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Chapter 16

Up and again the gryphon found himself repelled from the earth as though it didn’t want him. Where there should have been pain or shattered bones from such a stop, instead was nothing but the feeling of being smattered by the softest pillows imaginable. His beak could only twist in utter bewilderment as Lyndis cheered out her relief to the sky. What had done this? Surely magic, but by whom? Who would wait this long? Together they rolled, coming to rest before the creature responsible, a unicorn standing before them with a stern look across its face.

It had fur that was white as snow, a tail resembling that of a lion. Without a word it trotted a safe distance away, it’s cloven hooves hardly leaving a trace of its passage, though its muscular form rippled with power. Though it stood noticeably shorter than Cordenth in his true form, there was a cloud of strength that seemed to follow it, but was it more than a dragon? When it stopped, it’s antler shaped horn glistened as if painted by morning dew, softly starting to shimmer with a light most pure.

“You went and caught her.” Said the unicorn, but not a sound escaped his lips. Instead, the voice had crept inside their skulls, spoken as if right beside their ears. “That is most perplexing…From one such as yourself.”

He swelled his chest at such a remark, did it think that he would have let her die? The sharpness of the unicorn’s silver eyes told as much. “What is that supposed to mean? Of course I tried to catch her! If it weren’t for you, I’d not have needed to!”

Lyndis dusted herself off, “Telepathy, that’s new, didn’t know unicorns could do such things. Honestly, I wasn’t all that certain you were real.”

“I’m as real as the blood that flows through both your veins.” Replied the unicorn, giving Cordenth a wary eye as the gryphon fluffed his wings, “Both of you stink of death, and find it far too comfortable for my liking.”

“And what do you call those things we just had to batter to oblivion, a technicality?”

“They would have escorted you out of the swamp, if you hadn’t proceeded to antagonize them.”

Cordenth resumed his draconic form, it was more suited for intimidating anyway. When he rose he saw hesitation flicker across this magical horse, much better. “You’d best tread carefully unicorn, you’ve put my beloved’s life in peril, you find yourself in quite a dangerous spot.”

“And is the one who caught her.” The unicorn swished his tail, “How quickly dragons forget when the need to dominate and intimidate rears it’s head.”

He growled, “I don’t like being manipulated, nor having debts be owed to those that ‘saved’ us.”

“Then we can add ungrateful to the list of things that can be attributed to you.”

“Want to say that again?” Cordenth snapped his teeth and lashed his tail, “You look vastly less durable than those constructs we vanquished.”

“Alright, that’s it, everyone loses their right to bloody talk.” Lyndis was between them, eyes narrowed, filled with fire. “Radiant Star, we came here for help and to make friends, I’ll not have you toss the chance in the bin because you want to have a pissing match with the fancy horse…” Lyndis winced, “Unicorn, sorry.”

“It’s alright, honest mistake.” Replied the unicorn, “Especially with him blathering at the volume he does.”

“I can talk at the volume I want!” Cordenth shouted, frills trembling, “See, I can do It now? What’s the matter horse, unable to-“

Lyndis smacked him across the snout, causing him to retreat.

“Hey! I was talking!”

“You sure? Looked like you were being an ass.”

He wiggled his nose, what business did she have to tell him to be silent? He had half a mind to sweep her aside with a wing and let this unicorn have the tongue lashing it deserved. Pull his beloved from the sky and try to get to them as though they were the bad guys in this situation? Madness. “If this one was trying to make friends with us, why did he try to kill us!”

“Good question.” Lyndis’ gaze shifted to the unicorn, “Why is it you tried to murder us sir unicorn?”

“The answer is that I’m the guardian of this place.” The unicorn trotted a few steps, gesturing to the white tree beyond. “And of the swamp that you traversed. None are allowed to remain within this sacred lands, especially mortals and dragons with such selfish desires.”

“Selfish?” Cordenth’s nostrils flared, he was here out of a noble act! So what if he profited because of it, why did that have to matter? Just as he unleashed a low growl, Lyndis was there to cut him off.

