《Dragon Company》


 Prologue: A Bards Tale

    "Dragons have been present throughout history, though it wasn''t until recently that the extent became known. As master shape-shifters they can appear as any creature, though they do have a distinct form for each. Aside from never seeming to age, they are indistinguishable from a normal member of the species. Not even other dragons are able to see through their disguise."


    "The event which came to be known as the Dragon Summit is where everything changed. Ostensibly the rulers of various city states came together to discuss the growing difficulties traveling between cities. Over the past few years the number of caravans reported lost or destroyed had been steadily increasing. The stories from the survivors were unreliable and rather far-fetched. Some spoke of swarms of monsters working together in ambush. Others spoke of spies and destruction from within the caravan itself. As several of the reports also mentioned giant winged beasts, most of those at the summit concluded that dragons were to blame."


    "A small group of lords strongly disagreed with this conclusion, but their arguments weren''t those of denial. They simply said that it was absurd for a dragon to waste their time attacking traders. A being of that strength could easily take what they want from any of the city states and would most likely use other methods than brute force. The only reason a dragon would do something like this, is if it had some insidious end game."


    "Many of the nobles there laughed at their arguments, insisting that these dragons were mindless beasts and that''s when all hell broke loose. One of the nobles present approached the center of the room, and with a roar shifted to his dragon form. He promptly pinned a doubter to the floor and reiterated that dragons wouldn''t act so foolishly without a good reason. The crowd was too shocked to panic, they froze in place and stared. While the crowd was frozen, several others revealed their true forms as well."Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    "This very nearly threw the room into panic, but fortunately my patron had the assistance of a master bard like myself to calm the crowd. With a psychic nod from him I started playing a song of peace which soothed all except for the most panicked."


    As the bard paused expecting praise, a boisterous laugh could be heard across the room. A woodsman sitting in the corner shouted, "Hah! Were you really the bard there that day?"


    "Aye friend, it was I who soothed the crowd and allowed the conference to continue."


    With that the man rose and toasted his mug to the bard, sloshing ale everywhere. "A true bard! Boasting about the day his boss fired his ass!"


    The bard attempted to sputter out a reply in protest, but the stranger¡¯s voice overpowered his own.


    "Aye, the bard sang, but the terror in his voice hardly soothed the room. The poor sod trapped by Lord Grax broke several ribs in his struggle. I had to stun at least a dozen who came too close to my charge." His voice trailed off as a petite woman tugged at the back of his jerkin.


    The woman, who appeared to be barely more than a girl, wore a cloak over thin leather armor. She had a dagger sheathed on one hip and a longsword on her back. Compared to her small frame the sword seemed huge. She quietly whispered to the ranger "My Guide, please return to my side. Let the bard tell his lies, this doesn''t help with our task"


    The bard took the opportunity the distraction provided to inspect the man, he had assumed it was a random drunk, but now it was obviously not the case. The adventurer was garbed in jet black leather that seemed to shine like metal. The only material that could be was dragon hide. He wore an unstrung bow and thin, empty, quiver on his back. Aside from a wicked looking knife at his hip, he had no other weapons visible. He had heard tales of a man like this, many spoke of his short temper and fearsome skills. Deciding against provoking him, he deflected, seizing on the humor in the situation to change his tale from one of nobility to comedy in an attempt to salvage the night.

 Part 01: The Hunt / Chapter 01: Woodridge Village

    Along a trade road, just outside the Forest of Whispers, sat the village of Woodridge. The village was fairly unremarkable, owing its existence solely to being the last safe haven before entering the forest. The village consisted of little more than crop fields, a town green, a meeting hall, a couple small shops, an inn, and a few dozen houses. Though the town was simple, the people were generally happy, today more so than normal.


    It was a cool, overcast day. The sky was so cloudy that barely a shadow was cast on the ground. Though cloudy, there wasn¡¯t even a hint of rain in the air. The villagers had a saying about days like this, ¡°On a day in which your shadows fade, ply your trade. But beware, watch your daughters with extra care.¡±


    For many years, as long as this village has been here, days like this have tended to bring merchants. The town would be extra busy and business would be good. This fortune came at a cost though, every few years one of the young women from the village would vanish without a trace. People assumed they simply ran off with a traveling merchant as they would often return years later without explanation and with plenty of gold.


    ¡°This way good Sir!¡± called the innkeeper¡¯s daughter as she cheerfully pranced down the street. She was leading a particularly well dressed merchant to the inn. He arrived by foot, wearing sturdy yet fine clothing. His cloak had a light shine to it, likely spelled to protect from the elements. His boots were strong and sturdy with fresh soles. He was fairly young, and obviously strong based on the traveling pack he effortlessly carried. Every time the girl glanced over her shoulder to ensure he was still following she quickly turned away with a blush. The fact that he traveled alone without fear spoke volumes of his abilities as well. Though the trade routes are patrolled, they still have plenty of dangers.


    ¡°It''s really amazing that you are traveling alone! You must have seen so much!¡±


    He smiled as he followed though he didn¡¯t speak. The girl didn¡¯t mind though, she wasn¡¯t sure what she would do if he actually spoke. When they arrived at the inn he finally broke his silence, ¡°Thank you my lady, it was a pleasure being escorted by such a beauty.¡± He paused and looked into her eyes as he pressed a coin into her hand. ¡°When you come of age in a few years I certainly hope we meet again.¡±Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    Blushing, she ran off to the kitchen to hide her embarrassment. She peeked around the door and watched as he approached her father at the counter to inquire about a room. The innkeeper greeted him gruffly, suspicious after watching his interaction with his child. ¡°Welcome traveler, what brings you here?¡±


    ¡°The sights, the sounds, the girls...¡± He trailed off as the man openly glared at him. ¡°Forgive me, I jest. I¡¯m simply looking to stay the night. I have an important message to deliver and hope to resume my journey at dawn.¡± He carefully placed several gold coins on the table, more than enough to cover a night¡¯s stay and dinner. ¡°Will this be enough to cover my stay?¡±


    ¡°Aye, that¡¯s plenty, provided you watch your words around my family. I don¡¯t aim for my daughter to be spirited away!¡±


    ¡°You have my word, your daughter is safe from me.¡±


    ¡°Fine then,¡± he placed a heavy brass key on the counter. ¡°The room is the first door up the stairs and dinner is at dusk.¡±


    The merchant thanked the man before heading to this room.


    The excitement over, the innkeeper''s daughter quickly ran back outside. The day was still early and more travelers might arrive. She wandered towards the town common, watching as the villagers set up their shops hopeful about what the day would bring. The girl was quick to tell everyone she saw about the merchant as she showed off the silver coin she¡¯d been given.


    The blacksmith took particular interest, looking at it closely. The coin was as long as your thumb and the faces were faded with age. One side was etched with a pair of wings and the other had some sort of star. It was clearly silver, but he had no idea where it came from. He warned her to be extra careful with it, it was likely worth more than she thought.


    She ran off excitedly on hearing that. Not looking where she was going, she turned the corner next to the meeting hall and crashed into the person hiding there. ¡°Eep! Sorry! Sorry!¡± She panicked.


    The young woman barely reacted. In a quiet voice she simply said ¡°It''s fine, don¡¯t worry...¡± She brushed off her long white dress, making sure it was ok, and adjusted the ring of flowers in her hair before her sad eyes finally met the girl¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°Oh! Wow! You look beautiful!¡± The girl gushed. ¡°Are you getting married? Is that a wedding dress?¡±


    With a fake smile she replied, ¡°unless I get spirited away before the morning.¡± Giving a half-hearted wave she walked away and the innkeeper¡¯s daughter resumed her walk through the village with even more news to share.

 Part 01: The Hunt / Chapter 02: A Maidens Cry

    Night fell and the sky cleared. The moon shone brightly as the entire village gathered for a bonfire in honor of the upcoming wedding.


    The town green was lit by torches along the sides, throwing shadows from their flickering flames on the nearby walls. In the center of the green was a large fire pit where the bonfire danced, its heat driving away the chill of the night air and a thick smoke floated up to the sky. People danced in a circle around the pit, their steps a prayer for good fortune. Nearby a small troupe of musicians played a lively, yet solemn, song. When the chief¡¯s daughter is to be wed, the entire population participates in the blessings before the wedding is finally consummated. The event is more of a religious ceremony than a celebration of the union.


    The bride was pledged to a Priest of the Sentinel Church. The Church is an order of Holy Knights whose sole existence is to drive away the monsters which lurk in the darkness. Rather than pay tribute in crops or gold, the villages under their protection pay in women. Though it¡¯s officially a great honor to be chosen, the life which follows is little more than servitude. That is why the bride sat in silent mourning in the seat of honor before the fire.


    She sat in silence, not stirring despite the lively activity around her. She simply stared at the flames and moved her lips in silent prayer. The hours passed until her joints were stiff from cold despite being so close to the flames. She didn¡¯t move until she heard a whisper carried by the wind.


    A single word echoed through the night, ¡°Freedom...¡± Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    She started and looked for the source, mouthing a silent ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Do you wish to be free?¡± The voice echoed once more.


    She looked around frantically, trying to find its source. None of the revelers seemed to be aware of it. It was as if the words were solely inside her head.


    ¡°Rise...¡± The voice paused before continuing..


    ¡°Call for freedom...¡± The whisper felt as if it was tempting her very soul.


    She felt her heart begin to race and warmth returning to her body. A spark of life returned to her empty eyes. She moved her mouth, trying to form words and the call repeated inside her soul.


    ¡°Rise... Freedom... Rise... Freedom...¡±


    As she struggled to her feet her eyes lit up. As if tearing free from shackles she tore the crown of flowers from her head and tossed it into the roaring flames. Taking a deep breath she screamed at the top of her lungs ¡°FREEDOM!¡±


    The fire surged, scattering flames and wood in all directions. In the blinding light all that could be clearly seen was the giant shadows of reptilian wings. A dark shadow surged into the air, briefly blocking the moon from view. As it rose, sharp gusts of wind blew out the fire and surrounding torches leaving the villagers stunned in newfound darkness. The only light which remained was that of the moon in the sky and even that was momentarily eclipsed by the figure of the beast as it flew towards the woods.


    When the villagers finally regained their senses and relit a handful of torches, the bride was nowhere to be found. All that was left was her ash covered chair.

 Part 01: The Hunt / Chapter 03: The Wildling Arrives

    The news of an apparent attack against The Sentinel Church traveled fast. As it traveled the story grew more and more unbelievable. Some declared that the bride was a sorceress or possessed. Others spoke of a monster raid on the village. A few simply thought she¡¯d run off. Regardless of the cause, they all agreed on one thing, The Church was offering a bounty.


    Her disappearance gave credence to the village¡¯s old saying about cloudy days as it led to months of activity in the village. Many adventurers were drawn by the promise of gold should they find the missing girl. People would venture into the woods in search of clues as to what happened. Those that returned were always empty handed. They spoke of being misled by spirits, or changing trails, and the eerie whispers which gave the forest its name. As the months passed, fewer adventurers came seeking the bounty and most presumed the girl was dead. Life in the village returned to normal, the only change being a semi-permanent bounty on the job board.


    Then one morning a man was found waiting outside the gate. One of the farmers heading to the fields spotted a strange bundle of fur leaning against a nearby tree. He cautiously approached, fearing a sleeping animal of some sort. As he poked at it with a long handled hoe, he was startled to have the tool knocked from his hands as the bundle lurched to alertness.


    The bearskin cloak was effortlessly thrown back to reveal a wild looking man in leather armor. His bestial eyes seemed to pierce into the farmer¡¯s soul, and a loaded crossbow was carefully aimed at the farmer¡¯s heart. As the sleep left his expression, his eyes lost their predatory glow and he carefully lowered his weapon. ¡°Didn¡¯t yer parents teach ya not to poke a sleeping bear.¡±


    With a look of shock the farmer stared at the man. His expression was a mix between fear, insult, and confusion. After a few stuttered false starts he managed to speak. ¡°What brings a Wildling like you to the village?¡± He almost said something quite different, but he couldn¡¯t erase the image of the crossbow from his mind. Though it was but a moment, it was held completely steady. This was a man who could easily have killed him without hesitation. The very fact that he was waiting outside the gate meant he was there for a reason and didn¡¯t intend to cause trouble. Still, he acted more like a beast than man, so caution and disgust was justified. These thoughts all rattled through the farmer¡¯s head when he chose his words.


    ¡°Tracking.¡± The man spoke a single word as if it justified everything. He rose to his feet and shook the dust and leaves from his cloak. He slung the crossbow, still loaded, on his back, and approached the gate.


    ¡°Wait! Wait! Wait!¡± The farmer sputtered. ¡°Tracking what?¡±


    ¡°Dragon.¡±


    ¡°A Dragon?¡± The farmer couldn¡¯t believe his ears. ¡°Why would you be looking for a dragon here?¡± He felt fear starting to gather in his chest. Dragons were legendary monsters and this stranger spoke of one calmly. He was either a fool, fearless, insane, or a mix of all three. Regardless, he was dangerous.


    ¡°The missing girl. This monster abducts women from all over, and all signs lead towards these woods.¡± The man still had a predatory gleam to his eyes, but as he spoke more much of the wildness seemed to fade.


    The farmer still felt deep in his bones that the man was dangerous, but he was slowly realizing that despite his barbaric appearance he was in fact an adventurer. ¡°If it is about the bounty, you will want to talk to the chief. He can tell you what we know. I¡¯ll take you there.¡±


    The man nodded and the farmer breathed a sigh of relief. He did not want to consider what would happen if the man wandered the village without an escort. At least it wasn¡¯t overcast so it was unlikely a second girl would vanish.


