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Chapter 31

Arcturus dwelled high upon the parapets, facing it down, bags heavy under his eyes. The day’s skirmishes and close calls paled in comparison to how swiftly his heartbeat within these moments, that his enemy could be anywhere. It was hard to believe that Dreadflame now lurked within these walls, that within the shadow of night that the beast stirred, waiting to enact whatever cruelty he had in store. Even the comforting, flickering fire that the others were falling asleep to did little to the cast away the frigid claws that held his chest in their grip.

How did his infiltration make it any different? The knight’s fists clenched as he stared into the dancing flames, facing down the visage of the monster from his nightmares. Did it matter if he was out there, plotting their downfall from his army, or within the city itself? He had wings, with them could have flown over the defenders any time he chose. Yet Arcturus fidgeted, doing nothing against this outright assault happening below his nose, every moment that Dreadflame remained free. Free to stalk, plot, sneak about and enact his next savage blow. One that would live up to the dragon’s namesake.

Heavy was his arm as he held the bridge of his nose, trying to ignore the dull aches that peppered across his joints and limbs. The potion that had saved him from sleeping the previous night had long since faded, its aftereffects tugging down every part of his body, eyelids included. Though when he did, comfort was denied him. Instead of darkness he instead was wrapped in flames, the screams of the city serenading his dreams. He tried to drown out such a spine-chilling symphony, bury it down to regain his strength, but it was not to be. He’d awake in a shutter, eyes wide, panting at the fresh horrors he’d recalled. In the fire’s burning embers, he found not comfort or ease waiting for him, but the charred remains of Geoffrey and Selina waiting for them, their eyes charred and seared. They gaped to him with open malformed mouths, begging to know why the beast that did this to them did was still free.

The knight could not push it from his mind any longer, he could not sit idly by while the city was in constant threat. Arcturus sprung up despite his weariness, pulling tight his cloak. Fremra, he’d find her in her home, ask for another potion to keep him awake, she’d understand. Just as he was about to pad away from the snoring form of his allies, it was Veledar that had padded over, his eyes that of a city wall.

“I’m flattered that you wish to join me on my watch Umraadi.” Growled the dragon in an affectionate manner, slinking to Arcturus with an amused gait. “But you need your sleep, your body knows not the strength of my own-“He paused as Arcturus grunted, no doubt his worried thoughts and feelings casting a shinning light in which the dragon could experience. “Where do you think you’re going?” He extended a wing, blocking the human’s path.

Arcturus rubbed his eyes, “I cannot afford sleep, vigilance must be held for every moment that Dreadflame- “

“Fremra said to get your rest.”

“That she did.” He groaned, trying to move his way past the dragon, only to find his way blocked by a paw, wing, or snout.

“Yet you try to deny her.” Veledar pressed a paw to Arcturus’ chest, his sapphire eyes winking in the firelight. “I admire your determination, it’s that of a dragon my size.” With tender care he turned the man around, nudging him on the butt back towards the fire. “The wall can do without you for the time being. I promise Umraadi, my shift is not that much longer. Soon you will be with your scaly bed once more, sinking into my scales and drifting away to my scent on your every breath.”

“Don’t you Umraadi me.” Arcturus spun around, brow furrowed as he tried to surge past his insistent dragon, instead he was met with a firm snout press to the chest. “Come now, release me, I can’t sit by while that monster is on the loose.”

“You must, and you will.” Veledar snorted, his voice firm, but care radiating from his soul like the sun.

Why must he be so stubborn? He glared daggers at the dragon’s snout. “Veledar, I order you to stand aside and let me go.”

Veledar flicked his tail, with a harsh snort, “No.”

“Since when have you agreed with any advice that Fremra has given?”

“When it includes my Umraadi.” With a flare of his nostrils, padded forward, pushing Arcturus back with an extended wing. Though the human protested, he continued with care, being a trap in which he could not escape. With a snatch of his teeth, he had Arcturus by his cloak, dragging him back to the fire despite his struggling. The dragon planted his haunches firmly, securing the resistant human with his paws and forcing him to lay down along side him, nestled up against his chest, trapped by crimson forepaws. “See? If you can’t escape my clutches, what hope do you have against Dreadflame?”

“When I get the potion, I will be.” He growled, trying to squirm but found his dragon’s strength far greater than his own. Cheeks reddened as Veledar thumped his tail with a growl, unyielding any ground with his forepaws. Warmth was pressed against his back, his sides, even his breaths were starting to betray him as his senses were inundated with Veledar’s scent.

“There, right where you should be.” Veledar flopped his head down with a growly rumble.

Arcturus thrashed against his love’s sinful scales, ignoring the whisper to remain trapped here in this prison. He had a job to do, people counting on him, if they should perish it would be all his fault! “Veledar…Please…I can’t…Not while he’s.” With every push or pull, Veledar held him firm, he was forced to endure the steady heartbeat of the dragon on his ear.

“Relax.” Hissed the dragon, curling upon him, extending a wing to complete his entrapment. “I don’t have to be your jailor. Though if you persist, I will be.”

Hands held tight Veledar’s scaled forepaws, unwilling to admit he was stuck. He just needed to find the right words to win his freedom. “You know what he did to my family, saw what he did to the city. How can you- “

“Because this is like the Island of Draconis. You’re going to get yourself killed hunting after him.”

“My mettle is more than enough for him; I’ve faced him before and been victorious.”

“But this is not like when you faced him before brave human.” Veledar growled, “Back then he was weak, freshly hatched from his orb. You hardly escaped then; imagine what he’d do to you now. No, I won’t let you run off to get yourself killed.”

