The Poor Old Dragon

The Poor Old Dragon

The gravest sin a dragon can commit, is to kill one of its own kind!

                                   -Blazeqwue,

Kiltron

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Copyright © 2020 by Dan Harrington
 
All rights reserved.
 
No part of this publication may be produced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.
 
ISBN
(Paperback) 9798667125372
(eBook) 9781005415594

           He climbed the craggy mountain cliffs. Every fibre of his body stressed under his armour’s weight. The suns beat their rays of white and red upon him. He was soaked in sweat and he felt like he was in a sweat hut. He finally reached the ledge, the destination he was trying to get to this whole time. He collapsed in a heap, heavy breathing, and clanking noise his armour made. He looked up in the sky and cursed the hot suns and the thin mountain air. He wished there were some shade to help cool him down a bit. He then sat up and began to unstrap his armour. The breastplate came off and he set it aside. The helm he tossed toward the entrance of the cave. His greaves and gauntlets were in his pack. He grabbed his waterskin and drank deeply to quench his thirst. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, looked to the entrance and crawled there, just inside in the coolness of its darkness. He leaned against the cave wall and closed his eyes. He was asleep within seconds.

           When he awoke with a start, it was dark outside, and he could see two of the moons in the night sky. A blue and white moon shined their rays upon the world. He hurriedly grabbed his helm, slipped it on his head and then strapped the breastplate back in place on his broad chest. He dug through his pack to put on the greaves and gauntlets. He slipped on his hide gloves before grabbing his pack and putting it over his shoulder. He walked back to the entrance of the cave and saw something pale in the moon lights. It was an animal leg bone. He picked it up set down his pack and dug through it. This was perfect for what he needed; he had all the materials too. He dug out the tinder box and cloth. He removed his gloves. He ripped strips from a cloth. He had resin and a small vail of oil. He soaked the pieces of cloth in the oil and spread the resin on them with the bone. He was careful not to get anything on his hands. Even oil could not prevent the resin from not sticking to the cloth or the animal bone. He wrapped the pieces of cloth around the animal bone. Now, he was ready to light his makeshift torch. He struck the two flint stones together to make them spark, struck again and the torch lit up. He put the flint back in the tinder box and packed his bag and shouldered it. Put his gloves back on then used the torch he held to make his way into the confines of the cave.

           It was large. Large enough for a dragon to enter. This was the very reason for his being here, to kill the dragon that burnt his village and family. His daughter survived, but his wife, his son, mother, and father were gone, turned to ash. He had found out from the village elder what had happened. A giant red dragon had swooped down upon the village and engulfed it in flames. It had killed most of the villagers that lived there. Took all the cattle and razed the village to the ground leaving nothing but smoking embers. Even the crops were incinerated. The story told to him was horrifying. People ran about set on fire. Screams of anguish were etched in the minds of the survivors. The smell had been unbearable, burnt flesh and hair, charred bone, and melted metal.

           So, he had stayed and helped to rebuild and clean up the dragon’s mess. He had preparations made and then set out on his present quest. Now, he was in a dark dingy cave in hopes of seeking revenge on this dragon.

           He moved further in the tunnels where he moved his torch back and forth. He was thorough in his search; he checked every darkened and hidden corner that could be found.

           He then came upon an enormous cavern, of course he had no true idea how large considering most of it was lost to darkness. He searched all around, everywhere along the walls. He had found two other passageways he would later check out. For now, he examined every inch of the chamber he was presently in. He found scatterings of animal bones everywhere. He walked around a large rock formation near the center of the chamber, which happened to be under a large opening that had light from the two moons that shined in and now lit up the chamber. He really could have used the light earlier in his search. He gave a sigh and sat down and leaned against the rock formation. He took a deep breath. He laid his head back and closed his eyes. What he did not realize was to his right, beside him an eye had briefly opened on the rock formation. It looked about and when the warrior stretched his arms up, the eye closed quickly.

           This cave was a den of sorts, but the bones were really, old to the point if this was a dragon’s den the creature had not been here for many generations. He had a feeling there would be no dragon returning here for a long time. So, he figured he would just sleep for awhile. Then finish his search of the other passages when he awoke. He dozed, with periods of wakefulness.