    The farmer led him to the chief¡¯s house as quickly as possible while avoiding the more crowded routes. He couldn¡¯t avoid everyone¡¯s eyes though, and cringed every time someone¡¯s whisper carried on the breeze, terrified it would make the stranger lash out. People stared and talked. The words ¡°Wildling¡± and ¡°savage¡± could be heard fairly regularly. Fortunately the man didn¡¯t seem to care, nor even to notice them.


    When they reached the chief¡¯s house, the farmer knocked. ¡°Chief, we have a Wildling...¡± He trailed off and quickly corrected himself ¡°an adventurer here about the bounty.¡± He paused as he searched for the proper words to describe the man and warn the chief what to expect. ¡°He appears to be a woodsman of some sort.¡± Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    The man spoke, ¡°Woodsman, Ranger, Tracker. Call me what you will. The name¡¯s Dover and I already wasted a night waiting outside the village. Let¡¯s get this over with.¡±


    The man who opened the door moved as if he were broken. Though he still maintained the remnants of a strong figure, his eyes were marked by weariness and a permanent frown was etched into his face. He had the air of someone who was defeated and had completely given up. Though most of the village were surprised by Dover, the chief didn¡¯t even react.


    Leaving the door open and walking inside toward a pair of chairs by the fire he simply began his well rehearsed speech. ¡°As you have undoubtedly heard, the Sentinel Church has issued a bounty of...¡±


    Before he could continue, Dover interrupted. ¡°Forget the speech. I don¡¯t give a damn about the Church or the gold.¡±


    His words completely stunned the farmer from earlier. His fear of Dover was the only thing which kept him from protesting. Though, as he choked back the instinctive retort, he found himself questioning what exactly the Church did to earn such loyalty. They¡¯ve had monster attacks in the past and the locals were the ones who drove them off. Even when the chief¡¯s daughter went missing the Church did nothing more than throw gold at the problem.


    The chief trailed off at the outburst. He blinked twice before taking a closer look at the tracker. The cloak was roughly stitched and patched many times over. It was practical but certainly not something a seamstress would take pride in. The leather armor was masterfully crafted, but the material itself was low grade and inconsistent quality. The man wore a similar quality sheath with an axe at his hip. It was clear that nothing he wore would have been purchased from a shop. The axehead was well maintained, but old, while the handle was fresh wood. Everything, except his boots, spoke of hand crafting by someone who only cared about practicality. It was obvious that gold was meaningless to this man.


    Dover wasn¡¯t an adventurer. In fact, he was the first person who might actually find out what happened to the chief¡¯s daughter. The chief abandoned his script and spoke as a father instead. ¡°What do you need to know?¡±


    ¡°Which way did it fly? Did anyone see it arrive? Did anyone notice anything strange?¡±


    ¡°You probably haven¡¯t heard of our village¡¯s history, or its traditions. We live on the edge of civilization bordering a haunted woods which few dare enter. Our village¡¯s history is shaped by disappearances like this. Though we hide this from our own people, we have records of similar events stretching back to the village¡¯s founding.¡±


    These words were a surprise to the farmer who had remained to listen. He knew there were secrets only the chiefs knew, but hadn¡¯t expected the records to go that far back.


    Looking at the farmer, the chief continued. ¡°You are welcome to listen, but you may be happier living in your ignorance. If you value your life in this village, nothing you hear can leave this room.¡±


    The farmer paused, glanced towards the door, but stood his ground. With a nod the chief continued. ¡°Best we can tell, the woods are enchanted. The path through them is clear, and even protected from beasts, but once you stray off the path the mental attacks begin. Something lives there and it doesn¡¯t welcome visitors.¡±


    Dover listened respectfully with a serious look on his face. It seemed like this revelation fit with what he expected.


    ¡°Those who have ventured off the trail return with stories of ghosts and being lost. Some have claimed to be chased by monsters. I don¡¯t think any of that is real. The woods are full of game, those who go hunting have never returned empty handed. If there were really monsters, food would be much more scarce and we¡¯d see more attacks.¡±


    At this point the farmer spoke, ¡°Doesn¡¯t the Church protect us? Isn¡¯t that why we are safe?¡±


    The chief shook his head. ¡°No. Aside from the Priests who arrive for tribute, they have never set foot in the village nor the woods. Sometimes I think they are all part of a secret and we are merely the last to know. Whoever, whatever, calls those woods its home is our real guardian.¡±


    ¡°Tell me. What do you want?¡± Dover demanded.


    For the first time, the hint of life could truly be seen in the chief¡¯s eyes. ¡°I want to know if my child is happy.¡± His reply was simple but heartfelt.


    ¡°What of the dragon?¡±


    Anger pushed out the next words, ¡°if he harmed her, I want him dead.¡± The emotion quickly passed, and his next words were much calmer. ¡°Based on our village¡¯s history, I think she is still alive. Most who vanish return eventually. It may be years later, and they may barely be recognizable as the girls who vanished, but they return safe and happy. They also tend to carry these...¡±


    With that he placed a carefully wrapped object on the table. As he unwrapped it, the light reflected off it, making its surface shine. It was a fairly large gold coin. One side had a five pointed star, with an arcane symbol at each point. The other side had a large pair of reptilian wings and more symbols below them.


    Once the coin was fully visible the chief finished his thought, ¡°... Dragon coins.¡±

 Part 01: The Hunt / Chapter 04: Following the Trail

    The meeting with the village chief had taken longer than Dover had hoped, but it was also more fruitful than he¡¯d expected. He thanked the chief and then immediately headed towards the woods. He could cover a lot of ground in a half day, and the forest¡¯s trickery didn¡¯t typically begin until nightfall. He quickly reached the stone wall and metal gate which marked the edge of the village. From there he was within sight of the Forest of Whispers.


    There was about 50 meters of clear grassland between the wall and the first of the trees. This was well maintained and served as a buffer from both bandits and monsters. It was also regularly used as a campground for people who preferred not to rent space in the village¡¯s inn.


    Leading from the gate to a break in the treeline was a hard packed dirt road. Large trees branched over the opening on either side, making it seem as if the opening was the forest''s mouth. The canopy was dense enough that it blocked most of the sun¡¯s light so anyone entering the woods would immediately find themselves in a shadowy twilight.


    As he approached the woods, Dover took out a strange looking stone from a hidden pouch. Whispering a quick spell he scratched a series of runes into the handle of his axe. When he finished, the axe itself began to glow and he proceeded into the darkness using it to light the way.


    Within a matter of minutes the forest seemed to close around him. He could clearly make out the road, but everything else was nothing but shadows. He followed the trail while keeping a careful eye out for anything strange, be it something as subtle as a broken branch or more obvious like something traveling off the path.


    To his woodsman¡¯s eye, it quickly became apparent that the brush along the road was maintained. It was as if the path were part of a giant hedge maze. That meant that there would likely be an actual path somewhere for the master of the forest. Expecting illusions, he knew he shouldn¡¯t rely on his eyes. He walked along tracing his fingers along the brush. Eventually he found a spot in which nothing was there. Carving a simple vertical arrow into a nearby tree to mark the path he confidently walked into the brush. He found himself on a game trail of some sort. There were no signs of it being used recently, but at least it provided a clear direction to search.


    He slowed his pace and began carefully inspecting the trail as he walked. It was very slightly ascending and likely formed from snow melt runoff in the spring. A person could simply let gravity lead them to the main trail. He followed it for hours until the glow of his axe was no longer bright enough to travel by. He used the last of its light to rope off, and mark, an area to camp. He expected some sort of attack once the moon rose and didn¡¯t want to chance losing his way.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    He cleared the brush and branches from his campsite and built a small fire. He knew he was essentially painting a target on himself, so he carefully prepared his weapons. As if from nowhere he drew a hunting knife and stabbed it into the ground where he could easily grab it. He checked that his crossbow was properly loaded and ready. He readied a traditional bow and arrows as well. Once his gear was set, he huddled under his cloak and waited.


    The singing of birds was soon replaced with the hoot of owls. Various small animals could be heard scurrying through the brush. Then the voices began. It started as a whisper carried by the wind and then grew to a mournful song. The song spoke of death and abandonment, of being lost and alone. The words tugged at the heart, or at least they would if Dover were a normal man. Dover was a man of solitude, happiest when alone. He had the heart of an animal, death was only natural when you lived a life where it was kill or be killed. The woods themselves were his home, you couldn¡¯t be lost if you had nowhere to be. While most would be shaken, Dover was almost lulled to sleep.


    Instead he half closed his eyes and physically relaxed, hoping to further tempt whatever was out there to approach. He needed to drive off whatever threat there might be at least once if he hoped to get any real rest. As he waited, the fire burned down and his eyes adjusted to the dark. While he couldn¡¯t see any details, the slightest bit of motion would catch his attention. Eventually there was a snap of wood and the shape of something approaching.


    It was small, around the size of a cat, and crept along on two legs. Its eyes reflected what little light there was and shone green. It seemed to be avoiding the dying embers of the fire, either afraid of the heat or of the light. Needing to know the enemy, Dover shifted ever so slightly and waited to see if the creature reacted. He shielded his eyes with his cloak, and reached into his pocket for a vial of powder he had prepared earlier. Then, when the creature was facing towards the fire he covered his eyes and tossed the vial into the last of the embers. The powder immediately flared, with a light as bright as day and the creature screamed in surprise.


    As soon as the initial flare died down Dover was moving. He grabbed his axe and knife and struck at the creature. It was an easy target as it was still stunned by the burst of light and a single strike from the axe killed it.


    Dover quickly fed more wood into the fire to brighten the clearing and allow him to inspect the corpse. The creature was vaguely humanoid, having two arms, legs, and a weirdly shaped head. Its leathery green skin made it appear reptilian. It was a gremlin, a common form of demon used for simple tasks. They were too stupid to do anything without orders and largely survived by being scavengers. They also tasted fairly good.


    If this was all he had to worry about, he would have a great night''s sleep and a satisfying dinner.

 Part 01: The Hunt / Chapter 05: Lord Driks

    Walking through the halls, Lord Driks d¡¯Oxzen smiled. Despite the stone walls, the luxurious carpet and various tapestries helped trap the warmth to keep the rooms at a pleasant temperature. Though dim, the magical lights provided a comfortable level of illumination. As there were many rather amorous guests, the lighting had the additional benefit of maintaining a romantic atmosphere.


    Tonight¡¯s first stop would be the library. The newest guest was celebrating her freedom by reading through as many books as she could get her hands on. Such was her desire for knowledge, that the Lord felt compelled to make several trips to the larger cities to purchase more books.


    He smirked as he considered how different his charges were. The new girl had thanked him and immediately began studying the world. The poor thing had only the barest amount of knowledge, as she¡¯d been raised since birth to be a wife.


    Every woman in his manor had different dreams. Some were studying the art of combat. They had to rely on his collection of manuscripts as Driks wasn''t much of a fighter. Additionally, when he tried to participate in their training sessions, they frequently turned into a different sort of exercise. He really needed to find a swordswoman to train them, but unfortunately it was a male dominated career.


    Then there was Fawn. When she first arrived she didn¡¯t speak a word, she simply watched him constantly. She never asked for anything, nor interacted with any of the other women, until he disappeared for several days on a trip. When he returned, she embraced him in tears and wouldn¡¯t let him out of her sight for the rest of the day. That was also the first time she spoke, begging him to not abandon her. After that day, she somehow always knew when he was approaching, it was as if she had a magic detection spell on at all times. While not impossible, he had tested her for magic and confirmed she wasn¡¯t magically gifted. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    Once she broke her silence, he tried to learn her name, but apparently she had been silent so long she forgot it. For lack of a better idea, he simply called her ¡°Fawn¡± because of her behavior towards him. It started as a joke, but she took to it and made it her name. Once she was named, she practically became another person. She started interacting regularly with the other women and started studying how she could be of service. She had a masterful knack for business and at times, when he wasn¡¯t avoiding her clinginess, Driks felt that she had saved him, not the other way around.


    As expected, once he reached the library, Fawn greeted him. She knew how distractible he could be, and that she had to find out how much he spent and what he purchased before it slipped his mind. She hoped he stayed at least marginally close to the budget for this trip. She wasn¡¯t worried about him running out of money, he could literally create it from the earth, but she was concerned he might inadvertently destroy the local economies.


    It was a comic, yet familiar, sight. Before Driks could even enter the door, Fawn walked out of the room towards him, her dark hair curled into a bun and held in place by a quill, a no nonsense look in her eyes, and fine masculine clothes which weren¡¯t able to fully conceal her feminine traits. Recognizing the look in her eyes, Driks found himself backing towards the opposite wall. He was a solid head taller than her, had a lithe runner¡¯s build, and easily outweighed her, yet he was the one who looked overwhelmed.


    Fawn demanded a full accounting of how many coins spent, and crafted, as well as what he¡¯d returned with. She didn¡¯t relax until she was satisfied with his answer. Then, with a final stern glare, she proceeded to embrace him and tell him how much she missed him. She even tried to tempt him into some private discussion, yet to her surprise rather than complying, or promising a raincheck, he simply said that now was unfortunately not the time.


    While Driks was respectful of each woman under his care, never forcing them or expecting them to do things that they didn¡¯t want, everyone present knew he was a shameless flirt with an insatiable appetite. For him to abstain meant something major had happened.


    His words carried an air of urgency when he next spoke, ¡°Please gather the summoning materials. An uninvited guest is on the way.¡±

 Part 01: The Hunt / Chapter 06: Battle Preparations

    For a night spent in a cursed forest, it was surprisingly restful. Nothing bigger than gremlins tried to disturb Dover¡¯s sleep, and they were dumb enough that simple traps and snares kept them away. Eventually they stopped coming at all, though it was unclear whether they were scared away by their trapped comrades or if their master had given up.