“Then come with me Umraadi, we can take him together. With every passing second, he is free to scheme and take more lives. You heard about the dozens of souls those wraiths killed before being put down. Those were his doing I know it.”

“We have no proof of that.”

“I know it was him.” He grit his teeth, unwilling to yield as he threw all his strength into forcing Veledar’s forepaws to free him. Grunting and squirming he continued, faced with the dragon’s indomitable will. He slumped, defeated as Veledar offered a gentle warble of victory as he pressed his warm nose to the man’s cheek.

“You can keep trying all you want. Eventually you’ll grow tired and fall asleep, I will get what I want.”

“Bastard…Now is not time for games. Veledar- “

“Arcturus.” He cut him off, the playfulness of his voice gone. “I know how much it means to you to get him.”

“Then you’ll relinquish your hold- “

“I need you to rest with me now.”

That pulled whatever speech he had from his throat. In silence he rested within Veledar’s grip.

“I’m holding you here for your own good. Dreadflame might attack, but that’s been the case the entire time. I can feel your frustration, your anger, resentment, your need for vengeance.” He huffed with a flop of his tail, “Or have you forgotten the bond?”

“I haven’t.” He replied softly, “But how can we while he- “

“Because we must.” Veledar stated firmly, “The others can take their watch for now, but we must get our sleep as well. Tomorrow we can face whatever they wish to sling at us, but for now, let us take refuge in one another. Grant me that, will you do this for me?”

The dragon’s eye upon him was like a pillar of light, illuminating the human’s soul. He ceased his fighting, his squirming, the burning desire within tamed by the dragon’s words. Hands that had tried to free him instead began to massage, his body going limp within Veledar’s grip. A sense of calm washed over him, spreading from the dragon’s soul to his own.

“Like that my Umraadi. Find comfort within my scales to what ails you, use me to fend off the nightmares that come. Know I will always be with you, even in your vulnerable moments.”

Warmth invaded every part of him, wrapping the man tight in utter comfort. Eyes fell under the dragon’s breath, focusing not on himself but Veledar. Inward his mind went, finding not the flames and death that he’d seen before, but a vast sea of content like he’d not known. With every breath he caught Veledar’s scent, it sank down its hold deep within his flesh, curling in tight as to never be removed. Arcturus shivered in delight at the sensation, a calm he’d not known since the attack began. Held so close with this level of bond between them, it was hard to tell where he or the dragon began. Together they were mixed, two souls intertwined, flying off into realm of dreams.

“I love you Arcturus.” The words came soft yet sent a shiver of delight through the paladin’s being. He returned the gesture with equal amounts sincerity and tiredness, letting Veledar’s soul whisk him away to slumber. This time the nightmares did not come, the ghosts did not haunt him, instead all that remained was the dragon he loved. The last thing he recalled, was Krotos waking up with an exasperated squawk, evidently the dragon had smacked him awake with his tail.

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

The next day, Arcturus paced within the halls of the shard of Bahamut. His boots set a steady rhythm to mask the rapidness of his heart. Helmet on he, had an ear to everything that had transpired that morning thanks to the rune of communication within it, troop deployments, commanders calling for aid, responses to the enemy movements, the suffering, it weighed heavily on his mind. All the while he could only feel helpless, without purpose, unable to help the friends he cared for. Sword at his side, his pack and satchels were filled with gadgets and assortments of dragon hunting equipment, even grenades with chocolate to disorient dreadflame, in case they were to meet.

The guardians were a mirror of himself, strewn about with energy crossbows at hand. Eyes traced the door at the other side at infrequent intervals, light chatter to a minimum. Outside in the keep proper the guardians there patrolled with the vigilance that they were known for, eyes enchanted to peel away any disguise or illusion that dastardly demon might wield against them. All were informed to not engage the dragon directly, retreat and spread word so that appropriate action could be taken.

The knight’s brow tightened with every breath, knowing that deep down, all these defenses were not enough. Not even Lumara, at the heart of its empire could draw a bead on Dreadflame. That was when the creature was at his weakest, his most vulnerable, now he was something else. The crimson menace had been tempted by hate, twisted by Garroth’s tactical mind, Arcturus could only speculate what he was capable of. The man’s face drained of color as he remembered the night of the attack, how the flames were a shadow of Entis those many nights before where his life had ended. He caressed his beard, eyes empty and wide, wondering how many more families had been destroyed that night, how many children were orphaned? Tiny needles danced across his heart as a cold set in, their faces bloody and bruised appearing before him. With dead eyes they stared at him, all asking the same question, why?

He shook his head of such thoughts, trying to push away the unease, the frustration of sitting on his hands. Instead, he let his mind drift to his dragon, calling upon the bond to tether them together, use him as a shield to temper his weakened heart. Instead of a shield he instead found a fortress of tension, of pumping blood and anxiety from the battle. There was no denying it, as the paladin could picture his wings flapping and changing direction, Veledar was in the thick of it. Here Arcturus was, far away, unable to do a thing as the ones he cared for put their lives on the line. Would all of them return?

Undoing his helmet, he hurled it upon the stone, it’s clang reverberating through the vast hall. It bounced and rolled until it collapsed into a pile of scarfs of exceptional size. Each one adorned with stripes and different shapes of animals.

