A dragonslayers tale

Ivran told them he wanted to stay a bit longer and Phraan said it was smart of him, travelling alone now would be very unwise and Ivran did feel rather exposed. He was no soldier and he knew naught of how to fight. He was indeed safer in the city. The camp was rather full now and there were people everywhere, horses, carriages and servants scurrying around. The noise lasted from dusk until dawn and well into the night too and Ivran found it intriguing in a way. The army worked as a well-oiled machinery and nothing did change that. But the odd alchemist had made camp just outside of the walls and refused to leave and nobody could order him to, he just stayed there, stinking and shouting obscenities and Ivran didn’t understand why the man didn’t go back to the south? Surely he could make a much more comfortable living there, where there were a lot of people with money?

The first troop did return telling of dragons and it was a pack, perhaps six of them and probably similar to the one Ivran encountered. The group was preparing to go out to see for themselves when things changed and drastically.

Ivran and the two trackers were preparing some saddle bags when they heard a horn being blown from afar and Thiana did look confused but Taurin dropped everything he was holding and ran towards the wall. The structure wasn’t very tall nor very wide, just four meters and it was wide enough for a couple of men to run along the top side by side but not more. It was made from mud bricks and Ivran knew that it was far from as solid as one made from real rocks. But here rocks were hard to come by, the cliffs and hills were mostly sandstone and the mountains were too far away. The elf did almost fly up the stairs and Ivran swallowed a sigh of admiration, he would never be that elegant. Thiana did look confused still and Taurin shouted. “It is an alarm, someone has seen something”

Ivran felt a cold chill running down his spine, could it be dragons? Oh gods! Fastonar came running, he was wild eyed and gestured towards Ivran. “You, get up on the wall now, Peter, Aiolo, you too!”

The two convicts did obey and Ivran too did run up the narrow ramp. Something was moving out there, along the ground. It looked as if some huge herd of buffalo or some other animal was on the move and from the cloud he could see that it was heading their way. “What is that?”

It didn’t fly so it couldn’t be dragons right? Fastonar was shouting at some of the guards, ordering them to close the gates. “Dreklugnins, or something similar. Do not go down from the wall”

Ivran frowned, Dreklugnins? Oh, that was small wingless dragons, the size of a large dog right? They couldn’t be so bad? The group was gathering and Phraan was shouting instructions to the knights. Everybody got up on their horses and rode out before the gates were closed. Ivran felt his heart beating fast, this was exciting and frightening all at once. Everyone carried a long lance with a very odd tip, it was almost needle like and Phraan and the others had put on leather armor and seemed to be ready for battle. “Aim for their eyes, or the mouth”

Ivran saw that the dust got closer and now he could see the creatures who created the cloud. He gasped, and Peter who stood close to him was a bit pale. The other convict did almost grin, wasn’t that man afraid for his own life at all? The beasts were rather large, the size of a cow perhaps and they did move with surprising elegance. The bodies seemed to be completely covered with thick almost scale like armor and Phraan was calling out. “They have changed too, prepare for anything!”

Ivran held his breath as the line of riders forced their horses forth to face this threat, they were so very brave and he wanted to go and hide somewhere. What could they really do against something this terrible?

Phraan saw that this indeed had been dreklugnins, the shape of the body and the overall animal was still the same but they had grown, a lot! From a beast which weighed in at about a hundred pounds at the most they now had to be at least five hundred and the long and strong jaws did look terrifying. Phraan did ride in front, he had his lance ready and knew that the knights who had arrived were bold but none of them had ever encountered something like this. The elves of his group had brought bows and several quivers full of arrows and Phraan knew that the type of arrows you used meant a lot. Against dreklugnins you had to use arrows with tips shaped just like the tip of their lances, narrow and thin with a needle point. And that needlepoint had to be dipped in poison. A dreklugnin is a very tough creature, capable of surviving things few other living beings can even imagine. He had once seen a dreklugnin escape from the battlefield with two legs chopped off and he did see that same one again two weeks after. It had found a way to balance itself and it was still alive and kicking and still dangerous. He had to respect a beast like that, but dreklugnins could wreak havoc upon the farms, slaughtering everything from chickens to cattle.

The dreklugnins came closer and Phraan swallowed his doubt and leaned forth, fastened his grip on the lance. He was a champion at this, he always knew where to strike out of sheer instinct and to his joy Drake showed no fear. Instead the giant horse did snort and increase its speed towards the ugly critters. Phraan saw that one of the beasts appeared to take aim at him and he roared to give himself extra courage, he didn’t aim the lance before the very last minute to avoid that the beast had time to get out of the way. He saw that the dreklugnin tilted its head and opened its jaws, aiming for the chest and neck of the approaching horse and Phraan did give Drake a small nudge with his knee. The horse did obey, swinging on a dime even in the middle of attack and Phraan brought the lance down. The trick was to let the beast impale itself, he just had to provide the opposite force which would make the lance penetrate deep into the beast.

The lance was solid, made from a special type of wood growing along the coast to the far south and they hardly ever broke. The thin point went just where Phraan wanted it to go, down the beasts open maw and he braced for impact. The beast came to an abrupt holt as the lance was forced all the way down its throat and pierced its chest. The dreklugnin let out an odd barking sound and Phraan spun Drake around, pulled the lance free again. Blood gushed from the mouth of the dreklugnin and the beast fell in its last convulsions, the heart pierced by the lance. Phraan saw that the others were at it, arrows did fly and the archers did aim for the eyes and the knights used the lances with surprising elegance. They were used to the weapon and knew how to aim and their horses were trained too. Rhuk and Dabin did rode ponies, they were not as tall and the dwarves were almost sitting at the height of dreklugnins back. That meant that they used their axes with terrifying precision. They went for the head and cleaved dreklugnin skulls while they roared obscenities so bad Phraan thought it was a wonder the gods themselves didn’t come down to defend their honor.

Dhokay did use a huge war hammer, it was his weapon of choice in such a situation and he was so strong wielding it was a piece of cake. No human would have been able to use that hammer, only lifting it would have been a challenge even for a strong man. Fastonar was laughing like a mad man, Phraan did recognize that mad joy and felt a sensation of joy himself. He let his instincts guide him and soon he was lost in the fever of battle once more, the art of killing all that he knew, all that he was.

The city had been sealed off and the walls were filled with soldiers wielding bows, ordinary arrows would do little harm to a dreklugnin but if you managed to hit its mouth it would hurt and slow the beast down a bit. The pack was huge, at least hundred beasts strong and the group couldn’t stop all. Dreklugnins don’t care about their fallen comrades, all that matters is to sate their hunger and the pack was still heading for the city. The first reached the gates and were met by a shower of arrows but that didn’t slow them down at all, they just kept coming and tried to break down the wooden gate. Some of the soldiers did throw rocks at the beasts and that did in fact knock a few out but it wasn’t very efficient. The dreklugnins suddenly did something very strange. Some did crouch down some meters from the wall and others which were incoming did use them as a sort of launch pad as they tried to jump up onto the wall. The dreklugnins had never jumped before, they were extremely dense and stocky beasts but this new larger version had longer legs and moved differently and Phraan turned his horse and saw what was happening. He swore, they would get over the walls, and there were several thousand human beings in that city, they would face a bloodbath soon.

