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Chapter 15

Cordenth flew across the siigonis territory as if guided by the gods themselves. Winds were ever favorable to them, making every pump of his wings worth ten. He was invigorated, fueled with nothing but courage, rest was something he didn’t need. He carried on with little complaints, from sunrise to sunset, and even for a time after that. He only stopped when necessary, fearing that even in these fleeting moments that they’d be too late.

It was here that he and Lyndis never left each other’s sight, nor straying more than a few feet from one another. Doubts and fears lingered in their feet and paws, but in each other they found strength to continue breathing, press on despite the unknowns. That was until he could hear the whisper of the swamp on the winds, it’s siren like call tugging at his horns growing louder, its pervasive message winding its way into his dreams and holding him spellbound.

He received visions of dragons and people he’d never met, skies that were an enigma to him. These he didn’t share with Lyndis; she was already concerned about the voice on the winds. He assured away her concerns with gentle warbles and tender nuzzles. Spirits were known to do such things; didn’t Arcturus have a dragon’s roar guiding him to his fate? He made a big show of fluffing his wings, proclaiming they just had to have faith and courage. Her smile and tender touch warmed his heart, letting him breath easy that she wouldn’t recoil. But he suspected she knew he was hiding things from her, there was always a hint of it lingering within the corner of his eye.

When they found the swamp, it wasn’t a diminutive thing, it sprawled across the landscape like a beast, covering everything it touched with a thick layer of cloud. There branches and treetops poked cautiously out, spying upon the brighter world that surrounded it. Even staring from a distance, the swirling mists seemed to absorb the light that swelled around it, ensuring no hope could be found within. There was a sense of wrongness in the air, whispering for them to look away, lest they lose their minds.

“Not a bird in the sky.” Lyndis said softly from atop his back, hair all aflutter from the winds. “It’s like they even think this place is blighted.”

“Probably migration season.” Snorted Cordenth, adjusting himself into a glide. “Or they knew to stay out of our way.”

“But can you feel it? The heaviness in the air? How looking to it sends a shiver down your spine?”

“Perhaps it’s a mortal thing? I look upon it and see a misty swamp, same as any other. One that just so happens to hold our salvation within it’s branches.”

She bit her lip, holding the saddle so tight her knuckles turned white, “And you’re certain? This is where this pull is bringing you? Come on mate, lets turn back now, no harm, no foul.”

“Nonsense.” He growled, frills warming at the thought, “To come all this way and cower like a whelp to a raging storm? Lyndis, I thought the courage of an adventurous woman that’s braved the horrors of tombs would not so easily be frightened by a little marsh.”

“But one that seems to be bloody wrong.” Her face seem to drain of color the longer she gazed upon the shifting mass of grey, “Like it will eat us should we stray to close.”

“Lucky us, I’m quite inedible.” He mused, bringing them ever closer, “Press yourself close Lyndis, nothing shall harm you whilst I draw breath.”

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

It wasn’t long before they were drifting above the thick mass of mist below, guided only by the tugging upon Cordenth’s breast by their invisible siren. Occasionally he’d dip a paw within the mass of grey, watching as the vapors clung to his emerald scales. Lyndis was ever quite now, one hand clutching at her sword, eyes darting to the mists below. What breaths he took were filled with the noxious fumes of the swamp below, delaying his eventually decent with every lungful. He could only imagine what lived down there within such a place, scurrying about in the filth.

“Hope its not your mother down there.” Lyndis muttered, breaking only the ruffling of his wings, “Fingers crossed its nothin but spooky nature spirits, those I can deal with.”

“It better not be her.” He growled, eyes narrowing at the image of her, teeth grinning, mocking him. It would just be her to taunt the younger dragon with playing right into her paws. “She won’t find me in the right mood to talk.”

“Then what could it be, have you thought? If not her, what has access to knock upon your skull, asking for you to come?”

“Long as it isn’t her. I’d gladly take any other alternative.”

“Cordenth? Why are you descending? Are we there?”

So he was, the dragon shook his head, bringing them higher than the cloud’s embrace. “Just lost track was all.”

“I’ve seen another dragon do that…When being confronted with another magical forest.” Lyndis’ tongue grew sharp, “Oh hell, I was joking when I said it might be her!”

