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Chapter 17

The sun crawled to the horizon, its red orange claws reaching desperately out, latching onto the earth for precious seconds more. Despite their persistence the night pressed on without care, stars already bursting to life, streaks of lavender and onyx cleaving through red waves like a blade. But it was not here that a familiar set of green wings found themselves. No, Cordenth was far below, among the thick weeds, moisture covered reeds, letting them drag against his scales, pacing with such intensity he’d already trampled down a path beneath his paws.

The green dragon was growling to himself, grinding his teeth as the recent events hammered against the inside of his skull. The words he’d uttered aloud, poison, their recitation letting an icy claw drag against his insides, bit by bit, hallowing him out till he was nothing but an empty shell. He stopped to stare at an encampment far in the distance, one Lyndis had erected with help thanks to the unicorn’s magic. His heart quivered as he saw her slump by an open flame, her face in her hands. He should be over there now, falling prostrate on his paws and begging her forgiveness.

But she’d never forgive such a beast as he, letting loose such vile filth that would taint her beloved perception. Anyone with a flicker of sanity would let go of him, cast him aside like a troublesome thorn. He stared in horror at his paws, the same ones that’d held her mere nights before, the ones that’d struck her more recently. He might have killed her with more strength behind them. He rose them to his chest, pressing the claws against him till they pierced his flesh. The hot blood that dribbled against his digits never felt more deserved.

“And yet you deserve more.” He snarled, tearing himself away. “Stupidity is your cloak, arrogance your shadow, selfishness your friend. It’s no wonder her heart aches like a pack of wolves eating away at it. That fear in which she beheld you? Justified in every second.” He sulked, lashing his tail so hard against the earth he was certain he broke it, but even then, the pain didn’t bring him any solace. He was alone, his soul calling out to her, begging to be reforged.

But how would that be possible? Surely what love he had lay tarnished, slipped through his paws to shatter against the cavern floor, never to be reforged again. He rested his snout against the ground, eyes closed, hoping against it all that this was just a nightmare that he might wake, where this had never happened, Lyndis was there, waiting for him with open arms. But when he opened his tired eyes, he was still here, aching inside and out, when he held his breath, he could hear her sobbing on the wind.

“And where are you instead of trying to make this better? Sitting here, sulking, too scared to even fly over there and sing her your apologies.” He did another round of pacing, snarling, and growling at his own weakness before returning to stare at her camp from afar. His wings pinned, as a gnawing sense beckoned him to return. Could he truly undo what he’d done?

But why should you?

There was a voice in his skull, sounding like that of the pheonix from his visions. Part of him asked to question it, leap back in alarm, but did neither.

She never could see the larger picture, merely using you for her own ends. She tried to sway your thoughts to better control you, that’s what mortal kind always does in the end. Dragons to them are nothing more than threats to their power, or tools to better keep their own.

“No.” He growled, snapping to the darkened castle on the edge of the horizon, he wasn’t even questioning that he was talking to empty air. Perhaps it was his way of working through his grief, his mental faculties finally snapping for good. “Lyndis was not like that.”

Was she really? She could not even reciprocate your love for you. Is this the woman that you believe is worthy of your adoration? A dragon would be better fitting for one of your prestige. They would at least show generosity for your attentions. You only delude yourself if you think Lyndis truly holds you at heart, you’ll always be at arm’s length. A Concubine, nothing more.

“Then I’d rather be deluded.” His eyes narrowed, catching the slightest shimmer of gold and red upon the base of the bound castle, the pheonix that called him so? There was a moment upon the wind as he stood, wrapped in silence, breathing deep the tranquil air around him. Where there should have been but more smells of putrid water, instead brought the fresh aroma of a summer’s day, bursting with flowers, then came his name on the wind, soft and comforting. It spoke of rebirth, renewal, and for him to fulfill his great purpose. He took a step towards it, wings unfurling on their own. The darkened castle that should have made him question his morals, looked far brighter than before.

He knew what would set things right, he’d challenge what the unicorn had said, gain control of this untamable uniter. Lyndis would be so impressed with him that she’d beg to take him back, and if by some miracle still her needs were not met, he’d give the entire contraption to her! With her right to authority and his charming influence, they’d make a grand empire that would last for eons and beyond! He’d be hers and she his, living till the end of time, bringing the needed guidance of dragons back to this era. Besides, was that not what Sethera needed? To not be reduced to squabbles between mortal kingdoms, but united in eras of peace?

