by Eden Redd
“Death clearly isn’t the answer. If it was, then we wouldn’t have a Dread Lord problem right now. I’m sure both sides have done horrible things to each other but now we have to work together to stop this threat.”
Emma’s hands fell to her sides, fingers curling into fists, “Terrible things! They have taken the Middle Kingdoms! They have enslaved or killed any who do not bend a knee to their might. Their sins run deep and can never be forgiven!”
The dragon woman turned away, “The atrocities they committed can never go unpunished. Before the first war, trolls lived, worked and loved in the cities to the North. They held many stations and were seen as equals in dragon society. It was a blissful era of love between the races.
“When the humans arrived, my kind wanted to add the humans to their cities. We were fascinated. The light of all three races shined as powerful as the sun. For a short time, a new level of peace filled Lukken. All races benefited and a golden age had come but slowly the trolls grew jealous. They tried deceit and false claims, trying to push away the humans and keep things the way it was.
“War began but we were dealt a terrible blow first,” Emma’s eyes watered.
Thorrin remained silent as Emma wiped away a small tear.
“Trolls were often employed to care for our eggs in rookeries. They ensured the eggs were warm and protected. When tensions were high, a group of trolls entered the rookeries and…….”
Thorrin’s eyes widened as Emma tried to keep her demeanor calm.
“Hundreds of baby dragons would never see the skies. For the first time in dragon history, my calm ancestors flew into a rage. Many of the troll cities were burned to the ground but it was too late. The southern kingdoms had grown in might, knowing that war was coming. They fought off the first few waves before time settled and Lukken had changed.”
Thorrin stepped closer, wanting to reach out to comfort the dragon but when he was within inches, he hesitated.
“Wasn’t that a thousand years ago? You can’t blame every troll for what happened lifetimes ago.”
Emma turned, a fire glowing in her eyes, “My kind live a long time. There are dragon lords who remember that fateful night. The pain is still very real and it is my duty to ensure anything like that never happens again.”
Thorrin put up his hands at chest level, “I’m sorry for what your race has gone through. It was a terrible act but there must come a time where enough is enough.”
“My older relatives have grown complacent but many of my generation wish to ensure the trolls never reach the North again. The fall of the middle kingdoms was a wakeup call. The elders wish to come up with strategies but they are slow to act. We will never let the trolls take us by surprise again!”
Thorrin turned away and began walking. Thoughts rose and fell with the tides of his mind. The day was already a long one and things were going from bad to worse. Glancing back, Emma walked a few feet behind him, eyes pointed down. The player felt tired and unsure what to do next. He could simply leave and let the whole thing sort itself out but deep down, he knew he could never go through with something like that. For a game, it was getting surprisingly dark but he knew there had to be a way out. He couldn’t believe that there was no solution to the problem. If this was reality, history is filled with stories were normal people were slaughtered with no savior. But here he knew that some way he would overcome.
“I know a farm not too far from here. We can go there and see if they will let us stay the night,” Thorrin said with an even tone.
Emma simply nodded. The pair walked on as stars shined high in the clear night sky. After another hour, lights could be seen in the distance. Thorrin checked his 2D map and smiled as a pulsating dot indicated Saldor’s farm. Emerging from the tree line, the familiar home and barn stood, star light illuminating path before them.
Thorrin and Emma walked down the path to the front gate. Smoke billowed up the fireplace as lanterns glowed behind windows. The paladin unhooked the gate and stepped inside with Emma close behind. The metal creaked as he closed it. Relief washing over the player, he looked forward to seeing the nice family and maybe be able to get some rest in their home.
Stepping onto their porch, the paladin glanced to a window on his right. The living room glowed with comfort until a shadow moved. Emma stepped onto the porch as Thorrin walked along the porch to the window a few feet away. The paladin turned and looked into the lit home. Shock slammed into his heart as he saw Saldor, his wife and daughter on the couch, bound and gagged. They struggled in their binds, Saldor trying to say something to someone across from him.