“It wouldn’t be her, I’ve seen that trick, had it used on me, this is entirely different.”

“Seems the same the me.”

Just as he was going to rebuttal with a lecture about magical enchantments and suggesting that he should try them on her, a fierce wind suddenly overtook them. Straining with effort the dragon managed to gain a semblance of control as he was whipped about, threatening to be tossed up and over through the air.

“By the stars, what was that?” Lyndis held on tight, pressing herself as close as she could get to the saddle.

Cordenth wheeled around, searching for the source of a such a thing. That certainly wasn’t a natural phenomenon. His nostrils flared, catching the spicy scent of magic at work. Someone was trying to get them. He pounded his wings and carried on, they’d not be stopped by anyone. Lyndis did call to him with a desperate cry, but he ignored her, focusing on the tugging at his chest. Even as the clouds shifted black, starting to churn and swirl.

“It’s a-“ Lyndis stuttered, color draining from her face as a vortex of wind touched down right in front of them.

“Tornado!” Cordenth shouted, tilting a wing, and changing course, it appeared as though this magician was far more skilled than he thought. With what strength he could, he battered the air, trying to keep them away from the violent expression of nature. But it followed with an alien mind, trailing after the dragon’s scaled tail with malevolent intent.

Across the sky he engaged in this dangerous game of catch, darting across the sky with it still on his heels. He struggled to keep the distance between them, pounding his wings in desperation until they ached to the bones. Yet it wasn’t until his breaths were haggard and his heart pounding in his ear did he dare look, the distance remained the same, despite his best efforts. His heart sunk to the deepest depths; it was going to catch them.

It took only a look to Lyndis’ face, filled to the brim with terror to even consider what he was going to do. If there was no way out in the sky, perhaps there was a way out through the mists. He’d not let this be their end, not to an overactive weather system. Tilting his wings he shot to the swamp below, only just bellowing to Lyndis to hold on tight. He felt her arms wrap around his neck, her face following next. Her eyes were clenched shut, and she appeared to be praying to some god he didn’t catch.

In a few wingbeats he passed through the mist, letting it wrap and twist around every limb and frill. Vision was robbed of him by the mass of grey, leaving him unable to dodge or weave at whatever might come. He did his best with what skill he had, trunks and branches rushing up at him with frightening speed. Branches broke under his bulk, splintering with tremendous cracks. Each one was a shot of pain through his flesh, coursing through his entire being. Membranes were cut, frills were battered, his blood was spilled in their undignified descent.

Panic welled within his chest as he could sense the ground racing to catch them, he had no room to catch their fall. Had he traded one death for another? Earth instead of air? Lyndis’ grip upon his neck became a vice moments before they careened into the water below.

Water sprayed in all directions as the air was forced from his lungs. Sputtering, his paws burning, Cordenth struggled to stay afloat in the stagnant water. How had they survived? Stars burst before his eyes as he paddled through the water. Had something caught them? Slowed them? They should have died! Sputtering he sought out the reed lined land, dragging his weary form, dripping upon the grass. It was then, panting for breath he realized, Lyndis was no longer there.

“Lyndis!” He called to her, dread sinking into his gut. Across the blackened surface of rippling water his eyes did dart, not spying a trace of her short brown hair, nor any movement to indicate her swimming. Before he could even think he’d leaped back into the water, diving below the surface, his kind didn’t need to breath underwater.

Though he lacked the perception of the teal under the water’s surface, he still could sense the vibrations of the world around him. There was nothing within this blackened void, not even a fish or turtle that he might catch the tiniest of vibration from. But there was a mass slowly sinking, one that was human sized. Lyndis! Swishing his tail, he propelled himself with great speed towards it, terror clutching his heart tight. Plucking her in his paws he whisked her away to the shore, practically leaping from the water to set her down upon the moisture slick grass.

There she sputtered and choked for breath, her need to live prove most high. He watched, frozen, cold slithering through his scales with every violent coil of her body. He was helpless now, only able to watch as she struggled to hold onto life’s blessing. Only when she calmed, breathing heavy as she held her chest did he descend his snout, nuzzling against the rogue with gentle warbles.

“Have to say, wasn’t your best landing.” She coughed, grabbing hold of his snout and pulling him against her chest, “I’d like to register a complaint.”