“And the illusions?”

“Meant to keep you at bay, discourage and force your retreat.” The unicorn replied, “It’s a kindness…The constructs were there in case that failed. They are drawn to the darkness in all beings, seeking to rid it from this place in the swiftest means possible.”

“By killing us.”

“It would have battered you to unconsciousness and delivered you outside the mists.”

“Even if we had a supposed darkness within us?” Lyndis’ brow rose, “That doesn’t make sense.”

“If you followed the ways of Parunga, you’d understand. All life is sacred, even those that have a shadow…Such as your companion.”

“Radiant Star?”

“Oh, you can’t believe what he says, he just tried to kill us.” Cordenth huffed when the unicorn gave Lyndis a nod, “Clearly he’s delusional.”

“There are many dark things in this world that would love to get their claws on this tree. It’s purity is of no equal, healing capabilities greater than any magic you’ve known. Within your friend is a familiar sense…But yet he seems to not be ruled by it…It’s quite strange.”

“That’s what we call personal choice.” Cordenth rolled a paw to his chest, “No one is naturally good or evil unicorn, we’re here to help our people against the coming undead hoards that seek to eat them. See? Does that sound selfish?”

“Do you get anything out of it?”

Cordenth shut his snout, eyes flicking to Lyndis, “Well I mean, I don’t think I’d need to do this to get it.”

“Uh-huh.” The unicorn snorted, “Why did you dive to save the life of this woman? By all my accounts of dragon kind, you should have let her perish.”

“You’re mad he tried to save me?” Lyndis scoffed, “What gives?”

“It’s not that. By all accounts you are a lesser creature to his kind, he is an immortal. To save your life at the risk of his own makes no sense. Your life is by default, more valuable.”

“Not to me.” Growled Cordenth, pressing close to Lyndis’ side. “If you value your life, you’ll not say such things again.”

“Most interesting.” The unicorn retreated as Lyndis’ cheeks flushed red. “He truly means what he says…” It stopped to stare at Cordenth’s chest, piercing through the scales, “And yet there it is…”

“What, what is?” Lyndis asked, “You’re just looking at his chest.”

“Just concerns that flicker along the wind. Evil dwells within your friend, but does not rule over him. That is most welcome and inspiring to say the least.” He gestured towards the tree, “Come, you will join me for dinner, you must be weary from your travels.” The unicorn wheeled around, trotting and telling them to follow along.

“Well, I could certainly eat.” Lyndis said, patting her belly.

“But Lyndis, how can we rest, with everyone counting on us?” Cordenth grumbled, swishing his tail, “We should make him tell us where the uniter is.”

“And what good will we be going dog tired?”

“If anything I’m dragon tired.”

“That’s not the point.” She groaned, tenderly stroking his cheek. “Eat, relax, get to talk to a beast of legend. Who else can say that?”

“Guess dragons are just not special enough for you?” He turned away from her with a harsh snort.

“Oh come on, you know that’s not what I meant.” She pulled his snout, despite his halfhearted struggles and applied a quick smooch upon his scales. “Now let’s go before our host realizes were not following and you two get into another spat.”

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

The spacious hallways of the tree of Nutambar were something to behold, if not strange compared to the uniform nature of human structures. It had rooms scattered about like an animals den, corridors that fractured out like a network of tunnels, each leading to a hidden alcove of branch. Stairways spiraled upwards with sizes clearly not for human feet, more fitting for those that traversed on four limbs. There were birds that sang from the corridor’s upper areas, where nests filled with eggs could clearly be seen. Upon bright wings they fluttered along, far outside Cordenth’s reach.

The air was cool and comforting, sending shivers down the pair’s spine. There was power here, the dragon could sense it with every breath. Ancient, powerful magic, that stoked the fires of his greed, deep within the bowels of his heart. He was shivering with practically every paw step. He drifted in and out as the Unicorn, who introduced himself as Tomu, went on about how Nutambar crafted this place from the tiniest seeds, letting it spread it’s roots to the entirety of the swamp.

