Chapter 37

Along the mouth of Struport’s bay was a gate of exceptional size, one that could rase and bring a metal net of interlocking chains that could prevent any ship from entry. For years it had kept invaders or pirates out, but now was being used to keep those wishing to flee the city from doing so. That of course was going to change, especially if Merlia Gallogalar had anything to say about it.

The dwarven ranger made her way along a hidden path among the stones, one exceptionally hidden from viewing eyes above. It was treacherous, slick, unkept from the years without being in use. She cursed the humans of the city, if they were in dwarven lands, it would have always been upkept. Eyes adapted for the darkest mines now suited the task at hand, searching over the rocky surfaces for the next handhold. There after all had been no need of light, they couldn’t afford being given away before the attack could commence; so only those that could see in the dark had come at her request.

Following on Merlia’s heels was a score of guardians and volunteers, souls that only wish was to ensure more lives were saved in the retreat of Struport. They minded what the dwarf said as if she were a mother hen, acting like her shadow on their approach. Among them Tenzin and Asterion had come, the warriors itching for a good fight; Azzik and Feku, though weaker frame than the rest had tagged along as well, unwilling to sit this one out. The dwarf watched them shrug off the arduous march, burying down complaints for the sake of their friends, it was commendable, especially from ones so small. Perhaps it was because of the teal dragoness they had brought.

Achaaz, though she could fly, had refused to do so. The dragoness had not wanted to reveal herself away to the mass of undead bats that fluttered around the darkened, star filled sky. She had shrunken herself down to the size of a wolf, sharpened paws aiding her to traverse the slick stone. Silver eyes, though focused on their mission, always drifted back to the pair of kobolds and their Ilbir guardian.

With a harsh wind, Merlia’s cloak fluttered, her flesh was ever bit by icy claws. She held fast the rock face before her, finally eyeing the structure that held the keep and the gate’s mechanisms. Though the stone seemed hardly large enough to hold a gryphon, she knew beneath the surface a network of machinery and gears awaited to manipulate the bay’s dominating net. The walls here were being patrolled by only a single pair of humans, which  by their rough attire, were clearly not the guardians who were supposed to be occupying it. Lanterns hung about the area, painting their features in flickering hues of orange and red.

“Question, why am I here for this attack?” Krotos slunk to the dwarf’s side, crouching low so that his dark feathers could blend in with the stone and shadows. “When I could be using my wings to better aid Arcturus in their attack on the ships.”

“Cause I need ya for something better than brute force.” She replied softly, gesturing to the gate, “Got no one else with your magic talons.” She rolled her eyes as the gryphon’s ears shot straight up, a chuckle passing through his beak, of course he’d take that the wrong way.

“I mean, you would know.”

“Focus ya dirty bird. Now not the time to be thinking of me dwarven treasure.”

“I wasn’t, but if you would prefer- “

“Krotos.” She swatted him on the beak as the others moved into position around her. Silence had found them all, like a terrible fog that weighted upon their very minds. It quickened the pulse, stood the hairs on the back of their necks, that’s how it always was, the moment before battle. “Get yer mind out of the gutter, yer the best we got. What ya expect from Tenzin or Asterion, hittin locks to pieces?”

“I thought you appreciated their attempt to duplicate the dwarven method.”

“Now’s not the time fer that.”

“How foolish of them to leave only two warriors on alert.” Tenzin unfastened his claymore, holding fast the hilt with his paws. His eyes steeled as the powerful warrior took a deep, calming breath, “This should be not a problem.”

She placed a hand on his side, “Sit yet bum down ya walking carpet, course dey got more than two. Achaaz, Krotos, would ya mind doin a look over for us?”

With a silent pair of nods, both the gryphon and dragon spread their wings and took flight, spiraling up into the dark. Merlia lost sight of them within the black, left to wait for their return. She undid her bow, rolling the wood within her palm as a bitterness set about her mood. Was this what she’d become? Following the orders of some draconic fiend because she was afraid to die?

