The dragon's eyes were red hot torches, its teeth as sharp as the edge of Bonn's long blade. The monster took a curious step toward them, its gray scaly skin rippled as the rock ground shook.

The velvet shroud fell from Stellarion’s head, and he bolted, burning the leather reins through Starlex's palms, and thundered off into the black hills followed by the equally frightened Emberfall.

Starlex heard Leiffen mutter a curse under his breath, not his usual "Heavens" which was common in Ardelym vernacular, but a vulgar one, the kind she had heard from the men who worked in the stables when they didn't realize a princess had wandered in.

For a moment, Starlex stood transfixed at the sight, paralyzed with fear and awe, until Bonn shoved her aside. The two Skaards jumped into action. Leiffen tossed a silver globe in the air. The dragon looked down its long nose at it for a moment as the globe hovered in the air. The dragon's nostrils flared and shot out puffs of smoke.

While it was distracted, Bonn slammed his long blade into the dragon's front leg. The Illymium-forged steel bounced off the dragon's scaly skin, propelling Bonn backward onto the rocky floor. The now enraged dragon swatted away the silver globe, which bounced to the ground, benign as a child's toy, and rolled off the cliff's edge.

"Run!" Leiffen shouted. Bonn clambered to his feet and, grabbing Starlex by the arm, pulled them both behind a large boulder. Leiffen threw himself on top of Bonn and Starlex as Quetzez released a vomit of fire.

"That dragon bitch destroyed one of my balls!" Leiffen moaned.

"I'm not touching that one, mate," Bonn grumbled.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"We better make a run for it!" Leiffen shouted.

"We won't make it," Bonn said.

"Raki!" Starlex shouted. From beneath Bonn's muscular arm, she saw the great Lila bird swoop down and peck at the dragon's eyes.

"Here's our chance!" Starlex cried.

While the dragon turned and shot a spew of fire at the bird, Starlex climbed over the boulder, skirted across the rock plateau, and ran between the dragon's back legs. Bonn and Leiffen were right behind her. Quetzex's tail swished to the side, nearly knocking her over the side of the cliff. Bonn grabbed her just in time, shoving her away from the dragon's stream of fiery breath.

Leiffen had gotten caught up on the dragon's tail, and now he straddled it like he was riding a horse.

Raki dove from the sky, cawing and fluttering her wings before the dragon's nose. The dragon's wings uncoiled with tremendous force, blowing dust in Starlex's face as she flattened herself against the rock wall. Leiffen hung on for dear life as Quetzex ran the length of the plateau, great wings flapping as she chased down the Lilla bird.

"Leiffen, jump!" Bonn shouted.

The dragon reached the edge of the cliff and took flight, her tail snapping behind her. Lieffen hung desperate onto a scaly spine, his feet scissoring through the air, until he lost his grip and fell.

* * *

In the high tower of Oran, Flenn Illyminum collapsed, his iridescent robes fanning about his on the marble floor.

"Well?" Scipio Davadas stood over Flenn, his foot tapping the floor impatiently.

Hyperia rose from a chair.

Flenn couldn't speak. For a moment, the king worried the old mage had died. The alchemical trick of trans-omniscience was one only the greatest magicians could manage, and only for brief periods.

Scipio crossed the room with his robes flowing and poured a generous goblet of wine. Flenn sat up with a bent back; his hawk-like nose still pointed at the floor.

"Drink, my friend," Scipio handed Flenn a cup. The old mage drank.

"Tell me the news, Flenn Illymium,” Hyperia said, anxiously wringing her hands. “Is my sister safe?"

"She is," Flenn whispered, wiping the wine from his withered lips. "But the rest of us may be doomed."