His chest swelled at the idea of this weapon of war being instead used to make peace, was that not the greatest of achievements? That would be the noblest of deeds he imagined, worthy of song and praise! With it’s help, no mortals would question their rule, after all, he imagined that’s what Lumara would need in the end. Sure, they had Nivra, but how long would that last? Humans had not long lifespans and quarrelling came to them as second nature. They’d backstab, cheat, make grabs for power, it would only be a matter of time until any peace they’d achieve without the uniter dead and gone. When he averted his gaze to Lyndis’ lonely camp, the prideful, glorious fire snuffed out in the blink of an eye. Was that truly what she’d wanted? Or would this lead to more fighting?

His heart throbbed as he lingered on her diminutive shape, quivering like a babe. If he closed his eyes and ignored the whisper of the wind, he was almost certain he could hear her heart wrenching sobs, each one haunting his existence, yanking at his wings to return, pledge his undying loyalty to her, swear on his life nothing of this sort would happen again, that he’d do better, be better.

That is what he should do wasn’t it? He took a breath, swaying his tail and fluffing his wings. He’d set everything right, he was a gentle dragon after all. He went to pounce into the air, only stumbling as the voice called to him again.

Is that what you want? To plead like a sniveling worm? What sort of dragon would she take you for then? Nothing more than a pathetic excuse of a dragon. She will lose her respect for you, trust me well. You’ll lose her if you pursue such a path.

“Or so you believe, it’s called a leap of faith.” He whispered, “I have to try, it’s- she’s worth it in the end. I’d rather have her adoration and love than any kingdom, any empire that falls into my paws.”

How selfish of you, to put your wants and needs above that of dragon kind. I beseech you, instead of leaving the future to the winds of fate, why not use your gifts? I thought you have the power of future sight; did it not start you on this noble quest?

He pinned his wings, that was right wasn’t it. It’d been so long since his trying, he’d nearly forgotten about the power that’d gotten him into this in the first place! He chuckled at the silliness of it all, planting his hinds upon the earth. The voice was right in what it said, why leave his future up to the flip of a coin? He had something better, the ability to cheat and plan, why not use it? He curled his tail with a close of his eyes, letting his mind drift back, magic flowing into his paws. He pictured the potential action of returning to Lyndis, laying down his head, begging for her forgiveness.

“You think that would be enough?” Her reply was hateful, eyes burning like the sun. She rose, quick as lightning, pelting his scales with flames, stabbing soon after with her rapier. It was all the green dragon could do to retreat, keeping her at bay only thanks to his wings. But no matter how he avoided to harm her, she was having none of it, Lyndis cursed his name, throwing spell after spell until he was brokenhearted, spiraling up into the sky. “And good riddance!” She spat upon the earth.

As Cordenth struggled to grasp what on earth had possessed her, time passed him by like the steady tick of a clock. Grass aged, trees wilted, buildings crumbled and burned as the land sped below him with tremendous speed. The future he saw had no love between them, instead a terrible rivalry that would plague Lyndis till she was old and grey. Undead now plagued her lands, spreading to the ends of Sethera unchecked. The half-elf had no more family to call her own, all having been lost to the long years of wars. There was no love left within her eyes, only the cold harsh reality that she’d grown to mirror.

“No. That can’t be. Just for asking forgiveness?” Cordenth recoiled from the vision as if burned. “This can’t be right, everything falls to ruin on this very choice?” His brain wracked for an answer that would not come, clawing at his scales. But that wasn’t the only choice was it? With a deep breath he tried to still the stampeding of his heart, picturing himself flying to the uniter, gaining control of the great weapon for his love.

He saw himself high above the uniter’s walls, triumphant and proud, sailing it across the countryside to smash aside the undead menace that plagued them. Lyndis was by his side with a happy grin, leaning upon his scales. From there time pulled the dragon further into it’s embrace, peeling back the curtain on what lay far into this future.

Below him grew forth a rolling countryside of colors, greens of every shade, broken apart by seas of luscious crimsons and stunning golds. Grand buildings swelled into prominence, bearing great banners of blue, white, and gold. Upon them sat not a pegasus in flight, but a regal dragon strong and proud, a mortal by their side, hand pressed tenderly upon their snout. Above this exploded flocks of multicolored birds, singing their songs as they danced across the treetops, oblivious of the dragon that watched them, a smile most wide upon his snout.