“I don’t think you’re supposed to do that with the helmet.” Fremra mused, the great dragoness sitting beside the shard of Bahamut like a cat. Her tail flicked casually back and forth as she licked clean a raised paw. “Especially one that’s enchanted. Do you treat all your belongings with such little care? How Veledar must be frightened what you will do with his hoard.”

“How can we rest here while Dreadflame stirs out there?” Arcturus ran hands through his course hair, “Guardian!” He called to a wolven at the entrance, “Has there been any word?” Of course, there hadn’t neither had there been any five minutes before that; The guardian confirmed as much. He wheeled around to Fremra as the dragoness shifted which paw she cleaned, “How can you be so calm at a time like this?”

“Me? Calm?” She cooed, not even looking up from her work. “Is that what you think I am right now? You’re aware Arcturus that my children are out there in my stead? Perfectly placed for Dreadflame to act upon them?”

“So, you understand my unease. Why must you lick yourself while they are in danger?”

“Because it needed to be done?”

“But now?”

“Would you rather lick me clean?” Fremra huffed, affixing her eyes to the paladin with a growl, “If it will set your mind at ease, you may stroke my belly scales. Though I warn you, once you start, you’ll be oath bound to continue.” She grinned so that he might see her teeth, “And I can be quite persuasive.”

He scowled and returned to his pacing, rubbing at his chin.

“Oh yes, continue wearing a line in my floor instead of rubbing a dragon’s scales like we both know you’ve wanted to. At least it will bring one of us comfort while you brood.”

“I’m not brooding. I’m thinking.”

“Storm used to say the same thing.” She sighed, thumping her tail, “And yes dear, you’re brooding. It’s really the same thing, especially with how dour your expression is.” As he turned to her, she tilted her head, giving an amused trill, “Yup, brooding it is.”

“Then tell me Fremra, what am I supposed to be doing?” He faced down the towering ness as she lowered her snout towards him. “Dreadflame lurks out within the city. There he mocks me, taunts me. You saw what he is capable of, how much he wishes to make us... me suffer.” Cold lapped at his flesh as he held his gaze, phantom screams haunting him as bodies scattered to ash with the wind, “A promise that he could duplicate our first encounter a hundred-fold. I wonder, how many now share my story? How many loved ones perished because I didn’t stop him?” He averted his gaze as she huffed, washing him with her hot breath.

“You place so much on your shoulders.” She licked from chest to head, slathering his hair in her saliva, “Don’t be so swift to do so Arcturus, even dragons can crack under the strain.”

“Must you?” He wiped away her drool, turning around to face the men.

“I must.” Rumbled Fremra deep in her throat, “If you keep blushing over such attention, it will only spur me further.”

To that he bit his tongue, not wishing to increase the likelihood of these licks. Though her laugh ground nails within his flesh, he knew she meant well. “I despise sitting here on our hands, waiting for him to strike. I’m nothing more than a useless human, unable to shield those he cares from harm.” His heart stretched, “Even when he’s supposed to.”

“There are more strengths then just the physical.”

“Says the dragon at least many times my size, that could crush me with a paw.”

“And could nip you for being so feisty.” She growled, running her claws against the stone, “And that should tell you about my nature. But that’s not what I meant by strength. Our positions here provide a strength that us out there could never do.” She booped his head with her nose, giving the paladin a throaty chuckle as he was forced to grab hold her snout to not fall over.

“Which is?” Arcturus asked, only for a lick to strike him in the face, “Fremra!”

Again, the chuckled, eyes fluttering with delight, “You make it far too easy to fluster you Arcturus. What I meant was that word says you and I are on a secret mission to hunt down Dreadflame while he sneaks around!” She pulled back, looking rather proud of herself, “I imagine that grumpy goose is watching over his every shoulder now, filled with such fright over the prospect of Arcturus Lund off to hunt his butt!”

As she laughed with glee, Arcturus could only sigh. While that outcome was vastly unlikely, the image of it he found amusing. The great dreadflame brought to heel at his boot, cowering like a pup to an angry master. The infectious sound of his host spread to him, causing him to chortle and smile.

Fremra rumbled out of satisfaction, “And like that, I have fulfilled my purpose.” She rolled a paw to her chest, eyes closed. “Raising the spirits of handsome paladins that find themselves alone in my company.”

“We’re not alone.”

“Are we?”

He gestured to the dozen or so knights scattered about the hall, getting an amused shrug of her wings.

“Practically alone then.”

“You’re impossible.”

“No, my Arcturus, I am Fremra.” To that she applied another lick, making the man’s face go red.

“Can you stop with that?” He smacked at her snout, having her chuckle.

“I will the moment you give in and rub my belly like you want to.” She raised a paw and gestured to her orange scaled underbelly from front to between her legs, “Truly it’s a relaxing experience.”

“For you!”

“And for you!” She rolled her eyes with a huff, “Dragon purrs are known to sooth the most troubled of minds you know.”

“You’re making that up.”

“Me? Make stuff up? Never!”

“I literally have books on your kind, that has never- “

“Clearly there are parts left out.” She replied with a mischievous grin, “Should I make it a demand? You are in my home after all.”

Was she serious? With Fremra he was never quite sure. At the island she had him rolling in grass and leaping about on all fours. Either way the paladin avoided her gaze, arms crossing against his breastplate, “Fremra, that beast is nothing but rage, revenge, and death. In our very first encounter, to reward me for my defeat of him, he destroyed my family.”

“I heard of that.” Fremra’s playful voice lowered to a soft whine, “I am sorry that you endured such pain. I know what it’s like.”

