy draining," the half elf replied calmly. "I am just waiting for our other two dragons to show up."
"Wut makes ya tink they be comin ta join us lass?" Merlia turned to the elf with a raised brow, tossing her red hair behind her. “Did ya end up bribin ta pampered green lizards?”
"Call it a hunch," Lyndis glanced to the trees with a knowing look, crossing her arms expectantly.
As if on cue, Lyyreth and Cordenth landed on the training ground with the dull sound of their back-wing filling the air. Dust and dirt scattered in their wake, causing the other’s hands to shield their faces. Veledar took pride in that he’d landed much softer than those two green whelps. He grinned, showing off his sparkling teeth.
"Bright morning to you, Cordenth. And to you too, Lyyreth,!" Lyndis waved, laughing with a smile while the dragons slunk over, a happy swish about their frill lined tails. "Took your time, didn't ya?"
"Well, someone here wanted to spend their morning engrossed in their scrolls." Cordenth rolled his eyes and gestured to his brother with his neck. “Was like he was trying to absorb himself into the parchment.”
"I apologize if my thorough preparation for the mission ahead seems pointless to you." Lyyreth snarled, "You'd think after taking a harpoon to the chest you would be more careful!"
"Wait. You’re coming with us?" Veledar tilted his head to the side. "Why would you want to do something crazy like this, with us? I mean besides getting the chance to follow me around, learning a few things." Veledar watched Cordenth's yellow eyes quickly turn to Lyndis, then back towards him.
Oh. That's why he was going.
"We figured you needed all the help you could get, and since yesterday you stuck your necks out for us., we thought it fit to return the favor." Lyyreth raised his snout a little higher. Heck he did not even sneeze.
Was he actually being more dragon like?
"Well then, you’re more than welcome to join us, but all the treasure we find is ours." he said sternly. He did not need any more of the hypothetical treasure getting split up any more than it was.
“We care not for trinkets and baubles.” Cordenth butted in with a harsh snort, to which Lyyreth immediately agreed.
“Very well. So, moving on, did that mother of your say when she wanted to meet us for this mission?" Veledar looked to the sky, and unfolded his wings, "Because I would very much like to get out of her forest and be on my way towards a real quest!"
“Nothing more real than being thrown into the stinky sewers of the human capitol.”
“If they even have a chamber big enough to suit your swollen head.” Lyyreth added to his brother’s jape, their laughter drowning the entire arena.
"Don’t speak as if you have the power to grasp onto the strands of fate," came the voice of an older woman from behind them. “Even those who possess the skill of farsight only get glimpses of what can be, not what will be. Besides, the imprisonment of this one will not serve our needs.”
“And who are you to speak such elevated words?” Veledar turned towards the voice to find the old woman from drakenburg standing there. He could not remember her name, but he knew it started with an L He was sure of it.
“I am who I’ve always been.” The woman stated with a dip of her head.
"Lida! What wind brings you here? Out of all the places you could practice your craft, this must be the most dangerous of them all,” Lyndis gasped.
"I have heard fables about the elven intuition. Sadly, it appears all of them are nothing more than tales,” The woman sighed. “Alas, there comes a time when even the thinnest of veils has to give way to clarity. You may all refer to me as the Emerald Lady now, ruler of this forest and all that dwells within it," Lida’s eyes started to glow purple, shift to slits.
There was an assortment of whats, hows, and gasps that followed the reveal. Veledar too had to clench his jaws shut to avoid looking silly. He played it off with a paw of the ground, curling his tail around his hinds.
“I knew it!” He stated proudly, sticking a talon at the woman. “I can remember your smell out of a thousand others."
“Oh, Veledar. Even ten years into the bowels of that wretched hive of scum and villainy would not make you any more knowledgeable.”
“Yeah? Are you tapping into your little farsight there, or is it another one of your divine hunches?” Veledar inched his head closer, his trembling lips barely able to conceal his irritation with this impetuous creature.
“Ask your mother.”
Veledar froze. The flat tone of her voice cut deeper than any other remark she could’ve made. He could’ve snarled at her. He should have done something.
But instead, he just stood there, stiff, just like that moment when Auron blessed him with her mother’s hoard instead of bringing the dragoness herself back to him.
