Shownotes
The dragonslayer, a killer of great and deadly beasts of the air, a rainbow with a sword who has lain seven great dragons under his blade, is under quest given by his king. One that would pit him against a challenge that would define his life, or end in blood. He goes to face another dragon.
Today’s story is “The Dragonslayer’s Quest” by Ryx, who also goes by Nachtfangen, who once wrote prolifically but now needs a new starter, battery, and engine to get his words rolling again. As Ryx he helped spawn the Metamor Keep story setting which is still going after almost 25 years. As Nachfangen he tries. His stories can be found on Sofurry under the user name Nachtfangen.
Read by Rhubarb, Feathered Starfarer.
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If you have a story you think would be a good fit, you can check out the requirements, fill out the submission template and get in touch with us.
https://thevoice.dog/episode/the-dragonslayers-quest-by-ryx
Transcripts
You’re
listening
Speaker:to
Speaker:The
Speaker:Voice
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog.
Speaker:This
Speaker:is
Speaker:Rob
Speaker:MacWolf,
Speaker:your
Speaker:fellow
Speaker:traveller,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Today’s
Speaker:story
Speaker:is “The
Speaker:Dragonslayer’s Quest”
Speaker:by Ryx,
Speaker:who also goes by Nachtfangen, who once wrote prolifically
Speaker:but
Speaker:now
Speaker:needs
Speaker:a
Speaker:new
Speaker:starter,
Speaker:battery,
Speaker:and
Speaker:engine
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:his
Speaker:words
Speaker:rolling
Speaker:again.
Speaker:As
Speaker:Ryx
Speaker:he
Speaker:helped
Speaker:spawn the
Speaker:Metamor
Speaker:Keep
Speaker:story setting
Speaker:which
Speaker:is
Speaker:still
Speaker:going after
Speaker:almost 25
Speaker:years. As Nachfangen
Speaker:he
Speaker:tries.
Speaker:His
Speaker:stories
Speaker:can
Speaker:be
Speaker:found
Speaker:on
Speaker:Sofurry
Speaker:under the user name Nachtfangen.
Read by Rhubarb, Feathered Starfarer.
Please
enjoy
The
Dragonslayer’s
Speaker:Quest,
Speaker:by
Speaker:Ryx
The
high
Speaker:mountain
Speaker:forest
Speaker:was
Speaker:lush
Speaker:and
Speaker:green,
Speaker:the
Speaker:day
Speaker:cool
Speaker:and
Speaker:bright.
Speaker:Puffy
Speaker:fair
Speaker:weather
Speaker:clouds
Speaker:dotted
Speaker:the
Speaker:sky
Speaker:like
Speaker:errant
Speaker:sheep.
Speaker:Through
Speaker:shadows
Speaker:and
Speaker:bright
Speaker:splashes
Speaker:of
Speaker:dappled
Speaker:sunlight
Speaker:rode
Speaker:a
Speaker:very
Speaker:curious
Speaker:sight.
Speaker:A
Speaker:man
Speaker:on
Speaker:horseback
Speaker:was
Speaker:not,
Speaker:of
Speaker:itself,
Speaker:particularly
Speaker:curious
Speaker:to
Speaker:find
Speaker:but
Speaker:a knight
Speaker:riding
Speaker:alone
Speaker:without
Speaker:retinue
Speaker:it
Speaker:was,
Speaker:even
Speaker:then,
Speaker:not
Speaker:particularly
Speaker:curious.
But
a knight
Speaker:bedecked
Speaker:in
Speaker:all
Speaker:the
Speaker:hues
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:rainbow
Speaker:was
Speaker:most
Speaker:certainly
Speaker:curious
Speaker:indeed.
Speaker:The
Speaker:mounted
Speaker:knight’s
Speaker:armor
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:garish
Speaker:mixture
Speaker:of brilliant hues. His couriasse was a
Speaker:vibrant
Speaker:red
Speaker:that
Speaker:drank
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:light
Speaker:without
Speaker:offering
Speaker:a
Speaker:gleam
Speaker:of
Speaker:polished
Speaker:metal
Speaker:in
Speaker:return.
Speaker:His
Speaker:pauldrons
Speaker:a
Speaker:deep
Speaker:indigo,
Speaker:greaves
Speaker:and
Speaker:sabatons
Speaker:blue,
Speaker:vambraces
Speaker:and
Speaker:gauntlets
Speaker:a
Speaker:silvery
Speaker:white.
Speaker:Many
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:smaller
Speaker:components
Speaker:that
Speaker:made
Speaker:up
Speaker:his
Speaker:plate
Speaker:were
Speaker:of
Speaker:different
Speaker:hues
Speaker:as
Speaker:well
Speaker:though
Speaker:not
Speaker:so
Speaker:garish
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:outer
Speaker:shell.
Speaker:His
Speaker:helm and
Speaker:the
Speaker:gambeson
Speaker:were
Speaker:both
Speaker:an
Speaker:unrelieved
Speaker:black
Speaker:to
Speaker:match
Speaker:his
Speaker:night
Speaker:black
Speaker:steed
Speaker:though
Speaker:without
Speaker:its
Speaker:gloss.
Speaker:At
Speaker:the
Speaker:right
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:high
Speaker:saddle
Speaker:hung
Speaker:a
Speaker:great
Speaker:sword
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:purple
Speaker:scabbard
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:large
Speaker:kite
Speaker:shield
Speaker:of
Speaker:similar
Speaker:hue
Speaker:hung
Speaker:at
Speaker:his
Speaker:opposite
Speaker:side.
In
contrast,
Speaker:the
Speaker:saddle
Speaker:and
Speaker:barding
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:muscular
Speaker:destrier
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:much
Speaker:less
Speaker:ostentatious
Speaker:affair
Speaker:in
Speaker:basic
Speaker:browns
Speaker:with
Speaker:little
Speaker:decoration,
Speaker:even
Speaker:the
Speaker:standard
Speaker:cup
Speaker:was
Speaker:empty
Speaker:revealing
Speaker:he rode
Speaker:for
Speaker:no
Speaker:lord
Speaker:or
Speaker:land.
He
rode
Speaker:alone
Speaker:in
Speaker:the alpine
Speaker:forest,
Speaker:confident
Speaker:none
Speaker:would
Speaker:challenge
Speaker:him
Speaker:for
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:well armed
Speaker:rainbow,
Speaker:indeed.
High Knight
of
Speaker:three
Speaker:different
Speaker:orders
Speaker:and
Speaker:association
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:couple
Speaker:dozen
Speaker:others,
Speaker:Grand
Speaker:Marshal,
Speaker:commoner
Speaker:by
Speaker:birth
Speaker:and
Speaker:royal
Speaker:by
Speaker:station
Speaker:and deed,
Speaker:Jarl
Speaker:of Duer Ghaoth, Duke of Tyrn Al’Chagel Bar,
Speaker:and
Speaker:presumptive
Speaker:heir
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:throne
Speaker:of
Speaker:Amyre,
Speaker:Dragon
Speaker:Slayer
Speaker:Dirsche
Speaker:Swinson
Speaker:admired
Speaker:the
Speaker:day.
It
was
Speaker:just
Speaker:cool
Speaker:enough
Speaker:not
Speaker:to
Speaker:swelter
Speaker:within
Speaker:his
Speaker:dragonhide
Speaker:armor,
Speaker:a
Speaker:blessing
Speaker:worth
Speaker:his
Speaker:mount’s
Speaker:weight
Speaker:in
Speaker:silver,
Speaker:he
Speaker:would
Speaker:admit.
Speaker:The
Speaker:sky
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:vibrant
Speaker:blue
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:breeze
Speaker:refreshingly
Speaker:crisp
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:visor
Speaker:slit
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:helm.
Speaker:The
Speaker:mountain
Speaker:smelled
Speaker:of
Speaker:green,
Speaker:rich
Speaker:earth,
Speaker:and
Speaker:pristine
Speaker:water,
Speaker:the
Speaker:forest
Speaker:unbroken
Speaker:for
Speaker:leagues.
Speaker:There
Speaker:was
Speaker:neither
Speaker:homestead
Speaker:nor
Speaker:town
Speaker:within
Speaker:a
Speaker:half
Speaker:day’s
Speaker:walk
Speaker:allowing
Speaker:him
Speaker:much
Speaker:enjoyed
Speaker:peace
Speaker:and
Speaker:solitude.
Quite
too
Speaker:good
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:out
Speaker:hunting
Speaker:yet
Speaker:another
Speaker:dragon.
He
was
Speaker:alone
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:hunt,
Speaker:as
Speaker:was
Speaker:his
Speaker:wont,
Speaker:having
Speaker:lost
Speaker:his
Speaker:hangers' on
Speaker:long
Speaker:ago,
Speaker:eschewing
Speaker:their
Speaker:servile
Speaker:pampering
Speaker:and
Speaker:whispering
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:ear
Speaker:to
Speaker:further
Speaker:some
Speaker:political
Speaker:machination
Speaker:or
Speaker:another,
Speaker:all
Speaker:too
Speaker:often
Speaker:to
Speaker:their
Speaker:own
Speaker:benefit.
Dirsche
had
Speaker:been
Speaker:raised
Speaker:tending
Speaker:pigs,
Speaker:not
Speaker:princedoms,
Speaker:and
Speaker:preferred
Speaker:the
Speaker:simple
Speaker:life
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:commoner.
Speaker:He
Speaker:certainly
Speaker:did
Speaker:have
Speaker:his
Speaker:ideals,
Speaker:and
Speaker:unvoiced
Speaker:political
Speaker:aims
Speaker:which
Speaker:seldom
Speaker:aligned
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:voices
Speaker:whispering
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:ear.
Speaker:But
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:not
Speaker:yet
Speaker:time
Speaker:to
Speaker:proclaim
Speaker:them.
