Bladeborn

by Clayton Schonberger

  ~~That noble beast would not be so merciful, Swordsman! Kill it now!~~

  “I will wait to ask it about King Rosen’s Five Wards. Then I will decide what to do with it.”

  ~~Swordsman you must kill it! This beast is…~~

  “I have told you, Nightslayer,” Bladeborn insisted “Leave me to question it.”

  ~~Then speak to it in what I have taught you of the ancient dragon language. Have it swear to a truce!~~

  Without further argument, the Sword remained silent.

  When the dragon awoke, Bladeborn, thirteen feet tall, stood astride its body, poised to plunge Nightslayer into its heart.

  “No kill!” Spe said, in a panicked human tongue. “No kill, O warrior! No kill!!”

  “Give your oath, serpent!” Bladeborn bellowed to it in the language of dragons. “Truce between us. And more—I want what is in that SACK…”

  “OHHH…Nooo!” Spe moaned. Bladeborn knew the dragon was in critical pain. Its blood gushed from severe wounds onto floor of the chamber where coins it had so carefully stacked were scattered.

  In dragon language, it gasped, “You are no normal man. Why has a demi-god come to kill me? What have I done in the last few centuries to raise the ire of the heavens?”

  “I am an ordinary man, blessed by the gods but not of heaven. You have never met the likes of me!” Bladeborn boasted. “Swear your oath…Or we shall finish this!”

  “You have bested me—you and that Sword…That terrible Sword! …I swear a truce, ‘ordinary man.’”

  Bladeborn considered the dragon’s enormous eyes to determine if it was lying, but the creature was far too alien a beast to make such a judgment. Within its irises was fire, madness, danger, and …control. Bladeborn was forced to look away.

  “Human, I give my oath! We shall have truce!” the dragon moaned again. “Now, allow me to lick my wounds! Help me, I am dying! My blood is draining away!”

  “Hold still, then, and I shall ease your pain, dragon,” Bladeborn used what little Essence energy he had left to save the life of the dragon, Spe.

  Then Bladeborn noticed that in a front claw, the dragon still clutched the sack. “Dragon, even as I use my power to heal you of the wounds I have inflicted, I want your vow that I will have my pick of the treasure. I seek the Five Wards. Can you promise me this?”

  Spe felt his ancient life returning. “Yes! I promise, I--Arrghh--don’t need it all...”

  “And the Five Wards?” Bladeborn intoned tersely. “Dragon, I require possession of the Five Wards.”

  “They’re yours--now please, if you can save my life--I am your servant!”

  The dragon shrank down to the size of a large Rockcat, something it could do even though horribly injured. Bladeborn’s healing power began to take effect. After returning the dragon from the brink of death, Bladeborn had no Essence-power left. He returned to normal size, unable to hold his taller, more intimidating form.

  The battle had nearly resulted in their mutual destruction. The dragon, healed only enough to stop its bleeding, lay on the floor, licking its wounds with its forked tongue. Spe was dumbfounded, mumbling that “I am well over one-thousand years old—long ago, I quit counting the years. But never have I been so close to dying. I believed none could come close to my power, and survive.”

  Bladeborn held Nightslayer loosely in his left hand. He removed the breastplate, which was dangling from his chest, and took his back piece off, and then removed the destroyed chainmail shirt. Only the teak hide shirt remained.

  “You wear the skin of a Pit dragon, one of my brethren,” Spe observed. “Where did you kill it?”

  Bladeborn could not gage the alien beast’s emotions or intentions at all. He continued to speak to it in Dragon language, using a tone that was somewhat defensive, “I did not kill the dragon whose hide I wear. It was a gift.”

  “Ahhh! Humans are still the same!” Spe noted, as if to himself.

  “Give me the bag,” Bladeborn commanded.

  “If I must,” Spe said, handing it over. Bladeborn hoped the bag was not heavy, for he needed to hold Nightslayer in his good hand. Fortunately, the bag was practically light as a feather.

  Then the two of them saw a significant flow of lava pouring into the Pyramid through the wall Spe had broken.

  “That looks bad,” Spe said, glancing at the warrior who had bested him. “That lava flow entering this room could unbalance the position of the Pyramid…The whole structure might slide down the mountain, or worse tumble down it.”