“Its more accurate to say the swamp is part of the tree itself. A whole self sustaining eco-system.” Tomu’s voice filled with pride, gesturing to a hall filled to the brim with fireflies, who danced whimsically upon the air.

“And yet he chose to hide this from mortals and dragons alike.” Sneered Cordenth, unimpressed as Lyndis admired the bugs as though they were a marvelous thing. “How very noble of him.”

“And wise.” Retorted the Unicorn with a snort, “Your kind brings war and death wherever you tread. Even you both share the scent of death upon you, and feel it suits you too well.”

“I take offence to that.” Lyndis wheeled around, “I don’t exactly, enjoy killing someone…I mean, unless they terribly deserve it.”

Cordenth flared his nostrils, “And I’ve felt the same.”

“Exactly.” Tomu flicked his white tail at them, “Always a justification to enjoy the experience.”

“We’re not like that.” Lyndis protested, “You make it sound like we’re bleedin murders that get giddy at the entire thing.”

“And have you killed before?”

She scoffed, “Course, but never out of fun or nothin. The fun always comes out of emerging the winner, the ole competition, the thrill of living another day. Come now, surely you’ve experienced something like that?”

Tomu didn’t answer at first, letting the rogue’s answer rest upon the air. “Interesting way of putting it, but there is truth in what you say. And how about you dragon? Have you ever felt thrill of taking a life?”

“Course I havn’t.” Cordenth huffed, “And I’ve taken lives many times, to hunt or to protect those I care about.”

“Is that so?” He turned, his eyes sharp as swords.

The green dragon stirred, his paws shifting against the wooden floor. Could this beast sense a lie when he heard it? How Cordenth had enjoyed the deaths of the cultists that’d been butchering a dragon? He held Tomu in a piercing stare, uneasy silence filling the time. “Do you doubt my word unicorn? I say I havn’t and I havn’t. If you wish to judge my character, look no further than my heroic act to save Lyndis here. That should be enough to sway you that we mean you no ill will.”

“Yes, that’s why you’re here right now, not unconscious outside my swamp. And to your character dragon? That isn’t entirely certain, not all demons wear their faces so openly, sometimes they wear masks to confuse the kind.”

When they finally came to the dining hall, it was a great deal later, the sun had already began to sink below the horizon. Windows let the orange radiance fill the hall, painting across the perfectly sized table for Cordenth to dine upon. It’s brilliance winked across the silverware that covered it, their handles woven from a buck’s antlers, sitting atop ivory plates. Above them dangled a chandelier of pure turquoise crystal, where fireflies clung to, occasionally blinking before their eyes. With a gesture from Tomu, a seat grew into shape from roots that sprung from the floor.

“Are we going to see meat on this table?” Mused Cordenth, settling upon his hinds as Lynids thanked their guest and sat upon the chair. “Here I thought you valued all life.”

“And that we do.” Replied Tomu, padding his way to the table’s head.

“Should we expect hay then?”

“Do I look like a horse?”

Cordenth chuckled deep in his throat under such a hateful glare. “Do you really want me to answer that?”

Lyndis coughed, diverting the coming sparks upon the air. “But the silverware…Why? I don’t see you having well…fingers…or hands.”

Tomu smiled to her, a twinkle in his eye, bringing a growl to Cordenth’s throat. “We’ve entertained druids here before, they prefer to not eat with their hands. I imagine you are the same? Unless…” He gestured to Cordenth with a snort, “You prefer to eat as your dragon?”

Her cheeks flushed, “Of course not, I’m not an animal!”

“And you dragon? Does the thought of no meat upon this table fill you with fright? Cause you to wretch? Must you find satisfaction from robbing another being of it’s life?”

Cordenth scowled at the unicorn’s arrogant nature, did not other animals hunt to eat as well? “You’re aware my kind can eat anything presented before us, but would you insist a crocodile has some darker motive when it eats?”