That
time
Speaker:would
Speaker:be
Speaker:coming,
Speaker:however,
Speaker:once
Speaker:he
Speaker:completed
Speaker:his
Speaker:latest
Speaker:task.
Ah,
but
Speaker:how
Speaker:different
Speaker:life
Speaker:would've
Speaker:been
Speaker:if
Speaker:he
Speaker:had
Speaker:not
Speaker:thrust
Speaker:his
Speaker:baron's
Speaker:boar
Speaker:spear
Speaker:into
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:few
Speaker:vulnerable
Speaker:spots
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:Black
Speaker:Terror,
Speaker:the dragon
Speaker:Ygdransair. He had been
Speaker:but
Speaker:a
Speaker:lad
Speaker:of
Speaker:twelve,
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:time,
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:rampaging
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:had
Speaker:laid
Speaker:waste
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:village
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:birth.
Speaker:Many
Speaker:died,
Speaker:many
Speaker:fled,
Speaker:a
Speaker:small
Speaker:number
Speaker:had
Speaker:sought
Speaker:shelter
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:remains
Speaker:when
Speaker:the
Speaker:king’s
Speaker:knights
Speaker:arrived.
The
black
Speaker:beast
Speaker:slew
Speaker:half
Speaker:of
Speaker:them,
Speaker:taking
Speaker:a
Speaker:stand
Speaker:against
Speaker:those
Speaker:who
Speaker:remained
Speaker:in
Speaker:what was
Speaker:left of
Speaker:the
Speaker:Swineson
Speaker:farmstead
Speaker:where
Speaker:Dirsche
Speaker:alone
Speaker:remained,
Speaker:hiding
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:smashed
Speaker:sty
Speaker:among
Speaker:dead
Speaker:and
Speaker:dying
Speaker:pigs.
Six
of
Speaker:the
Speaker:original
Speaker:fourteen knights
Speaker:remained
Speaker:and
Speaker:set
Speaker:upon
Speaker:the
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:from
Speaker:all
Speaker:sides,
Speaker:goading
Speaker:and
Speaker:stabbing
Speaker:at
Speaker:it
Speaker:with
Speaker:great spears of ensorceled wood and adamant heads. One
Speaker:spear
Speaker:came
Speaker:to
Speaker:rest
Speaker:feet
Speaker:from
Speaker:where
Speaker:Dirsche
Speaker:sheltered,
Speaker:its
Speaker:bearer
Speaker:catapulted
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:sight
Speaker:by
Speaker:a
Speaker:mighty
Speaker:sweep
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:great
Speaker:black
Speaker:tail.
One
more knight
Speaker:fell
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:next
Speaker:charge,
Speaker:forcing
Speaker:the
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:that
Speaker:was
Speaker:many
Speaker:times
Speaker:the
Speaker:size
Speaker:of
Speaker:they and
Speaker:their
Speaker:mounts
Speaker:by
Speaker:multiples
Speaker:of
Speaker:ten,
Speaker:back
Speaker:grudging
Speaker:step
Speaker:by
Speaker:step.
Speaker:Dirsche,
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:fit
Speaker:of
Speaker:terrified
Speaker:desperation,
Speaker:snatched
Speaker:up
Speaker:the
Speaker:spear.
At
his
Speaker:first
Speaker:touch
Speaker:upon
Speaker:the
Speaker:smooth
Speaker:wooden
Speaker:shaft
Speaker:the
Speaker:aura of
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:terror
Speaker:evaporated,
Speaker:whisked
Speaker:away
Speaker:leaving
Speaker:behind
Speaker:no
Speaker:more
Speaker:fear
Speaker:than
Speaker:the
Speaker:caution
Speaker:he
Speaker:might
Speaker:have
Speaker:felt
Speaker:when
Speaker:facing
Speaker:down
Speaker:an
Speaker:angry
Speaker:sow.
Speaker:Pulling
Speaker:the
Speaker:spear
Speaker:to
Speaker:himself
Speaker:Dirsche
Speaker:crouched
Speaker:and
Speaker:grasped
Speaker:the
Speaker:shaft,
Speaker:waiting
Speaker:for
Speaker:some
Speaker:opening
Speaker:he
Speaker:could
Speaker:use,
Speaker:or
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:stepped
Speaker:upon
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:retreated
Speaker:closer
Speaker:toward the sty it
Speaker:had
Speaker:already
Speaker:smashed to
Speaker:faggots.
And
then
Speaker:Baron Thadell,
Speaker:the
Speaker:local
Speaker:Lord,
Speaker:was
Speaker:swiped
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:saddle,
Speaker:pinwheeling
Speaker:thrice
Speaker:before
Speaker:plowing
Speaker:into
Speaker:what
Speaker:remained
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:Swinson’s
Speaker:croft,
Speaker:his
Speaker:armor
Speaker:shredded
Speaker:to
Speaker:ruin
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:flesh
Speaker:beneath
Speaker:worse.
Speaker:That
Speaker:was
Speaker:when
Speaker:the
Speaker:boy
Speaker:saw
Speaker:his
Speaker:opening,
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:few
Speaker:places
Speaker:the
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:was
Speaker:vulnerable
Speaker:as
Speaker:it
Speaker:stood
Speaker:astride
Speaker:the
Speaker:sty
Speaker:and
Speaker:bellowed
Speaker:its
Speaker:rage
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:four
Speaker:remaining
Speaker:knights.
Grasping
the
Speaker:spear
Speaker:and
Speaker:raising
Speaker:it
Speaker:aloft
Speaker:Dirsche
Speaker:stormed
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:shelter
Speaker:without
Speaker:a
Speaker:cry,
Speaker:aiming
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:weakness
Speaker:he
Speaker:had
Speaker:spied
Speaker:beneath
Speaker:the
Speaker:dragon’s
Speaker:lashing
Speaker:tail.
With
all
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:strength,
Speaker:which
Speaker:was
Speaker:not
Speaker:inconsiderable
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:hard working
Speaker:lad
Speaker:of
Speaker:twelve,
Speaker:he
Speaker:drove
Speaker:the
Speaker:spear
Speaker:up
Speaker:and
Speaker:forward
Speaker:even
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:backed
Speaker:up
Speaker:before
Speaker:another
Speaker:charge.
Speaker:Unerringly
Speaker:the
Speaker:spear
Speaker:found
Speaker:its
Speaker:target,
Speaker:sinking
Speaker:unresisted
Speaker:by
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:scale
Speaker:through
Speaker:cloaca,
Speaker:rectum,
Speaker:and
Speaker:bowel
Speaker:before
Speaker:slicing
Speaker:lethally
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:black
Speaker:monster’s villainous heart.
In its
shock
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:sudden
Speaker:agony
Speaker:the
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:lurched
Speaker:and
Speaker:then
Speaker:collapsed
Speaker:back,
Speaker:sitting
Speaker:upon
Speaker:the
Speaker:unfortunate
Speaker:lad
Speaker:and
Speaker:plunging
Speaker:him
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:fetid
Speaker:darkness
Speaker:behind
Speaker:his
Speaker:spear.
Speaker:That
Speaker:spared
Speaker:him
Speaker:the
Speaker:dragon’s death
Speaker:throes,
Speaker:if
Speaker:indelicately.
Bathed
head
Speaker:to
Speaker:heels
Speaker:in
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:blood
Speaker:and
Speaker:more
Speaker:noisome
Speaker:substances
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:hailed
Speaker:as a
Speaker:hero.
Speaker:Once
Speaker:he
Speaker:had
Speaker:been
Speaker:dragged
Speaker:from
Speaker:beneath
Speaker:the
Speaker:dead
Speaker:beast’s
Speaker:tail,
Speaker:and
Speaker:made
Speaker:feast
Speaker:upon
Speaker:its
Speaker:skewered
Speaker:heart,
Speaker:the
Speaker:knights
Speaker:had
Speaker:taken
Speaker:him
Speaker:to
Speaker:squire.
Speaker:He
Speaker:learned
Speaker:sword
Speaker:and
Speaker:shield,
Speaker:letters
Speaker:and
Speaker:numbers,
Speaker:hunt
Speaker:and
Speaker:court,
Speaker:until
Speaker:he
Speaker:became
Speaker:a
Speaker:knight
Speaker:true.
No
one
Speaker:called
Speaker:him
Speaker:Sir
Speaker:Swineherd
Speaker:any
Speaker:more.
Speaker:Slaying
Speaker:seven
Speaker:dragons
Speaker:in
Speaker:thirteen
Speaker:years
Speaker:tended
Speaker:to
Speaker:quell
Speaker:pejoratives.
Speaker:That
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:kind
Speaker:and
Speaker:charitable,
Speaker:to
Speaker:a
Speaker:fault,
Speaker:with
Speaker:peasant
Speaker:and
Speaker:nobility
Speaker:alike,
Speaker:winnowed out
Speaker:many
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:detractors
Speaker:in
Speaker:short
Speaker:order.
Speaker:While
Speaker:he
Speaker:might
Speaker:not
Speaker:best
Speaker:his
Speaker:challengers at
Speaker:joust
Speaker:how
Speaker:many
Speaker:could
Speaker:claim
Speaker:to
Speaker:have
Speaker:slain
Speaker:three
Speaker:dragons,
Speaker:much
Speaker:less
Speaker:seven?
Sir
Dirsche,
Speaker:the Rainbow
Speaker:Knight,
Speaker:rode
Speaker:his shadow
Speaker:black
Speaker:warhorse
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:fringes
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:forest
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:meadow
Speaker:of
Speaker:lush
Speaker:greens
Speaker:and
Speaker:colors.
Speaker:Flowers
Speaker:swayed
Speaker:their
Speaker:vibrant
Speaker:hues
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:verdant
Speaker:green
Speaker:carpet
Speaker:of
Speaker:grass.