Course it was better, everyone lived if she did exactly what the dragon wanted. It was bitter on the tongue as she peered back to the faces of all the determined guardians. The souls that believed their actions were to save handfuls of lives, little did they know, none of this was to matter. They were walking into a trap.

“Only Arcturus, his dragon and those that fly with him die this night.” Dreadflame had snarled, his words still lingering in Merlia’s ear, “Those who go with you to the keep will live, a reward for your compliance. Just do your part to lure them into a false sense of security.”

“And should your dragon beastie not like to follow yer orders?” She’d asked, knowing how independent dragons could be.

Dreadflame had only offered a harsh snort, his voice a growl, “That whelp will know his place. To hurt you is to hurt me.”

“I’m flattered.” She’d growled as the dragon cooed her compliance.

“Worry not Merlia, there will be more than enough honor for all of us.” Asterion kneeled at her side, pulling her from her bitter thoughts. He squinted, trying to trace the dragoness and gryphon. “Our enemies deception and dishonor will be paid for in blood.” He gave a harsh snort, “Hostages? I cannot wait to smash that dragon’s snout right in.”

Such fire, conviction, when Asterion looked to her, pride flickered in his gaze. For Merlia, it settled in her gut and stabbed, all of this was for nothing. She pat the weapon at her side, to appear as though she was readying for battle. “Save all the blood and sweat for the fight ahead ya meat heads. That goes for the lot of ya.”

How was she going to live with herself? She closed her eyes, counting the beats of her heart, knowing that there was no going back from this. By the night’s end, she would no longer be a follower of Thor that much was certain. She just hoped that the survival of her friends was enough to tide her wounded soul over.

Krotos wheeled around them with nary a sound, the gryphon passing like a shade. He landed in a fluttering of wings, Achaaz following right on his tail. “It’s the strangest thing, there doesn’t appear to be any more than a dozen or so.” He whispered, “They are hardly talking, no joking, the worst bunch if you ask me –“

“Only a dozen?” Tenzin chortled, giving the guardians a confident grin, “Then our enemy have vastly underestimated our resolve. Harsh lesson to learn. Steel yourself guardians, our foes believe us weak, let us prove them wrong, kill them for taking arms against your kin.”

Merlia bit her tongue, did they have to make it so obvious?

“They could be invisible.” Asterion stated flatly, caressing his beard, “I would not so readily believe our enemy is stupid.”

“But it only lasts an hour.” Merlia replied, “Unless they knew we were comin at the perfect time. Think the big kitty be right, bout time we showed those boys that ya don’t be underestimatin us.” She clasped Krotos right on his furry flank with a grin, “Care given me a lift? Think I want to axe those boys on the wall a question.”

The mercenaries on the wall never stood a chance. Atop Krotos, bow in hand, Merlia silenced them in the blink of an eye. One arrow, with her magic became two, landing dead within their throats. Even as they fell, wide eyed at what had transpired, the victory didn’t beat back the despair lingering in her gut. Two more clambered up the keep’s inner stairs, they were set upon by Tenzin, dropping down from Achaaz’s claws; he dispatched them with one solid swing each, ridding them of their heads.

Merlia landed upon the walls without a sound, crouching low to cling to what shadows hung about the rampart. She stood over the keep’s courtyard, searching down through the crates and barrels that rested here to the collection of captives they had secured at it’s center. There were over two dozen souls huddled together, tied up and secured to metal rods thrust into the floor. Her heart sank, just how many ships had to be coerced into fighting like the bloody mermaid?

“Looking at it makes me sick as well.” Tenzin slunk to her side, motioning the ranger towards the keep’s gate. “Can you provide me with a distraction?”

“Think you can open it on your own?” She rose a brow, eying the sizable wooden gate and the single beam that held it fast. It would have been an effort to lift for several strapping men, but the ilbir’s smirk revealed he cared not. “Alright, fine ya can, how long ya need.”

