Grau slept, albeit fitfully, on his bed of gold. Ever
since that group of adventurers found their way into his cave, and
almost escaped with their plunder, he'd become increasingly more
vigilant. He'd even considered finding a new home but to do that he'd
have to fly, and men had machines that made flying regrettably
dangerous.
“Foolish
humans,” Grau cursed as he rolled over, waking up and shifting his
bed of gold into a more comfortable pile beneath himself.
Such gullible, greedy, conniving creatures to ever walk
the earth. Such weak, crushable, things.
And yet, Grau knew, they, not the dragons, ruled the
land. There was a subtlety to their power, their ability to spread,
to conquer a land with the woodsman’s ax and the farmers plow until
castles and strongholds and cities replaced the forests and fields.
Before anyone thought to question what man was up to, they had formed
kingdoms and empires.
“They're
just like the spreading of scale rot.”
Grau smirked at his comparison until his eyes drifted,
unbidden, over to The Sword. Just looking at it made him uneasy with
the distinct lack of magical energies surrounding it. For all intents
and purposes, it was nothing more than plain, sharpened steel. But
that was what made it so dangerous. No magic could touch it and as
such Grau the Unmaker couldn't unmake it. Beneath that blade, warded
armor became mundane armor. Magical barriers faded into mist. And
dragon scales were no more protective than any other beasts hide. He
still bore the scars from the time he'd fought its wielder and he
wasn't looking to give it a second chance to cut him.
Grau snarled at The Sword and huffed a fireball at it
for good measure. It had little effect.
“Old
One known as Grau the Unmaker,” A strong and clear voice called
from without the cave, “Come forth for I would meet with thee on
clear and even ground.”
Grau perked up. It had been a long time since he'd been
summoned in accordance with the old ways. Humans these days preferred
to try sneaking in and killing him in his sleep or sneaking off with
some of his treasure.
“How
many are you?” Grau called back.
“I
come alone,” Came the reply.
Grau smiled in appreciation of the knowledge and respect
this human seemed to have. Rare indeed was the human that could
effectively lie to a dragon.
“Stand
a pace back,” Grau called as he began to make his way toward the
cave mouth, “And strike no blows until we have had proper
introduction.”
“I
do not intend to fight this day,” The man stated firmly though Grau
could hear clearly the clinking of his armor.
“Then
you are not such a fool as your predecessors.”
Grau stepped out into the light and stretched his wings,
acknowledging the longing he felt for the open skies.
The man before him stood in full plate armor. His horse
was barded but he'd tied it to a tree and so it would have been no
use in a fight. The man's helmet was off, tucked under one arm and
his sword was sheathed.
“A
brave knight indeed to come to one of my kind in such times,” Grau
noted.
The man nodded and gestured toward a fallen tree, “May
I sit?”
“Of
course,” Grau said, enjoying the change of pace from the usual
kinds of men he faced.
“You
may sit as well, or lay,” The man said once he'd settled himself
down, “Whatever's most comfortable.”
Grau rested on his haunches and curled his tail around
him, keeping it in striking range just in case the man changed his
mind about not attacking. The man seemed to have noticed this because
no sooner had Grau positioned his tail than the man unhooked his
sheath from his side and cast it from himself.
“You
are a strange man,” Grau said and shifted his tail into a more
comfortable, and less threatening, position.
“If
I could have done, I would have come here without even the barest
trappings of war,” The man's face bore no guile and even as he
spoke he gave his discarded blade a withering look. “I have seen
enough of death.”
“So,
Young One,” Grau said, “What may I do for you?”
“I am no child,” The man said with a hint of insult.
Grau chuckled to himself. He knew it was too good to be
true. The human only knew so much.
“Young One,” Grau explained, “Is a term we dragons
use for one of our ind who has not yet earned it's name. But for a
human it is a sign of respect.”
The man considered Grau's words, scratching his head.
“Oh, well, thank you.”
“Now than, about what it is that you want?” Grau
reminded him.
“Grau, please do not kill me until I have stated all
that I have to say,” The man said and Grau cocked his head.
“An odd request, and one that I'm not sure I'll be
enjoying,” Grau rumbled, “But so be it.”
That man made sure he held Grau's gaze before he spoke.
“I am Prince Rynn, son of the king and heir to the
throne,” The man, Prince Rynn spoke in a rush as though he expected
to be slain any moment. “My father has ordered the slaying of every
dragon within this realm for the wanton destruction of our lands and
slaughter of our herds. As you are the guardian of The Sword, it has
been decreed that you are to be the first dragon slain.”
“You make me regret calling you Young One, Prince
Rynn,” Grau said as he fought back the urge to crush the little
man.
“I have not finished,” Prince Rynn stated hastily
and he edged back a little further on the fallen log.
“Then speak quickly and be gone,” Grau snapped and
the prince nearly fell backward off his seat.
“I do not believe the destruction of our lands to be
the work of your kind,” Prince Rynn stated, “And I have come to
seek an alliance with you.”
Grau smiled, revealing his many sharp teeth. “So you
have seen through your father's lies?”
Prince Rynn said nothing and instead looked down to the
ground.
“It is a hard thing to bear, treachery so close to
one's self,” Grau comforted the young prince, “But I will help
you save your kingdom from the destruction of your father.”
Prince Rynn nodded and Grau signaled for the two of them
to go into his cave for further discussion.
“It will be safer for us both if we hold our
discourses inside.”
Prince Rynn followed Grau into the dark smoldering
cavern where Grau had made his home.
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