Speaker:Across
Speaker:the
Speaker:clearing,
Speaker:nestled
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:base
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:sheer
Speaker:rock
Speaker:wall,
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:modest
Speaker:lake
Speaker:of
Speaker:crystal
Speaker:clear
Speaker:water.
Speaker:As
Speaker:he
Speaker:rode
Speaker:closer
Speaker:he
Speaker:could
Speaker:see
Speaker:great
Speaker:schools
Speaker:of
Speaker:trout,
Speaker:and
Speaker:some
Speaker:other
Speaker:far
Speaker:larger
Speaker:fish,
Speaker:suspended
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:shimmering
Speaker:depths.
Speaker:Deeper
Speaker:still
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:vast,
Speaker:black
Speaker:blot
Speaker:of
Speaker:far
Speaker:deeper
Speaker:water.
The
maw
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:dragon's
Speaker:lair.
Moving
away,
Speaker:to
Speaker:a
Speaker:large
Speaker:stone upthrust
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:earth,
Speaker:he
Speaker:dismounted
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:creak
Speaker:of
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:leather
Speaker:armor
Speaker:and
Speaker:saddle
Speaker:leather.
Speaker:Unlimbering
Speaker:shield
Speaker:and
Speaker:scabbard
Speaker:he
Speaker:leaned
Speaker:them
Speaker:against
Speaker:the
Speaker:stone.
Speaker:He
Speaker:then
Speaker:set
Speaker:about
Speaker:removing
Speaker:his
Speaker:mount’s saddle
Speaker:and
Speaker:barding,
Speaker:carefully
Speaker:setting
Speaker:it
Speaker:neatly
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:shade
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:tree
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:forest’s edge.
Speaker:He
Speaker:did
Speaker:this
Speaker:before
Speaker:bracing
Speaker:any
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:lest
Speaker:his
Speaker:demise
Speaker:leave
Speaker:his
Speaker:mount
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:wild,
Speaker:alone
Speaker:and
Speaker:burdened,
Speaker:unable
Speaker:to
Speaker:escape
Speaker:its
Speaker:encumbrance.
Speaker:His
Speaker:mount,
Speaker:long
Speaker:inured
Speaker:to
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:fear
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:clangor
Speaker:of
Speaker:battle,
Speaker:would
Speaker:not
Speaker:stray
Speaker:far
Speaker:unless
Speaker:beset
Speaker:directly.
With
a
Speaker:pat
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:muscular
Speaker:shoulder
Speaker:he
Speaker:let
Speaker:it
Speaker:amble
Speaker:away
Speaker:to
Speaker:graze.
Speaker:Taking
Speaker:a
Speaker:casual
Speaker:seat
Speaker:upon
Speaker:the
Speaker:stone,
Speaker:shield
Speaker:and
Speaker:sword
Speaker:close
Speaker:at
Speaker:hand,
Speaker:he
Speaker:drew
Speaker:a
Speaker:simple
Speaker:tenor
Speaker:recorder
Speaker:of
Speaker:age
Speaker:whitened
Speaker:bone
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:belt.
Speaker:Raising
Speaker:it
Speaker:to
Speaker:his
Speaker:lips
Speaker:he
Speaker:began
Speaker:to
Speaker:play.
Speaker:Though
Speaker:he
Speaker:heard
Speaker:little
Speaker:more
Speaker:than
Speaker:a
Speaker:breathy
Speaker:warble
Speaker:he
Speaker:felt
Speaker:it
Speaker:vibrate
Speaker:against
Speaker:his
Speaker:lips
Speaker:and
Speaker:beneath
Speaker:his
Speaker:fingers
Speaker:through
Speaker:his
Speaker:gauntlets.
Speaker:Though
Speaker:he
Speaker:could
Speaker:not
Speaker:hear
Speaker:its
Speaker:music,
Speaker:he
Speaker:knew
Speaker:that
Speaker:the
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:most
Speaker:certainly
Speaker:would.
For
a
Speaker:quarter
Speaker:hour
Speaker:he
Speaker:played
Speaker:idly
Speaker:upon
Speaker:the
Speaker:flute,
Speaker:unable
Speaker:to
Speaker:follow
Speaker:a
Speaker:tune
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:could
Speaker:not
Speaker:hear
Speaker:it,
Speaker:until
Speaker:he
Speaker:saw
Speaker:the
Speaker:surface
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:lake
Speaker:ripple
Speaker:as
Speaker:if
Speaker:disturbed
Speaker:from
Speaker:within
Speaker:its
Speaker:depths.
Speaker:Something
Speaker:moved
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:dark
Speaker:shadows
Speaker:deep
Speaker:within
Speaker:the
Speaker:lake,
Speaker:causing
Speaker:its
Speaker:surface
Speaker:to
Speaker:bulge
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:river
Speaker:flowing
Speaker:over
Speaker:a
Speaker:large
Speaker:rock
Speaker:beneath
Speaker:the
Speaker:surface.
Speaker:He
Speaker:tootled
Speaker:a
Speaker:sharper
Speaker:riff
Speaker:and,
Speaker:abruptly,
Speaker:the
Speaker:waters
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:lake
Speaker:surged
Speaker:upward
Speaker:before
Speaker:exploding
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:great,
Speaker:frothing
Speaker:fountain.
Speaker:A
Speaker:large,
Speaker:green
Speaker:shape
Speaker:launched
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:falling
Speaker:water,
Speaker:churning
Speaker:up
Speaker:grass
Speaker:and
Speaker:flowers
Speaker:as
Speaker:it
Speaker:bounded
Speaker:ashore
Speaker:and
Speaker:slew
Speaker:to
Speaker:one
Speaker:side.
Speaker:Great turves
Speaker:of
Speaker:earth
Speaker:were
Speaker:gouged
Speaker:up
Speaker:by
Speaker:powerful
Speaker:talons
Speaker:and
Speaker:unhomed
Speaker:fish
Speaker:flopping
Speaker:wildly
Speaker:about
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:grass
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:water
Speaker:retreated
Speaker:staining
Speaker:the
Speaker:crystalline
Speaker:waters
Speaker:with
Speaker:mud.
Speaker:A
Speaker:great
Speaker:serpentine
Speaker:neck
Speaker:raised
Speaker:an
Speaker:angular,
Speaker:arrow
Speaker:shaped
Speaker:head
Speaker:high,
Speaker:mighty
Speaker:wings
Speaker:beating
Speaker:to
Speaker:flatten
Speaker:the
Speaker:flowers
Speaker:and
Speaker:grass. "Desist
Speaker:that
Speaker:cloaca
Speaker:spawned
Speaker:cacophony!"
Speaker:it
Speaker:roared
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:sound
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:tea kettle well
Speaker:past
Speaker:boiling.
Sir Dirsche
did,
Speaker:lowering
Speaker:the
Speaker:recorder
Speaker:to
Speaker:eye it
Speaker:speculatively. "Cloaca spawned?
Speaker:Well, can't say
Speaker:as I've
Speaker:ever
Speaker:heard
Speaker:it
Speaker:thus
Speaker:described."
Speaker:He opined
Speaker:ruefully,
Speaker:not
Speaker:reaching
Speaker:for
Speaker:either
Speaker:sword
Speaker:or
Speaker:shield. "But
Speaker:then,
Speaker:human
Speaker:ears
Speaker:are
Speaker:deaf
Speaker:to
Speaker:it."
Speaker:Turning
Speaker:slightly
Speaker:upon
Speaker:the
Speaker:rock
Speaker:to
Speaker:gaze
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:furious
Speaker:dragon's
Speaker:wrathful
Speaker:visage.
It,
or
Speaker:rather 'she'
Speaker:if
Speaker:the
Speaker:villagers
Speaker:had
Speaker:been
Speaker:truthful,
Speaker:was
Speaker:quite
Speaker:an
Speaker:image
Speaker:to
Speaker:take
Speaker:in.
Speaker:Overall
Speaker:she
Speaker:was
Speaker:primarily
Speaker:green
Speaker:in
Speaker:hue,
Speaker:from
Speaker:a
Speaker:deep
Speaker:emerald
Speaker:along
Speaker:her
Speaker:back
Speaker:fading
Speaker:to
Speaker:lighter
Speaker:hues
Speaker:along
Speaker:the
Speaker:underside
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:throat
Speaker:and
Speaker:wings.
Speaker:Below
Speaker:those
Speaker:vast
Speaker:wings
Speaker:her
Speaker:smooth
Speaker:flesh
Speaker:was
Speaker:striated
Speaker:with
Speaker:blues,
Speaker:greens,
Speaker:and
Speaker:aquamarines
Speaker:interspersed
Speaker:with
Speaker:rosettes
Speaker:of
Speaker:red
Speaker:or
Speaker:ocher
Speaker:or
Speaker:orange
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:manner
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:trout.
Quite
pretty
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:deadly,
Speaker:predatory
Speaker:way.
Piercing
eyes,
Speaker:slitted
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:cat’s
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:pure
Speaker:blue
Speaker:of
Speaker:azure,
Speaker:pinned
Speaker:the knight
Speaker:where
Speaker:he
Speaker:sat.
Giving
a
Speaker:courtly
Speaker:bow
Speaker:from
Speaker:atop
Speaker:the
Speaker:stone
Speaker:the knight
Speaker:offered
Speaker:a
Speaker:warm
Speaker:smile. "I
Speaker:am
Speaker:Sir -”
"I
know
Speaker:who
Speaker:you
Speaker:are!"
Speaker:she
Speaker:roared
Speaker:again,
Speaker:mantling
Speaker:those
Speaker:mighty
Speaker:wings.
