by R C Gray
“The great dragon began to swing its head from side to side, crashing into the crumbling structures of stone buildings, wildly trying to escape the flames and regain its vision. The dragon, feeling a sudden sense of fear, began to flap its wings to try to clear itself from any danger; but its wings were now greatly torn, and the flames had singed them, burning their edges like a piece of parchment. As soon as the dragon tried to fly, its wings would give out, and it would fall the short distance back to the ground.
“Agitated, it tried again, getting a bit farther and higher, only to fall once more. And in its blind escape, as its massive body dropped down above the rubble, the right side of its neck caught on a thick, sharp piece of timber that had once been part of the foundation of a building. The broken shard of shattered wood caught under one of the scales of the dragon’s neck, tearing it loose. As the blood fell from the open wound, the dragon screeched in pain, digging its talons into the rubble as it propelled itself forward and up, using all its strength to fly away. And with tattered wings and sheer force, it was able to fly unsteadily through the forest to the east and back towards the mountains. Sigurn, Ingrid, and a handful of warriors from Asheborn gave pursuit.
“For what seemed like countless hours the party gave chase, hoping to gain ground on the injured dragon. And although the broken trees cut a clear path through the forest, food and rest were scarce as they moved towards the base of the mountains. Weary and unsure of the upcoming battle, the warriors sought shelter in the fallen trees and huddled next to small fires as they honed their blades and wondered if they would finish the hunt in victory, or take their place among the heroic dead. All the while, they could hear the screeches of the great beast in the distance, waiting for them somewhere in the darkness.”
Renna felt a shiver roll down her spine as she imagined being huddled in a broken forest, hearing the screeches of a great beast lurking somewhere in the shadows beyond, wondering if it was watching you from the darkness. The loud thud of a mug being set on a nearby table pulled her out of her thoughts, but the feeling of being watched still prickled at her mind. Taking a quick glance around the room, she saw several men at a table in the back corner laughing to themselves, staring in her direction and making obscene gestures with their hands and mouths. Not wanting to interrupt the reading, Renna shot them a quick scowl and stretched out her middle finger in their direction before turning her attention back to Bodhran. The men at the table laughed and nodded to each other as the dwarf cleared his throat and continued to speak.
“The dawn broke early the next morning, and the frost glinted faintly in the dim light that filtered down through the trees. But there were no sounds to be heard, no life rustling through the branches. Gone was the winter bird, and with it, its song. The forest was empty and silent as they made their way out of the trees and into the vast clearing before the base of the mountain. And as they set foot into the barren field, there sat the Black Dragon of Edinmoore, its forked tongue flicking from its mouth, warning them to stay away.
“But the group of eight advanced forward, despite the warning, with Sigurn and Ingrid leading the way. And as they pressed onward with swords and shields at the ready, the dragon let out a roar that shook the ground and charged at the companions. Calling on the magic inside of her, Ingrid quickly loosed a ball of fire from her hands that struck the dragon square between the eyes, causing it to stagger. Using the fleeting moment to her advantage, she quickly followed with a tangle of roots and vines that erupted from the ground to wind around the dragon’s legs, slowing its advance to a crawl as the thorned branches twisted and tightened over its body. But the dragon was all muscle, sharp teeth and claws, and the vines that held it began to strain and snap under its writhing.
“Seizing what could be their only opportunity, the group began to spread out around the dragon in hopes of surrounding it. But the dragon had become enraged, and its wings strained against its bonds as it whipped its large head from side to side, eyeing the hunters with blurry vision before turning to focus its gaze on Ingrid. And as their eyes connected – deep brown to seared black and red - the beast hissed sharply, letting out a piercing screech that forced Ingrid to drop to one knee and summon an arcane shield, dulling the sharp blast that threatened to cut through her like a knife. Straining to withstand the blast, she held the magical barrier until the fearsome noise abated, leaving her disoriented in its wake. Ears still ringing from the cries, she rose unsteadily to her feet and outstretched her hands, sending a stream of snow and ice towards the beast; but the dragon’s hardened scales only glazed over before the ice cracked and fell in a heap to shatter at its feet.”
Renna could feel her heart beating faster and noticed that she was gripping the edge of the table with one hand and her mug with the other. Leaning back in her chair, she drained the last bit of mead from her cup before crossing her arms over her chest, tapping on one of her tusks with her thumb. Glancing towards the table in the back of the room, she saw that all but one of the men that had been making gestures towards her had their eyes fixed on the stage, enthralled by the story; the last sat stone-faced, staring in her direction. The muscles in his jaw were clenched, and his eyes were wide as he stared out of the dark corner, a slight smirk turning up the edges of his lips.
Feeling a tightness growing in her stomach, Renna reached down and felt for the dagger in her boot before looking back towards the door. If she decided to leave now, the crowds outside on the streets might be thinner, but she wasn’t sure if that would be better or worse for her. She knew if it came to a fight, she could take care of herself, but the unfamiliar streets and an unknown number of attackers that could come from any direction would put her at a disadvantage. Hearing Bodhran’s loud voice echo through the room, Renna gave one last glance behind her and noticed that the red-haired woman was still watching the show; and that at least brought her a small measure of comfort, even if she didn’t know why.