    The latter would certainly be preferable, since the alternative was that something bigger would be coming. As the chief had said, most found their way back to the village, but some never returned. While they could have simply given up and proceeded to their next adventure, it was entirely possible they were slain. These woods were large enough that a few bodies might never be found.


    As he followed the trail, which had started to ascend more steeply, the forest canopy eventually began to thin. By midday he could travel without a torch. Surprisingly nothing interfered as he followed the trail, and he almost relaxed his guard. Dragons are highly intelligent, and it definitely knew Dover was coming, so either it was extremely confident in its abilities or planning something.


    This Dragon was often brazen in its abductions, it''s why Dover initially ended up on its trail. When you visit multiple villages, and they all share similar stories, the truth is obvious. That said, this close to the edge of the Church''s domain, few people actually left the safety of their own village. Without hearing the reports first hand most would simply dismiss them as a bard spinning tales.


    Time passed, the ground began to turn rocky and the trees became fewer and further apart. Eventually the trail turned into a well defined path. At some points there were even steps carved into the stone. It was much too easy, so Dover stopped to prepare. Dragons are among the most dangerous of beasts, not only are they intelligent, but they are nearly invincible. Most encounters with them ended with the adventurer¡¯s death, the dragon temporarily withdrawing, or the adventurer fleeing after realizing how badly they were outclassed.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Dover carefully considered what was known about these beasts as he performed one final check of his gear. Dragon scales are among the strongest materials in the world, their innate magic and toughness able to deflect most attacks. All but the strongest physical or magical attacks would simply bounce off. This defense is further enhanced by the dragon''s overflowing magic granting them the ability to quickly regenerate any injuries they do receive. Combined with their lethally sharp claws and teeth they are nearly unstoppable juggernauts in close combat. To make matters worse they can launch magical attacks from afar as well. Their only weakness is that their large size makes them slow, so if an individual moves fast enough the dragon would have difficulty hitting them. Unfortunately a human tires much quicker than a dragon, so that benefit is short lived. Without an escape plan an adventurer''s only hope is for the dragon to grow bored of pursuing them.


    With this in mind, Dover had a plan. Nature supplied plenty of tools for those who were knowledgeable. He carefully prepared three bolts, soaking them in a murky green liquid he had gathered just for this occasion. It was a potent poison that he dared not even touch, it wouldn¡¯t kill the dragon, but it should suppress its healing. The bolts themselves had razor sharp tips which would hopefully be able to pierce between the scales. The crossbow was specially customized to fire three shots in rapid succession, perhaps even fast enough to hit the same spot.


    He had a simple forester¡¯s bow as well, since the crossbow was much too slow to reload. The arrows for this had a special coating of the firestarting powder he used the previous night. On striking their target they would spark and ignite. It was like casting a fireball without using any magic.


    If that wasn¡¯t enough to force the Dragon to withdraw, he¡¯d have no choice but to flee. As even successfully driving it off would barely buy him enough time to verify the safety of the women abducted.


    He had one final tactic if he couldn¡¯t escape, though he really hoped it wouldn¡¯t come to it. He had a pair of clawed gloves and a spelled dagger. If he could get on the dragon¡¯s back, between its wings, he could simply hold on and keep stabbing. It was truly a last resort.


    Fully prepared, he steeled his nerves, and left the treeline. The entrance to the Dragon¡¯s lair was surely near.

 Part 01: The Hunt / Chapter 07: Overwhelming Strength

    The clearly defined path, and the thinning of the forest, meant that stealth would be impossible. There were places to take cover from an attack, large boulders and other obstacles, but nowhere to truly hide. While still moving quietly, instead of worrying about being seen, Dover focused on searching for traps. He carefully watched every step and looked for anything even remotely out of place.


    No matter how hard he searched, Dover didn¡¯t see anything suspicious. In fact, the area appeared to be carefully maintained. A person would have to try to injure themselves here. Dover couldn¡¯t imagine how strong a dragon would have to be to neglect to defend its lair at all. He even began to wonder if the entire trail was simply an elaborate ruse. None of the rumors suggested that level of deviousness though.


    On spotting a cave in the hillside Dover tensed and readied his weapons. Then he heard it...


    CLOMP.


    CLOMP.


    CLOMP.


    It was the sound of a large beast approaching. Dover waited, clearing his mind, and relying on his reflexes to take control.


    The first thing he saw was the dragon¡¯s head as it came out of the cave. When the light struck the scales, they gleamed like polished armor. On top of its head, between two short pointed ears, was a pair of vicious looking horns. Continuing to exit, the monster''s long neck swayed side to side as if searching the surroundings for prey.


    The dragon had a single row of spikes running down its neck. Along its back, between its folded wings, the spikes split into three parallel lines before once again joining together. Dover considered it a small blessing that they stopped halfway down its tail.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    As the dragon¡¯s silver eyes locked onto his own, Dover could see the alertness and intelligence in its gaze. This was not a mindless beast.


    Upon exiting the cave completely, the dragon''s razor sharp teeth and dagger long incisors seem to curve into a cruel looking smile. Without releasing Dover from its gaze it reared up, stretching to its full height. Opening its jaws wide it unleashed an earth shaking roar.


    The sound struck him like a physical blow, but he was already dodging and aiming. Landing in a crouch he pulled the trigger of his crossbow and launched three bolts directly into the monster¡¯s mouth. The roar abruptly cut off as the monster reeled in surprise from the attack, almost losing its balance as the impact forced it to turn.


    Without pausing, Dover dropped his now useless crossbow and launched himself directly at the dragon¡¯s exposed side. Charging closer he drew his bow and began rapidly firing, hoping the explosive arrows would further push the dragon off balance.


    As he got closer, he could see the arrows were doing some damage. The scales had lost their luster and were stained red. The beast still hadn¡¯t recovered from the brutal assault and was beginning to stagger. Dover continued firing, almost out of arrows, when the beast started to tip and fall. The scent of blood and smoke filled the air as he launched his final shots. Bloodlust overwhelming him, Dover abandoned caution and his carefully laid plans. Tossing his bow aside he drew his dagger. Thirsting for the kill he lunged at the dragon, throwing his full weight behind the strike.


    Unable to dodge as Dover propelled himself closer, the dragon roared once more and a blinding flash lit the hillside. Dover¡¯s attack missed, striking the ground and piercing all the way to its hilt. The shock of slamming into the ground somewhat returned Dover to his senses. He slowed his breathing and carefully listened. He could only hope the dragon was equally blinded and also forced to rely on sound. An eerie stillness fell over the battlefield.


    Though it was only a handful of seconds, the silence seemed to stretch for an eternity before being broken by the sound of a pained voice calling out. "Enough already! You win!"

 Part 01: The Hunt / Chapter 08: The Dust Settles

    The rough and cracking voice echoed in the silence and Dover, still disoriented from his missed attack, couldn''t immediately locate its source. Preparing himself for anything as he tried to clear his vision, he drew his axe and rose into a defensive crouch. After blinking several times the spots faded and allowed his eyes to search through the dust for the one who spoke. Eventually they fell upon the figure of a naked man sprawled nearby on the ground. That man''s body was battered and bloody, the skin on his side torn and bleeding. Despite his injured state, his piercing silver eyes blazed with life as they met Dover''s own.


    Muttering to himself between coughs, the man¡¯s words could barely be heard. ¡°How did he do it... None of my spells... Brutal... Monster...¡± Composing himself, he struggled to his knees, raised his hands to his head, rumpled his thick black hair, and shouted to the sky ¡°DAMN IT! I¡¯m a lover, not a fighter!¡± Then sat back down and faced the very confused woodsman.


    When Dover didn¡¯t react he threw his hands up in exasperation. He sighed before resuming his grumbling. ¡°Now he gets confused. You¡¯d think a roaring dragon would at least cause him to pause.¡± Massaging his temple with his hand, he shook his head. Looking towards Dover expectantly he asked,  ¡°Well, what do you want?¡± He glared at him and waited. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    Dover blinked and stared back, unable to process what had just happened. It wasn¡¯t a trick, the man had the injuries he inflicted on the dragon, though they were already healing. It was strangely enthralling seeing the skin slowly knitting itself together. As the stranger coughed again, a mix of impatience and pain, Dover broke out of his reverie and answered, his words as much a question as a statement. ¡°The abducted women.¡±


    ¡°Oh, is that all?¡± The man laughed before breaking down coughing. After regaining his breath he absently gestured towards the cave¡¯s entrance. ¡°Go on in and say hello.¡±


    Dover stared at him.


    ¡°Ok, fine. Help me up. I¡¯ll bring you to them.¡± The man said while reaching out a hand.


    Pausing suspiciously, Dover appraised the man. He was unarmed, heavily wounded despite his rapid healing, and had already surrendered. Dover shrugged, sheathed his axe, and grabbed his hand.


    ¡°Nice to meet you, traveler,¡± the man said as Dover pulled him to his feet. ¡°You¡¯d probably have trouble saying my real name, so feel free to call me Driks.¡± Releasing Dover¡¯s hand he started slowly walking towards the cave. ¡°Come along now, we¡¯ll have a party...¡± His voice trailing off as he quietly chuckled.


    Watching him closely, Dover cautiously followed behind.

 Part 01: The Hunt / Chapter 09: Introductions

    The mouth of the cave was fairly well lit by the light from outside. As they ventured deeper into the shadows, the natural light was at first supplemented, and then eventually replaced, by magical torches mounted on the walls. The ambient brightness allowed Dover to easily observe the surroundings. The path was well maintained, clear of any obstructions. Based on the lack of dust or debris it was likely swept regularly. There were no signs of danger or traps, there weren''t even any tripping hazards on the smooth floor. After following the path a few minutes it turned a corner and Dover found himself in front of a simple wooden door set into the wall.


    Strangely enough there was also a sturdy chest of drawers and a small changing nook to the side. Seeing his glance, Driks explained ¡°While you don¡¯t seem particularly disturbed by my lack of attire, many of my guests would prefer me to be clothed in public. As you discovered, I¡¯m not particularly skilled at dodging flying objects, and that¡¯s true even in this form. One can only get hit in the face with a shoe so many times before feeling the need to adjust their behavior.¡±


    Dover couldn¡¯t help but nod at the logical explanation. Before he could question why he would be nude to begin with, Driks continued. ¡°Changing forms doesn¡¯t include clothing and the rest of my home is human sized.¡± With that he began searching through the chest for some clothes.


    While Driks rummaged, Dover considered what type of magician he could be. He''d demonstrated two distinct skills, summoning and shapeshifting. Summoning was typically associated with warlocks. Through demonic pacts and rituals they could summon minions to do their bidding. Shapeshifting, on the other hand, typically fell into the realm of druids. To better commune with nature they often gained the ability to take animal form. Dover''s best guess was that Driks was in fact a wizard, a scholar who specializes in crafting their own spells.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    As Drik¡¯s headed into the changing nook, and pulled the privacy curtain closed, Dover asked ¡°Why become a dragon?¡±


    With a slight laugh Driks answered. ¡°You have that backwards, I shift into a human. It''s a lot easier to interact with my guests that way, fewer arrows to the throat... Which really hurts you know! Did you even consider that I might be willing to talk?¡±


    This revelation, that Driks had just casually admitted, went against everything Dover had learned about dragons as he pursued the missing girls. Driks, at least, was much more than an intelligent beast.


    Dover couldn¡¯t help but laugh as a thought occurred to him, ¡°Are you saying a dragon, a mythical monster, is more civilized than me?¡± All the tension from tracking the dragon, preparing for a deadly fight, and expecting the worst, fled from his body as he continued to laugh.


    When he regained his composure, he turned to the now fully dressed Driks, and said ¡°Sorry. Name¡¯s Dover. Nice to meet ya, Lord Driks.¡± Wiping his dusty hand off, he offered it in a proper greeting.


    Despite the obvious finery of his clothing, Driks paid no heed to the dirt and grime, taking his hand in a firm grip. Stumbling over the words a bit, considering they had been fighting minutes ago, he politely replied ¡°The... Pleasure... Is mine.¡±


    Driks paused and carefully looked at Dover. ¡°Once I ease your concerns about my guests, I have many questions for you.¡± On releasing his hand and fixing his posture, he corrected one minor mistake of Dover¡¯s. ¡°Simply call me Driks. If you must use a title the correct one would be Lord d¡¯Oxzen¡±


    That was a name even a wildling such as Dover would recognize, along with the Church, he controlled the province.

 Part 01: The Hunt / Chapter 10: Rescue

    As soon as they stepped through the door, Dover was immediately impressed by the luxury. Any doubt about Driks¡¯s identify could easily be countered by the visible wealth. That just left a question as to whether he¡¯d been truthful about the treatment of his ¡°guests¡±.


    A woman was impatiently waiting in the hallway, her foot tapping out a mixture of worry and annoyance. She had the air of a guildkeeper or head of a household and was holding a basket with a strange mix of items. She had numerous healing herbs and potions as well as books and assorted writing materials.


    She was accompanied by another woman who was wearing a hastily equipped suit of leather armor. It was custom made, thought of surprisingly low quality for the home of a lord. Her sword was the real thing though, it''s fine crafting apparent at a glance. She carried herself as a fighter, but her movements were stiff and untrained.


    Both women watched the two men as they approached, the first one giving a vaguely disapproving glance to Dover before focusing on Driks. The swordswoman did the opposite, she glanced over Driks, making sure he was alive, before carefully sizing up Dover. Dover¡¯s lips curled up in a slight smile of approval, though she wasn¡¯t properly trained, or equipped, she had the potential to be a good fighter. Also, based on what he saw, she probably could, and undoubtedly has, beaten sense into Driks in the past. Neither woman seemed to be there against their will.