Ivran screamed, a dreklugnin had almost managed to jump up onto the wall where he stood and only an arrow from a very bold archer had stopped it. The arrow wedged itself in the thick skin just beneath the eye and the beast roared with rage and turned around to attack the wall where the archer was. That was when they heard a most horrifying sound, it did sound as if someone had taken a horn orchestra and tampered with all the instruments and then forced the orchestra to play. The sound was so ghastly everybody tried to protect their ears. The dreklugnins stopped the attack, turning their heads in obvious confusion and that was when Ivran saw him. The alchemist, he was driving like a madman along the base of the wall, the old carriage making its own contribution to the devilish sound which seemed to come from some sort of contraption attached to its back, thick leather bands attached to the axel of the wagon powered a bellow which blew air into several sacks which were being compressed at uneven intervals and pipes did stick out of the bags which looked like porcupines suffering from spot baldness. And the smoke, the carriage did spread a thick green smoke behind it and the moment the smell reached Ivran’s nostrils he fell violently ill! He had to throw up, the smoke did smell so bad it made the alchemist smell as if he had taken a bath in rose oil in comparison.

The carriage was pulled by the old mule which ran as if it had the dark gods chasing it, ears flat backwards and hooves thundering and Ivran had time to see the reason why the animal could make such a speed in spite of its age. Some sort of spikey contraption was attached to its tail and did hit the sensitive area beneath the tail with each move the mule did. It was cruel and Ivran had to bend over and retch again. The thick green smoke was like a blanket and it had an odd effect on the dreklugnins. If it made the humans sick it was nothing compared with what it did to the beasts. Suddenly the soldiers on the wall was witnessing a most disturbing sight, several dozen dreklugnins laying there writhing and bellowing in agony as they quite literally puked their guts out. The beasts did defecate too, and urinate and the stench was simply so strong it became unbearable. The soldiers did evacuate the wall, running for the latrines and their tents. It was simply too much. Ivran did stay, he had to watch this, and Peter too remained standing, obviously fascinated by what he did see.

The group saw the smoke and the carriage and wondered what the hell it was, they finished off the last dreklugnins and Phraan called everybody to him. They hadn’t lost any fighters but several horses were dead and a couple had to be put down due to horrible wounds. The thick green smoke did dissipate in the wind and Phraan made a grimace, what in hells name was that? He had smelled the result of a dog attacking a skunk once and even that had been a mild smell in comparison. Dhokay was staring. “Look, the dreklugnins which managed to get past us are dying? What in the name of the goddess is this?”

Phraan spurred Drake, he intended to find out, stench or no stench. They rode hard and those who had lost their horses sat up with others and they reached the walls in just a few minutes. The carriage had stopped, simply because the old mule pulling it had collapsed and the man driving the carriage stood there gesticulating like a mad, Phraan had never seen a person who looked that deranged before. The gates were opened again and Phraan and Dhokay rode over to the alchemist who still was shouting and jumping up and down. Phraan saw that the head of a morning star had been tied to the mule’s tail, the poor animal had ran itself to death and he felt a wave of sheer anger. But the alchemist or whatever he was had saved the city, there was no denying that. He had in fact hindered the dreklugnins from overrunning the walls and Phraan saw that Crassian and the other officers were stunned. He stopped Drake and stared down at the man, the human did look as if he had been taken a bath in a sewer and did smell almost as bad as that smoke he had produced but there wasn’t just madness in his eyes. The man stared at the tall half elf and bowed his head a little, an odd grin was visible on his face. “What did you just do human? I have never seen dreklugnins dying like that”

The man grasped some bags from the back of the carriage, they were made from wool and not very densely woven. “Oh, it was an idea I have worked on for some time, you see, some chemicals do produce smoke when mixed and this I did discover by sheer chance some years ago. And I thought about it now, and it did work didn’t it? Oh it worked wonderfully!”

Phraan stared at the man, with disbelief. “Are you aware of the fact that dreklugnins are extremely hard to kill? They are very tough creatures, don’t just die. That smoke was…incredibly efficient!”

Dhokay stared at the alchemist too with narrow eyes. “You are coming with us, if you can kill dreklugnins you could perhaps come up with something capable of killing other species as well”

Phraan stared at Dhokay, ready to protest but the expression within his friends eyes told him that he ought to shut up. The man nodded. “Oh I have ideas, yes, great ideas, grand ideas. Ideas which will change the world!”

Phraan almost growled and Fastonar rode over, he did look tired and his lance had lost its tip. He stared at the dead dreklugnins with disbelief. “We will let you have whatever you want if you can aid us, but I must say this, if I ever see you treat a poor animal like that again I will personally flog you!”

Tersus just smirked. “Oh the mule, never mind that, it was old and I needed speed. I couldn’t just go and steal a horse now could I? He did die a hero, not all mules can say that about themselves”

The man was ripping the harness of the dead animal and Phraan still felt very angry. “I do not want him near our tents, he smells like…”

Fastonar nodded. “Yes, I know, but he can become valuable. There is a vacant building not far from the officer’s cantina, he can stay there.”

Crassian and the others did look rather doubtful but they didn’t protest, they had all faced the possibility of the city being breached and Tersus had saved them. Ivran came running and Peter followed him, the convict was wide eyed and he bowed in front of the alchemist and the others. “Please, he does need a helper doesn’t he? I can do it, I wish to learn. I can be so useful”

Dhokay made a grimace, stared at Fastonar who just nodded. “Very well, you can help this man but remember, you are still spell bound, you cannot just leave”

Peter nodded and he was grinning from one ear to the other. Tersus stared at him and appeared to like what he did see. “So, a young man interested in alchemy? That is rare!”

Phraan didn’t try to hide his sneer. “He is a convict, he tried to make fake money.”

Tersus did lighten up. “Indeed? Ah what a wonderful dance of fate, you are just what I need then young man, I will share my secrets with you then, and you will be so much more than before”

Peter did look a bit spellbound by the promises of learning but Ivran who stood just by them had to turn around and breathe through his sleeve, goddamn it, Tersus did smell worse than rotten eggs.

Tersus grasped one of the carriage shafts and Peter took the other and they started to pull the thing back towards the city. Vitile did ride up to Phraan and she did look as if she was deeply shocked. “What is that human being? I have never seen anyone like that before? Some deranged wizard?”

Phraan almost spat. “No, an alchemist, he is a madman but he can perhaps become useful.”

She just stared at the carriage. “He stinks, and what was that smoke? The dreklugnins, they spewed their own guts out?! It wasn’t some dark spell?”

Phraan shook his head. “No, and I am impressed, even if I really don’t want to be”

They rode through the gates and there were soldiers everywhere now, greeting the knights and helping them with the horses and the equipment. Ivran followed the group back to the camp, he was still nauseous and he still had a hard time believing what he had seen. He had believed that only magic could achieve such a thing but he was obviously wrong. He sighed and entered the huge main tent with the others, Phraan had ordered Aiolo to help the soldiers with dragging the dead dreklugnins into a heap to be burned and the young man had looked rather angry. It was a filthy job but it had to be done. Shaluun and the two dwarves did look a bit confused still and Taurin and Thiana too were a bit pale. Shaluun sat down and his eyes were very narrow and his expression one Phraan hadn’t seen before. “What in the name of every deity did we just see Phraan?”