“A crocodile isn’t sentient.”

“But it’s body cannot sustain itself with a lack of meat.” He lashed his tail, narrowing his eyes.

“And yet you said yourself, you can sustain yourself in both. So you choose to accept the death of another to sustain yourself.” Tomo countered, clacking his hooves against the floor.

“Boys, boys, the food will be delightful.” Lyndis interjected as sparks seem to fly between the two. “And lets not get far into the peculiars of our diets?”

“Very well.” Huffed the unicorn, flicking his tail. “I’ll hold my tongue if the dragon stills his on my equine resemblance.”

“That’s not too hard.”

“No promises.” Replied Cordenth, “I don’t trust him.”

“Trust him? The talking unicorn here didn’t let us squish against the ground!”

“After he put us in that predicament, you’re conveniently leaving it out.”

“Cause I’m trying to maintain the peace before you rip each other apart?’

He scoffed, searching the unicorn up and down, “Please, I’d tear his haunches to oblivion.”

“Radiant Star! Now isn’t the time!”

“I severely disagree Lyndis, look at him, he’s brimming with spite!”

“See?” Mused the unicorn, his tone as cold as the winter winds, “Dragons cannot help themselves, strife and pride is their bread and butter. Now sit, lets chat, for all the good that it will do us. Stars above knows it’s been ages since I’ve had conversation with another flesh and blood being.” His ears flicked straight up as he stomped his hooves.

At his command came scores of tiny creatures, each a mass of twisting vines and branches. They carried wooden pitchers filled with water and balanced plates adorned with colorful fruits upon their surfaces. They served the pair without a word, save for the ruffling of their branches upon the air. They poured drinks, placed the food, and just as fast as they’d come, they vanished back into the walls.

“And…Who…or what were they?” Lyndis stood frozen, eyes locked upon the walls.

“Will they be doing that again?” Cordenth grumbled, looking at the meager offering on his plate. The insults and poking at his scales was one thing, but not offering adequate food? That was practically an insult in itself! There was hardly a trio of blue skinned fruits upon his plate, just barely the size of Lyndis’ palms. “For the appetite of a dragon is vast, and such a bounty is meager.”

“Thorn sprites, they are servants of this place. Extensions of the tree’s will.” Tomu gestured to the walls, that seem to breath at their recognition. “They’ll do whatever you ask…Within reason.”

“Oh, so no letting them pleasure you then?” Joked Cordenth, sticking a claw into the fruit’s flesh, lavender fluid starting to spill out with a vanilla like scent. “How boring, course than again, with thorns, they’d better not.”

“Oi!” Lyndis smacked at Cordenth’s flank, “I imagine what are holy servants are not all about pleasuring you, and we wouldn’t dream of offending you further.”

“Speak for yourself.” He scoffed, popping a fruit into his maw as Lyndis continued her apology, “He’s a follower of Parunga, god of fertility, we’re lucky he hasn’t invited us to a bond building orgy to know each other better. To them, copulating is as casual as a hello.”

He froze as Lyndis gazed daggers at him, like she was stuck between amazement and utter revulsion that he was continuing to speak. His eyes fluttered as the fruit’s taste lit up his tastebuds, despite the unicorn’s stern tones, his servants offerings were to die for. It had just the right amount of tart, entwined with a flicker of cocoa and tangerine. His tail was tapping as he popped the other two in his mouth without another word. Was Lyndis talking about why they were here? He dove down his snout, “Lyndis my delightful sweet, you must try these.”

In his haste he’d forgotten to swallow, spraying the half-elf with a shower of spittle. If looks could kills, hers would have stricken several dragons ten times over as she procured magic to dry her strands. “I’d rather have my own thanks, instead of tasting yours.”

His frills burned as he retreated and tossed his head away, “Figures you’d not understand the nuances of dragon kind, that was a sign of affection. Don’t you mortals have such things? Like rings, fruit and other things? How about this?” With a casual flick of his wing he knocked her out of her chair, right onto the floor. “I’ve heard it means I like you!”

