I flew west toward Scaleborn Ruins and Scalya. From what I knew, his lair was southwest of those two landmarks. Fortunately, the distance I would need to travel wasn’t that far.

As I flew low over the swamps, I started noticing the thick, humid air more. The ground below me was a tangled mess of twisted trees, murky water, and thick reeds. The deeper I went, the more the stench of rot and decay filled my nostrils. I tried not to gag, but it wasn’t easy. This is what I get for dealing with a black dragon, I thought. Swamps, muck, and enough stink to knock out a troll.

The sun was low in the sky, casting long shadows over the wetlands. I’d been on edge since I left the gold dragon, expecting an attack at any moment. The black dragons were infamous for their cruelty, and if Banisámreitr didn’t like me showing up unannounced, I could end up as nothing more than a stain in his lair.

I shook the thought away. Get it together, Nóttormr, I thought. You’ve dealt with a silver dragon and a gold dragon. You can handle this. Still, my nerves weren’t cooperating. My claws itched with the urge to turn back, but I knew I couldn’t. I had to make this work.

As I flew closer to where I thought his lair might be, a massive shadow rose from the trees. My heart jumped into my throat as the dragon’s dark form soared into view. His scales gleamed like wet obsidian. I hated to admit it, but I was intimidated. It was his head that unnerved me the most, though. He had bull-like horns and a head that looked a lot like a skull.

“Who dares enter my domain?” he growled. Something about his tone reinforced my uneasy feeling. It was almost as if he wasn't upset but was glad instead. It was as if he was puffing up his chest to show off.

I tried not to show any fear. “I am Nóttormr,” I said. “I mean no harm. I wanted to speak with you about something that could benefit both of us.”

Banisámreitr stared at me for a moment before snorting. A plume of acrid smoke curled up from his nostrils. “Interesting. A malformed little wyrmling, and a female one at that, has come to visit the great Banisámreitr.”

I froze. Female? I wanted to start screaming and shouting that I wasn't a female, but I quickly swallowed the urge to correct him. If I said the wrong thing, it might just set him off. If that happened, I wasn’t sure I’d survive the experience. Although I was a god, I wasn't immortal. I could still die, at least until I merged with my divine realm.

Also, what was with the insult? Deformed? My horns were different, and I had feathered wings, but since I was almost completely black, he must have thought I was a black dragon. Apparently, he had never heard of a twilight dragon and had assumed I was a mutated black dragon.

I pushed such thoughts aside as the black dragon continued, “You’re bold to come here alone, little lady. Did you want to see what a real black dragon looks like?”

“I'm not an ordinary dragon,” I said, ignoring his smug tone. “I’ve come to offer you the chance to become more powerful.”

Banisámreitr laughed derisively, “You're going to help me become more powerful?" This obviously amused the black dragon. He laughed for almost a minute before saying, "This should be amusing. Very well, speak. But don’t waste my time.”

I swallowed hard and nodded. “I’ve already met with Silfriglóa the silver dragon, Gullhyrndr the gold dragon, and Einvaldskonungr the red dragon. All have agreed to join me in creating a pantheon, a union of dragon gods."

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I was a little worried about this part. I wasn't sure that the black dragon had been able to obtain a divine spark. However, even if he hadn't, I was sure that I could figure something out. Because of this, I continued. "Together, we can grow stronger. I’ve come to extend the same offer to you.”

His grin widened, and he circled me slowly, his massive wings stirring the swampy air. “You? A wyrmling, barely out of your egg, leading a pantheon? And you expect me to follow? You don't look like a god to me.”

"Appearances can be deceiving," I said. "I actually am a god." To prove my point, I use Alter Reality on a tree to start making it grow before his eyes.

The black dragon looked at me, then at the tree. Then he turned back to me and said suspiciously, "Let's assume I believe you. What is in it for me?"

"I have created a system where dragons can grow stronger by creating draconic contracts to spread their influence. The others have already seen the value in it. I wouldn’t have come here if I didn’t believe you could, too.”

Banisámreitr studied me for a second as. “What’s the catch?” It was obvious that he didn't trust me at all.

“No catch,” I said quickly. “But there are rules. No attacking other dragons or their followers. No starting wars among ourselves. We stand together against outside threats, but we don’t defend dragons who provoke fights without cause. It’s about unity, not chaos.”

His expression darkened slightly. “Unity? From a black dragon? You do realize our kind doesn’t play well with others, little god.”

I held my ground. “You’re not just any black dragon. You’re Banisámreitr, a force to be reckoned with. This is your chance to shape the future of dragons. To be part of something bigger than yourself.”

He tilted his head, seeming to consider my words. “And what do I get in return for following you?”

“You’ll keep your autonomy,” I said. “I don’t want to control you. This is about cooperation, not servitude. And you’ll gain access to the same power the silver and gold dragons now have. Power that can enhance your abilities, your bloodline, and your standing among dragons. In fact, if you obtain a divine spark, I can even give you the Ritual of Apotheosis.”

Banisámreitr chuckled again, though this time it sounded more amused than mocking. “You’re an interesting one, little dragonette. I’ve never seen a dragon quite like you. Feathered wings, those strange markings... Tell me, what are you?”

For a moment, I hesitated. Do I tell him the truth? Or keep up the act? Finally, I said, “I’m a dragon trying to make a difference. That’s all you need to know.”

He stared at me for what felt like an eternity, then nodded slowly. “Very well. I’ll hear you out. But if this turns out to be a waste of my time, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

I nodded, relief washing over me. “Thank you. You won’t regret this, I promise.” I did worry that I would regret it though.

He folded his massive wings and settled onto the ground, motioning for me to follow. We landed in a clearing surrounded by twisted trees and murky pools. The air was thick with the scent of decay, but I tried not to let it distract me.

We talked for what felt like hours. Banisámreitr questioned everything, from my motives and the system to the rules I had proposed. He bargained, of course, but not as hard as I’d expected. It became clear that he was trying to impress me, though I was afraid that I already knew the reason why. His assumption that I was a young female dragon was probably part of it, but I didn’t dare bring it up.

In the end, he agreed to the same terms as the silver and gold dragons. “You have my word,” he finally said. “I will follow your lead, for now. But don’t mistake this for submission, little one. I’m watching you.”

I nodded, hiding my exhaustion behind a forced smile. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.” With that, he began the oath. Once he was done, I did as I had promised and gave him the ritual. Although I was a little curious how he obtained Garpr's divine spark, I actually didn't care enough to ask.

As I took to the sky again, leaving the swamp behind, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of relief and unease. So far, things had gone unexpectedly well. However, there were still two dragons that I knew about. I actually felt the blue dragon Blárdynja would probably react similarly as to how the others had acted.

However, the other one wasn't known for her reasoning skills. Because of this, I felt like I was a bug who was waiting for the other shoe to drop. That was one reason why I was going to save her for last. By chance, Skjallgarganíss the White Dragon was also the one who was farthest away. I shivered, and not from imaging how cold it would be there.