Chapter 24

The prisoners panicked the moment Victor’s claws touched the ground. Their screams of bloody murder caught the guards’ attention, who also panicked once they spotted Victor in the pen. “Hey you! Lothar’s son, get out of there!!” they shouted. But Victor paid their yells no heed. He glanced over the area, then hopped over to William, who trembled in terror at the red dragon towering over him. They were evenly tall once, and now William didn’t reach higher than his chest. “P-please… don’t hurt me…!” Terrified out of his mind, William attempted to make himself as small as possible. Like a cornered baby deer, he whimpered and heaved and pleaded for mercy. Victor’s mouth hung open, enough to reveal his teeth. It’s him, it’s really him! Victor laid a claw on William’s cheek, without the slightest consideration of his friend’s comfort. Of course, it didn’t turn out well: William’s whimpers intensified with a loud gasp. A shocked Victor staggered backwards. The last thing he wanted was to hurt his friend, an outcome which said friend likely thought imminent by now, all thanks to his sudden movements. Nonono, please don’t be afraid… Victor, you fool... After gulping down his saliva, he glanced around the pen. All around did terrified prisoners stare at him, expecting the absolute worst. No one had the courage to shuffle an inch from the brown walls. His gaze fell back towards William, still cowering and whimpering away in the fetal position. “LOTHAR’S SON!! Get out of there!!” yelled the sentries, tapping their talons against the wall. He ignored their cries, and took off the amulet hanging around his neck. Then, he leaned closer to his friend. “William, is that you?” he asked, dangling the amulet in front of William. “H-how do you know my name?!” squealed William. Victor’s eyes widened. “Will, it’s you! It’s me, Victor!” he said, shaking the amulet in his claw. “You remember me, right?” For a few seconds, William stared back and forth between his face, and the rest of his body. “W-what? B-but how?” “I know, I find it hard to believe myself, but it’s me,” Victor said, shaking his head. “N-no, it’s not true. Y-you can’t be Victor, h-he’s dead...” Victor sighed, as the emotions sprung to life. “So much has happened, and I find it hard to explain it all… I can prove it’s me. Just give me a chance, Will, I promise.” William slowly rose out of the fetal position, eyes never trailing off the red dragon. He remained on the edge, but the tide’s zenith had passed. With a sniff, he gave a slight nod. Victor’s spirit rose; the gods granted his wish. “Thank you, Will. I’ve missed you ever since the guild kicked me out… We never had a chance to... say goodbye to each other.” Victor struggled to find the right words. Even with the knowledge that it had been forced upon him, how could he explain his sudden transformation into a monster? Like him and Eric, William had sworn to fight against the dragon cult. How could he believe him now? Then, a shimmer of his amulet caught his attention. Still firm in his claws, it glistered as the Kalde in the summer. All this time, that little amulet had been with him. During boring everyday guildlife, throughout the battles he has fought, all the joys and miseries he’s experienced. One glimpse brought those memories back. Of his childhood with his father, and of his two friends. A tear trickled out his eye. Those long lost times... he wanted them back. “Will... I’ve missed working together with you and… just having you around. You’ve been one of the kindest people to me, even with all my blunders. Remember that one time during patrol, where we were chasing a pickpocket through the streets, and I accidentally tripped over someone’s legs? Or that time we had to chase off that bird nesting on the roof, and I slipped and fell down by accident?” William was stunned. “H-how do you know about these things?” Victor leaned his head close to William’s face. “Because I was there, Will. Remember that time we had to stand guard at an execution? That poor man who was hanged? Or that green dragon attacking us? If it weren’t for you and Eric, both of us would be dead. It’s me, Will… you can trust me, I swear.” With anxious breaths, Victor’s head backed away, and closed his eyes. Please, let him believe in me. I’ve already lost too much, believe in me, Will… He opened his eyes to the sight of William staring at the chest, where red and white bordered. As time flowed, his fears were cast further and further back. He rose to his feet, eyes on an even plane with Victor’s shoulders. Mystified, he stared at the amulet. Everything pointed towards one unbelievable conclusion. After a minute of total silence, William found the courage to approach the red dragon. He took the amulet in his hands, brushing it with his fingers before letting go. Then he looked up. The red dragon stared at him with solemn, azure eyes, praying he’d accept the truth. William laid a hand onto the crimson scales, and opened his lips with a shaky breath. “Vic? It’s really you in there, isn’t it?” “Yes, yes it’s me.” William’s