He wanted to trill, join the exquisite song that the land below clearly wanted. Was this Drenedar? One unburdened by the undead, free of the flying machines from Lumara to the north? He soared, light as a feather on his ethereal winds, eyes darting too and fro over the vast, wonderful landscape below. As he swooped around a series of snow capped mountains, his eyes grew wider than they’d ever done before. Everything before had been mere trinkets to what he spied, an entire flight of dragons adrift in the baby blue sky, at least one of every color, dancing around the clouds.

It was not only them locked in glorious trills and warbles, but mortals that found themselves clinging to their backs, fashioned tight into saddles that bore no reins. They flew together with no strings, no attachments, lost in each other’s happiness as they continued their dance. There was so many in number, Cordenth was speechless, they better resembled a wave of autumn leaves adrift in the wind.

He followed them as they shot across the sky, eventually swooping back to charge straight for him, even though they were oblivious of his presence. At their lead he spied Arcturus atop Veledar, like the tip of an advancing spear, the human with flight goggles, sharing the look of delight of his dragon, with armor that more resembled Veledar’s scales. On their flanks was a copper dragon, bearing a white and grey female wolven, just as eager as the human in front of her, egging her dragon to pick up speed. But it was not these that held Cordenth and stilled his heart, it was the human behind this wolven, atop a bright blue dragoness that caught his eye. She was young, hair like gold whisking out behind her in the wind. Her eyes were like sunflowers, brimming with delight.

Who was she? Why was he so captivated? He fluttered in midair, awestruck as she weaved and coaxed her dragon to even overtake the wolven, now nipping at Veledar’s tail frills. Cordenth flicked his paws, focusing on this human, letting her life open before him like the many pages of a mighty tome. In flashes he saw her trained with swords by Arcturus’ hand, going from unsure novice to confident student. There came days of flying with Veledar adrift the cloudy skies, learning to race and hide through the forest as well as within the castle, Lyndis taught her how to open locks and avoid pressure plates, he’d never seen the rogue smile so large.

Was this the future that he’d hoped? Cordenth flipped through more pages, seeing Arcturus and Lyndis age before his eyes, sparks of grey start to line their hair, but never being cursed with frail bodies or wrinkles that was typical. It looked as though they had happy lives, but was he in them? He frantically unraveled memory after memory, his tail swishing back and forth.

He found himself with this unknown child, hovering over her crib as she lay as a newborn, protective as a mother hawk. He saw her grow with his next breath, from giggling toddler over his snout, to a child that took turns chasing him through the fields. There were numerous careful hugs, gentle nudging of her head, licks across scrapes and bruises. She laid beside him as he read to her bedtime stories, with Lyndis right along with her, his wings holding them most tenderly. The dragon changed from princess to allow her practice of saving damsels, to companion for tea, to a horsie in which she might ride. There were holidays, of friends and family that flocked to their side, filling their life with untold joy. She was always there, from youth to teen, to adult, smiling and giving him hugs even as he and Lyndis aged.

The dragon’s eyes widened as realization struck him. This was not just Lyndis daughter as he’d suspected, but his own as well. He didn’t question this miracle of nature and bowed his head, “She’s my daughter, that’s what awaits me…A life.” Cordenth whispered softly, eyes slowly opening to the waking world. To the uniter his snout turned, it’s shadow looking ever brighter in his eyes. Everything would work out in the end, he just needed the strength to fly there, gain control and let the future unfold how he envisioned. There he would have his friends, the kingdom that he’d always wanted, the resurgence of dragon kind, so that they might not fear behind hunted or despised. To Lyndis encampment he searched, finding her among the shadows, only now lit by her fire.

“I love you my dearest, know what I do now is for us…Not for myself…I will return to you with the uniter, and reforge what I’ve broken this day.” With a newfound courage in his chest he spread his great wings, pounding against the air to carry him forth to his grand, bright, destiny. He announced himself with a trill to the wind, the future was about to be made.

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

Lyndis huddled close to her crackling fire, made of gathered brush she was certain against the unicorn’s rules. Though if by luck or empathy, Tumo had not yet scolded her. Even though the flames brought comforting warmth to her, it did little to quell the cold that tugged at her quivering heart. It felt as though it were made of glass, like even the slightest of winds would shatter it yet again. Red eyes gazed deep into the dancing flames, drifting off to oblivion as she clutched tight the green sash, he had given her mere months ago.

