As privileged as the world was to witness his splendour, Doomwing was all too aware that there were times when it was best to travel unnoticed. A dragon of his size and power had a tendency to attract trouble, either in the form of challengers or in people seeking to win his favour. He was not in the mood for either today, so he had chosen to conceal himself from view. It was a middling concealment at best, a spell of the tenth order that hid his presence from others. However, in the event that he did run into one of the few forces capable of challenging him in battle, a rune of concealment would be interpreted as a prelude to conflict. This spell, however, made it clear to anyone of sufficient skill and power that he wasn't looking for a fight but was instead hoping to travel unbothered.

Below him, the seemingly endless forest that Anthracia ruled over had given way to a vast, rolling plain covered in grass and dotted by the occasional tree. Towering over the plain were spires of black rock that clawed up toward the sky, along with pillars of polished grey stone that stood even taller. The pillars were covered in the ancient magical script of the dwarves and were imbued with a collection of runes, ranging from basic runes to a handful of greater runes.

Doomwing smiled faintly.

In the long ago days of the Third Age, when the seas had risen to swallow the world, this area had been beneath the waves. Although many of the elves had sought safety in the boughs of the Daughter Trees, others had allied with the dwarves, the stalwart children of the earth. The dwarves had lost their homes to rising waters, and most had retreated to the highest and most remote peaks for safety. Yet some had sought refuge not within mountains but in the sky, allying with the like-minded elves to craft ships that could sail through the clouds and even a city that soared through the sky.

Those ships and that city had needed vast quantities of magic to remain aloft. The spires of black rock upon the plain were natural conduits that allowed magic to flow between the earth and sky. The dwarves and elves had studied them and created the grey pillars to do the same but in a way that allowed their ships and city to more easily harvest that magic for their use.

Those had been good days. The dwarves and elves of that age had delved deeply into the intersection of magic and mechanics and had developed techniques that combined both to devastating effect. Their ships and city had possessed weapons that drew upon the vast energies that flowed through the world. They would channel that power through artifacts of exquisite craftsmanship that shaped that raw magical energy into spells of impressive might.

Doomwing had been fascinated by their approach to magic, and he had spent many years learning and researching alongside them. He had been smaller then, which made it much easier for him to seek shelter upon the large, floating island the city was built upon. And he had been on good terms with Aurai, the dryad who dwelt at the very heart of the city. Only a dryad like her could have managed the many mechanisms and magics that allowed the city to fly, and she alone, of all the Daughter Trees, had loved the sky more than the ground.

But those days had not lasted, and in the end, she and almost all of the dwarves and elves she treasured had perished in the battle against the Third Catastrophe. With their deaths, the elves and dwarves alike abandoned the skies, and never again was there a city that soared through the sky or ships that sailed through the clouds. Now, the dwarves dreamt only of rock and stone, and the elves seldom left their forest homes. Perhaps one day, he would meet dwarves and elves who still dreamed of the sky, and perhaps he would teach them how to fly again.

Yet as he continued to fly over the plain, he noticed something very unusual. There were centaurs fighting a large five-headed hydra. That, in and of itself, was not odd. Hydras could often be found on plains where they would prey on sheep, bison, and whatever else they could catch. Centaurs, being larger than ordinary horses, would be ideal prey for a hungry hydra, especially if the hydra could catch them unawares or while they had children with them. True, centaurs could outpace a hydra, but hydras did not tire easily, and they could keep up a steady pace for days, gradually wearing the centaurs down until either they stopped to give battle or left behind those who tired most easily. Either way, the hydra would get fed.

What was unusual, however, were the goblins riding on the backs of the centaurs. For a moment, Doomwing wondered if the goblins were working with the hydra. During the Fifth Age when centaurs had gone to war with the elves, the children of the forest had quickly learned that leaping onto the back of a centaur was an easy way to kill them. However, these goblins were not attacking the centaurs. Instead, they were using magic or bows to attack the hydra while the centaurs kept their distance, darting forward now and then to stab at the reptile with long lances or to throw their spears.