“You’re aware it will be chucked in the bin?” He laughed with her, getting her hair out of her face with a paw, there was blood. Laughter died. “You’re hurt.”

“Am I?” She cupped her palm and summoned a flame within, gently touching the cut and wincing, “That answers that. How about you? Looks like the forest kicked the shit out of you.”

He hadn’t even stopped to look, but within her light’s embrace he could see why. All along his scales there were thin rivers of red, his blood oozing out upon the grass. His wings were no exception, their sensitive membranes scratched and pierced, stinging even as he moved them to atop his back. He huffed, chest swelling, he’d had worse before. Give it a few weeks, maybe some magical healing, he’d be right as rain.

“Your concern is touching.” He coughed, pain flickering across his chest. “But we dragons are tough creatures, it takes more than the forest beating the shite as you said out of us to stop us. I’d be more worried for yourself.” He gestured to her cut with his wing, “You seemed to have sprung a leak.”

She wiped away the crimson, scowling at the blood upon her palms. “Bloody hell.” As the dragon coiled around her, fussing with fluffing frills, she dug through her pack, finding a series of now soaked bandages. With a flick of her wrist and magical words, they were as good as new. She planted herself down upon a weathered stump, wrapping the wound tight with a biting of her teeth. “Think it will leave a scar?”

“Do you want a scar?” He tilted his head, “If so, I think you’d look quite dangerous with one.”

“Swell. Only figures we match.” She gestured to the scar on the dragon’s chest, a reminder of the spear that’d pierced his chest a few months back.

“Does it hurt?” He sat beside her as sounds from the swamp called out to them, birds, or creatures he’d never heard of. It even gave Lyndis’ pause as she applied her bindings, making her visibly shiver at the next symphony of bizarre trills. He shielded her with his wing, a lone bulwark against the unknown. “Focus, one problem at a time.”

“Says the one with the pulverized wings. Will you even be able to fly afterwards?” She gently touched upon his membranes with a look of guilt, “I should have been more forceful for you to stop.”

“And make me not listen to you?” He scoffed, “I chose to fly here, I live with the battered wings. Sides my lady, with a potion or two I will be as right as rain.” He gestured to the canopy of spindly branches above, where signs of his crashing were lacking. “Where would we fly to anyway? I have a suspicion whoever brought us down, doesn’t like us flying.” Assuming a regal stance he dusted off his chest with a paw, “All things considered, I handled that situation with upmost grace.”

She scoffed at the notion, “I’ve heard drowning cats with more grace than that.”

He scowled at her smile, flaring his nostrils, and fluffing her hair with a well-deserved snort. “You handled it none better! Screaming away like a damsel in distress!”

“I was a damsel and was in distress! My dragon was plunging us to our deaths!”

“It was either that or the tornado your majesty, would you have liked to die in the air instead?”

“I could have taken it, use a spell or something.”

“Fight a tornado?” He tossed his head away from her with a growl, “Now who’s overestimating their abilities.”

She sighed crossing her arms against her chest, “I’m sorry…I’m not rather fond of having my life completely out of my hands.”

How could he be cross with her? To her he returned with a deep breath, bumping his nose against hers. They were hurt, it only made sense they might be on edge with one another, “I’m just glad we didn’t perish. I suspect our benefactor is responsible for that as well.”

“So you’re saying they not only made us crash, but kept us from death as well?” Lyndis scowled out to the foggy trunks beyond their little haven, “Funny way of welcoming guests you know!”

“I don’t think chastising them is going to help.”

“But it makes me feel better…When do you think you can fly us out of here?” She gestured to the canopy above, not spying a broken branch or splintered trunk, there was no sign of Cordenth’s passing. “What kind of crash lacks the evidence of one?”

“Another trick of the swamp no doubt.” Growled Cordenth with a toss of his neck, “It pulled us from the sky on threat of a tornado, I have a feeling it won’t simply let us continue on my wings…Which leaves the only option.”

“Walking.” Sighed Lyndis, “Only in a mist filled unknown, with gods only knows lurking out there.” Her hand wavered over the hilt of her rapier as a loud symphony of insect trills swelled around them, “There’s that damned chill again, something’s watching us.”