Speaker:From
Speaker:nose
Speaker:tip
Speaker:to
Speaker:tail
Speaker:she
Speaker:was
Speaker:four
Speaker:or
Speaker:five
Speaker:horse
Speaker:lengths,
Speaker:those
Speaker:wings
Speaker:easily
Speaker:six.
Speaker:Not
Speaker:huge,
Speaker:as
Speaker:dragons
Speaker:went,
Speaker:but
Speaker:not
Speaker:small
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:least. "Dragon
Speaker:scourge."
Speaker:she
Speaker:hissed
Speaker:in wroth. "A
Speaker:slayer who dons
Speaker:the
Speaker:hide of his slain!"
Sir Dirsche
looked
Speaker:himself
Speaker:over
Speaker:and
Speaker:nodded. "Well,
Speaker:yes,
Speaker:I
Speaker:am
Speaker:that."
Speaker:He
Speaker:admitted
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:self-effacing
Speaker:shrug. “As
Speaker:I
Speaker:know
Speaker:you,
Speaker:mistress
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:lake.
Speaker:Rather
Speaker:than
Speaker:butcher
Speaker:your
Speaker:true
Speaker:given
Speaker:name
Speaker:with
Speaker:my
Speaker:woefully
Speaker:inadequate
Speaker:human
Speaker:throat,
Speaker:how
Speaker:might
Speaker:I
Speaker:address
Speaker:you?
Speaker:The
Speaker:locals,
Speaker:I
Speaker:am
Speaker:learned,
Speaker:often
Speaker:call
Speaker:you
Speaker:Jade.”
Not
mollified
Speaker:by
Speaker:his
Speaker:civil
Speaker:tone
Speaker:and
Speaker:unthreatening
Speaker:posture
Speaker:the
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:loomed
Speaker:and
Speaker:glared. “And
Speaker:why
Speaker:come
Speaker:you, scourge?
Speaker:To
Speaker:add
Speaker:yet
Speaker:another
Speaker:hue
Speaker:to
Speaker:your
Speaker:vile
Speaker:plumage?”
Speaker:She
Speaker:growled,
Speaker:shuddering
Speaker:the
Speaker:earth
Speaker:beneath
Speaker:her
Speaker:daunting
Speaker:form
Speaker:poised
Speaker:to
Speaker:strike.
The
knight
Speaker:shook
Speaker:his
Speaker:head
Speaker:slowly, “Nay,
Speaker:mistress
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:lake.
Speaker:I
Speaker:came
Speaker:to
Speaker:bargain,
Speaker:and to
Speaker:offer
Speaker:a
Speaker:story,
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:local
Speaker:village
Speaker:folk
Speaker:do
Speaker:when
Speaker:they
Speaker:visit.”
The
dragon’s
Speaker:angular
Speaker:head
Speaker:tilted
Speaker:slightly,
Speaker:untrusting. “To
Speaker:bargain
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:story?
Speaker:In
Speaker:full caparison
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:slaughtered
Speaker:kin?
Speaker:Do
Speaker:you
Speaker:take
Speaker:me a fool,
Speaker:scourge?
Speaker:You’ll not
Speaker:have
Speaker:my
Speaker:hide
Speaker:this
Speaker:day,
Speaker:unless
Speaker:you
Speaker:breathe
Speaker:as
Speaker:a
Speaker:fish
Speaker:does!”
Dirsche
nodded
Speaker:and
Speaker:glanced
Speaker:down
Speaker:at
Speaker:his
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:gauntleted
Speaker:hands. “I
Speaker:fear
Speaker:you
Speaker:are
Speaker:most
Speaker:observant
Speaker:and no fool,
Speaker:mighty
Speaker:mistress
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:lake.
Speaker:Nor
Speaker:am
Speaker:I.
Speaker:One
Speaker:does
Speaker:not
Speaker:brace
Speaker:a
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:lintel
Speaker:of
Speaker:their
Speaker:lair
Speaker:with,
Speaker:ahem, ‘cloacally
Speaker:spawned’
Speaker:music
Speaker:without
Speaker:expecting
Speaker:a
Speaker:less
Speaker:vocal
Speaker:and
Speaker:more
Speaker:violent
Speaker:greeting.”
Azure
eyes
Speaker:narrowed,
Speaker:cat-like
Speaker:pupils
Speaker:widening
Speaker:slightly, “Then
Speaker:why
Speaker:have
Speaker:you
Speaker:disturbed
Speaker:me
Speaker:with
Speaker:your
Speaker:annoying
Speaker:shrill?”
Speaker:She
Speaker:coughed
Speaker:a
Speaker:furious
Speaker:growl.
“As
I
Speaker:said,
Speaker:to
Speaker:share
Speaker:a
Speaker:story
Speaker:and,
Speaker:perchance,
Speaker:enter
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:bargain.”
“What
bargain?”
“In
due
Speaker:time,
Speaker:great
Speaker:one.
Speaker:If
Speaker:I
Speaker:might
Speaker:ask
Speaker:one
Speaker:question?
Speaker:Have
Speaker:you
Speaker:mastered
Speaker:the
Speaker:art
Speaker:of
Speaker:draconic
Speaker:shapeshifting?”
Gaze
hardening
Speaker:the
Speaker:dragoness
Speaker:snorted
Speaker:a
Speaker:plume
Speaker:of
Speaker:steam
Speaker:from
Speaker:her
Speaker:narrow
Speaker:nostrils. “Of course.”
Speaker:she
Speaker:snarled
Speaker:dubiously. “No
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:ventures
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:lair
Speaker:of
Speaker:its
Speaker:parents
Speaker:that
Speaker:cannot
Speaker:assume
Speaker:a
Speaker:less
Speaker:conspicuous
Speaker:form.”
“Magnificent,
you
Speaker:are.”
Speaker:Sir Dirsche
Speaker:clapped
Speaker:his gauntleted
Speaker:hands
Speaker:once. “If
Speaker:you
Speaker:may,
Speaker:great
Speaker:mistress,
Speaker:a
Speaker:display?”
The
large
Speaker:head
Speaker:drew
Speaker:back
Speaker:slightly
Speaker:in
Speaker:distrust. “That
Speaker:you
Speaker:may
Speaker:cut
Speaker:me
Speaker:down
Speaker:in
Speaker:some
Speaker:weak
Speaker:form?
Speaker:No.”
Speaker:Her
Speaker:snarl
Speaker:showed
Speaker:a
Speaker:distressing
Speaker:array
Speaker:of
Speaker:gleaming
Speaker:ivory
Speaker:points. “You
Speaker:presume
Speaker:far
Speaker:too
Speaker:much,
Speaker:scourge.”
The knight
conceded
Speaker:the
Speaker:point
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:rolling
Speaker:wave
Speaker:of
Speaker:one
Speaker:hand. “I
Speaker:have
Speaker:not
Speaker:taken
Speaker:up
Speaker:my
Speaker:sword,
Speaker:mistress,
Speaker:nor
Speaker:shall
Speaker:I.
Speaker:I
Speaker:merely
Speaker:wish
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:you
Speaker:change,
Speaker:the
Speaker:manner
Speaker:would
Speaker:be
Speaker:entirely
Speaker:your
Speaker:choice.”
“Why?”
Though
Speaker:not
Speaker:the
Speaker:previous
Speaker:teakettle
Speaker:shriek
Speaker:or
Speaker:coughing
Speaker:snarl
Speaker:her
Speaker:voice
Speaker:still
Speaker:growled
Speaker:with
Speaker:irritation.
“Surety,
mistress.
Speaker:A
Speaker:formality,
Speaker:only,
Speaker:before
Speaker:I
Speaker:continue with
Speaker:my
Speaker:parlay.”
“And
if
Speaker:I
Speaker:refuse?”
“Then
I
Speaker:shall
Speaker:leave,
Speaker:peacefully,
Speaker:and
Speaker:speak
Speaker:naught
Speaker:of
Speaker:our
Speaker:parlay,
Speaker:or
Speaker:this
Speaker:place,
Speaker:to
Speaker:any
Speaker:other.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:replied
Speaker:succinctly,
Speaker:still
Speaker:unmoving
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:stone
Speaker:perch,
Speaker:hands
Speaker:clasped
Speaker:upon
Speaker:his
Speaker:knee
Speaker:with
Speaker:complete
Speaker:aplomb
Speaker:despite
Speaker:bracing
Speaker:a
Speaker:dragon. “Or,
Speaker:perhaps,
Speaker:continue
Speaker:my
Speaker:serenade.”
The
dragon’s
Speaker:ear-frills
Speaker:rose
Speaker:in
Speaker:surprise
Speaker:before
Speaker:backing
Speaker:in
Speaker:disgust. “I
Speaker:should
Speaker:eat
Speaker:you
Speaker:for
Speaker:that
Speaker:alone!
Speaker:If
Speaker:the
Speaker:taste
Speaker:would
Speaker:not
Speaker:sour
Speaker:my
Speaker:gut
Speaker:and
Speaker:reverse
Speaker:my
Speaker:gorge.”
Speaker:She
Speaker:glared
Speaker:down
Speaker:at
Speaker:him
Speaker:unmoving
Speaker:upon
Speaker:his
Speaker:seat
Speaker:of
Speaker:stone,
Speaker:sword
Speaker:and
Speaker:recorder
Speaker:both
Speaker:within
Speaker:easy
Speaker:reach.
Speaker:Indeed,
Speaker:the
Speaker:toe
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:sabbaton
Speaker:tapped
Speaker:lightly
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:butt
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:sheathed
Speaker:weapon
Speaker:leaning
Speaker:against
Speaker:the
Speaker:stone. “Oh,
Speaker:very
Speaker:well,
Speaker:if
Speaker:it
Speaker:will
Speaker:bring
Speaker:you
Speaker:to
Speaker:vacate
Speaker:all
Speaker:the
Speaker:more
Speaker:swiftly.”