           Soon, he awoke with a start to an odd sound that echoed in the chamber. It sounded like a yawn. Then a snapping shut of teeth? He was on his feet in an instant sword in hand ready for battle. He swung his torch in every direction while he looked for danger. Try as he might, he was not able to seek it out. He was sure of it; he had heard a noise. It was not his imagination! Where had it come from? It sounded like it was remarkably close. There was someone or something here. But where? Then he heard it behind him, a scraping on rock. He turned slowly. The rock formation was rising in the air. Hunks of debris fell. He raised his arms to shield himself for protection. He was pelted with stones as they rained down on him. When the choking dust finally cleared, what stood before him was a dragon, a red one? It let out a squeal of a yawn and its jaws snapped shut. He cringed at the sound.

           “Why do you disturb my sleep Sir Knight?” The dragon asked. Flames burst around the chamber to light it up.

           “I am here for you dragon!” The knight stated.

           “Oh! How boring, indeed!” The dragon yawned and snapped his jaws shut. The knight readied for an attack. He held his sword with both hands up over his shoulder. He eyed the dragon and realized something odd about it. This dragon, although fairly, large, looked incredibly old and decrepit. Something did not seem right. The dragon’s scales even appeared wrinkled. He, or it, she, whatever looked frail… and weak. The knight began to have doubts.

           Could this dragon even fly? He thought. Maybe this was his chance to kill this vile creature, even if it were just to put it out of its own misery. He charged, swung his blade to slice the dragon’s underbelly. His aim was true, and the dragon was caught unawares as the knight hit his target. His sword had done no damaged whatsoever. The blade vibrated from the blow and he had almost dropped it. The dragon rolled his eyes and flicked the knight away with a clawed digit, like he was an insect. The knight spiraled through the air in a cartwheel fashion and when he landed, the wind was knocked from him.

           “Begone Sir Knight, I have some important sleep to attained to,” the Dragon huffed curled up into a ball and closed his eyes.

           When the knight was able to recover and breath again, he stood up with a grunt or two in pain. He dragged his sword behind him as he walked back toward the dragon. The scraping sound was sharp and loud. The dragon’s eye snapped open.

           “Do you mind! I am trying to nap,” the dragon spoke in an irritated tone. The dragon proceeded to glare at the warrior. Was this creature serious? The knight could not believe his ears. All this beast wanted to do was nap! How dare it! The knight was furious. He was going to unleash all his anger and hate upon this monster.

           “You burnt my village to the ground! You killed my family! You murdered so many people and you have the audacity to…” he was interrupted abruptly.

           “Enough human!” the Dragon roared as he swung his large head in the knight’s direction. The knight froze in place. He could not move a muscle. Fear had a grip upon him. He trembled like a frightened child. This feeling was emanated from the dragon. This must have been one of its powers, its magic.

           “Listen well ‘Knight’,” the Dragon said with emphasise. “It was not I that attacked your village. It was another ‘Red’ who by chance is larger and more fearsome than I. He is quite mad and will eat you whole.” The last sentence was spoken quickly and in a casual way. The Dragon yawned and his jaws snapped shut. He stretched and shook himself and dust and debris flung everywhere. For some unknown reason, the knight just knew that this ancient dragon spoke the truth. He did not understand, nor could he explain why he felt the way he did.

           “Then this Red I will find and kill,” the Knight swore. He had overcome the dragon fear. The dragon was impressed by this.

           “Is that so?” The Dragon’s high-pitched voice asked and grinned. “Well then. I see an adventure is in order,” the Dragon said excitedly. He straightened and rose, up in the air for a moment. When he was back on the ground, he looked at the knight full on, in scrutiny.

           “So, Sir Knight, do you happen to have a plan?” The Dragon asked. He turned his head on an angle to look at the knight with a single eye. The knight was perplexed. He began to think the dragon was senile or crazy. Take your pick, maybe both. He had no plan. He had no plan when he came here to hunt down the dragon to begin with. He just hoped that he would have killed the dragon, nothing more.

           The dragon let out a sigh!

           “What is your name Sir Knight?” The ancient creature asked sincerely.

           “I am Kallio,” the Knight replied. “Who might you be, dragon?” The Knight asked in return.

           “I am Blazeqwue, Sir Knight and I am lord of the Red Dragon Clans,” the old dragon puffed his chest in pride. The knight sheathed his blade but kept his hand upon the pommel in case. He eyed the ancient creature for a moment before he spoke again.