“Then let them get an eyeful.” He wheeled around, wings flaring with a sting. Muscles tensed as predatory eyes flicked to even the slightest hint of movement by the mist’s gentle caress. There they stood, frozen, on the verge of springing into action at the slightest moment. Yet nothing came.

Lyndis sheathed her rapier with a nervous laugh, “Must be the focken nerves.”

“No, you have the right to be concerned.” His tail lashed as she rested a hand against his scales, “Clearly this thing within is toying with us. Stopping us, standing in the way of our noble intent.”

“Make sure to write that down, we’ll have a whole list of grievances should we meet them.” She eyed the blackened water beyond the land’s edge, she frowned. “I’m going to go on a limb and say swimming is out as well? Gods only knows what lurks below the surface.”

“Nothing moves.” He snorted harshly, “Its as though the entire place is dead. I’d rather not find out why.” He gestured with his wing to where the swamp’s call tugged at him, a thin path in which he and Lyndis might walk, flanked on other side by the darkened depths. “There is were we shall stride.”

“So, what does your calling say now?”

“Strong as ever.” He closed his eyes, focusing on the feeling tugging beneath his scales. “I’d say it’s excited we’re here.”

She sighed, letting him get slightly ahead, holding the tip of his tail. “In for a penny, in for a pound. Just be careful, anything can be waiting out there.”

“Nothing in which I can’t handle.” He turned to her with upmost care, offering a comforting nuzzle to shield her from the doubts that plagued her. With courage in his chest, he took the lead, guiding them deeper into the fog.

*

The path was cold and filled with the ever-present noises echoing all around them. Distant chirps and trills of unknown origin became the norm, stilling boot and paw alike for moments at a time. The fog had gotten if anything more prominent, restricting sight to mere meters at a time. They walked in tandem with one another, never straying far, sticking to the muddy path before them.

Around them the maple trees pressed inward, their roots cresting through the mud as if they were bark covered serpents. Shrubs did their best to get underfoot, seeking out their limbs in which to entangle themselves. Occasionally shapes could be seen shifting within the fog’s mass, of misshapen forms or hidden beasts, stalking through the underbrush with malevolent purpose. It quickened the heart and readied their attack, yet each time the shapes ignored them, disappearing as quickly as they’d appeared. Yet the idea they were being never left them. Lyndis kept one hand upon the scabbard of her rapier the entire time.

“How far until we make it? Does your pull tell you?” Lyndis finally asked, after hours of wadding through the muck. Her boots were slick with mud, her face weary and drained.

“Its just as strong as ever.” He replied softly, after closing his eyes and letting everything else fade away but it. “It says to keep on ahead.”

“Is that so?” Her brow rose as she gestured to an alder tree, “Then explain how it is we went about passing the same tree?”

That couldn’t be right, how could it be? He shot to where she’d points, his nostrils flaring in interest. She must have been wrong, they’d never deviated this entire time! Around the swamp they’d ventured, not getting turned around once! Yet she was telling the truth, of course she was. Right as she said, there was a carving she’d done hours earlier, putting their initials into the bark. “This is impossible.”

“And yet here we are.” She groaned, leaning up against it. “Looks as though your pull isn’t as infallible as we thought. Something else is at work here.”

“Our friend?” He growled, slinking around the bark, inspecting it to ensure that it was in fact the same tree. “Could this be a trick?”

“Anything can be a trick if you try hard enough. Matches though, same hand writing and everything. Hell, look and you can see the shavings.”

His frills pinned, so it was. “Someone doesn’t know better than to mess with dragons.” Around he wheeled, eyeing the mist beyond this patch of earth with scorn. He flared his wings with a snarl, letting his display rest upon the air. “I tire of your games little friend. Our time is of great importance, and I do not like being made to look a fool. We’ve slain many in our time, don’t place yourself among that number.”

Lyndis shook her head, “You’re not going to make new friends like that.”

“Implying I wish to be friends with rabble like this.”

“What my dragon friend means to say, is that we’ve little time for games! Our peoples have a vampire bitch of a dragon to fight, perhaps you’ve seen her? We’ve come looking for help!”

“And I expect a prompt apology!” He added with a stomp of his paw, earning another exhausted groan from his love, “What? They need to know what’s expected!”

