by Ramy Vance
Once both lambs were roasting on the spits, the two parties gathered together as a few of the familiars separated from their hosts. Stew’s familiar, GB, a bizarre amalgamation of a creature with an ass’s head and a gargoyle’s body joined first. Then came Niv, Sandy’s familiar, a large rabbit with a unicorn horn and a nose that never stopped sniffing. José’s familiar also joined, a dainty lamb named Nines, who eyed the roasting lambs with fear.
Ashegoreth blew fire onto the roasting lambs and the flames danced. Then she leaned back and scratched her scaly belly as she dangled a raw lamb over her jaws, sensuously licking its head.
Suzuki cleared his throat to break the awkward silence of watching a dragon tongue its dinner. “So…how long have you been in these caves?” Suzuki asked.
Ashegoreth dropped the lamb into her mouth and swallowed it whole as Nines watched in horror and trembled behind José. “Months,” Ashegoreth stated. “At least four moons, but I am not completely certain. I stopped counting once this began to feel like a prison.”
Chip looked up from the lamb she was tending. “Wait, these aren’t your caves?” she asked.
“No. I only came here recently. I originally lived in the East with a small group of dragons and an even smaller circle of acolytes. There was a raid of sorts among the dragons. The Dark One, naturally. No one else would be so bold to approach us. And as I have found out, no one else would have such power. A few of the dragons were captured and the acolytes were killed.”
“Fuck. I’m so sorry.”
“It is as it is. We had grown complacent in our home. We had all heard the stories of the Dark One, of what was planned in the shadows. It was hubris to assume that his forces would not come to our doorsteps. What he did to us was a surprise, but it was not too unexpected.”
“How did he capture them?”
“I do not know. It was difficult to understand. At first, we thought that the orcs that invaded only meant to kill us. There were enough of them. They blackened nearly the entire valley. The only deaths were those of the acolytes. My brothers and sisters were captured alive. Taken someplace I know nothing of.”
“And how did you get away?”
“Is it not obvious by now? I ran. I turned my back on my brothers and sisters and burned as many as I could on my way out. It was not nearly enough, though. The Dark One’s forces are ever-growing. From what I have been able to gather from my spies, the Dark One is capturing dragons of all colors, ages, and breeds. I do not know how he is managing this. It has not stopped with dragons, though. His minions are capturing all manner of creatures. Even mortals. Dwarves, elves, and the like. The killing raids have stopped. Now, something else is taking place.”
Ashegoreth fell into silence. Suzuki watched as Ashegoreth’s face crumpled. A few tears rolled down her cheeks, only to be instantly evaporated. “I despise him,” she finally said. “I will find a way to kill him and set my brothers and sisters free.”
Suzuki raised his hunk of lamb meat in solidarity. He knew the feeling even if he hadn’t admitted it to himself. His journey to find Beth was also fueled by an unnamable hatred. Even though he had not grown up in Middang3ard, he had seen the death and destruction the Dark One had caused.
And he hated whatever creature could do such a thing.
“The Dark One sleeps not too far from here,” the dragon continued. “These caves lead to the outskirts of his domain. As I abandoned my brothers and sisters to their fate and fled to these mountains, I took a survey of the surrounding land. The caves we reside in stretch all the way to the Dark One’s tower, a looming terror that seems to peer out and watch whatever comes near.”
Suzuki stretched out on the gold beneath him. Dinner and the dragon’s booming voice had made him tired. He felt as if he could slip into a deep sleep at any moment. “So, you’re saying we could take these caves out to the Dark One’s camp?” he dreamily murmured.
“Yes. Tomorrow, I can show you the way. Tonight, be content as my guests and share my bed.”
Suzuki felt Stew nudging him in the side. He didn’t need to look at Stew to know that he was wearing a childish grin. “Be a little respectful, Stew,” Suzuki said under his breath.
“I’m just saying, I’ve never shared a bed with a dragon before.”
Sandy grabbed Stew by the cheek and forced his attention to her. “So now you wanna fuck a dragon?” she growled.