The half elf sighed. “I am not sure, but if it is just as efficient against other dragon species it could be a salvation”

Ivran sat in the corner and watched, he bit his lower lip and Vitile did notice him. “What is it young man? What are you thinking about?”

Ivran felt insecure but he couldn’t keep it inside, he tried to keep his voice calm. “Dragons are immune to magic aren’t they?”

Phraan frowned. “Yes, they are magical creatures. We do use magicians to protect ourselves from the flames, and to create traps. But we cannot kill dragons with magic”

Ivran nodded. “Okay, so, let us say that someone has made the dragons right? Someone who wants them to be invincible, almost impossible to kill”

Phraan nodded slowly. “We see where you are going lad, go on”

Ivran took a deep breath. “I would have wanted to make my dragons immune to magic too, for that is the strongest force there is, what everybody will use against something like that. But Tersus, he is something I bet nobody have predicted, a wild card, an unknown factor”

Vitile stared at the young man. “You are right, he could give us the upper hand once more, and we need it, by every god. These new dragons, they are…well, something out of this world”

Phraan sighed. “Yes, if he truly can create weapons strong enough to use against the larger species. The sad thing is that he is a truly despicable person, treating a mule like that!”

Ivran nodded. “He is arrogant, and convinced of his own righteousness, he is also indifferent to the sufferings of others as long as it serves his purpose. I say he is a very dangerous individual and not only because of his skills. Do not trust him”

Vitile cocked her head. “You are a wise young man, truly, you see very deeply”

Ivran just blushed and looked down and Dhokay crossed his arms over his wide chest. “So, we are going to let this human aid us?”

Fastonar nodded. “Yes, yes we are. In spite of it all, for I must admit that we do need him. I don’t like it any more than the rest of you but the situation is extreme.”

Phraan nodded and made a grimace. Rhuk was pulling at his beard. “That man is truly insane. A raving lunatic, one the gods have cursed. But that could be a good thing, the mad can do things no sane person can predict and being unpredictable can be salvation”

Dabin frowned. “Yes, but the stench, I don’t want to go anywhere near him before someone washes him”

Thiana nodded. “Yes, what is it with that man and water?”

Ivran shrugged. “Apparently he is afraid he will lose his luck if he takes a bath”

Rhuk shook his head. “Now that is a whole load of dragon turds, how can he take care of his feet like that? They have to look absolutely horrible, how is he to get some females attention with dirty feet?”

Everybody just stared at Rhuk who shrugged. “Seriously, a man’s feet are so important, in our tribe the women will always check the feet first”

Vitile had to groan. “Rhuk, I have no idea of what sort of tastes dwarf females has but no human female will go anywhere near a man like that, nice feet or not!”

Fastonar sort of banged his hand on the table. “Listen, we have to take care of the imminent threat, forget about that stench and focus upon what the man can do. We were going to go after some dragons weren’t we? If he can come up with something useful fast we can still go tomorrow.”

Shaluun sat and looked doubtful. “That fast? Well, maybe he can create something good but he doesn’t know much about those dragons now does he?”

Fastonar nodded slowly and tilted his head. “So we are going to inform him now aren’t we? Does anyone volunteer?”

Dhokay stepped forth. “I can explain the findings to him, the faster the better right?”

Fastonar nodded and Dhokay left the tent, Ivran didn’t envy him. Phraan did sit and he was stretching his long legs, feeling a bit excited still. The heat of battle always gave him that feeling, he felt more alive than otherwise. Fastonar sighed and sat down by the table. “I will send some soldiers out to check the surroundings, and we will have guards placed by the walls at all times. If dragons come this way we have to be prepared”

Dabin mumbled. “Prepared for what? Those were small critters right, and yet we had trouble with them. The big dragons are gonna be fucking impossible to kill.”

Phraan looked down, he felt that Dabin did speak the truth but could this alchemist change that. “Everything can be killed”

Dabin pointed at him. “Really? The largest species of dragons didn’t suffer great losses back then now did they? Some of them didn’t lose even one! What if they all are like that now?”

Phraan made a grimace. “You are right, the most feared species were impossible to kill, but they were very rare and not really a problem.”

The dwarf tilted his head and his eyes were rather dark. “Those dreklugnins had grown right? So had that dead dragon, it had been a long tail yeah? But now it was something way worse. What if that is true also for the other species?”

Vitile shuddered. “Please, I don’t want to talk about it!”

Fastonar looked at them. “Tomorrow we do ride out, we have to see what we can do. Prepare well, you know what to do”

Dhokay walked over to the building the alchemist had been given and the man had already managed to pollute the atmosphere of the place. He sighed and walked inside, the rooms he saw were already being filled with all sorts of equipment and Dhokay frowned. Tersus were standing in the middle of a smaller room ordering Peter around and Dhokay fought the urge to cover his nose with his sleeve. “Our leader wishes for you to receive some information about the current situation. The dragons have changed since the last time they were around”

Tersus was grinning. “They have? Oh great, a new challenge. So, do speak, I don’t have all day”

Dhokay rolled his eyes but did tell everything they had discovered and Tersus didn’t interrupt him, he was considering everything and Dhokay realized that the man in fact was very intelligent, not just crazy. “Good, they have grown, their weaknesses removed and their strengths merged. That tells me one thing, someone has manipulated them.”

Dhokay looked at the man with slight confusion. “Are you sure?”

Tersus nodded and waved his hand at Peter. “Yes, and only magic can do that to a being this fast. But what I do is the opposite of magic, and I think I have some tricks up my sleeve which can prove to be efficient.”

Dhokay looked down. “We do ride out tomorrow, we need something ready for then”

Tersus grinned. “Worry not, I will have something ready for sure, but I do need a few things”

Dhokay looked at him with calm eyes. “Name them”

Tersus smiled. “I need a chariot, the type they use for races and two very fast and brave horses and a driver, the best.”

Dhokay looked a bit puzzled. “You cannot race a dragon”

Tersus slapped his hands together. “I am not gonna race a dragon my good…uh whatever you are…I am gonna irritate one!”

Dhokay couldn’t believe what he was being told but Peter caught his gaze and rolled his eyes while shrugging. The message was clear, do not question the master. Dhokay bowed slightly. “Great, then we anticipate you by the morrow, with something useful. I will make sure a chariot is available and ready”

Tersus rubbed his hands together and looked as if he was looking forward to this. “Good, very good, I will be ready”

He turned his back to Dhokay and continued to shout orders to Peter and Dhokay left the building. Crassian and the other officers were gathered with the local ones and Dhokay did bow in respect as he entered. Crassian did stare at him with a small amount of nervousness, the luptay was much taller than a human and very intimidating. “Gentlemen, the alchemist require a chariot with two fast horses and a good driver for tomorrow”

One of the local officers did snap his fingers. “We do have a very good charioteer here, his name is Hardan and he has won many races. He has very good horses too”

Dhokay smiled. “Excellent, can you please get him ready for tomorrow morning? I have no idea of what Tersus wants but it could be that he is our best hope now.”