eyes watered, as did Victor’s. Before either knew it, they had their arms wrapped around one another, sobbing. Victor’s heart became heavy. After the horrors of the last few weeks, not even his dreams offered such a respite. Eric and William, the two who always had his back, turned into mere shadows in his mind. Until now. At long last, he had been reunited. “Vic… what happened to you?” sobbed William, eyes red from sorrow. “I don’t know, Will… I left for home, and everyone there had been killed… My mother, my sister…” Victor couldn’t go on. He laid his head on William’s shoulder, and let the tears flow by themselves. William tightened his embrace, and stroked him on the shoulder.. “Alright, enough’s enough. You there, Celesta, get Lord Lothar over here.” “Yes, master. I’ll be back shortly.” The gate of the holding pen swung open, and a white-scaled dragon came in with a tired look on his face. “Lothar’s son, can you please stop crying and leave? We’re trying to make our prisoners comfortable, and you’re scaring the life outta ‘em-” “No, leave me alone!” Victor said, whipping his head around in an eye blink. The white dragon, who Victor believed to be the warden, let out a sigh. “Listen, kid. I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but you have to get out. No talking to prisoners, until we say so.” A low rumble emerged from Victor’s throat, as he held William tighter in his forelegs. “If you want to hurt my friend, you’ll have to get through me first!” “Hey, hello!” The warden frowned. “I never said we’d hurt him, you fool! We’re tasked with keeping them alive and well, now stop your whining and get out of my prison!” Victor’s tail lashed through the air. “Not a chance, unless you let me leave with my friend! You have no idea how much he means to me!” “Oh, is that so?” the warden said, tilting his head. “Pray do tell, where does choking him to death fit in with that?” Wait, what does he-OH! Only now did William’s muffled, weak breathing sound clear; his face had been buried in Victor’s neck the whole time. Victor let go of his embrace, and William immediately gasped for breath. “Will, Will? Are you alright?” “Nnnnrggghh, yes, I’m okay.” Victor breathed out a sigh of relief. “Thank the gods, I apologise, I didn’t mean to-” The warden cleared his throat.“ Alright, enough’s enough. First you barge in here, now you choke out one of my prisoners. I don’t want to hear any excuses, now get those talons clacking!” He pointed with a claw towards the exit. “DON’T YOU DARE!!” Victor roared. His veins flared with raw anger. The warden shrunk back and covered his ears with his claws. “He’s no ordinary prisoner, he’s my friend you scumbag!” The warden angrily shook his three-horned head. “Divinity almighty… all this anger over nothing. I wanted to say that you are free to see him whenever you want, as long as you ask nicely first, and he agrees. Now please, can you leave? You’ve caused enough trouble already!” “No, nonono, you’re lying. I know you are!” “I swear to Divinity, I will drag you out by the tail if I have to!!” The two dragons roared insults at one another for several minutes. Eventually, the squabble reached the point where neither party so much as referenced what escalated the conversation to begin with. Guards and prisoners alike watched on, struggling to contain their laughter. On and on they shouted, tails lashing furiously behind them, until their argument was cut short by a deep voice. “And what exactly are you two fighting over?” With a wince, the warden’s anger had faded into a sudden, forced joy. “My lord! A pleasure to meet you, as usual!” It was as if the warden had turned into a different person entirely. “Please, there is no need for the pleasantry at this time, Wraldin. Tell me, why do you and my son fight with each other?” Lothar replied back. “My Lord, I don’t know what’s gotten into him, but your son jumped into the prison without warning, and scared the piss out of the prisoners. He kept saying his ‘friend’ is in there, whom he almost choked out were it not for me,” the warden said. Victor groaned in reply. That is not true! Lothar grunted. “Hmm, interesting. Well then, my son. What are your thoughts on the matter?” “He lies!” Victor shouted, stomping with his paws, “My friend’s in there, and he’ll admit as much himself!” “Calm down, my child. No need for such anger.” Lothar rested a claw on his son’s shoulder, whose anxious breathing slowed in response. “Now then, who is this friend of yours? I would like to know his thoughts.” “That’s who.” Wraldin pointed a talon towards the cowering William, who had shuffled back against the wall, and stared terrified at the golden behemoth before him. “Hmmmm, I see.” With a deep grunt, Lothar lowered himself before the cowering prisoner. His size, even when lying on his belly, was enough to make the bravest men tremble. “Now then, my little friend. Is it true that you are a friend of my son?” William shook his head vigorously. “Y-yes, uhmmm… y-yes I am, g-great d-d-dragon...” His body shaked intensely. Lothar’s sheer authority