《From Thief to Dragon Rider》


 Chapter I - Silk and Iron

    The door to the tavern opened with a creak. Razam took another sip of tea as heavy boots echoed behind him. The newcomer¡¯s swords clanked against their belts and their crude laughter seemed to quiet the other patrons. Razam turned, casting a glance. Those were no soldiers passing through the commercial routes; they wore no uniform, only ragged clothes beneath their chainmail and plate armor. They resembled bounty hunters, a breed few were brave or foolish enough to cross.


    One of them staggered as though drunk on too much raki. Stout with a full belly, he had a curved knife wedged into his belt. He spun around, bellowing at a table. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Saliva sprayed from his mouth. The man he was screaming at looked like his perfect opposite: slim, wearing imported silk, as skinny as a noodle. He had the look of a mercuant and was minding his own business.


    The man in silk diverted his gaze.


    ¡°Huh?¡± the bounty hunter grunted, lumbering to the other man¡¯s table and slamming his hands down.


    Razam raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like the way you look at me, dog¡± the bounty hunter snapped, while his two companions snickered behind his back.


    ¡°You, Kanasian dog, I¡¯m talkin¡¯ to you.¡±


    The man in silk didn¡¯t so much as lift his head. Razam noticed a slight tremor in his fingers.


    ¡°I want no trouble," the slim man muttered under his breath.


    ¡°No trouble?¡± the bounty hunter slurred. ¡°Don¡¯t you ignore me, dog.¡±


    ¡°I want no¡­¡±


    A thud echoed through the tavern. All voices faded around them. The bounty hunter had slapped the man off the table and knocked him to the ground.


    Razam lowered his cup of tea, the bracelets around his arm jingling softly.


    No one uttered a word. Guards from different provinces and kingdoms lowered their voices and averted their eyes. It wasn¡¯t their problem. The commercial routes were nobody¡¯s problem, as long as the markets thrived.


    ¡°Anyone else?¡± the bounty hunter shouted. ¡°Good. A big bottle of rakia for me and my boys.¡± He said.


    Meanwhile, the other two rifled through the merchant¡¯s clothes, snatching a linen money pouch. The other one was removing the rings off his fingers and his gold earrings.


    Razam looked around. Two Murlian guards chatted idly, one of them glanced over at the scene and remained still.


    Razam sighed, standing.


    ¡°Hey, that¡¯s enough, lads. You¡¯ve had your fun.¡±


    The man was still unconscious, blood staining his nose. And the ruffians were stripping his linen shirt in the middle of the room.


    ¡°At least let the poor man keep his clothes,¡± Razam interjected.


    The two scoffed.


    ¡°Now what¡¯s your problem¡± they said, standing to their feet. They were taller than Razam, obviously. As usual. Not that it was a problem.


    The two ruffians laughed.


    ¡°And what¡¯s your problem? You want us to strip you too? Why are you, as a man, wearing purple, anyway?¡±


    ¡°He thinks he¡¯s a flower. Merciful Creator, what is that smell. You poured the entire bottle of perfume on yourself.¡±


    Razam breathed in.


    ¡°Leave the man alone, boys, you want to steal, don¡¯t throw dirt on the lawkeepers, you¡¯re embarrassing them,¡± Razam said, nodding toward the guards. One lowered his face, the other gave Razam an angry glare.


    Now Razam had the drunken man¡¯s attention.


    Razam sighed inwardly. He had expected them to recognize him. That meant they were not well versed in bounty hunter business. They had not been around enough to recognize the man in the good robes and the perfume. He didn¡¯t just wear it for the barmaid¡¯s attention, but also as a statement.


    And them, the drunk swung a massive fist toward him. Razam slipped like a butterfly in flight and turned like a whirlwind, clenching his fists, then threw a single uppercut, straight and precise. It struck the thug in the nose and it burst like a bloody tomato.


    It was not enough. The man groaned, blood pouring from his nose into his hand. But the game was just beginning. Three knives flashed out of their scabbards. The thugs circled him.


    He stared at the lawkeepers for an instant. It was going to be in self defense.


    Razam ducked, swinging his forearm. A hidden knife emerged into his palm. He turned and threw it at his attacker¡¯s neck.


    Spit on a grave, I missed.


    He was not that good at knife-throwing, anyway.


    The man leapt forward, knife in hand.


    It would be gory. Razam dodged. Knives were quicker and harder to dodge than fists. He shook his wrist and another knife emerged toward his palm, he twisted and slid it right under the man¡¯s jaw. The man gasped, a final gasp of death, his arms stretched as if in a last effort to remain alive. Razam extracted the knife, pulling it along with a thread of blood.


    The ruffian collapsed to the floor, blood pooling around his face.


    Razam turned, slightly disgusted at the mess. He looked at the other two defiantly. At that moment, the knives dropped to the ground, slipping from the hands of the two ruffians and the two men ran out of the tavern like deer fleeing from a lion in the desert.


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    Razam sighed, as the entire tavern had set their eyes on him. The lawkeepers were as pale as ghosts.


    Razam cleared his throat.


    ¡°It¡¯s him,¡± whispered a voice.


    ¡°Alright, boys,¡± Razam said. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to see, go back to drinking and feasting, I will go back to minding my own business too. Remember, no more disruptions.¡±


    He stepped back toward his chair. Minted tea with floating pine seeds awaited him. Now, in his experience, sometimes women liked when he stood up for someone in a tavern. But today, it had been a little too much.


    Then, he heard footsteps behind his back. He rolled his eyes, that was not the gait of a clumsy drunk, nor a curious traveler, much less those of a lady. But they seemed confident and dangerous.


    He turned, his slick wavy hair shaking gracefully as he did. He made sure he turned completely so they could see the defined pectorals in the middle of his open shirt, along with a well oiled and perfumed rug of chest hair. He remained relaxed, eyes opened attentively, but ready to pull a dagger from his sleeve at any moment.


    The man who had approached him was large enough to be a nobleman¡¯s bodyguard, with the scars to attest it and the weapons to prove it. Razam noticed the sides of a lion¡¯s head tattooed on his forearm. A janissaire. The man might have been taken as a boy. Technically, he was probably a slave, but one with power. And probably almost as much skill with a blade as Razam.


    And yet, Razam could not tell who that man was working for. His eyes were glassy blue, so he would have been from the West, but with so many slaves coming and going, taken from any of the Seven empires, and in the middle of a trading route, it was impossible to know.


    ¡°Me? I don¡¯t know you, stranger, why would anyone ask for me? I¡¯m a simple traveler¡± said Razam.


    ¡°We know who you are. You¡¯re the Crimson Thorn.¡±


    Razam¡¯s smile morphed into a disgusted pout. Why couldn¡¯t he just get rid of that nickname.


    ¡°Your stench announces your presence,¡± said the man. ¡°And the trail of blood you leave on peaceful lands.¡±


    ¡°Stench?¡± Razam asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to offend, but I¡¯m sure that a single bottle of what I wore today is worth more than your freedom. And, I was just being an upright citizen.¡±


    The part about the price was hyperbole, definitely, but the man had it coming.


    The man¡¯s eyes were fierce. Razam sighed.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have time for games,¡± the man grunted.


    ¡°Neither do I,¡± Razam said with a shrug. ¡°So, tell me. I don¡¯t know about this Thorn you talk about, but if you mean business, I might hear it.¡±


    The man leaned in, an ugly frown on his forehead.


    ¡°Don¡¯t play smart with me. I know you need money. I know you won¡¯t spend a night here. I don¡¯t know what you¡¯ll want tonight, cheap wenches or gold.¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s good, I¡¯ll do it, but I only do the good kind of work. I¡¯ve got a moral code.¡±


    The janissaire chuckled, eyes on him like a leopard.


    ¡°Well, you¡¯d be interested to know that I am in command of fifty janissaires passing by this land, ready to arrest you. You¡¯ve been arrested before, you¡¯re no ghost. They pay a good reward in Murlia for you. But if you want to work for us, you¡¯d be good.¡±


    Razam narrowed his eyes. He didn¡¯t like people threatening him like he was some kind of coward.


    ¡°Well I don¡¯t care if you¡¯ve got a thousand janissaires here.¡± He said.


    ¡°Now I like that, you¡¯d be good for the job.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the pay?¡± Razam asked. ¡°I mean, what¡¯s the job?¡±


    The man turned slowly, making sure nobody was listening.


    ¡°There is a Murlian caravan passing tonight, heavily guarded. The best of the best.¡±


    ¡°Demon knights?¡± Razam asked, raising an eyebrow.


    ¡°Aye. The Sultan¡¯s own guard. Fifty of his best men.¡±


    Razam looked from side to side. He¡¯d run into them before, and he''d rather avoid that particular point.


    ¡°Who¡¯s among them? I don¡¯t do hit jobs.¡±


    ¡°No hit job required. We just need you to steal back something that was stolen from us. They guard it very well, either in the main tent or in a cage, no less. It will be obvious. It¡¯s an ivory box containing something of, let¡¯s say, sentimental value.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that easy,¡± Razam shrugged. ¡°Demon Knights are good, and believe me, they¡¯re smart too. If they are carrying something valuable, they know how to keep it. What''s your price, anyway?¡±


    ¡°Two hundred talents of gold.


    Razam¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°Yes,¡± the janissaire said. ¡°Good enough to pay your debts to the Lords of Kana, and to build a mansion in the heights of Shushah. You could buy yourself an empire.¡±


    Razam nodded.


    "You really want this, thing. Huh?¡±


    ¡°It must return to us.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    Razam sighed. He could not refuse. Spit on a grave, that money could make him rich. He could make a trip home and show his father that he was a honorable man. Not a thief. He''d probably welcome him home. If only he could get past those checkpoints in Alluria.


    ¡°Who is this Lord of yours who has¡­ Two hundred talents of gold to give.¡± Razam asked, curious.


    ¡°That, you do not need to know.¡±


    ¡°Then, an advance? And by the Creator I will do this within the next couple of days. Keep your spies on me if you must, I know you guys are good at that.¡±


    ¡°We need it tonight."


    ¡°Well, this needs serious planning,¡± Razam said, shrugging.


    ¡°Tonight, or you forget about the gold. When they enter Murlia it will be too late. But if you agree, we knew you¡¯d ask,¡± the man extracted a linen pouch from his robes and let it drop on the table. It weighed and tinkled.


    ¡°Fine," Razam mumbled. "You¡¯ll get your package before sunrise.¡±


    The man passed Razam the pouch and he slid the rope that kept it closed.


    ¡°I see you mean business,¡± Razam said with a nod.


    ¡°We do. I¡¯ll expect our package by morning.¡±


    ¡°So be it,¡± Razam said, as the man stood up and turned his back on him.


    Razam sighed and leaned back on his chair. Then, he extracted a handful of coins from the pouch. They were solid gold, and from Murlia, of all places, with the face of that fat sultan that everyone hated.


    ¡°Master innkeeper,¡± Razam shouted, getting to his feet. ¡°Give everyone here an extra jug of wine from me.¡±


    There were a few nervous cheers. He looked around, but all the women had disappeared. He shrugged and walked back to his entrance, ready to get back his sword and imagining what he¡¯d do with all that gold.

 Chapter II – Thieves in the Night

    The sun was beginning to set, and Razam was lying on his belly, with his scimitar at his hip and a beige cape over his shoulders. Sandy wind threatened to carry it away and he held it down with both hands. His eyes were fixed on the Murlian camp a hundred feet below. The camp looked more threatening than a typical military camp. Fearsome Demon Knights with horned helmets and chainmail covering their faces guarded four corners, each attentive and rigid as a murderous statues. Inside, a cluster of smaller tents, presumably for the men, was overshadowed by a few larger ones. One of them displayed a Murlian banner featuring a sun, moon and star side by side, indicating where the commanders might be. He speculated that the item he was supposed to retrieve might be hidden there.


    Another tent, as large as a house and cube shaped, was completely enveloped by a black canopy, with iron wheels beneath. Rusted iron edges peeking from the canopy made it resemble a cage. Razam wondered if it housed something like a war elephant. Murlians were at war and had just conquered Kash, as far as he¡¯d heard.


    Razam observed the guard¡¯s routine meticulously. The level of organization was evident; as no part of the camp was left unguarded. Even their restroom breaks were strategically taken on the inner sides of the camp.


    However, the right corner abutted a mountain, and there was a potential hiding spot. He¡¯d have to approach quickly. He waited, taking notes and possibilities, until the sun fully set. Then, he ran to the other side of the cliff, and climbed down.


    Crouched like a tiger, he scrutinized the camp''s corner. Two guards stood there, horns at their hips and spears in hand. Razam realized he might need to interrogate at least one of them. ¡°Stupid contractors,¡± he thought, wishing he had been given more time to gather intelligence.


    He got down, advancing stealthily from the corners, using rocks for cover. He crouched and extracted a carved whistle with the shape of a cat. It brought him good memories. He leaned it to his mouth and blew once. The sound, impressively loud and deep, mimicked a real feral cat in no way a man could.


    He watched for their reaction. Both knights exchanged looks, the chainmail in their faces fluttering as they turned.


    ¡°A lion, here?¡±


    ¡°Spit on a grave, not now.¡±


    ¡°Should we alert them?¡±


    ¡°Then they¡¯ll think we¡¯re cowards.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a bloody lion, it¡¯s a hazard.¡±


    Razam sighed. What if his plan backfired? A horn of alarm could grant him a chance to get in, but only after securing one of their uniforms.


    ¡°Man, it¡¯s bloody scary,¡± said the first guard.


    ¡°What if it¡¯s just a cat.¡±


    ¡°Cats won¡¯t make those sounds,¡± interjected the first.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid. It¡¯s probably a feral cat,¡± said the second, with a deeper voice and a dismissive tone.


    ¡°They don¡¯t make those sounds, do they¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you sure? How much do you know about these animals,¡± The second retorted. ¡°Go and check, shout if you see something.¡±


    ¡°But that¡¯d be leaving our positions,¡±said the first.


    ¡°It¡¯s just three steps forward.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you come with me, then?¡±


    Razam fidgeted with the greased ends of his hair.


    ¡°And what if the thing jumps at me, what if it¡¯s actually a lion?¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s why you¡¯ve learned the spear for ten years.¡±


    ¡°Is it enough?¡±


    The other shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know, you¡¯re a demon knight, you should be able to handle it.¡±


    The other paused.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go.¡±


    Razam crouched down, watching the man approach. He prepared, stealthily drawing his scimitar. Blast, if only he had more time.


    The man appeared from the corner, and Razam struck him quickly, aiming for his chin ¨Cthe fastest way to incapacitate a man. He then grabbed the man by the cape and dragged him for a few inches.


    ¡°Shams, are you alright?¡± called the other man.


    ¡°Damn,¡± Razam said, mimicking the fallen soldier¡¯s voice. ¡°I¡¯m alright, I¡¯ve got it under control.¡±


    Razam quickly removed the man¡¯s masked helmet, revealing a young man with short hair and a well trimmed beard.


    ¡°What¡¯s all that noise?¡± the other said from behind the boulder. His armor clanked as he walked toward Razam¡¯s spot.


    In a hurry, Razam donned the guard¡¯s plate armor and chainmail.


    Luckily, when the other guard came, Razam was just finishing his look by donning the helmet. However, he hadn¡¯t had the time to hide the naked body of his comrade. The guard stepped in, speechless for a second, until he saw the figure at his feet.


    ¡°What the¡­¡± the man quickly took a fighting stance, spear forward, while reaching for the horn with his left. Razam couldn¡¯t let him do that.


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    Spit on a grave, I hate doing this.


    Razam leapt forward, blade out and riveting like a silver whirlwind. He closed in, sliding to the side and avoiding his opponent¡¯s spear.


    That bloody chainmail made them hard to kill. He needed a heavier weapon than a sword to really do damage. But with his left, Razam had an advantage. He slid the blade back and aimed for his opponent¡¯s only uncovered spot: his eyes. He thrust his sword at full force, cutting into them.


    If the horn didn¡¯t summon them, that scream surely would.


    ¡°Hey!¡± another scream echoed behind him. The other soldier had awoke, and was now shivering like a fish, arms and feet tied.


    The fighting soldier kept screaming. He had dropped his spear and was now focusing on his breathing.


    And armored steps started clattering toward the spot.


    Razam had been in worse spots than these.


    He quickly pinned his enemy to the ground, removing his helmet and chain.


    Blood poured quickly.


    Now, Razam pressed the blade against his neck.


    ¡°Tell me where they¡¯re hiding their treasure or I¡¯ll kill you.¡±


    The man grunted, blood pouring down, teeth clenched.


    ¡°They¡¯ll kill you anyway.¡±


    ¡°Come on!¡± Razam insisted. ¡°Tell me now and I¡¯ll let you live.¡±


    He looked up. From there, he could see organized groups of soldiers advance, leaving their partners behind.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell him, Sahid,¡± said the bound soldier behind them. ¡°Don¡¯t tell them. Comrades, come quick! He¡¯s taken my armor.¡±


    Razam cursed and got up. He had no time to waste. He slid the scimitar back into his belt and jumped toward the rock wall. He climbed up and leapt to the other side, crouching to have a better view. A group of soldiers marched, scimitars forward.


    Now what? He leapt down. In full armor and with the stolen spear down. The demon knights stared in confusion just as he pretended to file rank along with them. They let him in for a second, where he tried to lower his pace to finally turn around and go back.


    That¡¯s where some of the soldiers heard the screams.


    Razam approached the camp, standing by one of the soldiers that had been left to guard.


    ¡°Quick, they need your help?


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Your general commands it?¡±


    The man looked confused.


    ¡°Intruder,¡± shouted other knights behind Razam¡¯s back. He rolled his eyes as the man in front of him took a battle stance and tried to thrust his spear into Razam¡¯s gut. He dodged, but instead of staying to fight him, he turned around and ran as fast as he could.


    Spit on a grave, why did he get into this. From left to right, he saw dozens of men in horned helmets and long spears running to him like a fox on a hunt.


    He could handle a few, but not dozens, nor fifty all by himself. He was a dead man. No, it was not a good day to die, and he¡¯d fight with all he could to stay alive.


    His instincts flared and he slipped just as a spear passed right by his groin. He gasped, looking around, where an oversized Demon Knight swung an axe at him. He ducked as fast as he could, instinctively swinging the spear and slamming its handle against the axe wielder¡¯s hand. The man let go and Razam swung the spearpole, this time striking the soldier¡¯s face with it. It surely rattled the man¡¯s brain.


    Razam hated killing.


    But he had a job to do.


    He finally thrust the spear into the man¡¯s neck, tearing through the rings of his chainmail. The man collapsed to the ground, his armor echoing as he fell, but behind him, three more soldiers jumped at him with their spears. Razam leapt back just as one aimed for his heart. He swung his own spear. Another one came from behind. He gasped, someone had managed to strike him in the back. Luckily, the armor dampened the blow, but was a reality check.


    Suddenly, a horn echoed into the night. Razam turned, eyes wide open. Someone else was invading the camp. Suddenly, bursts of arrows flew across, with the power of mighty crossbows capable of piercing through armor and mail. Razam noticed hooded figures in the camp, fighting their way.


    Spit on a grave, more thieves. It had seemed so easy.


    Now, he had to be smart and get the stupid treasure quicker than they could. What was it, anyway?


    Razam ducked and struck one of the soldiers through the creases of his armor. He turned, slipped and dodged as a pair of spears made way toward him. He ducked and slid under his enemy¡¯s feet, the ground hard against his heavy armor. He jumped up, watching as the newcomers struggled to reload their crossbows and started falling to the Demon Knight¡¯s powerful spears. Some of the newcomers, however, had drawn long curved scimitars and were fighting the enemy on their own terms. Another was throwing knives, expertly striking the Demon Knights in their vital points.


    Razam ran, looking from side to side. The main tent was there. He¡¯d have to go in and fight whoever was there. The guards around it carried battle axes too. Bloody axes, they were harder to dodge and more dangerous.


    Razam dropped his spear and drew out his sword. He was at a disadvantage, but he felt much more comfortable with it.


    The elite warriors swung their axes threateningly.


    Suddenly, he felt sharp pain in his abdomen. He looked down.


    Spit on a bloody grave.


    A crossbow had pierced into his abdomen, pushed through the plate and the rings. He narrowed his eyes as pain jolted in a spot just above the liver


    He stepped back, looking at the injury. At least, the thing had not gone all the way in, thanks to the armor, but it hurt and if he wasn¡¯t careful, could slow him down. If they¡¯d hit him an inch lower, he would be incapacitated.


    In that very moment, he saw four soldiers approach him with their weapons at the ready. No, he had to reach the tent. More, six, seven, what the hell could he do?


    He needed that bloody money.


    Behind him, the other thieves were getting pounded. What else, he was getting pounded too. He prepared his sword¡­


    In a desperate move, Razam dashed toward the elephant¡¯s cage. Unsure of his plan, he contemplated releasing it to create a diversion. He ducked and slid under the canopy, then squeezed through a cell in the enclosure, sighing in relief as he noticed the soldiers stopped pursuing him.


    Inside, there were two bright lights that blinked in and out, illuminating the area. But whatever was in there, that certainly was not an elephant.

 Chapter III - Plans

    Valim Alhari, Sultan of Murlia, plucked a grape out of a golden plate and dipped it in honey. It dripped on his fingers as he dragged it and placed it in his mouth. He looked up toward a map that covered half his palace.


    A knock echoed in the hall.


    ¡°Let the old man in,¡± Valim said, chewing on the grape and licking honey off the sides of his own lips.


    The guards who stood outside his door turned the golden knobs and pushed the door open.


    Haeed al-Hakim stood in the doorway, frail and thin, head down, the mauve cloak still covering his head, and sleeves wide enough to feet a tree-trunk. He carried a black staff, taller than the man¡¯s head and curved like a maid¡¯s braid. Valim always felt a chill when he saw the staff. But Haeed was good, Haeed was very helpful lately, and the man looked happy. Even with his hood down, he couldn¡¯t conceal a smile on his yellow teeth.


    ¡°Oh, Haeed,¡± Valim said cheerfully. ¡°Come on in, come on, sit down and enjoy the sweetness of life with me, darling. Lord Creator, I¡¯m happy to see you.¡±


    ¡°Your highness,¡± Valim said, walking slowly, almost stumbling, aided by his staff. He reached the table and bowed his head. Jeweled rings adorned each of his fingers, especially the Seal of Authority. The man was supposed to be a priest, a religious scholar who dabbled too much in mysticism.


    There were rumors about him, though, that claimed he didn¡¯t practice what he preached, that he was the opposite of what he was supposed to be. But even then, he was useful, whatever his religious persuasion was.


    ¡°I like you, Haeed, I like what you¡¯re doing. Oh, I¡¯m the happiest man in the world with what you¡¯ve given me.¡±


    ¡°And the most powerful too I hope.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, exactly, Haeed, darling, come on in and enjoy. Look, I¡¯ve got something for you. I¡¯m grateful for helping me with Kash. The news travels fast, so you must know. Now we hunted this delicacy in Kash, the only place where it lives and thrives. You should try it.¡±


    The Sultan pointed at a wide plate ahead of him, displaying the ribs of an animal.


    ¡°Behold!¡± the Sultan said excitedly. ¡°We¡¯ve got some of our spoils delivered to the city. Slow cooked ribs from a Kashian sheep. And wine from King Ramash¡¯s cellar.¡±


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    Haeed grinned. His long mustache shook slightly, like the whiskers of a cat before lurching at its prey.


    ¡°Well done.¡±


    The sultan clapped and laughed heartily.


    ¡°Everything is going well. Everything. I¡¯ll be honest, I didn¡¯t trust you at first, but whatever you¡¯re doing, keep doing it.¡±


    ¡°I am glad, your highness,¡± the old man smiled. ¡°I am here to serve you.¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯ve done it better than anyone. I¡¯m about to name you my senior advisor. Even Vizier, if you work much faster than those others.¡±


    ¡°It will not be necessary,¡± said the man. The man was modest too. He only cared for his little jewels and weapons. Valim knew he could not trust these people too much. He¡¯d have to keep him watched. That was another old tactic, put spies, send spies to become his followers, just to keep an eye on him.


    ¡°I just want your victory, your Highness. You know my kind. All I want is to serve a powerful king, and make you more powerful than you ever dreamed, and our goal is closer than ever.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes,¡± said the king, pouring himself wine. ¡°I like that. And I like it that we¡¯re making it. This is what¡¯s supposed to be. Not small so called kings and chieftains vying for power. A single Empire, that was our ancestor¡¯s dreams. And thanks to you, my friend, we are making it come true. I will be the one. I will seize kingdom upon kingdom, one at a time.¡±


    ¡°Aye, your Majesty, and there will not be any more rebel kings, only viziers fighting to appease you.¡±


    Valim felt a powerful laugh surge from within. He let go, he crackled like a bird and slapped the table, making the glassware shiver.