“Is this normal behavior for you both?” Added Tomu, his head tilted and eyes darting from the pleased with himself Cordenth and the red faced Lyndis.

“Course it is, dragons can be quite the hand full. This one though has been a great help in ferrying us from spot to spot.” Lyndis replied with a mischievous glint in her eyes, moments before she brushed away her bangs and hocked a loogie right on Cordenth’s scales.

“Hey!” Cordenth reared his neck, wings fluffing in alarm, as his beloved looked all too pleased with herself. “What was that for?”

“Didn’t you know?” She smirked with a shrug, “It’s a sign of affection, don’t you have dragons have those?”

Oh how a fire had been cast within his belly, he advanced on her with a low hiss. If she were a dragoness right now, she’d find herself leapt upon, a round of wrestling commencing. “Tread carefully Lyndis, you stir the instincts within me. It pumps through my veins like a fire, guides my tail and soul to action. Proceed with your peril, or you’ll find yourself set upon, it will be beyond my control.” His tail flicked behind him, startling a pair of thorn sprites.

She waved away the concern, “Oh please, I don’t care what nonsense burns within your blood, be it anger, frustration, playfulness or bloody lust. I’m due some respect in front of ole horny here.”

“It’s Tomu.” Shifted the unicorn as Lyndis stopped dead, mortified at the slip of the tongue.

Like that, the tension that had hung in the air was sliced in two, whisking away to the winds, guided by the throaty chuckle of a green dragon. He nudged at Lyndis as she tried to apologize, insisting she looked so cute when she found herself in such a predicament. He rolled his eyes, paw to his chest, “Though that’s why I love her, really knows how to stir the spirit and make a dragon laugh.”

Tumo’s snout traveled between the two, a look of bewilderment in his ancient eyes. As the two began to bicker, his head tilted, ears flicking too and fro. “Wait a moment, you’re telling me that you two are a mated couple?”

The conversation dropped dead, what had turned into debating a dragon now resulted in flushing cheeks from one, and enthusiastic chuckling from the other.

“Well, I’d not say a mated pair.” Lyndis stammered, sipping her drink.

“We have mated a few times.” Nodded Cordenth, rolling a paw to his chest, all too proud of himself, “So I suppose you could say that we are.”

“Now that explains the diving and catching more.” Mused the unicorn, nibbling away at his own fruits. “You make a strange couple….Mating must be quite…bizarre.”

“Not as you might think, I can tell you all ab-“

Lyndis was staring daggers at him, daring him to even utter a sentence more.

“But I don’t think my beloved would take too kindly to that, I’ll leave our carnal relations into your imagination.”

She sighed heavily, squeezing the bridge of her nose, “I thought we were here to judge our character and relax, not talk about our sex life.”

“Lyndis, to a follower of Parunga, those are both the same thing.” Chuckled Cordenth, nosing at her side. “I thought you didn’t want to be rude within these halls!”

“We’re not talking about that.” She growled to Tomu, “So if that gets us kicked on our arse, so be it.”

“But what about all those people counting on us?” Asked Cordenth, “Are we going to let a little embarrassment stand in our way of helping them?” He nearly chuckled at her as he noted she was listening, no doubt mulling it over against her judgement. Sighing, he dramatically pulled back his head, frills fluttering, “I’m willing to go into intense descriptions of our acts if it saves but one life.”

For the next half hour he described in great detail of what he and Lyndis had shared by their lonesome. His tail never ceased in it’s prowess, able to create vivid imagery in which the unicorn shifted, snorting his excitement the entire time. When the equine asked questions on technical applications, he was more than delighted to speculate what might be the best way to engage in such a fashion. When the topic came up of more oral affairs, the dragon instilled his wisdom on that subject as well.

Despite her reservations, Lyndis didn’t spout her objections, even though she scowled at Cordenth every now and then. She signaled the servants to attend to her drink, ensuring what they poured within was strong. By the time Cordenth was describing how to properly hold her thighs, she slammed down the tankard, demanding they talk about anything else.