           “So, can you truly help me find this dragon who really destroyed my village? Will you help a knight have his revenge?” Kallio asked. The ancient red yawned his squeal and his jaws snapped shut loudly before he answered. This grated on the knight’s nerves.

           “Indeed, I will Kallio knight of…” The dragon paused. He leaned his head in closer to the knight and squinted his eyes. He took a closer look at the knight. The knight’s armour was pale blue with a hint of beige like desert sands. It was plain except for a crown with a cactus flower inlayed into the breast. This knight had traveled an exceptionally long way from home to get here.

           “Ah! I see, a Cothass knight,” the dragon praised and smiled. “Well then Kallio, knight of Cothass, I suggest you climb upon my back and let us be on our way.”

           Blazeqwue lowered himself as low as he could go to allow the knight to climb upon him. The dragon even made a somewhat odd like stairway with his arm so Kallio could climb up. Kallio climbed up with ease and once on the dragon’s shoulder whither, sat down. He wondered how he would stay on the dragon without anything to hold on to. His unspoken question was answered when Blazeqwue’s scales began to meld with the knight, formed around and over his legs to his waist. He was held fast and steady. He hoped this was good enough to keep him from falling while in flight. Kallio was unsure about all this and it showed plainly on his blunt features. Blazeqwue turned his lupine neck toward the knight.

           “All will be well, Sir Knight. You shan’t fall, yet anyway,” the dragon smiled and turned away.

           “What do you…” Kallio’s words stopped abruptly as Blazeqwue flapped his withered wings and leaped into the air. Up they rose till they were out through the hole in the cavern ceiling and out into the night sky that would soon start to show morning light. In just a few moments it would be daylight again and the two suns would peek their rays above the horizon.

           Kallio, even though he was secured, felt he still had to hang on for dear life. He grabbed anywhere his hands could find grip. He and his now dragon companion, continued to rise higher into the very clouds no less. Kallio was in such awe of flying. He even tried to grab hold of the clouds to no avail. He felt them like a heavy mist that made his skin wet with moister. It was a little harder to breath up here as the air was a lot thinner. The knight had never fathomed he would have ever been at such heights in his lifetime. Blazeqwue turned to Kallio.

           “Having fun yet?” The dragon asked with a yawn and a snap of its jaws, which seemed to be his trademark habit. Suddenly Kallio’s eyes went wide and pointed like a mad man.

           “What…” Blazeqwue began to turn back and collided with the mountain peak ahead. They hit hard and although Kallio stayed on the creature’s back, it mattered not. They fell toward the ground. Blazeqwue folded his wings in close to his body and they spiralled faster out of control. Kallio felt like he was about to be sick. He had a brief thought of a wish, that the dragon had crushed him in the cave. He made a silent prayer to whatever god that would listen to end this quickly and painlessly. It was an event he wished he did not have to experience.

           “Hang on tightly, Sir Knight,” Blazeqwue yelled. “The fun is just beginning.” The dragon laughed. Kallio, actually… heard every word through the rush of air in his ears and could not believe he had heard correctly. Was Blazeqwue absolutely, mad? Kallio began to think so. They were coming awfully close to hitting the ground, a comfort the knight was none too pleased about.

           Then the ancient red spread his wings and they bolted up then forward in a smooth glide. Blazeqwue hollered like a child the whole time in glee.

           “What a rush, hey Sir Knight?” Blazeqwue asked boastful. Kallio, his nerves were wrecked, and he happened to be sick to his stomach, not to mention that his heart seemed like it was about to burst from his chest. All he could think about was how much he desired solid ground again. He had enough of this ‘rush’ feeling Blazeqwue spoke of.

           They sped by trees and other mountain ranges very quickly. The knight had a hard time conceiving of these incredible speeds. It was a scary marvel to behold.

           Soon the sky brightened, and it would be getting closer to mid-day in a few hours. Blazeqwue came to an area where he did a spiral pattern to land in front of a cave entrance. Kallio knew what lie beyond and he was no longer afraid. He would face this other dragon and hoped to kill it, whether he survived or not.

           “Let me speak to him first Sir Knight, after all he is my son and he must answer for his disgrace. Besides, he is immensely powerful.” Blazeqwue eyed Kallio. “Draw your sword, he may not be up for words,” Blazeqwue said mildly. The knight did so. The dragon’s clawed hand gripped the blade. Energy emanated from it, blood was drawn, and was absorbed into the sword. The blade became a fiery red with scales. Looked more like it was becoming a dragon and even gave off an inner heat. It was filled with power.

