On the day of the expedition to the dragon’s keep, Daniel meets up with his mission team; Hekate, Treia, Gwenesphia, Aoloan, Wenlianna, a couple of Stalvaltan guards assigned to protect Wenlianna specifically, Vaergraes, and several of Xyreko’s heavily armed machine gun golems.
However, Daniel is surprised by who he finds at the shuttle waiting for them. “Master! You’re here!”
“Kera'tai? I thought you were still in the surrounding town with your people.”
She sports a wide smile. “I was! But, we’re all settled in. Thank you for letting us move here. The… other tribe leaders are still talking about invading east.”
“I’ve heard mention of it. If I knew how to stop it without exterminating a lot of people…”
“I know. For now, being out of reach is fine. So! I also heard from Shek and Skloe that you’re heading to the dragon’s keep!”
Treia murmurs, “Shouldn’t you have told them to keep it quiet, Daniel?”
“It’s fine. No one will be able to overtake us, and if they arrive after we do, they still have to fend off our defenses. Hopefully, the… uh… cultists around the keep will be friendly with us.”
Ryuogriar, standing with Geirahoel and Reignleif nearby to send them off replies gently, “They should cooperate. If anything, they’ll beg you to tell them where we are. I expect they will be happy to join you if you permit them.”
“Are you comfortable with having them around? They didn’t pester you before?”
Ryuogriar waves her hand dismissively. “They’re mere human kin and weaker demon kin. They are no threat to us.”
“I think he meant nuisance, rather than threat, Ryuo,” murmurs Reignleif. She explains to Daniel, “Many of our acolytes were chosen from the cultists.”
Geirahoel scoffs. “‘Acolytes’. They were servants. Poorly treated servants, and yet they still kept crawling back.”
Hekate is coldly quiet as they speak, and Geirahoel takes notice. She murmurs, “Apologies, Hekate.”
Hekate twitches, but she pastes on a smile. “It’s alright now…” She faces Daniel, adding, “They’re right. The acolytes volunteered to serve every whim of the dragons, including spies, assassins, maids and butlers, and even caretakers for the livestock. I never saw any baby dragons, but I heard some of the acolytes were killed when they let one of the infants die.”
All three dragons grow soft.
Daniel disrupts the dark tone, “This is getting a bit too heavy. Will having the acolytes here cause problems for anyone? Please answer honestly. No hard feelings either way.”
Reignleif speaks first. “I intend to care for my own children, but I won’t object to them otherwise.” Ryuogriar and Geirahoel nod in agreement.
Daniel looks at Hekate, and she replies softly, “I was envious of them for a long time. They have to agree to serve me as a feldrok.” She hugs herself as she adds softly, “They… will probably fear or hate me.”
“If that is the case,” answers Ryuogriar. “Then they are no allies of ours, either.”
“You’re just saying that ‘cause Daniel’s here…” grumbles Hekate.
“Don’t flatter yourself, child,” retorts Ryuogriar. “You’ve said it yourself, we’re all Daniel’s family now. If I were to allow Daniel’s family to be harmed by mere servants, I would be a disgrace.” She teases in her smug way, “I’d rather trick you into serving me than distress you with obsessed cultists.”
Hekate blushes and looks away bashfully as she tries to hide behind Daniel. She points at Ryuogriar from Daniel’s opposite side, “J-Just because you said something nice doesn’t mean I’ve given up our rivalry!”
Everyone chuckles together, and Ryuogriar replies warmly, “I wouldn’t have it any other way, your Greatness.”
“Good,” replies Daniel. “Then, we’ll see how the acolytes and dragon followers behave and make our decision in the field.” Daniel then looks at Kera'tai. She smiles, and he asks, “Let me guess…”
“I’m going with you,” she replies confidently.
“You didn’t let me guess,” retorts Daniel dryly. The others chuckle at him, and he asks, “Everyone else ready? Kera'tai, are you prepared for a trip?”
She nods, and Vaergraes replies, “I have brought several magic bags, as well as a handful of potations and curse-dispelling devices if we need them.”
“You have magic devices that can dispel curses?” asks Wenlianna eagerly. She’s wearing armor similar to Daniel’s, but much lighter and more mobile, primarily protecting her head, torso, neck, forearms, shins, and knees. Normally, she’s wearing her lab-smock, but she looks like a proper adventurer.
