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Chapter 21

Arcturus scowled at the men who righteously shoved him through the doors to the hall of justice. Once a place of integrity and honor, it instead was going to be smeared with lies and the stench of corruption. Yet the crimson knights that bound his arms seemed to care very little, even as they passed below the marble statues of human and elf, each having a gaze of judgement far sharper than the last.

His thoughts were scattered and troubled, no more word from his beloved dragon since the eve. There must have been something else that the scaled beast needed to contact him, otherwise he doubted there was anything upon this plane that would stop him from doing so. It was a shame, all things considered, as the Guardians had sped up their plan. In a series of squawks and shouts of protest, they’d removed Arcturus from Skywing’s protective grasp. As the eyes of the hall fell upon him, he never felt as vulnerable as he did now.

Was he going to do what he’d said? Repeat the lies that the torturers had given to him? Reward their cruelty and dishonesty, all merely to save the lives of those he held dear? The paladin’s heart darkened, uncertain what it meant for his convictions to his vows. The need to be always plain and speak the truth was the first one, if he could not do that, then how could he keep to the others? He thought to Dreadflame and his need to see the dragon suffer, that certainly wasn’t about justice. Lowering his head, a thump of the impatient guardians behind reminded him of his helplessness. That he was going to set fire to future diplomatic ties between Lumara and Drenedar, to save a handful of soldiers. Would it be so wrong? He’d been willing to give up everything for Veledar before, Skywing had said as much when he’d let them go.

Up carpeted steps of lavender, the paladin was forced to ascend, catching the sight of every guardian and cleric that roamed these halls. In each of their eyes was questions, marred by the glint of distrust. It was hard to believe that not all these soldiers sought ill. He hoped that whatever plan that Veledar and the others had would see fruition, though without a way to contact them he didn’t see how. He grimaced as the hardened oak doors of the inner court were presented to him, towering above his head with carvings of direwolves. In elven it spoke of dignity and purity, drawing a mocking grunt from the man below.

Inside were rows upon rows of gathered guardians. They were each divided by their house, the Onyx, Ruby, and Sapphire. Each of them swiveling their heads to see the man that had started out with such promise, only to seek to dismantle their defenses. Beyond them was a closed off section with thick mahogany, gleaming in the sunlight streaming through the frost tinted windows. The air was cold, calm, any conversation they’d been having had died the moment the doors had entered.

Under the cloud of silence Arcturus was dragged before the collected host, forced into a sectioned off area with a stool with a sapphire cushion. The knight found himself dead center of the hall, all eyes searching his face up and down, rows upon rows of guardians upon benches so that they might gaze down upon him. Did he do it? Was he a monster? What of the Lumarians that came? All of it could be read across all their faces, it made the paladin sick. They were not here to get the truth, but a special concoction meant to placate those in power. It was moves like this that reminded him of his own order of paladin’s from Lumara, who were all too willing to allow the construction of mana crystals, despite their horrific origins. Perhaps orders such as this attracted people whose hearts may be swayed, those that desired power and coin over their own morals and the wants of those they were to protect.

As he shifted upon his cushioned seat, a group of four elder knights entered the hall, climbing up a set of stairs to assume their towering positions. Each of them wore robes of the darkest crimson, stitched with gold and silver in flowering designs. Despite being all of different races, their fur and hair were each sprinkled with grey, eyes of wisdom resting upon each of their faces. Though they were supposed to be impartial, Arcturus could feel the judgement each had resting upon his features, that resentment over having caused the dragon that helped form these orders to perish.

The first to be announced was Lady Numbra Gilna, a sunelf elf of great renown. Though she was on the elder side of an elf, not a wrinkle adorned her face. Her hair was of almond, whips of grey about it. As she sat, her eyes were as sharp as they’d ever been, pure white as Azmeth’s snow. The speaker painted her service as one of exquisite duty, uplifter of the doomed, savior of the damned. Arcturus found himself biting his lip, as it sounded as though this elf was a spiritual heart to this order, right after Storm himself. But when she looked to him he saw not malice, but a bluntness and fairness that spoke to his heart. Perhaps he would not be as doomed.

Next announced was a dwarf of an overweight stature, Halmick Fierybelt, who clearly enjoying the fruits and labors of being within the walls. At his boots was his long beard, so thick that it might be mistaken for armor, and doing it’s best to try and get caught underfoot. It jingled away like a symphony with how many beads were woven into its surface. He pounded his chest as he sat, burping loudly before grabbing a goblet of wine that rested before his seat. As the announcer listed off his achievements versus orcs and goblins the dwarf merely raised his goblet, cheeks already starting to red. To Arcturus he could only offer a smile, though the knight knew not if this was to favor himself, or merely because a state of drunkenness had already started to set in.