“Well, now that one problem is out of the way, let me address the reason for this ungainly shell. I take this form, so I am not swarmed by my possessions when I decide to go for a walk, but make no mistake. Looking like one of you, walking on these rigid two legs does not mean we’re equal."
“As if we’ll ever forget,” Arcturus mumbled, his voice filled with bile.
“Good,” Lida smiled. “It feels good to talk to a man of principle. Perhaps if your dragon would be inclined to show me the same respect, we would not have to resort to needless conflicts.”
“I am not his,” Veledar’s hot temper coaxed out the words out of his maw before he even had a chance to consider them. “If anything, he’s mine.”
Lida said nothing. Instead, she just covered her mouth with a hand to avoid laughing at him altogether.
"What Veledar means to say is that we’re above the concept of slaves.” Lyndis cut in.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“Oh dear. Have I formed my words in such a crude way to think…that?” A larger smile crept along Lida’s satisfied face. “No no no. What I’m talking about is a different form of ownership. Isn’t that so, Arcturus? Tell me, how do our accommodations suit you?”
“Ff-fine. They’re good. Accommodable. Excuse me,” Arcturus coughed into his fist to mask the stutter of his words. “The room is warded well against the cold, the bed is the best I’ve slept in, and the food is fantastic.”
Veledar knew exactly what she was hinting at, so he stepped in before the witch made another startling reveal. They’d not gotten that close. “Your sons are not swarmed if I recall." Veledar put a paw to his chest, “however, your loyal subjects could hardly get enough of me. It’s such a shame you weren’t there to see how them flock over like gryphlets before their mother. They adore me! By the time we leave a new flag might be waving in their hands. One bright crimson and tan."
"Such bloated opinion. Be careful not to inhale too deeply, dear. You’re merely a curiosity, and curiosities never last long.” Lida waved him off. “Arcturus. You have served long enough to know the burdens of command. And you too, Lyndis, have gotten a taste of what it means to rule, as fleeting as it might’ve been. You two should know this better than anyone. When a queen walks among her subjects, she draws every head, from the lowliest of servants, to the mightiest of dragons, for none other stands above her. Not even…her offspring," she gave a large grin, then turned towards her two sons, who were standing slightly further away from her than everyone else. Her grin faded; her voice tightened like a fist. Within her eyes brimmed flames of lavender.
"I see you two have a rogue’s blood in your veins to disregard my wishes a second time. Explain yourselves."
Both Lyyreth and Cordenth kept their wings tucked against their sides. From the way they flexed their claws, and the tension burning in their muscles, Veledar could tell something more than servitude burned beneath their scales. He knew it well. The whip of defiance that urged him to follow his dreams. To rise above those who kept his ambitions shackled. Although it served him poorly to have the two dragons openly rebel against their own mother, part of him hoped that Cordenth and Lyyreth would have the courage to fight for their freedom.
"I can no longer watch from afar how others fight for our home. Veledar fought for us. He bled for a place he owes nothing to, because he knows the value of life better than you ever will," Lyyreth replied first, puffing out his chest.
“Oh, my poor, deluded son. He fought to save his precious paladin from the curse I placed upon him.”
“Then why did he help us bring the captives back to the village? If he is as selfish as you say, why did he try to persuade the bull to save my brother’s life?”
“He did?” Linda blinked, a flash of genuine surprise on her face before her usual confidence regained control. “Because it seems to me that he failed. Isn’t that why you’re all gathered here, eager to embark upon the quest to wrestle the bull from my grasp?”
“Yes, mother. You are right, as always,” Lyyreth continued. “But even you, with all your awe-inspiring greatness cannot predict everything. Once the shackle around the bull’s neck is struck, so will ours. We have lived under the shadow of your wings for far too long.”
"Is that so?” Lida smiled. “What grand purpose have you suddenly uncovered? Will you just roam the world without anyone to guide your wings? Follow these outsiders on Veledar's quest, perhaps?"
"No," Cordenth butted in, stepping in front of his brother. "We will be heading to Rothdell, the nexus of spellcraft, a place far removed from the shadow you cast."