    ¡°Ladies, permit me to introduce our visitor,¡± Driks began. ¡°This rough-shod fellow is a woodsman of some skill who soundly beat my tail.¡±


    Gesturing at the studious looking woman, who was glaring daggers at Dover following Driks¡¯s introduction, he continued. ¡°This is Fawn, of Shallow Brook. She handles most of my household¡¯s business affairs.¡± He then pointed towards the now smirking swordswoman and introduced her as well. ¡°Sophia, of Solomon Pond, is the head of my personal guard, such as it is. Both women joined me several years ago.¡±


    ¡°Fawn, would you be so kind as to make arrangements for a feast tonight? I¡¯d like to demonstrate to our guest that everyone is here willingly and see if anyone wishes to leave the villa with him.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d rather make this quick...¡± Dover began.


    ¡°Nonsense! We have much to discuss! I¡¯m sure I can make the visit worthwhile to you.¡± With that he drew a nondescript object from a pocket and tossed it towards Dover.


    Reflexively catching it, Dover paused to examine it, eyes widening when he realized it was a dragon scale.


    ¡°I will literally pay you a pound of flesh to stay the night.¡± Driks said with a laugh. ¡°Or to be more accurate, provide you with enough dragon scale to allow you to fully upgrade your armor.¡±Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    Dover reluctantly agreed, it was literally a priceless offer.


    While Fawn made preparations for the feast, and Sophia followed along like a respectable honor guard, Driks gave Dover a tour of his underground castle. Everyone they encountered was a woman. In fact, according to Driks, the two of them were the only men ever to walk these halls. Driks introduced all his guests without hesitation, sharing who they were, where they were from and how long they had been there. He didn¡¯t hesitate to answer any questions Dover asked. He even went so far as to respectfully introduce the servants and explain the terms of their contracts.


    Though they didn''t look too closely, so as to not disturb the women who were training, Driks gave a quick tour of the barracks. Dover was impressed by the quality of the training equipment and weapons, though less impressed by the obviously self taught training routine.


    Past the barracks was the dormitory wing. There everyone had their own rooms, which Driks did not show out of respect for their privacy. He did show Dover several empty rooms as well as both Sophia and Fawn¡¯s rooms. The rooms were large and fairly simple. They had good quality rugs and each person could decorate as they saw fit. Fawn¡¯s room had a large painting of Driks in front of a desk cluttered with papers. It was more of an office than a bedroom. Sophia¡¯s room was fairly spartan, with simple furniture and a workbench with various leather scraps on it.


    Continuing the tour, Dover was shown a fully equipped blacksmith and tannery, though neither seemed as if they saw any recent use. Also, despite the fact that spellcasters typically kept their magical lodges very secret, Driks even guided Dover through his. The final stop before dinner was the library, which was full of books on all topics imaginable. It was also where his most recent guest could be found. Having seen a portrait of the girl at Woodridge village, it was clear this was indeed the chief''s daughter. Watching her from a distance before approaching, it was obvious she was truly happy being surrounded by all these books. No magic could compel the level of joy which was present on her face.


    As they headed towards the dining hall, Dover considered the layout. While there undoubtedly were some secret rooms present, all castles have them, he was confident he saw most of the lair. It was particularly notable that there were no signs of a dungeon or a place to question prisoners. While there could be one in another castle, this appeared to be truly a safe haven for its guests.


    Dinner further confirmed his analysis. The women were certainly more nervous around Dover than they were of Driks. When given the chance to leave, most firmly refused. To prevent any future rescue attempts, it was decided that Dover would escort the few women who were ready to leave to Woodridge village and that the rest would write home. These letters would also be signed with Driks''s personal sigil to prove their authenticity and vouch for their safety.


    Once the handling of the women was hashed out, Driks turned his attention to enlisting Dover''s services. One of his guests was interested in leather working but did not have a proper teacher. Additionally Sophia, as well a few others, needed proper weapons training. Dover was literally his only option, and he wasn''t going to let the chance slip through his fingers. Surprisingly, even to himself, Dover agreed to return for a brief period and teach them.


    All in all, Dover¡¯s only complaint after the tour  was that he couldn''t add ¡°Dragonslayer¡± to his list of accomplishments... Yet.

 Part 02: The Guide / Chapter 11: A Lone Traveler

    A lone figure sat on a boulder near the edge of a lake, her shoulder length auburn hair lightly dancing in the cool evening wind. The slight chill in the air made it clear that summer was nearing its end, and that she was running out of time to find a new home.


    She quietly watched the last rays of the sun slip under the horizon and listened to the sounds of the world at dusk. She hadn¡¯t been ready to leave her home yet, but the Matriarch hadn¡¯t given her a choice. Her siblings had all left years ago, eager to experience the world, while she stayed and studied.


    She had no idea where the others had gone, or how they were doing. Generally, once you left you were not welcome back. The few who returned stayed just long enough for their battered bodies to heal before heading out again. Now that she, the youngest, was gone, any who returned would surely be killed or driven away.


    She¡¯d read many books about the outside world, and grilled her injured siblings for their experiences when they returned. This firmly convinced her that the world was a terrifying place. Even being the runt of the litter was unlikely to prepare her for the cruelties of those who worshipped gold. To survive, and to prepare, she trained her mind, and her powers.


    As the moon finally rose, its glow reflecting off the dampness at the corners of her eyes, she blinked and looked past the surface of the world. She could see the reddish energy of the moon raining down on her, its faint warmth fortifying her body. The land glowed a pale greenish brown light as it too radiated power. The slow splash of the waves tossed up bluish rainbows and white strips of wind curled through the air.


    In the castle all this energy was hidden, she had to strain to draw it out, but here it was everywhere. If she opened herself to it, she could easily get drunk on the power. But she didn¡¯t dare. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    She¡¯d heard stories of what happened to those who violated the first law, they never ended well. She couldn¡¯t take the chance of being exposed. While her stronger brothers could likely escape, she would undoubtedly be caught. With her magic she probably could survive, but it had taken her months to get this far and she had yet to reach a village.


    Her supplies were low, while she could fairly easily get food and coin, the rest was irreplaceable without finding people. Lightly jumping down from the stone, she headed to her campsite. With a wave of her hand she pulled energy from the air and started a small fire in the firepit she prepared earlier in the evening. Blinking she dismissed her ethersight, causing her eyes to change from a faintly glowing red to an orange flecked hazel and she began inspecting her supplies.


    She had a few simple sets of clothes based on what she¡¯d seen in paintings. At this point her food consisted mostly of salted meat and vegetables which she¡¯d forgaged on her journey. She had several water skins, a bedroll and a dagger. Leaving the dagger in easy reach, though that was solely to discourage any strangers who might think to take advantage of an unarmed woman in the woods, she began slowly to unlace her jacket. Though the leather was soft and supple it was still extremely warm and a relief to remove.


    While traveling it was essential though, not only did its bulk disguise her gender, but it also protected her limited number of clothes and hid her unusually fast healing. Most importantly though, it served as an excellent blanket.


    She stretched and tried to relax her tired muscles. Taking a nearby stick, she began drawing a large circle in the dirt around her campsite. Once it was fully enclosed she drew symbols at each of the four cardinal directions before finally standing at the eastern point. Kneeling, with one hand stretched to the sky, she channeled the energy of the moon into the circle and whispered a quiet spell.


    The circle took on a dim red glow and seemed to fall under a shadow. Looking around and nodding at her work, confident that the circle of cloaking would keep her safe, she resumed undressing and began the process of settling down for the night.


    She was completely unaware of the eyes which hastily turned away as she removed her shirt.

 Part 02: The Guide / Chapter 12: The Beast

    As the first rays of the new day began to warm her campsite, the sleeping girl stirred. Sitting up caused the jacket she was using as a blanket to fall down, exposing her bare shoulders and back to the morning chill. She stretched and faced the sun, letting its light warm her pale skin.


    Feeling rested she checked on the circle she drew the night before. The magic was still flowing, and would likely last another few hours, plenty of time to prepare for what would hopefully be the final leg of her journey. She reached into her pack and pulled out the one thing she dared not view by firelight, an old roll of parchment.


    Unrolling it carefully on the ground before her, she looked at the faded drawings. With a sentimental look in her eye, she lightly traced her finger over the route she had traveled thus far. She crossed mountains, travelled through deep woods, and eventually came to this lake. The distance she had left to travel to Anabathmis Village was nothing compared to how far she had come.


    She smiled as she carefully returned the map to her pack and began to prepare her meal. If she made good timing, she might even make it by nightfall. Worst case she would be there sometime the following day. She quickly ate, checked the magic circle one final time, and then grabbed her empty water skins and headed to the lake. Unencumbered by her gear, her slight figure moved gracefully towards the water. Her bare feet were nearly silent as she moved through the short grass and along the sandy shore.


    Shivering as she dipped her toes in the water, she pulled more of the sun¡¯s energy into her and boldly waded in until the water was waist high. She paused to fill her water skins for the journey ahead, before hanging them on a strap around her neck so they wouldn¡¯t be lost as she went deeper. Once she was far enough in, she took a deep breath and crouched down, completely submerging herself.


    Rising from the water, she shook out her hair and rinsed the dust from her body before slowly swimming back to the shore. Feeling refreshed and ready for the day she headed back towards her camp. As she drew nearer, her heart began to pound as she noticed a strange scent on the wind. Though she resisted the urge to run, knowing her options were limited in her current state, she couldn''t avoid quickening her pace. Having faced little danger during her journey so far, she was unsure whether she could handle whatever had approached even if she were fully prepared.


    As her campsite came into view it was clear that something had torn through her concealment circle. Based on the destruction left behind, it probably shattered the spell without even realizing it was there. The contents of her bag had been sent flying and her gear was scattered everywhere. She silently cursed that she had been so complacent, only hiding her campsite rather than properly warding it.


    There were no signs of the creature which caused the destruction, but there was a clear trail showing where it went. Relieved that she wouldn¡¯t have to fight, yet, she checked on her supplies. Fortunately her clothes for the day and jacket were intact. Her dagger was still present as well. Her pack, map included, was gone, leaving her with no choice but to pursue.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    She quickly dressed, pulling on her boots and jacket, and then followed the trail of destruction. Moving rapidly, dagger in hand, she hoped to find her pack before the map was lost or ruined. The brush tugged at her jacket and hair but she ignored it in her pursuit. As she blindly followed the trail, she began to hear noises ahead of her. As they grew louder it soon became clear that the beast had stopped its reckless charge. She could hear the mindless roaring of an animal as it crashed into its surroundings.


    She slowed as she approached the clearing where the noise was coming from. Approaching with caution she looked towards the commotion. A giant boar, easily larger than a horse, was lunging at the trees, goring them with its razor sharp tusks. Its fur looked like blackened metal, jagged and burnt. Rather than hooves, its front feet were clawed. As it raged around the clearing, she saw her tattered and torn bag was literally stuck to the monster. Apparently its fur was as sharp as its claws and tusks. She cursed quietly to herself, even at her full combat potential, it would likely overpower her. She simply couldn¡¯t do enough damage.


    Then she heard an unexpected sound, a loud twang followed by a bang and the roaring of the beast as it changed its target to another tree. Looking closer, she saw a figure going from tree to tree around the clearing. They paused, fired a crossbow, and then quickly moved to another perch. The beast continued to rage, but its movements gradually began to slow as the damage accumulated. The first few shots had all exploded when they hit, leaving scorch marks where they struck.


    Eventually the archer switched to a normal bow, aiming for where the animal was already injured. Some of the arrows simply bounced off the tough hide, while others found their mark and pierced its skin. Then the shots stopped completely and she lost track of where the mysterious hunter had gone. The boar continued to rage aimlessly and in the chaos it was pure chance that she noticed when the man dropped to the ground, a dagger ready. It looked as if he intended to kill the creature at close range.


    The man watched the boar, like a cat watching its prey, and charged when he saw an opening. He slashed at its shoulder where it was impaled with an arrow, slicing his blade down as he slid under the beast. In the time it took for the beast to snap at his strike, he was already on his feet and disappearing into the brush. A blackish ichor dripped from the wound and the creature stumbled. The man appeared once more, knocking it to the ground and striking the finishing blow. Even in its death throes it continued to fight, roaring and striking at the man one final time as its strength faded.


    Fearing for the worst the girl held her breath as she helplessly watched. She gasped as the claw brutally struck the man only to bounce off his finely crafted black scale armor in a shower of sparks. The blow was enough to force the man to stagger backwards, undoubtedly taking his breath away, but otherwise he appeared unharmed.


    Cautious of any further death throes the man waited for the animal to still. Though confident in his armor''s ability to protect him, there was little reason to take any extra risks now that the boar was defeated. Once it stopped moving he lightly kicked it a few times just to be sure, before pulling the ruined bag from its steely fur, and turning his attention to the girl.

 Part 02: The Guide / Chapter 13: Wilding X Sorceress

    Dover carefully looked over the girl hidden at the edge of the clearing. Determining that she was harmless, he tossed the remains of the bag towards her hiding place. ¡°Yours?¡± he questioned before returning his attention to the boar. He kneeled down next to it and began to meticulously remove the tusks and claws as the girl cautiously left the bushes to retrieve her bag.


    In a timid yet polite tone she answered ¡°Yes, good sir, thank you.¡±


    ¡°Sir? Hah!¡± He laughed as he continued his dirty work. ¡°There aren¡¯t any sirs here.¡±


    Puzzled by his reply she silently watched him work, her own curiosity peaked. ¡°What is your reason for removing the tusks?¡±


    ¡°Subjugation proof and supplies.¡±


    She was having difficulty understanding him, this was not how people talked in her books. His words were barely even full sentences. She considered her next words, but he spoke first.