           “This blade can now cut into a dragon’s hide, but only red dragons, mind you,” Blazeqwue said with emphasis. Kallio nodded in understanding and moved away to one side. The ancient red looked back toward the entrance of the cave. He dreaded this moment.

           “Blaze!” The old red roared. “I know you are there. Come out, now!” His voice was stern when he spoke. Not bad for an old fellow.

           A rumble of laughter came from within the dark confines of the cave.

           “Truly, Old Man!” There was rancor from the voice inside. “Do you really believe you can defeat your first-born son?” There was a dark humour to the other dragon’s voice, it chilled Kallio’s spine.

           “Let us see who, is finally the more powerful red dragon. About time you crawled out from under your rock, you decrypted wretch,” the dragon named Blaze challenged, as his enormous head emerged out of the shadows of the cave entrance. He had an amazing display of horns wrapped around his head, like a crown for a king. Kallio tried his hardest not to be impressed. No luck there, he stood mouth a gap like a foolish child. The dragon himself did not look like an imposing regel lord of dragons. More like an ugly diabolical demon. To further his thoughts to such thinking, the red dragon came the rest of the way out of the cave. The giant red dragon’s body was twisted and out of proportion like he was malformed, which he happened to be. His scales appeared melted and fussed together in blobs. The red colour that should have been vibrant, was instead a dull cooled down magma appearance which gave him a brown charred red look. It was as if he had been burnt and scarred in a pool of lava. It looked to Kallio that the dragon was also missing pieces of himself. The tail was way too short, almost to the point of, why even have one. What frightened the knight was the eyes. The eyes had a fiery rage. Flames flickered from them.

           “Time to die old fool,” the younger dragon growled deeply, his rage grew and then attacked. He was upon the ancient dragon in a heartbeat, so fast that Kallio hardly realized what had happened until the two dragons collided with a booming sound that echoed for miles. This had left the knight’s ears ringing.

           The two red giants tumbled down the mountain side into trees and brush. They fell all the way to the bottom crushing a pathway down. Kallio had a clear view of them since all the trees had been knocked away in their wake. They had separated, the ancient red crouched low and the other larger spread its magma dripping wings and rose into the air, then whipped his wings forward. He sent a rain of lava down upon Blazeqwue, who’s own wings were raised to protect himself.

           “Stop Blaze! This tantrum has gone on long enough! It is time to end this and go home my son,” Blazeqwue pleaded.

           “You are right, Father! It is time to end this, once and for all. I will destroy you and take what is rightfully mine!” Young Blaze stated, his ever-consuming rage reached new heights of anger. He breathed flames that engulfed the ancient dragon lord and incinerated the surrounding area, yet Blazeqwue remained unharmed by the act. Blaze swept down upon his own father and crushed him down on the ground. His claws raked, rendered, and tore away scales and flesh as blood gushed like a fountain from his wounds. The poor old dragon’s roaring screams were in the throes of death and agony.

           By this time Kallio had been running down the mountain and leaped through the air as if in flight. He landed a blow on the younger dragon between his shoulders near his spine. The blade bit deep. The knight pulled the blade out as Blaze roared in agonizing rage and was about to strike again when the dragon clutched him and threw, he away. Kallio was flung into nearby trees. He went into the green tops and tumbled down, colliding with more than his fair share of branches, until he finally landed with a sickening thud in the grass now moist with his blood. Kallio gasped for breath and coughed up, more like vomited blood there was so much of it. He was paralyzed and was unable to move a muscle. His ribs were broken and punctured his lungs. His arms and legs were broken and twisted in odd angles. He laid there like a rag doll tossed away in a heap. He was bruised and battered, and the one side of his face began to swell badly that he could only see out of one eye but barely, for it was clouded with tears and blood. All he saw was a haze of star like sparkles, pin pricks behind his eyes. His vision was darkening. His jaw was slack, broken also from the fall. He yet tried to struggle to reach his sword.

           “No!” Blazeqwue roared. He burst into a raging pillar of flames, which knocked away Blaze who ended up singed and smoking.