“Property, flowers, the bloody sun, anything about us fucking about the land. Oh, I have a better idea, how about the uniter that we came to find!” Both looked to her as though she was the rude one. “Oi, don’t you both be given me those looks, I’ve sat hear, listening to you both have a pleasant chin wag, well, pleasantries over. Business is now.”

Cordenth leaned to the unicorn, whispering, “See, this little burst of hers is a deviation from the norm. Generally she adores the dirty talk, can’t keep her hands off me.”

“Cordenth!”

“Ah, dropping the titles now, she must really be cross.” His frills pinned as he gave a nervous laugh, “But it was as she said, we’ve come to talk about seeing the uniter. We had a belief that it was here and we were being called here by something in the swamp…Was that you?”

The unicorn looked to them both, confusion painted across his face. He padded his way around the table, giving a heavy snort. “Then it waits for someone to find it, I didn’t think it could do such a thing.”

“The uniter? You mean to say it can reach out? Can you take us to it?” He was beside the unicorn with a fluff of his wings, “The dinner was nice, but haste is of the upmost importance.”

His ears flicked back, “Though you were not what I thought you were, I will not taking you to such a place. It’s…call is more powerful than I believed.”

What was this? After all this travel, struggle, only to be told no yet again? Cordenth huffed, flicking his tail, this would simply not due. “Tomu, we’ve traveled far, countless mortal lives rest on our shoulders. Whatever the uniter is, we can use it against those that threaten our loved ones.”

“That’s always how it starts is it not?” The unicorn replied, “Sinister as a devil, promising kindness when it leads to darkness. True you might start out that way, but to wield the power that lurks within?” He shivered, “It was not made for this world. Not for me, not for you, not even for you Lyndis.”

“You can’t be serious. I am a dragon, such affects are lesser against one such as myself.” He rolled a paw to his chest, “Within my blood beats the fragments of divinity, whatever lies within that thing I can handle, we can handle.”

But the unicorn’s gaze didn’t bend. “You say it called to you, has a link to you. It is more devious than you believe. Young dragon, you mean well, but I fear it will use your ambition against you. Let it die, let it sink, be forgotten within these swamps.” He gestured to a color drained Lyndis, “Take your beloved mate and go home, there is no salvation or rescue here. Just a swamp and a ghost that needs to be lost to time.”

“But…But the Queen of Eternal flame.” He stammered, stomping around the table. “She will get in here regardless! It is only a matter of time until a being of darkness such as her calls the uniter her tool. Can you so easily turn us away knowing that Tomu? That you deliver a tool of darkness into her claws instead of our own?”

“She hasn’t been able to get in here before.”

“And how long are you willing to count on that? Dragons are immortal Tomu, she has all the time in the world to figure a way past your defenses. I’m begging you, pleading, reconsider.”

“We know it’s risky.” Added Lyndis softly, “But what other choice do we have? The alternative is laying down and letting that bitch win, and I for one am not willing to do it.”

“Agreed.” Cordenth smirked, sliding by the queen’s side with a purr, “Whatever darkness lurks within, we can handle it.”

Tomu padded away softly without a sound. When they followed he didn’t respond, leading the pair down a bunch of spiral steps, out past the tree’s bark, into the grassy field. There he gestured to the darkened blot at the swamp’s edge.

It was a shape of stone, molded by ancient hands. It took the form of a great castle, perched atop a hunk of a mountain, ripped from the earth itself. Towers rose from it’s walls like multiple hands, their tops little fingers in which to touch the sky. The sun seemed to bend around it, not wishing to impart its splendor onto such a place, where even looking at it, brought a level of wrongness that shivered down their spines. There it rested, dormant, birds flying passed, clearly avoiding it’s presence like a plague.

“So rests the uniter, a thing of great evil.” Tomu muttered softly, “Held in place by Nutambar’s will.” He gestured to the heaps of vines and roots that shot from the earth, winding their way around the uniter’s surface, binding the flying vessel to the ground. “But should it wake, I fear we won’t be strong enough to hold it.”