His hands clenched as he recalled the smell of the ashes, the broken, burning form of his house. “Then you understand Fremra, how can we let others experience that moment?”

“Because we’re needed here, being all secretive together on our secret mission.” The dragoness tapped her chin in thought, “Do you think we’ll run away together and fall in love? I think I’d rather like that, fantasy of mine you know.”

“I wish you’d just take this serious for a moment.”

Fremra collapsed onto her back with an amused croon, batting a paw halfheartedly at the air, “You’d tend to my scales, laugh at my antics, your sour nature slowly being whittled away with my tender care. You’d resist at first, because how could you not, but in the end, you’d fall to my wily charms, wrapped in my embrace as we voice our love for one another in the most intimate of ways.”

“FREMRA!” His cheeks were crimson as the dragoness gave an amused chuckle.

“You’d rather both of us be grumpy and anxiety filled? If such things upset you, why not silence me with your tender hands? I know you’re quite adept in where to massage on dragon scales and frills.”

The paladin groaned and squeezed the bridge of his nose, ignoring the puppy dog eyes she was now giving him.

“Is it a size thing? If you’re intimidated by larger, domineering females I can-.”

“Of course I know you- “

She leaped up with a poof of lavender smoke, landing upon her paws with a clack. To Arcturus she advanced, no larger than a horse was tall. Up against him she ran the length of her scaled form, gracing his ears with a playful purr. “See? Like this. Isn’t this a much better size? Now it’s not such an arduous task to get your magic hands all over me.”

“Why can’t you bother the others?” He grunted as she circled him for the third time, faking him out twice with licks.

“The others are far less fun. Nor do they blush so easily.”

“Here I thought Veledar was bad.”

“I’m far worse, promise.” On her fourth circle she groped at his butt with a paw. When he rounded on her to smack, she leaped away with a throaty laugh.

“Fremra!”

“What? This helps me.”

“I’m a paladin Fremra, a warrior-“

“So? I’ve seen you scratch and pet your Umraadi. Can’t you tend to a lady’s needs?” She flopped down onto her side, stretching out her form so that the human could get a good look of her in her entirety. She raised one of her forepaws, gesturing to her belly and giving the paladin a salacious smirk, “And if you won’t rub my belly, perhaps you can take care of another need of mine? I know we’d both find it relaxing.”

He could only guess by the glint in her eye what she meant by that. No doubt to her it would be quite relieving of stress, though with Fremra, he was never sure if she was kidding or not. Either way, his cheeks burned as he gulped down those particular thoughts, keeping his eyes from tracing down her scaled form. As she hummed, continuing to tease and taunt him to look in more salacious regions, he put it to an end with a groan and agreed to massage her frills and chest scales. He relented and got to his knees, taking off his gloves to press down upon her scaled underbelly.

“There we are.” Groaned the dragoness with a purr, her head flopping softly to the stone, “Such hands you have Arcturus. Now I know why your dragon adores you so, should I snatch you away and keep you to myself?” She laughed, “Sounds like a fantasy story if I’ve ever heard one.”

“Just so you will shut your snout on the topic.”

“Then tell me what ails you?”

“Now? While massaging you?” He moved around her belly, keeping well enough away from her hind quarters, in case she decided to be feistier.

She thumped her tail as she purred, “I do my best wisdoming when I’m being petted.”

For a few minutes he did as she requested, caressing every inch of her belly and chest. The air was filled with her joyous purrs. When he moved to her neck the sounds got more dull, deep, to others she might have been threatening him. Perhaps he could have relaxed to this, it was certainly soothing, but when he closed his eyes, the paladin could only see flames.

“What’s the matter?” She tilted her head, peering up as Arcturus stop and stood.

“Come now. You can’t expect me to forget everything going on and just tend to your needs.”

“One of my needs, you turned down the other one.” She corrected him. “And we certainly could, I was enjoying myself, and it was certainly making my children being in danger more palatable.”

“This isn’t a game Fremra.”

“If it were a game, we’d be having fun. This is…frustrating…you’re a tease with your hands Arcturus.”

“That beast is outside, killing your people and mine. Here we are, rumbling at massages while my friends fight for their lives.” He groaned and squeezed his nose, “Have we had any word of Lyndis’ reinforcements?”

She huffed, looking away. “I was merely trying to help you Arcturus, while living out a fantasy of mine.” With a lash of her tail, she returned to her true size, forcing Arcturus to retreat lest he be crushed by her bulk. “As for your queen friend, my birds say that her forces march for us. They should be here within the next few days, along with a fleet of ships from the north. Not equally of good, but still- “

Relief fell away, “From the north?”

“Yes, the ones that I was keeping at bay initially? With all the wards and protections, I’ve been distracted from that task. Plus, somewhere they found a druid ally as well, so now my spells are less effective than before.”

He shook his head, days? Could they even hold out that long? Sure, the walls still held this far, but Dreadflame had been absent. What would happen when he proceeded to make his move?

“You know…If you are so concerned with our current state, and Dreadflame’s chances of victory-“ She shifted back onto her haunches, pretending to inspect her claws, “You could always take the orb of dragonkind away from here.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“But that’s where your strength lies doesn’t it? Your wards around your mind stopping any possessions or charms?”

“We don’t know if the dragon inside would even be-“

“It’s better than nothing is it not?”

Run? He turned to her, daggers in his eyes. After all the lives that they’d lost? Fighting to give these people hope? How could they just leave them to whatever fate that Dreadflame deemed. “Why would you ask of that of me?”