“No, no, babe, I was just kidding around. Like a pun or something.”
Sandy pointed at her eyes and then to Stew to let him know that she was watching.
Ashegoreth leaned back on the massive pile of gold and stretched out. “It is more comfortable than it looks,” she assured the adventurers. “Please, feel free to retire when you see fit. I am going to bed.”
In a couple of seconds, the dragon was snoring loudly.
Suzuki watched the snoring dragon as the rest of the adventurers were talking among each other quietly.
If Suzuki concentrated, he could make out their words. They all seemed so far away, though. That was all right. They were close enough. It was those voices that blanketed him and kept him warm throughout the night as he slipped further and further into sleep.
In his dreams, there was a dragon and a mountain. The dragon stood on top of the mountain, speaking in its old tongue, a regal sound that swelled with poetry. Suzuki was only a boy in his dream, no more than five. He stared up at the dragon as it danced and spat fire at the sun. The boy Suzuki watched until the sun set and the moon rose and set too, and there was only blackness. Still, the dragon danced in fire.
Chapter Five
Suzuki woke before anyone else.
The sun was on his face, reflecting off the gold which was his bed. He sat up and scratched at the back of his head. His hair was getting long. Some of the more mundane aspects of personal grooming had been lost on him over the last few weeks. He’d grown accustomed to smelling like sweat and blood, something he never thought he would have gotten used to. Needless to say, he rarely thought about how long his hair was getting.
In a dreamy, post-sleep haze, Suzuki dug his hand into the treasure hoard until he felt something smooth. He pulled it out.
A mirror.
Exactly what he was looking for. He turned it around so that he could see himself. His face was tanner than he remembered, and his eyes looked as if they had aged a few years. It was a weird feeling, to see himself like this, after such a short time of forgetting he had a reflection. An image of him looked back, and it was almost as if a stranger held his gaze.
The dragon was no longer on the hoard. Only humans slept among the gold and treasure. It was an odd image. These frail bodies lying on a huge pile of gold, sleeping on a pile of what many people spent their entire lives chasing.
“There is something poetic about it, isn’t there?”
Suzuki turned around to see Ashegoreth sitting in the corner of the cave, her eyes half-closed in a dreamy sort of haze. “Come sit with me, Suzuki, Guillotine of Old Gods.”
Suzuki did as he was told, making his way down the mountain of gold. He crossed the cavern and took a seat on a rock across from Ashegoreth. “How did you sleep, dustling?” Ashegoreth asked.
“Surprisingly well. I didn’t think gold would be so comfortable.”
“It isn’t by nature. Our treasures form to us, which is the opposite that most creatures experience. It is usually you who forms to your treasure. But we dragons are a few of the magical creatures who do not hold to that creed. I believe the older leprechauns are the same way.”
“How long have you been alive?”
“I am a young one: two thousand years. I slept through half of it. There wasn’t much happening.” Ashegoreth laughed.
The sound of Ashegoreth’s laughter was warm and inviting. Suzuki felt he could have sat and listened to her talk all day and night. Must be a kind of magic, Suzuki thought.
“Hardly,” Ashegoreth interrupted.
“Wait, what?”
�
�It isn’t magic, simply the benefits of a very long life. We all know that wisdom comes with age. Comfort does as well: comfort in the kind of person that you are. And with that comfort comes sincerity. We dragons are capable of such a level of sincerity. It drips from every word. That is all that the fire burning within us is. When I breathe flames, it is merely me speaking. It is the sincerity of my words which ignites a spark. If I wish one dead, it is the earnestness of my wishes which scorches the earth. Likewise, if I wish for one to be comforted, it is my wish which warms the cave with the fires of my heart.”
“How did you know what I was thinking?”
“We dragons tend to hear many of the same conversations, an irritating benefit of living for so long.”
“Then why talk to anyone?”
“Occasionally, it is interesting. Such as this.”
“I’m not fishing for a compliment or anything, but why? You must have talked to some pretty amazing people in your time.”
