Book 2: The Rage of the King II
Drozakrahth
I flew in an absolute Rage…. But I needed to keep calm… I flew with my eyes closed a moment… it allowed me to Think Straight and focus on the scents around me.
The nerve…
But I felt like I was MISSING something Important…. But What? Had this happened before? I didn’t take things like this seriously back then. I didn’t remember because I probably didn’t think it worth my time remembering….
I snorted a little ash out my nose… fuck I was stupid…
The smell of human… and steel wafted my way for only a second… they really were using illusion and wind magic, but my sharp western turn let me see the smallest flash of armor. I could tell they meant themselves to smell like local vegetation.
[I am not sure if this truly is their camp… but if it is, I think I’ll handle this myself.] I said diving and shifting as I landed.
It looked like they lived in huts similar to the commoner green drakes. The structures were wood, which would make this easier if they didn’t comply. They were originally laughing and having a good time, while their 15 soldiers stood guard around the largest building. It too was wooden with a straw roof. There had to be a small outpost of 100 women and children, and the rest of their men were in commoner clothing… It was a small farm, and I could smell the small amount of grain in the room they guarded...
The thud from my land made them scramble…. But I brought 50 drakes with me. They were surrounded in a their circular village. This was overkill in my mother’s words, but they would Learn.
[Surround them.] I said simply.
They ran, screaming while I became surrounded by the unit of knights in armor… In the old times, thousands would shoot 20th tier magic at me, while their spears were propelled by magic as well… But now they were almost comical.
These mortals were fit, but not as physically strong as the mortals then… compared to the generals of old, these were corn fed, nearly bulbus bellied surfs compared to the old times. I almost laughed. Their ‘leader’ who stood in front was the only one who’s armor fit well.
Regardless, they were in a circle around the women and children, except the ‘hero’.
If These were dragon slayers, I did not worry.
“You trespass on sovereign human land.” Said the human. He had blonde hair that peeked through his silver helmet. It was the only thing I could see of him, since even his eyes were shielded. The polished steel reflected the light… but this was Way Too Easy.
“Where are you hiding your True leader?” I asked with folded arms.
“If your dragons were so Dense you could not tell a teenage boy from a woman, how do you expect to find the Scale Snatcher?” He said with a hearty laugh. It was to motivate his troops.
“And you speak to the dragon who can And Will destroy a portion of the continent if it means I crush the culprit in the process.” I said rolling my eyes.
“But You’re Too Late. Even if You manage to burn our village to the ground… our legendary general is already risen.” He grinned.
“What do you mean by risen?” I growled.
He pulled out his sword. “Defend the village.” He commanded. “See the women and children escape to the checkpoint… do not wait for me.”
He charged valiantly and leapt at me with his sword out. “For Campbell!” He yelled as they all yelled behind him, breaking their at-attention stances….
I killed him…. I put all my anger into that pulled punch…
His head popped Right off. It exploded the tree behind him to splinters the size of swords. The hole left by it was about 50 feet deep, and 100 feet across…. “Aquia.” I said making it a lake… I may as well. His body… was crumpled inside the armor from the impact, slightly glowing red from the friction of the steel….
They were silent on seeing that.
It took the fire out their bellies, that was for damn sure.
“I’m not here for games.” I said a little annoyed. “I wonder…. Did mortals forget their place?” I was going to start killing the men in armor. They were a Joke to me, but I would not let anymore dragons die.
“No! Your Grace!” yelled a child running to my feet, no older than about 12 or 13. She’d slipped away from the immediate reach of the 14 other guards, and her mother, soon to be Zero if I fancied it.
She grabbed my legs crouching down like a small child, which got disapproving snarls from the other drakes… well more like begging screams of mercy.
[How Dare she touch someone so high!] They yelled.
[Please forgive us for not killing that one fast enough.]
[We did not know!]
[She angers the Great Maw… we are already doomed…]
[Let us little dragons flay her for you.] said another.
[Be silent.] I said in draconic.
They bowed their heads, while the humans didn’t seize the opportunity, because I could tell this one meant something to them. “What do you know mortal?” I said commanding her to rise.
She looked at my boots, terrified that she was so close now. She acted without thinking it seemed.
“Terra.” I said waving my hand to make a fine throne of earth. I only said the spells name, so that they could hear it. I had enough energy to waste on 20th tier magic for a chair… but honestly this was child’s play. This was usually channeled by multiple mages to move mountains to make roads. “You. Get me some water.” I pointed to a random human, who ran to do as I’d said. “Now tell me girl, what do you know?” I asked a little angrily. “The rest of you shift. There Will be peace while I am here.”
“How can you want peace when you killed Grishing’am?!” Yelled one of the men wielding dragon slaying steel. He held his hand on the pommel as if it could save him.
“If you recall, he started it. I have not burned, killed, pillaged nor eaten anyone. The only Death was from someone who came at Me with a sword. Now tell me... had one of mine come at you, would you not defend yourself?’
“… you spin my words.” He said angrily. It looked like he knew I was right, but didn’t want to admit it.
“I spin nothing. You saw my true size. I could have landed, and your Entire village would be gone with the palm of my claw.” I said truthfully.
“Please sire…. I know you do not lie…” said the mortal still at my boots. She hugged my leg, reminding me of a surf. It was something mortals did I think instinctually, since this wasn’t the first time I’d had this happen.
But then, I really would have made them an example for touching me.
“Why reason with cattle sire?” Asked Tivesh.
“Would you not sooth a fearful pet?” I asked. I patted her hair. “There there, little mortal tell me of this place.” I said calmly.
“…we are the survivors….” She said looking down at the dirt. I could almost see the horrors she thought I would do in her pleading downcast eyes. It actually made me feel bad.
“Of what?” I asked. I was neither loud nor demanding. I spoke to her like my mother did with me when I was upset.
“We are the survivors of the Dragon Slayer Chapter: The Sulfur Talon….” She mumbled. It rang a bell, but I let her continue. The other dragons heard all they needed. They were Meat to them now. “Before…. While you slept… there was a Small time when men ruled…. we thrived under Harbon, the Scale Snatcher… He ruled us for 40 summers…. In those 40 summers, he ruled Plemteth, a place in the North… but the elves and dragons would not stand for it… they killed him….”
“That’s enough Reeta!” Said the one who was serving me water. It was clear in a glass pitcher, given to me in a glass cup. They’d stolen such a luxury from the green dragons.
“Silence. Continue Reeta.” I said almost fumbling her name. I can’t remember everyone.
“Um… he was so successful… because he learned death magic.”
That did not exist….
“Was he the only one who knew it?” I asked.
“Yes… he died with most of his secrets… but after you disappeared… he wrote a book on how to… come back. By now, he should have… consumed the soul of his new body…Sir Trenten, and replaced his blood with a dragon’s… We followed his notes to the letter…I’m the only magic caster here…”
“Where is he?” I asked.
“That none of us will know… we were only tasked with keeping his book… but if I could guess… if I tell you… will you let us live?” She asked. “Please sir… my mama is with child… and you already killed my papa…”
Now I Legitimately Felt like a Dick.