Vaergraes nods her head politely in response to Wenlianna. “Indeed. I understand curses are not used in any wide capacity in the east, but there are tribes in the Demon Covenant that specialize in nothing but. If we aren’t the first ones to arrive, I want to make sure we cover our bases.”
Aoloan replies sheepishly, “I… brought my cooking supplies. P-Please protect me.”
Gwenesphia remarks warmly, “Feels like we’re going on a squad drill.”
Treia nods. “But, with people that can destroy a fortress in seconds.”
The group chuckles, and Daniel says, “Alright. Let’s head out, then. Ladies, hold down the fort for us.”
Ryuogriar, Reignleif, and Geirahoel all smile, and Geirahoel adds softly, “Return quickly, Daniel.”
“Yes, if I fall any further behind my juniors, I will be quite perturbed, Mukori,” adds Ryuogriar.
Reignleif simply steps forward and hugs him, pressing her growing belly against him. “Be safe, Mukori.”
“You, too.”
Daniel finishes his farewells and joins the others on the shuttle. Xyreko’s golems pilot the shuttle, lifting it into the sky before the jets propel them towards their destination.
***
Wenlianna pouts a little as she observes the inside of Daniel’s shuttle. In every way, it’s superior to the airship she designed. It’s even faster, it has its own armaments -excluding the wind-shock cannon- that Wenlianna’s had, and its profile is much smaller. In fairness, it carries a lot fewer people, but it also -assuming people were flying it instead of golems- requires a lot fewer people to operate. Wenlianna had to do her best with descriptions and what she could translate from Daniel’s phone. Daniel has seen the real thing in his past and was much better able to emulate it with magic equipment, especially because Xyreko and her golems make it significantly easier for Daniel to manufacture and assemble devices.
Daniel notices her slightly sour expression, and he teases her, “Wenlianna, you could say I cheated. Yours was definitely impressive.”
She blushes. “Thank you, but… Even the seating is more comfortable…”
Hekate replies, “Uh, yeah! My butt’s soft! I want to be comfortable when we fly.” She also ‘whispers’, though the target of her joke isn’t present, “And, I don’t know if you know, but dragons are really hard.” She grins deviously, saying warmly, “Fortunately, there’s always a backup option.”
“Wh-What’s that?” asks Wenlianna innocently.
Hekate hops from her seat next to Daniel onto his lap, giggling as she leans back against him, and he simply lets her get comfortable. Wenlianna watches with rosy cheeks, and Hekate says warmly, “Tada! Daniel is quite comfortable.”
“I also come with an ejector function,” says Daniel. He stands up, carrying Hekate towards the door, and she squirms, “Hey! Daniel!”
He feigns throwing her, even though the door is closed, and she spins in his arms, hugging him firmly as she clings to him. “Not funny! I told you… I’m… afraid of heights…”
He chuckles and sits back down as the others snicker. Treia asks a little bluntly, “Don’t feldroks have wings? Y-Your Greatness…”
Hekate pouts, “What if we do? No one ever taught me. I don’t even know how to transform into my true form. And, frankly, I don’t need or want to. As long as I have Daniel, I don’t need to fly.”
Kera'tai teases, “I know what you mean. He makes me feel like I’m flying, too.”
Hekate points at her, saying haughtily, “You’re lucky Shek and Skloe vouch for you. Mistresses coming out of everywhere.”
“I meant no offense, your Greatness. Just that I knew the feeling.”
Hekate stares at her skeptically, but Gwenesphia interrupts the moment by pointing out of the window nearest and ahead of her. “Look there. Is that it?”
Hekate leans around Daniel to look where the gatonine is pointing. She nods. “Yes. I think it was an old temple of some kind, but it’s just a bunch of holes in a mountain now.”
Xyreko, standing just inside the cabin from the cockpit, replies, “Lady Ryuogriar says that it was an old dwarven mine and foundry. They tend to build grandiose structures, so it’s easy to believe it was a temple.”
Hekate crosses her arms, and Daniel pets her head. “She has more experience, Hekate.”
“Yeah… I know…”
“Dwarves…” murmurs Wenlianna. “How old is the keep?”