“That’s not helping.”

“Debatable.” He snorted, lashing his tail.

Despite their exchange, not a word was shared back with them. All that replied was a lone call by an owl in the distance, echoing through the air. Were they still being made fools of?

“I can’t stand these games any longer!” Snarled the dragon, swatting the tree with his sharpened claws. “Don’t they see the dangerous predicament they place themselves in?”

“Or they’re too shy to reveal themselves.” Said Lyndis, caressing her chin and starting to circle the dragon. “We say we havn’t changed our course, right?”

“Right.”

“Then it’s possible the swamp is moving around us, paths opening and closing before us and behind, ensuring we don’t get far. There’s something they’re keeping us from but won’t outright kill us. Perhaps they lack the ability to do so?”

“Or they’re only diverting the required energy, why kill when you can scare or force away?”

“Or their morals won’t let them kill us. The idea this is some druid grows stronger.”

“A druid without a braincell.” Huffed Cordenth, “Irritating a dragon isn’t known to be good for one’s health.”

“At least we know it isn’t a trap.”

“Not a trap?” He scoffed, “Have you looked around? If they’re moving the forest as you say, they could keep us here until we both waste away!”

She wheeled around, grasping hold of his snout, realization sparked in her eyes, “Cordenth, can you close your eyes and shut everything else out? Focus on nothing but the tugging?”

“I can.” He tilted his head, “But how is that going to-“

“Just humor me. If I’m wrong, nothing of it, but if I’m right…You’ll see.”

“Lyndis, the feeling led us here…It will just lead us back.”

“Cordenth.”

The dragon lashed his tail with a harsh snort, “Fine. But be prepared to be staring at a silly looking dragon.”

“Well to be fair, that’s most of the time.” She countered, tapping at his nose. “Just do it…Please.”

He nodded and planted himself on his hinds, closing his eyes tight. He focused inward, tail curling around him, planting in the mud with a plop. With a deep breath he scattered the pugnant stench of the swamp away, with it the gentle breeze that’d found them. Even sound was muffled and distant, as though it were miles away. It was here that he sifted through himself, finding the feeling in which they’d been following. It beckoned him onward, pulled at his snout, he was but a slave to obey. But as he rose, eyes opening, the sensation dulled with his next breath.

“Did you feel it?” Lyndis asked, laying a gentle hand upon his shoulder.

“Yes.” He frowned, as he swiveled his neck around, trying to regain the strength he just had. “But without my focus, the call is dulled and shifted by the swamp around us. I won’t be able to guide us.”

“Good gracious, I don’t know how we’ll manage. It’s not like you have a second set of eyes around.”

“Have another in your pocket I don’t know about?”

Her cheeks flushed as she smacked his scales, “No, but I can get a bratty dragon through the swamp.”

“Not with that description you won’t. I refuse to be referred to as bratty.”

“Cordenth…Is now the time for that sort of thing?”

“Always the time.” He added a paw stomp for affect, lashing his tail.

“Fine, you’re not bratty.” She rolled her eyes, “You’re just exceptionally difficult.”

Her answer was acceptable, in which he offered her a rumble in thanks. “Now ready yourself Lyndis, we might have need of me should our friends catch wise of our trick.” He closed his eyes again, lowering his snout until Lyndis held one of his horns, “Or the sight of a seeing eye half-human might amuse them.”

“Cordenth…Are you sure this sight of yours works?” Lyndis asked, staring at thick wall of trunks, choked by scores of brush. “I think I can barely fit, you’re not going to stand a chance.”

“That’s where it wills.” He replied softly, taking a long sniff of the air. Something was off, there was a hint of magic with every lungful. Eyes shot open to take in the moss covered bark, taunting him with his presence. The canopy above was just as thick, so many branches spread about, climbing them would be a chore. With a growl he swatted at the tree, catching nothing but air, his paw passed right through it!

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Gasped Lyndis, “An illusion this entire time?”

“No wonder, it would shift to us with every passing moment. Days could have passed unless we’d spotted it. Clever though, counting on us diverting from the path they laid out for us.”

“And heres betting whomever’s responsible won’t like us figuring this out.” Lyndis unsheathed her rapier, pressing close against the dragon’s scales. “Is that right?”