  “…With us inside,” Bladeborn said.

  “Normally I wouldn’t fear such an event,” the dragon claimed. “I could survive it. But in my weakened state I don’t want to risk it.”

  “Neither do I,” Bladeborn said. “We should get moving. This place isn’t safe.”

  Spe looked to the piles of coins scattered about the room, “It took me a long time to gather all these. It seems they will severe as my bed no longer. That is the way of things.”

  They left the hall, along with the coins, behind, “I know a place, warrior, where we can rest. There is a magic fountain there, and you may find some comfort for your wounds in it.”

  Bladeborn wondered if the offer was genuine. “Let us go, then.”

  “We will only be able to linger briefly there,” Spe Said. “We’ll continue to a floor where we exit.”

  “Tell me, dragon,” Bladeborn asked, what is in the bag. Its weight seems deceiving.”

  The dragon said of the bag, “Please, protect this sack with your life. Except for all those small coins, it contains the possessions I carefully gathered, over many years, from this city’s halls. The sack is unique, for no matter how much is stuffed within it, or what size the object is, the sack never gets full. I could have escaped from you, but because I would not leave this sack, I did not make it through the ceiling in time. My greed is partially to blame for my ultimate defeat.”

  “Yet you were finally beaten,” Bladeborn said.

  The dragon stopped and closed its eyes for a moment as if trying to grasp the reality of his defeat. “Yes, I was conquered, after all these years of bowing to none—and by you alone—which is truly amazing.”

  The dragon turned and mournfully limped down the hallway to the stairs, followed by Bladeborn. It moved with an undulating motion, but it seemed to still be in pain. Bladeborn, too, had trouble walking after the fight.

  They put some distance between themselves and the command center, which Bladeborn guessed was by now filled with molten rock.

  Bladeborn sat down to rest a brief time and said nothing. He kept his eye on the dragon and his sword at the ready, unsure if he could fully trust the creature.

  Finally, Spe asked, “Who are you, ‘ordinary man?’”

  “I am Bladeborn, and this Sword is Nightslayer, noble dragon. I trust you have the Five Wards in our sack?”

  “Well…” the dragon said. “Let me tell you about that. I know I said I had them, but—”

  “You don’t have them?” Bladeborn shot an angry look at the dragon. Spe cowered a bit then immediately tried to explain.

  “Of what you seek, Bladeborn, I believe I have four...” The dragon began telling what he had held back earlier. “The fifth is somewhere else, and I don’t know—”

  Bladeborn leapt up and drew Nightslayer, putting the Sword-edge at Spe’s throat, “So you have already told me a lie?”

  “Wait!” Spe exclaimed, cowering further. “Don’t kill me! I know you have the power to do so, and I promise you: I will never test you again. No! You can trust me! I just bent the truth a bit to save my life! You would have done the same. You’ve got to understand!”

  Bladeborn’s anger turned to slight amusement. The dragon seemed to be truly afraid. He sheathed Nightslayer, looking carefully at the face of the dragon. It was a fantastical beast to be sure, but at its present size it appeared… quite un-threatening. Its bizarre head looked asymmetrical due to the loss of one horn in the battle. Bladeborn wa
s pleased with his victory over it and even more pleased that it had not immediately decided to attack him.

  “I expect further explanation…” Bladeborn demanded.

  Spe went on, “Now, let me say that I have treasures in this sack beyond your wildest imaginings. I have spent decades prowling the halls of this city, collecting every coin or thing of value and it is nearly all in here. Plus, I have collected all the treasures from my long life into the sack of endless space.

  Bladeborn asked, “So if I were to look in this sack I would find what?”

  “Just imagine it,” the dragon claimed. “If the sack contains it, you will have it in your hands.”

  Bladeborn decided to test the sack a few times to see if the dragon was truthful.

  “Is there a dagger in here?” Bladeborn asked.

  “There are thousands—all Elvin make. It seems everyone living in the city had at least one…”

  Bladeborn placed his hand in the sack and imagined a dagger, and one was in his hand instantly. He looked at it in amazement. Other things appeared with equal ease.