It was such a simple thing, of fibers you could stitch together with basic skill, or find within a shop. Yet it clung to her hands like webbing, defiant, resistant, unwilling to be tossed into the fiery jaws that awaited it. She muttered to herself, her limbs drained of all strength, she was like a hallowed shell. All those nights where dreams were crafted, wasted, tender talks and embraces nothing more than ghosts, deceived by a con artist, her, making her believe a fantasy. She shook, all her tears already having been shed.

How many times had she found herself here? Rock bottom yet expecting to find yet another bottom? Here she sat, stranded, no lift, far away from her people and friends. They would never know what befell her, why she’d failed to bring the help they’d desperately needed. True she might survive, but they’d be lost to her, just like time after time before, this is why she didn’t do adventuring teams anymore. It was the loss that slowly ate away at your spirit. All because of him.

Despite her unwillingness, she could see the cruel look he’d given her upon his once benevolent snout, burned into her memory like a brand. How she’d longed to see a bright look there, a hint of a joke, possibly that this was all a twisted dream, meant to chip away at her soul. Yet every time she closed her eyes and wished that it were so, she was faced with the grim reality of it all. This was no fairy tale, just the cruel, cold fact that she’d been duped, tricked, tossed aside as though she didn’t matter. She was going to have to come to grips with that for the days ahead, rise stronger than she’d before.

“How could I have been that stupid though?” She murmured, finding the strength to dangle the green sash over the hungry flames. She knew why, and it pulled at her heart like a curse, Cordenth’s smile stabbed at her. She’d expected him to be just as Veledar before him. An arrogant beast to be sure, but one of depth and nobility that he tried to mask. How she missed the red’s presence now, hoping he’d have the common sense to grab Arcturus and flee before the undead were assailing the walls of Struport proper.

“But no, the dragon you found?” He had to be like everyone bloke before him. Only seeing her as a tool used for power, willing to crush those that would get in his way. Her eyes hardened as she tried to shake free the sash, be rid of the symbol of his love, yet even though she tried, she couldn’t find the strength to release it. “But why?” She grit her teeth, eyes starting to bubble with tears she thought already gone. He was awful, hurtful, why was this so hard?

“Come on you ruddy hands, do as your told!” Her heart pounded within her chest, like a dagger trying to stab it’s way out. “He’s a bastard through and through, stop being sentimental and do it!” As she was reduced to a sobbing, wailing mess, the fire only answered her with it’s gentle crackling. By the time she’d ended her emotional fit, it was like a pack of wolves had torn at every part of her. Even as she breathed, little sparks of pain flickered through her.

How could she be reduced to such a state? She’d lost lovers before, tossed them to the winds, but never in her twenty-nine years of life did it ever ache this badly. Was it because she’d fallen for him like a stupid rube?? Or was it because the dragon had sunk his claws into her with his powers, making her hurt all over unless she was begging away at his paws? Well, she wasn’t going to let that bastard win, if he didn’t want her to destroy it, that’s what she was going to do. With a breath she composed herself the best she could, steeled her eyes and readied herself. If not for the haggard wheeze behind her, she might have dropped it right there and then.

“Whose there?” She rose, whirled around, drawing her rapier in the blink of an eye. Electricity curled around the metal, freeing the ground of its red orange haze and painting it with a whitish blue. Had Cordenth returned? There was a dark shape beyond her dark vision, “Now is not the time to be fockin with me.”

From beyond the firelight came the towering form of the Emerald Lady, her scales a smoky black in the dim light. Her tail dragged against the grass, her frills drooped instead of standing proudly tall. Her voice was haggard and tired, as if she was forcing herself to even speak. “You might want to stay your hand.” Her tired, lavender eyes brightened, gesturing to the sash in which the rogue held. “Who knows, regret might hound you in the years to come.”

“Hardly.” She scowled, resting cool as a coiled spring. Every time they’d met before, treachery had been at its heart. When the dragoness moved a paw, she was ready, whirling a firebolt mere inches from where it’d landed. Green scales that had once been the brightest emerald were now dull, awash with waves of grey. “And stay the hell back, I’m in no mood for another of your bloody schemes, your first one failed, deal with it.” She twirled her blade with a whisper of words of power, splitting her form into three identical Lyndis, each looking upon the dragoness with such scorn, the air itself might have lit ablaze.