“Since the dragons took over?” asks Xyreko. “Centuries. Older than the three dragon Empresses.”
“Then, isn’t it just older than…?” Daniel covers Hekate’s mouth before she can finish the obvious, but also unwise. “Hekate,...”
She squirms her face free of his hand, whining, “What!? Dragons don’t view age like you human kin do…”
“Maybe so, but you don’t have to say the obvious.”
“Lady Ryuogriar would like to know how old you think she is, Daniel.”
“Hah! I ain’t falling for that. Tell her she’s young enough to have children.”
Xyreko nods, but Hekate grips his chest. “Graaaahhh! Daniel!”
The shuttle touches down near some of the ancient structure still lingering as a ghostly sign of the foundry that once stood. The columns tower over the shuttle, casting long shadows in the late morning sunlight.
Daniel pulls his railgun out of its case, activating the first safety which makes it one step closer to firing ready. He slings it across his back, and then pulls out his high-caliber rifle. Hekate pulls her ice rifle out of her magic bag, suspending it over her shoulder just like Daniel. As backups, Daniel gave everyone else pistols to keep themselves safe, but he was extremely adamant that they be careful where they’re aiming.
Daniel disembarks the shuttle first, with Hekate close in tow.
There’s a treacherous path that leads away from the keep, just as Ryuogriar and Reignleif mentioned. There are steep cliffs, unstable rock structures, and ancient wooden bridges that are barely clinging to their span across seemingly bottomless chasms.
And, towards the keep’s entrance, likely the main opening to the ancient mine when it was operating, Daniel can see signs of life; small farms, docile wildlife, and a small waterfall working down the mountain into a creek that flows ever towards the base of the mountain far below them.
The others cautiously step down when Daniel signals them, and Wenlianna begins huffing a little. “I… I’m sorry, I didn’t… Something’s off…”
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Daniel replies, being mindful of his own breath, “It’s the altitude. There’s less oxygen this high up, meaning each breath is less. Be mindful of it. I think all of us will wear out a little faster.”
Vaergraes nods in agreement. “Daniel speaks the truth. It’s the same thing that can be experienced on wyverns.”
“Let me know if you feel like you’re going to pass out. Everyone else, keep an eye on the rest of us, just in case.”
Kera'tai, after taking a few bigger breaths to try to catch her breath, asks, “Weren’t we even higher in the shuttle?”
Xyreko answers, “The shuttle’s cabin is pressurized lightly with wind crystals. His Grace foresaw exactly this concern.”
They look at Daniel. He nods, “I knew it would be a good idea.”
“I had no idea,” murmurs Wenlianna.
“You would have learned. Your airship had the advantage of a large crew, which means if they’re all properly trained, that any one of them can take over in the event of problems. Early airplanes of Earth had the cockpit open to the outside, and the pilots wore goggles and earmuffs to protect themselves. Enough planes went down from pilots passing out, that they decided to do something about it.”
Wenlianna sighs with a content smile that she didn’t cause any deaths due to her lack of knowledge on the subject. Of course, Hekate makes the joke, “Yeah. It took a dragon, me, and the Harbinger of Calamity to bring down your ship.”
They all share a chuckle, continuing forward.
As they walk towards the mine entrance, Xyreko’s remote golem remarks as the shuttle lifts off, “Daniel, I’m detecting individuals.”
Hekate nods, whispering, “I agree. I can sense their magic.” Vaergraes nods as well.
“Hostile?” asks Daniel.
“No active offensive spells yet, if that’s what you mean.”
“Any idea of their affiliation?”
Treia whispers, “Leave it to me, Daniel. Keep calm and don’t pay attention to me.”
He nods subtly, and she darts backwards, circling wide in a near sprint, though her cat-like grace keeps her nearly silent.
Daniel keeps walking, with the others cautiously following with Vaergraes and Hekate closest to Daniel, since their defensive barrier spells will let them protect the whole group. Kera'tai is providing the same defense for the rear, though she is the weakest of the three. Aoloan and Wenlianna remain close behind Daniel, and Gwenesphia guards them with her bow ready.
After a moment, Treia returns, panting. Daniel faces her and lets her lean against him. “Catch your breath and tell us when you can.”