“Should not be that long.” He stowed his blade as Achaaz and Krotos swept back towards the guardians, no doubt gathering more to ferry behind the walls. “Without the gate, they cannot hold the keep.”

As Tenzin raced down the steps in determination, Merlia surveyed the courtyard for her next targets. Some of course spied the large Ilbir, calling out for their kin to apprehend him. Practiced hands knocked her bow and let fly her arrows, silencing each of these vocal mercenaries one at a time. On her third, they’d finally spotted where she was, forcing her to duck behind the stone, avoiding the returning arrows that flew where she’d been.

“Got to try harder than that!” She cackled, running to another hiding spot, followed by arrows with every step. “Else I’m going to embarrass ya!” She peered out to let fly another attack but was forced to yank back lest she want to find herself with a few arrows in her. “Ok, yer doin better, I’ll give ya that!”

With the dwarf pinned, a pair of armored men charged up the keeps’ steps, shields and weapons in hand. They barked insults to her, taunts, thinking themselves with the upper hand. The fools didn’t even realize they were falling right into her hands, no one had even paid mind to Tenzin. She ran as they hacked at her with their blades, tasting only air or the edge of her cape.

“I should be flattered, paying attention to little ole me!” Merlia whirled around, a spell already on her lips. Thrusting out her hand brought forth a gust of wind, knocking one mercenary into the other, sending both straight onto their backs with a clattering of steel. Leaping upon their shield she could only cackle, going back the way she came. Her parting gift was a single arrow loosed back, pulsing with an orange light. Before the mercenaries could even shake their heads and get to their feet, the arrow exploded and consumed them.

Like a whirling dervish she traversed the keep, raining destruction where she did aim. One mercenary right after the other she felled, each arrow tasting blood, not to be wasted. It wasn’t long before a tremendous thud announced the gate’s opening, followed by Tenzin’s savage snarl. What remained of the defenders inside were swiftly assailed by Merlia and the guardian’s combined efforts.

The air grew thick with the clashing of steel, the shouts of the living. Those that rose from the woodwork to the walls found themselves dispatched by gryphon talons or dragon paws. The unluckiest of the bunch were lifted off and dropped, left to plummet hundreds of feet to the waters below. In short order the fighting soon died, blood had thick across the keep’s stone. The guardians had emerged victorious, announced by cheers and raised fists.

To some it might have been a grim battlefield, of hacked apart bodies; some littered with arrows. To Merlia, it brought a smirk to her face, a bitter one that soothed over what would come. She collected her projectiles as the others funneled into the courtyard’s central area, announcing to the captives that they were free. Krotos had sauntered up to them with a pleased chirp, flirting of course as he readied to start picking their locks.

“Can’t believe it fell so easily.” Asterion grunted, the warrior’s fur coated in blood, his eyes tracing over the keep’s walls. “You’d think the dragon would have been here to stop us.”

“It was as I said, the enemy thought little of us!” Cheered Tenzin, getting approval from the guardians at his side, “We sure showed them did we not?”

“Suppose the walkin carpet be right. The lads bit off more than they could chew.” Merlia remarked with a smirk, only getting a stern snort from the cleric in response. She had to give him credit, he was far cleverer than the rest. It was when Achaaz landed among them was the trap set to be revealed, it started with a startled yell, as the chains had sprung to life.

Dull, lifeless metal started to twist and churn, take on motions of it’s very own. They left their home of the former captives, whipping through the air with tremendous speed. Wrapping around the saviors like snakes, they bound legs arms and covered mouths, startled yells traveled through the guardians. Even Achaaz found her snout ensnared, her wings stitched together, the dragoness slammed to the stone with a muffled growl. Merlia stood, hallow and drained as her allies were secured one by one, confused on what had transpired.

Tenzin would not be contained, his strength more than a match for these magical chains. With snarls and growls he ripped apart the steel, hacking those that did not fall into his claws. He was a whirlwind of destruction, a credit to his clan. He called for aid, tried to inspire others around him to battle, he would have to be brought down in another manner.