“And you are not, Guillotine of Old Gods?”
“I mean…I…not really. I’m just some kid. You’ve probably spoken with kings and shit like that. I mean, really fucking amazing people.”
“You are only in the infancy of your life. Yesterday, you proved to me you were worth speaking to instead of burning. I believe that counts for something more than you realize.”
Suzuki listened to the dragon’s words. Something about them rang true in his heart. He let that sink in. There wasn’t much time to dwell on the advice, though. Over in the hoard, Stew was already stretching loudly enough to wake everyone up in the cavern. The rest of the adventurers were sitting up and starting to talk to each other.
Ashegoreth rose as well. “We should get back to your friends,” she said softly as she stood and lumbered back to the treasure hoard.
José was already getting breakfast ready. He had snagged some of the leftover lamb hanging from the firepit last night and was tearing hunks of lamb off while Nines sat in a corner and watched, horrified. Stew was eating alongside him while Sandy leaned up against Stew’s back, reading a book. “Morning, Suzy,” she called as Suzuki took a spot next to his friends. “You’re up early.”
Suzuki snatched a hunk of lamb out of Stew’s hand, to Stew’s incredulity, and took a bite. “Just got a good night’s rest, is all,” Suzuki said. “How’d you two manage?”
Stew shrugged and straightened up, causing Sandy to lose her balance and go sliding down the mountain of gold. “Could have used more privacy.” He groaned. “You know. For the boning.”
“Yeah. I kinda figured you were going to say something like that.”
They ate their breakfast while the dragon watched over them. While they ate, they discussed the game plan. Suzuki suggested that they take the cave tunnels all the way up to the Dark One’s first main camp. The dragon aided with detailed explanations of how the Dark One’s encampment was set up.
The encampment was built in a series of rings. In the center of the rings was the Dark One’s tower. Each ring extending from the tower was a camp of some sort. The strongest camps, those which had the most defense, were the closest to the tower. Suzuki figured by that logic, it would be easiest to sneak into the first camp.
Ashegoreth sat up once the meal was finished, shaking her head. “You will not be able to take the caves directly into the camp. They stop a few miles outside of where the Dark One has concentrated his forces. You will be able to avoid all of the raiding parties outside the camp, though. I can direct you to which tunnels to use.”
José stood and grabbed his equipment. “Sounds like a plan to me. We should get moving. Travel during the day, and we should be able to set up our own camp by night without too much trouble.”
Suzuki nodded in agreement. It sounded like a solid plan. It would be much easier to work their way through the Dark One’s camp if they could have a solid day and night without an encounter. The party’s mana would have been recharged by now, and everyone seemed to be in a fairly good mood. Traveling would be easy, and they’d be better prepared for whatever they were going to come across.
Ashegoreth rose, a towering monster, casting a shadow over the humans standing beneath her. “Before I show you the way,” she started, “I have parting gifts for you. It has been some time since I have met anyone with the resolve to stand against the Dark One. I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation for those who seek to destroy the same enemies as myself.”
Stew pumped his hand in the air and nearly jumped with joy. “Fuck, yeah,” he shouted. “Dragon swag! What you got for us?”
The dragon reached into her hoard. “Specifically, for you three,” she explained. “Your friends are well-equipped for the challenges ahead. You three, though, your armor and weapons leave a bit to be desired. These should help you considerably.”
From the hoard, the dragon drew a golden bracelet. She leaned over Stew and handed it to him.
Stew took the bracelet and stared at it, trying not to look confused or unappreciative. “Uh…thanks,” he stammered. “It looks…really pretty.”
“Do not lie to me,” the dragon said. “It is not pretty and is hardly a piece of jewelry. But it is perfect for you. I have noticed your affinity for sharp weapons. You have a certain kind of bloodlust in your eyes, the eyes of a warrior who enjoys a good fight. This bracelet will make your weapons obsolete. While you wear it, you will have access to all of the weapons in my hoard. You can summon them at will. The bracelet will find the weapon that your heart desires and pull it from the ether, into your hand.”