Silence struck the Emerald Lady, her eyes widening in shock. That didn’t last long before she was stroking her chin, mulling the idea over in her head, her purple eyes glowing as ominously as ever.
"Very well. Do as wish my offspring.”
Everybody let out a sigh of relief. Even Veledar, as he certainly never expected the Emerald Lady to ever back down from a fight.
“Is this a test?” the twins cocked their heads.
“No. I speak the truth. To be honest, I have been genuinely curious as to when you would finally leave on your own. But you were right, Lyyreth. I cannot predict every outcome.”
"But you said we had to stay until our purpose was fulfilled!" Cordenth shot out with a snarl. “This has to be a trick. It can’t be as easy as to just-“
"And you stayed!” The woman shouted back at him. “You have lingered in lassitude, failing over and over to rip out whatever you desire from the world, like a real dragon should! You acted like one my possessions, so I let you take your destinies into your own paws, as much as I might regret that later down the road," Lida waved a hand dismissively as Cordenth. “This is no trick. When you’ll want to leave, leave.”
"Well, good. It’s like you told the red one. We needn’t come to blows over it," Lyyreth mumbled., shying away from the humanoid and shifting from claw to claw.
"Now, let’s all finally get to the reason why I’m here right now." The Emerald Lady pulled from her brown cloak a dark grey palm sized stone. She held it out for Veledar to clearly spot several runes etched into its worn surface. They were the draconic runes spelling out the world travel.
"A rock? Her big plan is a wee rock?" Merlia whispered behind him. "If I hadn't heard da craziest ting bout dese rocks."
"It isn’t a mere rock, you stone-headed dwarf," The Emerald Lady boomed with her voice, “Open up your eyes and look. What you see here is a rune of travel. It will take you to its pair, conveniently located near the fort that has to be leveled."
"So, like a teleport spell?" Lyndis asked.
"Nothing like it. That spell is too dangerous to use, as any master of shadows should know. This rune allows the user to quickly travel through the fairy realm..."
"Not doing it!" Veledar interrupted the old woman. The Emerald Lady shot him a look of hatred with her purple eyes. Practically lighting the air ablaze. "I went to the fairy realm once and it had been by far the most scale-chilling, bile-retching, abhorrent experience of my short adventurer life. I’m not doing it again." He defiantly whipped his tail about, stomping a claw down for good measure. “Not in their lifetimes.”
The Emerald Lady just gave an amused look as she caressed the rune within her hands. "Oh, I’d tend to agree if this rune was not of my own design," She held up her hand and waved it around in a circle, "I made this rune in such a way that you will travel instantaneously to the other side. There will be no walking or anything like you and Arcturus experienced in that place."
Well, now she was talking.
"Fine.” He snorted,”For one crazy reason I cannot explain, I believe you, If this thing does all you say, we’re good.”
"Not in their lifetimes huh?" she plopped the stone in Lyndis’ outstretched hands.
He wrinkled his muzzle, practically growling. “Never you mind.”
"Woah! It’s focking freezing!" Lyndis shouted in astonishment, nearly dropping the stone. "Warn me next time!" The rogue swiftly pulled a hankerchief from her pack, wrapping the stone in it’s clay colored fibers.
"Was it? I could hardly notice,” Lida shrugged. “The process to activate the rune is quite simple, and this will also work for the other one you will find. You simply stroke the rune in a circular pattern and say the words, "Send me". She turned back towards the others, "Now do not take too long. For my gamble to work, you must remember two things that must happen."
"What would those be?" Veledar cocked his head to the side.
"One. Act swiftly and strike terror into the soldiers stationed there. Make sure you leave someone alive to relay a message to their king. And two, I would like to infer that you will be burning more of these forts."
So that's what she was after. She wanted to lure Arcturus' buddy and the fleet of airships away from the capital. Scatter their forces and plunge them into a state of panic.Veledar thought it would be funny, to see the vast amount of airships head out to stop these fake attacks when in reality they would heading straight for Entis.
"I of course wish you luck in the battles to come, although I doubt you will need it. Three dragons and your adventurers?" she cackled slightly, "I don't think a bunch of steel-wearing peasants stand much of a chance. I doubt anyone there has seen real battle for quite some time."