From the walls came the copper dragon, scales gleaming cruelly in the limited light. A line of draconic and a twist of his paw, that’s all it took to bring lavender strands of magic through the air. They wrapped like ribbons around the catman’s form, tight and all consuming. With a breath they raced into his nose, invading his very being, he went slack, his jaw hung open, eyes glimmered with the same lavender light. He collapsed, just another pawn for the dragon’s will.

Asterion called out, willing brilliant specters of minotaur warriors to his command. They battered the dragon’s scales, drew blood, caused the beast to hiss and rear up. The cleric taunted the beast as he brandished his hammer, another spell to follow on his tongue, he would have to be stopped if his life was to be saved.

Merlia drew an arrow and blinded the cleric with a flash, loading another as he recoiled and covered his eyes. With her next volley, the ground grew thick with vines, numerous and grasping, they sought out the minotaur with a singular purpose. His limbs were set upon, wrapped tight and secured, he was dragged to his knees.

“Merlia, what is the meaning of this?” He shouted, eyes blood shot as he stared to her, piercing her heart.

“I had no choice!” She countered, guiding the vines to continued with a wave of her hand to cover and gag his snout. Though his yells were muffled, his desperate thrashing contained, his look one that could kill, Merlia breathed a tad easier, he would be spared the Lord of Fire’s temper.

It was over by the time the dragon’s paws found the courtyard, the guardians all secured and bound. He was larger than Veledar, announcing his arrival with a great snarl. The last of the struggling and squirming ceased, realizing that their lives now rested in this beast’s paws. He rumbled, terrible in the back of his throat as his gaze swept through the courtyard, victory was his.

“You coward!” Asterion snapped the vine in his mouth, unphased as the dragon snapped it’s attentions to him. “You can only defeat us through deceit? Meet us in battle!”

The dragon laughed in a mocking way, padding it’s path around the secured bull. “I think not little cow, you and your allies have lost this day.”

“Only through deceit. You are an honor less dog with what I imagine is the dick of a mouse.”

Slitted eyes narrowed, murder painted across the dragon’s snout as he approached with a savage snarl, “Honor or not, I have won.” A talon was brought to Asterion’s chin, the sharpened point ready to tear out his throat, “Continue to speak to me in such a fashion little one and the arrangement I’ve made will matter very little- “

“Keep him alive dragon!” Merlia blurted, already seeing Asterion ready to meet his end.

“And why should I do that dwarf?”

She gulped as the Lord of Fire shifted to her, his gaze demanding and all consuming. As he approached, hair on the back of her neck stood tall, he could end her with a breath. “For minotaurs, doesn’t make a lick of sense trust me, but capturing them? Keeping them alive when they should have been killed, that be a fate worse than death.”

“MERLIA- “Asterion shouted, only to be silenced as another vine wove it’s way around his snout.

“Really now.” The dragon mused, amusement flickering in those amber pools as he swept around Merlia, “Not that is a good reason to keep him around. What was your name dwarf? You’ll excuse me, when Dreadflame spoke of you, it escaped me- “

“Merlia Gallogalar.” Merlia replied bitterly, seeing the look of betrayal that now dwelled in each of her friend’s eyes. It was all consuming, hallowed her out, the dragon’s rumble of approval was ever worse.

“Well, Merlia, I have quite the position for you in the days ahead.”

“If you’re going to be humping me dragon, you can kill me now- “

“Hump…you?” The dragon tossed back his head and laughed, “Please little one, I have much more productive things to do with my time than waste them with spirited women.” With a growl he turned his attentions back to the now squirming Asterion, running a talon along his throat, “For such an insult against my scales cow, you will be mine. Captured, brought to heel, broken and tamed to my will. I can’t think of a greater insult to your kind for such an insulant tongue.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” Merlia added when the dragon peered back, looking for her approval. It didn’t matter that the bull’s look threatened to kill her, for now she saved his life. That’s all that mattered at the end of it. As the dragon called for more of his minions to secure the new prisoners, she was left wallowing in her thoughts, only snapped out of them as the dragon gestured to her with a  growl.