Third to come was the Sir Steven, who sauntered over to his seat with a knowing smile. When he sat, he leaned back, a malevolence concealed within those kind eyes. Before him he pulled the stack of assorted papers that would seal the fate of the future moving forward. As Arcturus glared at him he merely smirked, knowing he’d already won.

Last was a wolven of dark brown fur, almost black if not for the sunlight. She had feathers of teal and scarlet scattered about her, worn as was typical for those of her kind. Her name was Akita Greymane, a daughter of a great paladin that once was the reason for this hall’s construction. It was said that her fingers stretched across the kingdom themselves, every soul having owed this family a favor. Unlike the others when she sat, a look of contempt crossed her brow. As though Arcturus’ mere presence brought shame to her lineage. She folded her hands across her desk, ears pinning back. A gavel struck, resounding through the hall. This was the council of the guardians.

“Thank you brother Quintus for your introductions. Though we have spoken to you before about adding un-needed gravitas.” Her voice was tempered and strong, yet traces of threat within, “Let us not need to correct you in the future.”

Brother Quintus bowed his head, “Apologies mum. I meant no disrespect. Merely to paint the elegant picture of who stands before the accused.”

“And who exactly is this man?” Halmick the dwarf replied, gesturing to Arcturus. “I’ve heard tales of his dishonor and deeds throughout the wee hours of the night!”

Akita coughed and gained control of her peer, “Arcturus, paladin of Lumara. You stand before us to help bring justice for crimes against Drenedar during the war and for treachery that continues to this day. The metal dragon of your people’s making that assailed our walls, to the lich that was freed under your care.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, “To the death of our treasured Storm.”

He did as she requested, offering no rebuttal. Any words he might have said, were dashed away by a sly nod from Sir Steven. This was all part of the plan if he desired it or not.

“Interesting.” Halmick leaned forward, his furry brow raised, “A knight of Lumara coming to help against his people. Not even a word to dispute what was laid bare.”

“No, all of what was said was true.” He replied, keeping an eye upon the man that held his invisible leash. “I have fought for my kingdom when I believed it to be just, turned my back on those when they revealed I could not. True my past might be troubled by my kingdom, stained with it’s blood, but that’s not what defines me. You call me a paladin of Lumara, that is now not the case. I pledged myself to helping those beyond my kingdom’s borders, finding conviction within that of the dragon goddess Bahamut.” That got a few voices talking among themselves, “I stand before you as I’ve always done, someone offering aid, protection, security. This has never changed now, or even through the years of my days. I can see the fear now in your eyes plain as day, that has you gripped here looking for answers. I know whispers abound if I desire power within your ranks, I can say that is false.” He bowed his head to play up the admission, “I only come to you now to see that truth prevail. That the guilty parties responsible are brought to justice.”

Murmurs traveled through the gathered ranks of knights like a wildfire. Within it was the declaration of his honesty, that perhaps he was not the one to place the blame upon. All of it died when the elf Numbra addressed the hall.

“Thank you sir Arcturus, this will be noted.” Her voice was filled with respect, “I am glad that you found the courage to come to us when you have. Storm spoke favorably of you before he passed. I hope that his words were not ill constructed. It is a shame that your princess avoided her summons to attend thanks to the tricks of that elder man. Know that what decision we decide today will affect her, regardless of her absence.”

What began could only be described as long, drawn out versions of his deeds. They spoke to numerous battles, the defense of Trost, to the excursion to the silver highlands. Each one was more courageous than the last. To the paladin’s surprise they kept painting him as a man of passion and honor, one who would always do what was right, even if the enemy were his foe. But as he sat, he knew these words were poisoned, only setting up what would be the dagger in whish their wielded. His own word against Nivra.

In awe the audience was when they got to recent events. They told of Dreadflame, and how he ravaged Entis that frightful night. It painted Arcturus as a broken man, of misery and no direction. It changed when he’d met Veledar, doing what was right instead of killing the dragon as he was ordered. It was odd to hear it vocalized, that even in this darkened time it would draw a smile to the man’s face. He couldn’t help but realize how far they’d come, a grumbling, hissing beast as he stood over, wondering what secrets lay within that horned head of his.

“And so, you arrived with your queen to dismantle our defenses from within!” Came a witness called to testify, the gate warden Gray Steelpaw, the one who’d brought the human into this. “Attacked the knights that uncovered such secrets the night you were sent upon your mission! You were following your queen’s orders!”