“I have not come to quarrel with you Lyndis, I’m in need of your aid.” Emerald Lady replied, trying to take another step, earning herself a firebolt to her forepaw. She recoiled with a pained hiss.

“And I said back the fock off you conniving cunt! Whip back your tail and depart before I skewer you.”

The wind whispered as the Emerald Lady stood silent, searching the stressed half-elf from boot to head. None dared speak to her in such a way before. She took a labored breath, now was not the time for pride. “I don’t think you’d have the stomach for that. One wonders what has inspired such fire, causes your hands to shake, quiver, like you’re a rickety building, barely standing tall?” She took another step as if to question the queen’s convictions, earning herself a fireball exploding across her snout, burning her scales and sensitive membranes.

“Oh yea? How about that for a rickety building. Do you enjoy the taste of flames? Comin here and tryin to play dumb, like you don’t know what your son did? Come on Lady, I’m not that thick. But really, this was the plan? Get mommy to come and explain he was sorry? Sorry Lady, I’m not biting. Go get mounted, I’m not in your schemes any longer.”

The dragoness hissed, fluffing her great, leathery wings. “Girl, my schemes are spent, I have no time for games. Cease with this foolishness. I sit before you, no more knowledgeable of the future than you do. May I approach?”

Was she serious? Lyndis stilled her tongue, the emerald lady never asked permission for anything, especially from a mortal. What game was she playing at? Lyndis didn’t lower her blade, images of Cordenth biting at the back of her mind. “No.” She stated firmly, “Take your tail, turn round, fly off on your little wings and never darken my days again.”

The Emerald Lady wheezed; her eyes clenched in pain. “I cannot have that now. I’ve come, risked everything and you must listen.” With a flick of her tail, Lyndis’ sword glowed with the heat of a forge, falling to the earth with her startled yell. When a fireball tried to deter the dragon’s approach, Emerald lady whisked it away with but a whisper and flare of her wings, the embers tossed to the air like thousands of little firebugs. As Lyndis backed away in alarm, the dragoness collapsed to her belly, snout falling beside the fire with a defeated sigh. “Now stop throwing your flames and threats and listen to what I have to say.”

“What’s your game woman?” Lyndis dared not approach, “Whenever you come round to have a chinwag, nothing but despair or servitude for us is in store.”

“Come now, they can’t all have been bad. Now, tell me where Cordenth has gone, what has he done?”

“Your son?” She scoffed, “You want me to listen and then speak of him? That all that matter to ya?”

“It’s all that’s ever mattered to me, a family, a life. One free of my father and the cycle in which dragon kind has always found itself. One built upon rebirth and destruction, the need to dominate all life.”

“Yea, yea, sure. Your son has lots of that in him as well.” With a flick of her wrist, she used her spiritual hand to return her rapier to her grip. It was cool, whatever magic the dragoness had worked upon it gone. She brandished it with a stern look upon her brow, “He flew off like a spoiled brat, thrashing about because he didn’t get what he wanted. Guess you should have taught him better Lady, the persona you gave him crumbled away at the finish line. To think I actually thought I might-“

“Might what?” Emerald Lady replied softly.

Lyndis shook her head, “It doesn’t matter, the big arse told me all I needed to know about him. Guess there’s more of you in him than you’d have liked.” Though she laughed as though she were in control, it merely masked the ache within. Even now the words felt like a bitter poison, but she was not going to collapse into a wreck before this dragoness, she had the strength, even now.

“What do you mean by that?” She tilted her head, revealing golden horns like that of Cordenth, whatever illusion she’d had to make them onyx vanished. These too were corrupted with grey factures, splintering down her horns to the base.

“Oh, you know. Standard stuff. Better than thou attitude, mortals just pets or playthings. Good trick you know, had me fooled, turns out all he wanted was a snog, shag and a kingdom.”

She shifted against the earth, “It was I that wanted your kingdom, he wished only for you. “I tried to warn him that mortals live not forever, but he persisted.”

“Is that so? If he loved me so much as you claim, then explain why he struck me when I called him out on his shite, told me I was nothing. You can stop lying to me, I’m not buying what you’re selling anymore.”

Lavender eyes darkened as she looked to the fire, “Then it’s worse than I’d feared, his influence has grown more powerful than I’d imagined.”

“Whose influence?” Her blade lowered.