were potent enough to make anyone feel inferior. Even Victor had that neiging within him.. Lothar smiled, and rested his tail against his body. “There is no need for fear, my little friend. I mean you no harm. What is there to gain from senseless violence? Any friend of my son is a friend of mine. Now then, answer my question truthfully. Do you wish to stay here, or would you prefer to stay with my son?” he said. Victor clasped his claws together. “Umm,” William swallowed his saliva, “I would like, uhhmm, yes, I would prefer to be with my friend, if that’s okay...” Oh, thank you, gods... With a final grunt, Lothar nodded. “Thank you for your honesty, little human. Wraldin, would you be so kind as to escort this human to my son’s lair?” “Yes, my lord!” As Wraldin and William left for Victor’s lair, Lothar took his son to a quiet room somewhere in the base. “My child, I wish to ask you a few things.” “Go ahead,” Victor replied. “Well, this friend of yours… he must mean a lot to you, for you to cause such a ruckus.” Lothar stroked his son’s back with a talon. Victor nodded. “Yes, I’ve seen and experienced so much with him before… all this. I couldn’t bear to see him so miserable in there.” “Hmm, yes.” Lothar paced around his son. “Then it is good for him to be in your company. Anything that makes you happy, my angel.” He lowered his head, and nuzzled his son on the back of the neck. Victor nudged a few talons against his nose, a gesture which Lothar interpreted as a sign of discomfort. “Now then, there is one more thing I need to ask. I have heard some unfortunate things from Merahn just now-” All of a sudden, Victor broke into a hiss, surprising Lothar. “Easy now, son. Please, do not be upset at me. What is wrong?” Guilt rested on Victor’s face. “Sorry, father. It’s just that… I hate that horrible dragoness.” Lothar grunted. “Hmm, I see. Could you tell me why? Was she reckless with you?” “She lied to me. She told me before the training started that she’d teach me how to control my instincts, and learn how to live with them. But then in the training, the first we had to do was learn to rip someone’s throat out.” Victor said. “Oh?” “Huh? Is something-” “No, it is nothing, my child. Please, continue.” Victor groaned uneasily. “Okay… well, I couldn’t do it. Even though it was just a doll, I felt so horrible at the thought of doing it…why would you teach something so cruel? To do something so horrifying to another living thing, how? I’m not a monster, I don’t want to hurt others. All I wanted to learn was how to control my urges, not to revel in them like a pig rolling in the mud. And she had the gall to call me a coward for not wanting to be a monster, too.” He shook his head.. “Hmmmm. Perhaps it is better for you to change mentors, for I do not believe Merahn wishes to continue with you. And I am certain it is your preference as well, my dear child,” Lothar said. Victor replied with a sheepish smile, which made his father grin. “Hahaha, as I predicted. I assure you that your new mentor will be far better for you.” “Thank you,” Victor said. Thank goodness, I’m rid of that wicked beast. Although, will the next one really be any better? “No problem, my child,” said Lothar with a toothy grin. “Now then, if you excuse me, I urgently need to get back to my meeting. Lokahn’s fate depends upon me. Have a blessed day, my angel.” With a pat on the back, Lothar left. Victor licked his lips. How odd. How one meeting would decide Lokahn’s fate, he didn’t understand. But that was a question for another time. * * * A dozen talons tapped rhythmic on the floor, as Lothar came running. “My apologies for the hold up,” he said, as he strolled to his place. “About time you showed up, I was about to go and search for you,” said the dragoness with bright-red scales. Raghes groaned, his tail curled around his legs. “Lothar, we’re in dire straits here. You shouldn’t be running after your son whenever there’s an emergency. I have no problem with your son at all, but I hope you understand,” he said. His ears picked up the sound of Merahn scoffing, to which he glared. “Once again, my apologies. Let us not dawdle on this matter any further, shall we?” Lothar said. The six commanders nodded in unison. “Good. Raghes, will you be so kind as to explain the situation?” “Yes, my lord.” The blue dragon cleared his throat. “So, we’ve been discovered. Our base has been found by the imperials, and they’ve sent a team here with the intent of wiping us out. They failed, of course. Of the fifty that attacked, twenty-one are dead, and twenty-nine have been taken prisoner. Those prisoners will be reeducated in the Draconist ways, and hopefully join our cause.” “What, we’re just letting them off the hook? They’re imperial vermin and tried to kill us. We should rip their throats out!” Merahn said, stomping her forelegs into the ground. Her words left the rest of the commanders bewildered and shocked. “Merahn, that’s horrible! They were just conscripts trying to feed their families, why are you out for their blood?” said the yellow-scaled commander. “No, don’t