Thorrin’s heart beat with untold power as he turned. Boots echoing off the wooden porch, Emma took a step back as the paladin turned and rammed his shoulder into the front door, hammer in hand. The door exploded off its hinges and hit the floor. Thorrin was already inside, eyes wide and taking in the scene before him.
Saldor and his family were tied up on couch by the fireplace, the table opposite from them held three figures, an elf and two trolls. Vass looked up with a dagger in her hand, a smile blooming on her lips. Melina and Pyke sat, shoulders sagging and a worried expression in their blue brows. Fire light danced as Vass took her boots off the table and stood up.
“Thorrin! So good to see you!” Vass said with glee.
“What THE FUCK!” Thorrin shouted as he stormed in.
“We were just going to spend the night here before moving on. The farmer here wouldn’t guarantee he could keep his mouth shut so I had too….” Vass trailed off as Thorrin stepped past her and knelt down before Saldor, hands reaching for the ropes.
“What are you doing?” Vass said as she walked over.
“Freeing them!” Thorrin couldn’t keep the anger from his voice.
Vass eyed him and smirked, “You know they’re not real. You can do whatever you want to them. I would have killed them but I still have bounties on my head and its getting expensive.”
Thorrin managed to untie one rope when Emma stepped through the doorway. The dragon woman drank in the scene. The two trolls looked to her and immediately cringed in their seats. Emma’s brow formed a sharp V as a purple fire blade emerged from her hand. Thorrin turned his head and looked past the elf to see the chaotic rage well up and control Emma’s movements. Armor plates emerged along the dragon woman’s skin as horns appeared on her forehead. A scaled tail unfurled as boots disappeared and were replaced by reptilian feet and long talons.
Melina and Pyke stood up, stepping back with fear in their eyes. Emma stalked forward with predator eyes. The kitchen door swung open and a blue skinned troll in leather armor stepped out. Talisa’s fingers curled around the dagger hilt at her hip and drew the blade. Emma in her half dragon form turned her eyes to the dark-haired troll. Talisa bent her knees, dagger at the ready. Both women stared holes into each other before bodies exploded into action.
Thorrin was already on his feet and turning as the dragon and troll crossed the room instantly. Emma lashed out with her fire blade but Talisa side stepped it and spun. A blue hand closed around Emma’s wrist, propelling her forward. Talisa brought her knee up, driving it deep into Emma’s stomach. The power was enough to bend Emma in half, forcing all the air out of her lungs. Thorrin was nearly to them when Talisa drove the dagger down, aiming for Emma’s spine. The half dragon curled a leg up like a scorpion’s tail, slamming her heel against Talisa’s wrist. The dagger was knocked from her hand, spun through the air, missing Vass’s head by inches and imbedding into wall by the fireplace.
“Hey! Watch it!” Vass shouted.
Emma turned her body and pulled back her arm only to find resistance. The troll held fast as she redirected the dragon’s body with a twist of her hand. Emma growled as she lowered her center of gravity. Talisa kept her concentration as she drove her knee into the Emma’s stomach once again. This time it did not connect for Emma shifted her weight onto one foot and slammed her other foot into Talisa’s knee. The troll barked out a sliver of pain as s
he was forced to let go. Emma capitalized on it by staying low and launching herself, flaming blade in hand.
Thorrin was airborne, crashing into Emma when she was inches away from the troll. The paladin took hold as they hit the ground.
“Emma stop!” Thorrin yelled.
The dragon woman curled fingers into the collar of his armor, lifted the paladin up and threw him. Thorrin cursed himself as his body landed on the table, splintering it to chunks of woods. Emma was back to her clawed feet, serpent eyes on the black-haired troll. Talisa kept her ground as the dragon growled and charged. Saldor watched as Talisa dodged each incoming swing of the fire blade. Emma’s rage caused her moves to grow sloppy as she tried again and again to land a blow. The troll dodged left and moved in. Fingers curled around Emma’s throat and belt. The dragon woman cried out as Talisa lifted her up and threw her toward the entrance.