Doomwing chuckled. It was not often that he saw something he had never seen before, but this was definitely new... and very amusing. Watching it, he couldn't help but be impressed by their coordination. Goblins were, for the most part, fairly weak from a physical standpoint. Their greatest advantage lay in how quickly they matured. A goblin might only live fifty years at best, but a goblin was already ready to fight by the age of seven or eight. In contrast, elves could live for hundreds of years, but no elf under fifty would see the battlefield unless things were truly dire. Centaurs, though, had lifespans similar to humans.

A goblin on the back of a centaur did not have to worry about being overwhelmed in a contest of strength or speed. Anything close enough to reach them would have to contend with the centaur, and centaurs were both very strong and very quick. Indeed, Marcus had often grumbled about how annoying it was to fight a competent centaur with solid armour, a stout shield, and a spear. Perched safely on the back of the centaur, the goblins could use magic or loose arrows, all while the centaur was on the move. Indeed, by retreating whenever the hydra tried to charge, the centaurs were able to maintain a safe distance from the beast while the goblins on their backs whittled it down with arrows and magic. Only when it stumbled or left itself exposed would a centaur attack with their lance or their spear, magic from the goblin mage on their back enhancing their bodies and shielding them from harm.

For a moment, he pictured Marcus and Elerion riding on the back of a centaur before tossing the idea aside with a snicker. The two of them would have spent more time bickering and jockeying for position than they would have fighting, and the centaur would likely throw them off in sheer aggravation within minutes. Hmm... perhaps he could find a centaur for Antaria to ride on, if only to spite that unicorn of hers.

The hydra bellowed, and one of the centaurs lost his footing. The horse-man staggered, and the hydra's heads drew back, ready to unleash a volley of acid that would kill the centaur and the goblins on his back. Doomwing decided to intervene, not because he particularly cared if the centaur and goblins lived or died but because he was curious to know more, and the simplest way to do that was to ask the people involved.

He snapped off a tenth-order spell. It was a straightforward attack, one that destroyed all of the vital organs of the target simultaneously. The hydra gave a shocked gasp and toppled onto its side, but it was far from dead. Hydras were regenerators. Something as pedestrian as mass organ destruction was not nearly enough to kill a hydra with five heads. He used a second spell, another tenth-order magic that prevented regeneration and healing. Only then did the hydra die.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

The centaurs and goblins milled about in confusion, and Doomwing revealed himself.

He landed with an earth-shaking thump, and the centaurs and goblins stared at him in horrified disbelief. He could see a few readying their weapons, but a wizened goblin with grey hair and plenty of wrinkles shouted for calm.

"Do not attack!" the goblin shouted. "Do not attack!" There were grumbles, but whoever the goblin was, he must have held a position of great authority because they all obeyed. The goblin nudged the centaur he was on, and the horse-man trotted forward. "Mighty dragon," the goblin said. "I am Derzu, chieftain of the goblins that dwell in this area. Would it be possible to negotiate?"

Doomwing bared his teeth. "Perhaps. But why would you even ask?"

Derzu shrugged. "I think it is safe to say that you were the one who slew the hydra we were fighting. With power like yours, we would already be dead if you wished us harm. I believe you want something from us, and I wish to ask what it is, so that we may leave here with our lives."

"You are clever, Derzu." Doomwing chuckled. "I am Doomwing. I am passing through this area in search of certain plants and tree folk. However, I noticed you and your fellows while I was flying overhead."

"We did not see you," Derzu said.

"My magic concealed me," Doomwing replied. "I have lived many, many years, but I have never seen a goblin ride on the back of the centaur unless the goblin was trying to kill the centaur."

"Ah." Derzu smiled faintly. "Do you want to know why we are working together?"

"I find myself curious."

Derzu's smile widened. "For many years, my people and the centaurs were at war.

"A war we were winning," the centaur he was riding said.

"Bah! It was a stalemate," Derzu shot back. "Life upon the plains is not always easy, and there is only so much food and other resources to go around. However, we were forced to form an alliance three centuries ago when great wolves spread onto the plains. Hunting in packs, they were a menace to both goblins and centaurs. In desperation, our ancestors formed an alliance. We were able to beat the wolves back, and we realised that life was easier when we worked together than when we were trying to kill each other." He shrugged. "And so the alliance has remained in place ever since."

"And the hydra?"