“Seeing the ice spell fail, Sigurn knew that the only chance they had was to go for the wound below the missing scale in the dragon’s neck; the single opening on its armored body. And while Ingrid held its attention with spells of fire, ice, and shards of stone, Sigurn gave the order for all to release a volley of arrows and aim for the dragon’s bleary eyes or torn neck. But alas, the arrows bounced and shattered off the blackened scales with not one reaching its mark. Hope was losing its hold in the hearts of the men and women, and desperation was rushing in to take its place.
“And it was in this desperate moment, while the dragon’s head was raised in a loud roar, that several of the warriors bolted passed Sigurn towards the neck of the dragon, hoping to pierce its wounded flesh with sword and spear. Sigurn shouted for them to halt, but they didn’t listen, or couldn’t hear over the sound of snapping vines and the bowel-shaking, thunderous cries of the great beast. Without thinking, she sprinted behind them—though there was no chance to catch them in their mad dash. But the vines that had twisted and tangled around the beast could no longer hold the thrashing might beneath them, and the dragon’s wing burst free, smashing hard into the three charging men. Their bodies bent and flailed as the force of the blow sent them flying through the air, crashing like a wave of crumbled bone and broken armor directly onto Sigurn.
“The force of the men hitting her body twisted her around and brought her to her knees. Disoriented, Sigurn’s head spun as she struggled to catch her breath as the ground moved and shifted beneath her. But just as she began to rise, another wave crashed hard into her back, forcing the air from her lungs in a loud gasp. There, protruding from her chest was the tip of the long, spear-like tail of the dragon, dripping red with Sigurn’s blood. Gripping the tip of the tail tightly in her hands, the intensity of the pain shot through her body, filling her with an icy cold that sank deep into her bones. She could hear the hiss of the great beast behind her, mocking her vain efforts to bring its reign of terror to end. Then, everything fell silent. The sounds of crackling spells, snapping vines, the
clattering of sword against shield, and the sound of Ingrid’s cries all fell away to nothing. And as her vision faded to the encroaching darkness, she turned her head to see Ingrid, the women she had loved for so many years, falling to her knees, her mouth opened in a silent scream. And as the tears fell from her eyes, Sigurn smiled, and all faded to black.”
A small gasp escaped Renna’s lips as her hand rested over her mouth. Her eyes were wide and damp, and her mouth felt hot and dry as her breath caught in her throat. She couldn’t imagine what it must have been like to watch the person you loved be killed right in front of your eyes, and not being able to do anything to stop it. Wiping a single tear off of her cheek, she pushed down the ache and longing she felt growing in her chest and took a quick drink of mead to help steady her nerves. Setting the cup down quietly, she leaned forward, resting her arm on the table as she scratched at the hard surface with her fingernails, staring at the stage and letting herself get lost in Bodhran’s words.
“Ingrid, her heart now heavy with grief and anger, had watched as the men charged the dragon while Sigurn yelled at them to stop. But they wouldn’t listen. She had watched as they flew into Sigurn, knocking her backwards. And she watched as the dragon looked directly at her and sneered, exposing its teeth in a grotesque smile as it plunged its tail right into Sigurn’s heart; and it was in that moment that Ingrid knew, even if she somehow lived, that the dragon had just killed them both.
“Feeling the burden of the death of her beloved dragging her down, Ingrid fell to her knees, all her hope lost, blowing away like a leaf on the cold wind. She had seen Sigurn smile at her one last time before her glowing light was snuffed from the world. Then, still in shock, she looked on in horror as the creature lifted Sigurn’s body into the air and tossed it aside like a crumpled rag doll with a quick flick of its tail.
“The remaining warriors let out war cries as they charged, swords and axes glinting in the morning sun. And although they struck with all their might, their blows did little against the hard, shield-like scales of the beast. But the dragon paid no attention to the warriors at its legs. Instead, it only snarled and flicked its tail toward Ingrid, spattering her face with the still-warm blood of Sigurn; and deep inside, Ingrid felt her heart break. But it was in this moment that something else inside her broke; like a dam unleashing its torrent after heavy rain. There was a power there. Something she had never felt before welled up inside her. Drawing her sword, she heard the great dragon hiss in what could only be laughter as she sprinted forward, quickly closing the gap between them.
“Just as she was nearing its great maw, its taloned hand reached out, catching her in its grasp. Its sharp claws tore into her, burying themselves in her flesh as its grip tightened around her body, nearly squeezing the breath out of her...nearly. And as the dragon drew her closer to its jagged teeth, a great burst of energy exploded from Ingrid. It was like a roaring clap of thunder that shook the ground, bursting outwards in all directions in a brilliant sphere of white light that extended farther than her vision. The warriors fighting below her were knocked aside, and a great and heavy silence fell over them.
“Stunned by the blast, the terrible beast tilted its head backwards, the taloned hand gripping Ingrid swaying closer to its body, bringing her within striking distance of its open wound. Drawing on the immense power she felt welling up inside her, she channeled one last spell into her sword and plunged it deep into the gash in the dragon’s neck. The sharp blade cut effortlessly through the muscle and sinew, unleashing the full force of Ingrid’s power into the very blood of the beast.