Emma’s arm and legs went wide, trying to catch herself but instead, her body went through the doorway, shattering the left side of the frame. Talisa looked over to Thorrin who was slowly sitting up. Stepping over, she bent down and picked up a table leg.
“Talisa, stop!” Thorrin managed as he saw he lost a few hit points.
The raven-haired troll ignored him as she hefted the thick table leg and walked toward the smashed entrance. Thorrin was to his feet and chasing after her while Vass looked on with a huge grin on her face.
“Now this is a party!” Vass said as she followed, eager to watch.
The half dragon woman was too her feet, tail snaking back and forth. Talisa stepped down off the porch, table leg turned club in her blue hands. Thorrin was at the entrance when the dragon and troll crashed into each other. Talisa dodged strike after strike as madness colored Emma’s vision. The dragon took a forward step and her hip was greeted by Talisa’s club. Stumbling, Emma tried to regain her footing as the troll rained down attacks. Harsh thuds could be heard as the club hit scaled skin again and again. Emma sliced upward. Talisa pulled back only to see her club fall in half. Taking the half she had, she threw it at Emma. The dragon batted it away as she advanced on the now weaponless troll.
Talisa remained cool as Emma reared up and charged. Thorrin appeared between them, hand grabbing Emma’s wrist with her flaming blade held high. Talisa took the advantage by bringing her fist around Thorrin and punching Emma in the ribs.
“STOP!” Thorrin commanded.
Talisa brought back her fist and slammed knuckles into Emma’s bruised ribcage. The dragon whipped her tail around and slashed it across Talisa’s thigh. The troll grunted as blood welled up from the open wound. Even with Thorrin between them, the dragon and troll continued to rain down attacks around him, eager to spill blood.
A spark went off in Thorrin. Flashes of memories stormed his mind as he remembered how his sisters fought all the time, how he would try all he could to stop them from beating each other senseless. Nerves flared as his shouts fell on deaf ears. They did not attack him but continued their barrage with the player in the middle. Something in Thorrin snapped.
The paladin raised his boot and slammed into Talisa’s stomach. The troll stumbled back with a bewildered expression. The same boot swung underneath him and planted on Emma’s chest. The dragon woman’s eyes went wide as she was thrown backwards, landing on her rump. The troll bent her knees and charged, curving her steps so she would move around the paladin. Thorrin shifted his weight, driving it into Talisa’s side, sending her off balance. The troll’s foot slipped from under her and she crashed into the dirt.
Emma launched into the air, fire blade in hand and eyes burning with murder. Thorrin unhooked his hammer and brought it up with all his might. The metal hammer struck Emma squarely in the chest. The momentum was enough to send her sideways and crashing onto the ground, feet from the fallen troll. The two looked to each other and raised their fist and sword to crash into each other until they stopped short. Thorrin’s hammer landed between them, sending dirt into their faces and stinging their eyes. Fire blade faded from view. Talisa and Emma rubbed their eyes as Thorrin stepped between them and picked up his hammer. When they blinked the dust and dirt away, they both looked up to the paladin’s grim face.
“This stops now!” Thorrin growled.
The troll and dragon looked to each other and then back up to the paladin as his grip tightened on the handle of his hammer.
Nine
“Thank you, Paladin,” Saldor said after the gag was removed.
Thorrin gave a weak smile as he stood up. Shella and Nyta stood off to Saldor’s right. The four of them were by the fireplace while across the room, Vass and the trolls took one corner and Emma stood in another corner across from them. The room boiled as Talisa and Emma stared daggers into each other.
“I’m sorry you experienced this. I had no idea they would come here,” Thorrin apologized.
Saldor rubbed his wrists and shot a glance at Vass who was sitting in a chair, her boots on the wall, “You keep strange company.”
Thorrin followed the farmer’s glance and let out a sigh, “Yes I do.”
“That was exciting,” Vass grinned.