Veledar made a mental note to be more calculated in the future. He had to admit, even if he did not like her methods, he respected the strategy behind this plan. In that way, she was a great dragon. But on the other hand, she manipulated them into doing everything for her. He still remembered well what she had done to Arcturus, a memory that wrinkled his snout and narrowed his eyes.
"Well what are we waiting for? Let’s get this over with," he growled at everyone just standing there talking among themselves, "Let’s do this!"
"Someone’s excited. How about we get some supplies first?" Arcturus replied, holding up a hand with his pointer extended upward. "It always pays to be prepared for these sorts of things." The paladin then investigated his pouches, souring as if he just feasted on a juicy lemon.
"Cordenth, Lyyreth? Could I ask you a favor perchance?" Arcturus said, rubbing the back of his neck, "Can you use your pull around here to help us get items? I may find myself a bit short on coin."
Asking a dragon for favors, Arcturus? That is not going to work the way you want it to. Veledar just looked amused at his friend, that hopeful, kind look in his eyes almost making him feel sorry for being part of the human’s predicament. To his surprise, however, both green dragons nodded in unison.
Oh, come on! Are you dragons or what?
Arcturus quickly wrote up a list of all the things they could use on this little incursion. Veledar peeked at the parchment Arcturus wrote on. He spied medical kits, smoke bombs, and Veledar's eyes widened at the mention of grappling hooks.
How silly.
Veledar rolled his eyes. Why need a grappling hook when you had wings, after all? There were a myriad of other things on the list, but Veledar paid them little mind. Thankfully, the two green dragons managed to get most of the things for free from their loyal villagers. Veledar, of course, stopped to say hello to anyone that would give him attention, which was a rather time-consuming endeavor when you dealt with a crowd.
"Oh, thank you for saving us, great dragon!" one person had said, followed by a "Crimson Sky is our Hero!" Veledar grinned with his white teeth, swelling his chest.
He only stopped when Merlia started fussing to him.
"Stop bein a lazy red fire spittin lizard an’ lend us a hand!" she had shouted, turning a tad red herself.
Despite all the ruckus, they finished their task within the next hour. Arcturus seemed mighty pleased with them as he looked to the items they had gathered. Lyndis was swinging the grappling hook slightly with a smirk on her face.
"You know we don't need that, right?" Veledar grinned
“Wow. How did it not occur to me before? I can just jump over the walls. Or better! Have you teleport me exactly where I need to go!”
“Or you can just be a dragon?” the red only grinned further.
“And who’s gonna turn me into one? You?” the half elf shot back, stowing the hook and rope in her pack.
"No, but borrowing one’s wings shouldn’t be difficult. Perhaps you could convince Cordenth to let you ride him into battle?" Veledar raised one of his eyebrows, as he gestured to the green dragon with his head. “He seems rather enchanted with you already.”
"You think?" Lyndis threw the pack onto her back. "I'll give him a talk about it when I get the chance."
"Well it seems we got everything we need." Arcturus spoke up, clasping his gloves together, "I've been thinking of a plan to attack this fort."
"Go in dragons blazing, rush in, roar our arrival, and send them cowering." Veledar grinned, as Arcturus gave him a look that seemed to say "really? Is that the best you came up with?"
"No, I was going to have Merlia and Lyndis pose as my guards while I do a surprise inspection of the fort, using my status as a paladin."
"Arcturus, my dear, you have three dragons. How can you even consider the subtle approach? Even the Emerald Lady told us how prepared these people are for our arrival, and she’s…you know…" Veledar wrinkled his muzzle.
"Yes, but sometimes you can’t just go in…" Arcturus held up his fingers and gave quotations "Dragons blazing,"
"Wait. I have something. Doesn't your king believe you've been captured by me? The others among your people believe you to be dead?" Veledar cocked his head to the side as he swished his tail back and forth with pride.
"Yes, but my death must not be as wide spread as we think. The people in Drakenburg for instance barely knew my face." Arcturus stashed a few smoke bombs in his pouch, buckling it shut.
"Ok lad, say we be gettin in da front. Den we just keep our eyes open for da prisoners?" Merlia asked, counting her arrows.