Nothing replied as he took a defensive stance, barring his teeth to the mists. For a time they remained as such, shifting at the tiniest movement within the twisting clouds.

“It would appear as though they remain cowards.” He huffed, unfurling a wing to guide Lyndis along, “Perhaps they lack the strength for a confrontation.”

“Or they’re only using the required energy, uncertain what we might do.”

“And if we press onward? Through the illusions?” He prodded at the illusionary tree, it’s form rippling before his touch.

“Who knows, maybe an army of hydras? Whomever put this up tricked the Queen of Eternal Flame as well…” Lyndis did the same, kernels of fear swirling within her eyes, “Heres hoping they despise her more than us, otherwise this might be a short venture.”

“We can’t turn back now.” He stated firmly, being the anchor she could latch onto. With a deep breath he composed himself, guiding them both through the illusion, not a trace of it’s touch passed upon scale or flesh alike. One moment they were in the marsh, the next they found themselves before the great shimmering sun above, not a hint of fog to be found.

They were at the edge of a rise, where the swamp’s waters were at their lowest. Land rose up, covered in grass, dotted with maples and alders here and there. Warmth radiated through the air like a welcomed friend, painting every brush or reed with it’s golden radiance, sweeping away the cold that had clung to Cordenth or Lyndis as easily as the muck in which dotted their paws and boots. Birds were singing through the air to one another, fluttering along on their colorful wings, darting low to snatch one of many bugs whizzing through he air.

“Well, color me surprised.” Lyndis whistled, crossing her arms, “I was picturing big monsters, things ten feet tall, I always love it when I’m wrong.”

“And yet, the day is not over.” Cordenth took a hesitant step, eyeing a separate tree among the rest.

Unlike the hundreds of trees, they’d seen within the swamp, this one was something unique. It towered over them like a giant, hundreds of feet tall. It’s branches curved upwards, thousands of little limbs, reaching for the sky above. Its bark was white as snow, armored against a trunk at least the size of a castle. Its roots flowed up and down, sinking deep into the earth, moisture clung to their surface, catching the light like shimmering diamonds.

Lyndis caught sight of where his attention was held, her jaw falling open, “Is that what I think it is?”

Cordenth’s tail swished, giving her a gentle nod. “I’ve only read about this in stories, but I do believe that is the tree of Nutambar. Where the god was said to have left his avatar, not many have ever laid eyes upon it.”

“Or even told us where to find it.” Lyndis rubbed her eyes, “We certain that’s it? Not another trick?”

“Only one way to find out.” He smirked, “Though it’s fitting that we’re the ones to find it.”

“We’ve passed through one illusion Cordenth, what is but one more?”

“Then we’ll see through that one as well.” He snorted, tossing away his head. “But that is where my pulling was bringing us to. No doubt this symbol of divinity knew our plight, calling us out so that it might lend us it’s aid.”

“A tree…” Lyndis said flatly, “A tree that can’t move…You think that is offering us it’s aid?”

“Maybe not the tree itself!” Laughed Cordenth, nudging Lyndis with a wing, trotting his way through the grass, “But of the avatar that is supposed to be nurturing it! They could offer us wisdom of some kind!”

She chased after him, “Come on! You can’t stop and think this might be too good to be true? If you’re right, then this same guardian tried to keep us away! What makes you think they might help us now?”

“We’ll ask nicely! Who is going to refuse the polite request from a queen and her dragon? They’d have to be utterly heartless to turn us away!”

“Or would rather not get mixed up in a war!”

“With undead Lyndis, I might not be a cleric of his faith, but I do know Nutambar hated undeath!”

“But Vishta said that the uniter was here, do you see it! Cordenth! Stop before you wander into a trap!”

He turned with a snarl and shake of his head, how many times was she going to mistrust him? Question his judgement in things? Didn’t she know that he had her best interest at heart? That if this thing was of the divine, that it would take kinship in him, maybe lend them more than just wisdom? Fluffing his wings in the air he let her catch up, “It’s not going to be a trap Lyndis, that would be rather-“

As if to counter his point, a section of the earth simply exploded right behind him. The ground was showered with earth bullets, forcing him to snatch up the queen with his snout, carrying her to safety a great deal away. When he placed her down placed himself between the cloud of dirt that was still shifting through the air, twisting and winding towards it’s epicenter. Something was forming.