“Come dwarf.” Mused the beast, a confident bounce in his hinds. “You’ve amused me, and for such a feat, you’ll come and meet with my other pets.”

“Pets?” The dwarf snarled, her cheeks going flush, “I’m to be your pet now? Listen here ya bloated copper beast, Merlia Gallogalar is no- “ Her hair was sent rippling back as the dragon snapped to her in the blink of an eye, his nostrils flaring with a cruel promise of flame.

“You are my pet now dwarf.” His good cheer was gone, eyes steeled, “You can accept that or resist, the amount of suffering or praise that you get is up to you. The life of one of my pets can be quite enjoyable.”

“And who’s bright idea was it for me ta be your pet?” As he chuckled in the back of his throat she could only guess, “Don’t tell me, red scales with the temperament of an insecure child?”

He snapped at her, pleased when she leapt back with a startled yelp. “So, what is it Merlia? Will you come and meet your new kin?”

She peered back to her captive friends, haunted by the hurt looks upon each of their faces. Resisting now would do them no good, better to keep this beast happy. Besides, perhaps she could sweet talk him into letting them go. The ranger bowed her head, dropping to one knee. Her reply was serenaded by the dragon’s amused coo, “You may lead the way O great Lord of Fire. I see the way the winds be blowin.”

“Excellent.” Lord of Fire turned, gesturing her to follow with a wing as he adjusted his size to that of a gryphon with an explosion of lavender smoke, “Then your life might be one of luxury my dearest pet, you’ll see that I treat my possessions quite well.”

** * * * * * * * * * *

Veledar drifted along the sea, close enough that should he have dipped a paw into the vast expanse of black beneath him, he would find himself with a salty spray. The cold that stung at his wing membranes was placed to the back of his mind as he let the currents guide he and the scores of pegasus knights following on his tail. They passed unseen to the numerous vessels beyond the gate, masked by a spell that shrouded scale, flesh and wing with colors to better match their surroundings.

Though his thoughts dwelled on every flap of his wings, and the mission that was before him, he could not help but drift to the fate of those that attacked the gate. His unease was met with a tender hand from Arcturus on his scales, consoling the storm of unease that flickered within. They would do their job and in turn they would do theirs. The dragon snorted, pounding his wings and bringing his forces closer to the rocky shore.

What chatter they could have on their runes was kept to a minimum, not a soul wanting to reveal themselves to the enemy. Several whispers pointed out patrols of undead beasts with wings, but the gathered force avoided them like ghosts in the night. Some asked where the dragon might be, who would reveal himself should their plan be successful.

“Don’t worry, we’ll be out before he emerges.” Arcturus had replied, calm and collected, “Swoop in, slam their ship with explosive lances and be out of there.”

“And relish as it sinks beneath the waves.” Veledar growled. “Though watch for any sign that the druid lives, they are the only thing stopping Fremra from putting this entire fleet to the sword.”

He searched the clouds growing upon the sky, evidence that Fremra had begun her powerful work. They churned and rolled as if beasts fought and snarled within their embrace. Lightning had already begun to crackle and strike, cleaving the night in twain. It’s thunder shook the sea, a prelude to what the team of Pegasus riders could achieve with their trusty dragonfire tipped lances.

“Think you can use such a weapon?” Asked the dragon as they swooped across the rocky shore, setting their sights for a lone, darkened ship amongst the sea of others.

“It’s not a lance of lighting.” Remarked the paladin, rolling one of the weapons in his hand. “Nor does it have the honor of my tear of Bahamut sword…” His words stalled, clearly distraught over its loss.

“Do not worry, we shall get it one day…when all this is done and gone. When a new, hopeful day replaces it.”

