Book 2: The Man Who Ate Cake

Drozakrahth

“Yes. But to be fair you should be specific with deals with immortals human. I promise I won’t make any Dragon Slayers slaves, throw you in the mines, or imprisonment. I can tell None of you here Actually knows what they’re doing….”

“…Oh my gods…” she whispered. “He might be going back to Plemteth Rock… for his armor. It is said that it was forged in the flames of your destruction…. Legend says the steel is only as strong as the dragon fire that makes it….” She mumbled.

… Then that means this was probably My fault.

Fuck me….

“Then I ask you. Would you become citizens of my country, and throw down your weapons?” I said firmly.

“And if we don’t, then you’ll torture us?” Asked the one who still held his sword by the pommel.

“No. I think I’ll peel the metal off you one by one, and give you to my men. You’ve killed their king. Albeit they are tribal… but Nothing compares to a dragon’s vengeance.” I said honestly. “Mind you, there’s only 14 of you, I brought 50. Even unshifted without a weapon you’re all heavily outnumbered…”

“But to throw down our sword is to break our vows…. And instead, be Your property…. ” said the guard. He must have been the next in command.

“Tell me, how would that be a bad thing? Running water, a job, a place to live. As a citizen, whatever life that pressured you into This, will not be. I know you’ve already heard of the laws I passed for human welfare. We ruled during my first reign that humans could Never have their own country… but the addendum to that, is that if they Cannot Rule, they Can be equal… I would even allow you to be the human voice on my council.” I said firmly.

The other dragons… they were confused.

“They kill our people... my father sire… and drink our blood like Ticks… Why master?” Asked Tivesh.

“Because We are the reason they are so desperate, that they turned to forbidden magics.” I said firmly. “Also, I know you can see it. These mortals are all slaves, or farmers. Let us save the unfiltered vengeance for the culprits…. Also I Must not break my word.” I said firmly.

[They Tricked his majesty…. How Dare they.] one hissed.

“Yeah, being a surf isn’t the same as being a slave.” He said sarcastically. “You don’t know what it’s like…. To be under the whip of a black dragon in the boiling sun… no relief from the humidity… the steam from the earth, mining silver you can never keep… knowing you have wages, but none go to you.” He said angrily.

I got off my throne.

“I don’t. And honestly with my size and strength, I could probably dig out a mountain and melt it down on the spot… so no… I don’t understand. But I Will NOT allow that to continue. I enforce that with my very being.” I growled. I stood, and walked to him.

The girl, Reeta, sat there in horror while the man took off his helmet. He looked like her. I bet that was her brother by his youth. Likely no older than 20.

“…I know any of us in this armor won’t live past tomorrow…. The dragons in town will find out who we are, and kill us. So… make it quick.” He said pulling out his sword, and sticking it in the dirt.

The others followed.

“You would die for a cause so meaningless?” I scoffed.

“To live in a land ruled by man… it is my dream.” He mumbled.

“I have Seen with My Own Eyes the human towns you all wish to have so desperately. Your own people extort you WORSE than any dragon… with us…. We at Least have the luxury of it being our nature…. Humans do what they do out of greed… The only difference between a human mine, and a draconic one, is that you might not get eaten at the end of it.” I said with crossed arms.

“Be that as it may… our deaths will give hope…” He said firmly.

“Ernest… no…,” said Reeta.

I slapped him. I tried using as little force as possible, because they would not die today.

“Servita.” I said making a tattoo collar around his neck. It was just a thick black line with my name on it in red… “Foolish human… all of you put your swords in the dirt… technically that Is surrendering. Take them to my castle. All of you will be my wife’s wedding gift. You will not meet her immediately; I need to cast the spell on the rest of you.” I mumbled.

“Monster.” Murmured one of the men in armor.

“No. He saves us….” Said Reeta… They know our faces… they hear our voices… they smell our scents… Do you Really think we can make it now?” she asked. “To trek across the desert… then the woodlands of the Crimson King, through his territory… with some of us pregnant, old, or Sick?” She said standing up…. “My papa… if he had not been so rash… he might still live… but I will… I will for the rest of us….” She mumbled.

“My mother is mortal. I understand your fear. She never had a harsh life, but I understand the weight of being around someone such as myself. I understand your Hurt somewhat. If I had to be honest, I don’t rightly Care, because of the armor you wear, but I cannot ignore that I made you citizens. I gave you rights. Why not take the opportunity?” I said clicking my tongue.

“What are you-” They were cut off by the spell.

“Mass Servitas.” I said calmly.

The ground beneath them glowed, and now they all had the collar tattoo on their necks.

If they tried to betray me or my wife, the collar tattoo would behead them on the spot. I wouldn’t tell them that though… I kind of liked the idea of them seeing that surprise for themselves.

-----Azula-----

I sat in the royal gardens outside for the first time without worry… I could pick the fruit freely, as could any on the estate. It was one of the things he changed, and for it I was happy. I even had a more … challenging book with me. It was a level 2 book, but when I tried sounding out the words, I knew what it was.

This one was just a little fairy tale. ‘The King Who Ate Cake.’ It wasn’t one I’d heard before, but the pictures on the old velum were … Very detailed. It was a king on the cover, with a slice of red cake.

*‘There once was a man who ate cake.

He would steal and take and take.

Because not enough they could make…

One day they said, after he was fed, he want-ed blood in-stead.’

The pictures in this one became scary.

‘Solis became mad, while Noc-turn-us glad

Be-cause en-nough he’d had

He cursed the man to walk the land…

…. Eat-ing the souls of man…?*

….

“What the hell?” I mumbled.

“Are you alright my lady?” Asked one of two black dragon guards who looked concerned.

“Should we punish the mage who gave this to you…?” Asked the other.

“No. He probably didn’t know about this one….” I mumbled. “But it doesn’t seem right not to finish it…”

*‘He roamed and ate

With a mon-stur-rous wake

Come Elf, human, beast-kin or drake

The war he waged gave him his cake….

The cake of flesh, blood and bone….

If he sees you Hide

Do not have pride..’*

The picture was of running people.

*‘Hope to the sun,

Pray to the night

That he hear not your mum-bles or groans

For he is after your marrow.*

And then there was a picture… he had scales on his skin like a dragon, but he looked like a person…. Everyone inside a giant stew pot were screaming. He had a bone ins his mouth, with a person still attached, but his foot was like he’d thrown it aside.

I threw it on the ground.

“Alright. My lady are you SURE you don’t want us to drag him here by his tendons?” Asked the bigger drake.

“Shush! You scare her more! His majesty will NOT ask! Would you like to bathe now? We can send for the human girl you like.” The shorter guard suggested.

“Oh that’s a good idea. Please go wash the fear off yourself my lady… his majesty will likely be in a poor mood- shit I wasn’t supposed to say that!” The taller dragon yelled.

…. They were more scared than I was…...

“I’m alright… I just didn’t expect to see something like that in a children’s tale… But I think… I feel like since someone took the time to paint this so…. Vividly, and detailed… maybe this monster exists….” I mumbled.

“Nothing like that is here my lady. Please allow us to let you see more pleasant things…” Mumbled the taller one.

“… I still think I should keep this… I don’t know WHY I have a feeling I should, but maybe his majesty might know.” I mumbled.

He was around a long time…. I bet something like that existed… he looked like a man in body but his face was Wrong… distorted…. Like a dragon’s face but too flat…. But he was in armor, and had a sword…. Like one you’d see a Dragon Slayer Guild member have…