    ¡°I like the sound of that, Haeed, darling. And now, your little weapon should be arrived within a few days. Which¡­¡± The sultan cleared his throat. ¡°Which is in itself interesting. Don¡¯t think I¡¯m a man of little faith. You¡¯ve proven me wrong more than once, I believe you, Haeed, darling, but¡­¡±


    ¡°What is causing his Majesty to doubt.¡±


    The sultan cleared his throat.


    ¡°I read the report. Yes, our men followed our instructions and we managed to tie the beast down, but are you sure your little toy is going to work?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I know it will.¡±


    If that smile meant anything it was confident. The old man spoke as if he knew what he was talking about. As if he had done it himself a long time ago, which was not possible. Those beasts had not been in control for hundreds of years.


    ¡°But how?¡±


    ¡°It is a simple principle, your majesty,¡± said the old man, letting his frail weight drop on the gold embroidered couch. ¡°You have applied it yourself. When you capture an enemy and he does not want to tell you what he knows, you do one simple thing.¡±


    ¡°What is it, darling?¡±


    ¡°You break him until he tells you.¡±


    That made Valim raise an eyebrow.


    ¡°And how do you break a dragon?¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t be surprised, your Highness, but it will be a thing to watch, for sure. I hope you enjoy it too.¡±

 Chapter IV - Caged

    Razam took in a sharp breath as the mysterious lights that glowed in the darkness. Two orange-colored orbs fixed on him; they gleamed and displayed strange patterns. Razam was scared, scared enough to scream, turn around and run for his life, but whatever he was looking at was calling to him. There was a strange feeling, as if his soul had been pulled away and hooked to something he could not see. He blinked, then felt a distinct voice in the depths of his mind.


    Razam gasped, swallowing hard.


    ¡°What?¡± he shook his head, looking back toward the creature. The light of the dragon¡¯s eyes revealed powerful chains that kept his body restrained. Massive wings were bound, painfully tucked against his back. An iron muzzle kept a powerful snout still and in place, with barely a flicker of light shinning through its back as the creature breathed. The body was covered in blue scales, like a million fragments of sapphire studded in a great tapestry.


    And Razam felt a stab of helplessness, not for himself, but for the creature, as if an entirely alien part of his mind was speaking to him.


    ¡°A dragon?¡± Razam said with a gasp.


    Despite the shock and fear of being face to face with a dragon. Razam felt bad for the poor thing. Who wouldn¡¯t hate being locked up and tied like that? The dragon couldn¡¯t even open move its neck. There was a sadness to those eyes, helplessness. Razam could tell that the dragon didn¡¯t deserve to be treated like that.


    And something answered in his mind.


    He shook his head, as it seemed to whisper clearly.


    ¡°Release me,¡± said the voice.


    Spit on a grave, why would I do that? Razam thought.


    ¡°Because if not, you¡¯re going to die,¡± said the voice in his head.


    Razam looked back at the canopy and cursed under his breath.


    You¡¯re going to eat me, he thought.


    ¡°There¡¯s no other way. If you don¡¯ help me, they¡¯re gonna hang you,¡± the dragon said into his mind.


    I¡¯ve broken out of prison once, been there, but I don¡¯t need to make deals with demons like you.


    ¡°Do you think you¡¯ll fool them? Look at me; I¡¯m a dragon and I can¡¯t even move because of what they¡¯ve done. Release me and we¡¯ll fight together.¡±


    Suddenly, a figure emerged from beneath the tent, a soldier carrying a halberd. Razam rolled his eyes and jumped into action, ducking a spear attack and ramming his scimitar through the soldier¡¯s armor.


    ¡°More are coming,¡± the dragon told him through their connection.


    ¡°Why are you inside my mind?¡± Razam shouted. ¡°Get out of my mind now! It¡¯s not funny.¡±


    ¡°Free me or you¡¯ll die, human. I¡¯m not the one who¡¯s about to die.¡±


    But the dragon was sincere. Razam could somehow feel it. What the hell had that creature done?


    Spit on a grave, I¡¯m dead either way, Razam thought.


    He¡¯d heard that dragons were dangerous, but not that they were unreasonable. It was not likely to burn him to a crisp. Besides, maybe that was quicker than being tortured to death by the Murlians.


    He leapt toward the dragon and extracted his pick-locking kit from his belt. In that time, two more Murlians entered the tent.


    ¡°You bloody fool, what do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± said another Murlian, preparing his spear and hurling it at Razam.


    Razam ducked, turning around, reaching for a large padlock that connected the chains and rings, The soldiers hurled spears at Razam. He dodged, moving back quickly and catching the halberd with a hand, with a fluid motion he whirled and threw it back at the soldier.


    ¡°What¡¯s taking so long?¡± the dragon spoke into Razam¡¯s mind.


    ¡°Stop it for a minute,¡± Razam said out loud, going back to the padlock.


    ¡°Come on,¡± said the dragon.


    ¡°It¡¯s not as easy as it looks.¡±


    Two more soldiers stepped in, shocked at what he was doing. They immediately ran toward him, ready to skewer them with their spears.


    ¡°Come on,¡± Razam said, gritting his teeth, just as a man thrust a spear toward his body. He slid to the side and dodged, but another one was about to attempt to stab him in that very moment.


    Then, it clicked.


    The padlock thumped into the ground.


    Chains slid and slithered like snakes, metal clanked, and before him, a dragon spread magnificent wings, scales on its body like studded diamonds that reflected the light in its eyes, larger than an elephant, reaching the edges of the cage.


    The muzzle fell, revealing the dragon¡¯s powerful snout, already gleaming with amber colored sparkles. He spread his mighty wings, that filled the metal cage where they were.


    Razam noticed something, there was a box under the dragon, a chest as white as ivory. Could that be what they were looking for?


    ¡°The creature¡¯s escaped!¡± the Murlians shouted in panic, turning around, snatching horns from their belts and blowing them desperately.


    ¡°Come closer,¡± said a voice that made Razam shudder, rough and loud as iron wheels on a rocky road. He turned and found the dragon looking at him.


    ¡°I¡­¡± Razam mumbled.


    ¡°Come closer, human, at once,¡± the dragon repeated.


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    Razam did what the creature told him. In that very moment, the air seemed to catch fire.


    He stared up, feeling a shock of fear and awe, hot wind circling around him as a thread of fire exited the dragon¡¯s mouth, aimed at the iron bars of his cage. Then, the canopy caught fire. Panicked soldiers ran away. One of them was caught in the flames, his cape and hair caught fire and he let out a panicked scream.


    The iron beams melted as if in a hot furnace, turning red like embers and falling like melted cheese. Soldiers stopped to stare, behind the smoke and flames.


    ¡°They¡¯re going to attack,¡± said the dragon into his mind. ¡°We¡¯ve got to go.¡±


    Razam remembered the other thieves. He clutched the box beneath his feet and held it in his arm.


    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing with that,¡± the dragon kept talking through their bond.


    ¡°My business,¡± Razam said.


    ¡°Yours?¡± the dragon replied. Whatever was happening was making the dragon angry, a wave of rage was brewing in his mind. Razam looked at the creature. It was definitely a male, he was feeling it. The dragon had stopped breathing fire.


    ¡°We have to go now,¡± said the dragon. Razam held the box and turned to climb on the dragon¡¯s back. It seemed like a natural thing to do, climbing all the spikes and resting on top.


    The dragon pressed his legs against the ground and hopped with a powerful leap, passing through the open cage, just as dozens of spears were hurled at him. An explosive burst of fire veered them off course as the dragon spread his wings again and caught flight, then again, he flapped his powerful wings.


    Razam gasped, looking at the ground beneath him, a sudden burst of vertigo made him blink in shock. He felt better after a few seconds, as he held tightly to the dragon¡¯s spikes, holding the ivory box in his other hand.


    He looked down and caught sight of the other thieves that had been trying to escape. Five of them were lying sprawled on the floor, and one had been captured. He watched as the enemy had one of them on their knees. The dragon flapped again, raising ever higher, as through the smoke, Razam saw how a Demon Knight removed the helmet off their prisoner¡¯s head. He was shocked once he saw long curly hair. Yes, it had to be, that figure could not belong to a man.


    A woman was leading the thieves.


    He glanced as the soldiers placed a knife to her neck. Another one kicked her in the ribs.


    ¡°Wait,¡± Razam said, the dragon was now flying so high that Murlian spears and arrows could not reach them.


    ¡°Are you concerned about that human?¡± the dragon asked.


    ¡°I am. It¡¯s a girl. What¡¯s she doing there?¡±


    The dragon grunted, his entire body reverberating.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Razam said. ¡°How can we just let her be tortured and killed like that?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a problem for humans, not mine.¡±


    ¡°Hey, were you a human problem? It didn¡¯t look like they treated you like a king. Now imagine how they¡¯d treat her,¡± Razam said.


    The dragon snorted, a cloud of smoke escaping his nostrils, his flight steady as he circled the air high above the chaos. Razam felt the rumble of a growl vibrating through the dragon''s body.


    ¡°Come on,¡± Razam said. ¡°You know what it¡¯s like to be powerless, at the mercy of others. She doesn¡¯t deserve that fate, any more than you did.¡±


    The dragon let out a long, rumbling growl that seemed like a reluctant agreement. Then, he tilted his wings and started descending rapidly, cutting through threads of smoke and new volleys of arrows.


    Some Demon Knights turned around to flee in terror, a few remained, hurling their weapons at the dragons.


    Razam felt the dragon¡¯s scales turn warm. He held on, just as a powerful thread of flame descended into the fields.


    The man who was holding the woman faced the dragon and Razam. His eyes gleamed with anger and fear. The dragon descended powerfully, Razam held tight as the dragon stretched out his claw and grasped the woman with his claws.


    Flame burst around, making the man frightened to the bone, who ended up turning and jumping to the ground. The dragon flapped his wings again, and Razam sighed in relief once they gained altitude. He looked down, that woman they had saved was strangely quiet. Had she fainted? Was she even alive?


    ¡°Wait, wait,¡± Razam said. ¡°Why are you flying so far! Hey, I have to deliver that package.¡±


    ¡°Who says this is yours?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, we¡¯re just doing business.¡±


    ¡°And I won¡¯t let you.¡±


    ¡°Hey!¡± Razam shouted. ¡°How is it important to you, anyway?¡±


    The dragon¡¯s chest rumbled with the humming of a hundred bumblebies. The knowledge rang in Razam¡¯s mind. Whatever was in the box was extremely important to the dragon. To the point of life and death.


    Suddenly, a female voice rang in Razam¡¯s ears.


    ¡°Hey!¡±


    Razam looked down the side of the dragon.


    ¡°Hey, where are we supposed to be going?¡± said the woman. She looked serene despite having lost all her men. She stared up at Razam with a furrowed brow. ¡°Put me down now!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re alive!¡± Razam said. ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear you.¡±


    ¡°Yes, nice little trip you¡¯re carrying me on, but I cannot be seen just anywhere. Put me down in the outskirts of the city!¡±


    ¡°Huh? You¡¯re forgetting something, darling. Something very important.¡±


    ¡°Put me down, it¡¯s not entertaining anymore.¡±


    ¡°Where, should the dragon just let go and drop you to the four winds?¡±


    The dragon tilted his wings. Razam felt a shift as they started to descend.


    ¡°No, no, no,¡± Razam said, rising his hands. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to her. Not just yet, keep flying.¡±


    ¡°Who do you think you are, disgruntled thief, to treat me like that?¡±


    ¡°Whoa, whoa, whoa,¡± Razam raised both arms in front of his face. ¡°First of all, you call me thief. I am no thief. Second, what are you supposed to be, a nun? Second, who am I? I am the one who saved your life.¡±


    ¡°The dragon saved my life.¡±


    ¡°After much convincing.¡±


    She looked at Razam with a furrowed brow. She was pretty alright, quite above average. He liked the wavy hair, but her personality was lacking. Very much unlike those giggling barmaids he often encountered. Her hubris was immense, however, so was her bottom.


    ¡°I¡¯m waiting for two words, two simple words, before I allow you to go down,¡± Razam said. ¡°No, Vrarog, don¡¯t do that. I want to hear it from her before you descend.¡±


    Vrarog? Razam thought. Where had he come up with that name? It seems like it just popped into his mind. Was that the dragon¡¯s name? The dragon¡­ Vrarog¡¯s guts rumbled with a strange noise, like the purring of a cat.


    ¡°Why would I say that?¡± the woman said, looking up. She looked strangely comfortable, wrapped in a dragon¡¯s scaly claw.


    ¡°Because I saved your bloody life, woman!¡±


    She chuckled.


    ¡°It was your duty!¡±


    ¡°My duty?¡±


    ¡°Your duty as a moral and sane person.¡±


    ¡°Since when is it my duty?¡± Razam said. ¡°Lord Creator, do you think people have an obligation to risk their lives just to save your buttocks?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the least I can expect,¡± she said.


    Suddenly, Razam noticed a change in the dragon¡¯s intentions, as he turned toward a small hill and flapped closer and lower.


    ¡°Hey, what are you doing?¡± Razam said. ¡°Hey, Vrarog. I¡¯m talking to you, what do you think you¡¯re doing?¡±

 Chapter V - Separate Ways

    The dragon rocked his tail to the side, tilting his right wing upward, flying lower and approaching an empty hill in the middle of the desert, orange hued clouds appearing in the distance, along with a sun as red as a tangerine.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Razam insisted, tapping on the dragon¡¯s scales. ¡°Come on, let her say thank you, at least.¡±


    But the creature continued his path, opening his wings, weighing down and flying lower, gently placing the woman on the ground before landing, taking a few steps on land before stopping completely.


    Razam got down, holding the ivory box. He felt a jolt of pain from his surface injury.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, carefully climbing down. He turned toward the woman, finally taking a good look at her.


    There were pretty girls around the area, but this one was above average. She had pale skin and a narrow face, large eyes and bold lips. Her hair was dark brown and slightly curly, cascading all the way to her hips. It now fluttered softly in the wind. She had a nice figure too.


    She cleared her throat and placed one knee on the ground, facing the dragon.


    ¡°Thank you, guardian of Ymra, I will always remember your kindness.¡±


    Razam placed both arms on his hips and cleared his throat.


    ¡°Huh? He gets all the thanks, huh?¡± he said.


    ¡°He does.¡±


    ¡°I was the mastermind of your rescue,¡± Razam said.


    She was playing him. She was enjoying seeing him beg for thanks.


    He cleared his throat.


    ¡°Alright.¡± Razam looked at the dragon. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡±


    But Vrarog¡¯ eyes were now fixed on the woman. ¡°Ah, you know of our sacrifice. You remember.¡± The dragon¡¯s voice was deep.


    ¡°It is told reverently in our courts and in our cities," she said, dreamy gaze fixed on the dragon as if he were an angel from heaven. "We will always remember of the time dragons and humans served each other.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Razam raised an eyebrow. ¡°Wait, where did you say you¡¯re from?¡±


    ¡°I''m from Arsacia, land of honored souls.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Razam said, shrugging. ¡°Pity you.¡±


    ¡°Pity us? We are part of the greatest¡­¡±


    ¡°It was the greatest empire, what, four thousand years ago?¡± Razam said teasingly.


    Fara placed her hands on her hips. ¡°Our land produced the greatest philosophers, poets¡­¡±


    ¡°Four thousand years ago,¡± said Razam. ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s been a pleasure.¡± He turned toward the dragon. ¡°Alright, Vrarog. What¡¯s in the box?¡±


    ¡°That is of no concern of yours!¡± the dragon said into his mind.


    ¡°What do you mean it¡¯s no concern? Listen, I helped you too. I freed you from those bastards, now, tell me what it is.¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± the woman said. She stared at Razam with narrowed eyes.


    ¡°What?" Razam asked. "Is he not inside your mind too?¡±


    ¡°He''s not," she said, shaking her head. Now she was looking at Razam as if he had a latrine on his forehead.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Razam shrugged.


    The woman cleared her throat. ¡°Master dragon,¡± she said, falling down to her knees. ¡°Our Empire wishes to pay you respect. I represent the Arsacian Empire, Lord Dragon, and I wish to offer you our protection if you come to our Empire.¡±


    The dragon grunted, Razam felt a stab of fear coming from the dragon¡¯s mind.


    ¡°Please,¡± the woman said. ¡°Let me introduce myself.¡± She cautiously eyed Razam. ¡°I am Fara Darani, Cousin to Emperor Fahad the II, member of the Royal Court of Arsacia and...¡±


    ¡°Wait, what?¡± Razam interrupted her. ¡°No, you¡­ You are a thief, you¡­¡±


    She faced him, arms on her hips. ¡°You¡¯re the thief. Don¡¯t mix me with your kind, we are not the same.¡±


    ¡°I am no thief!¡± he said.


    ¡°What are you, then, you wanted to steal the dragon egg!¡±


    ¡°Dragon egg? Well, you¡¯re the one trying to steal¡­ Wait, dragon egg?¡±


    The emotions in the dragon¡¯s mind confirmed that it was the case. Razam blinked in surprise and turned his face back and forth between the woman and the dragon, then at the box he still held in his arm. ¡°Wait, wait. I¡­ I just wanted to do a small job, retrieving something, I didn''t want to get in between rival kingdoms and a dragon, or whatever.¡±


    He looked at the dragon. ¡°Alright. I get it, it¡¯s your child, but¡­ Listen, I need the money. What if I give it to them, they pay me and then we take it back. We take their money.¡±


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    ¡°Who would give out their child just like that? He¡¯s not a thing to play with,¡± the dragon seemed to answer in his mind. ¡°Don¡¯t you know how little our numbers have become?¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡± Razam nodded.


    Fara crossed her arms. She humphed.


    ¡°You¡­¡± she said, pointing at him. ¡°You are the Crimson Thorn, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Razam stared at her, clenching his teeth. ¡°They call me that, but my name is Razam Kanahari, if you will. Master Kanahari.¡±


    ¡°Whatever your name is. Huh, you have quite a bounty on your head in the south.¡±


    Razam snickered.


    ¡°So after I save your life, now you threaten me.¡± He said through clenched teeth.


    ¡°The dragon saved my life,¡± she said, lifting her chin.


    ¡°He wouldn¡¯t have gone back if I hadn¡¯t told him.¡±


    She shrugged.


    ¡°Well, pity. I had something to offer you, now that you¡¯re bonded with¡­ I am sorry, Great one, what is your name?¡±


    ¡°His name is Vrarog.¡± Razam responded.


    ¡°Is that so, Noble One?¡± Fara said, slightly bowing her head.


    ¡°That is my name among mortals,¡± Vrarog said through a ragged and powerful voice. ¡°I am bonded to this man, yes, but I did it out of necessity. I had never bonded a human, our kind has vowed not to meddle in human affairs and to avoid contact. But I intend to depart and continue doing so. I see, as you have seen, that he has compassion despite his evil ways.¡±


    ¡°Evil ways?¡± Razam replied. ¡°I did nothing wrong. I have done nothing wrong.¡±


    ¡°So you are not really working together,¡± she said to the dragon.


    ¡°We are not,¡± said Vrarog. ¡°I but I cannot get rid of the bond. I had to survive and save my child.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s this bond you speak about?¡± Razam asked. ¡°You mean this thing with your mind inside mine? Are you saying that I won¡¯t be able to get rid of it?¡±


    ¡°Not as long as I live. But worry not, human, for distance makes the bond weaker.¡±


    ¡°Master Dragon,¡± that woman, Fara, kept saying to the dragon, now completely on her knees. ¡°We need you. We came here, I will not lie, for your kind appreciates honesty, we came looking for the egg, wishing to protect it.¡±


    ¡°That I can and shall not do,¡± the dragon said, clutching the ivory box. ¡°I must leave now, there are few of my kind. Human, Razam. I am grateful for your help. I must go and I¡¯ll take my child. The bond must remain, I used it to save my life and that of my offspring, but it won¡¯t bother you as long as we are apart. And for you, Lady Fara, no, no negotiations can be made. We have vowed not to meddle with humans, not to bond them, even.¡±


    ¡°But Master Dragon, when you served the Arsacian Empire we had peace, we had protection, please, return to the old ways, please¡­¡±


    ¡°We never served any Empire, the humans were supposed to serve us,¡± he purred, as if in frustration. ¡°I shall not waste your time anymore, humans.¡±


    The dragon turned around, walking toward Razam. He felt a voice in his mind.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Razam said reluctantly, handing the dragon the ivory box. ¡°It¡¯s yours, no need to burn me to a crisp.¡±


    Vrarog¡¯s massive eyes drifted away from him, he pressed his legs against the ground, then hopping, holding the ivory box in a clow, it rose above and flapped over and over, elevating toward the mountains.


    Razam sighed, crossing his arms.


    ¡°There goes my money,¡± he muttered. ¡°Why? Why does it always have to be like this?¡±


    Fara was already on her way back through the mountain.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Razam said, turning toward her. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡±


    ¡°My own way, master Crimson Thorn, I will admit I am indebted to you, for that reason I will not press charges and deliver you to the authorities.¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± Razam said. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re planning to go out alone! Do you have any idea where we are? It¡¯s north of the Commercial Routes, Black Lotus dealers have their caves here, there are slavers and murderers around. Thieves!¡±


    Fara spoke without facing him. ¡°They don¡¯t bother people who mind their own business. Besides, I am an experienced fighter. So, nice meeting you Crimson Thorn.¡±


    Razam sighed. No, he would not beg a woman like that, not even if she was royalty. He had risked his life for her and she had refused to thank him.


    He turned around, without saying a word, and looked down from the hill at the settlements nearby. He sighed. Spit on a grave, he had been an inch close from becoming rich, really rich. Stupid dragon and stupid egg.


    He felt a slight rebuke inside his mind.


    And now that stupid dragon was going to be stuck in his mind forever? What was that supposed to be.


    He continued his way toward the opposite side. He decided to get out of the commercial lines. He thought of the possibilities. The Murlian border was around a hundred miles from there. He realized he would definitely not want to step any closer to them. They¡¯d probably know all about him in a couple of days and he¡¯d not be able to hide again. That would be the worst thing in the world. And that bloody Empire was expanding, the North had a border dispute between the Murlians and the Vaharian Khaganate. The Murlians were on an expansive streak.


    He sighed, thinking whether he should try to pass through Murlia and get to the East as soon as possible. He had been there only rarely and fewer people knew his name.


    Maybe he¡¯d take a ship there. Arsacia didn¡¯t sound that bad. A quieter city with pretty architecture and good sea routes. Yes, he¡¯d rather go south. He turned around, checking the rising sun and choosing to go that way. He climbed down, walking forward and whistling as he did. He grinned softly, remembering something important. He checked his pocket, where a full bag of gold coins weighed on his hand.


    Yes, why not just disappear? The only thing he had to worry about now were his last employers. They were supposed to be spying on him, only, they didn¡¯t know how to fly.


    It was not an easy path. He walked through a narrow corridor of stone and then had to turn around and descend by climbing out. The woman Fara had taken the easier road but he did not want to come near her.


    Walking down the path, he noticed that it had been tread recently. He looked around, confirming that the feet were mere sandals and not soldier¡¯s boots. They were men, though, cautious in their path. He continued following the trail, there were at least three men who¡¯d walked that path quite recently. His curiosity got the better of him. He continued onward, following their trail, noticing they descended into a sharp cave.


    He got up. What would those people be doing? He knew what kind of people were said to live in the mountains. Yes, thieves, actual gangs of thieves that assaulted lost travelers. That meant there was probably loot. Stealing from a thief didn¡¯t count as stealing, anyway, and although he never found he original owners, he always gave back to the community by inviting people for drinks and giving money. So everybody was wrong when they called him thief.


    Although money did run out quite quickly.


    He already had enough gold to survive for a few months. But, well, he had walked right into a pot of gold. If, and only if those were their hideouts. He listened attentively. As far as he could tell, there was no one in the vicinity.


    He leaned in. Suddenly, the ground seemed to collapse along with him. He stretched his arms, trying to hold on for dear life, but the entire section had collapsed. He found himself falling into a pit of darkness. However, the violent crash against the ground that he expected never came, instead, he found himself caught in a net, just like a fly after passing through a spider¡¯s web.

 Chapter VI - In the Tower of Wisdom

    Haeed had spent the afternoon relaxing and reveling in his triumph. Bathing in the blood of fresh virgin sacrifices was always a great start to his days, right after cursing the name of the Creator in his morning rituals. The girls had been sent from different provinces, from poor families, basically bought from their starving parents. Of course, they were not just taken and sacrificed; there was an entire ritual process to go through, where through ritual magic, basically, through their horror and screams, their life energies were harnessed into Haeed¡¯s magic staff.