“She holds no sway over my actions.” Arcturus spat, staring that corrupted wolf square in the eye, “I came to help you with my allies, she was one of them.”

“Aha!” The wolven smirked, “And yet the company of which you keep suggests you were not here to help but cause trouble!” Chest swelling with pride he barked to the hall, “At this very moment we have in custody a minotaur that would have committed murder, a kobold that seems to steal anything not bolted down, and a mangy cat that keeps threating to decapitate the guardians that rightfully have him in custody!” He thrust a finger to Arcturus, an ill gleam in his lupine eyes, “This is the man we are expected to trust? One whose every act seems to end in disaster and pain?”

He was thankful when the commander departed, leaving him alone to face the council. Anyone else might have thought all of that was convincing, but not these faces.

“Commander Gray, perhaps it would be better to not try and appeal to emotion in your statement?” Said Numbra, “Arcturus, is it correct that you slew Nivra’s father?”

He nodded, “The man was threatening to never be brought in, to continue sacrificing innocent lives to fuel the Lumarian war machine.”

It was Halmick that brought an end to the round of murmuring that gripped the hall. “And it is the word of a king killer, who betrayed his oaths to serve him that stands before us?”

He nodded, “It was he that turned his back on me good dwarf. Cornelius ordered me to slay an innocent dragon with no just cause. His ambitions were not just abroad, but here was well. Even now outside your walls his madness burns your people, destroys your cities. Its continued existence will always be a threat to every living being. It was with a heavy heart that I was forced to act, I believed him a righteous and honorable man.” His gaze hardened like steel, “But he proved he was far a lesser creature.”

“See?” Sir Steven smiled wide, “Arcturus could not go along with a dishonorable deed when presented before him! We heard that right?”

“Yes.” He growled, knowing where this was going.

“We’ve heard his accounts of the matter with the lich, with the metal beast. It would seem they all have a common thread on which to pull.” Steven patted the papers at his side, the table set for the doom they might wrought. “The woman related to such a monster as that, who was the apprentice of the lich we imprisoned. The future queen Nivra Graysword.”

It was then that the hall’s doors bust open with a thunderous crack, Nivra standing within them, staff in hand, her robes fluttering in a phantom wind. Her face was that of a granite wall, eyes of twin flames. For a moment the guardians were stunned, but that passed and weapons were drawn with wicked hisses. When she spoke it was that of a commander taking the field, power and strength contained within, “You know Sir Steven, and all who rally to his cause. Perhaps instead of whipping upon my knight, you instead direct your focus upon me.”

“Guards!” Commander Gray shouted, plucking a pistol from his belt and shifting it towards the princess. Lips curled into a snarl, “She was not welcome in this hall. Kindly remove her before she uses her magic to bully her point across.”

“There is no bully or deception but what was already within.” She replied coolly, “To think not even an invitation was presented to me, the one who you sought to besmirch.”

The first group of guardians came for the princess, swords in hand. They expected little to no fight, their authority respected. They found not her to block their path or see them defeated, but an olive skinned elf dancing in behind her with a sing song voice.

“Rather rude if you ask me!” Fremra firmly said, thrusting one finger towards the guardians, another back whence they came. One by one their weapons were wretched from their grasps, sent clattering to the stone. As others went to draw additional weapons the disguised dragoness groaned, waving her hand to a whole slew of the second batch, sending all who stood against them to the floor as though they were magnets caught in a field. There they squirmed unable to move, as the ladies faced down the rest of the hall and the council. Fremra strode forward, a bounce in her step, “If Storm could see what was going on here right now, he’d be ashamed.” She swept the hall with her critical eye, “Secret councils, deception?” She focused squarely upon Steven. “You disrespect everything that my mate stood for.”

“Ah. It would appear as though Storm’s Sea Lilly has decided to join us.” Steven stuttered, waving to the seats, “I did send someone to invite you. I had assumed you were busy.”

“Always be careful about assuming.” She chuckled, sauntering over to one of the rows. Instead of the first open seat she decided to walk across the ranks of guardians, apologizing with every step. “And I suggest you hear Nivra out! We went through all the trouble of getting her here.”

While Steven sat subdued, eyes wide with shock at the turn, it was the other council members who wore interested looks. Akita was the one to take charge, silencing the commotion about the hall.

“We will have order within the halls of justice.” She said, hands folding before her. “I see no problem with Nivra attending this gathering.” She gestured to Arcturus side, “After all, she was summoned after all, was she not?” She side eyed Steven, who nodded in agreement, but his eyes sharp.