"Naturally. I think we can then go about disabling whatever defenses they have. Once that’s done, we offer them a chance to surrender. If they refuse or things go south, Lyndis here can cast dancing lights into the sky, calling in our dragon support." Arcturus gestured to Veledar and the two other dragons behind him.
"Support? I am reduced to just some meager support?" Veledar moaned.
"Well, unless you want to go in disguised as a guard, that’s the only place I can put you. Do you think you can keep your concentration while in the fort?"
"Considering I need the practice, we can call it a trial run."
'An’ what if yer trial run sends tings tits up faster den a speedin’ gryphon!" Merlia asked, putting her hands on her hips.
"If that happens, dear Merlia, and I’m not saying it will, you have three dragons to get you out of trouble."
"Love your optimism, Veledar, but if these places are in cramped quarters you won't be able to take your true form. You will be stuck in the skin of a normal human, and, unless you can handle a sword, you’ll go from being the danger to being IN danger."
"Shut up. I have seen you do it plenty of times. How hard could it possibly be to swing some piece of sharp metal around?" Veledar thrust his tongue at the man like a sword. He did not want to sit by and wait, even if what he was saying made sense.
"Fine. Fiiiiine," Veledar groaned, "I will wait for your sparkly signal to arrive, as much as I detest it.”
"Oh come now, you moaning hatchling. You’re going to have Cordenth and Lyyreth to keep you company," Lyndis pet the dragon’s flank. “You can all moan and groan together.”
“That’s not a good thing, so please, don’t remind me," Veledar groaned as the two green dragons wore big smirks on their snouts. Veledar narrowed his eyes at the two. “And you shouldn’t get any ideas. This is a serious, potentially life-threatening mission, not a bonding trip.”
"I think he is starting to like us," Cordenth chuckled, stretching his neck into an S, "before, that would have been a snarl."
"I don't have to take this indignity." He strode past them with his snout risen, almost smacking their grins off with his tail.
"Enough about that," Arcturus said, clasping his hands together. "There will be plenty of time for banter later! For now, we have a mission to attend. After we’re done, we can use the stone to transport the prisoners out of there. However, I will be damned if she forces them to become her possessions."
"Agreed," Lyndis nodded, followed by an "Aye" from Merlia.
"She already has an entire village of servants to do her bidding. It does not seem right for her to keep getting more." Veledar turned towards the two green dragons, "What about you two? Will you stand with us?"
They remained silent for a moment. Lyyreth was the first one to reply, You can count on me." Veledar saw the green dragon gulp.
"How about you, Cordenth? You are oddly silent on the matter." Lyndis asked loudly to the squirming dragon.
"Hey, I have sided with you at every turn." he shot back. "You do not have to question my resolve now." Cordenth’s snout wrinkled. “My brother is right. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”
"Alright. Just…you don't have to get so defensive about it." chuckled Lyndis, patting Cordenth on his side. "Just wanted to be sure is all."
"Good," Veledar snarled, "Now let’s go get this plan of hers over and done with."
"Everyone ready?" Lyndis asked, pulling out the cloth-wrapped stone and holding it out before all of them.
Veledar felt himself hesitate before reaching out for the stone. Against his wishes, his mind traveled back to his trip in the fairy realm, when he only had Arcturus to keep him company.
Well, here goes nothing. He closed his eyes briefly, hoping that what the Emerald Lady said was true. He reached out with one of his claws and placed it carefully on the small stone. Thankfully, he could not feel the coldness that Lyndis had complained about earlier. Lyyreth and Cordenth followed his lead and placed their black curved claws next to his, practically rubbing up against him.
"Blazes dat is cold!" Merlia gasped as her finger caressed the stone. She turned to Arcturus, who did not have the same reaction. The human just looked at the stone with a look of curiosity. Veledar figured his gloves probably shielded him from the cold, or at least made it less shocking. In unison they all started moving their claws/fingers in small circular motions.