    ¡°Yer a sorceress right? You wanna burn it or should I?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± She almost squeaked in surprise. ¡°I thought you said you killed it for supplies, are you not going to take the skin and meat?¡±


    He looked more closely at her, as if appraising her abilities. ¡°Hell no. The skin is worthless and the meat is poisonous.¡±


    Stunned by his answer she blurted out, ¡°then why did you kill it?¡± She¡¯d been warned that many of the people she would meet in the outside world were truly evil, doing anything in their power for the pursuit of gold. Was this individual so bloodthirsty that he would kill for something as simple as its tusks? Though he was certainly violent, she doubted that was the case. He had returned her ruined bag after all.


    The piercing inspection of his eyes faded to that of someone looking at a naive child. He began speaking more slowly and clearly as he answered. ¡°It¡¯s a Demon Boar. This creature claimed the woods as its territory and had been attacking everything that entered. After multiple caravans were forced to flee, the Merchants Association placed a bounty on it. They shut down all trade routes through these woods, and they won¡¯t reopen until they have proof it''s dead.¡±


    Not liking how he was looking at her, she gritted her teeth and swallowed her pride. She was well aware her questions betrayed her inexperience. Determined to put up with this hired hunter for now, she intended to distance herself from him as quickly as possible.


    As he began gathering wood to burn the boar, she turned her attention to the remains of her pack. Most of the contents were ruined, shredded by the beast¡¯s blade like fur. This included her precious map. She tried to line up the pieces, but it was clear portions had fallen out of the bag while the monster ran. Her heart sank as she realized she had no clue how to get to the village. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    Fortunately this man seemed to have a mercenary mindset and she was blessed with the ability to create coins. Waiting until she was out of the hunter''s line of sight she quickly formed several silver coins and placed them in her pouch. Cautiously approaching the man, she spoke, stumbling over her words as she remembered his earlier reaction to her polite speech. ¡°Sir.... Err... Hunter, my map has been ruined. Could I hire you to escort me to Anabathmis Village?¡± She reached into her pouch for the freshly minted coins and offered them to the man.


    Without pause, or more than a glance at her offered hand, he replied. ¡°No. Why would you go there?¡±


    Again, she was shocked into silence. The second law said that ¡®Gold is the Mortal¡¯s God¡¯, but he didn¡¯t show any interest in the money. Perhaps she hadn¡¯t offered enough. ¡°If this is an insufficient amount, I can certainly pay more on arrival.¡±


    ¡°No. And it''s stupid to tell a stranger you have more money.¡±


    She wondered if he was actually like her, perhaps from one of the minor clans. Being from the steel clan would certainly explain his fearlessness. She activated her ethersight to try and see if this was the case, but the unease she felt on looking at him quickly forced her to turn it off. Suppressing a shiver as his aura made her skin crawl, she attempted to nonchalantly study his appearance. Though his armor was pristine, his body was not. Covered in scratches and cuts, he certainly did not have enhanced or magical healing. Stumped, she simply asked "Why not?"


    Incredulous, he immediately replied. ¡°Do you live in a cave? Everyone knows that village has been gone for years. If you really want to see it, sure, I¡¯ll take you, it''s on my way anyway.¡±


    Seeing as how he accepted, sort of, she offered him the coins once more.


    ¡°Keep ¡®em.¡± He waved her hand off before pointing towards her bag. ¡°Looks like you need them more than I.¡±


    She slipped the coins back into her pouch, unsure what to do. ¡°At least let me take care of the boar for you in thanks then.¡±


    ¡°By all means m¡¯lady!¡± He gestured with his arm at the body while he backed away. He sighed and shook his head on realizing the sarcasm of his response was completely lost on her.


    She looked to the sky, sensed the energy in the air, and directed it at the makeshift pyre. A large stream of fire flew from her hands and wrapped around the body like a snake, quickly igniting the wood. The man watched for a moment, impressed and wondering if she might not be totally helpless after all, before adding some of his flash powder to the flames to raise the heat.


    ¡°Not bad.¡± was all he said.


    The two of them sat on a nearby log and watched the fire burn for a while. Eventually the man turned to her and broke the silence. Holding out his hand, he simply said ¡°Dover.¡±


    ¡°Dover?¡± She was momentarily puzzled and mentally ran through the various books she read. ¡°It is a pleasure to meet you, my Guide, I am called Cynder.¡± She then gingerly took his hand, it was covered in dust and gore after all, and shook.


    ¡°What¡¯s your story?¡±


    ¡°My story?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. A Sorceress, who''s barely more than a girl, traveling alone to an abandoned village is not something you see everyday... Or, ever, really.¡±


    She wasn¡¯t sure how to answer. The third law was to never trust an outsider, the wrong thing could get her killed. Dover saw her struggling for an answer and spoke again. ¡°Forget it. Not my business. The fire¡¯s dying down, let''s see what we can salvage from your camp.¡±

 Part 02: The Guide / Chapter 14: Inner Thoughts

    Dover


    As the two of them walked towards Cynder¡¯s camp in silence, Dover took the opportunity to properly size up the sorceress. While he had seen a little more than he expected the previous night, this was his first chance to see her up close.


    Due to her slight build, from a distance she could easily pass for someone in her teens, but up close her maturity was more obvious. She had likely seen at least two decades, but she acted both older and younger than that. She was hopelessly naive about the world, but highly educated with magic. She was able to wordlessly start a fire, something which Dover would require a short chant and a magical catalyst to do himself. There was also the strange circle she made around her camp. He had assumed the boar would avoid the obstacles, but instead it blindly crashed through it. Part of the reason it was in such a rage was its confusion at getting tangled in her supplies. Presumably the circle was a deterrent of some sort, but it obviously failed to protect her campsite or to hinder his own observation of it.


    She was intelligently dressed for traveling through the wilderness, wearing study earthen colored clothes. If needed she could easily hide from danger or even travel off the established trails. It was a little odd that she wore a jacket as opposed to the more common cloaks travelers utilized, but as a spellcaster agility and freedom of movement were less important. It was also possible she chose this outfit because the bulkier fabric helped conceal her gender, something which is very important for a young woman traveling alone. On the flip side, the fine quality could lead bandits to assume she was a noble or a merchant, making her a more desirable target.


    For all he knew, she might be. Her inexperience could easily be that of a noble¡¯s child trying to experience the world.


    They finally arrived back at her camp. It seemed as if she had left immediately in pursuit of her supplies. After a quick glance around Dover spoke, ¡°Gather up whatever ya can salvage while I get this gore off me. We¡¯ll eat and head to the ruins after that. We should be there by nightfall.¡±


    Cynder nodded and Dover tossed his small pack down near the edge of her camp before heading towards the lake. He was fairly confident it wouldn''t even occur to her to snoop, but hoped she would surprise him. Otherwise he couldn¡¯t leave her to her own devices in good conscience. If he did, he might as well have killed her with his own hands. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    He found himself smiling at the thought of watching over her. Before being hired to train the woman at Driks¡¯ he never would have considered the future well being of a stranger. Living in civilization can really leave a mark after all. Then again, he had never before encountered someone he would describe as a helpless puppy either. He just hoped he wouldn¡¯t regret it.


    <hr>


    Cynder


    Back at the camp, Cynder¡¯s mind was in turmoil. Dover made no sense! Was he human? Was he some sort of mystical creature? Having spent the morning with him, she was at least fairly confident he wasn¡¯t a dragon, the scales used in his armor had a different aura then he did. Looking at that armor, and considering his fight against the boar, made her shiver. He probably hadn¡¯t killed a dragon... Probably. He obviously won though, otherwise he wouldn¡¯t have gotten that much scale. The only way to find that much was to take it by force or explore a dragon¡¯s lair.


    She ran through all the fantastical beasts she could recall from her reading. Though he acted like an animal, he clearly looked like a human. Most creatures capable of shapeshifting like that had heighted healing though, which he clearly didn¡¯t. He was covered in scrapes and scratches after his fight.


    Glancing towards the lake to make sure he was out of sight, she concentrated briefly, her hand morphing into a claw covered with fine red scales. Flexing her fingers she considered their sharpness. Dover¡¯s dagger had oozed magical power, it could probably block her strike. The armor would certainly deflect it unless she got a solid hit.


    Returning her hand to its human form, she considered her own dagger. It was made from one of her own claws, so it could cut virtually anything. Based on how he moved, it would be useless unless she attacked while he slept. Then again, not knowing what he was, he might not even need to sleep. She returned it to its sheathe on her belt and sighed. As far as she could tell, she was defenseless against this man. She was also surprised that she didn¡¯t really care.


    She smirked when she realized the laws which had been drilled into her memory may all be wrong, all except the last one. ¡®Nothing in this realm is absolute, always expect to be surprised.¡¯

 Part 02: The Guide / Chapter 15: The Road to Anabathmis Village

    They left shortly after Dover returned to the camp. Cynder had collected what was salvageable, properly erased the magic circle, and was ready to leave. She didn¡¯t anticipate sleeping much during the night, so she planned to repair her tattered supplies then.


    Rather than follow a path, Dover simply started walking in a straight line through the woods. ¡°Follow me. Let me know if ya can¡¯t keep up.¡± He moved fast, less than a run, but certainly faster than a walk. It seemed like he melted around the various trees and obstacles, and when Cynder glanced behind them she couldn¡¯t see any signs of Dover''s passing. All that she saw was her own clumsy path.


    Despite her high endurance, her small size made this a hard pace to maintain. She did her best, but eventually she called for him to slow down. He stopped, turned around, and just barely stopped himself from laughing. Her hair was a tangled mess of twigs and leaves, and it was obvious she was struggling to keep up. As soon as his initial amusement at her appearance passed, he bent his head in apology ¡°Sorry. Not used to having company.¡±


    While catching her breath Cynder haltingly replied. ¡°It is... Fine... I just need... a moment...¡±


    ¡°We can take it slow, camp in a clearing tonight, or we could travel past dark.¡± He paused and looked over her frazzled appearance once more before continuing. ¡°Or I could just carry ya the final leg... Yer choice.¡± Dover smirked and Cynder wasn¡¯t sure if his last offer was genuine or a joke. Depending on how fast and far they traveled, it might be tempting.


    ¡°I do not need much rest. Provided there aren''t any substantial risks with traveling after dark, then continuing past sunset would be fine.¡±


    After resting, having a snack, and some water, they continued on. Dover still led them in a straight line, but he traveled much slower, matching her natural walking pace. He even used the axe he carried to clear away some of the branches and brush. Watching him Cynder saw genuine regret at carving out a path, and he appeared to be doing the least amount of damage possible. The path he left behind could easily be mistaken for an animal trail.


    The trip passed mostly in silence. They stopped a few more times to rest, and Dover occasionally gave instructions when the trail was particularly tricky. He was clearly doing his best to accommodate her, and eventually her wariness of traveling with this strange mortal completely faded. While it was still possible he was taking her to a trap, it didn¡¯t seem likely. Besides, if he tried anything she still had her trump card and was confident it would at least buy her time to escape. Relaxing, she even started to enjoy the journey. It was the first time in months of traveling that she could simply look at the world around her and see nature¡¯s beauty. She began to understand why her guide left the least impact possible. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    When night fell, they stopped for a cold dinner. Since they weren¡¯t in a good place for a fire, Dover offered her jerky and various fruits from his own supplies.


    ¡°If yer still good to go, we¡¯ll be there in a couple hours.¡±


    ¡°I can continue traveling, I see fairly well in the dark...¡± Cynder trailed off, she hadn¡¯t meant to give that away. What if he realized her secrets? What then?


    ¡°One of yer magic tricks eh? Care to see which of us has better night vision?¡± he asked surprisingly playfully.


    ¡°No!¡± She blurted out before collecting her thoughts. ¡°I would surely fall in a ravine or find myself hopelessly lost then.¡±


    He simply nodded and took out a magical rune from his pouch. Cynder immediately recognized it as a low grade light spell. He mumbled a small chant, tapped his axe and soon had a fireless torch to guide them. Watching this a thought struck Cynder and she mentally yelled at herself. Most people required chants to perform magic, and she had burnt the boar earlier effortlessly. She also recalled that he had called her a sorceress when they first met, but how did he know? Then she remembered he had likely followed the boar¡¯s trail through her camp, and once broken the circle was completely obvious.


    Though their pace was slower in the dark, they still covered a significant distance. Eventually they began to pass new growth trees which were likely growing where fields had been before. There were ruined rock walls scattered about, marking the borders of this long abandoned farmland. Continuing on they began to see the ruins of houses. The plants and weather were slowly reclaiming the buildings, the ones closest to the edge of the village being in the worst shape while some in the center still appeared fairly sound.


    Dover took her to one of the more sturdy houses, it had most of its roof and all four walls. ¡±Welcome home,¡± he said with a chuckle.


    Cynder looked it over and could see it was actually maintained. Very slightly maintained, but enough that it was unlikely to collapse anytime soon. ¡°Do you live here? In this abandoned village?¡± She asked, completely surprised.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say live.¡± He said with a shrug.  ¡°It''s a good place to camp when in the area, or during the winter months¡±


    ¡°Wow. You really were serious when you said you were not much for society. I am surprised you would even guide me this far.¡±


    Dover shrugged once more. ¡°Yer quiet. And I¡¯d feel guilty if something bad happened to you.¡± With that he opened the door and headed inside. He removed some items which had been hidden in the fireplace and then lit a small fire for warmth. ¡°I¡¯d like to stay a few days and resupply, if that¡¯s ok with you, after that I¡¯ll take you to whatever village you want.¡±


    Cynder agreed and shortly after they both called it a night.