           “That power belongs to me,” Blaze screamed, maddened and out of control. Any semblance of him that was left, was now gone. Blazeqwue rushed his flaming essence toward the Cothass knight. Then he hovered above the wounded warrior, his voice penetrated Kallio’s mind.

           “I will give you enough strength to rise and take up your sword so that you may drive it into my heart,” the ancient dragon’s voice was reassuring. Through the haze he heard his newfound dragon friend. I cannot betray you like that; it is wrong! The knight’s thoughts reached out.

           “You must, for I must not kill my own kind, especially my son. The gravest sin a dragon can commit, is to kill one of its own kind. It is our greatest strength and our greatest weakness. Please Kallio, Sir Knight of Cothass, only you can do this,” Blazeqwue begged. “Accept my soul power and you shall be able to battle and take your revenge,” Blazeqwue promised.

           Kallio fought with everything he had to stand with the help of the flames that burned through him. It melded him back together and the pain was unlike anything he had ever felt. It drove his mind to pick up his sword and he stood motionless before Blazeqwue.

           “No!” A thunderous roar sounded. Kallio looked briefly to the giant Blaze just before he drove his sword into Blazeqwue’s heart. This initial shock made the knight react and his blade drank deep into the ancient red dragon lord. An eruptive shockwave of flame whooshed through the entire area. Blaze was flung back into the mountain side. Flames and magma spouted and engulfed knight and dragon. The flames rose so high in the sky that other nations could have seen them. The heat was so intense that areas its touch caressed was nothing but a giant blackened circle that covered miles of territory. Suddenly, the flames were gone like they had never been. In the center of the blackened circle was a flaming knight with a sword of fire. Blazeqwue was gone. Now, apart of Kallio. His power, his soul was one with a vengeful warrior. Blaze had recovered and was still in a maddened state.

           “This is not happening,” Blaze denied and went into a rampage toward a knight who was no longer wounded. A transformation happened. No longer was there a knight with a sword but a dragon of fire. This dragon was five times the size of the enormous Blaze. The younger dragon breathed fire that had no effect. He cast what ever magic at his command and that had done nothing. He even tried to claw the fire dragon and had melted his claws in the effort.

           “This cannot be,” Blaze whispered to himself in fear. The giant fire dragon slammed a clawed talon down upon Blaze and pinned him to the ground. The dragon’s scales paled to a pinkish dirty colour. Flaming sparks rained down onto Blaze. They showered him with intense pain. His roars resounded for a long while and were most likely heard for miles. He thrashed as the sparks melted, ate away at him. His flesh burned. No longer was he immune to fire as he continued to twist and writhe in agony. Flesh dripped in puddles. Blood evaporated as it boiled away. Steam arose along with the sizzling sounds which spoke volumes of what happened. The cries were long gone, replaced by stillness. Blaze no longer moved, just disintegrated until there was nothing left, not even ash.

           Another transformation happened and there once again stood the fire knight. He removed his blade from the ground and the flames disbursed. Blazeqwue-Kallio sheathed his sword. So much death had happened, and he hoped all could find their rest at last in peace. The knight sighed and disbursed in embers.

Sometime much later! Another place entirely. A lone draconian figure marched the case way across bubbling spewing lava, inside a huge volcano. The dragon kin knew his story and waited for what was about to happen. This figure was regaled, broad, and tall. His red scales were bright like fire and blended with different shades of the magma flow. His eyes were flaming orbs that lashed out. His wings were molten and glowed with lava veins. He walked with his head held high. His strides were steady and true. Confidence radiated from him. All that watched could feel it vibe from his very being. He stopped at his destination. A beautiful Dragonlarr greeted him.

           “Welcome, Milord to your new home,” she praised. Her molten amber eyes were liquid pools of flowing lava, bright and clear, intelligent, wise. Horns spiraled up and crowned her brow like a helm. Her hair was like molten fire that cascaded down past her shapely hips. Her skin was more a magenta spotted with deep red scales. Her features were fine and delicate with pointed ears. He realized that she was a hybrid, both elf and dragon. She was an exquisite sight.

           “Milady,” he said with utmost respect and bowed to her. This was his queen. He touched her cheek momentarily and she closed her eyes, gripped his hand. He then moved away and sat upon the fiery throne. He spoke in a loud but clear voice for all to hear.

           “I am your new red dragon clan lord and king. My name from this day forth shall now be Kalyblazque.” The cavern roared with the hails of his name. (04/04/19)