She nods, breathing heavily for a long time. She finally swallows and takes a breath. “Defensive posture. Clothing looks to be village, rather than expedition. I saw dattakoriens, succubi, and oni. Maybe a human, too, but I’m not sure.”
“A-A human?” asks Wenlianna, surprised.
“Who woulda thunk it,” jokes Daniel. “A human all the way out here.”
She glares at him with an embarrassed smile. “Don’t make me fire you from being my assistant, Daniel.”
He laughs, and Hekate replies boisterously, “Daniel is no one’s assistant. If he’s anyone’s minion, that would be mine.”
Daniel checks his shoulder pauldron, where he fastened the scale ‘seals’ that the three dragons made for him. He takes a breath and sighs. “Here goes.”
“Remember, they won’t likely speak eastern trade, Daniel,” remarks Vaergraes.
“That’s fine. I’ll approach, and if they speak, I’ll be counting on you.”
She nods, and Daniel walks forward, keeping his hands visible as he walks with his rifle like a walking staff. He waves to draw attention to himself, as well as to let the villagers know he knows they’re there.
As he’s approaching a threshold of stone ground where the forest has not yet reclaimed, a figure approaches from behind one of the larger shrubs, also walking with a sounding staff with a rattler made of what looks to be dragon teeth.
“Gaska! Cholka brah’unna fah.”
Daniel glances slightly at Vaergraes, and she whispers, “Halt. Who are you?”
Daniel nods, and he turns his seals slightly towards him. “I am Daniel. I come with permission.”
As Vaergraes translates, Xyreko’s voice says in Daniel’s helmet, “Daniel, they insist that you introduce yourself as Emperor and Lord of Dragons.”
Daniel sighs. He whispers, “Hekate, please don’t make a scene.”
“What? Why would I?”
Daniel adds to his introduction, “I am Emperor of the Citadel and Lord of Dragons. The Great White Dragon, The Blue Ice Dragon, and the Orange Dragon Maiden are my Empresses. This is my proof.”
The man, having listened patiently to Vaergraes translate, studies the scale seals on Daniel’s armor. He seems to be a bit surprised by the revelation, but he doesn’t give away his thoughts yet.
After a moment, he speaks, and Vaergraes translates, “He’s saying that he finds it hard to believe, especially because the dragons haven’t been seen in months, even though they’ve been taking care of the keep in their stead.”
Daniel replies, “I understand the concern. My Empresses were cursed long ago, which prevented them from laying eggs and giving birth, along with the rest of the dragons. They are afraid the curse still lingers on these grounds.”
Hekate murmurs as Vaergraes translates once more, “Daniel, you better introduce me as your wife and first Empress.”
“Yes, Darling.”
She blushes, even though he was slightly sarcastic. Still, she smiles dopily, content with being called ‘Darling’ for the first time by Daniel.
“He believes that you know the dragons, but the dragons have a lord, and the Red Lord would never take the form of a human-kin.”
“As you can see, I am not the Morthybargaron. I killed him.” Daniel pulls out his magic bag, and then the head of the tyrannical dragon, dropping it before the man. The leader of the cultists gasps, stumbling back a step, and others also murmur and gossip nearby.
“Geez, Daniel… A little warning,” grumbles Treia.
Daniel declares loudly, “The Red Lord was cruel, but behind that cruelty was weakness and fear. I conquered the Citadel with my wife and feldrok Empress, Hekate Fell Lawson.” Daniel gestures at Hekate, and she squeaks in surprise, but quickly regains her composure, putting on her best Empress face with her posture upright and rigid. “Some have called me the Harbinger of Calamity or the Feldrok Sorcerer,” adds Daniel.
The man who came out to greet/challenge them sinks to his knees, and more of the villagers stumble out of the various brush and trees overgrowing the old foundry.
The man that greeted them murmurs, and Vaergraes translates. “He asked if you enslaved the lady dragons.”
Without warning, a teleportation glow appears, and the massive form of Geirahoel appears behind Daniel. “Enough of this insolence!” she booms. “You dare make me show myself at this accursed place because you doubt my Emperor!?” All of the villagers in sight drop to their hands and knees, bowing low on the ground. Geirahoel transforms herself back into her human form, landing next to Daniel. She scolds viciously in the same language as the villagers, all but snarling words. The villagers shrink, flinching under the verbal assault.