“Well it seems that victory over Dreadflame is important to us all-“She rolled her eyes with a flare of her nostrils, “You in particular. This would ensure that his chances of success go down by a fair amount.”

“You’re teasing me.” He stated flatly.

“No Arcturus, when I was on my back with legs spread that was teasing.”

“Not that, I can’t depart without permission from the council. They were the ones who forbade the idea to leave in the first place.”

“And when did that stop you in Lumara?” She moved her snout to the other claw, “Why would you let a bad decision stop you from doing the most good?”

“That was a different time. There was a conflict of morals. I can’t just disobey the legitimate authority. Though they refuse me, they mean well- “

Fremra huffed and let her snout drift to the exit with an amused grin, “So what you’re saying my knight, is that if someone with authority gave you permission, or the order, like myself, you’d then take the orb from here?”

His heart skipped a beat as the dragoness gave an amused chuckle, she knew what she said made sense. Of course it did, she wouldn’t have said it otherwise. “That’s-“The thought left a sickening chasm in his belly. Knowing eyes pierced through him easier than glass. He turned away from her, “You have no authority last I checked, when it came to that council.”

“Council smouncil. Do I not get a say within these halls? It is my home after all! It is here that they keep the artifacts, me who gave them permission. Don’t you think I get a say when they leave?”

“What about Veledar? He’s worn the armor of your mate, given hope to your people!”

“Of which they’d understand if he left to win the day.” She rolled her eyes, moving to her side and starting to lick her hinds. “And they have three dragons already protecting them, I’m sure they’d not miss the red one. He really clashes with our cool colors anyway.”

Arcturus stared out as she rambled on, his eyes drawn to the smooth object beyond the shard. He’d had a good look at it earlier, a tad larger than the one he’d found Dreadflame in, teal of course instead of red. How innocent it looked, a cloud swirling within, unassuming, hiding the malevolence it held within. The knight’s flesh drew cold as forge like eyes seemed to swell to prominence within, Dreadflame’s voice whispering in his ear.

“Running away so soon Arcturus?” The cruel dragon asked through sharpened fangs, “Finally admitting that humans are the lesser creatures that they were always meant to be? No shame in it I suppose, leaving me to slaughter all those you hold dear. We could always add more to the list of souls you’ve failed to save.”

“Unless of course this was never about defending the people.” Fremra’s voice pulled him from the icy chill that had slithered down his spine. “Or is this something you’d chastise Veledar for, pride was it?”

“You stay.” He replied softly, shivering as he cast his sight away from the orb.

To that she offered a simple answer, “Of course, it’s my home. One that I have no intention of departing. I’ve flown that flight before Arcturus, back before Eastcliff…I have no interest of being driven from another.”

“Even if you should perish?”

“If that is the path my life has in store.” She sighed and closed her eyes, “I will be reunited with my Ramakox.”

“Don’t you mean storm?”

She waved a paw at him, “Perhaps to others, but to me…he will always by my thunder cloud.”

“Thunder cloud?” He tilted his head.

“I was his sea lily. See I picked his name because he used lightning, plus he was grumpy more times than not. So, he’d always rain on whatever parade you had… you should have seen his face-” She gave a sad laugh, frills pinning, “I’ll never forget it.”

“Rather bleak for someone trying to uplift my spirits.”

“I never said I was an expert on the subject.” She rolled to her back, batting at the air with all her limbs, “So Arcturus, why do you stay? Is it to defend the people or because you don’t want to lose to Dreadflame?”

For a moment he bit his tongue, knowing the terrible answer. “Voidwing said the same thing.”

“Did he now?” She warbled, “I suppose being the strong silent type, he has the wit to make such an astute observation.”

“He people watches, nor is he the strong silent type, he won’t shut up talking to you when he knows you. If you call him on it, he pulls back, all distraught at you noticin- “

“You never answered the question.”

“Fremra, that monster took everything from me. My wife, my child, the ones I was supposed to protect.” He rose his hands before his eyes, picturing their blood, “What else am I do while the beast responsible is out there? Free to do onto others as he did to me? How do I honor their memory?”

“Take the orb would prevent him from winning.” She replied softly, snout inches from the man’s face, “Even if that fact rests in your gut like a shard of adamantite, it probably stings, but it does what I said.”

“You can’t say you’d not be safer with us here.”

“Life leaves us few easy choices.” She sighed, “Unless you can somehow shove the shard also in your pouches. Then Dreadflame’s chances go from slow to zero real fast.”

The shard! He nearly smacked himself in the head. There lay a bit of divine power all for the taking, right under their noses! After the attack, how had he forgotten it? One shard of Bahamut within him forged the connection to be a paladin, what would a second hold? Would it be enough to end the threat of Dreadflame for good? Would it make him pay for all the pain and misery that he’d done to others? Arcturus found him transfixed upon the shimmering surface, starting to pad his way over to it.

“Arcturus, did you hear me?”

“I heard you.” He replied, feeling a strange calm wash over him, tracing over the fog at the shard’s edge. It seemed to peer through him, as if an intelligence of its own lurked below the surface. Staring at it gave him a slight chill, “Have you ever heard this thing call to you?”

“Call to me? Not really, why?” She cocked her head, frills on the side of her snout flaring in interest. “Has it done so to you?”

He nodded.

“What’s it sound like?’

“A roar, at regular intervals. It has been quiet since the attack began, but it was there the night of the party.” His arms crossed as he recalled his conversation with Skywing, “Do you think trying to connect with it will prove ill? The last time I did so, I made a connection with one, it bonded with me.”