Crassian didn’t look very happy. “That I would live to see the day when we rely on a utterly repulsive person like that, I woe this”

Dhokay sighed. “So does we all my good man but what can one do? We have to try every available option”

The officers did salute him as he left and he didn’t look forward to the next day, no, he didn’t look forward to it at all!

The cooks had decided to really outdo themselves since the city had been saved from the dreklugnins and they did fill the tables with enough food to feed at least twice the number of people present. Fastonar went to study some maps the commander of the camp had after he ate, he did look worried and Phraan knew that it was a bad sign, Vitile walked over to him and she hid a burp behind her hand. She cringed and smiled a bit, looking slightly uncomfortable. “I have a bad feeling when it comes to this Phraan, a very bad feeling. I don’t know why”

He sighed and put an arm around her. “I know, so do I. I still cannot figure out why that dragon died. Its heart did explode but hearts don’t just do that, it isn’t natural.”

She smiled. “You are right, they don’t. I think magic did it, but what sort of magic?”

Phraan shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine then, I have no idea. Dragons are supposed to be immune to magical attacks”

She grasped him by the hand, dragged him towards her tent. “Come, I don’t want to be alone tonight. Keep me company?”

Phraan swallowed. “It is still quite early?”

She shook her head. “It is never too early for some fun now is it?”

She reached up and kissed him gently and he had to grin into the kiss. “I remember this, the evening after battle…”

She opened the tent and they entered, she turned around and pulled her tunic off, her eyes dark with longing and an odd sort of desperation. “Yes, one never feels as alive as now”

Phraan let her undress him, enjoyed the anticipation and the feeling of strong hands which made short work of his clothes. Before long they were entangled on the cot, oblivious to the world outside.

Phraan lay there half asleep, his body feeling heavy and warm and Vitile was resting against his chest, her long hair tickling him a bit but he didn’t move, didn’t want to ruin the moment. He did feel oddly well, relaxed. Vitile was like most wood elves, uninhibited in her desires. Some would perhaps call it shameless behavior but Phraan saw it as just natural. Her people didn’t feel ashamed of their bodies nor the fact that they had desires and they didn’t try to hide anything they truly felt. He sighed and stared down at her, the long brown hair did hide her face and he did remember when he first met her, he had been unaccustomed to the lifestyle of elves in general, and her straight forwardness had been shocking. Then he met more elves and found that she was acting rather naturally. They all were that open and he did find that to be rather liberating. He had gotten rather close to Vitile, for a few seasons he had been rather sure that this was it, that she was the one for him and he was close to asking her to bond with him several times but that perfect moment never came and as he slowly learned more about himself and his gifts he allowed the hunt to drive a wedge in between them.

He didn’t want her to get hurt, that was the reason why. He had so little to offer her in the end and a bond between elves was unbreakable. He had regretted it but he had allowed them to drift apart, and now they were drifting together again like ships in a harbor. Right now he wasn’t even sure of what he felt, a solid dose of sheer desire was of course at the bottom of it all. She was amazing in bed and he hadn’t gotten any for quite a long time but a good relationship ought to be based on so much more than just sex, no matter how great it was. He did admire her, she was someone he did trust completely too, and she was smart and funny and managed to change his mood when he got too gloomy.

Phraan let a hand slide through silky locks, he tried to imagine how life could have been if they had stayed together back then. He would have lived in the woods then, as a wood elf, and he would have been a hunter, not a blacksmith. It would have been a very free life for sure, one he would have loved. And he would have loved her too, fiercely. What was it his grandfather had said? If you love someone let them go? He had, he had to admit that to himself. Vitile deserved someone better, someone like herself, not some half breed unable to give her the children she dreamed off. That was what had chased him off back then, the fact that he never could make her truly happy, never give her absolutely everything she could want. Elves do breed very slowly and have few offspring and the few children born are seen as almost sacred, becoming parents was a huge blessing not all elves got to experience. Phraan knew he never would and sometimes that did hurt him.

He sighed and closed his eyes, sleep just wouldn’t come, he was too nervous, there were too many unanswered questions. He had to figure out why the dragon had died, perhaps the next day could answer that question but somehow he did doubt it. Vitile did sleep very well, her slow breath told him she was relaxed and at ease and he did envy her the ability to just let go of worries and stress. He wasn’t so lucky, he had a bad habit of hanging on to such feelings for way too long. When he did fall asleep he didn’t dream of anything, he just felt as if he was floating around in a sea of insecurity.

He woke up from his uneasy sleep and felt tired and sore. Vitile had scratched both his shoulders and his butt in the throes of passion and he had to smirk and discretely check that he wasn’t bleeding. She had very strong and sharp finger nails like most of her race and she didn’t always think of how deeply they cut when she was coming. Vitile sat by the small table and she hadn’t even put her clothes on, it was a distracting sight and Phraan saw that it wasn’t light outside yet. She did notice that he was staring at her and she hid something underneath a cup on the table, got up. “You are awake?”

Phraan nodded. “Yes, completely”

He pulled the blankets to the side and revealed that yes, it was morning and his body hadn’t taken such a beating that it wasn’t ready for some more. Vitile giggled. “Oh Phraan, you are always so generous”

He nodded and got up, grasped her and lifted her up. Vitile let out a small yelp and threw her arms around his neck, kissed him with raw need. “Yes, just…”

She was writhing against him and he carried her over to the saddle rack, put her down onto it and turned her around. Vitile laughed, a low and sensual laughter and she put her rear up, looking at him with that particular naughty gaze which almost made him come undone there and then. She held onto the rack while he lifted her hips, her feet didn’t touch the floor like that but they didn’t need to, he held her and he had always liked it like that, and so did she. The way she let go of all inhibitions told him that, it didn’t take long before they both raced into their climax and Vitile did shriek and tremble, sweaty and slick as an eel. Phraan was heaving for air, fighting to recover from his high and he carried her with him over to the cot again. She laughed and laid down on top of him, kissing the tip of his nose. “I will never get tired of this Phraan, you make my blood so hot”

He had to smile, a bit proud of himself and also flattered. “I am glad you like me Vitile, I have to say the same”

She sighed and kissed his chest, long fingers did play with a nipple and he hissed and arched. “Careful, I am sensitive right now!”

She giggled. “Yes, I remember that. You are truly one of a kind Phraan. “

She sighed and laid her head down onto his chest. “There is something I want to tell you, but do keep it to yourself”

He felt drowsy, blinked and smiled at her, the lazy feeling rather wonderful really. “Okay? What?”

She took a deep breath. “One moment, it is over here”

She got up and he grieved the loss of the warmth immediately, she grasped whatever it was she had hid and returned to the bed, laid down next to him. “I found this in the dragon’s chest, near the heart. It is magical isn’t it?”

He stared at the gem and felt an odd sensation of sheer dread, this was something unnatural. He didn’t want to touch it but felt that he had to, his palm did feel almost dirty the moment the gem fell into it. What in the name of every unholy God was this? Vitile swallowed. “I think this is what changed that dragon, I don’t know why, but my heart tells me it is so.”