    Now, after a cleansing bath with actual scented herbs and water, his servants placed magic rings on his fingers and dressed him to attend the rest of his businesses. He had to give a sermon that evening. The irony of that always made him laugh out loud.


    There was only one problem. His jinn had stopped responding. He heard his voice often, but not today, even despite the sacrifice.


    ¡°Al Kabkab,¡± Haeed said in his mind, holding the black staff close to his forehead. ¡°Are you there today, Master of the Hunt?¡±


    There was a faint whisper, but no clear voice in his mind.


    Was the creature angry today? It was sacrifice day; he was usually pleased. Was he finally rebelling? After all, it had insisted day and night that Haeed should share his power. Why would he? He didn¡¯t want real apprentices, at least not to share his secret knowledge. It would be unwise to let go of all that power.


    Now, with his mauve robes on his shoulders, his gray hair well-oiled, he exited his rooms and walked to the balcony. His knee ached with every step, a sign of age that he could not help even with his magic. He stopped right before his marble balcony. Haeed watched the capital from a vantage point, the tallest temple in the city. The capital of the Murlian Empire watched him from below. With what was about to be delivered, which should arrive in two days, he would be able to work faster. He would soon rule the entire continent. If everything went well, within a few months, he could start his reign of terror, his reign of fire. The only thing he needed to plan better was how to get rid of that stupid Sultan. After he served his purposes, of course. It was still a long-term goal, but he had to find a credible way to kick him out.Then, Haeed heard a galloping horse in the streets below. He pouted, looking down from his high balcony. A rider in full Murlian uniform approached his Temple of Wisdom. Urgent news, what could that mean? He hoped, no, there was no possibility of the dragon breaking free. Thieves, maybe, but that¡¯s why he¡¯d sent the most efficient groups of Demon Knights in the Empire. Haeed turned around and walked down, leaning on his cane. He passed dozens of servants and acolytes dressed in pure white, who bowed their heads once he passed by. He ignored them and descended toward the main gate. Guards wearing priestly robes and spears made way as the single rider dismounted, panting like a dog and with sweat beading his forehead.


    ¡°Master Sage,¡± the man said through shallow breaths, falling on his knees.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Haeed said.


    ¡°Master Sage, we received urgent communications from your camp.¡±


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    ¡°What is it, speak clearly, man!¡± Haeed shouted.


    ¡°Two groups infiltrated the camp, working together, Arsacian marauders and a bounty hunter known as the Crimson Thorn, they¡­¡±


    ¡°What about them! Finish the message, man!¡±


    ¡°They freed the beast and took the ivory box.¡±


    ¡°They freed the¡­¡± Haeed gritted his teeth. Idiots, they had set back his plans a few months. He¡¯d have to capture the dragon again. He clenched his teeth and banged the floor with his cane.


    ¡°Are they in custody now?¡± Haeed asked. ¡°I myself might go and see them.¡±


    ¡°Most of the Arsacians are dead, but two escaped.¡±


    ¡°Escaped?¡± Haeed growled. ¡°How did those thieves fool our Demon Knights?¡±


    ¡°My lord, they escaped on the dragon¡¯s back¡­ They rode it.¡±


    Haeed paused for an instant, then huffed.


    Those fools actually did it. The Arsacians were behind. How they managed to get past the checkpoints of their sieged little province was difficult to tell. But they did it. Anyway, it was only two fools and a stupid beast.


    ¡°Do you have the name of the Arsacian thief who escaped with that Bounty Hunter?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t know, my lord, but she was associated with their elite guards, the Khanjar.¡±


    ¡°The Khanjar attacked my camp. What of that Crimson Thorn?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s the one who released the dragon and rode it.¡±


    ¡°What? The fool is in on it. I¡­¡± Haeed¡¯s mind raced through the possibilities. Could it be that the man and the dragon had bonded previously, and they were apart, now the man had come to rescue it? Or had it been an accident, a reckless last-minute alliance? No, more information had to come out and confirm whatever happened.


    ¡°Did he take the treasure?¡± Haeed asked.


    ¡°The one in the ivory box, yes. The other one, no.¡±


    Haeed sighed in relief. At least the most important part was safe. ¡°I want his face on every wall in the Murlian Empire. I want his face plastered across the Great Palace if necessary, and across the commercial routes. I want every bounty hunter in the Empire on the lookout for him, here or beyond its frontiers. And any sighting of the dragon to be reported; the beast will build another nest, that¡¯s for sure.¡± If the man and the dragon were truly bonded, Haeed thought they could get to the beast through him. ¡°Bring him alive, so that we can squeeze him well. And the Arsacian too.¡± Haeed turned around, snapping his fingers and making a temple scribe come and write down what was about to happen. He then placed his personal seal on it. ¡°Not a part of this continent will be exempt from looking out for this Crimson Thorn. Hurry!¡± ¡°Yes, Lord Haeed,¡± the messenger said, taking the parchment and climbing his horse¡¯s saddle. Haeed narrowed his eyes. The Sultan wouldn¡¯t like this, but it would be a minor setback. Even Arsacia was about to fall under their control without breaking a sweat, without a drop of blood. Well, there would be a little bit of blood spilled, the peskiest blood in all of Arsacia. He had a few generals secured and ready to give power to the Murlian armies at the gates. Arsacia, the ancient Empire of Empires, was about to become a puppet state of Murlia. Not even their dreams of ancient dragon riders would save them.

 Chapter VII – Shadows in a Cave

    Fara looked down from the rocky mountain where she stood, scanning the landscape, with a swift and pleasant wind blowing through her hair. The view was gorgeous, with dozens of rocky hills, settlements and creeks that seemed like strokes of blue paint. It made her remember the days of her childhood, when she used to dream of painting miniatures and imagined decorating poetry books.


    Now, she¡¯d had the experience of a lifetime. She had flown on a dragon¡¯s back. That was another thing she had daydreamed of since childhood. To think it happened so unexpectedly. It was surely a sign that the Heavens were on their side. She knew it was going to happen; dragons would return and save the people of her land, of Arsacia.


    Despite the death of her comrades, especially of her uncle, last night had been magical; she had feared for her life and her mission, minutes before being rescued by the creature of her dreams, a noble dragon; and she had seen the world from above. She had soared above the commercial routes and mining villages, and they had ended up resembling nothing but small embers and fireflies. Maybe no human being has experienced that in thousands of years. And she had not been scared at all, after all, she had grown up listening and reading epic poetry, the tales that spoke of ancient dragons and their riders, of their unbreakable honor, and of how they never wronged the righteous or the innocent.


    She imagined dragons flying over those mountains, over those caravans, guarding a unified world; like when Arsacia was the jewel of the earth.


    Now, she had made contact and she had to return to her homeland. Her secret pockets still had enough gold to pay for a coach, and still enough to pay for bribes at the border.


    Fara planned for the journey ahead. The place seemed desolate enough, especially for wandering in the morning. The heat of the day had started making sweat bead on her forehead. But she could not waste any more time. She dedicated a minute to her fallen comrades. Thankfully, they had taken with them more than twice the number of Demon Knights.


    She continued down the mountains, thinking of the dragon. If only she could get the dragon to return. How could she convince him? Moreover, how could she find him again? The dragon didn¡¯t seem that interested in the thief, despite the bond.


    And they had not managed to take the dragon egg, which was their original plan. The mission had failed in every regard.


    But it had been such an experience.


    She walked through the sides of the mountain, where a path had been cleared recently.


    Out of a sudden, the ground seemed to collapse under her feet. Fara screamed, bracing as she descended through a tunnel, sliding and falling so deep into the mountain that sunlight didn¡¯t come through.


    Her instincts kicked in, and she got ready to crouch and roll to mitigate the impact. Instead, she found her momentum being stopped mid air, and her body bounced supported by interlaced ropes.


    She had fallen into a net. She turned around, trying to roll toward the wall and climb it, but in the darkness. She stopped just in time as she noticed sharp knives embedded to the walls of the cave. She turned around, waiting for her eyes to adapt to the environment.


    Beneath her, she saw an open flame emerge from the darkness, it was a torch, its flame and the smoke behind leaving a trail. The man who carried it had long greasy hair, an aquiline nose and thick eyebrows. Another, shorter man came behind him.


    ¡°See what we caught today!¡± said the first, revealing an ugly grin, the light of the torch casting a sinister light on his face. ¡°A woman.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± replied the short one. ¡°And she looks healthy too.¡±


    ¡°We''ve been lucky today. She fell right into the hole. And just look at that pretty face; she¡¯d sell well in the market.¡±


    Fara gritted her teeth. Those were worse than bandits, they were slavers.


    ¡°Come on, darling, relax,¡± said the one with the long hair, his eyes narrowing like those of a predator. ¡°We¡¯ll get you down and then you can enjoy some time with us.¡±


    Fara thought fast. She had to get out of there. Thankfully, despite having lost her spear during the battle, she still carried the specialty of her warrior order: concealed weapons of every kind.


    ¡°Let me go,¡± she said, writhing and acting like a damsel in distress. ¡°Let me go! Don¡¯t take me, you don¡¯t know who I am.¡±


    ¡°Who you were doesn¡¯t matter,¡± said the long-haired ruffian. ¡°Come on,¡± he said, walking to a corner and untying a thick rope that held the net up.


    Fara slid a hand into a secret pocket, placing her palm over her Tiger Claw and sliding her index and thumb over to secure it.


    ¡°Come help me,¡± the ruffian leader told his companion. Together they held the rope, while the other side of the mechanism lowered her down. She moved about, writhing and turning.


    ¡°You caught something?¡± said another voice. Another ruffian stepped through the cave. ¡°My gods, this things actually work.¡±


    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    ¡°And look at what we¡¯ve fished. She¡¯s pretty. These are the kind rich donors like to take as concubines.¡±


    ¡°Is she? Isn¡¯t she a little older,¡± said another ruffian, peeking through.


    ¡°Oh no,¡± she writhed about. ¡°Please do not, I am important.¡±


    ¡°Do you recognize the accent?¡± said the short one.


    ¡°Recognize it? Who cares?¡± said the long-haired man, waving dismissively. ¡°Well fed enough to be a citizen, wherever she¡¯s from. That¡¯s what she gets for wandering alone so far. Definitely not Murlian, though she¡¯d sell very well up there.¡±


    Fara¡¯s mind raced as she neared the ground. Her act of distress seemed to be working, their guard lowering with each passing second.


    The moment her feet touched the ground, the long-haired slaver and his short accomplice set out to open her net. She remained on her knees, hiding her palm and preparing to strike.


    The long-haired man was the first to approach, ready to jump her and pin her to the ground.


    The slaver, caught off guard, barely had time to react. She lunged forward, sliding her right hand across his naked torso.


    The man gasped, staring in horror at how his flesh had been sheared. The Tiger Claw was deadly. It had cut deep into the man''s naked flesh, and now blood was pouring down like a cascade. The slaver stared at his blooded hand, then collapsed to his knees, blood seeping through his fingers, his torch falling to the ground along with him.


    Fara lunged toward the short one. He had no time to realize what was happening, for she reached her hand toward his neck and dragged it across, shearing into his trachea. His death was immediate, and he collapsed with a blank stare.


    The two who had just arrived gasped in horror. One of them drew a dagger, the other one turned back, calling for help.


    Killing felt strange. She had trained since she was a child, but actually killing people felt alien and wrong. At the same time, somehow, there was something revitalizing about it.


    She knew that more thieves were coming, possibly with better weapons. She placed her Tiger¡¯s Claw back in her holster and removed a long, whip like stick that she held along her girdle. Now this one was hard to use, and made a big mess.


    She released it, it fell like a silver ribbon, like a steel whip, as long as twice the height of a man, and sharp as any knife.


    A handful of men stepped into the cave, holding war clubs and swords. They saw the weapon and panicked, remaining still.


    Fara lunged forward, shaking her whip. One of the bandits frantically tried to step back just as it caught him in the arm and torso. It cut through him as if through butter, blood splattered everywhere, he screamed in pain and others screamed in horror.


    She smiled, following her would be captors through the tunnel. A few fires in the distance showed there were more people there.


    Suddenly, she felt a sting in her chest. She looked down, it was some kind of dart. It was¡­


    She felt as if her soul had been pushed out of her body, she shut her eyes and collapsed to the ground. The world around her faded to black.


    ***


    Razam awoke in chains. He looked around, he was sitting, somewhere in the mountains, with nothing but the sky above him and a few leafless bushes. Next to him, he was surprised to see a familiar face. Her Highness Fara was asleep, her face against the sand, arms tied behind her back, legs tied at the ankles, a rope against her thighs, wrapped in a net like a potato out for market. It pained to see that bruises now covered her face and coagulated blood marked her eyebrows and lips. He gritted his teeth. She certainly did not deserve that.


    ¡°Spit on a grave,¡± Razam said. He didn¡¯t remember much, just men coming at him after falling and¡­ Well, blood damn, he was about to be sold as a slave. He saw bodyguards and mercenaries with crude weapons, and on the other side, he saw the camp, where merchants were conversing with their bodyguards. The leader was wearing a yellow turban, had a very long beard and sat on a stool by the fire. Razam¡¯s money pouch rested on his knee.


    Razam tried to move, but he noticed that his feet were also bound. Two men were approaching the merchant. They looked at him and pointed, then at her highness.


    The merchant seemed surprised, he opened his eyes wide and stroked his beard. Then called for more men to come. They were, unsurprisingly, armed. Six of them, one of them grabbed a set of ropes and approached Razam. He sighed. He was going to prison again.


    ¡°Well, well, well, well,¡± said the merchant. Razam had not seen him before. Fara gasped next to him, but the only thing she could move was her neck. ¡°So it is you, the Crimson Thorn, working with the Arsacians.¡±


    Razam rolled his eyes.


    The merchant squatted down on his haunches, looking at Razam straight in the eye. ¡°You two are going to make me rich.¡±


    ¡°Hey, let me go,¡± Razam said. ¡°It¡¯s me. Listen, there¡¯s no reason for selling me. I can work with you. I¡¯m good at carpentry too. You¡¯ve heard of me. I¡¯d be a great bodyguard.¡±


    The merchant turned around and spoke to one of his accomplices.


    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m talking to you!¡± Razam shouted.


    The merchant did not so much as look back at him. Instead, he talked to the mercenaries.


    ¡°With the recent information you gave me, dear friend, I think we better stay quiet. Cover their faces and cover the carriage. Drive directly into the Murlian camp. They¡¯d be waiting for them and¡­ My friend, with their reward, we¡¯ll have enough money to retire.¡±


    Spit on a grave, Razam thought as two of the bandits approached him with a cloth sack and placed it over his head. He struggled, he tried to argue for them to stop, but it was done in seconds. The light had been completely blocked and he couldn¡¯t see a thing. Now, they forced him to his feet and marched him toward the carriage.


    Razam grunted in anger. He tried to force the ropes open, but all his struggle was in vain. He sighed, then thought of the distinctive voice inside his mind. It was far, but it was still there.


    ¡°Dragon, are you there?¡± He said in his mind.


    There was no response per se, just an awareness.


    ¡°Hey, guess what, now I¡¯m the one who¡¯s tied up.¡±


    The voice in his head gave a distinctive response:


    ¡°I have other duties now, human. Maybe you can get out of here on your own.¡±

 Chapter VIII – A Hefty Reward

    The carriage started to roll. A cloth over Razam¡¯s head blocked all the light. Despite this, hetried to summon the strength of his entire body to break the wood of the carriage. The ropes around his wrists were thick even for a horse to snap, but he hoped that the wood they were tied to was weaker. He grunted, pressing his teeth and trying to lift his entire body. Nothing happened. And as he writhed and turned, he held a conversation with a voice in his mind.


    Come on, Vrarog, I helped you last time, this time I¡¯m in danger.¡±


    The voice that answered in a part of his mind echoed with worry and sadness.


    Human¡­ Understand¡­ I have other business to attend to. I thank you for what you did, but we must go separate ways now.¡±


    Remember what I did for you,¡± Razam said. ¡°You owe me your freedom!¡±


    Can you stop thinking on those terms?¡± The dragon argued.


    Razam sighed. Trying, once again, to use the strength of his entire body to break the wood, to rock the carriage, or anything.


    ¡°


    ¡°


    I¡¯ve been awake for a while.¡±


    Did they get you with the same trick? With the hole on the ground?¡±


    They did, but I managed to kill five of them,¡± she said softly.


    Five?¡± Razam muttered.


    Yes, those stupid poisonous darts they had,¡± she hissed. ¡°Had I been aware I would have been more careful.¡±


    Right, those stupid darts.¡±


    Listen,¡± the woman said. ¡°They took most of my weapons, but I think I still have something I can use. I need your help.¡±


    Huh?¡± Razam asked.


    In my hair, it¡¯s a hairpin. It¡¯s got a knife edge, strong enough to cut through these ropes.¡±


    Clever,¡± hissed Razam.


    Get it and cut my bands, I will release you. Then you will wait for my signal, we will wait until the carriage stops, then we¡¯ll be waiting for them.¡±


    Razam blinked, narrowing his eyes.


    Listen, kid,¡± he said. ¡°Neat idea with the hairpin and all, but who said you¡¯re making the plan?¡±


    Any better idea?¡±


    Well, you know¡­ I¡¯m the thief.¡±


    So?¡±


    Razam cleared his throat.


    They are taking us to the Murlian camp.¡±


    Huh?¡± she asked. ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    Yes, while they were asleep they were informed that the Murlian camp is paying good money for our heads.¡±


    Uh,¡± Fara said


    Then they heard a knock on the front of the carriage.


    If you utter one more word, I¡¯m gonna beat you so hard that you¡¯ll forget how to talk. I don¡¯t care who you are or that they want you alive!¡±


    Razam grunted.


    So,¡± she hissed even lower.


    Wait,¡± Razam hissed , trying to turn around. ¡°Let¡¯s get that hairpin of yours. Come here and I¡¯ll take that cloth off of your face. Let¡¯s make them stop earlier. Did you hear the man? They¡¯re delivering us into the Murlian camp. We have no chance against forty demon knights. We better make them stop now.¡±


    What did I tell you!¡± grunted a gruff voice from the front.


    Razam heard Fara writhing and turning next to him, she leaned her head on his arm. He turned both his wrists and his arms as far as he could, trying to grab the mask. It was an inch away, and yet unreachable. He hissed in frustration.


    Come on, dragon, come and help us, you¡¯d make it much easier,¡± he said in his mind. But there was no answer.


    Fara struggled and grunted, but after a while, Razam was finally able to grab part of the cloth with three fingers and pull it. He immediately felt for her hair, it was soft but a tiny bit greasy, sign of a long journey.


    Auch,¡± hissed Fara,


    No, to the left,¡± she said. ¡°Not that left, your left.¡±


    Razam moved, grasping it with anger. Until he felt something prickling him, he switched his fingers around it and pulled. Fara let out a pained cry.


    Razam turned it in his finger and reached for his ropes.


    No!¡± Fara grunted through her teeth. ¡°Pass it to me.¡±


    Wait,¡± Razam said. ¡°I¡¯m good at this!¡±


    No, wait, I¡¯m trained to use this specific needle.¡±


    Razam got to work, sliding the pin against the ropes on his wrists.


    I¡¯m better, kid. I¡¯ve escaped from prison twice already, and...¡±


    Suddenly, the carriage stopped.


    Where even is the sharp side?¡± Razam mumbled.


    Give it to me!¡± she ordered. Razam sighed and passed it to her. He felt her hand grasping the hairpin and he began to hear friction. But that was not the only thing he heard. Someone had gotten off the carriage.


    I will show you, you devils,¡± said the voice, before the hinges of the carriage door creaked. Razam only saw a pale light through the cloth.


    What¡¯s happening!¡± Razam shouted. He felt the carriage rock slightly as someone climbed in.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ***


    Fara hissed a curse, sliding the knife rapidly across the ropes on her wrists. She felt like she was miles away from finishing. In that very moment, the carriage door opened. It was not the driver, but one of his foremen.


    You!¡± the man said, pointing a cane at Fara¡¯s face. ¡°How did you take off your mask?¡±


    Fara gritted her teeth, lowering her face. She would not lie, she would not justify herself or blame the Crimson Thorn. She did not answer.


    I¡¯m talking to you, Arsacian slut!¡± barked the foreman. He stepped forward, lifting the cane as if to hit her, while behind her back, Fara frantically stroked the sharp hairpin against the ropes.


    She glared at him, continuing her task.


    Hey, you leave her alone!¡± shouted Razam.


    In that very instant, the man swung his cane toward Fara. She braced as he struck her across the face. It hurt, but she had been through pain, she knew how to face it, and she would not allow it to break her.


    Huh?¡± the man said, surprised, but perhaps angrier than before. ¡°Are you too numb to scream, Arsacian slut?¡±


    The foreman stepped forward, drawing his foot back, then kicking her in the temple. She grunted, breathing in to withstand the pain. She glared back.


    Huh?¡± the man. ¡°You want more?¡±


    Leave her!¡± Razam said. ¡°I¡¯m here. You¡¯re less than a bloody coward if you hit women just like that. Come on, come hit me and see if you¡¯re so brave.¡±


    It worked. The man struck Razam with a might he might had reserved for his worse enemy. Razam did grunt, but the man continued, twice, three times. Each strike shook the entire carriage. Another strike cut the side of Razam¡¯s forehead, and blood started dampening and darkening the sides of the cloth around his face. The man struck him again in the head, then kicked him in the ribs. Fara tried to speed up. Razam was bleeding.


    Then, Razam screamed. It made Fara flinch in horror.


    I hope your woman learns to be quiet now,¡± shouted the man, continuing to strike him in the arms and ribs, mercilessly, as if he were trying to split the cane against his skull.


    Stop!¡± she shouted. She could not watch that.


    Instead, the man turned, a sickly grin on his face, hitting Razam in the head.


    Stop now!¡± she said.


    Then, the man grabbed Razam¡¯s face and pulled it toward him as he kneed him in the nose. A horrid thud mixed with Razam¡¯s grunt. Blood pooled around, darkening the cloth.


    In that very moment, the ropes around Fara¡¯s wrists dropped. She took a single breath and prepared the strength of her legs to propel her. She moved forward with the strength of her core and back. The man stared in surprise and disbelief, but in the instant as she was leaping toward him, he did not suspect any danger. She grinned, drawing her arms around him. It was too quick for him to react, with one swift motion, she stuck her hairpin into his neck, right into his carotid artery. Her momentum pushed him backward, and the hairpin moved across his neck. It was only threads of blood, but his eyes opened wide and his mouth gaped, struggling to breath in. Instead, blood spurted around his tongue.


    Fara leaned forward, expression still, then pushed herself off the dying man. She removed the knife around the foreman¡¯s girdle and quickly untied the bands around her ankles. On the side, Razam was writhing in pain. Once her legs were free, she rushed toward him and pulled the bag around his face. Blood stained his forehead, nose and mouth. He observed in silence as she reached down to untie him.


    Thank you,¡± he said softly.


    Thank you,¡± she said.


    Darling, my friend, how are those prisoners?¡± asked the slavemaster from the front of the carriage.


    Razam, now free, turned toward Fara and winked, his expression as if nothing had happened, contrastingagainst his blooded face. He held the foreman¡¯s cane in his hand, his own blood staining its sides. He got up, and without a word, he lifted opened thedoor and jumped off the carriage.


    Fara followed, holding the stolen dagger in hand. A blaze of sunlight made her flinch, but she jumped through. Men from the caravan shouted when they saw them, and a handful jumped at Razam, holding crude bronze swords and maces. Razam was a whirlwind, ducking and dodging, with one swift motion, he slammed the cane against his first attacker¡¯s face. Then, he whirled. His foe attacked with a sword thrust, Razam grabbed the man he¡¯d attacked first and used him as a human shield. Razam¡¯s hand darted to the man¡¯s girdle and snatched a knife.


    Two more emerged from the carriage in front, one of them wielding a halberd, the other carrying a scimitar.


    Hey!¡± Razam shouted. ¡°You bloody thief, that¡¯s my sword!¡±


    The two advanced toward him. Razam had nothing but the knife. He leaned back, ready to throw his dagger at the advancing slavers. With all the momentum he could muster, the Crimson Thorn threw the knife, aiming directly for his attacker¡¯s face.


    And the knife flew right past its target.


    Fara facepalmed.


    Oh, gods,¡± she scowled.


    That man had terrible aim.


    But luckily, she didn¡¯t. She wasn¡¯t that good at close combat without her special weapons, but knife throwing was a talent she did have. She drew her own hand back and threw the knife she was holding. It flew over Razam¡¯s shoulders, whose instincts seemed to make him flinch.