“I don’t want to hear about it.” He grumbled without looking, knowing she wore a smirk of pride, “But we don’t know it’s a trap, perhaps it’s just a welcoming gift.”

From the cloud emerged twin constructs of molded claw, humanoid in shape and twice the size of the dragon. Their features were dull and blocky, bits of grass and roots sticking out of their surfaces. Without eyes or expressions they surveyed the area for their intended targets, soon finding Cordenth and striding towards him, the ground trembling below them with every slow step.

“Alright…I could be wrong.” He replied, “But I still don’t want to hear anything about it.”

“Can you fly?” Lyndis asked, “Or we have to do this the hard way?”

He tested his wings with a soft flap, the membranes flared up with eye clenching pain. “Just give me a moment.”

“Great, hard way it is.” She unsheathed her blade, summoning a ball of flame to her other hand, “Don’t beat yourself up over it, bigger they are, harder they fall.”

“You could sound less thrilled, I thought you wanted diplomacy.”

“I’d rather my threats come obvious as this, instead of all that skulking about through the fog back there.”

“I’m not sure their even threats, I mean, they’re not even running after us.” Cordenth tilted his head as the constructs continued their ponderous advance, “With a slight trot, I think they wont stand a chance.”

“Was that an offer to change into a horse for me?” Lyndis chortled, clambering onto his back, “Here I thought you reviled those things.”

“But they are faster on land.” He grumbled, focusing on the magic that was required. With words of power and flick of his tail, he was soon racing out of a cloud of lavender smoke, his body shifted to that of a powerful bay horse.

His hooves thundered across the ground, kicking up dirt and grass in his wake. Despite being smaller than his dragon form, he felt just as energized, stronger, faster. These constructs would be left in the dust. Nostrils flaring and with a heavy snort he did just that, stampeding past them before they could even react. He’d have warbled if given the opportunity, but Lyndis would have to settle with a resonating whiny.

“That’s right ya slow bastards! Sit there and pout!” Lyndis jeered with a smile, turning around to stick her tongue at their growing distant foes. They took none too kindly to such a gesture.

The ground trembled as they slammed their giant limbs to the earth, letting it swallow them as easily as water might. The only evidence of their passing was a rise upon the ground, like a wave racing towards them, threatening to over take them. It seemed when haste was required, they were none too lacking.

“Must go faster, must go faster.” Lyndis muttered, hurling back a ball of flame in their pursuer’s direction.

Already he was being undone? What justice was this? He took a glance back to indeed see they were going to over take them. Pushing himself the dragon broke into an outright gallop, steeling his nerves against the impending dread. When even this wasn’t enough to lose them, it was time to try something else. If speed upon this earth wasn’t enough, perhaps the air? But when he shifted back, he’d still have his own sore wings, he’d need something else, another pair. With his next breath a plan was formed.

“Any time would be great you know!”

He leaped off the ground, letting the magic of transformation swell around him. As it’s threads sunk deep into his flesh he gave it purpose, molding it to his will. Instead of his dragon form he’d try something else, a form that still had use of it’s wings and still able to carry Lyndis atop it’s back. His fur changed into a brown and white pattern as ivory feathers sprouted from his chest. Twin wings like that of an eagle sprung from his back, giving him the gift of flight. As Lyndis shouted to him he was already bringing them skyward, into the bright blue above, destined to leave their earth bound foes behind.

“Hah, and you were worried!” Cordenth called back to his cheek flushed maiden, his horse face changing into that of a gryphon, complete with long, furry ears. “Think that showed out friends a thing or two.”

“Though I think they might be poor learners.” Replied Lyndis, peering back to find that the constructs had not given up the chase as was expected, instead they were growing at an alarming pace.

Despite shedding their bulky forms, the constructs were contorting their bodies to make up for their lack of height. With every flap of the gryphon’s wings their arms and legs slimmed, granting them meters upon meters of extra height. Their spindly limbs flailed through the air like tiny whips, trying to swat the pair out of the sky.