start with that! I’ve seen so many young brothers and sisters get slaughtered for professing Draconism, and I can’t take it anymore. I want payback.” Lothar shook his head. “Please Merahn, to seek vengeance upon the misguided is not the way of the dragon. It is a sacred rule of Draconism. No matter how brutal the war gets, never dehumanize the enemy. For if they were human, what does that make you?” Merahn growled, as she sank down upon the floor. The occasional whip of her tail aside, she remained silent. Raghes took it as his cue to continue. “Right… It may seem hyperbolic to say this, but our whole rebellion is now in serious danger. We might have won today, but the Imperials know where we are now. They will throw wave upon wave of men at us, slowly whittling us down, until we finally falter.” “What can we do?” asked the red dragoness. “Should we evacuate the base?” “Absolutely not! We can’t let the Origin Temple fall, no matter what!” bellowed a round- bellied brown dragon. Numerous battle scars ran across his neck and chest. Raghes nodded. “It’s exactly as Batharr said, this is sacred ground. We must keep the imperials out. Besides that, we haven’t got any other place we can hide. It’s this, or nothing. Unless you know of a cave system large enough to support two-hundred dragons, that is.” “But how can we prevent future attacks on the base? You said it yourself Raghes, they will keep attacking until we’re all dead. We’ve lost three brothers already, how do we stop this?” asked the red dragoness. “It is quite simple,” said Lothar with a flick of his wings. “The key to imperial operations in the Origin Mountains is the city of Westedge. As long as they hold that city, they will have a solid base to gather their troops, and coordinate strikes against us. We must take control of that town, at all costs.” An orange commander cleared his throat to cut in. “Yes, that city is the lone concentration of people this far out. There is no clear path to our base that doesn’t involve passing through Westedge’s surroundings first. On top of that, the area is a known refuge for Draconists, is it not?” Lothar nodded. “Indeed it is. I believe Merahn knows this better than anyone, does she not?” Merahn, who had been a ghost to this point, spoke up. “I’ve killed many foolish little inquisitors trying to hunt down our brethren there. Their pathetic little raids are amusing, and listening to their squirms as I slaughter them... Haha! It's amazing!” With a devilish laugh, she resumed her silence, and let the conversation continue without her. The yellow and red traded uneasy stares with each other. “You heard her. We have local support in the region. Imperial control is weak, and we must secure the region regardless. My brothers and sisters, I believe the time has come at last to liberate the Origin Mountains.” Spontaneous cheers filled the air. Finally, the day they had long dreamed of had arrived. Lothar smiled, as he relished in the support from his commanders. “We have rested on our laurels for far too long. Our people have had to suffer for so long under foreign domination, a tyranny which worsens by the day. How many more families must be torn apart? How many children must be left orphaned, as their parents are robbed of their lives for their faith? No more, I say! Who is with me!” “WE ARE, MY LORD!” “Good! Then it is decided, we will liberate Westedge and her people from the tyranny of Justitia!” As the conversation shifted towards concrete planning, the jovial mood retreated. “Don’t get me wrong, it’s great to finally move beyond simple raids and all, but how are we going to seize Westedge?” asked Raghes. “The city has a garrison of a thousand men. How can we defeat it?” Lothar grunted. “Hmm, do we have any information on their supply situation?” The red dragoness nodded. “Yes, my lord. Fortunately, the city’s foodstocks do not extend beyond a few weeks. If we can hold the siege for that long, a surrender will quickly follow.” “But that’s a new problem entirely. Can we keep the city besieged for that long, and prevent imperial forces from relieving the garrison?” Raghes asked. Batharr shook his head. “No. Our wings are no match for imperial ballistas. Without any aid from our human allies, we will be crushed.” “That will be no problem. I believe our brethren in faith have the men to besiege the city, do they not?” Lothar asked. “About a thousand, or so I’ve heard.” Lothar grunted. “Hmm. That is a disappointing amount. We must call upon our allies across the country to aid us.” “Then we must hurry,” Raghes abruptly shouted, “The imperials might organize quick reinforcements for Westedge once they learn of our victory. Since the only way to Westedge is through the pass carrying the town’s namesake, they will be completely blocked from the town once the imperials occupy the pass.” “How long do we have?” the red dragoness said. “Given the distance and logistics, I believe we have between two to three weeks time,” Raghes said. “Then we must hurry. I want the word out tonight for our allies to march