With
a
Speaker:long
Speaker:suffering
Speaker:sigh
Speaker:the
Speaker:dragoness
Speaker:raised
Speaker:one
Speaker:stout
Speaker:foreleg and
Speaker:extended
Speaker:it,flexing
Speaker:the
Speaker:deadly,
Speaker:clawed
Speaker:foot.
Speaker:Typical
Speaker:of
Speaker:dragons
Speaker:it
Speaker:had
Speaker:three
Speaker:forward
Speaker:toes
Speaker:and
Speaker:one,
Speaker:opposable,
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:rear.
Speaker:When
Speaker:his
Speaker:gaze
Speaker:shifted
Speaker:to
Speaker:it
Speaker:she
Speaker:gave
Speaker:a
Speaker:quick
Speaker:shake
Speaker:and,
Speaker:too
Speaker:quickly
Speaker:for
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:to
Speaker:follow,
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:hoof.
Speaker:Another
Speaker:shake
Speaker:and
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:massive
Speaker:paw,
Speaker:diminutive
Speaker:upon
Speaker:the
Speaker:end
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:great
Speaker:foreleg,
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:bear’s.
Speaker:With
Speaker:a
Speaker:third
Speaker:shake
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:silvery
Speaker:white
Speaker:gauntlet
Speaker:identical
Speaker:to
Speaker:Dirsche’s own.
Throughout the
display
Speaker:the knight
Speaker:had
Speaker:not
Speaker:moved
Speaker:other
Speaker:than
Speaker:to
Speaker:nod
Speaker:approvingly. “Amazing.
Speaker:Impressive.
Speaker:I’ve
Speaker:never
Speaker:encountered
Speaker:a
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:who
Speaker:had
Speaker:such
Speaker:control.
Speaker:Usually
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:everything
Speaker:or
Speaker:nothing.”
“Such
control
Speaker:is
Speaker:common
Speaker:for
Speaker:my
Speaker:line,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:have
Speaker:proven
Speaker:more
Speaker:adept
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:ability
Speaker:than
Speaker:most
Speaker:even
Speaker:then.”
Speaker:She
Speaker:boasted
Speaker:with
Speaker:draconic
Speaker:pride,
Speaker:another
Speaker:common
Speaker:vice. “Again,
Speaker:why
Speaker:do
Speaker:you
Speaker:ask?”
Speaker:Somewhat
Speaker:mollified
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:strange
Speaker:seeming
Speaker:peace
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:presence
Speaker:her
Speaker:voice
Speaker:calmed
Speaker:to
Speaker:a
Speaker:mellow,
Speaker:rolling
Speaker:rumble
Speaker:passibly
Speaker:pleasing
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:ear.
“Are
you
Speaker:familiar
Speaker:with
Speaker:King
Speaker:Arso,
Speaker:who
Speaker:rules
Speaker:the
Speaker:land
Speaker:of
Speaker:Amyre,
Speaker:which
Speaker:encompasses
Speaker:these
Speaker:mountains
Speaker:within
Speaker:its demesne?”
The
dragoness
Speaker:nodded
Speaker:her
Speaker:great
Speaker:head
Speaker:slowly. “By
Speaker:name
Speaker:and deed,
Speaker:if
Speaker:not
Speaker:his
Speaker:person.
Speaker:He
Speaker:is
Speaker:not
Speaker:one
Speaker:who
Speaker:champions
Speaker:the
Speaker:slaying
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:Kind.”
“He
is
Speaker:not.”
Speaker:Dirsche
Speaker:agreed
Speaker:with a
Speaker:nod, “Though
Speaker:he
Speaker:has
Speaker:been
Speaker:occasioned
Speaker:to
Speaker:that
Speaker:task,
Speaker:aiding
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:removal
Speaker:of
Speaker:two.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:after
Speaker:the
Speaker:first
Speaker:that
Speaker:I
Speaker:became
Speaker:his
Speaker:squire
Speaker:and,
Speaker:in
Speaker:time,
Speaker:he
Speaker:patroned my
Speaker:elevation
Speaker:to
Speaker:knighthood
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:landed
Speaker:title.
“You
see,
Speaker:he
Speaker:has
Speaker:no
Speaker:surviving
Speaker:heirs,
Speaker:no
Speaker:prince
Speaker:or
Speaker:princess
Speaker:to
Speaker:carry
Speaker:his
Speaker:rule
Speaker:after
Speaker:his
Speaker:passing.
Speaker:Had
Speaker:his
Speaker:dukes
Speaker:known
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:secret
Speaker:intentions,
Speaker:that
Speaker:I
Speaker:be
Speaker:adopted
Speaker:as
Speaker:his
Speaker:heir,
Speaker:then
Speaker:I,
Speaker:too,
Speaker:would
Speaker:likely
Speaker:have
Speaker:met
Speaker:my
Speaker:end
Speaker:by
Speaker:mysterious
Speaker:ague.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:sighed
Speaker:and
Speaker:frowned
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:labyrinthine
Speaker:perils
Speaker:of
Speaker:politics
Speaker:though
Speaker:he
Speaker:had
Speaker:come
Speaker:to
Speaker:master
Speaker:the
Speaker:noisome
Speaker:game. “Now,
Speaker:alas,
Speaker:that
Speaker:he
Speaker:has
Speaker:reached
Speaker:a
Speaker:point
Speaker:where
Speaker:he
Speaker:fears
Speaker:he
Speaker:will
Speaker:never
Speaker:sire
Speaker:one
Speaker:capable
Speaker:of
Speaker:becoming
Speaker:his
Speaker:heir
Speaker:but
Speaker:merely
Speaker:a
Speaker:regent
Speaker:amidst
Speaker:less
Speaker:honorable
Speaker:men.
Speaker:He
Speaker:seeks
Speaker:one
Speaker:who
Speaker:would
Speaker:be
Speaker:a
Speaker:worthy
Speaker:successor
Speaker:to
Speaker:his
Speaker:throne,
Speaker:and
Speaker:his
Speaker:honor.
Speaker:You
Speaker:see,
Speaker:he
Speaker:cares
Speaker:more
Speaker:for
Speaker:his
Speaker:kingdom
Speaker:than
Speaker:his
Speaker:mortality.
Speaker:He
Speaker:would
Speaker:that
Speaker:a
Speaker:land
Speaker:where
Speaker:fair
Speaker:folk,
Speaker:fur
Speaker:folk,
Speaker:and
Speaker:all
Speaker:other
Speaker:manner
Speaker:of
Speaker:magic
Speaker:life
Speaker:are
Speaker:treated
Speaker:fairly
Speaker:and
Speaker:equitably
Speaker:under
Speaker:just
Speaker:laws.”
“Including
dragons.”
Speaker:The
Speaker:dragoness
Speaker:rumbled
Speaker:with
Speaker:another
Speaker:slow
Speaker:nod,
Speaker:relaxing from
Speaker:her
Speaker:intimidating
Speaker:mantle-winged
Speaker:pose.
Speaker:They
Speaker:rustled
Speaker:like
Speaker:becalmed
Speaker:sail cloth
Speaker:as
Speaker:they
Speaker:folded
Speaker:along
Speaker:her
Speaker:gleaming,
Speaker:dark
Speaker:emerald
Speaker:back.
The
knight
Speaker:nodded
Speaker:as
Speaker:well. “Just
Speaker:so,
Speaker:providing
Speaker:they
Speaker:do
Speaker:not
Speaker:torch
Speaker:villages
Speaker:or
Speaker:denude
Speaker:local
Speaker:livestock
Speaker:without
Speaker:recompense
Speaker:from
Speaker:their
Speaker:own
Speaker:hoards.”
“And
so,
Speaker:your
Speaker:king?”
Speaker:She
Speaker:prompted,
Speaker:settling
Speaker:couchant
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:slow
Speaker:grace
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:great
Speaker:cat.
“Well,
rather
Speaker:than
Speaker:proclaiming
Speaker:me
Speaker:outright
Speaker:as
Speaker:his
Speaker:heir,
Speaker:just
Speaker:one
Speaker:among
Speaker:many
Speaker:who
Speaker:court
Speaker:his
Speaker:favor
Speaker:that
Speaker:they
Speaker:might
Speaker:become
Speaker:such,
Speaker:or
Speaker:regent
Speaker:should
Speaker:he
Speaker:sire
Speaker:one
Speaker:more
Speaker:ill
Speaker:fated
Speaker:child,
Speaker:he
Speaker:set
Speaker:forth
Speaker:a
Speaker:challenge.
Speaker:To
Speaker:each
Speaker:prospective
Speaker:supplicant,
Speaker:whose
Speaker:desires
Speaker:were
Speaker:well
Speaker:and
Speaker:openly
Speaker:known,
Speaker:and
Speaker:to
Speaker:myself
Speaker:despite
Speaker:never
Speaker:having
Speaker:openly
Speaker:stated a
Speaker:desire
Speaker:for
Speaker:such,
Speaker:was
Speaker:given
Speaker:a
Speaker:challenge.
Speaker:To
Speaker:each
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:different,
Speaker:yet
Speaker:always
Speaker:difficult,
Speaker:if
Speaker:not
Speaker:impossible,
Speaker:task.
Speaker:These
Speaker:tasks
Speaker:were
Speaker:laid
Speaker:each
Speaker:before
Speaker:us
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:fullness
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:court
Speaker:and
Speaker:commoners
Speaker:to
Speaker:witness
Speaker:and
Speaker:cry
Speaker:these
Speaker:requirements
Speaker:loud
Speaker:and
Speaker:far.”
“And
yours
Speaker:was?”
Speaker:He
Speaker:certainly
Speaker:had
Speaker:her
Speaker:interest
Speaker:now,
Speaker:that
Speaker:huge
Speaker:head
Speaker:bowing
Speaker:low
Speaker:enough
Speaker:he
Speaker:could
Speaker:meet
Speaker:her
Speaker:slit-eyed
Speaker:gaze
Speaker:without
Speaker:looking
Speaker:up.