“Hah, but still they lack the swiftness to catch us!” Chirped back Cordenth, dodging and weaving through them with slight tilts of his feathery wings. He’d forgotten how being a gryphon had felt, much more agile, able to shift direction and elevation seemingly in the blink of an eye. They whirled around the twin mass of constructs, quickly noting no matter where they flew, these things were going to follow.

“Swing us around, thought I saw something.” Said Lyndis with a practiced calm, “Down near their…shoulders, looked like a glint of a gem.”

“Gem?” Cordenth did as she requested, wheeling around gracefully through their clumsy blows. Up and down he practically swam, spying what it was that Lyndis had caught sight of.

At the base of their shoulder where a tangled mass of roots did sit, was the faint, pulsating glow of magical energy. At a quick glance a person might have missed such a thing, but not he or Lyndis’ trained eye.

“Almost seems rude to not exploit such a magical flaw.” Smirked Lyndis, readjusting her grip, “Maybe with a bit more, we can overload it, who knows, maybe we’ll get something explosive!”

“And it seems they are quite aware of it!” Squawked Cordenth, forced to enter a barrel roll to avoid the next series of whipping stones, escaping with only a brief brush against his tail feathers. “Quite close that one!”

“But needed! We’re not getting out of here, and what can mere claws and steel do against dirt?” She held tight his feathers, already twirling a firebolt within her palms. “Come on Cordenth, want to live forever?”

“Ideally yes!” With a tilt of his wings he brought them up and over the practical forest of flailing limbs, it took all of his concentration and skill, but he did as the queen requested, giving her but a fleeting moment to take advantage. Even still, when she loosed her spell he had to enter a dive, if only to keep the limbs from catching hold.

From behind them an explosion sounded through the air, the roar of a thousand cannons that was the result of magical power untethering the bonds that bound it. Dirt, rock and roots were loosed in all directions in an intense shower, chasing after the pair with tremendous speed. The construct’s movement died, its limbs falling silent, leaving it but a monument to some magical caster’s might.

“And that’s how you do it!” Lyndis cheered, bringing a smile to the beak of her feathery friend. “Now for the other one!”

“And maybe then we can get a moment’s reprieve!” He pounded his wings in eagerness, knowing these things could be beat.

The second time was faster than the last, the gryphon passing through it’s defenses as though it weren’t even trying. In hardly any time at all he’d carried them away from the frozen form of the second construct, passing through the fluttering cloud of dirt it’d proceeded to leave in its wake. But just as his heart had begin to still, the adrenaline in his veins growing dull, Lyndis found herself wrenched from his back by an invisible hand.

“Cordenth!” She screamed in terror, eyes the size of dinner plates.

He whirled around in his next breath, ice in his veins as he caught sight of her tumbling form. All his fears manifested themselves as he began his descent, pinning his wings in the desperate hope to gather speed. Ears pressed themselves against the back of his head, wind screamed past him, a voice in the back of his head insisting she wasn’t worth it. He focused on the color drained face of his beloved, being the answer to the desperate plea that dwelled within her eyes, the one not convinced this would be her end, that he, her heroic dragon would save her from such a fate.

Ignoring the rushing ground he closed the distance between them, feet now reduced to mere inches. Straining for effort he reached a yellow claw out to her, briefly concerned that he might shred her arms to ribbons in the attempt to rescue her.

“Almost there!” She cried out, face scrunched up in effort. Her fingers practically brushed the end of his claw, “Damn’t!”

You’re wasting your time, you’ll perish with her. Came a nagging voice in the back of his mind. Why was he even willing to go this far anyway? To get a few more centuries out of her life? He was a dragon, could live forever, he was throwing his life away! But paying little mind to such things he stretched out with great effort, straining his muscles in the attempt. He snatched her from the air, pulling her close against his furry underbelly. Now he just had to focus on not dying.

Screeching in pain he softly undid his wings, trying to not have them break in the rushing of wind. Inch by horrible inch he unfurled them, even as the ground raced upwards with startling speed. But to his horror he realized it would not be enough, their height had not been enough to begin with. He’d only managed to ensure that both of them would perish. In the slim chance one of them might survive, he turned himself over, holding Lyndis as tightly as he could. He coiled and closed his eyes, waiting for the inevitable stop. But Cordenth bounced.

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