Daniel gently says, “Geirahoel, you don’t have to…”
“No! They’re disrespecting you! Disrespecting us! They are little better than parasites, hiding in our shadow with very little given in return.” She snarls more angered words at the villagers, and from their tone of replies, they are begging for forgiveness.
Geirahoel huffs fire off to the side. She says more coldly, “They were positioning to surround you, Daniel. They were planning on betraying you and reviving Morthybargaron.” She gestures for the magic bag, and Daniel hands it over. She stores the red dragon’s head, checking the bag briefly for any other contents, and then she incinerates the magic bag with her fire breath in front of the villagers. They all flinch, and Daniel realizes she may have been right.
“Good thing I was done killing him,” remarks Xyreko a little disappointed.
Geirahoel looks partially over her shoulder. “Apologies, Xyreko, but I’m tired of living in fear of that tyrant being revived and escaping. Daniel is the only Dragon Lord, now. A dozen dragon eggs drawing near hatching says so.”
The orange dragon then growls more disgusted language at the villagers, finishing with what sounds like a declaration or a command.
Daniel whispers, “Sorry you had to come, Mukori. But, thank you.”
The young woman smiles softly, blushing a little. She bashfully whines, “I-I didn’t do it for you. I did it because…” Geirahoel halts. She never did mention anything specific she wanted from the keep the way Ryuogriar did, and Reignleif gave Daniel a list with a simple map to the treasures she hopes to reclaim.
Daniel replies, “I already know, Mukori. You came here for your dearly beloved friends.”
“NO!” The youthful dragon flinches with rosy cheeks when she realizes he gave her an out and she denied it. “I-I mean, yes! H-Hekate is my friend. A-And…”
Daniel murmurs softly, “You can head back now. Thank you for your help, Mukori.”
Geirahoel nods without looking at him. She tugs his sleeve, reminding him softly, “B-Be safe…”
Daniel nods, and he gently touches the brow of his helmet to her forehead in lieu of a kiss, just in case. The dragon Empress then says one last command to the villagers, and Xyreko teleports her back to the Citadel. Daniel murmurs to Xyreko, knowing she can hear him in his helmet. “Xyreko, make sure she didn’t pick up the curse again.”
“Of course, Daniel. I’ve been monitoring the area for the curse’s signature. So far, there are no traces of it, at least externally.”
“Good. Vaergraes? What exactly did Geirahoel tell them?”
Vaergraes chuckles nervously. “I suspect Lady Geirahoel would object to me translating all of it, Daniel. I’m sorry. But, she did order them to behave themselves or consider themselves excommunicated, and that she’s watching.”
“And, their reply?”
The group studies the villagers, still bowing low to the ground. Vaergraes asks, and the apparent leader of at least this group replies, lifting his head only high enough to answer her clearly.
Hekate flinches, and Daniel looks at her. Before she can explain, Vaergraes replies gently, “They will serve the Feldrok Empress and the dragon Empresses as well as their chosen lord, regardless of appearances.”
Hekate nods in agreement.
“What I wouldn’t give for…” As Daniel is about to remark how he’d like Leiwelles to be present, he looks at Aoloan. “Aoloan, you said you can discern intentions, correct?”
She cocks her head. “Oh! Yes. I doubt it’s as accurate as the human Commander’s ability to detect lies, but… None of these villagers have hostile intent anymore, nor doubt, so far as I can tell.”
Daniel nods. He looks to Hekate, and she blushes. “Wh-What?”
“You’re the ruling Empress. What would you like to do?”
“W-... You’re sure they will follow me?”
Vaergraes asks again, and Aoloan pays closer attention. Again, the man seems to confirm loyalty, and those around him agree. “Yes,” replies Vaergraes.
Hekate looks at Aoloan, and she nods. “No ill intent, your Greatness.”
The young feldrok empress nods. “Very well.” She speaks in the same language as the villagers, which surprises everyone except Daniel. “Sh-She could speak to them?” whispers Vaergraes.
“She was the former dragon lord’s slave. I would be more surprised if she can’t.”
“Ah… Right… Sorry, your Greatness.”