    The result was not pretty to look at, the knife entered square into the man¡¯s forehead. He dropped the scimitar. But his companion kept advancing, halberd pointed. The halberd was easier for Razam to dodge, it seemed, he ducked, moving his hips, then trapping the halberd under his elbow and headbutting his opponent. The Crimson Thorn was good, she could not deny it. The stunned man was to slow to stop his own halberd from impaling him.


    Razam pushed him to the ground, undeterred, he rolled on the ground and snatched the scimitar. He jumped to his feet again, whirling it to feel its weight. Fara counted two more caravans, from each, four warriors came out. One of them had a blowgun. That was no good, he had to take care of him first.


    Are you not tired of this?¡± Razam shouted at the attackers, walking slowly, both hands down below his waist.


    Fara leapt toward Razam¡¯s side, having snatched the daggers of all the fallen slavers.


    What will you give me if I hit each of them with these,¡± she whispered into Razam¡¯s ear.


    Razam snickered.


    You¡¯re just bragging.¡±


    You¡¯ll see,¡± she winked an eye, drawing her arm back and throwing them. The first one entered her target¡¯s solar plexus. That was not immediately lethal, but looked very painful. The man had to stop and scream, falling to his knees. The second knife hit a slaver in the forehead; he fell in an instant. The third knife entered a man¡¯s neck, he collapsed and died in a pool of blood.


    Razam stared at her and nodded approval.


    Impressive.¡±


    The desert was silent.


    Razam yawned, stretching both arms..


    Alright, I guess we¡¯re done.¡±


    Seems like it.¡±


    What do you say we check the money box and go for a drink?¡± He said with a wink.


    Fara chuckled.


    I couldn¡¯t say no, but, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a bit too quick? It seems to me that your Murlian friends are looking for us.¡±


    Come on, I¡¯m not always dressed like a royal,¡± Razam said. ¡°Come here, these slavers are selling stolen clothes too. I saw the coffers they were carrying They¡¯ve got good products too, you can stay a noblewoman if you want, either that or a beggar.¡±


    But as the Crimson Thorn moved toward the carriage, a thud echoed in the desert. A black arrow had struck the wood, its shaft marked with intricate painted lines.


    Spit on a grave,¡± Razam cursed.


    Metallic shapes emerged from the cliffs and rocks, men with faces entirely covered in chainmail, plate armor on their breasts, and helmets adorned with devil horns.


    Demon Knights. And the more Fara looked, the more seemed to come out of the rocks.

 Chapter IX - Promises

    Fara cursed, scanning the ground and the fallen slavers for weapons. She stepped back, ready to grab a halberd from the ground, but those sharp arrows were pointed at her. It was clear that the Murlians wanted them alive, but the slavers wouldn¡¯t mind skewering them with arrows to soften them up.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Razam said, holding his scimitar in both hands.


    ¡°Yield yourselves!¡± one of the Demon Knights shouted from behind a rock, a dark blue cape shrouding his shoulders. ¡°You are surrounded. Try anything funny and we¡¯ll bleed you like a fox on a hunt.¡±


    Razam gritted his teeth. Fara dropped the dagger, holding her arms still.


    ¡°Any brilliant ideas?¡± Razam mumbled.


    ¡°It looks like this time it¡¯ll be iron chains and not ropes,¡± she replied.


    ¡°I¡¯ve had it worse.¡±


    Would she be willing to die like that? No, this would be a pointless death. Members of the Khanjar had sworn to give their lives to the Empire. But this death would be useless. Perhaps she could take a few Demon Knights with her. Though her knives would likely bounce off their helmets, waiting for them to draw close could give her a chance to aim for their eyes.


    ¡°Patience,¡± she said.


    Razam sighed.


    ¡°Murlians are famous for one thing,¡± Razam said.


    ¡°Oh yes,¡± she said, her thoughts suddenly turning to it ¨C torture of the most egregious kind. Their creativity in that subject involved every unpleasant method she could imagine, taken to the extreme.


    Maybe death didn¡¯t sound that bad after all.


    At that moment, a cloud drifted rapidly through the sky, obscuring the sun. A noise erupted, like carriages tumbling down a ravine. Fara blinked, squinting up at the blinding sun.


    Then, the sight that unfolded caused her to rub her eyes in disbelief. A blue figure crossed the sky, wings spread out like the canopies of great kings, a body covered in gleaming scales, like a thousand sapphires reflecting the sun. Then, flames burst from his mouth, like an erupting volcano. It descended like a punishment from heaven, carving a circle of flame where the Murlian soldiers had stood. Screams pierced the air as men caught fire, writhing in agony among the flames. A few hurled spears, a handful loosed their arrows, but the dragon burned them all.


    It was like a dream, an illusion, the kind people see right before their death, but it was undeniably real. Vrarog descended, opening his powerful wings, stretching powerful claws toward both of them. Razam had his eyes closed. Vrarog took Razam first, then reached for Fara, who stretched her arms and welcomed the dragon¡¯s embrace. Soon, the dragon rose above the ground, leaving the carriages and their enemies far behind. She looked down, stunned, watching the dying men beneath her become as tiny as termites. From there, she could see the paved main road and the surrounding buildings - businesses and farms. As they flew further, small towns appeared in the distance, resembling beehives


    She stared about, blissful, at the blue sky that spread around her from every side, and at the sparse clouds that waited and whirled around them jagged by the wind.


    She wanted that for her people, she wanted to have a dragon by her side. She hoped and dreamed, thinking of ways to convince the dragon to help her. Dragons had stayed far from human issues for thousands of years, they lived in the South, in remote mountains, far away from human settlements.


    By her side, Razam, seemed to be deep in thought, ignoring the landscape and view.


    The dragon kept flying, veering off from the mountains around the commercial routes, southward.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± she asked Razam.


    ¡°Why¡­¡± Vrarog answered instead of him, wings completely spread as it glided across the sky. ¡°Why¡­ so much¡­ pain.¡±


    Razam remained still.


    ¡°Razam?¡± she asked. ¡°Are you communicating with him?¡±


    He nodded absently.


    ¡°Why? Why did they cause him so much pain?¡± Vrarog asked through his fangs.


    Razam faced Fara for an instant. He sighed in frustration.


    ¡°I¡¯m telling him that I thank him for helping us, but that I¡¯ve had it much worse. He¡¯s really worried about what just happened.¡±


    ¡°All¡­ all that pain...¡± the dragon continued.


    ¡°Well, you just roasted forty people to a crisp,¡± Razam said. ¡°You caused pain too.¡±


    ¡°We defend ours, those we are bonded to, and those they loved. I¡­ I tried to let go, but I just couldn¡¯t let that happen.¡±


    Razam nodded understanding.


    ¡°I¡­¡± Vrarog hissed, his inhuman voice echoing in the sky.


    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s alright,¡± said Razam. Fara thought, for an instant, that he was talking to her. ¡°It¡¯s alright, you¡¯re safe with your kid now. I mean, your egg. I¡¯ll be here, living my life.¡±


    The dragon turned his scaly neck and answered, bright eyes glowing even in daylight. ¡°I made a mistake when bonding with you. I broke the rules, but I did not know it¡¯d be so hard,¡± Vrarog hissed. ¡°And I don¡¯t know if letting you die will make it worse.¡±


    Razam shrugged.


    The man was not what she thought. She had not seen that side of him. Why was his expression so understanding, so compassionate¡­


    ¡°Razam¡­¡± she said softly.


    ¡°Huh?¡± he said, raising an eyebrow and facing her.


    She paused for an instant, breathing deep.


    ¡°You are a good man,¡± she said with all the sincerity she could muster.


    Razam opened his eyes wide. He seemed genuinely surprised. His jaw dropped, but in an instant, he snickered dismissively and shook his head. ¡°Ah, girl, I know it must be a shock to go through all that, but we¡¯ll be alright.¡±


    ¡°I mean it, Crimson Thorn.¡±


    Razam looked away, glancing at the landscape beneath them.


    ¡°I think I understand you better now,¡± Fara said softly, before clearing her throat. ¡°I was wondering, perhaps, that you¡¯d like to come with me to Arsacia and join the Royal Guard.¡±


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    Razam seemed even more astonished than before. He smirked, a crooked smile forming on his teeth. She hadn¡¯t noticed before, but he had a nice smile.


    ¡°You¡¯re a good candidate,¡± she said.


    ¡°I,¡± Razam looked forward. ¡°I will think about it.¡±


    ¡°Think about it?¡± Fara asked. ¡°You are getting the offer of a lifetime. What, you prefer wasting your life? You want to end up as a slaver? I know the King, he can reward you, he can protect you. You have talent, and I know you are a good man.¡±


    ¡°Do I get my own accommodation or will I have to stay in the barracks?¡±


    ¡°A good salary, good enough to buy a farm.¡±


    Razam¡¯s eyes got lost in the distance again, but his expression had changed.


    And, she thought, it was a crazy idea, but what if she also got the dragon along with the Paladin. Maybe it was true, those poets were right, maybe Arsacia was about to be saved by the return of the ancient Dragonbound.


    ¡°I mean, that¡¯s not bad. What would be my title?¡±


    ¡°Paladin,¡± she said simply.


    That single word made Razam place a finger on his chin.


    ¡°It sounds nice. Royal Guard.¡± He sighed. ¡°You know, some words don¡¯t seem to have that ring to them, but this one sounds alright.¡±


    ¡°You mean like the word thief?¡±


    Razam''s expression changed abruptly. ¡°I am not a thief."


    Fara shrugged.


    Razam continued: ¡°Royal Guard sounds great, even my father can¡¯t say it¡¯s disreputable.¡±


    ¡°Your father? Is your father¡­¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s a fisherman. Long story. Anyway, you¡¯re good at talking too, you almost convince me. Let me just go, review the conditions, and we may have a deal. I need at least forty days of leave.¡±


    Razam faced forward.


    ¡°Vrarog, I understand what you want to do, please leave us in Arsacia. In Arsacia we¡¯ll be safe.¡±


    The dragon purred, but to Fara it seemed like a positive expression.


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± Fara shook her head. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    Razam sighed. ¡°Vrarog here wanted to distance himself from us. I don¡¯t blame him. He¡¯s trying to follow the rules the Circle of the Dragons set. But¡­ Well, it turns out my life is too stressful. He had to come for us.¡±


    ¡°So, what does he want to do? Vrarog?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t keep breaking the rules, it may doom my kin,¡± the dragon responded. ¡°I must fly far, far away, far enough that the bond doesn¡¯t bother me.¡±


    Fara felt a sting of sadness. The dragon really did not want to come help them. It did not want to have anything to do with human. For an animal, she could perceive its emotions.


    ¡°Master Vrarog,¡± she said reverently. ¡°Please tell me what¡¯s wrong. Why?¡±


    ¡°Your people betrayed us,¡± the dragon hissed. ¡°Your people turned against us.¡±


    Fara swallowed, drawing her head back.


    ¡°But that was many generations ago, it was an evil dynasty, we reject it too! The people kicked them out.¡±


    ¡°So what? Mankind is fickle, untrustworthy. It was lost.¡±


    Fara sighed.


    ¡°What can I say, that¡¯s true. There are people with all kinds of ideas, and dynasties come and go, some kings are good, some are deranged and crazy. But¡­¡±


    ¡°It is not worth the pain,¡± Vrarog hissed. ¡°I¡­ It¡¯s a hard thing to stop. I know if any of my kin join you.¡±


    ¡°I see, I understand.¡± Fara said. ¡°We did mess up many times in the past. And compared to you, so stable, so powerful and so wise.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t use your flattery on me, woman,¡± the dragon said.


    ¡°It¡¯s not flattery,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m completely sincere. And you know that.¡±


    ¡°That won¡¯t help.¡±


    ¡°And still, we¡¯d like to know about you. We¡¯d like to help you. We know things are not easy for you.¡±


    ¡°Enough!¡± the dragon said. ¡°This is why I shouldn¡¯t mingle with humans. ¡°Your flattery is seductive. You say things and then betray, you change your mind.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not trying to flatter.¡±


    ¡°You changed your mind about helping us,¡± Razam said.


    ¡°How could I not!¡± he said. ¡°What they were doing to you, I know you did not even intend to hurt them.¡±


    ¡°At first,¡± Razam interrupted him. ¡°Don¡¯t forget I ended up killing them.¡±


    ¡°I had no way of knowing,¡± the dragon said. ¡°It is¡­ like a hunger. That¡¯s why I must return. Return to my land and to my kin. And stay away from you.¡±


    Razam sighed.


    Fara stared back at him and smiled. She had known he was compassionate, but he was much more than she had originally thought. He would make a great Royal Guard and a great addition to the palace. Even her younger sisters would find him charming. As long as he didn¡¯t steal any of the decoration and sell it for half the price. She still had to be wary of that part.


    The journey continued, with them resting on a green hill. The dragon was a love, he himself brought a deer from the mountain and dropped it in front of them. Razam was quick to skin it and make a fire. And yet, Vrarog remained aloof.


    Razam talked a lot, he was a smooth talker. He asked much about the palace. She thought he¡¯d be too much of a flirt, or even obnoxious, but he was treating her with respect. Surprising.


    This infamous stranger was a pleasant person to be with. She had saved her life more than once.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see,¡± Razam said. ¡°I¡¯ll try to behave.¡±


    ¡°I think you¡¯ll do just fine,¡± Fara said.


    With the afternoon sun descending and after having to leave half a deer to the beasts and animals, the dragon asked them to climb on his back and continue their journey.


    They rode on Vrarog¡¯s back, glancing at wonderful vistas no human had seen in thousands of years, rivers, villages, cities. Before sunset, with the sun casting a gradient of hues in the distance, she recognized the Zaiti mountains, northern border of her land. From there, in crossing those mountains, Fara could finally see her home. The Castle of Talahn towered over the landscape, above a rocky cliff, surrounded by a glorious citadel, built thousands of years ago, still glorious and proud.


    ¡°There,¡± Fara pointed. ¡°Right on the terrace of the palace.¡±


    It had been a long journey, Fara sighed, just as the dragon flew over the night clouds. A few lights had still been lit in the night across the city. The palace, however, looked dark. The Unicorn Banners of Arsacia fluttered softly.


    Vrarog¡¯s wings were spread open, now tilted and slowing down. He gently landed on the terrace.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Razam said, turning around and acrobatically dismounting. Fara climbed down from the dragon¡¯s back.


    ¡°Fine, humans. You are safe now,¡± said Vrarog, his sun colored eyes gleaming in the night. Fara could see herself reflected in them. ¡°I shall return to my land.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve helped us a great deal,¡± Razam replied, placing a hand on the dragon¡¯s neck. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°I need no thanks,¡± Vrarog said. ¡°May you be guarded by Eternal Light.¡±


    The dragon pressed his chest against the ground and hopped, flapping his wings rapidly and casting a powerful wind that made Fara¡¯s hair flutter. Vrarog quickly gained height and glided across from the castle.


    ¡°That was wonderful,¡± Fara said, facing Razam. ¡°So. It¡¯s late, but I¡¯m sure my family will be happy to see you. Come, I can¡¯t wait for you to meet them.¡±


    Razam raked his dark brown hair.


    ¡°Maybe we should change first, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    ¡°We should, but, forget it, we were about to die and we¡¯re home now. I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll treat you like a king.¡±


    ¡°If you say so,¡± Razam said.


    Fara guided him to a door on the corner of the terrace, where she guided him down the stairs.


    ¡°The chambers are around here,¡± she said, entering an illumined section with lamps on the walls. But there was something wrong. There was a large stain that covered part of the carpet and the wall.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Fara said, moving forward.


    That¡­ That was definitely blood.


    She gave Razam a stunned glance. Razam¡¯s expression had changed, he narrowed his eyes and had a hand on his scimitar.


    They advanced warily, attentively, Fara¡¯s heart beating hard. It could not be, it had to be a mistake. She guided him across the rooms, blood stained the walls, the curtains. There were steps on the ground, as if someone had tried to run, that ended soon. Blood across the carpet, on the walls.


    Then, there was a pungent smell. Fara recognized it. Instinct and knowledge of the battlefield made her date the time. It had not been a long time ago. Her heart shrank inside her chest and she advanced toward the throne room.


    A simple glance at the scene made everything fade to black.

 Chapter X - A Secret Path

    ¡°Spit on a grave!¡± Razam hissed, running behind Fara to grab her as she fainted. The scene before him made his stomach turn. Blood pooled on the floor, and much of it had turned black with the passing hours. But the bodies made Razam grind his teeth in horror and anger. None of them wore armor, moreover, some were the bodies of children. Most of them died while wearing their small clothes, now stained and torn with dried blood. Their faces rested against bloody tiles, some of their eyes were still open in death, their skins clammy.


    Razam counted a few adult women, at least seven, but the children, the children were at least a dozen. There were a handful of men, totaling more than thirty bodies, all butchered in brutal ways.


    Despite the lack of jewelry, Razam could tell that these people were royalty, or at least, high nobles.


    In that moment, a shadow drifted in the corners of the hall. Razam noticed a man with a spear walking toward him, holding it defensively.


    ¡°Huh?¡± the man shouted. ¡°Who goes there?¡±


    He stepped into the light of the torches.


    ¡°Ah, comrade.¡± The man said, lowering his spear. He wore a tunic and no helmet. ¡°I thought you were one of the traitors who worked for this scum.¡±


    ¡°Traitor?¡± Razam asked. The term seemed ironic in that context. ¡°Sorry, I was downstairs. What¡¯s going on.¡±


    ¡°We cleansed the palace.¡± The man grinned, staring at the dead bodies, as if it were a beautiful garden. ¡°We¡¯ll finally have peace and quiet, my brother, thank the Creator. Finally we¡¯ll have food and peace.¡±


    Razam shook his head.


    ¡°Right,¡± Razam said.


    ¡°Wait, you¡¯re not one of my comrades,¡± the man said, grasping the spear tighter and looking down at Fara. ¡°Where did you find her. Don¡¯t tell me she¡¯s a traitor who served these scum?¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡±


    ¡°General,¡± the man said, turning his head and screaming into the hallway.


    ¡°What is it?¡± said a deep baritone voice, from behind the arches.


    ¡°There¡¯s two intruders here, I think they¡¯re not our comrades.¡±


    Razam swallowed, stepping back and placing a hand on his scimitar.


    Then, Razam heard the echoing of boots in the hallway. He turned back, getting ready to run and carry Fara outside, but the man with the spear was already in front of him, holding the spear close to Razam¡¯s chest.


    ¡°You won¡¯t move until he¡¯s back.¡±


    In that moment, Fara opened her eyes, she blinked, taking in a deep breath. She brought a hand to her head. She gasped again, in shock, and Razam let go of her and she stood.


    ¡°Lord Creator!¡± she exclaimed, hand covering her mouth.


    That was exactly when the general arrived. Razam barely took a look at her, he was a tall man with graying hair, a square face and a short beard. He seemed to gasp and took a step back, looking at Fara with wide eyes, and reaching for his short sword.


    ¡°Comrade, kill that woman at once!¡± the general ordered.


    It seemed like that general knew her well enough. The spearman, however, was too slow to react. Fara was like a whirlwind, she even snatched Razam¡¯s sword. He let her have her way. She immediately whirled like a typhoon and sliced the spearman¡¯s head clean. It fell with a thud, blood pouring like a fountain.


    The general did not like that. He took a horn from his girdle and blew it. Fara ducked and snatched the dead man¡¯s spear.


    ¡°He betrayed us,¡± she declared simply, facing Razam. ¡°Come with me if you want to live.¡±


    Razam nodded, following her just as five men with spears and axes emerged from the corridor, running toward them.


    She guided him back toward the chambers. But in that moment, more men started emerging from the corners and sections of the palace. And those were not wearing regular street rags but full scale armor, bronze scale armor upon riveted chainmail.


    ¡°Halt!¡± Fara exclaimed. ¡°Stop at once, you are committing treason!¡±


    But the men advanced in a wedge formation, spears forward.


    ¡°Should I?¡± Razam asked her, receiving his scimitar back.


    ¡°They¡¯re really on the other side,¡± she hissed through her teeth. ¡°If we engage, we delay. What about Vrarog?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s in a dilemma now, and he¡¯s made up his mind that he¡¯s going back to his kin. I said¡­ That he¡¯s got the right to.¡±


    ¡°Why did you do that?¡±


    He sighed.


    ¡°It¡¯s stressful. It¡¯s stressful for him and for me. Really, you don¡¯t want to look inside his mind right now,¡± Razam looked at the soldiers. ¡°And we can handle this.¡±


    Fara rolled her eyes.


    ¡°Follow me, then.¡±


    Razam stepped back as Fara rushed back and turned toward one of the rooms. It was dark, except for the blue moonlight that seeped through a window. Razam followed. They raced toward the window, heavy armored steps following close, and she struck it with her spear. The window broke into a thousand shards.


    ¡°Are you good with climbing?¡± she asked, turning and winking an eye.


    ¡°It¡¯s my specialty,¡± Razam said.


    Fara rushed and front rolled toward the window, jumping out and expertly turning and descending. Razam jumped over it and did the same. Now, both of them were hanging from the window. Fara let go, pushing herself slightly forward and falling into a balcony, she rolled to the side. Razam did the same, landing on one knee. Looking up, he realized that the soldiers could not get to them anymore.


    But they were still in danger. Razam looked through the gardens around the palace, where groups of soldiers and militia men in rags were entering.


    ¡°This way!¡± Fara said, leaping through a section of the roof and descending to the gardens. Razam followed, rolling to mitigate the momentum of his fall.


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    ¡°Is there like a secret passage?¡± he asked.


    ¡°More or less,¡± she said without stopping. The garden spread like a labyrinth, with pillars and sections of bushes, along with rose and lavender fields, barely visible with the torches that hung from the wall. On the opposite side, Razam caught a glance of two soldiers on patrol, the moon illuminating their silver armor. They noticed them and immediately took fighting positions.


    ¡°We¡¯ve got to dispatch those two before they call on more,¡± Fara said.


    Razam nodded and rushed toward them. The fight was short, they attempted to skewer Fara and Razam, Razam dodged to the side and quickly swung at his opponent¡¯s ribs, slicing into the creases of his armor and drawing a thread of blood, like a paintbrush in red. Fara parried then killed his attacker with a thrust of her spear. Both men fell to the ground, lifeless. The way was free. Fara and Razam ran to open the locked gate just as arrows from the towers above began to buzz around them.


    ¡°Spit on a grave,¡± Razam hissed, turning back to see the archers from the towers. The infantry was already exiting the palace and rushing through the gardens toward them.


    ¡°What¡¯s that horrible vocabulary?¡± Fara said while she disengaged the locking mechanism and lifted one of the locks.


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised you¡¯re in this business and have such a refined way of speaking,¡± he replied.


    Razam rushed to help her with the last padlock and began to open the gate from inside by turning a lever. Razam rushed and¡­


    What was going on?


    Razam assumed that was the market street. Or it had been? It looked like the aftermath after a siege. The market stands usually guarded and protected, all the canopies however were torn, most of the merchandise had been gone, a few foods were down there.


    ¡°This way!¡± Fara exclaimed, springing through the street.


    The gate was open again and the guards were already on their heels. Razam ran behind her, moving turning on a corner, then another.


    ¡°Faster,¡± she said, sprinting tirelessly through the streets.


    Then, she reached a seemingly abandoned home with an iron gate, wood plastered the sides of the windows. She raced toward it and knocked on it seven times.


    ¡°We lost our father, do not let our mother down,¡± she said quickly to whoever stood behind the door.


    A wooden segment moved, revealing a peephole. The door opened immediately. The man inside looked dangerous; he was older, with a square face that featured multiple scars, and green eyes that looked like not even a hurricane would make them budge.


    The man made way and Fara stepped in, followed by Razam. The man closed the door immediately. The house seemed empty.


    ¡°Brother Arash,¡± she said, lowering her head. ¡°This man is with me, I trust him.¡±


    ¡°Sister,¡± that so called Arash lowered his head. He was an older man with a stout face and shaved head. He had the build of a veteran, and his eyes were the same.


    Razam looked forward and walked toward the wall. There was a secret passage hidden under the rug and the floorboards, with a staircase that led down into a type of basement.


    ¡°Fara, what is this place?¡± asked Razam, hands on the rocky walls, stepping carefully. The only light was the torch Fara had snatched from the wall. It trailed smoke as they walked down into the basement.


    ¡°A stronghold of the Khanjar,¡± she declared.


    ¡°Khanjar is¡­¡±


    ¡°A secret brotherhood, dedicated to preserving Arsacia. And do the dirty work.¡±


    Assassins, Razam thought. ¡°Like your friends who died, huh?¡±


    ¡°Yes. It¡¯s a long story,¡± she said. Her expression had changed, she acted stoic and in control, but Razam could see a tremor in her hands and deep sorrow in her eyes.