"Hydras hunt both goblins and centaurs." Derzu made a face. "We travel the plains, setting up camp where conditions are best. This hydra has been tracking us for some time now, and we wished to face it away from our camp, lest we fail. At least then, our kin would be able to flee." He bowed deeply, as did the other goblins and centaurs. "I had expected to lose at least a dozen centaurs and goblins, yet we are all safe because you struck the hydra down."

"I wouldn't have been able to ask you questions if you were dead." Doomwing could have, actually, but he would not resort to necromancy unless absolutely necessary. The Fourth Catastrophe had made him wary of such magic. "And it was a trifling matter for me to deal with."

"It was not trifling to us." Derzu grinned toothily. "A dead hydra is a boon not only for the safety its death provides but also for the rich bounty its body leaves behind."

"Oh?"

"The venom and blood of a hydra are both deadly, as is its acid. We have means of storing all three, and coating our arrows or spears in them can allow us to slay our foes with ease. A hydra's scales are strong and resistant to poison and magic, so we can fashion them into fine armour. Likewise, the teeth can be used to make weapons. Even the flesh is useful although it must be drained of blood and cleansed with magic before it can be consumed. It is tasty, filling, and can help both young and old increase their power. Truly, you have given us a great gift this day... that is, if you are willing to let us have the hydra."

Doomwing's estimation of the goblin rose. He was polite but also smart enough to realise that he would only get whatever Doomwing chose to give him. "I have no interest in the hydra. I have other prey on my mind." The last time he had passed this way, there had been sky whales. He wouldn't mind eating a few if he saw them. "In exchange, I wish to know about what has happened in this area. Who are the great powers here? Has there been any unusual activity? And if you can tell me anything about the dryad who should live nearby, I would be pleased."

"Ah. In that case, we would be glad to share what we know, only... do you mean her harm?" Derzu asked before continuing quickly. "I do not presume to tell you what to do, but we have had dealings with her in the past. She drives a tough bargain, but she is fair, and she keeps her oaths. I would not wish to see her come to harm."

"I have no intention of harming her," Doomwing said. "But she is the one who can direct me to the plants and tree folk I seek."

"That is good to hear." Derzu nodded. "We will share what we know."

Three things stood out to Doomwing from the information that Derzu shared. First, the dryad was still around although she had apparently been experiencing difficulties lately. What those were, Derzu could not say because she had not seen fit to tell him. Second, there were indeed sky whales although they were only around once every several months, staying for a few weeks before moving on. If Derzu's estimations were correct, they should be arriving any day now. Doomwing licked his lips at that information. It had been centuries since he'd eaten a sky whale. The final important piece of information that Derzu shared was the presence of dwarves. Apparently, they had arrived on the edges of the plains perhaps a century ago. He didn't really know what they were doing so far from their mountain homes, but they sometimes traded supplies with them in exchange for weapons.

"Your information has been helpful," Doomwing said.

"Thank you." Derzu scratched the back of his neck. "Are you... planning on hunting the sky whales?"

"The thought had crossed my mind," Doomwing said. "They are delicious."

"Do you eat the entire body?" Derzu asked.

"Planning to scavenge a few pieces for yourselves?" Doomwing asked, amused.

"The teeth are very useful to us, as are some of the other parts. However, we cannot easily hunt them. The only ones we've ever killed are those too old or sick to stay in the air."

"I see." Doomwing laughed. "Very well. If I happen to kill any, I shall leave whatever I don't eat. If you or someone else should happen across the remains, what happens to them is not my concern."

Derzu bowed again. "You have our thanks."

Doomwing took flight, leaving the goblins and centaurs behind. Some might have thought his treatment of the group strange, but it was perfectly sensible to him. Antaria's kingdom had sent soldier to raid his lands. He had shown them the respect they deserved, which was none. However, Derzu and his fellows had been respectful, had offered useful information, and had not done anything foolish. Doomwing was not some mindless beast who would slay them without cause.

Besides, being on reasonable terms with the people who lived here could very easily benefit him and his territory in the future. If nothing else, perhaps he could persuade a few centaurs and goblins to join him. Now to find out what was wrong with the dryad, hunt a few sky whales, and then check in on the dwarves. There was nothing for them out here unless... yes. Perhaps they were searching for relics from the Third Age.