“A matter of hours, my lord.” Bitterness crowded all other emotions from the pixies tone. “You destroyed an important bridge then were almost destroyed by a band of intruders.” Almost, he repeated privately, hatred choking his thoughts.
The dragon cocked his head quizzically. “Your jests are puzzling, as always. I’ve hardly been out of this chamber for decades. But no matter. Come sunset I will take in the evening air. Survey my kingdom, as it were. I imagine I’ll find a town worth baiting or a small army to play with. Attend me until then, and afterward you may return to the bosom of your people.”
“Until sunset. Thank you, Master.” Vaan turned his head away and swallowed burning tears to the back of his throat. The people of his tribe, all two hundred of them, were stored far below his feet in the deepest recesses of the mountain. Their remains were stacked up like cordwood, mummified by time, as powdery and fragile as a moth’s wings. It had taken the machine impostor several months to figure out that Vaan’s people couldn’t come back after mortal wounds the way the dragon could. By the time the dragon had perfected a solution to this problem, Vaan was the only servant left.
The morose pixie clenched his teeth and shut his eyes tight, hot tears running down his finely formed cheekbones. He had been so close, so very close. What had gone wrong? He had hand-picked agents that were trained in artifact destruction. He had lured the Hand of Righteous Retribution into the impostor’s lair, and it had worked as effectively as he had hoped. Why was he still alive, still enslaved?
“It’s happening again,” he muttered, surprised by the sound of his own voice. Absently, Vaan rubbed the sore area in the center of his chest. He couldn’t remember being injured there, but it seemed as if he bore a special wound that was especially slow to heal. The sore spot was numb around the edges but still seethed at its center, as if something had forced itself free from his torso and left this sharp-edged scar behind.
It’s happening again.
“Vaan,” the voice was smoother, richer, and more musical as the dragon’s throat completed itself. “Attend me.”
The little blue man concentrated. Magical light swirled from his eyes and encircled the dragon’s evolving shape. When the liquid blue brightness completely covered the mechanical horror, the monster shimmered and took on the outward form of a magnificent blue-white dragon with translucent ceramic scales and long alabaster horns.
“Excellent,” the abomination said.
Still weeping, Vaan waited for the sun to set. Perhaps this time he would assemble a party that could finish the task he set for it. He had put every last bit of his cleverness, wit, and intellect into making his false master’s demise foolproof. He could see no flaw in his plan, but yet it hadn’t worked. He would simply have to try again and play closer attention when he led the next hunting party up the mountain.
Until then he could do nothing. Nothing except stand, wait, and watch like the loyal servant he was bound to be.
About
the Author
Scott McGough recently moved to farm country and can now compare the urban, suburban, and agrarian lifestyles. Not surprisingly, his first choice hasn’t changed since childhood: All things being equal, he’d rather be down the shore.
Scott worked on The Duelist magazine before joining the Creative Team for Magic: The Gathering®. He worked on almost all of the sets in the Urza/Phyrexia saga and has since written eight novels and a handful of short stories for Magic: The Gathering. All this, and yet he has only ever appeared on one Magic™ card. Though he finds this burden bitter and onerous, he will at least admit that that it’s a really good picture.
the Artist
Greg Staples may be best known for his dynamic comic work and for his lucious fantasy art for gaming giants Wizards of the Coast. Known also for his skill as a painter, he has painted some of the greatest characters created including Batman, Green Lantern and Judge Dredd. He was voted best artist 2005 by the readers of Inquest Magazine.
About the Cover Artist
Duane O. Myers was born on September 18th 1970 in Lancaster, PA. At an early age his spare time was spent drawing, when not working on his parents’ farm. Throughout his school years he was fascinated by movies and books that focused on Fantasy and Science Fiction. He graduated from Pennsylvania School of Art and Design and immediately started an apprenticeship with Western and Historical painter, Ken Laager, who had an immense impact on his career. With Laager’s guidance he learned the art of illustration and started working with New York publishing companies.
Over the past eight years Duane has made the transition from oils to digital media. His illustrations are primarily done for the book jacket and video game industries.
Currently he resides in Lititz, PA, with his wife Dyan and two kids, Devyn and Danin.
Back Cover
Ancient beasts imbued with magic and prone to madness. Masters of a world where they are kings among men. Legendary creatures few have ever seen, and lived to tell the tale. Eldritch constructs bent to the service of godlike wizards. From four worlds of magic and mystery, one monster rises above all others to threaten death, offer hope, spread fear, or hoard treasure. No matter what the world, only a dragon can set it, and the imaginations of millions, afire. Four of the most exciting worlds in the history of fantasy come together for the first time in one volume, drawn together at last by the mighty dragons of myth and legend.
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