“My father, a terrible dragon known to our kind as Tiamat. To mortals and those that feared him though, he called himself the Emperor of dragonkind. He was the favored son of Bahamut, goddess of dragons.”

“Oh bullshite.” She scoffed, “You’d say anything to get your son out of his mess. Now you blame some ancient boogieman instead manning up to what he’s done?” She nearly laughed, “I have to say, I admire your loyalty to the bastard.”

She sighed, “What cruelty he must have showed you, to tarnish the light in which you held. I know deep within he must be tortured, disbelief of what he’s done. His power that you’ve seen comes from Tiamat itself, the tiniest of fractions.”

“Yea, he told me. That’s why he had to be careful.”

“And yet you’d rather believe that he’s responsible for what he’s done? Instead of the grim reality that stares you in the face? He touched the soul of my father, and return it reached back into him. Every terrible thing that dwells within his heart might have been amplified, his greed, pride, anger, arrogance, he might not even be aware that it’s happening.”

At first she said nothing, her blade remaining still. When she spoke, her voice lacked the conviction from before, “You’re lying.”

“How I wish that I were.” She grumbled, licking her paws, “It would make everything simpler, easier to understand. We’d never have to face the horrors of what awaits us. Tell ourselves he’s a jerk, a twat, instead of realizing he’s being taken from us.” When her snout rose, concern was painted across her snout, pooling in her eyes like waves of worry in a lavender sea. “I’ve done terrible things in my past, played with other’s lives like pieces on a dragonchess board. I was the one who placed this tether within him, it is I to blame. Rest not your scorn on him, but upon me I beg of you. I have come to save his life this eve, you must heed what I say, for his sake.”

“Oh, now you care about him? What about abandoning him in the deep fae? Where he was bound and practically drained of life? Where was this vast sea of concern then?”

“I saw that you would rescue him then. Now his fate is far less certain.” The dragoness didn’t look to her, “I fear he will perish unless you act, for my time on this earth grows short.”

“Time grows short? You’re aware dragons are immortal.” She searched the weathered scales of this once powerful dragoness, “And why do you think I even care what happens to that slimeball?”

“Then throw his sash away if you care so little. Let it burn like the ashes of Kalesh.”

“I can do it! Don’t you think I can’t!” She snapped, brandishing the sash over the flickering flames. “I was just savoring the experience; I can only do it once!”

“Then do it.” She challenged with a cough, “Let it burn.”

She met the lady’s gaze, not deterred for an instant. What was her game? “You will not be the boss of me Lady.” She retracted her arm, stashing the sash within her pockets, “Why should I even buy this little act? You lie, cheat and manipulate as you said!”

Emerald Lady stilled, curling her tail around her hinds. “Then I offer you the only thing I can think of to win your trust Lyndis of Drendar. I give you my name.” She rose her head, chest filling with what pride she once held, “Ossai, forger of the orbs of dragon kind, wielder of the rings of Zentarith, daughter of Tiamat, granddaughter of Bahamut.” She took a labored breath as Lyndis looked to her in disbelief, “And I am begging…Nay pleading at your paws. I have spent weeks gathering the necessary resources for even a slim chance at saving my son’s life. It is only you I fear that will have even that.”

It was like a veil had lifted over the towering dragoness, what power and authority she had vanished with the next whisk of the wind. Lyndis had no words to share. In another time she might have laughed, mocked her, rightfully so, but now all she could do was sheath her rapier and sit beside her, “Shite, we’re truly fucked if that’s what you’re willing to share…If you’re not lying.”

“I’m not.”

“Even so, having you beg and plead? Got me intrigued with that, must have taken some serious swallowing of the pride.”

“I care not of my pride…Not in these moments…I take it I have your ear now?”

Lyndis nodded, “Not saying that I totally believe you, but I’ll hear you out.”

“Then I’ll take what I can get. We were played for fools in Tiamat’s game. I once thought I was the master of my fate, crafter of a web, but I was no more powerful than the lot of you.”

“That must be refreshingly terrifying.”

Ossai coughed into her wing, revealing scabs along her membranes, some where blood was flowing down like rivers. “He used me to forge his orbs, gather them together and ready this world for his return. I had hoped to use Cordenth as a deception to finally rid this world of him. But instead, he will be the vessel in which the spirit of Tiamat inhabits. Through him, he shall forge a new empire of tyranny. Drenedar, Rothdell, Lumara, all will fall before his paws, in time the entire world, the cycle will return, and this time, there will be no dragon goddess to stand in his way.”