“Screeching in pain, the black dragon whipped and writhed against the fury that burrowed its way deeper into its body, but it was too late. The sword, held tightly in Ingrid’s grasp, had seared itself to the muscle, halting the dragon’s movement as it began to turn its body to stone, spreading from the wound outwards. Ingrid gritted her teeth as the dragon’s head turned to look at her, snarling, hate filling its hazy eyes.
“But there was no stopping the spell that coursed through its veins, moving swiftly down its body into its tail, and finally into its claws, which pierced Ingrid’s flesh, allowing the untamed magic to flow back into her. She could feel the tightness growing in her chest, stiffening her limbs, binding her together in hatred with the monster that had killed Sigurn. And as her body turned to stone, she glared defiantly into the eyes of the beast and took satisfaction in knowing that its reign of terror was finally over, and she had her vengeance for the death of Sigurn.
“And from that day forward, the mountain to the west of Lunorin had become known as The Sleeping Mountain. For you see, the spell was so great, its magic so powerful and enduring, that no sounds are heard on that section of the mountain. It’s as if no wind rustles the leaves, and no birds sing in its branches. And if you make the journey to the base of the mountain, you will see the great dragon and be able to pay your respects to Ingrid, for their bodies remain there, locked in stone to this very day.”
The room was silent as Bodhran rolled up the scroll and held it under his arm while he took a long drink. Renna wiped away the tears on her cheek and looked around the room, watching as others dabbed their eyes or whispered to each other, nodding their heads as they pointed towards the stage. From the back of the room, the sound of clapping echoed off the walls of the pub, pulling people back into the present moment. Applause erupted across the room as chairs and tables skidded against the hardwood floor as Bodhran received a standing ovation. Renna quickly stood and began clapping and shouting, watching as the beardless dwarf bowed several times before picking up his scrolls and sauntering off the stage into the back room, nodding his head to the audience as he walked.
Exhausted from the tale, Renna collapsed back into her chair and motioned for the barmaid to bring her another mug of mead. Putting her head into her hands, she closed her eyes, rubbing them as she waited for her drink. Hearing the sound of footsteps coming up to her table, she opened her eyes and reached for her mug, thinking the barmaid had come to refill it. Feeling that it was still empty, she looked up to see two of the men that were making rude gestures at her standing at the edge of the table, half-smiling as they stared down at her.
“So, what’d ya think of the show, love? Get ya thinkin’ about things, did it?” The man winked and took a drink from his mug, smiling as he wiped some ale froth out of his thick mustache with his fingers.
The man that had been smirking and staring at her through the show laughed and nudged the other man with his elbow. “Course it did. All these whores are the same. Always thinking ‘bout love. But more than that, they’re always thinkin’ ‘bout coin. Isn’t that right, sweetheart? Cause sometimes, they go together, love and coin.”
Renna gripped her mug and scowled at the two men standing at the edge of her table, ready to lash out if someone put a hand on her. “Don’t mistake me for my mother. I’m not for sale. So why don’t you bastards stumble back to your table and leave me alone before you regret coming over here.”
“Don’t be like that. You know just as well as I do that you’re looking for some coin. And I have some for ya if you do what we want. How else are you gonna afford to buy pretty dresses like the one you’re wearin’?” The smirking man took out several copper coins and one silver and slapped them down on the table. “Now, this should be more than enough for me and my friend here. We ain’t never been with an orc whore before, but I bet you’ll have no trouble taking care of the two of us.”
The second man laughed as he smoothed his mustache and stared down at Renna. “That’s right. I hear that orcs are tough. But you got the look of an elf, though. You look like a good half-breed that knows how to take care of herself. So how about it, love?”
Renna stared at the men as she pushed the coins off the table onto the floor. “I warned you once. Now pick up those coins and move away. If you’re looking for some action, it won’t be from me. So why don’t you just take each other out into a dark alley and be done with
it? You don’t need some half-breed to do it for you.”
The smirking man slammed his hand down on the table and leaned closer to Renna. “If you ain’t gonna play nice, we don’t have to either. You know how many people go missing ‘round here? I could drag you away and kill you in an alley. I could just tell everyone that you tried to rob me. No reason they wouldn’t believe me, you bein’ a beggar orc-whore and all.”
Renna thought about those words and how many times she’d heard them in her youth —orc whore. It was like a stain on her mind that she didn’t think would ever be washed away. She thought about all the whippings she’d gotten when she would try to hide or act out of line. Or all the nights she spent alone with her books. But most of all, she thought about how her mother never protected her and how her life could have been so different if she had stayed with her. If she hadn’t fled, she very well could have become those two words that were being thrown at her now.
Anger seized her, and her jaw clenched as her hands balled up into fists. Sliding her chair backwards, she started to stand when a woman’s voice spoke up from behind her.
“I believe the lady said no.”
The two men looked over Renna’s shoulder and laughed at the woman standing behind her with her hands resting on her hips. “Oh, is that right? And are you plannin’ to take her place, then?”