"Stone, send us!" Lyndis said, right before a blaze of blue light seemed to spring forth from the stone. Veledar could feel the powerful magic as it washed over his scales. He felt a force yanking him downward. Like he was being sucked into the very stone itself. It started out only small, like a small tug, that suddenly and violently became a great vortex of inescapable fate. There was another flash of blinding light before Veledar suddenly felt like his body was compressed like when he changed sizes. Although there was the added sensation of a great pressure, as if there were two large stone slabs squeezing him together. Rainbows flashed before his widened eyes, nearly blinding him in their radiance.
He suddenly let out a groan as his entire body felt sick, it reminded him of when he had eaten the dragon bane berries. Veledar tried to move his head to see how the others were doing with this, but when he turned his head, the ever-changing colors didn’t vanish. The nausea passed quickly as he felt a cooling sensation gather about his claws. His vision returned to normal with the fading of the brightness. He looked down to see that his claws were planted on a rolling field of grass, wet with the morning dew. He breathed a sigh of relief as the pressure sensation came to an end. He looked up to find that everyone else was wearing the same expression of relief he was. Cordenth and Lyyreth both wrinkled their muzzles in disgust soon after, complete with Lyyreth starting to sneeze. Merlia fell to the ground clutching her chest, like she was about to retch all over the green grass.
"Well wasn't dat da worst!" she gasped out, "blazes, it feels like me stomach is gonna leap outta my chest!"
Lyndis was currently waving her hand in front of her eyes. "I think I may be blind," she said with a certain degree of nervousness. Then she quickly sighed, "Oh wait, never mind, I guess it just took a while for my senses to readjust to the material world."
Cordenth just stood there, not moving, constantly blinking his eyes, "Lucky for you. I, for some odd reason, can’t seem to get some spots out of my eyes.” The dragon closed his eyes and held a claw between them.
Arcturus looked to be sweating as he too remained immobile after the travel. His eyes were wide open and looking around at the others. However, besides that, he appeared to be unaffected by the transportation.
"So how was the travel?" Veledar cocked his head to the side as he took his place beside the human. "Was it anything like before? I just felt sick and saw colors." Veledar rubbed his tan scales.
Arcturus just nodded in silence. Still looking like he’d seen a ghost, even color had drained from his face. "It was bad in a lot of other ways." Arcturus pressed two fingers on the bridge of his nose and closed them before he put a hand to Veledar's snout. "Thanks for the concern, I can tell you about it later. I’ll manage."
Veledar nodded. He of course wanted to press further to find out what was troubling the paladin, but Arcturus was right in that regard. There would be a better time to talk later. Veledar turned back towards the other members of his team, adopting a more confident pose with his head held high. The dragon looked around to find that they were near the a forest’s edge. Although it did not look like the forest of despair, nor could he see the tiny speck of Entis. How far away from the forest had they been sent?
"Hey! Found another stone!" Lyndis exclaimed, drawing the dragon's attention. The half-elf had picked up a stone similar to the one they used. It looked exactly like the last one.
"Are ya trying to cover for droppin it?" Merlia laughed.
"No, I felt it vanish when we were pulled through that realm. It must have been left behind. The Emerald Lady did mention there was a second stone for us." Lyndis pocketed the stone in one of her pouches.
"Great. We have the delightful opportunity to travel back the same way. Any idea where we are, Arcturus?" Veledar turned his neck to the human, who was busy scanning the horizon himself. The human had cupped his hands around his eyes. If this helped him, Veledar did not know. “Anything? It’s your country, sire.”
"Yeah, but..." shrugged the paladin, "I have never been to this part of Lumara before. It also doesn’t help that there is a thorough lack of any landmarks for me to identify either." the human then pointed to a small speck on the horizon. Veledar stared at it and focused. It was clearly the fort they were sent here to attack. He could make out the tiny walls, the towers, and specks of people on them. Although from this distance Veledar was unsure of just how big the thing was. Not that it made any difference. More buildings made more things available to burn.
"Well, we best start to make progress," grumbled Lyndis, "Unless you dragons can of course turn into horses or something."
"That is within our power, yes," mumbled Cordenth quietly, "Although we just don't like to assume the shape of such a lowly creature. They don’t even eat meat!"
"Oh, I’m sure you’ll resist the urge to munch on a handful of grass until we get there." Lyndis gave Cordenth a reassuring smile. "Will be probably hard to see the lights from out here. We may need to change our plans. We might just have to ride you right up to their gates, otherwise they will wonder how even got out here."