    Razam sighed. ¡°Fara, what is going on? First of all, are we safe? I am sorry for what happened out there, you must be in shock.¡±


    ¡°Razam,¡± she said slowly. ¡°I¡­ I have learned a few things¡­ I¡­ It hurts, damnation, it hurts so bad. I cannot believe they¡¯re gone. But I won¡¯t allow myself to think that. I will mourn later. Now, we have to save what little we have.¡±


    ¡°That General who betrayed you, does he have anything to do with this Khanjar?¡±


    ¡°He was our Minister of Defense, but no. I don¡¯t know exactly what happened but it seems like he neutralized the Royal Guard. I...¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Razam pressed. ¡°I heard the kingdom was struggling, but this¡­ This is more than a coup, Fara.¡±


    Fara rolled her eyes and took a sharp breath. She grasped the spear tightly. It seemed as though she did not want to talk about what was going on, or that she was still processing it.


    ¡°It will come out, we¡¯ll figure out what¡¯s going on.¡±


    ¡°The man guarding the throne room¡­¡± Razam interrupted her. ¡°He did not look like a soldier.¡±


    Fara seemed to get tenser with every passing second.


    ¡°No,¡± she said through her teeth. ¡°These militias and armed groups have been protesting for months. You know we¡¯ve been blockaded by Murlia for more than a year now.¡±


    ¡°Well, what did you expect? If you can¡¯t feed your family and the people in charge do nothing to help.¡±


    ¡°But what could we do? We could not open trade with them. They wanted to take us!¡±


    ¡°Are the people on the street, the regular people, gonna understand that? That you¡¯re trying to save them by going out and looking for dragons?¡± He asked.


    He heard her clench her teeth.


    ¡°But General Firazi did not do it for them,¡± Fara declared. ¡°He¡¯s obviously on the Murlian¡¯s payroll. You don¡¯t know that man, he¡¯s as corrupt as they come.¡±


    ¡°In a good situation though, to promise things.¡±


    ¡°These people don¡¯t know what¡¯s in store for them,¡± she shook her head. ¡°And Razam, stop asking all these questions¡­ It¡¯s¡­ Not the time.¡±


    ¡°As long as they have something to eat, I doubt they¡¯ll care.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve no idea what you¡¯re talking about!¡± she shouted, as they arrived at the bottom of the staircase. A tunnel extended ahead of them, illuminated by torches hanging from the roof. The air felt damp and humid.


    As they advanced, they entered a section decorated with banners with unicorns and dragons. Candles lit that section and it was littered with wooden boxes and crates. There was the smell of food, fats and beef sausage.


    Six men were standing in line, wearing black cloaks, with their only weapon being curved knives stuck into their girdles. One of them had a cane, the other had an iron armband with tiny sections that peeked out. They looked at Razam warily. Razam swallowed hard. They looked like tigers ready to spring at their prey, those muscles, that slight, calmed tension was the mark of a bodyguard.


    ¡°Sister Fara, are you the only one to return?¡± asked one of the men. He was much taller than the rest, a true giant of a man.


    ¡°Unfortunately, yes, brother Fahad¡± she said. ¡°All the others were killed. My uncle Araman fell too. They perished bravely, but we have made a contact that might change everything. We have made contact with the dragon, though.¡±


    The six men exchanged glances. The tall one, then, fell on his knees and the others followed.


    Fara seemed as confused and bewildered as Razam.


    ¡°What is going on?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Sister, I mean, Your Majesty.¡±


    ¡°Wait¡­¡±


    ¡°The entire royal family has been massacred¡­¡±


    ¡°What about my sister, my uncle Raynan, all of them are closer to the succession. I came here to the Khanjar because¡­¡±


    ¡°All of them were killed in the past two weeks,¡± was the tall man¡¯s response. They all placed their hands on their knives and placed their knives above their hearts. ¡°Now, the Khanjar has to serve you, and only you as the Heiress of Jashad, you¡¯re our true Empress. We will hold the coronation according to tradition, in the basement is necessary. Our comrades here are planning how to contact our supporters and get done with this.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Creator, let me ask you¡­ What Empire are you talking about? What Empire is left?¡± she asked, her face a somber shade of despair.

 Chapter XI - Circle of the Dragons

    Vrarog flapped his wings faster and more frequently than ever before. Warm wind blew across his sinews, through the creases and membranes of his wings. His tail was straight as an arrow, and he crossed miles in minutes, flying in the dark of night, with nothing but a pale crescent moon above his back and a million stars.


    He was running away from something more frightening than killers, but even at a distance, his mind was not at peace. There was a part of his mind that had never been there before, that did not belong, and yet, it was as clear as day. That frightened him. He fled from it, yearning for normality. He searched his memories and those of his ancestors, but there was nothing about a dragon and a rider canceling or severing a bond.


    All he found were tales of betrayal and pain, originating from humans. These memories burned with fear and agony, as if he were reliving them. His only hope was to fly as far as possible and forget that human.


    Meanwhile, he sensed the human¡¯s emotions. They were always there, now he could sense worry. He was not verbalizing any thought, but Vrarog felt it. The feeling of danger and an instinct, a disgustingly real instinct that told him to go and protect that man.


    But Razam¡¯s voice was still there, reassuring him. The man was present in his mind, going through his own struggles. He somehow understood Vrarog¡¯s pain. They shared their pains with each other.


    Overwhelmed, Vrarog wished to break away from all that turmoil


    Vrarog¡¯s flight continued for hours, until the sun emerged on the horizon again, and Vrarog reached the summit of where he¡¯d left the egg.


    From there, with his dragon¡¯s eyes, he could see the egg at the peak of the hill. He had torn the ivory box with his claw, and the egg was posed right at the center of the peak, an orb of white with green stripes, its colors merging seamlessly.


    Vrarog scooped it up gently with his claw, holding it close to his chest. Now, he was ready to return to his people.


    He needed wisdom, he needed to find a precedent, and tell his kin what had happened all this time.


    Vrarog flew tirelessly, like an arrow loosed by the gods to traverse the heavens from night until dawn, reaching the world''s highest mountains. These snow-capped peaks, untouched by mankind, shone with a celestial hue. The air grew sharper, more taxing. His destination was the Homeworld, a peak towering over all, a snow-covered black pyramid.


    As he neared, his memories and ancestral recollections sharpened, vividly accessible. He recalled ancestors hunting in these lands, their interactions with humans ranging from avoidance to rare tributes. He remembered the great kings who once flew on the back of dragons, ordaining their laws from above. He remembered groups of dragons, with armored riders on their back, flying across the heavens, laughing and sharing the depths of their hearts.


    Approaching the peak, Vrarog saw a shape like furnished gold gliding through the air. It was Marna, with her powerful wings and slender body, her tail like a whip, straight and precise, she flew across the mountain, gently gliding upward and posing herself above the peak.


    ¡°Vrarog,¡± she said, shouting in joy, her voice echoing through the distance and across the plains. ¡°Vrarog is here!¡±


    The mountains then released dozens of dragons, of the different species. A handful belonged to his species, Vragner, blue and muscular, sturdy and powerful in flight. Fewer belonged to the Fireborn clan, those who lived deep into the mountain. Their body was red, their neck and inner sinews were dark gray or black, making it blend with the innards of the fiery mountains. Their muscles were powerful and strong, but they didn¡¯t fare well in flying quickly. Sungliders were of Marna¡¯s clan, yellow like gold, slender and majestic.


    ¡°Vrarog!¡± Marna said. ¡°We feared for your death! By the Light of the World, how did you escape? Tell us everything!¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Vrarog said, flying upward. ¡°Please summon the Mother. There¡¯s much I have to tell the Circle!¡±


    ¡°Please, please wake the Mother, I need to speak to her. I have¡­¡±


    Marna narrowed her gleaming cyan eyes.


    ¡°Vrarog, you are alive! I always knew it, and the offspring of my sister lives still!¡±


    ¡°Marna, Marna, please summon the Mother. I need to speak to her.¡±


    ¡°What is wrong, Vrarog? Speak to me! Are there more monsters like that in the mountain?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve done something wrong,¡± he hissed, holding the egg close to his scaled chest. ¡°I did something terrible and I don¡¯t know what to do. It may be a crime for our kin, that I did in haste.¡±


    Grukner, one of the Fireborns shouted at him from below, with a voice as deep as a gorge, and louder than a catapult. ¡°Are we men to commit crimes or break oaths? If someone breaks an oath, well, he is no dragon.¡±


    ¡°Grukner, if only you knew...¡±


    ¡°Well, speak.¡±


    ¡°I bonded with a human.¡±


    There was silence in the mountain.


    ¡°Why would you do such a thing?¡± asked one of the Sungliders, perched near the peak.


    ¡°To live,¡± he said.


    Grukner grunted. ¡°Humans? Why would you? You have doomed us now.¡±


    Stolen novel; please report.


    ¡°How could you do that?¡± Marna asked. ¡°How is that possible nowadays?¡±


    ¡°We can do it,¡± said the male Sunglider. ¡°It has been done before, all it takes is two willing hearts.¡±


    ¡°It didn¡¯t work when I tried it as a dragonet,¡± Marna said.


    ¡°And why would you even try that?¡± Grukner asked.


    ¡°Well,¡± Marna said. ¡°Our ancestors did it, I figured why wouldn¡¯t I. But I guess I didn¡¯t will it enough, or maybe it was the human who didn¡¯t really will it.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve tried?¡± Vrarog asked.


    ¡°That is the most foolish thing I¡¯ve ever hear,¡± Grunker grunted, his nostrils sparkling red as he did.


    ¡°Well,¡± Marna said. ¡°I was young. It was like three hundred years ago. Even my sister Varna tried. Who hasn¡¯t tried it?¡±


    Grukner¡¯s mouth exploded in flame, part of it escaped through his fangs.


    ¡°You even trying to do that is foolish,¡± Grukner shouted. ¡°We have become a weak kin, we are doomed, you have doomed yourself, Vrarog. Look at you, I haven¡¯t seen a dragon so distressed even in my ancestral memories. No wonder, us dragons can¡¯t have it both ways, like humans do.¡±


    ¡°I did it to survive, and that my child survives, so that our kin continues. That Varna¡¯s sacrifice is worthwhile. I accept that I did it, and I made no mistake. I must now live with it, or die. That must be the council¡¯s decision.¡±


    Something moved slowly from inside the cave. One of the caves switched, a gray figure moved from inside, leaning a giant dragon¡¯s head, so massive that it seemed like a mountain itself. The Mother had been awakened.


    ¡°She¡¯s awake,¡± Marna said, flapping her golden wings and leaping into the air. Vrarog nodded and hopped off the cliff, spreading his wings and descending toward the lowest part of the mountain.


    The Mother emerged from a deep gorge, and Vrarog landed directly in front of her, over a snowcapped peak. Marna landed next to him. Both bowed their heads and necks toward her.


    ¡°I have been awakened again, my children. Why have you done this, child?¡± said the mother, her voice like an avalanche descending from the mountain. ¡°Who are you, and what do you wish to know?¡±


    ¡°I am Vrarog, of the sixteenth generation,¡± he said. ¡°I must confess what I have done, mother¡­ I am taking care of my child, as their mother was hunted and killed. Then...¡±


    Vrarog took a deep breath, freezing air turning into heat as it passed through his nostrils.


    ¡°I bonded a human.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Mother said. ¡°Now that is interesting. Why did you do that? After so many centuries, after the Betrayal.¡±


    ¡°I did it to save a life, Mother. I did it to protect my child.¡±


    The Mother dragon remained still, air passing through her nostrils and returning as warm as the air inside a volcano.


    ¡°Mother, what can I do, I have to remain here. I have to stay and raise my child, but this man is inside my mind. I don¡¯t know what to do to get him out. Has anyone blocked the bond, as any one broken it without killing?¡±


    ¡°Ah, child. Do you search your memories for answers? You must have. What do you know of bonded dragons and riders?¡±


    ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t apply to us now,¡± Vrarog said. ¡°They willingly bonded their humans. They had oaths to fulfill and duties to perform. I did it out of an urgent situation.¡±


    ¡°Did you not do it willingly?¡±


    ¡°I did it out of necessity, I didn¡¯t plan on following through.¡±


    ¡°What did you feel when you bonded that man?¡±


    ¡°Mother, I trust you, I don¡¯t understand what you want me to say. I say I did it out of necessity.¡±


    ¡°You asked for help, did you not? It is not just looking into the eyes of a human and hooking him. It is something else, you know full well what you did, whether you deny it or not.¡±


    Vrarog pressed his fangs, breathing hard, breathing boiling air.


    ¡°I did it for my child.¡±


    ¡°Are you not a dragon? How do you bond a human? Tell me the oath you say in your mind.¡±


    ¡°But mother, it was a moment of extreme danger.¡±


    ¡°And yet, a bond is a promise the dragon makes. What are the words of the ancient bond, which you felt the moment you looked at that man?¡±


    Vrarog turned his face reluctantly.


    ¡°I will defend you with my life. We walk one path, we are a fortress to each other, we are one.¡±


    ¡°Did you not say that, child? Do not we pride ourselves, as dragons, of always keeping our word, and being true? Why are you acting like the human and considering breaking a promise?¡±


    ¡°But my human understands.¡±


    ¡°If he accepted the bond, it means his heart was ready to accept you, to give his life for you.¡±


    Vrarog looked around, purring. Marna glanced at her wid wide eyes, her neck craned, wings relaxed. She seemed curious and interested. She didn''t shame Vrarog.


    ¡°He didn¡¯t think about it much," said Vrarog. "As far as I know. But it was against his own interests, against whet he said to me, it was against his¡­¡± Vrarog thought about it. He hadn''t really bonded Razam against his will. It meant that Razam, that man, despite his reticency, maybe despite his best interest, maybe even subconsciously, accepted being bonded. His heart was¡­


    ¡°But he didn¡¯t say that he accepted me.¡±


    ¡°Once I knew of a man, a hero,¡± she said. ¡°He was much like a dragon. A man who was true in every regard. He was, well, a human, with his shortcomings, but every time he saw someone in need, even if he was in danger, he was willing to give everything for them. He might denied it, fight against it, but his heart always yielded. I knew him. I knew his face. He bonded my mother.¡±


    ¡°Arius the Dragonfriend,¡± Vrarog said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Mother hissed. ¡°I know the hearts of men are fickle. They failed us generations ago. But when a man has a will to help in spite of his own life, he cannot deny a bond.¡±


    ¡°But he hadn¡¯t even known me, in all the memories¡­¡±


    ¡°It means he was willing to help you even then.¡±


    ¡°Then what should I do? Mother, I am willing to die if it means protecting my kin from danger.¡±


    ¡°My child, we have avoided bonding, we have told you not to bond for this very reason. But we are dragons, we won¡¯t void our oaths because it is not convenient. Our kin would be cursed, our memory would be cursed before the Light if we break a bond. You, as a dragon, must do the right thing and serve your bond with heart and soul. Follow the duty of your soul, no matter where it leads you.¡±

 Chapter XII - The Price of Power

    Haeed waited in the top chamber of the Tower of Wisdom, leaning against his mahogany throne, his black staff resting against the armrest.


    He had clenched his fists in refusal of the Sultan¡¯s summoning. How could he face that fat slob without having the upper hand? He couldn¡¯t. Now, he had lost track of both the dragon and Crimson Thorn twice.


    You fool,¡± said a chilling voice right next to his head.


    Huh?¡± the old man hissed, looking at his staff. It was Al Kabkab, his familiar, a jinn he had bonded centuries ago. ¡°You finally answer, you bloody creature. Where have you been? Why did you abandon me now? You could have helped me.¡±


    I left you because you failed. Again. I should abandon you and let you rot. I come back, just to remind you that you haven¡¯t delivered on your promises.¡±


    Ungrateful jinn,¡± hissed Heed. ¡°I¡¯ve given you sacrifices, more than you could ever swallow in a lifetime, and you still come to me and accuse me. I have given you much more than any human being has ever given a jinn!¡±


    And yet you keep failing! No matter how good it seems to be going, you fail in the end!¡±


    I haven¡¯t failed! I know what you¡¯re doing, Al Kabkab, you¡¯re pressuring for more sacrifices. You¡¯ll have them, but how can I offer more to you if you die¡±


    You promised a world ready to be offered to me,¡± thejinn said, venom in his voice. ¡°That¡¯s why we were bonded.¡±


    Haeed sighed. ¡°Alright, name your price. How many children do you want me to sacrifice now? I need your power? And once again, I will capture that dragon and be done with it, bring him under your will. You¡¯ll have his body, his blood, his kin, and whateverelse you want.¡±


    Al Kabkab hissed. ¡°The dragon is back with his kin, but he¡¯s bonded.¡±


    So it is confirmed that he is bonded. How do you know that?¡± Haeed asked.


    In the spirit world, we have access to knowledge of things, much more than you will ever have.¡±


    Yes, yes, whatever,¡± Haeed muttered. ¡°Listen, this man is too much for my men to handle, especially with the dragon by his side. But I, I can capture him myself if you help me. I can become invincible again!¡±


    Still puny to me,¡± Al Kabkab responded.


    Haeed gritted his teeth.


    So that¡¯s what you want? I¡¯ll give it to you. I offer you harvested black energy, and you help me help you. You want me to do it again, don¡¯t you, the Rite of Incarnation?¡±


    It¡¯s a good way to prove that you¡¯re not puny, I don¡¯t lose anything.¡±


    Haeed grinned. ¡°Very well, I want this to be done with.¡±


    Last time, the ritual had gone well. He had captured the dragon single-handedly and delivered him to the Demon Knights. The ritual was a dread to go through, and getting there, well, he needed a very devout family, one that was proven to be good and righteous, and force them to kill each other. But the power that it granted was something beyond what any human being could ever reach.


    Haeed cleared his throat.


    Well, well, I guess I have no choice, huh?¡± Haeed pushed himself off the throne. His back and knee creaked and he grunted, placing the cane on the floor and leaning both arms on it.


    You¡¯ve changed, Al Kabkab,¡± Haeed said to his staff. ¡°You promised too much, you once told me I was the smartest man you¡¯d ever met. I mean, I know I am. No one compares to my intellect, but still¡­ I miss the old you.¡±


    Suddenly, a black smoke emerged from the head of his twisted staff, taking the shape of a muscular man, skin the color of brass, with curved horns on his head, although the lower part of his body was still a blur of thick smoke.


    Al Kabkab now stood before him, staring with yellow eyes, crossing his arms.


    What do you expect? I¡¯m a jinn,¡± he said, his eyes gleaming with a threatening expression.


    I know, I know,¡± Haeed said softly. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re right. I¡­ I am getting old. I will finish this. I¡¯ve planned it well, you see, after I unify the world, I¡¯ll have thousands of sacrifices per day. I will institutionalize human sacrifice once again. And you¡¯ll have it all.¡±


    Al Kabkab shook his head. ¡°Besides, we¡¯ve spoken about this a thousand times. You have no true commitment to evil, to me, or to Shaitan. You only care about yourself. You see this as a business. How long have we been at it and you haven¡¯t established one single kingdom?¡±


    Haeed sighed. ¡°Well, I had to prepare. Seven hundred years feels like a long time already, and finally, finally I¡¯m this close and, again, my progress is thwarted. Besides, am I not doing your bidding, and that of the Dark Lord? I am doing evil, I¡¯m causing death and destruction! How many wars have I started in my name. In the meantime, I¡¯m taking over the world. What more can you ask?¡±


    A slow burn for sure. We want power. I want it too, I want to be the most powerful jinn in the cosmos. But if you plan on running the world in my name, you can¡¯t be all alone. And those poor fools you¡¯ve got working for you downstairs. They think they¡¯re doing the Creator a service! It¡¯s entertaining, but it gets old. I want evil people doing evil things to serve me! It is such a dread when they start chanting the Creator¡¯s name. I get it, it¡¯s blasphemous. But when will I get the praise? Listen, Haeed, you¡¯ve done much evil, you¡¯ve fed spirits to me and my Master, a lot of blood. But it¡¯s only you. You are the only truly evil person in this tower. We need more, we need entire nations to turn to evil, in deed and action. You have deceived many to do evil things, but they think they¡¯re doing good! Something is missing! And the moment where you come up with a great plan and bargain for greater power... what happens? You fail.¡±


    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Yes, yes, whatever you say, Al Kabkab. I¡¯ll deliver.¡±


    And I don¡¯t need you, you can only do so much. When am I going to see those thousands of sacrifices?¡±


    What about the wars that I started?¡±


    The jinn snickered. ¡°No matter how you word it, if people die in war, none of them are dying in my name. And there is no harvesting of black energy except when you¡¯re doing it. You know my goal. We want the whole world to turn to evil, I want people hating the parents who loved them, families slaughtering each other, people eating their cats and dogs. You know what I mean. How can we make that happen?¡±


    I¡¯m doing it, Al Kabkab! Everything I do is to reach this goal. What part of my plan don¡¯t you understand!¡±


    The jinn smiled mischievously.


    I was thinking that maybe you need more help. More people working for you, knowing full well what we¡¯re doing. Initiates serving Darkness itself. What do you think? Of course, you¡¯d be their leader.¡±


    Alright.¡± Haeed walked down the stairs of his tower, passing by the section where regular religious studies took place. He nodded to the teacher. Religious tomes filled the bookshelves. Stupid texts, he should burn them all, but he had to keep up appearances. He walked down the stairs to the single section of the Tower where only he and a chosen few had access. To others, it was indistinguishable from a section of the wall. But certain spirits guarded the entrance.


    He walked through it, as though there were nothing there, suddenly, the light around him faded, sinking him into complete darkness. Then, his staff started glowing with a cyan light, he approached the wide staircase and descended into a dark tunnel. He could hear the chanting of his disciples. Poor fools. They had been fooled with pleasures of the flesh, with visions, or rather, illusions, with a false doctrine he had crafted out of thin air, disguising it as the Creator¡¯s will. Torches had been lit at the bottom of the staircase, and the chanting became louder.


    Master,¡± said the voices of his acolytes. They wore religious attire, brown robes and leather bands around their heads. They bowed their heads.


    How are your meditations going, boys?¡± he asked with a grandfatherly voice.


    Very well, Master Sage,¡± said Barug, a tall man with a shaved head.He was one of the most devoted. He had even written a poetry book that was shared among the public.


    Excellent,¡± Haeed said. ¡°I¡­¡± He looked down wearily. ¡°I have received many new inspirations from the Creator. I must go visit the people we¡¯re sending to Paradise.¡±


    Yes, Master Sage,¡± said Barug, nodding and turning to accompany his Master.


    Haeed advanced toward the main hall. Half a dozen young acolytes waited, including three women, wearing the same robes and leather bands around their foreheads.


    My children,¡± he said, extending his hands. ¡°My children. How are your meditations going?¡±


    Master Sage,¡± said the women, turning toward him, raising to their feet and bowing. He smiled fondly. He had complete control over those human souls. They thought they were doing God¡¯s work, that Paradise was soon coming to the earth and that they were part of it.


    My children. The Creator has spoken to me once again. He has listened. I as the Master and Speaker for the Creator, must command something of you.¡±


    What is it, Master Sage?¡± asked Barug. ¡°Should we procure more young women for you to save their souls?¡±


    Haeed cleared his throat.


    More than that, Barug. We are doing the ritual of Purification again.¡±


    He¡¯d made up the name. The actual name, in the actual books of black magic he had compiled, was Incarnation. And its purpose was something else entirely.


    One of the girls seemed lowered her glance.


    My master¡­¡±


    What is it, child?¡± he asked.


    I¡­¡±


    He looked at her. She was clearly uneasy about the subject matter.


    May I speak to you in private?¡± she said meekly.


    Why, child? We have no secrets here?¡±


    I am proud and happy to serve, but¡­ But that ritual¡­¡±


    The others looked at her with frowning faces.


    Do you find it distasteful, my child?¡± Haeed said softly.


    Master, I understand the theory, but it feels wrong.¡±


    Ah,¡± Haeed said patiently, placing his hand on the woman¡¯s lower back. ¡°Child, sometimes the Creator makes us do things that sound distasteful. But you know the Secret Doctrines, we taught you the truth behind the scriptures. The hidden meaning. You know it well.¡±


    I do, and yet, it is not easy,¡± she said, with eager eyes, eager for knowledge and salvation.


    It was incredible how much they believed him. They had agreed to participate in the most horrid rituals for normal human decency, contradicting the very holy books they believed in. They had come to believe that those deeds had to be done, that those unholy rituals were holy works, designed to force the Creator to save the world and bring salvation to whoever participated.


    But he¡¯d have to keep that particular acolyte in check. He¡¯d write a note to Barug not to let her leave the compound, and if she rebelled openly, she¡¯d have to be taken care of. Al Kabkab was always there, helping. They were, if necessary, killed by their other peers, usually during an ecstatic vision.


