Interlude - Elven Convoy

A Ljósálfar elven guard rode his horse up to the royal carriage. “Your Majesty, we should be in Hargrave in a few hours.”

“Good. It has been too long since I have seen my daughters and only grandchild.” King Alfheim replied.

The king turned to the other three people in his carriage. One was his general and friend Mineheir. Then there were his two advisors. An older elf mage named Nero, served as the king’s head royal court magician. Last, but definitely not least, was a fey woman named Mona who served as the official envoy from Queen Mab. She too was a talented mage and healer.

Advisor Nero was reading a rather thick book he had pulled out of his bag of holding. He might periodically look up to check on his king, but otherwise he was engrossed in his tome. The old elf had been in that position since they left the capital.

Advisor Mona seemed completely bored. She too possessed a bag of holding and was known to withdraw a magic parchment and quill that would record various notes and comments. The king knew Mona was Queen Mab’s eyes and ears, notifying her of anything of import. What that exactly meant the king did not know, other than to be always mindful he was being watched. That part he was not thrilled with, but getting a powerful mage and wise advisor had its benefits. The diminutive fey woman took out a whole war band of high leveled Forest Trolls by herself.

General Mineheir practically had his head on a swivel, looking for any possible threat. “Relax, my friend. We entered the Kingdom of Nord on a well-traveled road. These people are our allies. Besides, what could stand against you and my two advisors?”

RRROOOAAARRR!!!

Advisor Mona went from bored to alert in an instant. Advisor Nero immediately put his book away. General Mineheir jumped out of the moving carriage like it was nothing, drawing his sword as he exited.

“What is it, General?” King Alfheim asked in concern.

“Y-your majesty... it...it is... a full-grown dragon!” General Mineheir stuttered out.

“A dragon?!” King Alfheim said in shock.

It had been several hundreds of years since one was seen. Most dragons left these lands and journeyed to one of the other continents. He was aware of only a handful still remaining and the king knew none in this area.

“Your majesty, we cannot remain in the royal carriage! If the is recently awakened from a long slumber it will be hungry!” Advisor Nero exclaimed.

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The king knew his advisor was correct. After a long slumber and growth spurt a dragon would be ravenous and impossible to appeal to its rational mind. “Very well. General, we are exiting the carriage!”

As the king and his advisors exited the carriage, General Mineheir barked out his orders. “YOU HEARD HIS MAJESTY! FORM UP! PROTECT OUR KING WITH YOUR LIVES!!!”

A large shape in the sky blocked out the sun and cast a shadow over the envoy.

“My god that thing is massive!”

“We are all going to die!”

King Alfheim released his aura to help combat the dragon’s natural fear effect. The panic on his soldiers’ faces eased but did not completely disappear. That told him one thing, this was no youngling, it was at least a fully grown dragon.

The king’s theory was confirmed when the dragon landed on the ground in front of them.

THUD

The only thing keeping the horses from bolting was the king’s calming aura. Just one look at the massive creature, confirmed King Alfheim’s theory. ‘Definitely an adult dragon. Just our luck.’

“Your Majesty, we must flee! If you die here our people will blame the Kingdom of Nord. Your daughters would be declared traitors.” Advisor Nero stated.

“That thought crossed my mind as well. But we...” King Alfheim’s response died as the massive dragon roared.

RROOAARR!!!!!

As the dragon roared, it shot out a breath of hot flame.

King Alfheim cast his Ice magic to create a wall of ice in front of his men. Sadly, the wall was like tissue paper as the flames melted it in seconds. A few of his men were instantly charbroiled.

Advisor Nero cast his own ice wall right after the king’s. The block of ice melted faster than the king’s spell. It was only when Advisor Mona added her Winter magic to the ice wall that it held against the attack.

The dragon seeing his favorite attack fail to kill all the puny humanoids flapped its wings. Rising into the air, it was pelted by arrows imbued with magic. Even with the addition of magic, the attacks did little more than annoy the mighty one. Deciding these lower life forms were not worth his time, the dragon swept down, grabbed a horse in each one of his front claws and took off into the sky to find a quieter place to enjoy his newly acquired snacks.

“THAT IS MY HORSE!!! THAT BASTARD TOOK MY HORSE!!!” The General cried as he saw his favorite mount fly off in the clutches of that beast.

“Be glad it was your horse and not your life, General.” Advisor Nero commented.

“Silly mortals and their pets.” Advisor Mona commented as she resumed her bored expression once again.

The fey advisor made notes on her magic tablet as she returned to the royal carriage.

King Alfheim just watched her go shaking his head. ‘That woman is an enigma. In fact, that is probably the most animated I have seen her in years.’

Turning to look at the aftermath of their brief encounter, the king hung his head. They had lost five loyal guards and two horses in less than a few minutes. He would have to inform his daughter and her husband. They must rally a hunting party to deal with this continent-wide threat.

“General!” King Alfheim’s stern tone broke General Mineheir out of his impotent rage. “Yes, my king?!”

Seeing he had his general’s attention, King Alfheim issued his orders. “Wrap what remains and prepare to move out. We cannot remain here! I must warn my daughter! Do not worry, I will demand retribution for our fallen men.”

“And my horse!” General Mineheir replied.

“Yes, and your horse, my old friend.” King Alfheim said chuckling as he patted his most loyal companion on the shoulder.