“Think that day might come? When we can relax and listen to birds sing, not worry about where a blade might come for us?”

“Perhaps…though one wonders if you could live a life that dull. Don’t tell me that I have rubbed off on you, that you might recline on a warm rock and simply enjoy the sun?”

“That…does sound rather appealing.”

Veledar rumbled as the ship drew nearer, guardians calling on their runes to aim for where the ship met the sea. “Then I’ll hold you to that my paladin, we can even bring Skywing should you so choose.”

Arcturus nodded, bracing himself against the dragon as they neared their target. His weapon went back, held ever tight in his powerful grasp. Eyes steeled, nerves stilled as Veledar brought them ever closer. One flap, a second, in but a third they’d be breathing down the enemy’s necks.

Veledar took in a deep breath, flaring his fire glands to prominence. Like a demon he passed over the ship, letting forth a great plume of red-orange flame. It ignited anything loose upon the ship’s deck, wrapping everything in a cascade of terrible destruction. Any soul that found themselves awake, on a nightly watch, was soon screaming for the gods to end their suffering. Such cries were soon drowned out as the pegasus riders let forth their lances, bombarding the ship’s hull with a multitude of explosions. Hardened wood splintered and cracked, blasted apart as if by the gods themselves. One right after the other what defense the ship could provide buckled, torn asunder so the sea itself could sweep right on in.

Around the ship the swarm of dragon and pegasai continued their relentless assault, tearing apart what they could. With each circle the mighty ship was brought low, more lives tossed into the darkened sea to be lost. The crew had no chance, no hope under such an attack, their vessel reduced to nothing more than a hallowed wreck after just a few passes. When the dragon tilted his wings and led the attackers away, it’s hull had already begun to sink beneath the waves; the wood still caught in his horrid flames.

They’d done it, without even a strike back from the enemy. Veledar warbled in his throat as men and woman cheered all around them. He brought them around for one last pass, not spying anything moving in what had been this once proud vessel. Pride flickered through his chest at such destruction, that not a soul still drew breath. He could sense the regret within Arcturus, but he imagined that he could live with it.

“Let’s find somewhere to land!” Alonso spoke over the communication runes, “We don’t want to be around when the winds howl like the gods and the waves taller than our clocktower!”

Pumping his wings, Veledar set his sights back towards the gate, where Merlia and the attackers waited for their victorious return. He could not wait to share his tale of heroism and victory, of which he had no doubt the dwarf and minotaur would talk his ear off on how theirs somehow compared. Just as he was preparing his speech, he sensed a change in the air. There was a tingle that went down his armored spine, something was wrong. His nostrils flared, his eyes widened, there was magic in the air. Had Fremra hastened the spell?

The first sign of trouble came as a pair of pegasus riders were battered by the winds, swept up as if by an invisible hand. They tumbled through the air like ragdolls, their terrified whinnies and yells a most strange symphony. Then another joined them, then another, they were getting picked off one after the other.

“Veledar, what is going on?” Arcturus’ startled yell came as the dragon tilted a wing, wheeling the pair around.

“There is magic at work!” He growled, as pegasus knights tried to duplicate his maneuver. Those that cut their turns too wide found themselves swept up in the invisible wall, ripped off their mounts and doomed to tumble around. It would appear as if they had flown straight into a cage of winds.

“How in the hells did they manage this?”

The dragon hated to admit it, but it would appear as though someone was watching them, suspected that they were coming. A terrible pit formed beneath his scales, either Dreadflame had learned of it, suspected it, or they’d been betrayed. He grit his teeth and maintained his tight turn, that could be addressed later. He pushed out the screams of anguish and terror that gripped the guardians around him, willing a spell to detect magic so that he might better navigate this invisible cage.