“A demigod, that is who we’re trying to stop?” She scoffed, “And shouldn’t you be all for this? In this scenario you make out like a bandit! Mortals bowing in the streets at your paws!”

“That’s never what I wanted.” Growled Ossai, “Perhaps when I was young and foolish, but not before I had my soul tempered by bloodshed, seeing dragons die, families torn apart. I wanted there to be peace, where our worlds would not be torn asunder. One that I know I will never see, but one my children should have to grace their paws.” She quivered weakly, eyes closed, blood starting to dribble down her snout.

“What’s wrong?” Lyndis leaned in, hands falling upon the dragon’s weathered cheek, she was cold, far colder than a dragon should be. “Don’t tell me you’re dying…But why come here? Why to me instead of your son? Surely you could snap him out of whatever Tiamat has done to him?”

She shook her head, “That task falls to you.”

“Me? How do you expect me to do that? I’m just an adventurer, I can’t fight a demigod.”

“But with this.” Ossai thumped her paw, whispering words of power so old, not even Lyndis could make heads or tails of them. From the ground rose a crown of thorns, dotted with bright lavender flowers. It glistened in the firelight, bristling with an untold power. “A gift most rare.”

“A crown? You want me to slip a crown onto the power-hungry freak?”

“His horn, and it’s not just some crown, but a symbol of hope and love.” Replied Ossai.

“You want us to defeat this demigod with friendship and love? Come on Ossai, that sounds like-“

“What? A fable? What’s wrong with those? It has the best chance of freeing Cordenth from his influence, letting him think without the debilitating affects of my father.” She weakly pressed the crown into Lyndis’ palms, the rogue nearly dropped it with a curse.

“It’s cold as hell!” She pulled free a handkerchief from her pack, wrapping the crown within, “You could have mentioned!”

“Apologies.”

“Now what makes this thing so special?”

“Its wood woven from the tree of Nutambar itself, soaked in the oil of a pheonix for three nights, threaded with the hairs of a unicorn. It was doused with dragon blood, then blessed by a cleric of each of the deities that call this plane home. Then, it will be given to one that he’s bonded with, allowing him to gain control of himself.”

“That why my heart hurts like someone stabbed it?” She rubbed her chest, wincing as she did so, “Here I thought I was being sentimental.”

For the first time since she’d arrived, Ossai seemed to sigh in relief, “It appears as though I’m not wrong in that regard, the fates smile on our plight. You do have the bond.”

“The bond? Like the one Arcturus and Veledar share?”

“One and the same, a boon given by Bahamut for dragon’s whose care went far beyond that of their own kind. Back then it seemed a foolish notion, how could one care about a little mortal more than your own immortal life?” She chuckled weakly into her paws, “And now what I mocked might be our only salvation of saving Cordneth’s life.” Her chuckle soon shifted into a cough, as the entire dragoness shook, eventually slumping to the earth, blood dribbling down her chin. She was barely hanging on. “You have to go to him.”

She palmed the crown over, searching for an inkling of deceit in those lavender eyes. Isn’t this what she wanted? Something to explain all the misery that’d just been unleashed at her feet? That Cordenth was out there waiting for her, devoid of any culpability over his actions? Bitterly she clenched the crown tight, eyes hardening. “This seems all too good to be true. Just as he douses our relationship with flames, you swoop in to spin me a yarn about fates, death, and destruction, defying the gods themselves. Why should I believe in this, when every ounce of my being says you’re just crafting another story?”

Her eyes closed, breaths drew further apart. “Is this not what you’ve wanted?”

“That’s why it’s so hard to believe.”

“Then I need you to hope that it’s true, at least till the end of this eve. Lyndis, daughter of Elizabeth, I beg of you to find my son and free him from Tiamat’s treachery. Let not my final act for him be in vain.”

But how could it not be, if this Tiamat could indeed see the future, plan everything down to the smallest detail? “What hope is there, with your father’s plans…”

“There is a gap in his visions.” Ossai weakly replied, “Find him, place the crown upon his horn, let your bond set him…free.” With a final heave she slumped to the ground, never to breathe again.

Lyndis sat in reserved silence, waiting for the charade to be revealed. But when she only got the lonely whimper of the wind, she nervously laughed, kicking Ossai’s scales. “Nice act their Lady, even held your breath, can’t say I’m not impressed.”