 Part 02: The Guide / Chapter 16: Civilization

    The two of them spent several days in the ruined village. While Dover restocked his bolts and tended to his equipment, he told Cynder a little of the village''s history. The people of Anabathmis Village largely kept to themselves. They had their own farmland around the village and led fairly simple lives. They very rarely welcomed any strangers, and had no inns or taverns. In fact, as they were several miles from the nearest trade route, few even tried to visit. They maintained a small outpost next the road, and that¡¯s where virtually all their interaction with the outside world occurred. The outpost is still there, though it''s now controlled by one of the local Lords.


    Dover was one of the few outsiders who¡¯d been accepted, and that was solely because he just appeared there at the right time. The villagers had been struggling to harvest one of their fields due to a sickness running rampant in their settlement. Apparently some of the local wildlife had gone mad and their infections spread to those they attacked.


    Dover spent several days helping with the harvest, eating with the workers, and even sleeping with them in the fields. It wasn¡¯t until a beast attacked and he drove it off that anyone realized he wasn¡¯t supposed to be there. Of course, once they realized he didn¡¯t belong, they brought him to the village and locked him up.


    His prison was an uninhabited house, so escaping was trivial. As he was leaving though, he got distracted by the sick and gave them some simple medicine before heading on his way. The next time he was in the area, this time using the proper trade roads, they politely requested his presence and declared him an honorary villager.


    He¡¯d swing by every few years and help out a bit, with the harvest or various illnesses that he knew how to treat. Though it has long since decayed, they even built a small shack for him near the fields. Knowing he wasn''t much for socializing, it was their way of ensuring he knew he was always welcome.


    Then one year he found the town abandoned, no signs of what had happened. Nature had already started to encroach by the time he got there, so there were no clues either, not even a message carved into a tree. Seeking answers he headed to the trading post and found it poorly staffed by strangers. Travelers had found it empty and people started using it as a camp. Over time it grew into a small, independent village.


    What happened was a mystery which would likely never be solved.


    Once Dover finished resupplying, and Cynder finished what repairs she could on her own gear, they headed towards the trading post. Again, Dover simply walked in a straight line, slow enough for Cynder to follow, but not doing anything to mark the path. He wanted to let the memory of the village rest in peace. It¡¯s what the villagers would have wanted.


    These days the trading post is fairly lively. Rather than simply appearing inside the settlement, Dover led Cynder along a roundabout route, bringing them to the well maintained trade road. Pausing to neaten their appearances, they approached the trading post like traditional travelers.


    Due to its remoteness, the location had a spiked wall around it. Each shoulder high spike was a single piece of wood driven into the ground. Though tightly packed, and carefully bound together, the fence wouldn¡¯t deter a serious attack. It was built more to keep the animals and monsters away. Bright green banners flew at each corner of the settlement with the symbol of the Lord of Cedar Creek. The only entrance into the outpost was a simple wooden gate which was flanked by two guards in steel armor with the Lord¡¯s crest on the chest.


    There was a small shack just outside the entrance for a single clerk to record the comings and goings of the village, though he didn¡¯t ask more than their name and purpose. Past the fence there was an open air market with various merchants shilling their goods, a fairly large tavern and inn, as well as a handful of houses for the permanent residents. With the exception of the tavern, everything was made of wood. The tavern had stone walls and was one of the few buildings that had been around before Anabathmis disappeared.


    Once they were standing before the tavern, Dover turned to Cynder and simply said ¡°We¡¯re here.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for escorting me Sir Guide, I know you declined payment, but will you allow me to pay for your room and meal tonight at least?¡± Having found civilization, Cynder quickly returned to her more formal mode of speech.


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    Dover shrugged, grunting a half-hearted  ¡°If ya insist m¡¯lady.¡± He still wasn¡¯t entirely sure he should leave her alone. They headed towards the tavern door and in an uncharacteristically polite gesture, Dover held it open for her, allowing her to enter first. Watching her enter, he carefully looked past her and studied the tavern''s interior. There were a handful of merchants at the tables, several groups of adventurers, and a couple barmaids running about. It was a fairly standard tavern, though it was interesting that there were no signs of the Lord¡¯s guards. Either the village was poorly guarded or they simply didn¡¯t associate with the adventurers.


    Cynder approached the counter where the innkeeper waited. ¡°Good Sir, we are travelers seeking rooms for the night.¡±


    Dover groaned internally, she really had no common sense. The owner was a robust individual, someone who had clearly worked his way up from the bottom to purchase this inn. Simply looking at his scarred hands made it clear he was someone used to working, and fighting, for what he wanted. While he likely wasn¡¯t evil, he certainly wasn¡¯t running the inn out of the kindness of his heart.


    With a broad, predatory, smile he welcomed her. ¡°Welcome m¡¯lady. We just so happen to have one room left. It¡¯ll be one gold per night, plus...¡±


    ¡°Cut the crap Graco.¡± Dover bellowed from the entrance, his voice loud enough to stop the conversations in the room. He let the door slam behind him after entering. ¡°I¡¯m her Guide.¡±


    With everyone¡¯s attention on the loud mouthed individual who entered, some of the greener adventurers tensed and readied their weapons. They looked towards the innkeeper to see how he¡¯d react.


    He visibly swallowed, probably remembering the last time Dover came by. The damage had been extensive. He cleared his throat, his eyes changing from those of a predator to prey, ¡°my apologies, I misspoke. That will be two silver, plus another for your meals.¡±


    Cynder looked back and forth between the innkeeper and Dover, and then carefully placed three silver coins on the counter. The innkeeper''s eyes widened when he saw the coins. Anyone who dealt with money knew that Dragon Coins were worth more than typical silver pieces. His eyes flicked towards Dover, as if seeking permission, and was relieved to see that Dover had already turned his attention elsewhere.


    ¡°Here¡¯s yer key. I¡¯ll send up some water and wine to help you settle in.¡± The unexpected generosity caught Dover¡¯s ear and he turned his attention back to the counter. Cursing inwardly he remembered how ignorant of money Cynder was. He''d likely have to lecture her about money again, as well as inspect any food which was sent up. He also realized he had inadvertently agreed to share a room with her, even in the abandoned village he¡¯d given her a room of her own.


    As they headed past the innkeeper towards the stairs, Dover hissed a final warning ¡°I expect we¡¯ll have a quiet stay Graco.¡± Then the pair disappeared up the stairs leaving the now mildly sweating man behind them.


    The rooms upstairs were fairly simple and small. They had two beds, a window, and nothing else. There was a nearby outhouse, and a bucket for any nighttime needs. When they got upstairs, Dover dropped his pack on the floor by the far bed while Cynder looked around the room. After she carefully placed her bag on the bed, he spoke with a sigh. ¡°Show me yer coins.¡±


    Startled by his demand, she did. She was surprised by how readily she followed his instructions, just now realizing how quickly she had come to trust him. Unsure what to expect, she looked at him intently. There was no greed in his eyes, instead she saw a mix between caution and curiosity. Taking one coin from her hand, he held it toward the light entering from the window and looked at it closely. The coin was similar to those issued by Driks. The star was the same, but the symbols on the winged side were completely different. He then bit it, hard, and inspected it again.


    Apparently satisfied he flipped it back towards her, with it landing on her bed. ¡°I won¡¯t ask where ya got those, it doesn¡¯t matter, but ya should at least know their worth.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Cynder was puzzled. She had noticed the innkeeper was happy to receive the coins, but she¡¯d given him what he asked for, and Dover hadn¡¯t objected to the price so it was presumably reasonable.


    ¡°I¡¯m not gonna teach ya about money. I don¡¯t waste my time with it. Still, I¡¯m gonna give ya advice. Dragon Coins are rare. Silver coins like those, treat ''em like gold. And know that people will kill for ¡®em. A couple copper dragon coins, if ya got ¡®em, would have covered our needs. Careful who ya show those too, and as soon as ya get to a real town trade ¡®em at one of the guilds.¡±


    It made a lot of sense to Cynder, and explained some of why her siblings had returned in such poor condition. She also realized something, there was a lot more that she didn¡¯t know then she thought. ¡°My Guide,¡± she began, ¡°would you continue to accompany me at least as far as a city in which I could exchange my coins?¡±


    Dover grunted his assent saying ¡°not like I have a choice...¡±

 Part 03: The Conference / Chapter 17: Seasons Pass

    Though the seasons passed, and they visited many villages, Dover and Cynder continued to travel together. Cynder¡¯s polite innocence nicely balanced Dover¡¯s brash experience and many taverns found themselves to be thankful for it. They tended to camp out more often than not as neither of them felt particularly comfortable staying in town. Dover never hesitated to speak his mind, and his attitude frequently caused conflicts wherever he went. As for Cynder, the time she spent in civilization further proved that Dover¡¯s personality was indeed an exception to that of most mortals. In fact he was as much a stranger to society as she was. Still, he knew how to interact with people, even if it frequently resulted in violence. If she ever saw her family again, she¡¯d be sure to tell them of the fifth law she learned by traveling with him; ¡°For mortals, violence and fear are more powerful than gold.¡±


    The duo were currently camping at one of Dover¡¯s many caches in the wilderness. It seemed like he had his own little base near every town they¡¯d come to, probably an act of necessity considering the number of places which refused them board unless Cynder paid a significant premium. This time, even money wasn¡¯t enough to get them a room. Recently travel has been much more dangerous, with entire caravans vanishing. This meant that merchants and travelers were staying in town until they could assemble a strong group of adventurers as escorts. Not only that, but minor villages had been reporting monster attacks, so people were fleeing to the larger towns.


    The bright side was that work for two adventurers was plentiful. Anytime they wanted to travel from one place to another they easily found someone willing to pay for protection. Ever since the news of the attacks began, they had been working virtually nonstop. They were currently planning on traveling with the next major caravan leaving at week¡¯s end, but before that they decided to take some time to relax and resupply.


    Traveling together it was readily apparent to Cynder why Dover was such a fierce fighter. Every spare moment he had was preparing for his next fight, constantly gathering supplies or crafting equipment. Even now, while Cynder rested at camp, he was out foraging. This dedication was largely because his magical aptitude was startlingly low, he had to compensate with knowledge and various tricks when facing most monsters. On the flip side, from what she could tell, her magic had little effect on him and he was clever enough to see through most other magic they encountered. Add to that his inherent fearlessness and he was truly a force to be reckoned with.


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    Cynder still hadn¡¯t shown him all she was capable of, though she had long abandoned concealing her talent with fire. In fact they had devised a way to better fight together. While Dover could utilize his spelled dagger for much, it was always risky fighting at dagger¡¯s length. He also could only carry so much weight without hindering his mobility. Cynder, on the other hand, could throw fireballs at will and could stay more or less still as long as nothing attacked her directly. To further toughen her up, Dover had crafted her a new set of armor. She now wore a traditional fitted leather armor jerkin. It was heavier than her old jacket, and didn¡¯t really protect her arms, but with the aid of her magic it could stop most ranged attacks. She also had a fairly light cloak to protect her from the elements and branches as she traveled through the woods.


    Finally, Cynder now wore a sword on her back in an intricately etched sheath. It was about five hands long and looked absurdly large compared to her size. The etching was a spell of her own design, painted with a mixture of their blood and the flash powder Dover seemed to favor. When either of them drew the sword with the intent to fight, the blade would instantly ignite with the deep blue flame of magefire. Being magefire it drew its power from their innate energy and even if pressed against their bare skin wouldn¡¯t harm them. If anyone else tried to touch it though, they would instantly regret it. This very clearly marked them as a team and drastically increased Dover''s flexibility the few times he was caught off guard or fighting an unexpectedly strong creature. It also served as a ready made light source and excellent tool for shutting people up.


    Towards evening, having accomplished what he¡¯d planned for the day, Dover finally returned to camp. Despite staying fairly close, since they were both well aware of the increased danger lately, he still managed a sizable haul of game and supplies. Given that he would be busy well into the night processing the deer he hunted, Cynder felt it would be a good opportunity to raise a topic which has been weighing on her mind.


    ¡°My Guide, we have been traveling together for some time, would it be acceptable for me to ask about your armor? From what I have seen thus far during our journey Dragonscale is truly a rarity...¡±


    Her voice trailed off as the wind suddenly picked up, carrying a familiar scent and drowning out her words. As if uttering the word "Dragon" had summoned it, the sound of powerful wings soon reached her ears as well. Looking towards the sky, the sun was blocked by a large shadow rapidly approaching.

 Part 03: The Conference / Chapter 18: Reunion

    The shadow quickly approached, and soon a large black dragon became visible through the forest canopy. Cynder nervously rose to her feet, this dragon was ancient, possibly even older than her clan¡¯s Matriarch. This dragon also brought with it a very familiar scent, one which she had become largely accustomed to during her recent travels. It smelled like Dover¡¯s armor. Her entire body was tense, and she could just barely resist morphing her hands into claws. She looked towards Dover for a hint at what to do and was shocked to see that he hadn¡¯t even bothered to get to his feet.


    She briefly wondered if perhaps fear had immobilized him. She felt terror sinking into her very bones as the dragon drew closer, the presence was certainly fearsome enough to shake even the most hardy adventurer. To her amazement she quickly realized that Dover hadn¡¯t even paused his work on the deer he was skinning. As she watched the rhythmic, even soothing motion of his knife, she felt the terror begin to leave her as well, as if a spell was beginning to dissipate.


    The dragon flew towards them and plummeted into the clearing like a hawk chasing prey. Dover acted oblivious until the last possible moment, when he  quickly reached into the fire and tossed a fistful of burning ashes into the Dragon¡¯s face. With a roar it reeled back and in a flash a naked man landed on the ground, rubbing his eyes.