He stared at her, the pleading expression within her eyes told him that she was afraid he would disagree with her. “You are right, this is something…really evil”

He gave the gem back to her, hoping that it wouldn’t somehow stain them. The magic within the tiny thing wasn’t like anything he had sensed before. As all elves he did feel the natural magic surrounding living beings rather well but this thing, it had felt like un-life. He couldn’t really explain it otherwise. Vitile put the gem into her pouch again, her eyes distant. “Don’t tell anyone about this Phraan, I think this is something very dangerous.”

He sat up, feeing cold. “Yes, it is very dangerous indeed, if this is what changed that dragon into what it was now it was done to it, deliberately. Someone did place that gem inside of it, and that someone won’t like that someone finds their secret, of that you can be darn sure.”

She looked down and nodded, eyes to the floor. “I am afraid Phraan, this is beyond us all. We weren’t prepared for any of this”

He took a deep breath. “No, we weren’t, and we still aren’t. Today we may find out more, we cannot lose hope Vitile, to just allow the dragons to spread out spells disaster for this entire continent”

She nodded, hiding her face against his chest, as if she was listening to his heart, finding solace in its steady rhythm. He caressed her shoulder, held her close. “Do stay close to me today Vitile, I don’t want you to take any risks”

She looked up. “We need to fell another dragon Phraan, and I have to check its chest. If there is another gem in there then we do know for sure”

He smiled. “Yes, we will. But killing yet another one will be hard, I somehow doubt that we will be able to do it”

She sighed and hid her face again. “Yes, but maybe we are in luck? The alchemist could have some new weapons”

Phraan cringed. “Ah, that terrible man, well, I won’t sell the skin before the bear is dead. He was in luck with those dreklugnins, he may not be so lucky again”

Vitile nodded. “But we must have hope in something right? Would be too bad otherwise”

He smiled and kissed her head. “You are right. But let’s get dressed and ready, it will be a very long day.”

She let out a huge sigh and snaked out of the blankets, started putting her clothes on. Phraan shivered in the cold morning air and hurried with his own gear, it was getting light outside and he heard that the camp was coming to life now. Orders were being shouted and as they exited the tent he did see a few soldiers glaring at them with barely hidden anger. Phraan had to smirk, oh no, they had kept people awake yet again. Vitile did stretch and yawn and she appeared to have regained her good mood as they walked to the cantina. Most of the others were there and Peter did approach them, his eyes shining. “Tersus is a genius, you won’t believe the things he has told me!”

Phraan was a bit shocked by the joy in the man’s eyes, but it looked as if Peter in fact was very happy? “I bet that is true yes, so, you like this assignment?”

Peter nodded. “Oh yes, I have learned a lot already, and we are so alike, we both like to make things, new things, exciting things”

Vitile did cringe visibly, her eyes said it all, not another one! Phraan smiled. “Good for you, if the two of you can come up with anything truly helpful we will be very grateful”

Peter was almost jumping up and down “ Oh we have, and we will, more that is”

Fastonar did arrive and he was obviously tired, his hair was matted and his eyes a bit bloodshot. “These so called maps ought to be used as kindling, they are so inaccurate it hurts looking at them, How can we send troops to the right place when the right place suddenly is the wrong place?!”

Phraan frowned. “I thought the army maps were good?”

Fastonar nodded with a not insignificant amount of sheer aggression. “So did I! But this little shithole of a city haven’t got any strategic importance and thus, nobody has bothered giving this camp anything of quality. The maps are more ancient than Twelve towers.”

Phraan had to scoff. “That bad?”

Fastonar was sneering. “That bad, I spent the better part of this night trying to find a safe place to cross the river which runs to the north of here. The soldiers tells me that the ford marked on the map is in the wrong place and the current there is so strong trying to cross is suicide. “

Dhokay and Shaluun entered the tent with Kapha in tow behind them, the half dwarf was grinning. Phraan nodded at them and Dhokay smiled. “There is a chariot and a driver waiting for Tersus, I wonder what he is up to?”

Peter almost giggled. “You will see, and you will be surprised too”

Thiana and Taurin had already finished eating and both did look well rested and ready. Phraan wished that he felt that well, to be honest he felt a bit like a wrung out washcloth, completely moshed. Fastonar clapped his hands. “Listen up, we leave in half an hour, be ready, the troops have reported seeing the same pack as yesterday a bit further to the east so we have a chance at them.”

Everybody nodded and Phraan sat down to eat a little, he was famished and emptied a jug of tea. Vitile was just barely touching her food and her eyes were still distant. She was in her own world and Phraan just wished that he could have cheered her up somehow. Aiolo entered the cantina with his eyes on the ground, he was waddling more than walking and the sour expression on his face didn’t create much cheer to say the least. The man looked as if he hated the world and Phraan did sigh and nodded at Fastonar. “He did burn dreklugnins yesterday? Give him some easier work today ha?”

Fastonar frowned. “Why? He is a coward and a murderer, he does deserve to sweat a little.”

Phraan nodded and looked at the young man who sat down and attacked a bowl of cheese and bread like someone who had been starving for a long time. “It isn’t that he doesn’t deserve it, but I just don’t like having a man like that near the soldiers. He is dangerous Fastonar, I can sense it. He hides something, and keeping him away from weapons would be a good idea”

Fastonar blinked. “Damn it Phraan, you are right, I haven’t thought of that. I will order him to help the men fixing cracks in the wall, that is harmless work”

Phraan nodded. “Yes, he cannot do much harm there”

Fastonar patted Phraan’s shoulder. “You have always been the most caring among us, you see the worth of a man so quickly. I wish I was that good”

Phraan just blushed and Fastonar went to get his horse ready. Phraan remembered the gem and for a moment he felt an urge to tell Fastonar of it but Vitile had told him to shut up so he didn’t say anything. He just finished his meal and went to get his armor and prepare Drake.

When they all gathered it was already broad daylight and some knights and soldiers were to escort them. Tersus stood in a chariot, he held some bags in his arms and the driver was a man who looked stone tough. He had the looks of someone ready to take chances and the two horses were grey geldings, both long legged and of dubious temper. Phraan saw that they were fast though, it was probably just what Tersus had asked for. Crassian was to come with them and he did look impatient. The group did ride out and this time Ivran did follow them, he had been given a lithe ginger mare and did look as if he’d rather be somewhere else. They were riding due east and then they turned northwards after a while, the dragons had been spotted near a village and the local officers were worried. The village was important to them, it did grow much of the food the camp used and there were tight bonds between the inhabitants and the army. Many soldiers had come from that village. It was placed in a shallow valley on the south side of the great river and it was rather large for this region. It had about five hundred inhabitants in all and the houses were old and built with notched wood. These days there were no trees around big enough to use that technique and it was a dying art. Nobody knew how to do it anymore. Crassian was riding next to one of the local officers, a man who had relatives in that village and he did notice that the man was sweating and looking rather ill, it had to be out of sheer nervousness.