Hekate nods, her own face hidden in her helmet. “No offense taken, Vae. Daniel, I accept these people as my minions. I’ll make them learn the eastern trade language as soon as possible.”
“I have no objections,” replies Daniel. “Ask them if they can escort us to our specific destinations.”
She nods, speaking to the villagers. They finally reluctantly climb to their feet, answering Hekate’s questions. “They can lead us to the chambers each dragon used, as well as the nesting room and nursery. They can also show us the entrance to the treasure vault and the artifact room, but they are unable to open them. He says it’ll be the final test. If you can open the doors, all that is inside must truly belong to you.”
“Understood. Geira, Ryuo, Reina, we’ll handle it.”
There’s a pause, and Xyreko says to Daniel only, “Lady Geirahoel was just about to return.”
“I figured. But, trust me. I can open a door.”
They nod, and Hekate confirms to the villagers. They then offer to lead, and Daniel’s group follows, staying alert just in case.
***
“Lord Hegemon, there is… urgent news.”
“What is it?” asks Zolorad, the leader of the restructured Demon Covenant, now assembled as a proper hegemony with one true ruler. “Have Vaergraes and her followers been found?”
“No, your Excellency. It’s the Dragon’s keep. Our spies have relayed an urgent message. Someone claiming to be the new Dragon Lord has arrived and intends to claim the treasures in the vault.”
“A male dragon survived the Citadel?”
“I… The spies said he took human form and is wearing armor. He also claimed to be the Harbinger of Calamity.”
Zolorad flinches. There are few in the upper echelons of the Demon Covenant that doubt the existence of the Harbinger of Calamity at this point, and many believe for certain he or she is either the self-proclaimed Empress Hekate or one of her companions. It’s also possible, in spite of Vaergraes’s claims before she was deposed, that the Harbinger of Calamity is the one who struck down the Devourer.
Even ignoring that, Zolorad and his allies have been trying since the dragons were rumored to have been exterminated or enslaved -mixed reports have found his ears- to enter the Dragon’s keep and plunder the accumulated wealth of unknown centuries. Artifacts, magic scrolls and other texts, and a vast wealth of gold and gemstones are just the idea of what’s stored in the dragon’s keep.
“Can our spies retrieve the artifacts?”
“They are in proximity, but the Harbinger will have to open the doors. Until then, the artifacts are inaccessible, Lord Hegemon.”
Hegemon Zolorad ponders this information. It would take time to send reinforcements, and by wyvern, they would be sitting ducks for the wing drakes still prowling around the keep. And, the ‘Unity of the Great Dragons’, a cult of villagers of various races that lives near the keep, are fiercely loyal only to the dragons, having abandoned all attachment to their racial tribes and nations, and by extension, the Covenant.
Many of the cultists have passed down magic spells more powerful than conventional wisdom allows, and only the most trusted are allowed to learn, which makes it difficult to steal the draconic spells being used. And, because of those very spells, the cultists are dangerous enough to hold off anything short of a large invasion if they become hostile. To waste troops for unknown gains would be risky. After all, there’s no telling if the rumored treasure vault of the dragons even has anything in it.
“Summon our best assassins and give them the fastest wyverns. We must not let the Harbinger gain any more power than he already has.”
“As you wish, Lord Hegemon.”
The spy master retreats from the council chamber, and Zolorad scrapes his fingernails against his horns. The Harbinger is an unknown factor as far as power is concerned. The dragons were said to be among the most powerful beings in the world, and Vaergraes could only overpower one at a time, though she was able to subdue the Red Lord long enough for him to acknowledge her as a leader. If the rumors are completely true, and the Harbinger of Calamity was able to kill the dragons, or even just one with a single spell, then not even Vaergraes, let alone Hegemon Zolorad, could pose a threat to him.
“Spy Master,” calls out Zolorad. After a moment, the summoned master of spies returns. “Yes, Lord Hegemon?”
“Make a concerted effort to learn more about the Harbinger of Calamity, and see if he is somehow tied to the child playing ruler, Hekate. We need to know what his weakness is.”
“As you wish, Lord Hegemon. I will send my best infiltrators at once.”
Zolorad nods, and the spy master retreats once more.
Before anything else, Zolorad may need to remove the Harbinger as an obstacle to conquering the west before continuing with the real goal.
***