    We will do it for you, Master!¡± said the others, enthusiastically.


    I expect no less of you all,¡± he said to them. ¡°Find a pious family from the community. Bring them to paradise, perform the ritual and you will ensure their salvation. Do not hesitate.¡±


    Aye, our Master,¡± they said, bowing their heads without hesitation.


    Al Kabkab swelled on Haeed¡¯s staff, making it warmer. The jinn could not wait.


    Very good,¡± Haeed said, nodding approval. ¡°Now, I expect them tonight. Go search for a suitable family.¡±


    We shall do it, our lord,¡± Barug said.


    Very well,¡± Haeed replied, advancing toward the deepest chambers of the compound. There were cries, wailing, and other noises coming from the other sections, but Haeed advanced deep in thought. One thing was leading a cult of indoctrinated people who defiled every tenet of their own religion, thinking it a religious duty. The human mind was susceptible and could be convinced of anything. But why was it so hard to find people who really embraced what they knew to be evil, and coveted it? That should be easier to find. Maybe he wasn¡¯t really good at corrupting people, maybe he should be more like Al Kabkab. Maybe, surrounded by naive people both in the Tower and the Temple, he wasn¡¯t looking far enough.


    What do you think, Al Kabkab?¡±


    Hmm, if that is what it takes. I can scry a bit into the spirit world, look for ambitious individuals, or maybe my fellow jinn know a few. You shall visit them.¡±


    They should come to me, I am supposed to be their master! And don¡¯t even try to downgrade me in front of them.¡±


    Would they willingly go visit a holyman?¡± Al Kabkab said, taking shape once again before Haeed¡¯s eyes. ¡°That¡¯s the problem. You¡¯re presenting yourself as a righteous man, of course, you¡¯re a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing, but your deception is quite compelling. Few can read between the lines. Why don¡¯t you show a different face to them?


    Al Kabkab pressed his lips.


    I will think of something,¡± he thought, looking to the side, staring at some of the devices they used in their secret rituals, among weapons, spikes, needles and other instruments, he saw a mask with demonic horns. He fidgeted with the ends of his beard.

 Chapter XIII – Escaping Fate

    The ritual began and ended before sunrise. Blood pooled the sides of Haeed¡¯s altar room. A family lie at his feet, father, mother, son and daughter, their necks ripped and bleeding; having been forced to kill each other after their ordeal. The power within Haeed¡¯s staff pulsed ominously, its black glow resonating with a ferocity like a caged beast yearning for release.


    Barug,¡± Haeed commanded, his voice echoing through the chamber, ¡°The Creator demands more blood to redeem these wretched souls. We must act swiftly and send their blessed souls to heaven before the jinn catch them!¡±


    From a shadowed corner, Barug''s voice responded with obedience, ¡°As you wish, my master.¡± The sounds of chains rattling and the heart-wrenching screams of captive mothers and their children filled the room as they were dragged closer to the altar.


    Haeed opened his mouth, reciting words of ancient, secret tomes, from civilizations long forgotten. Those words echoed in the air, dimming every sensation. His mind split in two; one on earth, in his very own tower, another guided by Al Kabkab through the space-time, through endless cosmos and among the realms of the Earth


    Where is the Crimson Thorn?¡± he asked.


    The spirits answered, granting him a vision of the man sleeping in a basement, head against the stone floor, somewhere in Arsacia.


    With a sibilant hiss, Haeed whispered to himself, ¡°Arsacia...¡±


    He needed materials. He recited another incantation, reaching into the staff¡¯s pool of black magical power. Earth and clay from the earth gathered at his will, earth and clay from the ground and from the mountain of Arsacia, blending into itself, forming a monstrous body. He needed something to hold it together.


    Haeed chanted again, he summoned weapons and armor from local guards. Al Kabkab¡¯s legion of spirits transported them from the city. They circled around the body of earth and mud he had just built, adding some loose rocks from the mountain, shaping a monster, vaguely in human form, protected by armor, and then, the Incarnation was complete. Haeed could see through it and control it at will. Once again, he was ready to hunt.


    ***


    Razam spent the night in a catacomb.


    The night before, members of the Khanjar interrogated him for hours. They were good at pressuring people. Now that he¡¯d visited the catacombs, they wouldn¡¯t let him go. It was true that such a secret group should be able to keep themselves out of public scrutiny, especially in the current circumstances. But Razam had nothing to do with them and with their country. Now that the situation was not as Fara had described. What was there for him?


    And she offered him protection if he stayed, if he helped.


    Early in the morning, the members of the group jumped out of their bunk beds to do their morning exercises. That included Fara. Razam tried to sleep a bit more, but couldn¡¯t with all that noise. His mind was brimming with strange thoughts of the dragon. What was he thinking? In the middle of the morning, Vrarog¡¯s thoughts had changed. It was not intelligible to Razam.


    Razam was also hungry. It turned out that the Khanjar fasted every morning and had no intention of making food for their guest. Besides Fara, no one saw him as a guest. Razam got to his feet. He had to go clear his head. Being locked in a cave again was not funny.


    Alright, friends,¡± Razam said, getting on his feet and tying his scimitar around his girdle. ¡°I am sorry but this is not my fight.¡±


    Crimson Thorn,¡± Fara said, advancing toward him. ¡°What about what you told me? You were excited to come.¡±


    And get paid, get a real job, not become an underground resistance of a government that¡¯s not mine.¡±


    Then? What if you got the job you desired, and then this happened, would you leave your oaths or duties?¡±


    I have no binding oaths now.¡±


    Fara narrowed her eyes. ¡°We helped each other, Razam. We need someone like you.¡±


    For what? To stay alive?¡±


    There must be people, generals, entire garrisons that are loyal to us, we can do it.¡±


    Before your general grants absolute power to the Murlians, which may happen very, very soon. And with Murlians around I¡¯m not safe at all. I¡¯d rather get out quickly, get to the south, run away from your friends who¡¯re chasing us, before we have Murlians in this city.¡±


    Fara looked at him with glassy eyes. No, he had to get out, there would be more opportunities southward, somewhere where he wasn¡¯t wanted. Razam moved toward the staircase, when the tall man stepped in front of his way.


    Hey,¡± Fahad said. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡±


    Razam sighed.


    Out. Thank you for the hospitality, but this is not my fight.¡±


    We have never had¡­ Visitors. We cannot let you go.¡±


    I¡¯ve told you, this is not my fight, I¡¯ll swear whatever oaths you set for me, I¡¯m not .¡±


    How can we know. You are wanted. What if they catch you and squeeze the information out of you.¡±


    Razam grunted, narrowing his eyes.


    Listen, I want no trouble, but I have to get out of here. This is not my place. And if you stand in between me and my freedom, I¡¯ll have to do things I didn¡¯t want to.¡±


    Try,¡± Fahad said through his teeth.


    Hey.¡± Fara stepped in between them, pressing her hand on both Fahad¡¯s and on Razam¡¯s chest. ¡°Stop it now. Razam, you understand how important this is. Fahad, what would you have him do? Keep him here like a pet?¡±


    Bringing him was a mistake,¡± he said sternly, staring at Fara with a furrowed brow.


    He saved my life,¡± she replied.


    Fahad shook his head. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have brought him. Now it¡¯s a problem we have to deal with.¡±


    Listen, Fahad,¡± she said. ¡°We need to gather intelligence. Why not keep him and use his skills? He came here expecting a serious job. We could even pay him.¡±


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    Fara, the whole Empire is looking for him. Murlia is looking for him.¡±


    Can you do it, Razam? Can you hide yourself in the crowd?¡± she asked, turning toward Razam.


    I can. What¡¯s your pay?¡±


    We don¡¯t hire mercenaries,¡± Fahad said. ¡°We can¡¯t be too close to an informant either. He¡¯s seen the Inner Sanctum. This is serious, Sister Fara. If there¡¯s a resistance in this empire, we¡¯re its vanguard. We cannot compromise.¡±


    Fahad, this man saved my life.¡±


    Come on, Sister Fara, don¡¯t be irrational. Good for him, he¡¯s not our enemy, but it¡¯s dangerous to let him go.¡±


    Then escort him, or let me escort him. If we secure him he can bring allies. In the south, we can send him as an emissary.¡±


    Are you going to trust him. He''s a thief. He''s wanted in many territories, including this one!"


    I understand, Fahad, but I know him. I think we should compromise.¡±


    I¡¯m the leader here, Sister Fara, you should be in charge of the nation and we need your leadership as a people. But you are wrong.¡±


    Razam sighed.


    Alright, alright,¡± he said. ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll stay until you sort out what to do with me.¡± He sighed, moving backward toward the hall. Then, abruptly, Razam changed directions and raced toward the staircase. He sprinted through the hall just as Fahad shouted for his comrades to rush and stop him. He climbed it, just before finding arrows buzzing right next to his forehead.


    He rushed toward the top, praying in his mind for the door to be open. He pushed the wooden door above his head, managing to lift it open. Razam climbed to the surface, just as another arrow pierced through the wood where he had been.


    Spit on a grave,¡± he said, jumping out into the dummy house. The fellow whod¡¯ been there before got up from his chair and took out a barbed whip.


    Damnation,¡± Razam shouted, unsheathing his sword. The other man swung his whip, the tiny blades attached to it rattled. Razam ducked and stepped back, it passing dangerously close to his face. It stuck to the wall for an instant, little blades denting into the wood.


    Razam gasped.


    Hey dragon,¡± he thought. ¡°This would be a great time to come and help me.¡±


    The voice echoed in his mind.


    Human¡­ You just woke me up.¡±


    Yes,¡± Razam thought hurriedly, ducking again. ¡°I¡¯m in danger, can you feel it?¡± He stepped back, coming close to the wall.


    I¡¯m eight hours away, at least,¡± answered Vrarog.


    Razam gritted his teeth.


    Alright,¡± he said, feeling the vibration of steps under the wooden floor, of men trying to open the door.


    Razam turned around, toward the barred window, he mustered all the strength he could and kicked the barred windows. Splinters of wood leapt into the street. He felt the whip whirl behind his back, sending a jolt of fear through his entire body. He had no other choice but to jump and try to push his body through the hole.


    Arash, the older man with the scars and the whip, was soon following after him. Razam raced through the street, feeling the weight of his feet. The sky was dim, with the faintest hints of orange, in daylight it might become even harder from hide, now from both the Khanjar and the General¡¯s army, the rebels, and on top of that, the Murlians.


    He ran through the street, turning sporadically and seeing Fara¡¯s friends running toward him. Razam had to quicken his pace. Seeing a section of a wall with wooden lintels, he jumped toward them and climbed to the roof. It was square, lined with small tiles. He ran toward the other street, ran to gather momentum and jumped into the other street. He repeated the process through the alleys. Then, he noticed a small alley, a long rope set up from window to window, where a variety of tunics and coats had been set out to dry. He got down and snatched the ugliest coat, quickly took off his robes and put it on. Then, he ran the opposite way. It was torn in places, although clean enough. He also tied his hair into a bun and ran deeper into the road.


    A turn on a corner revealed a patrol of soldiers with the plate armor and halberds. He braced and slowed down for an instant. The men were passing around. There was no one on the street, so he figured a curfew might be in place. He had to hide in an inn. He had no money, but he could resort to the old tactic, either gamble for coin or pretend to have and not pay.


    The streets where he was passing were too far from the center of the city. He waited for the soldiers to pass. From the roofs, he had seen a plaza with a mausoleum and a garden. He decided to go in that direction assuming that the inns would be situated close to the plaza.


    He ran, watching from the corners and avoiding the soldiers. After a few blocks, he had reached a vast garden, palm trees neatly arranged on one side, cypress trees along the sides surrounded by bushes. A mausoleum with a square roof and an ornate door, arranged with beautiful calligraphy stood in the middle. Razam crossed it, advancing into the next section of the city. He entered the first inn he saw, one with a wooden sign with a carved unicorn on top.


    There was not much inside, the seats and tables had been arranged.


    Peace,¡± said the owner, a man with a long beard and an olive complexion.


    Peace,¡± answered Razam. He looked around. There were only two men in the corner of the tavern, drinking tea. ¡°I¡¯d like a room, please.¡±


    A traveler, today?¡±


    The innkeeper sighed.


    A tough night, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    I honestly don¡¯t know what to think of all this,¡± Razam said.


    The innkeeper sighed, looking at the men on the corner.


    I guess business as usual.¡±


    Razam sighed.


    So, a room, I intend to spend time there.¡±


    Fine with me,¡± the innkeeper shrugged. ¡°It will be six copper dinars for the night.¡±


    Razam could hear voices outside, far away, perhaps a few blocks away. Were they screaming? There was a bit of a commotion.


    Alright, I¡¯ll pay right before I go,¡± Razam said.


    The innkeeper narrowed his eyes.


    Here you¡¯ve got to pay first, buddy.¡±


    Razam sighed.


    My friend, I¡¯ve had some problems lately, so, just as a favor, let me pay tonight.¡±


    The innkeeper shook his head. ¡°Man, I¡¯m not even asking for an exorbitant price. Pay it or go.¡±


    There was a noise outside. A woman screamed. That might be a block away. Then, there was a loud noise, and an agonizing scream. What was going on in that city?


    Just one night, I promise I¡¯ll make it up for you¡­¡± Razam said urgently.


    The innkeeper sighed.


    Razam thought fast. Should he tell him that someone was after him? It was a bargain.


    Just for the day,¡± Razam whispered. ¡°I won¡¯t damage anything in your property and I swear I will pay. I have money, it¡¯s just that they took it.¡±


    Who took it?¡± the innkeeper shook his head. ¡°Listen, I don¡¯t want this place to become a slaughterhouse. I won¡¯t endanger my business.¡±


    At that moment, the door burst open, pushed out of its hinges as if by a battering ram. An armored figure stood in the doorway, it sent a chill through Razam¡¯s spine, for it barely looked human.

 Chapter XIV – Incarnation

    Razam turned back, staring at the creature at the doorway. It was wearing armor, but it was either the most physically deformed human he¡¯d seen, or that was not a human but a monster. The shoulders were not even, he seemed unnaturally tall, and his skin bulged in places. Was that a rock instead of a head? The more Razam looked, the more it seemed like that person was made of rock and mud.


    And he immediately crawled toward Razam. The innkeeper screamed and ran toward the window and escaped in fright. The only two people who were in the corner did the same.


    Razam gasped while a single, massive fist of clay pivoted toward him. Razam ducked, slipping away from the table. He watched in shock as the fist crashed against the wood, bursting in pieces, then reforming as if the mud had a life of its own. And then, the monster swung his other fist; a massive rock with the size of a human skull. Razam dodged, then reached for his scimitar, unsheathed and swung in one fluid movement, slicing upward toward the creature¡¯s arm.


    ¡°Aha!¡± Razam shouted, seeing half a dozen people scream, racing out of their rooms, leaping through windows into the street.


    Razam¡¯s smile was short lived, as suddenly, the pieces of broken clay that had fallen turned watery and once again, leapt back into the monster¡¯s arms.


    ¡°You think you are strong enough,¡± said a screechy voice, seemingly right into his ears.


    ¡°Who said that?¡± Razam shouted. But the monster was swinging at Razam again. He managed to duck, to step back. He turned around and raced to the broken doorway, but as he ran, a rock struck him in the back, making him stumble and fall forward.


    He grunted in pain, trying to get to his feet and face the creature. What kind of a being of black magic was he seeing?


    ¡°Are you facing a monster of rock, human? I¡¯ve seen him before,¡± the dragon said into his mind. ¡°A monster of stone and mud.¡±


    ¡°What is this thing?¡± Razam asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s the thing that captured and killed my partner.¡±


    ¡°Oh, spit on a grave,¡± Razam said out loud.


    The monster was again on top of him, raising that powerful hand of stone and trying to hammer it over Razam¡¯s head.


    ¡°I¡¯m tired of this,¡± Razam exclaimed, closing in on the creature and striking at its leg, his scimitar bit into a piece of stone, so that wouldn¡¯t do. He tried the other leg, and it collapsed on itself, the leg falling off. He immediately rushed to strike at the arm he had cut, then at the head, as the neck seemed to be mud and not just rock. Its head fell off, the arm did too, and Razam grinned.


    ¡°See? I can tear you to pieces. You¡¯re slow, old man, whoever you are.¡±


    ¡°Fool,¡± the old man¡¯s voice echoed in his head.


    In that moment, Razam saw a flash of light and a powerful force that pushed him to the wall. Pain jolted through his back, through his legs, the back of his head and each of his bones. He groaned, collapsing to the floor on one knee, panting.


    ¡°What the hell did you do?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Magic, powerful magic,¡± he said.


    ¡°What are you?¡±


    ¡°Soon to be the god of this world,¡± said the voice.


    ¡°That means you¡¯re crazy,¡± Razam said through his teeth.


    Then, Razam saw something crawling into the room, like a silver serpent writhing on the ground. He gasped, he didn¡¯t like lizards at all and snakes in particular. But that was not a snake, it slithered forward with the sound of ringing metal, it was an iron chain, it rounded around Razam¡¯s legs then sharply tightened around them. Razam gasped as another set of chains writhed around him, curling around his arms and pulling them together.


    ¡°The more you struggle the tighter they will be.¡±


    ¡°Stop, stop!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m coming,¡± Vrarog¡¯s voice said into his mind. ¡°But I¡¯m far away.¡±


    Another, more alien voice reverberated into his mind, the creaky voice of an older man. ¡°Tell me, how much pain do you want? How much pain do you need to feel until he returns.¡±


    Razam realized that the old man¡¯s voice was not really inside his mind; it came from somewhere around him, like a shadow, a presence that enveloped him.


    Razam grunted as the chains tightened around him.


    But he knew what was going on. He was bait for Vrarog to come.


    ¡°He know where my kin dwells,¡± said the dragon. ¡°And he wants to capture me again¡±


    ¡°That means this is a trap for you,¡± Razam said in his mind, closing his eyes.


    ¡°Very good, this is how I like it,¡± the old man screeched in Razam¡¯s mind. Suddenly, the chains pulled Razam to his feet.


    Razam thought. He wanted the dragon to come for Razam.


    ¡°Vrarog,¡± Razam called. ¡°It¡¯s a trap!¡±


    ¡°I know¡­¡± Vrarog said. ¡°But how can I let this happen? You are in pain again¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s my life,¡± Razam grunted out loud.


    In that moment, shadows obscured the broken doorway. A group of figures dashed into the inn. Razam saw them from the ground, they seemed like shadows drifting across the room. Then, he saw a rivet of silver light cross through the sky with the sound of a whiplash, and the monster of clay fell apart in six pieces.


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    Razam turned. Those were¡­ The Khanjar. Fahad, the guy who¡¯d chased him, Arash, the older man with the scars and the whip, now extracting a weapon, a whip-blade, and Fara, throwing tiny paper balls at the¡­


    A loud bang echoed in the room, the stone face of the monster erupted into pieces as Fara¡¯s projectile made contact with him. She was throwing explosives at the creature.


    ¡°Fools!¡± hissed a creaky voice, all across the room. ¡°You think you can hurt me,¡± said the creature, as broken stones floated back to the monster, reforming into its face.


    It turned, shaking its head. A blinding light flashed across the room, and the warriors crashed against the walls, grunting in pain.


    ¡°Stop trying to thwart my plans,¡± said the creaky voice. ¡°For you shall always fail. You¡¯ve got no chance against me. Each time I offer a sacrifice, I can summon power to destroy you.¡±


    In that moment, another explosive burst, right around the monster¡¯s torso, sending pieces and debris across the room.


    ¡°Fools!¡± shouted that voice. It was clear that everyone in the room could hear it. Suddenly, Razam felt the chains pulling him back to his feet and toward the street.


    ¡°No, he¡¯s ours,¡± shouted Fahad, just as he raced toward the monster and started slicing it with his sword. Arms, legs, head, all fell off and reformed again.


    Razam grunted, holding on to the pain and not letting out a whisper. At that moment, he felt a pull, the old man, Arash, was dragging him out of the inn.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Razam looked up at Arash, who didn¡¯t even return the glance.


    Through the door, Razam could see another member of the Khanjar, fighting along with Fahad, attacking, or rather, distracting the clay monster, slicing him to pieces at a faster rate than he could regenerate. Fara moved from one corner to the other of the room.


    ¡°Stand back!¡± shouted Fahad. His comrades obeyed, stepping back toward the door. Just as Fahad sliced the monster¡¯s legs once more. Fara was the first to emerge, then the other two, and last of all, was Fahad, exiting just as the creature started taking shape again.


    At that moment, a loud bang echoed throughout the city block, followed by another, then another, a chain reaction of explosions that burst through the windows and walls.


    ¡°Whoa!¡± Razam shouted, staring as the walls of the inn burst in an explosion. Flame erupted on the roof, as the walls collapsed inward, lifting a massive cloud of dust, shards of wood and rock dispersing across the street.


    Razam stared at Fara. All the members of the Khanjar were outside.


    ¡°Wait, that was my inn!¡± shouted a gruff voice that Razam recognized immediately as the innkeeper.


    Meanwhile, Arash and Fara got down and started untying Razam¡¯s chains


    ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here before we draw any more attention,¡± said Fahad, wiping the sweat from his brow. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m talking to you.¡±


    A crowd had gathered outside the inn. Including men in silver plate armor.


    ¡°Stop right where you are!¡± ordered one of them. Razam¡¯s chains had been loosened and he managed to get on his feet. He saw a figure among the multitude, drawing his attention. It was an old man wearing white robes, a conical hat on his head. A golden necklace with a strange symbol hung from his chest. He was gazing at Razam intently.


    For some reason, the man made him think of a wizard.


    The troop of soldiers drew closer.


    ¡°Stand close together!¡± Fahad shouted.


    ¡°They saw us, Fahad.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s him!¡± one of them shouted. ¡°The woman too, they¡¯re the ones.¡±


    ¡°Go get reinforcements!¡± the leading soldier said to one of his men. The other man nodded and immediately ran backwards.


    Razam got to his feet. He looked around. He had no weapons, maybe the chains at his feet could be used, but he would be at a severe disadvantage.


    That very moment, the leading soldier signaled by raising his scimitar.


    The members of the Khanjar got ready, one with the whip, Fahad with a spear and Fara¡­ Fara was next to him, whispering in his ear.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Razam raised an eyebrow. She was presenting him with his scimitar. Razam nodded thanks and took it immediately. The soldiers rushed at them. Razam lunged, swinging his scimitar upward, parrying his attacker¡¯s blow, then sliding the blade through his neck. Fara finished two soldiers with her secret throwing knives, and Fahad killed one by piercing him through the eyes, into his skull.


    ¡°Now, we really have to go!¡± Fahad ordered.


    They turned toward the multitude. Razam was shocked to see how some among them cheered. Others told them to keep their voices low. One man just stared, that old man with the brown staff.


    ¡°Sorcerer!¡± Razam ordered, pointing at him.


    ¡°Huh?¡± said Fahad, stopping for an instant.


    But Razam rushed and grabbed the man by the collar. The man opened his eyes wide in shock. But there was something to his eyes. Perhaps, they seemed too deep and too knowing.


    ¡°Are you the one who¡¯s causing all this?¡±


    ¡°Razam let¡¯s go!¡± said Fara into his ear.


    ¡°Tell me!¡± Razam shouted, anger in his mind. ¡°Are you the one behind all this?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± said the old man. ¡°But I know there¡¯s someone out there doing it.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on,¡± Fahad said with an urgent tone. ¡°Thief! If you don¡¯t move we will chain you again and move you.¡±


    ¡°This man,¡± Razam said. ¡°We need to interrogate him.¡±


    ¡°We?¡± Fahad said sarcastically.


    ¡°Let¡¯s just go!¡± Fara said.


    Razam held the man. ¡°He know what¡¯s going on!¡± Razam said. ¡°He knows!¡±


    Fahad was already reaching for Razam¡¯s arms. Fahad and Arash pulled Razam. In that moment, they saw the silhouette of soldiers moving through the crowd. Razam turned around and followed the group toward the streets. They sprinted at full speed, passing through the crowd and patrols.


    Fahad knew the way. Razam was surprised that this time, Fahad led them to an inn. He spoke to the innkeeper in code, and they lead the group up the stairs into an empty room. Razam figured that the innkeeper was a collaborator of the royal family and that they had set places such as this in place for their protection.


    Arash escorted Razam up and shut the door behind.


    ¡°What have you brought into our city?¡± Fahad shouted at Razam.


    Razam shrugged. ¡°Whatever¡¯s going on, it was already in your city.¡±


    Razam finally took notice of the place they were staying. The room was large and hosted five beds.