The trip did take many hours in spite of the fast horses, the landscape was pretty flat and there were few things you could use as a point of reference but there was a cliff to the east of the city and they used that to navigate. The path wasn’t that well used, most people there didn’t travel much and the open plains meant that you didn’t need roads that much. This ought to be very good land for farming and yet it wasn’t. The soil was poor in many places and those which weren’t had lost their fertility or so it seemed. Vitile was the first one to see it, a shadow on the horizon and at first it did look like a cloud but it did move and Phraan stared and swore. “Blood wings, a huge flock”

Ivran looked scared. “What are blood wings?”

Phraan was squinting, he had very good eyes and took a deep breath. “Small flying dragons, the size of a large gull. They don’t have fire or poison but can be a terrible nuisance for they do still have teeth and claws”

Ivran tilted his head. “Are they going to attack?”

Phraan shook his head. “No, they are too far away but we haven’t seen any of the small species until now, that is odd.”

Vitile was frowning. “They used to follow the packs of larger dragons, to eat what they didn’t. I have a bad feeling here”

Phraan sent her a swift glance. “Yes, we ride on.”

The group of riders did speed up, the horses would be tired and they would have to spend the night out there but all felt the urge to hurry. They reached the valley a little after noon, and it became very clear that something was wrong. A whole pack of goats came running and the animals were beside themselves with fear and refused to get out of the way. They rode around a turn and saw that village and Phraan swore in a whisper. It was nothing left, the buildings were levelled with the ground and they didn’t hear a sound. It was an eerie silence and Dhokay gave the signal for halt. “Nothing is burned, see?”

The locals did stare at the devastation with huge eyes and one of the men was already crying. Phraan turned Drake. “Hold the soldiers back, we go forth to investigate. This has to be checked out by someone who knows what to do”

Tersus did look eager and the chariot did follow the group as they slowly made their way towards the village. Phraan was shocked, this was done by something way larger than a long tail or a greyback, but it was odd that nothing was burned. The buildings were torn down and bodies lay everywhere. To their horror most were torn apart, and the scene was just unbelievable. People and animals lay scattered around and Vitile was pale. Kapha did look as if his face had frozen in a frown and Dhokay was blinking all the time, his eyes rather moist. “This is…it is worse than any battlefield”

Phraan looked down, they rode past the body of a young girl, her torso ripped in half and it didn’t look as if any had been eaten, she had just been killed. “What type of dragon does this? They attack to feed, not just to…”

Shaluun finished the sentence. “Kill randomly”

The village was reduced to a pile of debris, and the middle of it had become a heap of timbers, bodies and things which was impossible to get through. They had to ride around it. There was little stench yet, the weather was cold and the attack had to have happened the day before, it was just horrible. Phraan felt sick to the stomach and Vitile was breathing very hard. “The scouts said they had seen greybacks, or something similar to that species. But this, this has to have been done by something way larger.”

Phraan reined in Drake. “I agree, so where are they?”

Dhokay was staring at the surroundings, there weren’t many places to hide there except from a Holt of low trees closer to the river. “The soil is almost frozen, no tracks visible. “

Phraan sighed, “They must have left immediately after the attack, there is nothing here”

He was just finished with that sentence when the horses whinnied and started to act up and a dark shadow appeared above the edge of the shallow valley. It was huge, and strange and Phraan screamed a warning. Behind it several others appeared but they weren’t flying, they ran along the ground and they were the brethren of the one which they had found dead. Phraan swore, five of that type which could fly too and that huge monster? Trying to run would be futile, the dragons would be all over them in a matter of minutes. Vitile shouted. “The large one, it commands the others, look at it!”

The dragon did look like a mix of several species, just like the dead dragon had. The size was like that of a diamond tail but the wings was definitely those of a death wind and the overall body shape that of a storm fire but the head was different. The jaws did almost resemble a sort of beak and Phraan knew that this was one terrible opponent. That was when Tersus let out a roar. “Leave the smaller ones to me, take out the huge one!”

The chariot rushed forth with an insane speed and the five smaller dragons immediately ran towards it, with a speed that was uncanny to say the least. An odd smell could be felt as the chariot rushed past the riders and Phraan realized that it was that scent the dragons were after. Tersus was obviously preparing something for he shouted orders to the driver and they drove up along the river, against the wind.

Phraan and the others had to deal with the huge dragon, it was armored and its neck was rather long so it was probably very agile. The thing landed with a roar and swung its tail and Dhokay swiftly jumped off his horse and let the animal run off. “The eyes, you need to hit its eyes.”

Vitile had her bow drawn and they all dismounted and let the horses go, this dragon was way too large to be charged at on horseback. Vitile fired off an arrow, she used special arrow heads and the projectile did fly straight and true. Phraan saw how the dragon did a sudden move which was almost snakelike and it did avoid getting hit anywhere sensitive. It roared and now it became very clear that it was aware of the fact that arrows can be harmful, a sort of third eyelid did slide in over the entire eye and from the looks of it the lid was probably rather thick and strong. It did look almost glass like. Tersus had lured the smaller dragons out of the way, they were chasing after the chariot and the driver had to be extremely skilled for he did keep it on its wheels the whole time and the speed was amazing considering that they weren’t on a track at all. The smell coming from the chariot did piss off the dragons and they forgot all about their leader. Tersus shouted to the driver. “Aim for those trees up ahead. I want the chariot to pass between those two oaks!”

The driver did snap his whip and the horses were running as fast as they possibly could, the dragons didn’t try to fly, these were rather heavy and they probably preferred running. The chariot did almost fly towards the trees and Tersus grasped a larger bag and shook it vigorously. The wind was rather strong down by the river and the trees sort of funneled it and created a zone with very strong and cold wind. The chariot entered the zone and had to slow down a bit, the dragons were straight behind it, snapping and snarling and trying to get to it first and Tersus ripped the bag in two. A strange pink powder did spread behind the chariot, filling the air like pink mist and the dragons ran into the cloud with their jaws wide open. The next thing which happened was astonishing. Tersus yelled to the driver and ordered him to continue, they had to get away from the mist and they shot in among the trees like an arrow. The dragons stopped, as if they had hit a solid wall. Ghastly gargling sounds could be heard and the huge beasts did stagger and claw at their own faces. Eyes bulging and nostrils flaring, chests heaving for air and the first dragon did fall, blood shooting out of its nose and mouth. It was convulsing violently, then it sort of stiffened and it happened to the next, and the next. After just a few minutes all five dragons lay dead, their bodies twisted and grotesque and Tersus did shake his hand in the air, eyes glowing with triumph. “Chew on that you ugly fuckers”

Phraan and the others did see that this dragon was a type without fire, but it was probably the type which can spew acid and they spread out to try to find a weak spot. The tail flew like a huge tree filled with spikes, the head was both a battering ram and a terrible maw and the group had never faced such an opponent before. These big dragons had been few back then and they had never encountered one so aggressive. The beast was fast, and that was the greatest surprise for normally a beast of this size would be slow and not very bright but this dragon did have intelligence. It knew how to dodge arrows and its hide was thick and impenetrable. Shaluun shouted. “The skull is not a weak point, I can see it is way thicker than before.”

Phraan jumped out of the way, the tail came rushing and being hit was certain death. The beast had long spikes sticking out of the tail on all sides. “Yes, and the neck is armored.”