    ¡°Driks, what the hell do ya want this time?¡± Dover demanded, annoyed. He tossed a nearby blanket at the familiar man. ¡°And put some blasted pants on! There¡¯s a lady here!¡±


    Wrapping the blanket around his waist, you could practically see his eyes light up at the word lady. Dover momentarily forgotten, he quickly approached Cynder, ¡°Why hello there my lovely. I would welcome the chance to become better acquainted with you.¡±


    Without thinking Cynder morphed a hand into a claw and slapped him as hard across the face as her small form was capable of. Though her fingers cut deeply into his skin, the wounds rapidly healed before her eyes.


    Bowing in apology, Driks said ¡°A simple No would have sufficed. That¡¯s quite an impressive strike by the way.¡± Then, smiling, he turned his attention back to Dover.


    Cynder was a mix of horrified and baffled at what she¡¯d done. She¡¯d never lost control like that before. It was especially shocking when you consider that he outsclassed her in every sense. At least she now knew where Dover¡¯s armor had come from, and that he was certainly familiar with dragons. She realized she could probably fully confide in him without anything changing. It was quite apparent that he treated Driks the same way he treated everyone else.


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    ¡°We¡¯re busy! Go away!¡± Dover waved Driks off.


    ¡°Won''t you at least invite an old friend such as myself to dinner? The amount of venison you have is far greater than the two of you can consume alone.¡±


    Not only had Cynder''s fear rapidly faded, but her respect for this dragon had as well. While he was indeed old, and undoubtedly powerful, he was making a mockery of the dragon laws and acting fairly childlike. It was as if he was simply acting on whatever impulses came to mind, as if he were completely relaxed in this meeting. After a moment she realized he probably was, that was how she felt in Dover¡¯s company.


    ¡°No. We need it. None for you. Scram!¡±


    Though he was acting fairly grumpy, Cynder realized Dover was actually having a bit of fun too. The two of them bantered back and forth for a bit, and Dover subtly began preparing an extra serving of meat. Eventually, when it became obvious that Dover was indeed going to share, Driks got back on topic.


    ¡°I have an important meeting coming up, and I need an entourage. Unfortunately, if it''s just my girls, my presence won¡¯t be taken seriously.¡± Smiling and winking at Cynder as he continued, ¡°I was hoping you, and your lady friend as well, could accompany me.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± There was no joking in this reply, Dover was dead serious. While he apparently didn¡¯t mind sharing a meal with Driks, he clearly didn¡¯t want anything more than a short visit.


    Still a bit nervous, Cynder approached Dover¡¯s side. Laying a hand on his arm she quietly said ¡°My Guide, we should at least listen to what our visitor, however foolish he may seem, has to say.¡±


    Sighing, Dover turned to her and said. ¡°Fine.¡± Turning back towards Driks, ¡°it''s yer lucky day, I¡¯ll at least hear ya out.¡±


    Smiling at them, a bit longer than was needed at Cynder specifically, he began. ¡°It''s about the recent monster attacks. The church and the Lords are finally taking them seriously.¡± Turning his full attention to Dover, his usual flirty playfulness gone, ¡°something truly strange is going on. The other nobles suspect a dragon problem. I can guarantee it will be a memorable and important meeting.¡± Then, as suddenly as it left, his flirtatiousness returned, ¡°Not only that, but the safety of my harem depends on it!¡±


    Dover looked towards Cynder to gauge her opinion. Though she had clearly taken a dislike to Driks, the meeting itself had caught her attention. She gave him a slight nod.


    With an excessively loud sigh, Dover replied. ¡°Fine... I¡¯ll take the payment out of yer hide... We¡¯ll leave at first light, just tell us where to go.¡±


    Cynder was pretty sure Dover wasn¡¯t serious about payment, but couldn''t deny the brief glint of fear she saw in Driks'' eyes.

 Part 03: The Conference / Chapter 19: The d鈥橭xzen Delegation

    Driks¡¯ showy entrance wasn¡¯t entirely irrational, time was of the essence and flight was the quickest way to reach Dover. As it stood, they already were forced to meet up en route. Fortunately Castle Oxzen, Driks¡¯ lair, was fairly close to the conference location. This meant he didn''t need a large caravan to travel there, and could be more discreet in his arrival. A simple carriage and mounted escorts was more than sufficient for the distance they had to journey. This also meant no one who was watching would notice the addition of another horse or two to Driks'' delegation.


    He gave Dover enough money to purchase two of the trading post¡¯s finest horses and detailed instructions of where and when to meet. He was mostly confident the duo would be presentable when they arrived. From what he had seen so far, Cynder seemed to be a good balance for Dover. Without her, Dover would be just as likely to capture a bear, or worse, and use it as a mount. Then again, she did have a fiery temper as well, he thought as he rubbed his still sensitive cheek. Shrugging he figured it would all work out and dismissed his concerns, choosing to focus on more pleasant topics.


    The wagon he traveled in was on the smaller side, though no less luxurious than larger models. Its carefully crafted suspension promised a smooth ride, and it had room for four to sit comfortably inside. The benches were thickly padded and the windows were magically tinted so the passengers could see outside while preventing curious looks from outside. The stallion pulling the carriage was a powerful creature who would greatly have preferred to be ridden, but was chosen because he projected a more majestic air. He was guided by the villa¡¯s stable master, a girl he had saved from a village that specialized in horses. She had joined his staff after realizing that women were actually valued less than horses in her home village. Working for Driks was the only way she would be treated with the proper respect.


    Fawn accompanied Driks inside the carriage. While she would normally love the chance to spend some quality time traveling with him, she understood how important this meeting was and was completely focused on her executor responsibilities. She was dressed more severely than normal and had piles of paperwork and supplies on the bench next to her.


    For a typical gathering he would have taken his current favorite guest with him, but Fawn had completely rejected the request. She had a vague idea of what to expect from this meeting, and while it would normally be perfectly acceptable, even expected, for a noble to bring a guest along, this conference was likely to get out of hand. The new girl was still adjusting to the knowledge of dragons and Fawn feared this conference would be overwhelming to say the least.


    As Driks didn''t employ any men, it was unfortunately impossible for him to bring a traditional butler or assistant along. Since noble society generally viewed women as luxury goods, Fawn was relieved that Dover would be joining. Despite, or perhaps due to, his rough personality his presence would ensure the others treat Driks with the proper respect.


    Driks¡¯ current escort consisted of three members from what he affectionately called the Goddess Squad. Though as a dragon he had little need for guards, as a noble of the land certain things were expected. That''s why despite most of his home being deep underground, his public villa was heavily fortified. For appearances he''d gone with the traditional castle look - moat, large walls, the usual. He had also bound demons to mannequins and statues for day to day defense. Still, in the event one of his guests wanted to learn the sword, he encouraged them. There was no reason a woman couldn¡¯t be as formidable as a man, it was just human stupidity that they weren¡¯t accepted.


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    Due to his flirtatious nature he had originally wanted his guard uniforms to emphasize their femininity. He had even outlined his request to Dover during his tenure training his girls. Though Dover confirmed his request was possible, he bluntly rejected it. He refused to teach Driks'' armorer to make "Attractive death armor". Despite pushing back initially, Driks quickly abandoned the idea when Dover explained how form-fitting female armor actually steered weapon strikes into kill locations.


    Dover instead delivered a practical prototype which was instead made attractive through etching, dyes, and using the smallest pieces of leather which were practical. Sophia, the head of his guard, wore that now. From a distance she looked like a normal soldier, but up close it looked quite stunning. Any armorer could recognize its sturdy construction, yet it could pass for the clothing of a noble as well. The other two women had simpler armor as the first was literally painfully expensive. Each suit was still masterfully crafted. Driks looked forward to when his own leatherworker was as skilled as Dover and briefly considered hiring him for additional training before shuddering at the cost and dismissing the idea.


    Knowing that Dover would be providing ranged attack power, the guards were equipped for close combat. They had finely crafted longswords at their hips and heater shields on their backs. The shields were emblazoned with Driks coat of arms, the symbol a deep black against a light green background with a dark green border. Having watched their training for years, and seen the hell Dover put them through, he was confident they would have the fortitude this meeting would demand. He just hoped they wouldn¡¯t have to raise their swords against any fellow humans yet.


    The trip went smoothly as these roads were highly secure and any potential bandits would likely have gone after more ostentatious or slower targets. When they were a day''s travel from the destination, Dover and Cynder arrived promptly on time. They had just finished setting up camp when the sound of hoofbeats could be heard. The horse which entered their view was large enough that Driks briefly worried Dover had done what he¡¯d feared and captured some monster, but as it came closer it became apparent it was simply a large warhorse. Dover and Cynder were both riding it, with Dover handling the reins and Cynder doing her best not to fall off. The two of them rode into the camp and Dover effortlessly dismounted before assisting Cynder down.


    ¡°We¡¯re here. What¡¯s for dinner?¡± Dover demanded.


    Seeing the looks they received, a mix of anger from Fawn and amusement from Sophia, Cynder felt the need to speak up. ¡°We had a very long ride, made more difficult by it being my first time on horseback, so please forgive My Guide¡¯s brusk greeting.¡± Focusing her attention on Fawn, she figured it would be an appropriate time for some flattery as well. ¡°My Guide has told me about the masterful job you do keeping your Lord under control, I would be most eager to receive any advice you could share.¡±


    Cynder had said exactly the right words. She recognized the look she saw in Fawn¡¯s eyes, she¡¯d seen it on her own face often enough. Though they seemed to be constantly at odds, it was no wonder Driks and Dover got along so well. Though each had different motivations, they were surprisingly similar in how they approached life.


    Since Dover had already met, and in some cases trained, everybody present, the only introductions necessary were Cynder. After that, they settled down for the night and prepared for what promised to be a memorable gathering.

 Part 03: The Conference / Chapter 20: The Lords Gather

    The conference was being held in the walled city of Arcanium Terra. As one of the largest and safest locations in the Empire, it was a logical location to host such an important gathering. Centrally located within the Empire, the city was situated at the intersection of two major trade roads. These roads were heavily patrolled and the city itself was fortified enough to be safe from virtually all threats. Not only did Arcanium Terra function as a busy trading hub, it was also a center for research and learning. It was home to the largest and oldest library on the continent. Lastly, but certainly not least, a local embassy of The Sentinel Church was also found within the city.


    All this was possible because of Lord d''Teryx, the ruler of the city. His noble household has long maintained one of the largest standing armies in the Empire and his soldiers routinely patrolled both the trade routes and surrounding lands. He protected miles of farmland and promptly eradicated any beasts or bandits discovered in his territory. In fact, the d''Teryx forces were large enough the Lord could easily have declared his territory''s independence, but instead the family has been a long supporter of a unified Empire.


    The general safety of the city and surrounded roads meant the meeting could be held with minimal delay. Traveling to other locations would require the attending lords to mobilize significant amounts of troops as guards while traveling. Not only does this take time, but there was no guarantee they would arrive without casualties. Traveling to Arcanium Terra was secure enough that even a minimal entourage would ensure each visiting Lord''s timely arrival. This was of the utmost importance as all the High Lords of the land were required to attend in person. The remaining Lords in the region were encouraged to attend if possible. Those who couldn¡¯t, either due to distance or responsibility, were compelled to at least dispatch a representative.


    The nobility of the Empire consisted of thirty three Lords; five High Lords, seven Upper Lords and twenty one Lower Lords. Through their influence the High Lords were the true power in the Empire, with the remaining Lords being little more than vassals managing independent regions. Driks, whose territory was at the edge of civilized lands, was the only High Lord who didn¡¯t have any vassals. Most of the others had at least two if not more. The High Lords, each of whom had pledged their loyalty to a united Empired, governed through a council. In order to interact with other nations the council appointed an official representative known as the Overlord. Despite the powerful sounding name, this individual was strictly a figurehead serving the role of a diplomat. Ultimately, all decisions and internal matters were handled by the High Lords.


    Able to travel more quickly than most, Driks'' party arrived fairly early at the city gates. Capitalizing on the fact they were traveling incognito, Driks and Dover hoped to delay heading to the conference as long as possible. They both preferred the idea of hitting the taverns, Driks for the women and Dover for the ale, over attending the conference. Unfortunately for them, Fawn wouldn''t stand for it and insisted that they head directly to the assembly hall. She stressed the fact that as a visiting Lord it was important to follow the appropriate protocols. Begrudgingly Driks agreed and they properly registered at the gate.


    After filling out the required paperwork, a messenger was dispatched to report their arrival. Following a short wait, the man returned with their official city escort, completely ruining Driks'' dreams of sneaking off. As they were led to the assembly hall, Driks muttered to himself, "That damn dinosaur, bet his color''s green from envy... Escorting me like a child! Whenever I visit he never lets me do anything fun..." Though Dover couldn¡¯t help but smirk, the rest of his companions did their best to ignore Driks¡¯ grumbling as they traveled along the finely paved streets to the hall.


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    On arriving at their destination, Cynder immediately realized calling it a hall was an understatement. The building was easily the size of a fighting arena. The walls towered above them, the stonework only interrupted by an imposing gate facing them. Once inside there was a fairly expansive tavern-like area. Doors on either end of the room presumably led to passages around the perimeter. There was only one other obvious exit from the room, and that led to a hallway heading further into the building. The hallway had numerous doors, but they traveled too quickly to get a good idea of what was behind them. Eventually they arrived at the central chamber.


    The space was cavernous, with hastily assembled shacks circling the room. Though they were clearly temporary, they were sturdily built. The first thing to catch their eyes was that the five largest huts had elaborate banners to indicate which Lord they were assigned to. The group was escorted towards the cabin in the far left corner of the hall where Driks'' heraldry was displayed. Once they were closer Cynder noticed subtle runes painted on the walls of each shed. She quickly realized it was a spell intended to provide privacy to those inside.