"This is ridiculous. Do you honestly expect me to-“
“Veledar,” Arcturus cut in.
“No!” The dragon pointed a claw at the man. “I cannot change into a horse creature, and you, as my paladin, should perfectly understand why.” Veledar clearly stated., "I can make myself useful in other ways. Tell me. What will you be having me do? Hopefully you do not suggest I stay here."
"I don't think I could get you to stay here even if I were to order you, Veledar." Lyndis laughed, her eyes traveling to Arcturus. "I suggest you shrink down and ride with us. Perhaps small enough to ride on Arcturus' shoulders."
"That works." Veledar grumbled. He always hated being smaller than his companions. Although he did internally laugh at the thought of riding Arcturus. How the dragon became the rider. He held a claw to his head and focused on becoming smaller. Thankfully he had mastered the whole process and thus had no need to maintain concentration to hold this form like he did with his human one. He hoped with enough practice he would no longer need to concentrate on that form as well. He opened his eyes as he began to shrink. First, his head came up to stand on the same level as Arcturus' own. Then it was at the human’s waist, before he finally came down below the human’s knees. Veledar moaned as he stood on the same level as a house cat. He heard Lyyreth and Cordenth give a chuckle from behind.
"You look cute like that, Veledar. Just like the hatchlings mother told us about when we were about your size!" Cordenth laughed in his throat.
"Laugh it up all you want, you two. You must become smelly horses, and if that isn’t bad enough, look at all this juicy grass spread all around us. Think you can hold back from becoming grass-eaters?"
Lyyreth and Cordenth stopped their laughing, their eyes narrowed in realization. For a dragon to be reduced to the level of prey was quite embarrassing. The twins grumbled a few words under their breath as they performed the same claw movement Veledar used. He watched with a satisfied smile as the two started to change shape into horses. Lyyreth's green scales faded until they were tan, his claws turning into black hooves. His yellow eyes changed to dark brown ones, Veledar chuckled as the dragon's snout became a pink nose.
Cordenth's scales however turned black, all over his body. In fact, every part of the dragon had turned black as he became a horse. Veledar watched in interest as the wings folded in before melting into the once dragon's back. Cordenth let out a snort of his now horse nose, and looked at Veledar with those now-brown eyes of his.
"Oh my. Would you look at those shining manes and striking tails!” Veledar whistled with fake admiration. “Why, I’d say it’s a vast improvement over your original forms! Perhaps you should stay like for the whole duration of the mission!" he teased, causing both horses to stare at him, probably in anger.
"Come on, Veledar," Arcturus laughed, gesturing to his shoulders. "Don't want them to trample you now, do we?"
"They would have to catch me, Arcturus. Besides,” Veledar took flight and flew around the human once before landing on his armored shoulders. "I can fly, and they cannot!" He curled around the human's neck like a cat, sinking his little claws into the gambeson. Even though he did not like being smaller than the human he was now curled around, Veledar figured it could always be worse.
I could be one of those horse things. How repugnant.
"Oy! Are all of ya dense? Wut dey goin ta tink wen dey see da red dragon round your neck?" Merlia pointed to Veledar, raising an eyebrow. "Seems ya plan has a big hole in it, laddie."
"He can be brushed off as a familiar or something." Lyndis mentioned, waving her hand without a care in the world. “Gods knows theres tons of those. Hell, even I had a cat back home.”
"Yea, I cannot lie like that, Lyndis." Arcturus replied, "My words speak only truth," he said, quoting one of the lines of his oath.
"Well just say you bested him in a trial, and now he is your companion. You don't have to reveal he grows any bigger." Lyndis shot back. She turned to the horse Cordenth and mounted up. "Been awhile since I rode a horse bareback. I used to be quite good at it." she smiled. Veledar thought he saw Cordenth smile as well, but that was silly of course. Horses couldn’t smile.
Ugh. Veledar smelled the horse stench coming from the two previous dragons, and he hacked into Arcturus' neck loudly. Oh, how the smell was so invasive. So awful. He tried to dig his nose into Arcturus' gambeson in the hopes that maybe, just maybe the smell of human would overpower that of the horse.