“Difficult,
but
Speaker:far
Speaker:from impossible,
Speaker:though
Speaker:it
Speaker:has
Speaker:taken
Speaker:me
Speaker:a
Speaker:surprising
Speaker:time
Speaker:to
Speaker:reach
Speaker:this
Speaker:point.
Speaker:You
Speaker:see,
Speaker:the
Speaker:locals
Speaker:are
Speaker:quite
Speaker:enamored
Speaker:of
Speaker:you,
Speaker:great
Speaker:mistress
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:lake.”
“Jhydeshaii.”
She
Speaker:rumbled
Speaker:quietly
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:slight
Speaker:sideward
Speaker:tilt
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:head. “Jade.”
Dirsche
bowed
Speaker:his
Speaker:head
Speaker:in
Speaker:acknowledgment
Speaker:of
Speaker:the privilege she had extended,
Speaker:even
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:bastardized
Speaker:shortening
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:True
Speaker:name
Speaker:which
Speaker:he
Speaker:could
Speaker:never
Speaker:have
Speaker:pronounced
Speaker:even
Speaker:had
Speaker:he
Speaker:known
Speaker:it. “An
Speaker:honor,
Speaker:mistress Jade.
Speaker:My king
Speaker:set
Speaker:to
Speaker:me
Speaker:a
Speaker:quest
Speaker:that
Speaker:seemed,
Speaker:at
Speaker:its
Speaker:initial
Speaker:presentation,
Speaker:a
Speaker:very
Speaker:simple
Speaker:task.
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:to
Speaker:procure,
Speaker:from
Speaker:a
Speaker:dragon,
Speaker:a prized
Speaker:treasure.”
“Simple,
indeed.”
Speaker:Rumbled
Speaker:the
Speaker:dragoness,
Speaker:Jade. “For
Speaker:one
Speaker:who
Speaker:has
Speaker:captured
Speaker:the
Speaker:hoards
Speaker:of
Speaker:seven
Speaker:slain,
Speaker:and
Speaker:grotesquely
Speaker:paraded,
Speaker:dragons.”
Speaker:Her
Speaker:voice
Speaker:was
Speaker:wry,
Speaker:still
Speaker:disgusted
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:garish
Speaker:rainbow
Speaker:hues
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:knight’s
Speaker:armor.
“Ah, at
first
Speaker:it
Speaker:would
Speaker:seem,
Speaker:indeed.
Speaker:Though
Speaker:those
Speaker:slain forswore
Speaker:the
Speaker:justice
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:kingdoms
Speaker:they
Speaker:rampaged
Speaker:through,
Speaker:laying
Speaker:waste
Speaker:to
Speaker:village
Speaker:and
Speaker:town,
Speaker:slaughtering
Speaker:the
Speaker:peasant
Speaker:folk
Speaker:and
Speaker:their
Speaker:lords
Speaker:without
Speaker:care
Speaker:or
Speaker:concern.
Speaker:Many
Speaker:were
Speaker:sought
Speaker:to
Speaker:brace
Speaker:those
Speaker:particulars.
Speaker:Many
Speaker:failed.
Speaker:I
Speaker:always
Speaker:attempted
Speaker:parlay,
Speaker:at
Speaker:first,
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:have
Speaker:entered
Speaker:into
Speaker:with
Speaker:yourself,
Speaker:most
Speaker:noble
Speaker:Jade.
Speaker:They
Speaker:ignored
Speaker:my
Speaker:entreaties
Speaker:and
Speaker:met
Speaker:their
Speaker:dooms.
Speaker:I
Speaker:found
Speaker:them
Speaker:beyond
Speaker:reason,
Speaker:beyond
Speaker:thoughts
Speaker:higher
Speaker:than
Speaker:those
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:rabid
Speaker:animal.
Speaker:I
Speaker:admit
Speaker:that
Speaker:I
Speaker:do
Speaker:not
Speaker:look
Speaker:back
Speaker:upon
Speaker:those
Speaker:encounters
Speaker:with
Speaker:any
Speaker:pride
Speaker:or
Speaker:pleasure,
Speaker:Milady,
Speaker:on
Speaker:as
Speaker:necessary
Speaker:tasks.”
“There
is
Speaker:no
Speaker:word
Speaker:that
Speaker:translates
Speaker:for
Speaker:that
Speaker:condition,
Speaker:sir knight,
Speaker:but ‘rabid’
Speaker:would
Speaker:be
Speaker:an
Speaker:apt
Speaker:facsimile
Speaker:in
Speaker:your
Speaker:tongue.”
Speaker:Her
Speaker:visage
Speaker:was
Speaker:disquieted,
Speaker:ears-frills
Speaker:and
Speaker:spinal
Speaker:crest
Speaker:laid
Speaker:flat,
Speaker:lambent
Speaker:azure
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:downcast.
“Alas,
and
Speaker:indeed
Speaker:so.
Speaker:As
Speaker:such
Speaker:their
Speaker:attention
Speaker:had
Speaker:wandered
Speaker:from
Speaker:their
Speaker:hoarded
Speaker:treasures,
Speaker:so
Speaker:I
Speaker:am
Speaker:not
Speaker:so
Speaker:mightily
Speaker:rich
Speaker:as
Speaker:one
Speaker:might
Speaker:imagine.
Speaker:You,
Speaker:alone,
Speaker:probably
Speaker:possess
Speaker:as
Speaker:much
Speaker:as
Speaker:any
Speaker:three
Speaker:of
Speaker:them
Speaker:together.”
“Of
that
Speaker:you
Speaker:wish
Speaker:some
Speaker:treasure.
Speaker:Of
Speaker:those
Speaker:things
Speaker:which
Speaker:are
Speaker:mine.”
“A
special
Speaker:treasure
Speaker:which
Speaker:no
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:I
Speaker:have
Speaker:encountered
Speaker:has.
Speaker:And
Speaker:I
Speaker:have,
Speaker:indeed,
Speaker:met
Speaker:many
Speaker:dragons,
Speaker:Milady.
Speaker:Not
Speaker:all
Speaker:have
Speaker:subsumed
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:madness
Speaker:that
Speaker:claimed
Speaker:those
Speaker:whose
Speaker:memories
Speaker:I
Speaker:wear.
Speaker:I
Speaker:most
Speaker:certainly
Speaker:respect
Speaker:them
Speaker:for
Speaker:their
Speaker:majesty
Speaker:and
Speaker:power,
Speaker:and
Speaker:they
Speaker:grudgingly
Speaker:respect
Speaker:me
Speaker:for
Speaker:my
Speaker:own
Speaker:strength.
Speaker:But
Speaker:none
Speaker:would
Speaker:part
Speaker:with
Speaker:even
Speaker:but
Speaker:a
Speaker:single
Speaker:copper
Speaker:farthing
Speaker:from
Speaker:their
Speaker:hoards
Speaker:to
Speaker:lend
Speaker:veracity
Speaker:for
Speaker:my
Speaker:claim
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:throne.
Speaker:I
Speaker:have
Speaker:spent
Speaker:much
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:last
Speaker:year
Speaker:seeking
Speaker:you,
Speaker:though
Speaker:I
Speaker:have
Speaker:known
Speaker:of
Speaker:you,
Speaker:your
Speaker:reputation,
Speaker:for
Speaker:many
Speaker:years.”
“A
year,
Speaker:seeking
Speaker:me?
Speaker:Am I so
Speaker:reclusive
Speaker:that
Speaker:it
Speaker:would
Speaker:take
Speaker:such
Speaker:a
Speaker:time
Speaker:to
Speaker:come
Speaker:to
Speaker:my
Speaker:door
Speaker:with
Speaker:your
Speaker:music
Speaker:to
Speaker:make
Speaker:the
Speaker:ears
Speaker:bleed?”
Speaker:She
Speaker:chortled
Speaker:softly
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:shake
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:head,
Speaker:then
Speaker:nodded
Speaker:toward
Speaker:the
Speaker:edge
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:forest
Speaker:some
Speaker:distance
Speaker:away.
Speaker:The knight
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:follow
Speaker:her
Speaker:gaze,
Speaker:soon
Speaker:spying
Speaker:a
Speaker:large
Speaker:stack
Speaker:of
Speaker:woven
Speaker:baskets,
Speaker:buckets,
Speaker:and
Speaker:other
Speaker:vessels
Speaker:neatly
Speaker:arranged
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:shadows
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:trees,
Speaker:left
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:local
Speaker:people
Speaker:bearing
Speaker:gifts
Speaker:when
Speaker:they
Speaker:came
Speaker:to
Speaker:call. “I
Speaker:am
Speaker:not
Speaker:so
Speaker:difficult
Speaker:to
Speaker:find
Speaker:that
Speaker:the
Speaker:villagers
Speaker:do
Speaker:not
Speaker:visit
Speaker:me
Speaker:regularly.”
“Ah, as
I
Speaker:said,
Speaker:Milady.
Speaker:They
Speaker:are
Speaker:most
Speaker:enamored
Speaker:of
Speaker:you.
Speaker:And
Speaker:they
Speaker:are,
Speaker:also,
Speaker:most
Speaker:distrusting
Speaker:of
Speaker:me.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:waved
Speaker:one
Speaker:hand
Speaker:to
Speaker:take
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:rainbow
Speaker:hued
Speaker:raiment. “For
Speaker:my
Speaker:earned
Speaker:reputation
Speaker:precedes
Speaker:me
Speaker:wherever
Speaker:I
Speaker:travel.