But she didn’t stir.

She kicked harder, this time with effort, earning the same result. Nothing, not a sound, not a gesture, it would seem that the grand dragoness that’d once filled Lyndis with dread, fear and anger, now was nothing more than an empty shell, her life energy spent. She stared down to the crown in her palms, feeling it increase its weight tenfold, she hadn’t been lying. Lyndis stood without a word, searching beyond the firelight, she had to find Cordenth.

Just as she’d gathered her pack and supplies, planning to snuff out the fire, two dragon sized shapes swooped overhead, landing beyond the fire with the ruffling of leathery wings. Lyndis shot up, her hand reflexively going to her rapier, was that him? What sort of state would he be in now? Angry, possessed, or apologetic? One of the pair of dragons was definitely his shape, roughly ten feet tall, the other slightly smaller. Had he picked up a dragon friend? Dread bubbled within her gut.

“Cordenth, is that you?” She announced firmly, “Not very polite to sneak up on a lady you know.”

From the shadow’s edge came his green face, a sullen look about his features. His eyes only lingered on her for but a moment, before drifting to the dead form of his mother. But when he slunk forward on tentative paws, the fire revealed this was not Cordenth, but that of his brother Lyyreth. For one of his onyx horns was chipped, his lime green membranes adorned with blackened coal arcane runes, and the yellow symbols on the bottom of his wings were wavy lines instead of lines.

“Mother?” His voice, once bubbly and filled with optimism now cracked, weighed down by despair. He passed Lyndis and nudged at her side with his snout, visibly drooping when she didn’t respond. “So she wasn’t lying.”

“Lyyreth, so you’re not the only dragon I didn’t think I’d see this evening.” She said softly, laying a tender hand upon his shoulder. As the dragon shook she patted softly, “I’m sorry for your loss. She might have been a terrible mother in some regards, but you shouldn’t have to pay for that.”

“I know.” He whined, nuzzling against her side, “She said this might happen this night…I didn’t think…Couldn’t believe it was even in the cards.”

Arms wrapped around his green snout without hesitation, holding the shivering dragon close. “She mentioned your brother, tried to tell me what she could…We have to find him, before whatever nonsense she unleashed on him is too late.”

“Is he not here?” Growled another dragon that emerged from the shadows, though they seemed to not leave her scales. She was black as the night itself, eyes of the fiercest emeralds the queen had ever seen. Spines ran down the length of her like a river, jutting in several places from her grey underscales. When she surveyed the area with her snout, little whiskers dangled below her chin. “Leave it to your brother to get lost when we need him. Oh-“ The dragoness’ bat like ears pinned as she noted Lyyreth’s shivering, without another word she slid beside him, pinning down her spines and nuzzling at his flank, whispering that it was going to be ok.

“Take it this is your lady friend?” Asked Lyndis as the green dragon took comfort in the embrace of the black.

“I’m Night Rising, yes.” Replied Night Rising, swishing her sharpened, spade like tail over the grass, “And you must be Lyndis, figures he’d fall head over tail for a princess of all things.”

“What are you doing here? I thought Emerald Lady came by herself?”

“We were trying to find Cordenth.” Sniffed Lyyreth, wiping his eyes with a wing, “We couldn’t, so we thought he might be here. His scent was around the tree, but disappeared as if he’d never existed. We thought mother might know why.”

Dread twisted and churned within Lyndis’ gut as she looked past the dragons before her and gazed out to the horizon beyond. It’s blackened walls gazed at her like a terrible monster, beckoning her onward. She rested a hand on Lyyreth’s neck, meeting his concerned gaze, “I know where he might be, I just pray I’m wrong.”

“That human contraption?” Sneered Night Rising, gesturing to the uniter with a flare of her nostrils.

She nodded, clambering onto Lyyreth’s back as he lowered himself for her to do so. “And we haven’t a second to lose. Something has him ensnared, and like hell I’m letting it get it’s paws on him.”

* * * * * * * * * *

Thanks for following along, I'll remind ya to not feel shy about posting down below. I know there are two that often do, and I am grateful, but to others, I implore you to share your thoughts. We're getting down to the wire now for this part of the tale. I have a question to ask of you. Would you rather me see it to it's end, or shift back to Arcturus. (As they are supposed to be running concurrently.)