As they began bickering about tradition and not letting a dragoness sway them, Nivra was to Arcturus side before they’d made it through the first sentence. The princess stood tall beside him, looking rather proud of herself.

“What are you doing?” Arcturus hissed in a whisper.

“I do believe winning your freedom and ridding ourselves of this nuisance. It’s as you say my friend, we should be battling the undead, not each other.”

“We can’t protest.” He pleaded, “Otherwise the soldiers, Feku, Tenzin, Skywing and the others, they will perish.”

“Don’t worry.” She winked, “That detail is working on resolving itself as we speak.”

“It is?” He couldn’t help breath a sigh of relief, his prayers had been answered. “How could that be?”

“Last I saw, Krotos had drag and everything. Not the most orthodox strategy, but I have complete confidence in them.”

“Drag?” Arcturus almost laughed in disbelief, “What are they going to do perform a mating dance for them?”

** ** ** **

Along the city walls was a section reserved for the onyx guardians. There the keep was armored and structured in such a way to deny any who might wish to break upon it’s wooden gates, forged from ironwood, thrice blessed by the clerics of Sartren. The knights here were quiet, reserved and experienced. Many bore the scars of prior crusades or quests, each having proved themselves capable to mettle with the monsters that lurked within Drenedar’s countryside. Dutiful, vigilant, if the order was given to hold a location they would do so, no matter what. Which, was lucky for the pair of guardians that found themselves outside their gates, being danced at by a pair of gryphons in drag.

Voidwing and Krotos waggled their bodies before the stoic guardians, wrapped in brightly colored cloth that drew the eye towards their groins. Makeup was dotted upon each of their beaks, vibrant and colorful, that might dazzle the eye of the males intended mates. Wings were spread wide to go along with their movements as they hopped around one another, rubbing their flanks along one another as they preformed their practiced mating dance. The air was filled with squawks and trills, while enticing to a gryphon’s ear, might as well have been screeching upon the pair of human guardians.

Eyelashes winked at the red-faced guardians as the gryphons drew ever closer with their salacious movements. Tail feathers were briefly lifted to reveal their orbs, before being retracted with twin chuckles and a retreat filled with various wing movements. Parting they waggled and leaped, until they came back together in their passionate song. One final thrust of their chests and wings wide, brought an end to their erotic display.

Normally the female or males shown this would find themselves swept off their hinds, seduced by the elaborate dance routine. Or at least that’s what was supposed to happen, this time the guardians stood resolute, keeping straight faces as the twin dancers panted, holding their final pose.

Krotos was the first to break it, tucking his wings. The blue and grey gryphon sauntered ever closer to the guardians, a salacious story being told with the sway of his haunches, “This is the part where you chase me boys.” He whispered, adding a wink for good measure. “Unwind those stone like attitudes of yours.”

“We’re on duty.” One the guardians huffed, holding up a steady hand to ward away the gryphons approach. “And while this display was…Mostly interesting, we’ll tell ya what we said before. Shove off you dirty birds, we have no need of your fluffy behinds.”

“Speak for yourself sir.” Said the other guard, his face red. Krotos slid to him at the flick of a tail, rubbing a gentle wing under the trembling man’s chin. “I do so love a man in uniform, mind does wander what my friend and I can do to let you…Take a load off?” He giggled and batted his eyelashes.

“Hey! That wasn’t part of the plan!” Voidwing hissed.

“If it does work, I’m sure Nivra will forgive you.” His attention returned to the sweating soldier, who had yet to pull away. “Gryphon got your tongue my brave knight?” He chuckled, “Or perhaps you’d rather find yourself beneath me, singing me the song of your people?”

“I am an onyx guardian, defender of the realm.” The knight burst out, clearly trying to hold onto what strength he had. “I’ll not be seduced by some seductive gryphon whilst on duty. After however…” He gulped, cheeks practically as red as Veledar’s scales. “I wouldn’t mind a visit.”

“You fair knight, have good taste.”

“Jefferson!” The other guardian blurted.

“What? He’s hot sir and life is short.” Replied Jefferson, “When is the chance to indulge in such a treat going to present itself?”

“Fair enough.” The first guardian grumbled, “Just don’t end up catching the sneezing tits. Lord knows with the clerics swamped, if you’ll be cured before your breasts will be bigger than your head.”

Krotos did sigh, even if the second guardian was rather adorable. If the guardians would not be seduced this very moment, then the plan had failed. His head tilted to the onyx gryphon, sharing a brief moment of understanding. “It would appear plan B soft paws?”

“Plan B.” Nodded the black gryphon.