"Oh, come on, do you have to play your role so well?" Arcturus moaned as Veledar started hacking more into the gambeson’s fibers.
"Sorry!' Veledar gasped between hacks, "It’s the smell of the damn horse dragons." He dug his snout further into the gambeson. "At least I can take comfort in riding you."
Merlia burst out laughing as Arcturus helped the dwarf get onto Lyyreth's back.
"Ridin you, he says! O, dats rich!" she let out another deep laugh.
"I don’t get why you are laughing so heartily, Merlia, it's not the funniest thing I conjured." Veledar wrinkled his snout.
"She is implying you’re riding me." Arcturus stated as Lyyreth started galloping towards the fort in earnest.
"Well yes, I am riding you right now. It’s much more pleasurable than being right on top of the horse!" Veledar shouted down towards Lyyreth.
Merlia let out another shrill laugh, "Ridin you is pleasurable, he says! Yer killin’ me dragon!"
Veledar turned around and hissed at the red-haired laughing dwarf. "What is so damn funny you dwarven harpy?" He narrowed his eyes as he heard even Lyyreth give a snort. Which Veledar of course figured was horse laughter.
"Uhh, riding can mean quite a few things in the common tongue, Veledar. It can be actual riding like you see with the two lasses, hitching a ride on my neck, or…something sexual," replied Arcturus, his voice stifling a chuckle.
"What do you mean? Mounting’s an entirely different…oh. OH!” Veledar's eyes widen in realization. Then he held his head away from the dwarf and Arcturus, "That's still not funny.”
"Oh, but it is if ye haven’t lived yer life in a cave!" roared Merlia, hitting her left leg with her fist.
"Hey Lyndis, yer never guess what Veledar said!"
"Hush you!" Veledar hissed as Lyyreth continued across the plains. Veledar soon went quiet as they traveled, focusing instead on the breathing of Arcturus as he noticed with each gallop he gave a little pained gasp. He figured riding bareback on a horse was something that he did not particularly enjoy, and Veledar felt a tad bit of guilt that he could not be the one giving him a lift to the fort. Not as a horse, of course, but flying high as a dragon.
But nooooo. They have cannons to shoot us out of the sky.
Veledar narrowed his eyes as he pictured himself ripping each one of these cannon things apart piece by piece. Thankfully, Merlia had reduced her chuckling to small little snickers as they approached the fort. Veledar rolled his eyes as he figured she would never let him live down that little comment.
"So have you ever been to a fort like this?" He asked as he stretched his neck up to talk into Arcturus' ear.
"It looks like the ones we used to have on the front lines in Rothdell, actually." the paladin said in a grim tone. "Looks to be of medium size too." The human held up a hand to point to two large towers overlooking the walls of the fort that grew closer with each trample of Lyyreth's hooves. "There are most likely two more of those towers, each one housing an energy cannon just like the ones we have on our air ships. Very powerful."
"Why would they need those? You did say a place like this was for learning." Veledar asked, watching the paladin's face turn a little pale. He turned his snout back towards the fort as Arcturus grew silen. In the dead center of the fort was an even larger towers than the others Arcturus had pointed out. It however did not seem be a tower that would be filled with energy cannons like the human had said. Veledar focused his eyes to see what could certainly be a loft for gryphons to roost upon. "Is it typical for your forts to have roosts for the gryphons?"
"Yes, since they like to have everything below them like cats. It's also useful for them to be up there to use their eyes to spot things for us." Arcturus sighed, as the color had yet to return to his face. Almost on cue, Veledar could make out the form of three gryphons swooping high above towards them.
"Should we be worried about the little kitty birds?" Veledar raised his snout to watch the gryphons fly around. It almost looked like they were playing. Oh, how Veledar felt his jealousy grow.
"Doubt it. They are just checking us out. Acting as scouts." Arcturus pointed as the gryphons started to circle back towards the fort. "See? They are letting them know we are coming."
"Wonderful. Perhaps this plan of yours has more merit than I initially believed."
“Don’t let Merlia hear that,” Arcturus looked over to the dragon with a meek smile.