    ¡°You see?¡± Fahad addressed Fara. ¡°This man is out of control. We can¡¯t trust him.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not what you¡¯re used to, Fahad, but he¡¯s not against us. I understand what he wants.¡±


    ¡°And what do I want?¡± said Razam, turning toward Fara.


    ¡°To do the right thing.¡±


    Razam snickered.


    ¡°Could be, but that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m here to support you. I¡¯m going. Going away from all this mess.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t leave until we re sure you¡¯re not a threat,¡± Fahad said sternly.


    Razam sighed.


    ¡°Listen, Fahad, I don¡¯t plan on staying for long. I¡¯ve got a friend coming to pick me up. I plan to fly really far away and not bother you anymore.¡±

 Chapter XV – The Beginning of the End

    Haeed was summoned to the sultan¡¯s palace once again, this time, however, he had an escort of a dozen guards pointing at his back. The sultan didn¡¯t expect him at his dining table but in his throne room.


    ¡°Where is that weapon you promised me, Haeed? Where is all the glory, the fear that you¡¯d say I¡¯d be causing my enemies?¡±


    Haeed walked slowly.


    ¡°Your Majesty,¡± he said, bowing his head low.


    The sultan¡¯s thick eyebrows had fallen into a deep frown.


    ¡°You scoundrel. Your little plan failed and now you have put my new coastal cities in danger. I may lose it all tonight if anyone decides to attack. I opened two fronts trusting that you¡¯d have your little dragon under control.¡±


    ¡°But your Majesty¡­¡±


    ¡°Failure, Haeed, that¡¯s all you¡¯ve brought me! You promised me a weapon, ready at hand! Now it¡¯s gone, just like that, my armies are overextended on three fronts. Our conquests are at risk now.¡±


    ¡°You Majesty,¡± Haeed sounded dismissive. ¡°It was just a minor setback.¡±


    ¡°A setback? We lost a bloody dragon! The Arsacians were after it, the Khaganate of Mhadong too. And I heard the Arsacians have the dragon now.¡±


    ¡°Arsacia? But your majesty. Arsacia is wholly under our control. Those are only misguided rumors, nothing more.¡±


    ¡°Haeed, the word is out! The Demon Knights spoke, and half the merchants on the Commercial Routes saw it. Rumors are swirling, and they don¡¯t look good. My generals informed me that they are on high alert, expecting dragon attacks coming from Arsacia.¡±


    Haeed shook his head. ¡°Ah, that¡¯s foolish. First of all, Arsacia doesn¡¯t have what I¡­¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve heard the dragon returned to protect them. I have heard my generals relay the legends. They speak of a dragon¡­ bonded to a human. They say it¡¯s likely since humans haven¡¯t worked with dragons before. Could it be that they have one of your little toys? You know, the one you kept in that iron box?¡±


    ¡°No, they don¡¯t have any idea about what you¡¯re talking about. I have the only one.¡±


    ¡°So what should I do to you, Haeed? For the losses you¡¯re gonna bring upon my army. Look at all these guards, ready to arrest you and kill you on the spot if you try some of your tricks. And believe me, you deserve much more!¡±


    Haeed rolled his eyes. If he wanted to, in the blink of an eye, he could turn those men to ash. He considered doing it, maybe he had to get rid of the man and take the throne.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    However, he was right. It wasn¡¯t that simple, he didn¡¯t want to lose control of the army and politicians. That would prove more work.


    ¡°I can arrest you now, just because of the losses you will cause my army.¡±


    Haeed pressed his lips. He didn¡¯t care. He could go West, to Arum and use them to gain power.


    ¡°Your Majesty, I have told you it is nothing but a set-back.¡±


    ¡°I give you until tomorrow, or I will ensure the whole world knows what you really are.¡±


    ¡°And what is that?¡±


    ¡°Dajjal himself perhaps. I know what you do, Haeed, it isn¡¯t hard to tell. None of those people sent to service at your tower ever come back. We have heard reports of screams, of black magic.¡±


    Haeed snickered. He smiled slightly at being called Dajjal. That was a figure in end-time prophecy, a deceiver who would claim to have come to save humanity, who would give food in abundance and rule the world promising justice before the Renewal of Time, but instead, he¡¯d lead humanity through a dark path. A beautiful story, that made Haeed aspire for more.


    Haeed cleared his throat. ¡°Who would believe that, your Majesty, what would you gain with spreading rumors.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d lose all the leverage you have with the clerics in the region.¡±


    ¡°Anyone can start rumors. They would be dismissed. There are rumors about you, your Majesty, about you being a degenerate and a murderer.¡±


    The sultan laughed. ¡°It depends on who the people believe, and what value people give to their voice. If the head priest of the Empire spreads this knowledge, to each diocese, everybody will know who you are. They will ruin you and you won¡¯t have victims for your little games. Who knows, maybe the people themselves will lynch you, and I won¡¯t move a finger. So you better do what you promised me, and ensure that my Empire is wide and secure. My empire, understand?¡±


    Haeed lowered his head. He sighed.


    ¡°I live to serve, Your Highness.¡± He cleared his throat and licked his lips. ¡°What do you think of this, my lord? I¡­ I think there might be other dragons in the mountain that we can use. What about this offer, my lord? Two dragons, instead of one.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you say you have only one of those toys, those jewels you talked about?¡±


    ¡°So far, yes. But I am sure that there are more out there. I found one, I can find the others. In the meantime, we can have more than one dragon, caged and ready to be tamed.¡±


    The sultan narrowed his eyes. He did not seem convinced. ¡°What if your dragon escapes again.¡±


    ¡°It won¡¯t. I admit I had a little oversight, but it won¡¯t happen again. Now, our general in Arsacia is well paid. I¡¯ve ensured of that. We don¡¯t need to transport our things through the commercial routes. We can use Arsacia as a base of operations. We don¡¯t need to pretend. General Firazi is ours. Give the order, move more troops into Arsacia. With a good payment, General Firazi will open the gates. We can even stop pretending and he can name you the head of state tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t think you can take the credit for Arsacia. And I don¡¯t trust them yet. First, capture the beast and have it ready.¡±


    ¡°Oh, my lord, that and much more.¡±


    ***


    Anger seeped through Haeed¡¯s mind. He wanted to lift his staff and break it against the stone. But he¡¯d need it that night. He swore he would capture a dragon that night. It had been easy the last time he did it. The failure hadn¡¯t been on him, but on the Demon Knights. If necessary, he would guard the dragon all the way. Dragons were not like those pesky Khanjar warriors. They were brute forces of nature that could breathe fire. He was sure he could capture one, and besides that blue dragon, he knew precisely which dragon would be easy to capture. And he had just thought of a better use of the Incarnation ritual. Stone and mud was too fragile and not versatile enough. He had a better idea.


    Haeed¡¯s thoughts drifted toward the prophecy. They were inspiring. After all, he was Haeed al-Hakim, an immortal, perhaps the greatest black sorcerer in the world, maybe, he hoped, the most evil man in the world. He was destined for greatness.

 Chapter XVI – Light and Dark

    ¡°Chief,¡± Arash said to Fahad. The muscular man was looking through a wooden window, toward the street, as if something or someone had caught his attention.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Arash? Did the soldiers find us already?¡± Fahad asked, moving toward the corner and preparing his sword.


    ¡°Not yet,¡± Arash said. ¡°But there¡¯s an old man out there, looking straight at the window. It¡¯s the old man the thief attacked, in the white robes.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s a sorcerer!¡± shouted Razam, approaching the window and confirming it was the same man. He wore white robes and held a wooden staff, perhaps of oak or maple.


    Fara shook her head. ¡°How are you so sure that he¡¯s the one?¡±


    ¡°I saw him making signs and speaking to his staff.¡± Razam explained. ¡°That voice in the cavern, there was someone behind it. You heard it, right? It was an old man¡¯s voice.¡±


    ¡°I saw you talking to him,¡± Fara said with her arms crossed. ¡°What did you find out? Did he have the same voice?¡±


    Razam clenched his fist. ¡°He said he wasn¡¯t behind that creature. But that¡¯s exactly what a sorcerer would say. Sneaky bastards.¡±


    Fahad lowered his face. ¡°You mean he might summon another monster of mud to kill us?¡±


    ¡°Maybe he¡¯s casting a spell as we speak!¡± Razam said. ¡°We ought to be careful.¡±


    ¡°Whatever he is, he gives me the chills,¡± said Arash, hefting the side of his iron whip.


    ¡°Then go get him,¡± Razam said.


    ¡°What if he pulls out his magic and raises another monster.¡± Arash shouted.


    ¡°You can handle that, can¡¯t you?¡± Fahad asked the older man.


    ¡°I would usually say let¡¯s not be superstitious,¡± Fara retorted. ¡°But after what I just saw, I¡¯d take some explosives with me. I still have a few blasters.¡±


    Razam cleared his throat. ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡±


    Fahad turned abruptly and pointed a finger at him. ¡°You¡¯re going to keep quiet and stay in here.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just trying to help,¡± Razam said with a shrug.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go get him myself,¡± Fahad said, walking toward a cupboard and extracting a long hooded robe. He donned it and approached the door. He looked at Arash.


    ¡°Brother Arash, you know the access points in this room in case we get attacked.¡±


    ¡°I do, brother Fahad.¡±


    ¡°I trust we will not need to use them.¡± He looked at Razam. ¡°If you try to flee again, I have entrusted my colleagues to incapacitate you or kill you on the spot.¡±


    Razam opened his eyes wide and looked at Fara. Her eyes were expressionless. Was she so blindly devoted to that organization that she¡¯d be willing to do that? Razam doubted it. She was loyal to it but not stupid. Anyway, Razam didn¡¯t care for escaping in that particular moment. But the sorcerer did worry him. Fahad exited the room, closing the door softly.


    ¡°Well?¡± Razam broke the silence. ¡°So, what¡¯s the next step in the plan?¡±


    Arash had his arms crossed and glanced at Razam with a deep frown and a snappy tone. ¡°None of your concern.¡±


    Razam sighed and leaned his back against the wall.


    ¡°If you¡¯re not going to let me go and you don¡¯t want me to help you. I can and will remain silent if there¡¯s pay involved.¡±


    Fara was the one to answer: ¡°Razam!¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Razam said, shrugging. ¡°I told you what I was after. Even if you want me.¡±


    Arash chuckled. ¡°You, work for us?¡±


    ¡°Well, I just so happen to have a dragon that is interested in helping me.¡±


    Arash¡¯s glance didn¡¯t shift.


    The door opened immediately, and Fahad stepped in, holding the old man by his coat. He pushed him in, the man stumbled forward before regaining his footing with the staff.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Fahad said. ¡°He does claim to be a magician, but he says he didn¡¯t do it. We can confirm it here.¡±


    Razam fixed his eyes on him, preparing to unsheathe the sword in case of trickery. But there was no fear in the old man¡¯s eyes. Nor defiance.


    ¡°Arash. What are you waiting for? Bring the ropes,¡± Fahad declared. Arash nodded and extracted a set from his pocket. He advanced without a word, reaching for the old man and preparing to tie his hands.


    At that moment, the old man spoke firmly, with a deep baritone voice.


    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary.¡±


    Suddenly, the ropes caught fire. Arash gasped, stepped back and dropped them. Razam, Fara and Fahad rushed to unsheathe their swords and daggers, forming a circle around the sorcerer.


    ¡°You¡¯re the one who attacked us, didn¡¯t you? Sorcerer.¡± Razam gritted his teeth. ¡°Admit it once and for all!¡±


    ¡°Thief! It was your idea to bring him in!¡± shouted Fahad.


    ¡°I mean you no harm!¡± declared the old man, with a serene voice, hand still on his staff. ¡°I was not the one who summoned the Incarnation.¡±


    ¡°Stop lying, sorcerer,¡± Razam exclaimed. ¡°I know your kind. Your kind is devoid of any morals, and you¡¯ll all be better off dead.¡±


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    The sorcerer snickered. ¡°If I wanted to kill you or capture I¡¯d have you burned to a crisp already.


    Suddenly, the sorcerer twisted, raising his hand, lifting his index and pinky finger. The curtains burst out of their holders and whirled around them, catching fire mid-air and flying dangerously close to each of them.. Razam cursed and tried to slice through the flaming curtains. But a tear in the fabric did nothing, as it closed in on him. He shut his eyes and raised his arms defensively. The fire brushed past him, not touching him in the slightest, and descended to the ground, fire consuming the curtains in an instant.


    Razam looked up in horror. The old man had lowered his shoulders, raising his head and opening his arms wide, holding his staff vertically. His posture was anything but threatening.


    ¡°I am Shams al-Buni. I only want to help,¡± the old man said.


    But the tension remained, four warriors circling one lone sorcerer.


    ¡°Help?¡± Fahad said. ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything against the monster.¡±


    ¡°I arrived much too late,¡± he responded. ¡°You had already defeated it. But I am not responsible for what happened there. I am a sorcerer, yes, but, let¡¯s just say I¡¯m from another team. I came because I felt that an evil magic had been summoned in the city.¡±


    Razam relaxed slightly.


    ¡°That ritual,¡± Shams explained. ¡°Is called the Incarnation. It is very ancient black magic, something horrid that had not been seen in centuries. The fact that it exists proves that there is a really powerful jinn out there, trying to capture you.¡±


    He pointed at Razam.


    ¡°If not you, who did it?¡± Razam asked.


    ¡°I cannot tell you exactly, for he may be far away. But whoever he is, the demon who bonded with him is one of the most powerful princes of hell, so it is urgent for us to stop him as soon as possible.¡±


    ¡°Why do you want to stop him?¡± asked Fahad.


    ¡°Oh, boy,¡± the old man said. ¡°If you knew one third of what I know, you¡¯d be locked up on your knees, begging the creator to forget all that you knew. That this jinn in question is bonded means the man has carried out a lot of bloodshed. He has killed innocents.¡±


    ¡°Alright, cut with the crap, what are you talking about?¡± asked Fahad. ¡°And how can you help us? Are you going to help us with this fire-magic of yours? Is it even going to work against the stone monster?¡±


    ¡°That is another question. He seems hell-bent on catching you,¡± he said, pointing at Razam. ¡°I¡¯ve seen your likeness plastered across the city since last night. What have you done.¡±


    ¡°That is none of your business,¡± said Fahad.


    ¡°I bonded with a dragon,¡± Razam said.


    The old man gritted his teeth. ¡°It¡¯s worse than I feared.¡± He looked up. ¡°Is the dragon here with us?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s coming to take me away,¡± Razam said.


    ¡°Be very careful! This sorcerer must be regrouping, finding suitable victims for his next Incarnation. I¡¯d say get out of this place now.¡±


    ¡°Victims?¡± Fara asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s a gruesome thing to talk about,¡± said Shams. ¡°But his kind of magic, the blackest magic, involves the spilling of blood of innocent victims, or forcing them to perform unholy acts. Each time he Incarnates, he must sacrifice a few people, under certain circumstances that may not be ever be described by civilized society. And then time his Incarnation summons a force or energy, he must take a life.¡±


    Razam shook his head, suddenly feeling a cloud of uneasiness in him. He had seen people die, he had killed many, and the mere thought of visualizing that made him feel queasy. And there was something else to that conversation, something dark that seemed to drain the light and joy around him.


    ¡°He sacrifices people?¡± Fara asked.


    ¡°Mostly women and children.¡±


    ¡°And what about you?¡± Fahad asked in an accusative tone. ¡°Where do you get your magic?¡±


    ¡°My kind of magic is called theurgy. I am bonded to an angel of the Creator.¡±


    Fahad snickered. ¡°Yeah, right. It¡¯s all devil-worshipping to me. How do you achieve it.¡±


    Shams sighed. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t get it now. But let¡¯s get to the important part. I have placed a protective seal around you.¡±


    The group exchanged glances.


    ¡°Which will be enacted only when you are within my reach, in other words, when we know where you are. But if he finds you first, even through the spirit world, he can keep me from finding you.¡±


    ¡°If I hadn¡¯t seen that trick of yours and the curtains,¡± Razam said. ¡°I¡¯d say you sound like you¡¯re just nuts. Now, Shams, can you help us fight? With what you¡¯ve just told me I really want to give this other sorcerer you talk about a good beating.¡±


    Fahad furrowed his brow.


    Shams continued: ¡°And whatever this sorcerer is looking for, it has to do with the Murlian Empire.¡±


    ¡°No way,¡± Razam said sarcastically.


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen General Firazi being praised as a hero throughout the street. It seems like the first step¡­¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s obviously under Murlia¡¯s payroll,¡± Fara said through gritted teeth.


    ¡°I believe this sorcerer is working from within the Murlian Empire, among its ruling class.¡±


    Razam sighed.


    ¡°That¡¯s obvious, and, well, of course, that¡¯s where we took the dragon. I freed him from Murlia. Now he¡¯s coming here.¡±


    ¡°Where is your dragon?¡± Shams asked. ¡°Where is he now? We must shield him too, or else he¡¯ll be coming.¡±


    Razam looked around. He shut his eyes.


    ¡°Where are you?¡± he asked in his mind. ¡°Tell me, Vrarog.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m coming, I¡¯m riding the wind, I¡¯ll be there before sunset.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t help me much. Come on, there¡¯s a sorcerer who wants to help you.¡±


    ¡°Another sorcerer?¡± Vrarog thought with disdain.


    ¡°This one says he¡¯s good.¡±


    ¡°If I were you I wouldn¡¯t trust a sorcerer,¡± said the dragon.


    Razam looked back at Shams. ¡°He doesn¡¯t trust you.¡±


    ¡°My guardian angel can¡¯t find him,¡± Shams declared. ¡°I think our enemy is already around him. He knows his location.¡±


    ¡°Does that mean that first thing that happens when he lands is that we¡¯ll be face to face with a monster again?¡± Razam asked.


    Fahad sighed.


    ¡°Fara,¡± Fahad said. ¡°We better leave them alone. This is of no help. We¡¯re wasting time. We¡¯d be better off leaving the city and finding points of support in the provinces before news of the rebellion reach.¡±


    Fara looked at Razam.


    ¡°Fahad,¡± she said. ¡°We have a bigger chance with Razam by our side. He and the dragon¡­¡±


    Fahad shook his head. ¡°Fara, that¡¯s foolish. This man and this dragon have brought us nothing but trouble.¡±


    Razam tried to focus his attention on the sorcerer. ¡°What else can you do to help us? And to find this dark sorcerer. Is there some magic we can use to track him? And don¡¯t tell me he has more tricks under his sleeve.¡±


    ¡°If my guardian angel or his angelic helpers can¡¯t track him, we¡¯d have to do it the old-fashioned way.¡±


    ¡°And that is?¡± Razam inquired.


    ¡°Go to Murlia and investigate, find out who he is.¡±

 Chapter XVII – Iron and Sulfur

    Marna watched from atop a snow-capped peak, freezing snow against her claws, a thousand snowflakes falling like lightning across her eyes. Vrarog had departed a few hours ago, flying into the storm, and Marna wished she could join him.


    It was a taboo among dragons to speak about it, but she spent her lonely afternoons scanning through her ancestral memories. She felt the emotions of her ancestors, the thrill of battle, the team-work, the camaraderie and the bonds. Adventures, facing the black sorcerers of Malachia before they summoned magic, rescuing children in the mines of Hangria, racing against time, escaping from magic fire, resting next to a human camp under a blanket of stars. The jungles of the south. She dreamed of flying, bonding a true human, a sincere one like Ariana Raxalani of ancient legends.


    And aside from that, she dreamed of Vrarog. She¡¯d always been jealous of her sister Varna. She¡¯d thought Varna would live forever.


    She pressed her chest against the snow and shot upward, spreading her golden wings and letting herself dive into the gorges of the mountain. She shut her eyes, pressing her wings against her body and diving down like an arrow in flight, then, soon before reaching the ground, she would spread her wings and catch the wind beneath it, tilting them and taking flight again.


    She wondered what Vrarog¡¯s human looked like. He¡¯d never stopped and described him. Through the memories, Marna could see some of the faces of the fallen warriors. They were all proud and strong despite being only human. And she dreamed herself a warrior, maybe a male fighter who¡¯d swing a sword against injustice. Dragons always felt an affinity to humans, especially the weak ones.


    She glided down from the cliffs, feeling the air shift as she descended, becoming warmer and more humid. She flew over the vast steppes. Now, she had to do what she must; food for her kin.


    She descended toward the highland, flying over an ocean of grass, she could see human settlements scattered around them, with their colorful yurts and tents, villages close to the cities. She flew faster, faster than a falcon in flight, like the friendly races her ancestors used to engage in. She whirled, soaring, tumbling and rising again.


    She picked up a weak scent, musky, and very subtle. Beneath her, she glimpsed family of wild yaks pasturing in the fields. She smiled, barrel rolling mid air and falling like an arrow, claws spread open. Fast as lightning, she slid her powerful claw in the fattest animal¡¯s neck. She slid rapidly as the other yaks started running the opposite way. She stretched powerful arms and slid her bloody claws in another body.


    She turned to the side, just as the others escaped. The dragon let go, feeling her hunger grow, she stretched her fangs and bit into the yak¡¯s neck. Blood poured into the yak¡¯s fur, and into her tongue. She shut her eyes and bit further, feeding herself.


    There was a strange smell, metallic and dull. Her senses tingled, making her turn around. There was something there, it kind of smelled like a mine, like iron ore from the mountain.


    When she looked around¡­ She thought she was seeing things that weren¡¯t there. She could tell that there was a figure in the darkness, something inhuman, unrecognizable. But somewhere in her memories, a strange, similar figure lurked, and each memory it touched brought her pain and fear.


    She turned around fully and sunk her claws in the ground, her entrails rumbled, her lungs tensed and she felt fire prepare inside her. Something was wrong.


    She thought of what had killed Varna and taken Vrarog captive.


    Marna braced herself, tensing her muscles, feeling warmth expand inside her, swearing that she wouldn¡¯t be taken.


    Something moved in the field, a shadow, a nightmare taking flesh. She opened her mouth and a torrent of flame escaped form her mouth, setting an entire section of the field ablaze. She could still see the shape, that strange, metallic shape around her. What was it?


    It changed color and shaped, taking the color of molten metal, a burning orange, it spread around her, like quicksilver, guided by a force of will, by its own life.


    She turned around, spitting fire at the strange substance, to burn it away, to melt it, but it crawled on the ground.


    She turned around and flapped her wings to catch flight, when suddenly, she felt a burning on her flesh, across her wings. She screamed, a pain she had never felt in her life, like living magma on her flesh. Dragon skin was fireproof, but so long as the scales kept their hydration. She had never felt burning in her skin. But whatever was holding her pinned her body, her arms and wings, holding it so that she couldn¡¯t move.


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    A section of the substance curled around her mouth,. It was like living molten metal, coming alive and pinning her. She tried to scream, to open her mouth, burn away her pain, burn her enemy, but that thing held her down. She found herself restrained, immovable, and desperation started to push into her mind. Was she going to die? Dragons should not die. Dragons were precious, there were too few of them. What about her dreams of finding a rider, of joining Vrarog in his adventures, of creating new life.


    Being restrained was the most horrible feeling in the world. She tried to turn, to summon every muscle of her body to tear open the binds, but they seemed to be solidifying mid-air. They were really living metal, iron or steel, blinding into her body. She tried to call for someone, but no one could hear.


    Then, the strange entity started dragging her. Marna tensed up, trying, once again to break free, but her body was being pulled across the field, her claws scratched the ground, digging into it, her tail writhed like an angry serpent.


    It took hours for the entity to drag her across the steppe, to pull her through the mud and the mountains. Late at night, a group of humans marched toward the steppe, ready to take her. They caged and chained her again.


    That night, she realized, for the first time in her life, that dragons could cry too.


    ***


    ¡°Victory!¡± Haeed said, leaning back on his chair, a cup of delicious strong coffee in his hand. He deserved it.


    ¡°Not bad,¡± hissed Al Kabkab from his staff.


    ¡°And that is only the first step!¡± Haeed declared. ¡°Did you see? A stroke of genius from myself, as usual.¡±


    ¡°I am impressed. I don¡¯t think anyone had thought of using iron ore for the Incarnation.¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t hard at all. People usually think of mud, of pebbles, but iron, darling, iron and fire, a perfect combination. The dragon¡¯s flame turned out to be her own demise.¡±


    ¡°Very good, but still, this doesn¡¯t translate into what I wanted.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Having the dragon will be the first step. But now I¡¯m thinking big. How about having all the dragons under our control?¡±


    ¡°You have only one of those things.¡±


    ¡°And I have it right here,¡± Haeed said, gently placing a hand on the iron box he had brought from Kash.


    Haeed laughed heartily. ¡°Alright,¡± he leaned in on his desk, sliding his feather pen into a vial of red ink and writing the sultan. He had the dragon, it would arrive within a few days, and then.


    Al Kabkab made a hissing noise.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Haeed asked.