  “Dragon, you have spoken the truth of this. Let me try the five wards,” Bladeborn placed his hand in the sack, but only got four small fingernail-sized opal-like stones.

  “All is as I said, warrior,” the dragon stated. Then he stopped walking a moment and said, “By the way, I go by the simple name of Spe. It is an old name; it means ‘…Master of the White-hot Flame…’ in ancient Draconian.”

  “I am pleased to make your acquaintance, mighty Spe,” Bladeborn said, and he nodded in an almost friendly gesture.

  “No, it’s pronounced, Spe,” the dragon said.

  “Oh. My apologies mighty Spe,” Bladeborn said, concentrating more on his inflection.

  “No, it’s… oh, never mind!” Spe harrumphed.

  Bladeborn thought as hard as he tried he would never speak the dragon language properly. He gripped Nightslayer at that moment and thought to the Sword, “Can I trust this dragon?”

  ~~For now you can, Bladeborn~~ Nightslayer replied.

  “Why haven’t the Elves of the northeast discovered the pyramid city, Spe?” Bladeborn asked.

  The dragon answered, “All I can figure about that is, this city is under the curse of the Dwarven Kings and is hidden from the Elves. The Dwarf King holds great power over this region. His clerics know all that transpires in the Spiral Mountains and they have scouts near their tunnels at all times.”

  “We saw evidence of Dwarves and even met one on our journey here… We need to get back to the survivor of my group as soon as possible, dragon, for I fear he may be in danger.”

  “I can help with that—but first I have to be able to walk!” Spe said. The dragon went on, “I had considered eventually trying to track down the Dwarven Hall for a tasty snack or two, but with their magic hiding it, to do so was more trouble than I wanted. I am fairly confident that the same magic hides them from those awful Rhinolon beasties to the south.”

  “You don’t like the Rhinolon?” Bladeborn asked of Spe.

  “Not at all!” The dragon answered firmly. “I despise them! They taste terrible and have dominated nearly everything I used to eat. A long time ago, my fellows and I would fly over the region that I believe is now known as the Blasted Plain, and eat those of your stock freely and… errr well, that was long ago… But for years I have kept to myself, having become a reformed dragon. Besides, there are no more humans left to kill. I was killing the Rhinolon for some time, but they breed so rapidly… and bow to no one… ‘What’s the point in that?’ I said to myself.”

  “We have an enemy in common, then, for I also hate the Rhinolon,” Bladeborn said. “Now, what were you saying earlier about the Elves…?”

  Spe continued, “I always feared that one day I would suddenly be under attack from a group of Elf-knights. Then today, when I smelled human, I was not afraid, for humans are weak. …That is, all humans I have encountered until you. I thought, this must be a powerful collection of human Wizards and warriors, powerful, but foolish. I am slightly ashamed to say that you have bested me... Yet I have great respect for your quickness in battle, as well as your many obvious powers, Bladeborn.”

  They walked through the intricately carved halls. When it seemed that they were safe from the new lava that flowed into the upper portion of the Pyramid, Bladeborn and Spe again rested. After regaining more of his Essence power, Bladeborn began to heal them both. Spe showed Bladeborn a magic room where there was a fountain that issued water, one of many such rooms in the city.

  Once there, the dragon brought forth from the sack an elaborate magic plate. When tapped with the matching silver fork, a delicious meal, with meat, vegetables, and fruit appeared on the plate.

  “This food, conjured by the magic plate,” Bladeborn asked. “It is real?”

  “Why, of course it is!” The dragon stated bluntly. “The magic plate, or ones like it, have keep me fed for decades.”

  “Ones like it?” Bladeborn asked. “How many of these are there?”

  “Seven, I think, and each with a different meal,” Spe claimed. “They are some of the more useful Elvish wonders contained in the sack, found at various locations in these halls over the years. But I don’t think we should take all the platters out now.”

  As they ate, the dragon felt the stump the broken horn. He wondered aloud, “I hope this grows back quickly to its former magnificence.”

  Bladeborn told Spe what he knew of dragons. “You are a blood dragon. You breathe fire and have much magic you can call upon. It is said that your kind once gave boons to the villagers you preyed upon, not destroying them in return for their fealty.”