Speaker:They
Speaker:feared
Speaker:my
Speaker:intentions
Speaker:and
Speaker:mislaid
Speaker:me,
Speaker:where
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:not
Speaker:outright
Speaker:spurned
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:inquiries.
Speaker:Months
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:sent
Speaker:in
Speaker:errant
Speaker:circles,
Speaker:to
Speaker:this
Speaker:mountain
Speaker:or
Speaker:that,
Speaker:to
Speaker:some
Speaker:distant
Speaker:loch
Speaker:or
Speaker:misty
Speaker:cavern
Speaker:rife
Speaker:with
Speaker:Draugar.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:laughed
Speaker:warmly
Speaker:and
Speaker:shook
Speaker:his
Speaker:head. “Nay,
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:stalk
Speaker:the locals
Speaker:as
Speaker:might
Speaker:a
Speaker:thief,
Speaker:following
Speaker:them
Speaker:and
Speaker:failing
Speaker:time
Speaker:after
Speaker:time,
Speaker:for
Speaker:they
Speaker:know
Speaker:these
Speaker:trails
Speaker:far
Speaker:better
Speaker:than
Speaker:I,
Speaker:until
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:able
Speaker:to
Speaker:discover
Speaker:this
Speaker:fabulous
Speaker:clearing
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:lake
Speaker:of
Speaker:your
Speaker:lairing.”
Jade
bobbed
Speaker:her
Speaker:massive
Speaker:head
Speaker:slowly
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:slight
Speaker:drawing
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:corners
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:great maw in
Speaker:the
Speaker:barest of
Speaker:smiles. “And
Speaker:so,
Speaker:now
Speaker:you
Speaker:are here
Speaker:with
Speaker:your
Speaker:melodious
Speaker:music.”
Speaker:Her
Speaker:rumbling
Speaker:observation
Speaker:was
Speaker:laced
Speaker:with sardonic
Speaker:humor. “And ostentatious plumage. What, then,
Speaker:would
Speaker:you
Speaker:request
Speaker:of
Speaker:me?
Speaker:Even
Speaker:should
Speaker:I
Speaker:allow
Speaker:it
Speaker:you
Speaker:would
Speaker:need
Speaker:to
Speaker:breathe
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:fish
Speaker:to
Speaker:reach
Speaker:it.”
“Nay,
majestic
Speaker:Lady,
Speaker:there is
Speaker:no
Speaker:need
Speaker:for
Speaker:that.
Speaker:You
Speaker:have
Speaker:already
Speaker:borne
Speaker:the
Speaker:treasure
Speaker:I
Speaker:seek
Speaker:directly
Speaker:to
Speaker:this
Speaker:meeting.”
The
dragon’s
Speaker:great
Speaker:head
Speaker:tilted
Speaker:slightly,
Speaker:drawing
Speaker:up
Speaker:and
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:look
Speaker:down
Speaker:at
Speaker:him,
Speaker:brilliant
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:narrowing
Speaker:in
Speaker:suspicion. “Did
Speaker:I
Speaker:now?
Speaker:And
Speaker:what,
Speaker:pray,
Speaker:have
Speaker:I
Speaker:brought
Speaker:to
Speaker:you
Speaker:that
Speaker:you
Speaker:could
Speaker:not
Speaker:find
Speaker:among
Speaker:the
Speaker:hoards
Speaker:you
Speaker:have
Speaker:already
Speaker:captured?”
“Your
heart.”
The
emerald
Speaker:dragon’s
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:shot
Speaker:wide, pupils
Speaker:narrowing
Speaker:to
Speaker:slits
Speaker:before
Speaker:growing
Speaker:round
Speaker:as
Speaker:she
Speaker:drew
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:shocked
Speaker:breath. “My -”
Speaker:She
Speaker:gaped
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:growing
Speaker:growl
Speaker:that
Speaker:rapidly
Speaker:approached
Speaker:the
Speaker:earlier
Speaker:angry
Speaker:steam
Speaker:kettle
Speaker:shriek.
Speaker:Abruptly
Speaker:her
Speaker:maw
Speaker:gaped
Speaker:and
Speaker:her
Speaker:tongue
Speaker:drew
Speaker:up
Speaker:along
Speaker:the
Speaker:roof
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:long,
Speaker:deep
Speaker:maw
Speaker:lined
Speaker:with
Speaker:deadly
Speaker:sharp
Speaker:teeth
Speaker:to
Speaker:expose
Speaker:a
Speaker:pair
Speaker:of
Speaker:vents
Speaker:along
Speaker:its root.
Speaker:With
Speaker:a
Speaker:quick,
Speaker:muscular
Speaker:ripple
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:powerful
Speaker:throat
Speaker:she
Speaker:sent
Speaker:two
Speaker:streams
Speaker:of
Speaker:steaming
Speaker:blue-green
Speaker:liquid
Speaker:from
Speaker:them.
The knight
sat
Speaker:more
Speaker:fully
Speaker:upright
Speaker:when
Speaker:her
Speaker:head
Speaker:drew
Speaker:back,
Speaker:one
Speaker:hand
Speaker:raising
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:brief,
Speaker:staying
Speaker:gesture
Speaker:before
Speaker:lifting
Speaker:to
Speaker:slap
Speaker:down
Speaker:the
Speaker:visor
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:night
Speaker:black
Speaker:helm.
Speaker:The
Speaker:liquid,
Speaker:thick
Speaker:and
Speaker:viscous,
Speaker:splashed
Speaker:across
Speaker:his
Speaker:seated
Speaker:form
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:rock
Speaker:beneath,
Speaker:hissing
Speaker:and
Speaker:popping
Speaker:angrily.
Speaker:The
Speaker:stone
Speaker:chirped
Speaker:and
Speaker:sang
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:acid
Speaker:ate
Speaker:into
Speaker:its
Speaker:ancient
Speaker:surface,
Speaker:the
Speaker:grass
Speaker:and
Speaker:flowers
Speaker:about
Speaker:it
Speaker:simply
Speaker:melting
Speaker:without
Speaker:protest. “NO!”
Speaker:She
Speaker:bellowed
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:still
Speaker:seated
Speaker:form
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:mist
Speaker:created
Speaker:by
Speaker:her
Speaker:acidic
Speaker:expectoration. “You
Speaker:shall
Speaker:not
Speaker:slay
Speaker:me,
Speaker:scourge!”
As
the
Speaker:rock
Speaker:beneath
Speaker:him
Speaker:began
Speaker:to
Speaker:dissolve
Speaker:the
Speaker:knight
Speaker:stood
Speaker:and
Speaker:flicked
Speaker:his
Speaker:hands
Speaker:down
Speaker:to
Speaker:rid
Speaker:them
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:viscid,
Speaker:clinging
Speaker:acid. “I
Speaker:do
Speaker:not -”
Speaker:he
Speaker:began,
Speaker:his
Speaker:voice
Speaker:hollow
Speaker:and
Speaker:muffled
Speaker:within
Speaker:the
Speaker:chamber
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:helm,
Speaker:as
Speaker:she
Speaker:raised
Speaker:her
Speaker:head
Speaker:even
Speaker:further
Speaker:back
Speaker:and
Speaker:up,
Speaker:wings
Speaker:flaring out to
Speaker:mantle
Speaker:the clearing.
Speaker:As
Speaker:swift
Speaker:as
Speaker:any
Speaker:housecat
Speaker:one
Speaker:massive
Speaker:foreclaw
Speaker:lashed
Speaker:out,
Speaker:batting at
Speaker:the
Speaker:knight
Speaker:four
Speaker:times
Speaker:in
Speaker:rapid
Speaker:succession.
Speaker:Only
Speaker:one
Speaker:connected,
Speaker:sending
Speaker:him
Speaker:toppling
Speaker:back
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:perch
Speaker:to
Speaker:roll
Speaker:and
Speaker:quickly
Speaker:rise
Speaker:to
Speaker:his
Speaker:feet,
Speaker:retreating
Speaker:quickly
Speaker:to
Speaker:avoid
Speaker:the
Speaker:subsequent
Speaker:rapid-fire
Speaker:strikes.
Speaker:He
Speaker:abandoned
Speaker:both
Speaker:sword
Speaker:and
Speaker:shield,
Speaker:still
Speaker:propped
Speaker:against
Speaker:the
Speaker:stone
Speaker:and
Speaker:dripping
Speaker:acid
Speaker:wholly
Speaker:unaffected.
“Milady, I -”
He
Speaker:began
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:heard
Speaker:the
Speaker:sharp
Speaker:rush
Speaker:of
Speaker:air
Speaker:and
Speaker:saw
Speaker:the
Speaker:rapid
Speaker:expansion
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:dappled
Speaker:green
Speaker:breast. “Oh,
Speaker:bother.”
Seeing
that
Speaker:he
Speaker:did
Speaker:not
Speaker:seem
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:affected
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:sizzling,
Speaker:hissing
Speaker:bite
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:acid
Speaker:she
Speaker:shifted
Speaker:to
Speaker:another
Speaker:form
Speaker:of
Speaker:assault
Speaker:available
Speaker:to
Speaker:all
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:kind.
Speaker:Lowering
Speaker:her
Speaker:jaw
Speaker:further,
Speaker:laying
Speaker:her
Speaker:tongue
Speaker:back
Speaker:down
Speaker:to
Speaker:cover
Speaker:the
Speaker:vents
Speaker:that
Speaker:discharged
Speaker:acid,
Speaker:she
Speaker:exposed
Speaker:another
Speaker:pair
Speaker:of
Speaker:far
Speaker:larger
Speaker:vents
Speaker:just
Speaker:to
Speaker:either
Speaker:side
Speaker:behind
Speaker:her
Speaker:rearmost
Speaker:teeth.