She nodded, eyes shimmering with delight, “Right, when you were a child, after your mother had fallen off her horse…you ran into a cave and wept.” She swished her tail, “You’re not a child anymore, and I do hope that you’re not to drag Axton in here and make him cry.” The dragoness put down her paw with a snort, “You’ll find my teeth upon you if you do so.”

He shook his head at her remark, the surface of the shard just out of reach. It teased him, whispered for his attention, something appeared to churn below the surface. His breath held as he knelt before it, the fog starting to condense and twist around him. Inside the thick clouds, something stirred, the sound of leathery wings sounding in his ear. The paladin shivered as a shadow fell over his heart, the room around him falling deathly silent. Hairs on the back of his neck stood tall, as the sense of something watching him, save the large dragoness behind him.

It was her words that pulled him from the haze, “Arcturus what’s going on?”

Blinking, he faced her teal snout, eyes of lavender fraught with concern. She growled, claws tapping against the stone.

“You went silent and didn’t respond.”

“I could feel it again.” He peered to the shard, “A sense that it wants me here, pulling me along. I can hardly look away. Do you think I’m in danger?”

Fremra pulled him carefully back with a paw, “Long has it waited, silent and dormant. Now you say it reaches for you?” She huffed, glaring daggers to the orb. “It’s presence taints this place, corrupts it, who’s to say it hasn’t done the same with the shard?”

“Then why agree to house it if this was what you feared?”

“I had no choice. Such was the will of the council.”

“Do you think it could?”

She sighed, frills on either side of her head fluttered, “Even when Tiamat broke her, the power, the essence of her remained. This is the living proof. What should happen if we brought two shards together, then a third?”

“You sound as though it might bring her back or contain a spark of her power.”

Fremra swished her tail as she paused, “That answer would most be illuminating.” The grasp of her paw lessoned on him, interest it seemed pushing back her concern. “I can see no harm in attempting, you already have one shard within you.”

“And we can move it if such is the case.” He creeped his way to the shard’s edge, heartbeat every increasing. Warmth flickered at his flesh, like a summer’s fire it washed over him, in the distance he caught the sound of faint screams, but he grit his teeth and buried them down. His concern to Skywing came back, of what might happen to his soul. “Do you think I might end up like the Emerald Lady, Dreadflame or any of their hosts?”

“Bahamut was the dragon goddess of knowledge, honor, good and war. I can’t see with her nature to destroy life. If it would do so to you, I doubt she’d allow it. She shifted from paw to paw as her eyes flicked across the pool, “Even if Tiamat did this to her. You now stand before me with one- “

“You’re not going to stop me?”

“No. I’m just as curious as you.” She rumbled, “And with the shard gone, I can finally put something here instead of this eyesore. I’m thinking another garden.”

With her encouragement he shoved down his concern, reaching out to touch the shard’s surface. To the touch it was cool, like that of a morning in the spring months. He closed his eyes and tried to focus upon it, dwell in the drahkras like he’d practiced with Veledar. Inward he looked, his next breath cold and chilling. Nothing happened.

Grimacing he groaned and rose, “Nothing. Looks as though all the worry was for- “As he opened his eyes it was apparent he was no longer safely within Fremra’s chambers, but instead out in the vastness of some unknown plane. Before him was a flat floor of opaque black ink, rippling like water below his boots. It stretched as far as his eyes could see, right to the horizon, which burned with casual flames of the sun. They rose upwards, dancing away to an unseen tune, desperate to reach out to the stars that seemed to fill every inch of the sky above.

Arcturus’ breath caught in his throat as he stood, enthralled by the winking constellations above, of dragons large and small. Several had begun to move and twist, flapping their wings as they traversed the black above. Searching around he found no landmark to affix his gaze, nothing but the same visage no matter where he turned. Had he connected with the shard? His heart pounded in his ears, a slight fright touching him like the whisper of wind against his flesh. A sense of questioning hung in his mind and coiled around his heart.

“I must have.” He said softly, the uncertainty apparent in his voice. “Or I’ve slipped the bonds of this world, straight into some void…or fell unconscious.” He searched around, the hairs on his back starting to stand tall, “Really hoping the first one.”

The first few steps came, tentative as a babe. Would he fall through? He held his breath as he tested it, finding the floor just as solid as when he started. One came after the other, confidence building as he soon strode across the rippling ground. Thoughts of traps came to him, swimming below the surface of this pool, but he buried down those thoughts with a scoff, this was Bahamut’s realm, there would be not traps.

“Bahamut?” He shouted, his voice hanging on the air. In silence he waited, until he was certain nothing would answer back. “Bahamut!” He called again, but to no avail. Perhaps he was in a dream? Fallen unconscious as he tried to connect. The man pinched himself to snap out of this illusion to no avail, he was here. “I’m here for a reason, definitely, there can’t be another reason.” He tapped his forehead as he began to pace, “Why bring me here otherwise?” He searched out towards the flames in deep thought, how could he reach that wasn’t listening?

Like a dragon might? He stood tall, hands on his sides as he assumed a brassy tone, with all the confidence that Veledar exuded. “Bahamut! I am in need of you! My allies and I stand in Struport against one of your children! The son of Tiamat himself, Dreadflame! He attempts to get his claws on another of your children, bring a return to the world that you opposed! Please, I beg of you to answer me!” Cheeks reddened, he would appear to be a mad man to many others, shouting to a broken god. There was a good reason to suspect that she couldn’t answer. Perhaps she was too weak, or unable to? But the last shard she had appeared to him in a time of great need, the knight shivered at such a memory, standing before the gigantic dragoness, he’d never forget that moment, when he woke the shard to save Veledar’s life; the moment that changed his life forever.