In a flash, their wings flung out, knocking both knights in surprise. The men stumbled back with a series of grunts, unaware of what had happened before pairs of hinds smacked them square in the chests. The chain wearing humans grunted and slumped to the ground, weapons clattering beside them, only to be knocked aside by the gryphon’s talons.

“Plan B!” Krotos squawked loudly as he and Voidwing knocked the guardian’s out.

“Sorry.” Voidwing’s ears splayed, moments before knocking out his guardian.

As shouts rang from above at this assault, other guardians flocked to the walls with weapons square in hand. They carried rifles that gleamed in the morning sun, held by the knights with upmost care. None of them wavered in their convictions or showing a glimmer of fear. That was, until Merlia emerged.

“Finally, plan B!” The dwarf cheered, emerging on the other side of the street from her hiding spot. Bow in hand and knocked, she wore a smile. “Hate all this sneaking about anyway!” She loosed an arrow from her notch, the shaft already glowing with the runes of her craft. It split into at least a dozen of duplicate copies before zooming straight over the guardian’s heads.

“You do such a trick and miss dwarf?” One of the guardian’s above laughed, holding his fingers thrust towards them. “Now stand where you are, not a muscle to be moved. Failure to do so will result in yourself being riddled with holes.”

“Would it be too much to ask for them to be seduced?” Krotos flicked his tail with an indignant squawk, “Like, I would love for it to work even once.”

“I think we have more important things to worry about.” Voidwing sat upon his hinds, ears splayed as the guardians bickered over what to do with this sudden attack.

“Oh, I don’t think we need to worry.” Krotos replied with a smirk, gesturing to Merlia, who had yet to look upon the guardians.

“Sir, look out!” One of the guardians shouted, but it was far too late.

The arrows that had missed the guardians had been on a task of their own, guided by the critical eye of the dwarven ranger. They spun about and danced to her whims, hungry for what these guardians possessed. Steel tipped shafts sought out their kneecaps in a rapid fashion, plunging deep into every man that so much stood before them. The guardians shouted and hollered in pain, only to the ranger’s grim delight.

“Oh, stop your belly achin! It’s like you never been penetrated by a girl before!” She laughed, smacking her belly. “Don’t worry, you won’t be dead! Couple minutes with a cleric of Fureen and you’ll be fine ya big babies!”

“So…Now that they wailing in pain…How are we to get the gates open?” Krotos tilted his head towards the walls, as the guardians above continued to grunt and groan in pain. “I still think my idea was better. Dancing and seducing is far better than this.”

“Yes, but less funny.” Merlia patted him on the back, thrusting a finger into his feathery side with a wink, “But I want ta see you later. Dance did wonders for me.”

“Oh, get a room you two.” Voidwing squawked.

“We might!”

“Focus on how we’re going to get the doors-“

As his ears pinned to his head, a cloud of mist erupted atop the guardian’s walls. A flash of red was all they had before the sound of leathery wings was upon them. A shrouded beast was upon the guardians above in a flash, a draconic roar coming swiftly after. As Merlia laughed at their misfortune, the wailing guardians above were silenced one by one.

“See?” Merlia laughed, “Ole Crimson worked it out for us!” She smacked Voidwing in his white feathery chest, “And you were worried.”

Down Veledar came with a flare of his wings, landing with upmost care. His claws clacked against the stone as he pinned his wings. To them his gaze was narrowed and sharper than his teeth, “What was that? That wasn’t part of the plan!”

“They weren’t into gryphons.” Voidwing said, only to have Krotos clack his beak at him.

“One of them was!” He thumped his tail, “He just wasn’t enough into it to get us inside.”

“Wonderful.” Growled the dragon as he rounded on the door, his tail nearly striking his friends. His nostrils flared, smoke billowing out from them like snakes. “They’re barring the door.”

“You can hear through that?” Merlia nocked another arrow, with a whistle, “Color me impressed!”

“How are we to get inside if they’re barring it?” Krotos squawked, his feathers fluffed.

“Oh, leave that to me.” Smirked Veledar, peering to Merlia. “Care to give me a dose of strength? I feel like were getting in the dwarven way.”

She rubbed her hands together with glee, “Would love ta!” Resting a hand upon his flank she whispered the words to enchant his strength. With the final word, the dragon had the strength of ten.

The dragon lashed his tail, eyeing the door he might a terrible foe. Muscles surged to life, claws digging into the cobblestone as he unleashed a sharpened hiss upon the air. “Stand back.” He motioned to the gryphons with a wing, “Arcturus is always insisting that I be polite. I suppose this is my compromise.” With a wink he growled and reared upon his hinds, digging his claws into the wood.