With his heart pounding he revealed the invisible barrier to his eye, having it take on a shimmering, translucent red. He called upon the guardians to follow on his tail with a mighty roar as Arcturus held ever tightly to his harness. Escape was suggested to fly above or below, but those ideas were swiftly squashed. Beneath them waves were wild and untamed, ready to devour them and drag them down. Above, the air was as turbulent as the walls, the first guardian to try found himself just like the others caught within the cage’s winds, there would be no escape that way.

Caught, no way out. Panic soon found the mass of guardians, to make matters ever worse, the cage’s walls had soon begun to crawl ever towards them. With every pass along the edges, it would shrink, till eventually there would be nowhere to go. Veledar hissed, they’d all be caught and forced to crash against the waves and at that speed, it would be like slamming straight into stone. “Arcturus hang on!” Was all he could shout, as the grim picture set in around them. The druid had not been on that ship, they’d been waiting for them.

“Veledar…What do we do?” Arcturus asked, voice cracking as the dragon passed but a paw reach away from the fierce winds. Even his face was fraught with dread, the color all but left it.

It would have been easy to give up, to accept that this was his fate, but he was Veledar, a dragon of all things, if he was going to meet his end, it would not be because of some winds! “I’m thinking.” He replied, as the winds started to drag the sea up into it’s embrace, forming what would be the water tornado that would be their doom. He closed his eyes and let himself go, casting away the distractions raging around him, even the fear of his demise was pushed back, there had to be a way out.

What had all the point of Fremra’s teachings and ramblings if he could not use them? Then it came to him, that peeled away at the gravity of the situation. True they found themselves in a trap of winds and water, but was that truly it? So many things he had to test himself against did not match what they were at face value. There was Arcturus, the son of dragon slayers and now his treasured mate; then Fremra, the wise dragon yet contained such silliness that he thought she might be a wrymling herself. The elements that trapped them; they were just willed on by magic, cut that magic, and they would be free.

That’s it! The dragon warbled as it occurred to him, focusing on the drahkras that he’d spent months learning how to access. True he had to cut the threads of magic that held this storm in sway, but he was more than sure he and Arcturus were up to the task. “I got it!”

“You do? Oh, the gods I could kiss you!”

“After Umraadi, of which we can most vigorously!” Replied the dragon, the spell already forming on his tongue, “Ready for something crazy Umraadi?”

“At this point, I’ll try anything!” Shouted Arcturus, hanging on for dear life as the winds sought to tear him from the dragon’s back.

“Then lend me your strength! Feel my wings, be my paws, help me cut the strands of this storm!”

“Veledar, you can’t beat a tornado with magic!”

“Course we can! We’ve already shown to share our magical enchantments, lets instead focus our efforts!”

“Do you know how you sounds?” The knight scoffed.

“Arcturus…Do you trust me?”

The man’s argument died, searching those sapphire eyes that held him in such sway. He sighed, “What do you need of me?”

“Do as I said, be one.” He roared, “And Arcturus?”

“Yes?”

“I love you!” With that the dragon gave a final pump of his wings before letting gravity take it’s hold over him. Down together they plummeted into the whipping winds, right down to the center of the raging storm.

Tumbling, senses robbed of them, the pair whipped and whirled around against their will. They closed their eyes and let themselves go, caring not about themselves but drifting deeper, focusing on each other. Magic cascaded down the red dragon’s scales, brilliant and turquoise as it rippled and spread up around the human that he adored. A single thread, that’s what they focused on, their magic the knife that would sever it.

With a final roar, Veledar spun, his wings spread out wide. The spell released, wing talons acting as swords as they tore straight through the vortex. What they found themselves within could not stand against their might, the magic yielded to their demands and died. In but a breath the winds ended, the water dropped to the sea, they had put it to an end. They’d survived.

“Oh my gosh you- “

“We- AH!” He had to pump his wings, forgetting in the relief that coursed through him. Together they laughed, relishing that they still lived.

“I can’t believe you did it!” Arcturus cheered, pumping his fist on the air.

“We did it.” Corrected the dragon, as guardians, too amazed at their survival, could do little more than cheer. “We did it.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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