No answer came.

“Then why bring me here?” The question lingered as he thought to his friends, feeling Veledar as though he was right beside him. He knelt, playing upon the dragoness’ pride, showing the respect she deserved. The knight bowed his head and made his request a second time, how could she refuse? This time, an answer came.

Blackened tendrils flung up from the oily surface, sliming and cold they latched onto him like little claws. They pulled taught and began to drag him down, the floor starting to yield before his weight. He struggled and grunted as panic wove its way through him, what should happen if they dragged him down? Would he die? Could he die in a vision? He didn’t want to find out.

“Bahamut! What is this?” He thrashed his arm out of one such tendril, snapping it like an overextended ribbon. It’s freedom was short lived as the tattered stump wiggled and reformed into three others, curling around the man like blackened snakes and reaffirming their grip. Down he sunk till he was at his waist, managing to struggle enough to deny this force it’s prize. “I have come for your aid!”

“Liar!” The words came in a growl, whispered from every direction, “You come for yourself, for power.”

“That is false!” He roared, “One of my vows is to never speak falsely, and I take such a vow to my very being!” Veins bulged as muscles strained to resist the tendril’s building force. “We need you Bahamut! Dreadflame slays countless lives and I don’t know how to defeat him!” With a yelp his strength faltered, he sank up to his torso, only suspended by his hands. “I need an answer!” He cried from the effort, as searing heat raced up his arms. Below he kicked and hissed, unyielding as the tendrils upon him increased in twice their number, “No, not yet! I need an answer! Bahamut!”

He was dragged ever slowly towards the inky depths, all thoughts of his life lost upon him as he screamed his desperation, “He’s going to kill everyone if he succeeds! I won’t let him!” Focusing on Veledar the paladin’s strength roared to life, allowing him to break free one last time. He burst free with a powerful thrash, pulling himself up from the depths as every muscle he had screamed in agony. He stood on shaky limbs, panting from exhaustion, staring into the judging stars. “I need to make sure that no soul has to endure what I and countless others were forced to!”

With his words, the tendrils died, slinking back to their home.

Thunder clapped across the realm, piercing and terrifying as it shook straight through flesh and bone. Clouds billowed and swelled across the sky, blocking out the stars as lightning split them asunder with brilliant flashes. Wind surged, cold and filled with water droplets, smattering against the paladin’s flesh. Above a great form swooped through the blackened mass, the sound of powerful, leathery wings filling the air.

From this came a dragoness of no equal, bursting from the clouds like a shark. She stretched on as if forever, with scales of the brightest platinum. Eyes like liquid mercury rested on her scaled snout, wise and flickering with hate. Passing above, the winds that followed in her wake nearly tore Arcturus from the ground. Swooping around him, the roar she gave eclipsed that of the lightning that had come before. The ground below quaked as she landed, her wing gust forcing the knight to shield his face, struggle to maintain his footing.

Predatory eyes rested upon the puny human below her, smaller than her paws. Overhead she loomed, a force as powerful as the storms themselves, cold, unable to be read, her growl rested upon the air like a threat, sending a shiver of doubt down Arcturus’ spine. This was the Bahamut of which he knew?

He gulped as the great dragoness padded to him, tail swishing back and forth. His voice struggled to rise as her nostrils flared, frills fluttering as if she knew not what to make of this man before her. He bowed his head, showing his respect, “Bahamut, goddess of dragons, thank you for this audience.” His voice shook and trembled, as the grand dragoness lowered her snout. He was a mere crumb beneath her, able to be gobbled up without much of a though. He closed his eyes as her breath washed over him, the power to destroy whole armies resting but a hand reach away.

“Arcturus Lund, blood of those who slay my kind pumps through your veins. It is their legacy, your birthright.” Her eyes grew wide, power gathering within, “You have the audacity to come here, your hands so red.”

“Yes, it does pump with their blood.” He admitted with shame, unwilling to look her in the eye as she flared her nostrils, “Though it holds no sway over who I am. True I have blood of several dragons on my hands, it was not out of cruelty or hate, it was meant to protect life.”

“Of which you judged fair.” She scoffed, “How convenient.”

She of course spoke of the gold, of which he was forced to slay as a child. “Bahamut…I cannot change the past of my bloodline, but I can make my own choices. I’ve already pledged my cause to help you and dragons everywhere, even now, a shard of you dwells within my chest. Can you not sense it’s presence?”

Bahamut pulled back her head with a growl, brow furrowed, “You speak lies.”

“That I do not.” He held out his arms, “I know not how you’d inspect me but-“He shook as she returned to sniff him, powerful paws bringing her around him as she checked from every angle. Perfectly still he remained, when this failed to get what she wanted, the dragoness opened her maw and trapped him within it.

He was trapped in a moist, warm prison, contenting with the powerful appendage that was her tongue. Terror wove its way through him, contemplating if he’d come all this way just to be eaten by his goddess. Hands pressed against the powerful muscle in the dark, each breath he took was hot, humid, wondering if it would be his last. Then a great growl radiated through his prison, trembling his bones; Bahamut pulled away, releasing him. He was left coughing, oozing with her saliva, hair matted, and flesh flushed.

“It would appear you do have a piece of me in there.” Bahamut lashed her tail, gaze narrowed as Arcturus bowed his head.