westward as soon as possible. The more men we have, the better our chances are. If we win, we will have a safe haven for man and dragon alike,” Lothar said. Then, an ominous rumble emerged from the bottom of his throat. “If we lose… then so be it.” Everyone understood his intent. It was either this, or nothing. No other plan had a chance of succeeding; to attack the populous areas of Lokahn, with their strong defenses and open terrain, would be suicide. “Is everything understood?” “Yes, my lord!” “Good.” The deep rumble faded back to his normal voice. “We ought to prepare immediately. Have the word send out tonight, and train your men accordingly. Now that we’ve been discovered, there should be no qualms about training in the mountains.” “Finally!” Merahn exclaimed, spreading her wings as she jumped from the ground. “Now then. Time to get to work. You are dismissed.” * * * After a long trek through the tunnels, Victor found his lair. To have a quiet place for himself, after all the nights spent in quarters and hospitals, was relieving. William sat upon his straw nest, fiddling around with his fingers with his back toward the entrance. “Will, you’re here!” said Victor. William turned his head around, and grew happy as well upon seeing his friend. “Vic!” The two embraced each other in a warm hug. A fuzzy sensation boiled in Victor’s heart, as he pressed his snout against William’s shoulder. His smell had become strangely specific since the last time. No doubt it was a human's smell, but small details betrayed it as William's. “Oh gods, you're actually here! Sorry for choking you out earlier...” “It’s okay. I’m glad I get to see you again after everything that happened.” Victor let go of his embrace, and lowered himself onto the nest, leaving a space between his forelegs for William. “This is your home now, isn’t it?” William asked, leaning against his chest. A quick glance at his surroundings revealed little more than brown walls, and a singular torch on the wall. “I guess so,” Victor replied. “It’s… a little plain.” “I’ve never been big on decorations, but this is something else.” Victor closed his eyes. For a moment, he pictured his bedroom back in Riverside. As stormwind his eyes shot open, and he yelped. William looked up in surprise. “Vic? Is something wrong?” “No, it’s nothing. A little itch, haha.” Victor awkwardly chuckled. “Okay, then. I don’t understand though, where do you sleep here?” “On the straws,” Victor said. “It’s actually quite comfortable, believe it or not.” “Really? Do dragons... really sleep that way?” William stared puzzled into Victor’s blue eyes. “Yes, even my father does.” “Oh wow…” William’s eyes sank towards the ground. Victor tapped a talon on the ground. “Will? What’s wrong?” he asked. Let me guess, he’s probably uncomfortable learning about dragon life. Can’t say I blame him. “It’s odd that your kind lives this way. I had to sleep on straws once when I was very young, and it was very uncomfortable.” William sighed. “I’m tired. I wish I had a warm, soft bed to sleep in, that’s all.” My kind… Victor let out a monotone sound, and stared down at the ground. “I wish I did too.” William stroked him on the foreleg. “Do you miss your old life?” he asked softly, bug eyed. “More than you could imagine,” Victor said. A twinkle in his eye, he stroked Williams’s back with his talons. “It’s been so difficult without you and Eric. You two always brightened my day, no matter how horrible. I’ve never felt so alone before in my life. Everyone here either mollycoddles me, or tries to recruit me into their cult.” William laid a hand over Victor’s heart. “We've missed you too, Vic. It's been so quiet around the guild since you disappeared. Eric’s been miserable ever since you were gone. He’s grown a beard, and a lot more extreme too. Every time I talked with him, he’s talked about you, and his desire for revenge. He really has it out for Draconists now. If only he knew…” “If only he knew.” “What are we going to do now, Vic?” William sheepishly said. “I’d like to sleep now, to be honest. My spirit feels exhausted,” Victor said. “That sounds okay to me. Where can I sleep, though?” “Uhh,” Victor raised a claw to his chin. “Try against my side, maybe?” “Okay…” William arose from the space between Victor’s forelegs, and walked to the right side of Victor’s body. After pondering for a second, he lowered himself by his shoulder. Then, something within Victor reacted. A warm impulse, connecting the mind and right wing. Instinctively, he stretched the wing out over William, as if it were a tent. A flare of happiness spread through his veins, forcing a smile to his mouth. “Wow, this is actually pretty cosy,” William said. “Glad to hear that,” Victor replied, delighted. After bidding each other a good rest, they closed their eyes. Victor's happiness developed further. Having his friend under his wings, warm and safe from any threat, felt as if he'd received a reward from the gods themselves. All through his veins, his blood cheered at him. Soon afterwards he drifted into sleep, with a smile on his snout.