  “Yes, well, that’s true… and let me say I have never known one of my kin to break such a vow. …It was always the villagers who got uppity, sending someone to try to kill us… Then, they would pay!” A bit of fire blew out of the nostrils of the dragon at this.

  Bladeborn frowned.

  The dragon changed the subject, saying, “I think I have seen swords like the one you carry quite a few times over the centuries—”

  At this, Bladeborn grew angry.

  “When have you seen a Sword such as Nightslayer?” Bladeborn demanded.

  “OH! I meant no offense, err, forgive me!” Spe said. “I will speak of it no more!”

  ~~Do not let this dragon’s misinformation corrupt you. There is no other sword as powerful as I am. This dragon, Spe, may be safe for now, but it is likely that it will turn things to its advantage when it can~~

  Bladeborn thought to Nightslayer, “Of course.”

  They talked for an hour until, with a startling suddenness, the Pyramid shifted its position on the side of the mountain.

  “We must go now!” Spe said.

  “I agree!” Bladeborn said.

  Spe said, “You are amazing, human…I have never met one such as you. I will live, now. Let’s go before the Pyramid slides off the mountain and the volcano and traps us in here.”

  When they had reached the lower level of the pyramid where the wall had been smashed through, the dragon returned to its largest size. Spe said, “Only a warrior as powerful as you could have earned the right to my respect, Bladeborn. Get on my neck now, and we shall go where ever you wish.”

  Bladeborn climbed on the dragon’s enormous neck, gripping the sides of it with his knees, Spe was able to push out two scales on his throat which made it easier for Bladeborn to lock his legs safely into position. Spe flexed, and with a mighty coiled leap, they magically flew out of the Pyramid City, and high above it. Despite the wind shear, so strong in the Spiral Mountains, the dragon’s flight was steady and deft. Bladeborn felt safe in his position, and had no fear of heights or falling from his perch.

  They landed on the rocky ledge where King Rosen had been left asleep. Spe set down so softly King Rosen did not wake up. As Bladeborn jumped off Spe’s neck the dragon began to shrink down to the size of a tiger.

  “By all that is holy—I thought
I was doomed!” King Rosen was grasping at words. “Bladeborn—it’s—a dragon!”

  “I’d like you to meet Spe, my King,” Bladeborn said. “He has vowed to help me for the time being, and he graciously offered to split with me all the treasures the Pyramid once contained.”

  “How is that possible?” King Rosen asked, incredulously. “I mean… why does a dragon want to help us? They are evil, unholy creatures only bent on destruction!”

  “After I bested Spe in combat, the dragon decided to surrender… And then, after I healed the wounds I dealt to it when we fought, it vowed to become my ally. I think that for now, at least, we can trust it to do as we wish.”

  “Bladeborn,” King Rosen sighed, “it seems I must once again change the way I regard you. A dragon is a mythical beast and yet… my eyes do not deceive…”

  “Yes, my King,” Bladeborn said.

  “What I know of this world has been changed. I think our people might once more have hope.” The King arose, saying, “I don’t know what to—didn’t you say that the dragon was splitting the treasures of the Pyramid with you? Did either of you bring any… samples?”

  “It’s all in this sack,” Bladeborn reached in and felt around then withdrew a gold bar. He set that at the ground by the astonished King’s feet, and next withdrew an entire chrome-steel Elvin pole-axe. He withdrew a few more items for King Rosen, who grabbed at his mouth in awe.

  “It’s… all… in there?” King Rosen thought his eyes were bedeviled.

  “I think so,” Bladeborn said. “It is a magical ‘sack of endless space,’ a prize of the dragons. Only four of the Five Wards are here. We must go to the Dwarven Kingdom, for I think the ruler there may have the fifth Ward. At least, that is my hope.”

  In the language of dragons, Spe huffed out, “Can we go? This is obviously quite a surprise to your friend but—”

  “My ‘friend’ is no less than the King of the Realms which I call home,” Bladeborn chided.

  “Oh, I see,” said Spe. “I apologize, good Bladeborn. He is, you must admit, more weather-beaten than lordly.”

  “Show some respect, dragon,” Bladeborn said, firmly.