Dhokay ran and avoided the head, the jaws did indeed resemble a beak but it had teeth, rather terrible shark like teeth and he did get a swift peek into the mouth as he ran by. “It has acid glands, huge ones.”

By running around they did confuse the beast but they could do nothing to fell it, or could they? Phraan stared at the beast, it moved with such ease and he frowned and pointed towards the legs. “The hocks, the sinews above the hock. They are close to the skin, Dabin, Rhuk, we’ll distract the thing!”

The two dwarves were terrified but they didn’t hesitate, as Dhokay and Phraan lunged forward in a mock attack at its front they both ran forth, well within reach of the terrible tail. Dhokay slammed his war hammer into the dragon’s chest and the beast roared and reached around to grasp him with its jaws. But the tall luptay wasn’t there, he had moved out of the way rather easily and the dragon did swing its neck around again and Rhuk did draw first blood. His axe was very sharp and the elegant crescent shape of the blade was efficient like few others. The skin covering the joint wasn’t that thick, if it had been armored it would have prevented the dragon from moving and thus the blade did cut both deep and well. There was a loud sound, a sort of crack and the dragon shrieked, it fell down on that side and Dabin did attack the other hock with a ferocious roar. He carried an axe of a more traditional shape and it too was razor sharp but it didn’t cut quite as deeply. The dragon did a twisting motion and Dabin got thrown several meters away by the base of the tail, he rolled and Vitile grasped him and dragged him out of the way. Rhuk simply sought refuge underneath the dragon and he was wild eyed and desperate. One leg was crippled and the dragon was no longer as fast as before so the dwarf did something nobody had ever thought of before. He raised his axe and let out a wild roar and buried the blade deeply into the beast’s ass. The small opening wasn’t armored at all and the effect was immediate, the dragon let out a horrifying shriek and spun around, blood gushing from the wound. “Ya didn’t like getting a pain in the arse now did ya?!”

Rhuk sneered and tried to run out of the way but the dragon tried to sit on him and with an odd sound also the wounded sinew snapped, now it had two useless back legs and it opened its jaws and slammed the tail against the ground, the eyes ablaze with rage. Rhuk did hesitate and that was not very smart, the dragon still had front legs and it just reached backwards and managed to throw the dwarf to the ground. The head was moving in for the kill when Kapha ran forth, carrying a javelin. He threw the weapon with all his might and it did hit the dragon in the mouth, it reared back and Kapha grasped Rhuk and almost tossed him out of the way. Then he ran after the dwarf but the dragon wasn’t going to let its tormentor get away, before any of them had time to react the beast spewed a thick bluish liquid at the two running warriors and most of it hit Kapha’s legs. The half dwarf fell with a scream of agony and that was when Phraan knew that also this dragon had a weak spot, one none of them had thought of before. He screamed at Dhokay. “Distract him, Vitile, shoot at his nose!”

The luptay did obey him, he ran forth, and the dragon turned its head to attack him but Vitile did fire several arrows and although they did bounce off on the hard hide they did irritate the huge monster. Phraan didn’t know where he found the courage, and the strength. But he did run, raced towards the tail and he jumped up onto it and rushed up along the dragon’s back. The creature was too large to even feel him but it knew he was there and it turned its head around and tried to buck and Phraan had anticipated that move. He had just one go at this, one chance. He kicked off from the base of its left wing and flew forward with all his might. The dragon opened its maw to snatch him in the air but Dhokay managed to hit the tip of its lower jaw with the war hammer and the dragon jerked and lowered its head again just a wee bit out of sheer shock. That was when Phraan’s long elven sword found that soft spot just behind its jaw bone, and slid in like a knife through butter. Phraan did hang from the blade for a few seconds, forcing it into the tissues and then he dragged the blade out as he fell to the ground. Hot blood shot out of the wound and the dragon reared up but fell onto its side, the wounded back legs not able to support it. The head hit the ground with a thundering thud and Dhokay let out a roar. He and Phraan ran forth as one and the war hammer landed on the dragons head just above the eye socket as Phraan’s blade did pierce the eye itself, sliding deep into the nerve and then hitting the brain behind it.

The two saw that the dragon was dying, blood pooling around it and the body convulsing violently. The tail was swinging around like a deadly projectile and they hurried to get out of the way. Vitile had dragged Kapha away from the dragon and Phraan did run over, shocked and terrified. The sight was ghastly, the legs were simply gone, eaten away by the acid and the half dwarf was still alive, he was trembling and Vitile was weeping. The two other wood elves stood by her side, pale and shocked. Phraan fell to his knees, not really believing what he saw. Kapha gasped, his eyes were rolling in his head. “Phraan, please…”

Phraan let out a wail of grief and pain and pulled his boot dagger, it was a very narrow and sharp weapon and he grasped Kapha’s hand. “You fought well brother, you saved Rhuk”

He leaned forth and kissed Kapha’s brow, tears welling up in his eyes and his body shaking with emotional pain. The half dwarf was beside himself with pain and there was nothing anybody could do, Phraan was the group leader, this was his responsibility, his task. Kapha did close his eyes to make it easier on his friend and Phraan plunged the dagger into the suffering half dwarf’s temple, killing him instantly.

They all stood there, staring, eyes darkened by grief and fear and Phraan let out a roar. Vitile came forth and embraced him, held him tightly. Tersus and the chariot did return to them slowly and so did the rest of the men, Ivran stared at the dead dragon and his eyes told everybody that he could barely believe what he saw. Crassian did wet his lips. “You killed that monster? Oh Gods almighty, that is…”

Tersus did step down from the chariot, the horses were panting and trembling and the alchemist did step over to the dead dragon. The head was so huge it dwarfed the man and he stared at the small wound at the base of its jaw and nodded his head slowly. “The jugular, a most amazing observation. You do have a special skill”

Phraan didn’t listen, he was so consumed by grief he was unable to think and Dhokay stepped forth, pushed Tersus away from them but gently. “That can wait Tersus, we have lost one of our own, let it rest”

The alchemist tilted his head. “Of course, I will take samples of the acid if nobody does protest? There could be something I can learn from it.”

Dhokay did nod. “Be my guest but be careful, the acid is still active even after the dragon has died.”

The alchemist sent the luptay a faint smile and went over to the carcass with some jars. Fastonar had stood there looking very shocked and now he did approach Crassian and the soldiers. “We make camp here, by the river. Come on, get some tents up. Then you can start burning bodies, the poor villagers shouldn’t be left there to rot”

Ivran stared at the dead half dwarf, he felt something stirring inside, something very powerful, and very dark. It felt like anger, but it was more profound, more defined. The dragon laid there like a huge heap of flesh and he walked over to it, slowly as if in a trance. Many soldiers did the same, out of curiosity and morbid fascination and he stared at the dead beast and knew what it was that he felt, hatred. He had never tasted its sweet poison before but now he did, and the attraction terrified him. That beast was just…vile. It was so terrible and so dark and twisted and yet it had a sort of terrible beauty. It was so overwhelming and yet they had managed to kill it. Ivran swore to himself that he would do whatever he could to help them, even if that meant exposing himself as what he was.

The group had lost members before, but they hadn’t expected it to happen again, and like that. Phraan was still being held by Vitile and everybody stood there weeping and stricken by grief. Rhuk was sitting on the ground, rocking back and forth and Dabin was whispering prayers in his own tongue. Kapha had died as a hero, but there was nothing beautiful about his death. Fastonar was running around, organizing things and soon a small camp was erected and they left the dead dragon behind and gathered around the camp fire. The soldiers were busy trying to give the dead villagers a decent funeral and the officers were staring at the dead dragons with dread. Crassian was glaring at the large one, eyes wide with disbelief. “Are they really that large normally?”

Fastonar shrugged. “Yes, some species are and this one does look as a hybrid between them, but I have seen larger dragons.”

The officer cringed. “You have? How large then?”

Fastonar looked down. “Three times that size, but they cannot be fought at all, all one can do is hide and warn people.”

Crassian saw that Ivran stood by the dead dragon, the lad had a hard expression on his face. “We didn’t believe that dragons could be that fast”

Fastonar sighed. “No, they have changed, a lot!”

Tersus was done taking samples and Ivran saw that the man came over towards him. “An impressive beast yes? Clearly the result of intelligent manipulation”

Ivran frowned. “Really?”

Tersus nodded slowly, his eyes were dark and there was something cold in them. “Yes, I am an alchemist son, I prefer to see the world as substances, as matter. But I am not blind to the might of magic, nor do I deny that it can do things I cannot. This young man, is done by magic, chaotic magic, dark magic. Beware of its lure, for it will try to drag you inn!”

Tersus just turned around and walked towards the tent he had been given and Ivran swallowed hard. Tersus was right, he could feel it, this dragon did hide some terrible dark secret and if he squinted it was almost as if he could see a dark aura around the dead beast. There was still magic within it, a terrible and harm full power. It hadn’t left the dragon as it died, and for some reason Ivran felt that it was crucial that this power was exposed, but how? And by whom? He couldn’t say anything without revealing his true nature. It was a dilemma.

Kapha’s body had been washed by some soldiers and wrapped in a cloak, others had built a pyre by the river and they would burn him when the sun set. The group had gathered and Rhuk and Dabin had cut their beards as a sign of grief and also rubbed ash into their hair. Dhokay had wrapped black ribbons around his arms and put black paint on his face, around his eyes, Shaluun had done the same and the wood elves had put on some odd headbands made from rawhide. Phraan was feeling as if he was stuck in a vacuum of some sorts, he was unable to speak, and all he could think about was Kapha’s mutilated body. The acid had been so much more potent than what they had encountered before, so much worse.

Vitile held him and rubbed his back, she was crying and Phraan felt like weeping too, but for some reason he couldn’t. If he only had seen that weak spot a little earlier, if his instincts had kicked in before the dragon had time to spew acid. Why was he given such a talent when he couldn’t use it to save a friend? Kapha had always been the one to keep their moral up, the one to bring out their laughter even when the situation was dire. He would miss the half dwarf, and grieve him for a long time. All the times Kapha had tried to seduce him, oh by the gods, if it had brought him back Phraan would have let the half dwarf have it his way, if only once. Vitile sighed. “Guards have been placed around the perimeter, we should be warned if more dragons come. I suggest we eat and rest, we need to stay strong”

Everybody just stared at the ground and Vitile swallowed hard. She did know Phraan rather well and she did know that he would blame himself for this. But there was really only one thing which could be blamed and that was that goddamn dragon. The soldiers faced a terrible job and many had to stop since they simply got too emotional and overwhelmed, the tough ones had to work until after dusk before all the bodies were gathered and the pyres built. Crassian was staring at the long line of pyres and his heart felt heavy, so much death, and so meaningless. He had been a soldier most of his life, and he had learned the code of the warrior from the moment he could speak. This was the opposite of what he stood for, this was meaningless slaughter and if these monsters could be stopped he would do whatever he could to make that happen. Tersus stood by himself by the river, no wonder for he did stink even worse now that he had been cutting away at the dead dragon to get to the acid glands. The weapon the alchemist had used had been terrible, so gruesome the officer had a hard time believing it had been real but it had killed five dragons and that made him reconsider his ideas about honor and proper warfare. In this case such means were justified and he hoped that the alchemist could come up with other ideas, equally efficient.

Kapha’s body was the first to be burned and Fastonar did light the pyre, he was crying but trying hard to stay calm and Phraan stood there holding Vitile and he was trembling. It was simply too much, they hadn’t even seen the scale of the problem yet and already one of them was dead. What were they really trying to do? These dragons were so much more dangerous than the ones they had been fighting back then, it was just….Phraan didn’t try to hide his tears, neither did the others and Thiana and Taurin did howl as the pyre burned down, long mournful howls which told the world of loss and sorrow. It was the way of their people. Phraan felt anger, an intense burning anger towards whatever it was which had sent those dragons south towards these lands. He didn’t know what to do with it, for there was so little they really could do and Vitile did follow him to his tent afterwards. He was desperate, so in need of feeling something else than anger and sorrow, so scared and so full of doubt. When they made love that night he was rough, trying to expel all those dark emotions from his soul, forget them and drown them with passion. He did make her scream, both from pleasure and pain and when he finally did fall asleep he was completely drained and slept like the dead. Vitile laid there for a while, listening to his breath and her heart felt like lead in her chest. She had to be sure, there was no way around that. She got up slowly and put on some clothes, her body stiff and sore and she whimpered as she silently walked towards the dead dragon. He had been way too eager but she did understand it, and she did forgive him too, even if she felt as if he had tried to cleave her in half.

It was dark around the dead beast but she had very keen eyes like all elves and stared at the monstrosity. Tersus had already been cutting into the beast out of sheer curiosity and all she had to do was use those incisions for her own purpose. She worked fast, hoping she wouldn’t find anything. Her blade did strike something hard, and she took a deep breath, closing her eyes. She pulled it free, it was another gem, no larger than the one she had found in the other dead dragon and it felt just as polluted by evil. It was dark red and she fought the urge to toss it away. She went over to some bushes and wiped her hands off on some leaves when she was sure she heard something, a twig which snapped perhaps? She stood still, listening for a while, sniffing the air. The dead dragon did drown out all natural scents and she sighed and walked towards the tents again, it had been nothing, she was just overwrought, her nerves oversensitive. It had been such a terrible thing and she wasn’t herself.

The shadow moved very slowly out from behind the tree, staring at the elf woman who disappeared into the camp. It was too bad really, but that knowledge had to go. They couldn’t find out, no, something had to be done. But it had to be done so that nobody suspected foul play, yes, it had to be something nobody suspected. It could be done, he didn’t like it but nobody should be allowed to come in their way. Such a good thing then that there were people present who were weak and could be manipulated. The magic of the gems had to remain concealed, until the brothers had achieved their goal. So, first things first, make sure the magic did remain concealed and then make sure that nobody figured out the plan behind it all. It should be easy enough. The last orders he had received were hard to follow though, he had to find a way to either bring the mage responsible for the dead dragon to them or destroy that person and it would be a challenge for sure but perhaps fate would favour him, yet again.