It may have stood for hundreds of years, kept mortals at bay with it’s bulwark, but it would not stand against a dragon seeking to keep his mate’s friends alive. Powerful muscles roared to life as Veledar grit his teeth, mustering his new given strength. The hinges on which the gate rested creaked and groaned, threatening to shatter as the dragon snarled and kept on through. With a final lash of his tail the gate was ripped right off it’s hinges, splintering any wood too stubborn to be released.

“Fire!” Came the defenders cry from within, but Merlia was already ready for them before a single shot had been fired. The clever ranger rose up a hand with a smirk, unleashed upon them a great wall of wind. It’s raging winds deflected the bullets with hardly a sweat, making those within easy pickings for the gryphons that surged forward upon the wall’s departure.

“Sorry, sorry, sorry!” Voidwing repeated again and again as he leaped too and fro from guardian to guardian. With every clasp of his talons he knocked them out, doing his best not to permanently injure them.

“You don’t need to apologize!” Krotos squawked, hurling one guardian into the wall.

Wings flared, knocking over those that remained standing in a daze, “Course I do, they’re only doing their job!” As one went to reach for him the gryphon kicked him to unconsciousness. Voidwing’s ears splayed, “Sorry!”

By the time that Veledar had shifted his size and strolled into the exposed entryway, the guardians had all been dispatched by talon, dwarf or wing. He surveyed his victory with a harsh snort, letting his pawfalls be accompanied by a round of joyous cheers and chirps. “It would appear as though plan D was a rousing success.”

“Plan D?” Merlia chuckled, kicking a guardian to ensure that indeed she was unconscious. “When did we skip to that?”

“When your pitiful plan B failed.” He rolled a paw to his chest, “Plan D was of course for dragon.” Eyes shot to one guardian that had not yet been knocked unconscious, the man was merely pretending, watching the door. The dragon’s frills pinned before the others could react, leaping upon him as though he were a diminutive mouse.

Though he was only the size of a large wolf, the man groaned underneath the dragon’s weight. Claws dug into his back as he leaned forward his snout, unleashing a wicked hiss. “Hello there guardian. I do believe my patience has all but worn thin with your orders.” He relished as the human whimpered beneath him, finally squirming as the last bit of bravado left his lungs. “I know your corrupted batch of knights has a few of my friends in your custody.” He clasped the man’s head and shoved it straight into the stone with a fierce growl, “Tell me where they are.”

“I’d listen to him lad.” Merlia crossed her arms, “He gets quite moody when he’s been without his human by his side.”

“The lot of you will pay for this!” The guardian struggled, but unable to free himself from the dragon’s domineering strength, “They’ll slay every last one of you! Turn you into pillows, make a purse out of the dragon-“

“Wrong answer human.” Snarled Veledar, letting his claws sink through the guardian’s gambeson until blood was drawn. That brought an end to his little rebellion. “I’d rather not kill you today human.”

Voidwing lowered his beak as the guardian grunted, offering a soft voice in this pressing moment, “Hey there friend. I see you have an angry dragon on your back. Might I suggest giving him what he wants?”

There was mention of laws, order, and their refusal to adhere to them, but Veledar roared and brought the man back to his senses. He flipped him over so that he might face his smoking maw, taking in the harrowing sight of an angry dragon. “Let this day be the one you relinquished your captives to the dragon and lived to tell the tale.” Pressing forward brought a whimper, touching his nose against the man’s. “And no law, rule or little pleasantry will stop me right now. Tell me where they are or I will paint this room a nasty shade of red.” He smiled as the stalwart guardian started spilling everything telling the dragon and his companions exactly where the captives were being held.

“Thank ya dear.” Merlia smiled as Veledar leapt off the knight, knocking him hard in the face with the hilt of her axe. “What a pleasant boy, listening to his elders.”

“Real charming.” Growled Veledar as he perked up, staring down the trio of hallways that branched out from his open room. Each of them was made of stone, well lit, but only two of them had the sound of reinforcements getting gathered to resist them. “Feel like more dwarven method?”

“Thought you’d never ask.”

Through the facility Veledar’s group did storm. Every room, hall and closet became the battle ground between them and the guardians. It was settled with spells, roars and sharpened claws. While they might have been trained for things out beyond their walls, they were no match for a determined dragon and his adventuring companions at his side. Those without armor were dispatched without a problem, while those in armor proved hardly more than a bump along the road. It wasn’t long before they came before the area in which the guardian had told them, a triangular opening before leading to a narrow corridor beyond.