    Looking at his shack Driks sighed once again. He recognized the subtle jab included in the location. Grouped with the other High Lord cabins it was clearly a place of honor. Everyone who entered the room couldn''t help but see Driks'' banner. As one would need to cross the entire hall to approach, the location granted both safety and privacy as well. This is also where the slight came in. The hut was relegated to the corner, as if it were a child being placed somewhere that their inevitable rowdiness would be minimally disruptive to the gathering as a whole.


    To the immediate right of Driks'' room was the banner for Lord d''Shxlash, its bright turquoise background contrasting strongly with Driks'' somber black. At the center of the five largest buildings, making it the first thing which everyone would see on entering the room, was an earthy green d''Teryx banner. Though quickly assembled like the rest of the sheds, this one was slightly larger and more luxurious. The two remaining places of honor belonged to Lord d''Zelb and Lord d''Sycx, marked with fiery red and dull silver banners respectively.


    Before the group had time to gawk at the surroundings, Fawn herded them into their room. The inside consisted of a small sitting space with comfortable chairs and a table. There was an ice chest with refreshments and there was also a servant assigned should they require anything else. Fawn quickly sent the servant off on a pointless errand so she could lecture the group on how to properly behave. Once the lecture was done, and everyone, Driks included, properly chastised, Dover and Cynder headed outside to look more closely at the surroundings. Something felt off, but neither one had quite grasped what yet.


    As the two of them looked around it quickly became apparent what had struck them as odd. Though the colors varied greatly, there was a surprising uniformity among the High Lords heraldry. This was especially obvious when compared with the contrast among the remaining Lords banners. While the lesser lord¡¯s banners certainly shared some similarities, they were clearly unique and highly distinct. Cynder tensed and whispered to Dover, "My Guide, have you noticed something unusual about the heraldry of the Lords who will be attending?¡±


    Dover gave a small nod and whispered back, ¡°Driks told us it¡¯d be memorable... And those banners are eerily similar...¡±


    To further emphasize the point, Cynder withdrew a dragon coin from her pouch and showed it to Dover star side up. With a low whistle as he exhaled through his teeth he realized the symbols matched the central design in heraldry for all five of the High Lords. There was no way it could be a coincidence, the design was clearly significant.

 Part 03: The Conference / Chapter 21: It Must Be Dragons!

    As more people began to arrive, Dover and Cynder carefully observed them. Most of the Lords had fairly standard retinues consisting of a couple guards and an advisor or scribe of some sort. Of the people present so far, Driks had the most heavily armed group with four fighters and a mage.


    Soon Lord d¡¯Shxlash arrived, with a dozen lightly armed yet heavily armored guards. They were in full plate armor and carried large shields. They clanged their way over between Drik¡¯s spot and where the host would be. The next to arrive was Lord d¡¯Sycx¡¯s party, which was quite similar to Driks¡¯ own, three lightly armored fighters and two who were likely spellcasters or another support role.


    When Lord d''Zelb''s entrance was announced Cyder subtly concealed herself behind Dover and warily watched him from hiding. Though momentarily puzzled by the unusual behavior Dover didn''t pay it much heed and allowed himself to be used as a shield. It was a fairly intimidating group, Lord d''Zelb himself stood at the fore and looked to be a formidable combat mage. He was flanked by a pair of chainmail armored guards and closely followed by a formal looking butler. Cynder didn''t relax until his party finished crossing the room and settled into their section.


    Once everyone had arrived a messenger quietly left the room to inform the meeting''s host, Lord d''Teryx. Shortly after he was escorted in by a sizable contingent of city guards. Two of them remained by his side while the rest took up positions around the hall.


    Not wasting any time, Lord d''Teryx headed directly to the conference tables in the middle of the room instead of his privacy area. There were five luxurious tables placed in a pentagon at the hall¡¯s center surrounding a floating orb. Each table had a small banner indicating which of the High Lords it belonged to and three seats. Circling those were seven smaller, two person tables for the upper lords. These tables were placed relatively near the High Lord they swore fealty to, so the space behind Drik''s table was empty while d''Teryx had three tables strategically placed behind his own. The other High Lord each had one or two. The final circle of tables consisted of three chair-desks behind each of the upper lord¡¯s tables. Unlike the High Lords, all the other seats were unlabeled allowing the remaining Lords to seat themselves however was appropriate for the current hierarchy.


    Lord d''Teryx settled into his chair at the head table and called the meeting to order, the magical orb amplifying his voice so that it carried clearly throughout the hall. ¡°Thank you everyone for coming. Please take your seats so we can discuss the current threat to our land.¡±


    The other Lord''s quickly complied with his request, with the High Lords taking their seats first and the remaining Lords following whatever pattern they had previously decided on to take their seats. Driks flopped down into his chair, clearly displaying his disdain for formality. Dover and Cynder remained standing on his left and Sophia stood on the right. Fawn primly sat next to Driks and carefully placed her note taking supplies. His remaining guards stayed in earshot just outside of his privacy room. The companions of the other nobles largely stayed in or around their resting areas.


    As Dover watched the movement his attention was drawn to the behavior of the other High Lords¡¯ guards. Not only were the visible better equipped, but they also appeared to put more thought in their positioning. Lord d¡¯Shxlash¡¯s guards spread out at the back of the room, as if they were protecting the high lords. When they approached Drik¡¯s part of the room though, the glare Dover gave quickly drove them away. Lord d¡¯Sycx''s sorcerers were the ones to stand behind him. His other guards didn¡¯t even bother leaving the privacy room. Lord d¡¯Zelb¡¯s guards also remained in their room.


    As the activity died down Lord d''Teryx declared "I call this conference to order," and waited for the room to fall silent before continuing. ¡°As you are all aware, recently trading has become quite perilous. Not only that, but monster sightings have dramatically increased near our remote villages. Please, report what you have each heard in your districts.¡± He then proceeded to ask each individual Lord for an update.


    He first called upon Lord Ambroise who was responsible for a small region at the outskirts of the Empire. ¡°The villages in my domain have reported large swarms of lesser monsters attacking. Few are willing to travel without a fully armed escort.¡±


    Lord d¡¯Teryx turned his attention to the next ranking noble, who quickly added his piece. "Our own experiences are similar, though in addition to a general increase in monster activity our villages have suffered from multiple monster attacks."


    The reports continued in a similar vein, with each Lord adding their own knowledge. While the attacks were understandably more frequent towards the edge of each noble¡¯s territory, even the safest regions were impacted. Depending on how heavily populated their realm was, their attacks were either focused on travelers or small settlements. Though the beasts and monsters were attacking, they were organized and not acting at random. It was as if someone were playing a game of chess. Some of the attacks reportedly had a monster commander, though the descriptions tended to vary drastically. The general consensus was that a large winged creature was coordinating the attacks.


    There were also reports of spies and espionage with some survivors telling stories of betrayal from within. For instance, one individual had actively sabotaged their caravan as they rested overnight, starting fires, killing guards, and causing substantial destruction.


    Once everyone finished reporting, the lesser nobles began to chaotically share their ideas until Lord d¡¯Teryx was forced to call the meeting back to order. "Enough!" He shouted, his powerful voice instantly cutting through the room and silencing the chatter. "I understand everyone is concerned, but we must control our emotions if we hope to solve this issue. Would one of you please share your theory?"


    Though numerous hands were initially raised, their numbers quickly dropped as people deferred to those of higher status. Eventually there was just a single volunteer for Lord d''Teryx to call on, one of the lower nobles under Lord d''Teryx''s domain. Though he tried to project confidence, it was clear he was nervous about his words. ¡°As far-fetched as it sounds," he began, "I believe these attacks to be the work of a dragon. The tactics employed fit well with the legends and lore about the creatures. It is the most likely explanation.¡±


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    His explanation spurred laughter and jeers scattered around the room. Numerous shouts of ¡°Hogwash!¡± or ¡°You¡¯ve spent too long in the tavern my friend!¡± welcomed his explanation.


    He tried to explain his reasoning, and several of the nobles, d¡¯Teryx included, nodded in agreement at his logic. Unfortunately the stress from dealing with an unknown assailant had finally bubbled over. Due to their fear many of the Lower Lords began to talk over the speaker and shout out their own theories.


    It was then that Dover tensed up and singalled for Driks¡¯ entourage to do the same. Ignoring the arguing nobles, Dover had been watching the High Lords and their retinues instead. He had seen d¡¯Teryx¡¯s men tense, as if they were expecting this, or had received a secret command. Their  attention was focused on one particular Lord who had started ranting about dragons.


    ¡°Dragons are mindless beasts! They are too stupid to do anything like this! All they care about is gold! The filthy animals...¡±


    The man''s rant was interrupted by a flash Dover found very familiar, one that originated from Lord d''Sycx¡¯s direction. Immediately after the light faded a powerful gust of wind flung a table across the room, smashing it against a wall. Loud, heavy footsteps filled the air, followed by the sounds of wood cracking and man crying out in pain. When Dover''s vision had recovered from the flare, he was greeted to the sight of a large silver dragon towering over the quivering form of the previously ranting noble. Its sleek, leathery wings easily stretch 20 cubits. Wind swirled around the dragon and throughout the room, sending papers flying and shaking the tapestries on the wall as the dragon stretched its long neck towards the ceiling. It unleashed a roar which froze everyone in the room before bending its neck down towards the terrified man.


    Face to face it spoke in a whisper which, as if carried by the wind, could clearly be heard by all present. ¡°Enough of your foolishness Mortal, Men are far more beastly than dragons. We can take whatever we want, we wouldn¡¯t waste time on mere mischief.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Lord d¡¯Zelb stated before a similar light wrapped around him. As the light cleared, an equally large red dragon could be seen standing there, the air around it hazy with heat. He continued speaking, each word accompanied by a small burst of steam. ¡°To violate our laws in such a way would imply a truly insidious goal.¡± He paused and directed his burning red gaze towards Driks, ¡°Or be the foolish actions of a childish whelp.¡±


    ¡°Hey! I¡¯m not the one who transformed in front of everyone!¡± Driks protested. This caused the other four high nobles to burst into laughter, even the normally stoic d¡¯Teryx. Unfortunately the roaring, wing flapping, and stamping of two dragons broke those present in the room out of their stunned silence.


    There were screams and shouts and panic. Many people rushed for the door only to be repulsed by two of d¡¯Teryx¡¯s heavily armored guards. They unceremoniously clubbed them with their shields to drive them back. Some of those present tried launching desperate attacks against the dragons, only to be repulsed when they came too close to Dover or one of the other high noble¡¯s guards.


    The croaking voice of a bard could be heard over the crowd as he tried to cast a song of peace, but even though he was employed by one of the dragons himself, he was filled with terror, and his words only served to increase the panic.


    With a sigh and a nod from Driks, Dover called to the guards at their room. ¡°Quivver!¡± One of them quickly approached with a quiver containing numerous types of special bolts. On being told the event would be memorable, Dover had taken the opportunity to prepare numerous types of ammunition to try and prepare for any situation. He quickly sorted through the color coded bolts before drawing multiple dull yellow ones. Rather than having a metal tip like most, they had a cylindrical head about two thumb lengths long.


    Lightly shaking each individual bolt he carefully loaded them into his repeater crossbow and aimed towards the ceiling. Pulling the trigger the first shot launched into the air, the wind pressure peeling away the outer casing as it flew and spewing a large cloud of dust. The dust seemed to sparkle in the light as it gently rained towards the floor. He quickly fired his remaining bolts ensuring that the powder was falling throughout most of the hall. As the dust settled, its magic took effect, calming those it touched. Having most of the participants soothed allowed d''Teryx''s guards to quickly deal with the remainder. Soon an eerie silence returned to the room.


    Looking at Driks with a mixture of surprise and respect, d¡¯Teryx said ¡°Perhaps you have finally grown a bit, the others and I were wagering on whether you or d''Sycx would lose your patience first.¡±


    After a pause to look around the room once more, d¡¯Teryx continued. ¡°I now call the Dragon Summit to order.¡± Confident that no further chaos would break out, he continued ¡°Reveal yourselves to our mortal guests so we can share the truth of their world.¡±


    His voice carried power, as if it were forcing the other dragons to act. When he finished speaking, he was surrounded by a flash and soon stood in his natural form, a large wingless dark green dragon. Lord d¡¯Shxlash shifted next, turning into a pale greenish blue dragon with a long, flat tail and flipper-like feet. Then the four dragons turned and faced Driks, waiting.


    ¡°Do I really have to?¡± whined Driks. Cynder meanwhile huddled behind the unphased Dover, clutching his armor tightly and burying her face in his back, her faintly glowing red eyes tightly shut.


    His attention focused on Driks, Lord d¡¯Teryx¡¯s powerful voice pounded into them. ¡°Change now, and reveal your true form.¡± The energy of the command was felt by all those who were near.


    As the other dragon¡¯s waited patiently for Driks to shift, d¡¯Zelb softly spoke up. He looked knowingly at Drik¡¯s entourage and said ¡°I believe that is enough, you have gotten your point across, and there may be some who are not yet ready to reveal themselves.


    Eyes widening slightly, d''Teryx realized the reason for d''Zelb''s request, something that he, and the others, had overlooked. Though his glare remained focused on Driks, he slowly exhaled and released the magical pressure behind his command.


    Driks simply gave an exaggerated sigh before grumbling a reply. "Blah, blah. Fine, fine. You don''t need the death stare, I''ve always been happy to spread my wings. Might as well let it all out now." With a flash and a happy roar, Driks revealed his true form, stretching out his large black wings and shaking out his spikes.


    Underneath the roar d''Zelb could just barely make out Cynder''s quiet whisper as she struggled to maintain control. "Thank you father..."