Lyndis’ face had drained of color as she gazed in horror at the blight upon this place. She shivered, holding herself tight, “So that’s what it looks like…That’s what dad fought.” When Cordenth neared she leaned against his scales with a soft whine, “Why does it look so wrong?”

“I don’t know what you two speak of, it looks marvelous.” Cordenth rumbled, eyes sparkling in the sun. “How can you be certain it’s evil?”

“Did you not hear how I spoke of death? Its dripping from the very stone, infused with it’s soul. Even from here I can hear the scream of countless millions, trapped and without anyway of passing on.” Tomu’s gaze steeled, “No one is to disturb this place dragon. No need is great enough that we should loose it’s devastation on this world again. We’re lucky that it crashed where it did, who knows what else it could have done.”

“It all depends on the user Tomu, weapons are not good or evil.” Huffed the dragon, “There will be no greater wielder of this than I.”

“You look upon that monster of a thing and think it good?” Asked the unicorn “Something shields its purpose from you dragon, all good things should see it and turn away.”

“And give up what could be our best weapon against the undead? Simply because superstitions and fear?” He scoffed, moving past them. “We can’t be ruled by such things if we hope to persevere, the fate of this continent rest upon my wings, I can’t let them down.”

“How can you say that?” Lyndis asked softly, “Just look at it, it sends a shiver down the spine. Radiant Star…Even at this distance, I can feel a revulsion in my soul. That thing devours the living, drains away hope…Look at what it did to my people.”

“Lyndis, your people are not the paragons of this world.” He turned to her, speaking as though he might a child. “You can’t be serious in letting go of this thing because a fancy equine asked you nicely. How could you look your people in the eye and say you care about them? How could you to your mother? Your sister or your brother? How could you let the death of your father be in vain?”

“Not falling into a trap isn’t letting him die in vain.” She hissed, eyes sharpening like blades. “And you’ll kindly not use him against me.”

“Why not? It seems to be the only way of getting through you’re seriously having a stupid idea.”

“I’m being more careful than you bloody seem to be!” She was at his side, jabbing her finger in his chest, face crimson. “What in the stars has come over you?”

“What do you mean come over me? There is nothing hanging over my horns, I am the same dragon you’ve traveled with!”

“Not since you’ve started dabbling with these powers of yours! Time and again its just you wagging your chin away about how special or great you are. I’ve had enough of it Cordenth, you’re not the center of the universe! You’re great to have around but that’s it, not everything lives and dies at your command.”

“That’s woefully incorrect.” He growled.

“And that! Those harsh remarks, you’ve never done that before!”

“Because you and others have not attacked my pride in such a manner. I am not a fool Lyndis, I’m aware the world doesn’t revolve around me. Do you forget that I have over a hundred years on you? I’ve had more times to think than you’ve ever been alive.”

“Then why are you being so stupid? Do you remember the temple back with yer mum? How you blundered into an obvious trap despite my say so? This is exactly that, just larger in every way! Stop being thick and listen to me!”

He rounded on her, tail flicking, the unicorn all but vanished from his mind. Any one else he’d have batted aside with his paw. “If anyone is being thick it’s you, failing to see the harsh truth we must take. There lies our salvation, a weapon, you might not like it, but it may be the only way to ensure my kingdom.”

“Your kingdom?” She gasped, “Last time I checked Cordenth, I was the queen, and you were not the king! This is the shite I’m talking about! You’ve been talking about me as if I’m a thing, a piece of meat! Like you know better in every situation. Hell, you kept blabbing about us fucking even when I clearly didn’t want you to!”

Oh, was this what this was all about? He laughed deep in his throat in amusement, only making the contempt in which she looked to him with ever greater. “Your embarrassed! Lyndis, I believe you tease Arcturus all the time when Veledar teases him with such things. I didn’t know you could be such a hypocrite!”