Flaring his nostrils, Veledar bid the others to stop. Something wasn’t right about this empty room. His frills fluttered as they scanned the pristine stone, all the way to the dangling chandelier above.

“Something wrong?” Krotos whispered, ears pinned.

“Get your rump out of my face.” Voidwing bit at the blue’s haunches.

“Oh shush, you love it.”

“I do not! I’ll bite your tail!”

Veledar growled, putting an end to their squabbling. It was Merlia that rested a hand upon him, gesturing to the hall’s walls. “There are people here in wait.”

“A trap.” Replied the dwarf.

At her words, and their reluctance to enter, the hall’s walls opened up to reveal they were nothing more than windows with a reinforced section to hide behind. Half a dozen guardians had their rifles trained and ready upon them, loosing a volley of gunshots that thundered through the hall. If not for Veledar’s quick reaction of turning his scales to stone, and flaring his wings to protect them, they’d have been riddled with metal balls of death.

“Thanks for the wing!” Merlia roared in laugher stepping from dragon’s protection to down two guardians with arrows to the shoulder. “You make a fine wall, did ya know that?”

“The dragon uses magic! Disable his stone skin!” Came a shout from down the hall, a series of guardians emerging straight out of thin air. One of them unfurled a scroll, fire in their eyes. With words of power they brought an end to Veledar’s protective spell.

He roared as a second volley blasted his scales, his blood splattering against the stone. The others were spared the weapons fury as Merlia set about dispatching another two guardians. The dragon growled as what restraint he had departed him, breathing in before unleashing a plume of fire down the long hallway. It’s red-orange death rolled swelled out to envelop them, do as it had always done to mere mortals against it. But he was denied.

Shield of light swelled around the knights at the corridor’s end, white and as brilliant as the sun. The flames licked across it’s translucent surface, protecting the humans beneath as the stone around them blackened and burned.

“So, the dragon reveals his true self!” One guardian beneath the shield shouted as the last of the rifle wielding guardians were dispatched by Voidwing and Krotos, each slamming one into the ground with their claws.

They thought this would stop him? Lashing his tail, Veledar held up his torrent of flame, letting the lone mage struggle against his draconic fury. He could see her weakening under such an assault, sweat beading on her brow as her fingers trembled and shook. There would be no stopping him, the Lumarians needed him. It was only when she was close to collapsing did he stop his fiery assault, standing proudly over the weakened form of his enemy.

Guardians stood, color draining from their faces as the grim reality set itself before them. With their mage panting and collapsed onto the floor, they’d have no defense should the dragon beset them with another plume of fire. Weapons were held fast as he entered the hall, spears thrust forward to keep him at bay.

“I will not let you take them dragon.” Said a lone bearded guardian, an older man, clearly the one in charge. His gaze narrowed, “You’ll have to kill us all first.”

“Those are the worst words you could say.” Merlia clicked her tongue as Veledar unleashed a great snarl.

“As my dwarf says.” He rested a paw on the stone, letting them stew in their fear. “You’re wants and needs are no longer relevant. Stand aside or find yourself set aflame.” As the words left him, the others all gulped, even the gryphons resting behind him.

“Come now boys, don’t be stupid.” Merlia mocked them, hands on her waist. “So close ya can kiss versus a dragon? You be just begging for a date with his fire!”

But to their foolish credit, the guardians stood their ground. Even in the face of certain death. Veledar’s blood burned at such defiance, willing magic to his paws. Drakrahs focused, he empowered a spell of sleep, letting it sprinkle and dance about their features. All of them collapsed, all save the commander, who rose a pistol and fired a shot right into Veledar’s chest.

The wound wasn’t deep, not fatal at all. The dragon slammed into the man with his bulk, crushing him against the wall. He heard something crack but he didn’t care. As the guardian collapsed with a gasp to the floor, Veledar could do nothing but feel pride within his chest.

Voidwing pressed the man to the floor beneath his talons, snapping his beak to avoid any more movements. “I’d rest now. You’ve lost.”

Without a word from Merlia, Voidwing bust open the final door, sliding through, expecting a hero’s welcome. Inside would be gryphons, minotaur and humans, all glad to see their savior. Inside he found none of that, nothing but an open area with lanterns. Eyes widened in shock as the ranger joined him.

“Oh, guess they’re not here.” She grumbled, turning to start fussing over Veledar’s scales.

“Unhand me.” He hissed as he scanned the room, not spying a single speck of their presence. He pressed his snout to the ground and sniffed, not even a scent that revealed they were here.

“No, you’re hurt ya big baby.”