“Anything my heart desires? Are you fucking shitting me?”
“If it exists. You will not know what it is capable of until it arrives. I believe this will keep you interested. Please, try it.”
Stew jumped off of the treasure hoard and stepped a few feet away from everyone. He slipped on the bracelet and whipped his hand back and forth. A throwing ax appeared in his hand. Perfectly weighted, sharp as a razor, and crackling with electricity. “Are you fucking kidding me?” Stew shouted. He turned and threw the ax into a rock. He held out his hand again and another ax instantly appeared in it. “I could throw axes forever!”
Ashegoreth smiled, obviously pleased with her gift. Then she turned to Sandy. “I noticed that you hold the Mask of Elroz the Storm Breaker,” she said.
Sandy stared up at the dragon. She obviously had no idea what the dragon was speaking of. “Uh…I mean, I have a mask,” she finally said.
“Show it to me.”
Sandy wiped her hand across her face. A beautiful wooden mask appeared. Intricate runes and spellcraft had been etched into its stark features, its eyes black and empty, its mouth open in a mournful wail.
Ashegoreth nodded her approval. “Yes, that is indeed Elroz’ lost mask,” she explained. “He lived and died during the end of my childhood. He was a mage famed beyond renown. Legends do not do justice to his power. It was said that he could wrestle lightning from the sky and coat himself in its energy. Legends, as I said. I have noticed that your HUD already has a significant number of magical upgrades. You are also an apprentice to one of the finest mages that I have ever heard of and had the pleasure of meeting, Diana the Tempest of Ol’ Regoaral.”
Sandy removed her mask and looked at Diana, who blushed humbly. “Wait, I’m an apprentice to you?” she asked.
Diana walked over to Sandy and placed her hand on the woman’s shoulder. “I guess that’s a technical term,” she said. “All three of you. Usually we just say mentor and leave it at that, but technically speaking, yes, you are apprentices. You’re mine. Stew is José’s. Suzuki is Chip’s.”
Suzuki didn’t believe what he was hearing. José was Stew’s mentor and Chip was his? He had hardly even spoken to Chip, and she had nothing in common with him or what he perceived as his skills. It made more sense for José to be teaching him. But he had noticed that José had been spending a lot of time with Stew, showing him different fighting techniques, coaching him on his form.
Ashegoreth spoke again, speaking to Sandy, breaking Suzuki’s obsessive train of thought. “Much like your companion Stewart, you are filled with lust. But I have felt how it is different. You seek power and knowledge, and you look to be the sort of person who will work for that knowledge. To you, I gift the full armor of Elroz.”
The dragon dipped her claw into the treasure hoard again and removed a golden necklace with an oddly shaped ruby pendant hanging from it. She placed the necklace in Sandy’s hand.
“As you know,” Ashegoreth warned, “true magic always comes at a cost. I do not know what this will cost you. But the cost will only remain as long as you wear the necklace. I do know what you will gain. You will receive a bonus to all of your defenses. And you will no longer need to continuously reference your books for spells. Once you read a spell, you will remember it completely in all of its details.”
Sandy stared at the necklace in her hand. “Thank you so much,” she whispered. “Can I try it on?”
“You have been warned.”
Sandy turned to Diana, who looked more worried than Suzuki had ever seen her. “What do you think?”
Diana bit her lower lip and folded her arms. “Elroz was a beast when it came to magic,” she lectured. “His spellcraft was immaculate, but…he was very intense. The tradeoff might be detrimental. That said, it might not be comfortable.”
Sandy slipped the necklace over her head. “Gimme the juice,” she shouted.
Nothing happened. Everyone stood silently waiting. “Well, that was anticlimactic.” Sandy sighed.
Suddenly a bright flash of light emanated from Sandy’s chest. The amulet grew red-hot and seared her skin, and she screamed as she fell to the ground. Black tendrils shot from the center of the amulet, whipping around Sandy, piercing her skin, and driving themselves into her body.