Speaker:As
Speaker:the
Speaker:knight
Speaker:seemed
Speaker:to
Speaker:slump
Speaker:slightly
Speaker:in
Speaker:defeat
Speaker:she
Speaker:released
Speaker:her
Speaker:breath
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:stream
Speaker:of
Speaker:fluid
Speaker:from
Speaker:those
Speaker:vents.
Speaker:Instantly
Speaker:her
Speaker:breath
Speaker:ignited
Speaker:the
Speaker:fluid
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:brilliant
Speaker:gout
Speaker:of
Speaker:bright
Speaker:blue
Speaker:flame
Speaker:that
Speaker:retained
Speaker:that
Speaker:hue
Speaker:for
Speaker:several
Speaker:feet,
Speaker:fading
Speaker:to
Speaker:yellow-orange
Speaker:before
Speaker:bathing
Speaker:across
Speaker:stone
Speaker:and knight
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:roaring
Speaker:torrent
Speaker:of
Speaker:searing
Speaker:heat.
Deadly
acidic
Speaker:steam
Speaker:hissed
Speaker:up
Speaker:from
Speaker:both
Speaker:the
Speaker:stone
Speaker:and
Speaker:the knight
Speaker:as
Speaker:her
Speaker:fire
Speaker:instantly
Speaker:turned
Speaker:the
Speaker:viscid
Speaker:liquid
Speaker:into
Speaker:vapor.
Speaker:From
Speaker:the
Speaker:stone
Speaker:and
Speaker:extending
Speaker:another
Speaker:thirty
Speaker:or
Speaker:more
Speaker:feet
Speaker:the
Speaker:beauteous
Speaker:green
Speaker:and
Speaker:dappled
Speaker:colors
Speaker:of
Speaker:forest
Speaker:flowers
Speaker:were
Speaker:charged
Speaker:black
Speaker:in
Speaker:an
Speaker:instant
Speaker:before
Speaker:wafting
Speaker:away as
Speaker:so
Speaker:much
Speaker:ash.
Speaker:Only
Speaker:the knight,
Speaker:his
Speaker:now
Speaker:fallen
Speaker:weapon
Speaker:and
Speaker:shield,
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:glowing
Speaker:rubble
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:rock
Speaker:he
Speaker:had
Speaker:perched
Speaker:upon
Speaker:remained
Speaker:as
Speaker:her
Speaker:breath
Speaker:petered
Speaker:out
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:flames
Speaker:stopped.
The knight
stood
Speaker:where
Speaker:her
Speaker:strikes
Speaker:had
Speaker:left
Speaker:him,
Speaker:untouched
Speaker:but
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:lingering
Speaker:wisps
Speaker:of
Speaker:smoke
Speaker:where
Speaker:her
Speaker:acid
Speaker:and
Speaker:fire
Speaker:had
Speaker:seared
Speaker:away
Speaker:the
Speaker:dust
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:travels.
Speaker:Stunned
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:spectacle
Speaker:the
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:lurched
Speaker:back
Speaker:a
Speaker:step
Speaker:and
Speaker:snarled
Speaker:but
Speaker:the
Speaker:knight
Speaker:merely
Speaker:raised
Speaker:one
Speaker:hand
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:staying
Speaker:gesture.
“I
may
Speaker:have, hmm,
Speaker:phrased
Speaker:that
Speaker:wrong,
Speaker:fair
Speaker:Jade.”
Speaker:His
Speaker:voice
Speaker:was
Speaker:hollow
Speaker:but
Speaker:touched
Speaker:with
Speaker:wry,
Speaker:self-effacing
Speaker:humor.
Speaker:He
Speaker:sketched
Speaker:a
Speaker:bow
Speaker:as
Speaker:far
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:varicolored
Speaker:armor
Speaker:allowed. “My
Speaker:apologies.
Speaker:I
Speaker:did,
Speaker:it
Speaker:seems,
Speaker:neglect
Speaker:one
Speaker:small
Speaker:bit
Speaker:when
Speaker:I
Speaker:explained
Speaker:the
Speaker:quest
Speaker:the
Speaker:king
Speaker:set
Speaker:upon
Speaker:me.”
“That
the
Speaker:treasure
Speaker:you
Speaker:seek
Speaker:not
Speaker:be
Speaker:the
Speaker:flesh
Speaker:of
Speaker:yet
Speaker:another
Speaker:dragon?”
Speaker:She
Speaker:rumbled,
Speaker:eyeing
Speaker:the
Speaker:man.
Speaker:Of
Speaker:course,
Speaker:the
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:hide
Speaker:he
Speaker:had
Speaker:donned
Speaker:would
Speaker:protect
Speaker:him
Speaker:just
Speaker:as it
Speaker:would
Speaker:any
Speaker:dragon.
Speaker:She
Speaker:had
Speaker:hoped
Speaker:that
Speaker:their
Speaker:deaths
Speaker:would
Speaker:negate
Speaker:that
Speaker:protection
Speaker:but,
Speaker:clearly,
Speaker:it
Speaker:did
Speaker:not
Speaker:even
Speaker:weaken
Speaker:it.
“In
a
Speaker:manner,
Speaker:milady,
Speaker:yes.
Speaker:You
Speaker:see,
Speaker:to
Speaker:ensure
Speaker:that
Speaker:I
Speaker:did
Speaker:not
Speaker:simply
Speaker:present
Speaker:a
Speaker:treasure
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:spoils,
Speaker:or
Speaker:vanquish
Speaker:yet
Speaker:another
Speaker:to
Speaker:procure
Speaker:theirs,
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:set
Speaker:a
Speaker:specific
Speaker:limitation.
Speaker:The
Speaker:very
Speaker:limitation
Speaker:that
Speaker:had
Speaker:me
Speaker:seek
Speaker:you,
Speaker:specifically,
Speaker:when
Speaker:no
Speaker:other
Speaker:trusted
Speaker:me
Speaker:enough
Speaker:to
Speaker:extend
Speaker:such
Speaker:a
Speaker:boon.”
The
dragoness
Speaker:scoffed,
Speaker:a
Speaker:roil
Speaker:of
Speaker:steam wafting past her bared fangs. “I would
Speaker:wonder
Speaker:why.”
Speaker:She
Speaker:snarled
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:wave
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:taloned
Speaker:forearm
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:figure
Speaker:he
Speaker:presented
Speaker:replete
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:stolen
Speaker:skin.
“Indeed.”
He
Speaker:actually
Speaker:chuckled,
Speaker:cautiously
Speaker:levering
Speaker:up
Speaker:the
Speaker:face
Speaker:guard
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:helm.
Speaker:His
Speaker:face
Speaker:wrinkled
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:stench
Speaker:of
Speaker:boiled
Speaker:acid
Speaker:and
Speaker:charred
Speaker:earth. “He
Speaker:bade
Speaker:me
Speaker:bring
Speaker:back
Speaker:a
Speaker:treasure
Speaker:from
Speaker:a
Speaker:dragon’s
Speaker:hoard,
Speaker:without
Speaker:harm
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:from
Speaker:whom
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:gifted.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:stressed
Speaker:the
Speaker:last
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:spoke,
Speaker:biting
Speaker:back
Speaker:the
Speaker:cough
Speaker:that
Speaker:the
Speaker:fading
Speaker:acid
Speaker:and
Speaker:smoke
Speaker:tickled
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:back
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:throat. “Of
Speaker:their
Speaker:own
Speaker:free
Speaker:will.”
“And
you
Speaker:believe
Speaker:I
Speaker:would
Speaker:do
Speaker:this?
Speaker:Simply
Speaker:surrender
Speaker:up a
Speaker:treasure
Speaker:from
Speaker:my
Speaker:lair
Speaker:willy
Speaker:nilly?
Speaker:And
Speaker:you
Speaker:choose
Speaker:my
Speaker:heart?”
Speaker:Her
Speaker:voice
Speaker:rose
Speaker:from
Speaker:rumble
Speaker:to
Speaker:growl
Speaker:to
Speaker:bellowing
Speaker:roar as
Speaker:she spoke,
Speaker:steam
Speaker:billowing
Speaker:as
Speaker:she
Speaker:spat
Speaker:the
Speaker:last
Speaker:word.
“Yes,
magnificent
Speaker:mistress
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:lake.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:stepped
Speaker:forward
Speaker:several
Speaker:paces
Speaker:and
Speaker:she
Speaker:drew
Speaker:up,
Speaker:glowering
Speaker:down
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:impressive
Speaker:height
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:majestic
Speaker:form
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:stood
Speaker:before
Speaker:her,
Speaker:within
Speaker:easy
Speaker:reach
Speaker:of
Speaker:both
Speaker:talon and
Speaker:fang,
Speaker:to
Speaker:gaze
Speaker:back up
Speaker:at
Speaker:her. “Indeed
Speaker:I
Speaker:so
Speaker:chose,
Speaker:fair Jhydeshaii.
Speaker:For,
Speaker:you
Speaker:see,
Speaker:if
Speaker:I
Speaker:complete
Speaker:this
Speaker:task
Speaker:before
Speaker:all
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:others
Speaker:sent
Speaker:on
Speaker:their
Speaker:own
Speaker:quests,
Speaker:I
Speaker:will
Speaker:be
Speaker:king
Speaker:of
Speaker:these
Speaker:lands.
“And
a
Speaker:king
Speaker:needs
Speaker:a
Speaker:queen.”
This
was “The
Speaker:Dragonslayer’s Quest” by Ryx, read for you by Rhubarb, Feathered
Speaker:Starfarer.
Speaker:You
Speaker:can
Speaker:find
Speaker:more
Speaker:stories
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:web at
Speaker:thevoice.dog, or find the
Speaker:show
Speaker:wherever
Speaker:you
Speaker:get
Speaker:your
Speaker:podcasts.
Speaker:Thank
Speaker:you
Speaker:for
Speaker:listening
Speaker:to
Speaker:The
Speaker:Voice
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog.