A Bronze Rising: While he was Gone
I was not idle during the months that Tobias spent away. The estate of the late Knight was, piece, by piece, landscaped and turned into a lovely park. Cobblestone paths wound their way through trees I carefully removed from the forest and had planted...
A Bronze Rising: Ladonius
I knew it was only a matter of time before the other humans would respond to my taking of the village. If nothing else, they would be enraged by my refusal to pay their tithe. There was not a lot of trade on the forest trails leading from the village...
A Bronze Rising: The Theatre
I slammed my palm into wooden wedge again, breaking the stone with a resounding _crack!_ The large slab broke away at last, sliding down the gradient a short way to land with a heavy thud on the level dirt below the ledge face. I took a few deep...
A Bronze Rising: Out with the Old
I wanted as little emphasis on my own actions as possible. if the village could accept authority from an unseen coward in his manor, they should be able to accept it from an unseen dragon... at least in time. "i... i will, sir.
A Bronze Rising: Long Due Reward
Sir Ronald lay in a bloody heap on the ground, his face broken beyond recognition. Richard had continued beating the once proud noble long after it was clear that he was dead. Tobias had once tried to get the lieutenant to leave, but a look had sent...
A Bronze Rising: The Knight Falls
The man, this Richard looked at the opponent who completely outclassed him with open contempt. I'd made a fool of him this day, but it couldn't have ended any other way, the men had no ranged weapons and we were in a wide open field. The advantage of...
A Bronze Rising: Smoke and Fire
The boy sat on a boulder, the saddle where his hands were bound out before him and between his legs. I walked stiffly over, the bolts where they pierced my flesh stung more now that the battle rage was passing. I didn't ask if he was injured because...
A Bronze Rising: Battle, Such as it is
The boy had been brutalized, that much was clear. The sight of the bruises on his face and arms, his once crisp uniform torn in several places and his hands bound to the saddle of the horse he rode made my fire bladder hot. The boy was my property and...
A Bronze Rising: A Short Night
Dragons are very capable of remaining still for very long periods of time. In fact, most large dragons hibernate for extended periods throughout their lives. The heart slows, breaths become deeper and more prolonged. The eye lids droop down but don't...
A Bronze Rising: The Gate
Tobias approached the front gate following the wall to his left. He felt foolish tramping through the forest undergrowth in his father's war regalia. How many people had his father killed while wearing this? 'None,' Tobias chided himself, 'It's a...
A Bronze Rising: Father Issues
I moved my hand just in time, catching the large bolt in the fleshy pad between my thumb and first finger. With the range less than fifteen feet, the heavy crossbow packed enough power to punch through the scales on my palm. Ruby dragon-blood -...
A Bronze Rising: Returning Home
That morning I did not hunt. I slept in past dawn instead. I wanted to be well rested and not weighed down with a belly full of meat in case there was to be fighting done. However, I did not expect there to be any bloodshed today... except possibly one...