“See? I spoke nothing but truth. I was proven worthy to your kind.”

She snorted, “I have made mistakes before. Now explain Arcturus-” She said his name as though it was poison on her tongue, “Why do you come to me with such arrogance?”

“Arrogance?” He rose and met her eyes, feeling them pierce through his very being, searching him inside and out.

“That I would heed your call. I am not your pet Arcturus, or your thing to call upon. I am Bahamut, goddess of dragons. You claim to be my paladin, thus it is you who answer to me.”

He bowed his head at her statement, “I apologize, I meant no offense Bahamut.”

“You are forgiven human.” The vast platinum tail lashed, a growl radiating through her sharp teeth, “Now explain why you’ve summoned me.”

Straight to the point, were the shards different? “Bahamut, I’ve only been told of your wisdom and grace, I stand on the edge of terrible times.” Mind filled with destruction and death, he regaled her with the tale of Dreadflame and the terror that he wrought. His heart felt heavy waiting to sink, but he pushed through despite her hardened gaze. “So I request of you your power, what’s contained within this- “

She silenced him with a terrible roar, one that forced him to cover his ears as she slathered him with her spit.

His heart skipped a beat as she rose, claws digging into the water below her paws, “Have I done something wrong?”

“You’ve lied to me, my supposed paladin.” Snarled Bahamut, lashing her tail, “You wear protection and concern for life as well-crafted cloaks.”

“Lying? I’m not lying!” He stood tall, defiant, “I mean what I say! Lumara, Drenedar, all Sethera and beyond are at risk! Can’t you understand?”

Bahamut flared her wings wide, lightning crackling across the sky in many different rivers. Head aloft she glared down, “Such titles you bestow upon yourself, but no more real than your dreams. Arcturus, inside you beats the spirit of your father once you peel back your armor.”

“But I mean what I-“He began to protest, as the dragoness faded before him. Around him were images of himself, grinning and standing victorious over Dreadflame’s corpse.

Grinning, Veledar was at his side, a perfect show of draconic pride upon his face. The citizens of Struport heralded them with song, flung flowers at their feet, some even had the dragon kiss newborn babies. The scenes shifted to them traveling across the countryside, riding together as an inseparable pair. They kissed, nuzzled, it appeared to be the ideal future they’d envisioned.

“What is wrong with this?” Arcturus asked, as the images showed them besting bandits, slaying monsters, “Is it wrong to wish to put an end to Dreadflame’s dominion?”

“I am showing you yourself Arcturus, son of Markis. Before you is who are you, deep down.”

Before his eyes the images changed, from ones of victory and bliss to those of burning towns and blood. Soldiers and militia, slathered in dirt and grime hurled weapons at the feet of a man in red-platemail armor, it was Arcturus, as if he were years older, grey having been sprinkled in his hair.

“Please, we only were helping him to save our skins.” Someone begged from the crowd, “He would have killed us.”

The elder Arcturus furrowed his brow, emerald eyes burning like a forge as he beheld them. “And for that you killed our children?”

“It was the only way, what is two lives for- “

“You chose wrong.” Arcturus growled, gesturing to these gathered peoples.

Veledar, as large as Fremra herself swooped overhead, onto these whimpering masses he opened his maw, unleashing his fury. Twisting orange and red flames painted the muddy ground below Arcturus’ feet in flickering, shimmering orange. Their screams of the peoples now engulfed painted their air with colors of wretched agony. Bodies engulfed in rolling flames, like humanoid torches illuminating the dank, shadow swept town with an insidious twisted version of autumn colors. Sooner or later, they dropped to the ground, writhing for a little while before their screams eventually faded.

“I can’t believe they’re gone.” The elder knight grimaced, resting a hand upon his dragon’s growling snout as it came to rest beside his own.

“At least those that helped in it are dead.” Veledar stated coldly, watching the still burning corpses, tears streaming down his eyes.

“This is who you are.” Came Bahamut’s voice, as the illusions around Arcturus were swept away.

Speechless, his throat ached, “That was a trick, an illusion. That was not me!”

Bahamut padded around him, growling, “You don’t deserve the power you seek. You will use it for death, destruction, your own personal gain. There was once someone I knew like yourself. Who spoke of righteousness, when within beat a darker heart.”

“Wrong!” He shouted as the sound of the wind rose, only for him to be drowned out utterly by Bahamut’s roar. This time he was sent hurtling back, crashing through the watery floor and descending into the void. The paladin tried to grasp and thrash but it was of no use, his sight was gone, cold was all around him, he could not breath. Lungs burned as no air came, his heart pounded in his ears, was this to be the end?

He snapped awake with a gasp, then proceeding to cough to get water out of his lungs. It stung and sent sparks of pain through his body, even stars flashed before his eyes. Fremra all the while was looming over him, her form shifted to be smaller, a paw firmly on his chest. Her maw was inches above his, practically kissing.

“Oh good, he lives.” She sighed in relief, pulling back with a laugh, “You had me…us all scared for a moment. What happened?”

“I think…I think I connected with the shard.” His head was spinning as the real world came back into focus. The dragoness’ words clung to him, dragged him down, it felt as though he’d been drained to the very core. When he turned to Fremra he gave a defeated sigh, “And I don’t think she approved of me.”

“Tell me all about it.” Fremra changed back to her true size, laying upon her belly. She extended a paw and padded next to the other, gesturing him to her chest. “You can do so willingly, or I shall make it a demand.”

Without a choice the paladin dragged himself over, telling her everything that had transpired.

* * * * * * * * * *

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