“By the gods that isn’t the point!” She screamed, hardly able to keep herself still. She was shaking. “You’re acting like a selfish prat, a cunt, a twat. Something that lives up in everyway to your mother!”

Without thinking he swatted her aside with a paw. She tumbled to the grass, a startled look about her face. “I am no way like my mother.” He snarled.

“See? Right there! That fucking proves my point!” She gathered herself up, dusting off her clothes. “Just swatted me aside, like a bastard.” She drew her weapon, brandishing it between them, the tip sparkling in the sunlight. “What’s the matter? Don’t like being told the truth? Big ole dragon had his feelings hurt?”

He eyed the weapon she held, then back to the unicorn, who’d reserved himself to witnessing, not lifting a hoof to help. “I know you won’t use that on me Lyndis.”

“Maybe not on sweet you, but you that swatted me? Come closer and lets test that theory of yours.”

“What I applied was discipline.” He stated with a groan, “You were quite disrespectful to me. I am the dragon in the relationship, we can’t just have you speaking in such a manner in front of others.”

She gasped in fury, “And what in blazes does that supposed to mean?”

His snout snapped shut, did he say that allowed? There was a heavy silence between them as he looked into the rage burning within her eyes. She was fighting back tears. Deep in the bottom of his gut he felt a gnawing, pulling his frills tight against his head. What was he doing? Why was he going this far? This wasn’t like him. “Slip of the tongue. I didn’t mean to imply-“

“No, don’t you dare, I can see you meant it. Has this all been a big joke to you? A grand assignment to prey on my emotions? Acting sweet to get close so that you can take my kingdom? That what you wanted jerk? Just a fling to say that you shagged a queen and turned her into a pet?”

The dread vanished with a lash of his tail, “No.” He snarled, with such a fierceness that it made her yelp. “I would burn everything in this world for you, how dare you suggest it was a mere deception. I am sorry for what I said, they should have remained hidden. But heed my words now, this is all Tomu’s doing. He does not wish to see us united, so he pits us against one another. Lyndis, don’t let him wedge us apart, I love you.”

“Only as an object to have, hoard or shag.” Lyndis scoffed bitterly, “He’s a unicorn Cordenth, a creature of pureness and good, that’s not exactly the shining example of deception! Only one whose been manipulating people around here is you. That’s right, don’t look surprised, I noticed what you did to Broxl.”

“Now you’re being hysterical, blaming me for-“

“He hated you at first Cordenth, couldn’t stand being around you! Then suddenly he starts acting all chummy because what? You shared a little stint? I’m not blind dragon, I saw what you did to my mother and the dwarves, they couldn’t stop asking about you, calling for ya.” She jabbed her weapon at him as he tried to approach, “Stay away from me! You’re not turning me into a mindless pet, only suited to worship your paws.”

The words were as good as her blade through his heart. He stopped dead in his tracks, letting the uneasy silence rest between them, only broken by the ragged pants from Lyndis. Would she seriously strike at him if he approached? Even now he could see the weakness in her stance, how her arm wavered, there was a vulnerability there he could exploit. The thought of disciplining her again came to mind, but he let it pass with a flare of his nostrils.

“Your words are like poison, corrupted by this equine against me. Know I am not the villain in this, it was I that brought you here on my back. I shielded you from harm at every juncture of this adventure. Your people’s fate hangs in the balance of this day Lyndis, don’t let them perish because you couldn’t see past petty squabbles.” He strode away without looking back, fluffing his wings. “If you wish for me to leave then so be it. Perhaps when I grace you with my presence again, you will show more gratitude with a civil tongue.”

He spiraled high into the sky adrift his powerful membranes, ignoring the scathing insults she loosed upon his scales. This was a hard lesson that she needed to learn this was true, but it was needed to strengthen their relationship. When it came to knowing best, he was the dragon, she the mortal, she would see the light in time. He breathed deep the cooling air, letting it soothe the rising unease below his scales. Had he done the right thing?