    ¡°Let me remind you, someone is tracking us. He¡¯s blocking our view from the thief.¡±


    ¡°But that¡¯s not problem, Al Kabkab.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate them.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t be foolish. Aren¡¯t you supposed to be one of the princes of hell?¡±


    ¡°Believe me. Besides, how many times have you faced a theurgist?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care about them. They¡¯re weaklings, scum. Cowards. They have too many rules. They live for the rules. Rules define them. I¡¯m superior by definition as I am not restrained by them.¡±


    ¡°Now that is your biggest problem, listen pride is a virtue, but you¡¯re taking it too far. There¡¯s a problem when you can¡¯t see what¡¯s wrong in other people.¡±


    ¡°And now you¡¯re lecturing me?¡±


    ¡°Then, just do what you promised me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve planned this day to the t! I am studying, al Kabkab. I have to find out new ways to use the incarnation, and other spells.¡±


    ¡°Useless! But think of this, imagine simultaneous incarnations. All under your control. All spilling blood and serving me, while you terrorize your enemies.¡±


    ¡°By more incarnations do you mean¡­¡±


    Black smoke coalesced around the staff, expanding, then taking shape as a man with a muscular torso, the rest of his body blending into the smoke. Al Kabkab had something important to say.


    ¡°What I¡¯ve been talking about all along,¡± the jinn declared. ¡°You need apprentices. People who want to serve evil and gain power. Just picture them following and serving you. Imagine that. You¡¯d work three times faster. You could imprison those dragons for decades while you look for more magic jewels. You could learn more. You love learning, don¡¯t you? You have thousands of magic books in your collection, and a thousand years hasn¡¯t been enough to read them all. You even have some tomes from Malachia, the ancient land of black magic, and you¡¯ve barely even given them time. Imagine all the skills you haven¡¯t been able to acquire. There¡¯s an entire ocean of black magic waiting to be explored. You can create a school of black magic, and I will ensure that all those involved follow you as their leader. They will do your bidding! Don¡¯t be afraid to share that power.¡±


    Haeed played with the end of his beard.


    ¡°You already have hundreds of fools under your command,¡± Al Kabkab said. ¡°You just need more like minded, outstanding individuals. They will serve you.¡±


    ¡°Who? Who? You finally got someone wicked enough?¡±


    ¡°I thought you¡¯d never ask.¡±

 XVIII - Allies

    Razam remained leaning his back against the wall. Arash was on the opposite corner, sitting on a wooden chair. The sorcerer remained on the other chair, silent and still. Fahad didn¡¯t want to let him go.


    The door to the secret room opened and Fara and Fahad stepped out from the room.


    ¡°So, what have you decided?¡± Razam said.


    ¡°We¡¯ll ride your dragon. Can he take us south?¡± Fahad asked him.


    ¡°Chief!¡± Arash got to his feet. ¡°What about what you¡¯ve been promising?¡±


    ¡°Arash, it¡¯s not a good time.¡±


    ¡°All I want is to see my family!¡± Arash declared. ¡°It¡¯s a hell of a time to be running around hiding? It¡¯s been years, and you promised that to me in the cave.¡±


    ¡°So, do you have an offer for me or can I just go?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t need you now,¡± Fahad said.


    ¡°But I¡¯ll come with you.¡±


    Razam sighed. ¡°Fara, with all due respect. You promised me a job. Life¡¯s not easy for me now. I lost the little money I had.¡±


    For a moment, he¡¯d have the dream of being hired, not as a thief, not as a mercenary, but as a proper guard of the Arsacian court. He¡¯d imagined himself getting a good salary, sending a sealed letter to his father and getting an answer. His father finally accepting his gifts, paying off his debts, paying a beautiful house. Father Ibrahim and sister Amal living with no worries.


    And his plans never played out in the end. Every time he tried, it went downhill.


    He had one thing, going for him, though, the dragon really wanted to beclose to him. He even spoke into his mind of adventures, of exploring new regions. Maybe it could be fun, as long as they could get out of all the spheres of Murlian politics. He¡¯d even heard that the Western kingdoms had explored new and vast lands unlike any that had ever been explored. Then, there was the far east, regions that Razam had never explored.


    ¡°I want to make contact with the dragons,¡± she said.


    ¡°Again? Listen,¡± Razam said. ¡°I¡¯m doing a lot of work for you. I¡¯m helping you, you¡¯re in trouble. I have no problem, but you promised something. And aside from that, I don¡¯t think the dragon likes what you have in mind.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll help you when you can, Razam,¡± Fara explained. ¡°But you¡¯re in a position to help us. I can promise you that you¡¯ll get a reward.¡±


    Razam shrugged.


    ¡°The dragon has no problem with taking us, does he?¡± asked Fahad.


    ¡°Not exactly,¡± Razam declared. ¡°But he¡¯s not sure about what Fara wants.¡±


    Fahad sighed in disappointment. ¡°I try to get her to stop thinking about that, but it¡¯s of no use.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t lose anything by trying.¡±


    ¡°Honestly,¡± Razam said. ¡°Dragons don¡¯t have any interest in seeing humans, especially since what¡¯s been happening. And besides, you were trying to steal Vrarog¡¯s egg.¡±


    ¡°To protect him,¡± Fara declared.


    ¡°To raise him as a pet in Arsacia? Dragons won¡¯t like to hear it.¡±


    ¡°Is that what we¡¯re trying to do? Of coursenot. But I¡¯ve researched texts about dragons, their society, their morals, and I would like to address them.¡±


    Razam sighed. Fara might have been a powerful warrior and an expertly trained assassin, but she still was a princess. To Razam, it seemed like she thought she could change the world, save it, all by herself and her ideas. Didn¡¯t she know that the world was a cruel place, and people were mean to each other, and any good effort usually ended in death?


    ¡°He¡¯s close,¡± Razam said, receiving Vrarog¡¯s voice in his mind. ¡°He wants to meet in the plaza and not in here. There¡¯s too many people.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Fahad handed Razam another set of clothes from the wardrobe, this time, the usual brown attire of street cleaners. ¡°Will this do?¡±


    Razam shrugged. ¡°It is what it is.¡±


    ¡°Grab the sorcerer and let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll take him to the post in the south and we¡¯ll go from there.¡±


    Razam turned toward the old man. He got up, seemed entirely compliant this time.


    The group marched sneakily into the town square, in broad daylight, carrying packages of warmer food for Fara and Razam, and provisions, with Fara covering her head with a scarf and curving her back, and the rest of them as street cleaners. Shams looked out of place, but as an old man, he seemed harmless enough.


    ¡°So,¡± Razam walked close to Arash. ¡°You¡¯re a family man.¡±


    The muscular man grunted. ¡°That¡¯s none of your business. Don¡¯t dare try to blackmail me through them, thief. Don¡¯t even think of putting a finger on them.¡±


    Razam sighed. ¡°Alright, calm down. I just wanted to start a conversation.¡±


    Arash gritted his teeth.


    ¡°I¡¯m not your friend.¡±


    ¡°I brought your little Khanjar sister to safety here, if not you¡¯d have no semblance of a royal family. Come on, you saved my life too.¡±


    ¡°Or you would¡¯ve given our position to the Murlians.¡±


    ¡°Do you think I care about the Murlians?¡±


    ¡°Exactly, you don¡¯t have any regard for anyone. I wonder if you have a family and what they think of you, or if you haven¡¯t even told them what you do.¡±


    Razam frowned. ¡°Hey, have I treated you like that at all?¡±


    ¡°Ha!¡± Arash said. ¡°I touched a nerve.¡±


    ¡°Very funny. I was trying to be civil but you¡¯re acting like trash. What are you teaching your kids?¡±


    ¡°Not to deal with scum like you.¡±


    ¡°Hey, you two,¡± Fara interrupted them. ¡°Stop at once.¡±


    Arash snickered, crossing his arms. ¡°Your Crimson friend is just wanting to try out my blade, I figure. What do you say, Razam? Let¡¯s duel it out?¡±


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    ¡°I ain¡¯t afraid of that, if you repay friendship like this, you¡¯ll get what you deserve,¡± Razam spat out.


    ¡°Arash, stop this. Razam, what are you doing This is the biggest problem here, you men cannot get along.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s his fault. I was trying to be friendly and¡­¡±


    ¡°You keep my family out of your mouth, slithery snake.¡±


    A noise echoed in the sky, like a carriage rolling through the clouds as they reached the plaza, and the mausoleum. A few soldiers marched around.


    ¡°They¡¯re surely going to talk about this,¡± Razam said.


    They approached. Arash remained quiet. Fahad seemed nervous, looking up and from side to side.


    Then, the screams started echoing around. People started running, and Vrarog descended, wings wide open. Panic would be putting it mildly. Razam, Shams and the members of the Khanjar remained standing as Vrarog landed before the mausoleum, a magnificent creature, with scales that gleamed like studded sapphires, wings with the span of a building. Alarm horns echoed in the city, people ran away, and Razam stepped forward.


    ¡°Long time no see,¡± said Razam.


    Fahad sighed. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s safe?¡± he asked Fara.


    ¡°Fahad, I have never felt safer than when I was flying on his claws.¡±


    ¡°On his claws,¡± Fahad said.


    ¡°Do not worry, human,¡± said Vrarog. Fahad almost jumped back when he heard it. ¡°I shall protect you, as long as you yourself don¡¯t try anything stupid.¡±


    ¡°So,¡± Razam addressed Shams. ¡°Can you shield him from the black magician now?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Shams declared, looking up at the dragon again.


    ¡°You better,¡± Razam said again, reaching for Vrarog¡¯s back and climbing on top. ¡°Alright, friends,¡± Razam looked at Fahad for an instant. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here before your comrades in arms are on our heels. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Fahad, I¡¯ve been trying to convince the dragon to throw you off the sky but he doesn¡¯t want to.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m serious, thief,¡± Fahad grunted. ¡°Try anything funny and my comrades will avenge me.¡±


    ¡°Hey, learn to take a joke. And come, you¡¯ll be safe. Vrarog will take care of you.¡±


    ¡°Come quickly,¡± Vrarog shouted. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Fara rose confidently, sitting on Vrarog¡¯s legs, she stretched her arm, offering to help Fahad. Fahad didn¡¯t take her hand, instead, simply climbed from the back, followed by Arash.


    Shams didn¡¯t fear the dragon, but needed Razam¡¯s help to get up.


    Razam could hear the noise of horses in the distance, and men shouting orders, running toward the square. Once they were all on Vrarog¡¯s back, in between his wings, the dragon told them to hold on, pressed his chest against the ground and pushed upward with a tremendous force, spreading massive wings that barely fit in the plaza. People ran away in fright, becoming smaller than ants with every flap of Vrarog¡¯s wings. Fahad started screaming out of the sudden, holding on to the wings for dear life, eyes fixed downward. Arash kept quiet, but his face had turned pale and he kept his eyes up.


    Razam saw troops of local soldiers rushing toward the plaza, from above,, now people staring up at the dragon, pointing, others aiming crossbows and spears, but Vrarog flew high and soon ascended through the clouds.


    Fahad kept screaming. Razam tried to ignore him and focus on his own issues. After a few miles of rocky desert and sparse cypress forest, Fara pointed at a village on the edge of a cliff. Vrarog dived toward it and landed on the outskirts.


    Fahad stumbled down, followed by Arash and Shams.


    ¡°We have more resources and personnel here,¡± Fara explained to Razam. ¡°We trust that we¡¯ve kept this location and this village hidden as a location for our organization.¡±


    As far as Razam understood, they had decided to take Shams into custody with the Khanjar and ask him more of what he knew on the Murlian sorcerer, and plan to retake the city or keep a holdout for the royal family. Razam didn¡¯t want to get too deep into it.


    Soon, Fara and Razam were on their way again, flying back toward the north.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad those two are gone,¡± Razam declared.


    ¡°Razam, they¡¯re good men.¡±


    ¡°Arash was threatening to kill me, though. And Fahad was no better.¡±


    ¡°Understand them, Razam.¡±


    ¡°Well, I heard them straight out threaten to kill me. What else is there to understand?¡±


    ¡°But they didn¡¯t,¡± she replied. ¡°Listen, I wouldn¡¯t blame them, given your reputation and all, but if they knew you better they wouldn¡¯t say those things.¡±


    ¡°How did you end up tangled in this Khanjar business?¡± Razam asked. ¡°I mean, what a thing for a princess to do.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a tradition that at least one member of the royal family has to join the Khanjar. They¡¯re basically in charge of protecting us. More than the Royal Guards. They¡¯re there to protect our legacy.¡±


    ¡°I mean, you¡¯re a woman. No offense, but that¡¯s not what one expects.¡±


    ¡°Because I was close to my uncle. I showed promise as a gymnast at first, especially the spear-dance, the dance of the iron whip. Plus, I loved the history of my people. Why not put those talents to use?¡±


    ¡°Spear-dance? Whip-dance? Is that a dance or¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a combat form, but it¡¯s seen as art and performance in our land too. Children start doing it since a young age.¡± She shrugged. ¡°I was never considered for the crown or even for marriage to foreign nobles. I mean, I wasn¡¯t even that close to the crown.¡±


    ¡°And your father?¡±


    ¡°He tended to his properties in the countryside. I didn¡¯t talk much with him, he died a few years back. I was mostly here with my uncles. My uncle, Emperor Fahad II, father of the late Emperor, and uncle Raynan.¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯re a cousin of the Emperor.¡±


    ¡°Yes, first cousins.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Razam said, leaning back. ¡°Were they nice to you, your uncles? Supportive?¡±


    ¡°Uncle Raynan was harsh. He made me train hard. But he knew my potential very well and encouraged me too.¡±


    Razam sighed.


    ¡°How about you? How did you become the legend that you are.¡±


    ¡°Legend?¡± he asked, self deprecatingly.


    ¡°You¡¯re an amazing swordsman. And you¡¯re a good man. How did you end up as the Crimson Thorn?¡±


    It felt good to hear someone call him good. He didn¡¯t think it was accurate, but neither did he consider himself evil. He tried not to be.


    ¡°I was never good enough as a son, it seems, no matter how I tried. The rich man from my village was a general, he thought I had talent as a boxer and fencer, so took me in. I thought I could show my father I¡¯d be a good man, get a career as a cadet, jump start into military administration, but he never said a single encouraging word. Not a single time. Well, I did get into a lot of trouble as a cadet. Once, I did something, I¡­ I broke into a carriage, stole some jewelry and brought it home. It was just to help him pay his debt before getting evicted. Did it for him. But it was too much for him. He kicked me out. He said I wasn¡¯t his son, that he¡¯d rather have no son than an evil man.¡±


    Fara listened attentively.


    ¡°Someone did snitch on me,¡± Razam continued with a sigh. ¡°The nobles were on my back. So I ran away, moved first into Arum, worked as a mercenary when I was sixteen, then tried to hunt for treasures across the sea. Didn¡¯t have much luck, but there was a lot of stealing then. Didn¡¯t like it much. They were good swordsmen, though, got a good experience.¡±


    ¡°You were a pirate!¡±


    ¡°Like I said, it wasn¡¯t really my thing.¡±


    ¡°And then?¡±


    Razam shrugged. ¡°I always wanted to start a formal business, be a bazaar business owner. Perfume is my passion. I wanted to get enough money to start up, but the money was never enough. Besides, I guess I¡¯d need a major identity change to do that. I wrote my father, but he won¡¯t ever answer my letters. The last one was from my sister, she was married off to some merchant, but we¡¯ve lost contact.¡±


    ¡°Do you miss your father?¡± she asked softly.


    Razam hesitated.


    ¡°Hell,¡± he finally said. ¡°I hate him most of the time, but if he could only listen to me. Why can¡¯t he, after all I tried to do? Yes, I¡¯ve been bad, but I wasn¡¯t always bad.¡±


    ¡°I think you¡¯re good. You were wrong, you made some mistakes. But you¡¯re a good man, Razam.¡±


    ¡°Nah, I don¡¯t think I¡¯m good or bad. But I try.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a good man and you deserve to do good, and to be rewarded for it.¡±


    Razam laughed, leaning his head back.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s the pay?¡±


    She frowned.


    ¡°That¡¯s what you¡¯re thinking about?¡±


    He shrugged. ¡°I have to earn my daily bread.¡±


    She sighed. ¡°I can¡¯t promise anything for now.¡±

 Chapter XIX – A Larger Scope

    ¡°But what¡¯s the plan?¡± Razam asked, still holding on to the spikes on the dragon¡¯s back, looking at Fara. ¡°After brother Fahad gets a hold of his loyalists, I mean.¡±


    Fara had tied her hair into tight bun, and seemed more interested in the landscape than in the conversation. ¡°Get in contact with our forces in the south, gather them and liberate certain areas. It won¡¯t be easy, especially if Murlia gets too many troops into the country, to control it, you know. I can¡¯t believe Murlia got so strong so quickly.¡±


    ¡°They even took my land.¡±


    ¡°Where are you from again?¡±


    Razam sighed. ¡°Kash, technically. Later it was Arum, but I guess it¡¯s Murlia now, since last week.¡±


    ¡°I had never heard your accent before.¡±


    He sighed. ¡°We¡¯re a separate people, I guess, we have our own language, we''re not ethnic Kashians.¡±


    ¡°Around the coasts?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but it¡¯s in the south, next to the desert. Don¡¯t think you¡¯ve heard about us. Most of my people are fishermen. Some of our elders had a unique traditional religion, so the Religious Mandate of Kash killed a few thousand in the past fifty years.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that is definitely sad, but interesting. Maybe there will be books about them.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t think we¡¯re relevant enough for that. But enough talking about ethnicities and things like that. I want to know your plan, so you want the dragons, huh? Let me tell you, don¡¯t expect much.¡±


    ¡°I always expect much,¡± she declared. ¡°I can¡¯t expect less, especially in this moment.¡±


    Razam sighed.


    ¡°It¡¯s that kind of thinking. You cannot take no for an answer, but Vrarog tells me that they have been saying no to humans for more than a thousand years.¡±


    ¡°I have a good feeling about this. Besides, in all the time we¡¯ve been alive, more than a thousand years before there has be no bond between humans and dragons. And, you, of all people, broke the curse of a thousand years. Can¡¯t you see how that changes everything? And you are the one who changed history.¡±


    Razam pressed his teeth. That was certainly an angle he had not considered. It made him sound important out of a sudden, too bad it didn¡¯t bring him any money.


    ¡°And then you plan on air striking Murlia, burning it to the ground and reconquer it in the name of Arsacia. Listen, I don¡¯t care for politics, the little guy gets stamped out either way and doesn¡¯t even get bread crumbs.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not as simple as that,¡± she said. ¡°Of course, we strive for peace.¡±


    ¡°I just telling you what it looks like. People are gonna die in the crossfire. I¡¯d be willing to be a bodyguard, or whatever, but the dragon doesn¡¯t like the idea either.¡±


    ¡°I have said nothing about air striking Murlia.¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯d do that if you had the chance, wouldn¡¯t you? Listen, I was a cadet, and close to a military commander. People think they have to do what they¡¯re ordered without question, and no matter how righteous they think they are, people die. The people who shouldn¡¯t die, who have nothing to do with politics, or war, are the ones who suffer the most. That¡¯s another thing dragon¡¯s won¡¯t be happy to follow.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand,¡± she said. ¡°Everything was better when Arsacia was in control.¡±


    ¡°And how do you know you¡¯re gonna make everything better and not worse? And how did your ancestors get that control, through killing? Another war to end all wars, another war to end oppression, that ends with more oppression. Listen, I¡¯ve done my share of killing, I¡¯m no better but I won¡¯t kill anyone who deserves it in a way or another. I have sworn not to kill one who hasn¡¯t drawn a sword at me. I¡¯m not saying I¡¯m a saint, or anything.¡±


    ¡°Sometimes you have to do that for the greater good.¡±


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    Razam shrugged. ¡°You could say that. That doesn¡¯t mean innocent people must die.¡±


    She gritted her teeth, seemingly upset.


    ¡°But you don¡¯t understand¡­¡±


    ¡°Listen,¡± Vrarog spoke with his powerful voice. Both faced forward, noticing an enormous mountain range that spread ahead of them, raising up way above the clouds. ¡°My home is near, within a few minutes.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I can¡¯t wait,¡± she said, looking forward and trying not to shiver.


    Razam was starting to feel the cold, even in that part of summer, and at that altitude, he was freezing.


    Vrarog flew upward, and with every flap of his wings, Razam felt the temperature drop, his body shiver and his teeth clatter. He started reaching for his arms and rubbing them, noticing the goosebumps, even with the warm clothing Fahad had brought them from the provincial city. Vrarog seemed to notice his distress, and heat started emanating from his scales. Within minutes, both he and Fara could sit more comfortably.


    They kept flying upward, and Razam noticed that it was becoming harder to breathe. Where were they going? Had a human being even been so high up in the mountains and not died? The dragon seemed to answer his question with memories.


    Razam and Fara ascended, leaning down toward the dragon¡¯s body to keep warm.


    ¡°Look,¡± Fara said, placing a hand over Razam¡¯s arm, pointing with the other to the snow capped mountain ahead of them. A million snowflakes poured upon the peaks, melting as they came close to Vrarog¡¯s body, but the thing that made Razam gasp were the shapes that moved through the vastness of space, dragons, spreading mighty wings and swirling through the sky.


    ¡°There¡¯s something wrong,¡± Vrarog shouted. Razam felt the back of the dragon heat up even more. Then, Vrarog tumbled downward. Razam gasped, holding on to the wings. He could feel something deeply troubling in the dragon¡¯s mind. Something had shocked him to death. Held tight, and even Fara turned toward him.


    ¡°He¡¯s in shock,¡± Razam said under his breath, as the dragon sped up and caught flight by flapping again, raising upward.


    ¡°What is happening?¡± Vrarog asked with a monstrous grunt, flying closer to the base of the mountain. Razam held tight as other massive dragons flew around them.


    Razam felt clarity in the dragon¡¯s sorrow.


    ¡°Where is she?¡±


    ¡°She has been missing,¡± said a gigantic creature, floating slowly, keeping himself on air by flapping gigantic wings. His voice was as powerful as rocks tumbling down from a mountain. Vrarog named him Grukner. ¡°We followed the track she gave us, but could not find her. Instead, we found something unusual. But you¡­ Are you bringing humans to our mountains? How? How dare you?¡±


    The dragon¡¯s tone changed abruptly.


    ¡°It is a debt I have.¡±


    ¡°This happened because of humans. You can¡¯t compromise us like that! This is unprecedented.¡±


    ¡°I am changing things,¡± Vrarog declared. ¡°Let us go down to the feet of the mountain. We shall talk about it, but now, tell me what you found.¡±


    ¡°Get these humans away,¡± Grunkner said, before pulling his wings together and diving down toward the ground. Vrarog followed, Razam and Fara held tight, staring at each other just as they descended.


    They flew downward, descending toward the base of the mountains faster than a horse, faster than anyone falling down.


    The snow did not completely cover the section of the mountain, and there was less snow the more he descended, the temperature also decreased, and Vrarog knew and let go of the heat. They finally reached the bottom of the mountain, into a lush grassland that spread beneath. Gruckner, the giant red dragon descended softly, his massive body gliding almost effortlessly, until he reached and posed himself amid the tall grass, the mountain raising up and disappearing into the clouds above. Razam was astonished that he had been so high up in the sky.


    Then, Vrarog descended, opening his wings, apparently, to catch air, before dropping gently. To Razam, he felt surprisingly dizzy as soon as he reached. The red dragon looked like a frightening force of nature. Razam had gotten used to Vrarog, but seeing that other, gigantic creature was an entirely different thing. For one, he was much larger than Razam, with a monstruous look, red instead of blue, massive bulging muscles covered in scales, ragged wings and a threatening reptillian face and unfazed yellow eyes.


    Suddenly, to Razam¡¯s surprise, Fara turned and descended from Vrarog¡¯s side, and strode toward the giant dragon.


    ¡°Lord Dragon!¡± she exclaimed, rushing to fall on her knees in front of the dragon. ¡°I beg of you.¡±


    The dragon¡¯s eyes glowed red, then, his nostrils flared.


    ¡°Why did you bring this human?¡± Gruckner asked with a deep growl.


    ¡°He¡¯s my friend,¡± Vrarog declared.


    ¡°You have brought too much of this human nonsense,¡± Gruckner said. ¡°What is the point of having these creatures here.¡±


    ¡°Lord Dragon,¡± Fara continued. ¡°I propose to you an alliance. Please consider it. I am a descendant of the first dragon Kings, and my kingdom lies in Arsacia. Please, we must fight together.¡±


    ¡°Vrarog, come with me. You must see this,¡± Gruckner declared, stepping forward, completely ignoring Fara.