“Not in the slightest, a mere scratch.”

“You got several bullets lodged in ya! Stand still!” Roared the dwarf, forcing the dragon to sit before her. “Good, now stop your belly aching and whining and let me heal ya.”

How could he rest? Even as she began to cast her spell he shifted his tail. Every moment wasted was another that the Lumarians might be slain. He winced as Merlia’s rough hand touched the edge of a bullet wound. “Do I need to be healed, I can hardly feel it.”

“Lies.” Her hand glowed a faint green before she touched his scales. The light spread across him like a wave, reforming flesh and popping out the bullets that were lodged within him. “See? Feel better?”

He rubbed where he’d been healed, wincing at their soreness. His snout wrinkled to the smirking dwarf. “Yes, but now is not the time to celebrate.” Standing to all fours he snarled upon the air, starting to pace around the enclosed area. They had to have been here. All of this couldn’t have been for nothing!

Merlia crouched as the gryphons kept their captive pinned, dragging a finger across the stone. Her expression hardened. “I recognize the spell they used.”

“Can you find them?” He snapped up, frills flaring.

“No.” She frowned, “Conceals them from magical detection. Even as skilled at tracking that I am, won’t do nothin.”

Like a beast unleashed, Veledar snarled and snapped his jaws at the air. Blood boiled, close to spilling over as he fumed and dragged his talons across the stone. It was only the mocking laughter of the guardian commander that gave him pause.

“Course not ya bastards. You think we’d let ya get them?”

He snapped to the human like an oncoming storm, “Speak human, now.” He flared his nostrils.

“You don’t scare me.” Scoffed the commander. “You’re all bluster and roar, no bite in ya. I saw when you were blowing fire, you didn’t have the heart to kill us. You won’t now.” He rolled his eyes as Veledar snapped his jaws inches from his face. “Going to blow smoke at me too?”

“He will hurt you.” Voidwing replied sternly, but the guardian merely laughed.

“And if you do, your precious Lumarians will remain out of your grasp! Face it dragon, gryphons. You’ve lost. As we speak the others are being held out of your precious claws. You think you can barge into the wet bitch without someone noticing?”

“You’ve not met me before.” Snarled Veledar, inches before the man’s face, bathing him a plume of black smoke.

“See? Smoke! What did I say?”

The man nearly lost his head. “You play a dangerous game guardian. You hold things precious to Umraadi. If you think yourself safe because of your understanding of Arcturus, or an illusion you create for me, think again. I’ve killed more noble men than you who’ve stood in my way.”

“I bet you have.” Squirmed the man, eyes like steel. “Some replacement for storm. Nothing but a big bully that can’t do anything without threatening to kill those beneath him.” He spat upon the stone, “You’re nothing but a pathetic excuse of a dragon.”

Veledar opened his maw, returning to a semblance of his true size. Upon his tongue he let the man’s head rest, giving the poor soul a front row seat to gaze into his tongue. “Tell me where they are.”

“Never.” Spurt the man as draconic saliva coated his features.

“Oh, come now man. You’re letting him drag on in this way?” Krotos rolled his eyes with a chirp, sauntering over and planting himself before the man.

The guardian flinched upon the dragon’s tongue.

“Oh, now he’s quiet. Guess he’s got the dragon’s tongue.”

To Veledar’s surprise, the man trembled again, far more than the threats had ever made him.

“Crimson Sky, I think it’s time you just chomped down, I do believe this man is too well guarded.”

“Krotos.” Voidwing snapped, eyes narrowed, but Veledar huffed and bid him silent.

“Let him continue.” Growled the dragon, if this man would not break to threats, perhaps he’d break to this form of torture.

“Oh, I get what’s going on.” The blue and grey gryphon chirped in amusement, his crown feathers rising one by one. With a cruel enjoyment he gazed upon the squirming guard looking upon him with utter terror. “Someone likes it when the gryphon has a few puns up his feathers! Don’t worry friend, this time I’ll try. You were just hearing a lone gryphon winging it.”

“Please.” Mumbled the guardian into Veledar’s tongue, “Please, no more. Stop.”

“No.” Veledar replied, letting Krotos subject the man to a solid few minutes of nothing but the worst puns that he ever did hear.

The dragon’s ears might have been bleeding when the assault of puns was finished, but the man trapped beneath him cracked just like an egg. With the location revealed to them, they left the lone guardian a broken man, shivering and holding himself for comfort. Veledar was at the front of the others, worry festering within his chest. He just hoped that whatever Nivra was doing, it could hold on a tad longer for them. Otherwise, all they’d been working for would be for nothing.