Thorrin turned on her, “What the hell are you doing here? I thought you were on your way to Talon Guard!”
Emma eyed Talisa, “You’re going to Talon Guard? Even those dragons will not save you once the other lords and ladies hear of this!”
“I don’t fear you or any other dragon. Let them come!” Talisa spit back.
“Ladies, shut it!” Thorrin snapped and then turned his attention to Vass.
The elf put her feet down and looked to the paladin with mock soulful eyes, “We needed a place to crash for the night. This place was as good as any.”
“You and I need to talk,” Thorrin turned his attention to Emma. “The trolls are under my protection. I saved you from the Dread Lord so if honor means anything to you, leave them alone and do not report about them.”
Emma crossed her arms and looked away.
Thorrin looked to Talisa, “I meant was I said. You and your fellow trolls are under my protection but only if you don’t attack each other.”
Talisa eyed Emma with half closed eyes, “And if she breaks her word?”
“My word is my bond you piece of troll trash!” Emma snapped back.
“Ladies! Please! One problem at a time. Can I leave you both for a moment while I talk to the elf?”
Talisa and Emma looked away from each other but didn’t make a sound.
“That sounds like a yes,” Thorrin put in there.
“I will keep them honest and call out to you if something is brewing,” Saldor said as he moved between them.
“Thank you,” Thorrin bowed his head before glaring at Vass.
The elf stood up and waltzed to the broken doorway. The paladin followed. A moment later they were at the foot of the small steps. Thorrin glanced inside to make sure they were keeping their words. Saldor nodded back and it seemed they were not taking any action toward each other.
Thorrin turned to the rogue, “Can you not act like yourself in the game?”
“I thought the whole point was to act any way I like.”
“Maybe but I’m trying to help this town. We ran into something deep in the forest.”
“You mean the Dread Lord, I’ve heard the term used a few times in my travels. Weird that you found one this far north of the road.”
“You know about them?”
Vass gave a sly nod, “Only what I heard. They’re some powerful ex-paladins and they mean trouble. Trolls are offering up rewards to anyone you can find any scrap of information on them. My contacts briefed me on it after the run in with the troll army you were fighting.”
“So, this runs pretty deep. Here I thought I was just on a small quest to save a town. Now I feel like bigger things are happening.”
“So, your girlfriend couldn’t roast the dread lord? She seemed like she could fight until Talisa started kicking her ass.”
Thorrin rubbed his small blon
de beard, “It’s complicated.”
“Well if it’s really complicated then we need to get moving.”
Thorrin shook his head, “I’m not going anywhere.”
Vass gave him an incredulous look, “You can’t be serious?”
“Yes, I am serious. His name is Mad Morgan and he is coming here. I need to warn the people and try to get them out of here.”
“Don’t be an idiot! Come with me to Talon Guard. We can drop off the trolls and split the reward. Even if this Mad Morgan comes through and kills everyone, they will re-spawn sometime later. You don’t have to be a hero here, save it for another time.”
Anger flared under Thorrin’s skin, “That’s your problem; you never tackle anything head on. Once it gets difficult, you run and hide behind excuses.”
“What’s up your ass? This is supposed to be fun. You’re supposed to be fucking your brains out. Not spending your time protecting a lost cause.”
“Maybe I want to fight for something instead of fucking my brains out. If you were a little less selfish, you’d know that.”
Vass stepped closer, looking up into Thorrin’s eyes, “Stop ruining this for me.”
“No. Instead of hiding, you should be talking to the police. What the fuck did you do that girl?”
The elf’s lip curved downward before her hand lashed upward. The slap was loud but Thorrin continued to look down at the elf, eyes unmoving and brow furled.
“You piece of shit! I didn’t do anything to her! She OD’ed and it’s not my fault! How can you even think I would do something that shitty to another person!”
Thorrin clenched his jaw, “You sold her the pills. I’ve seen you when you get pissed at people. I’ve seen it in the whole family.”
Vass’s eyes watered as she punched Thorrin against his armored chest, “You think me or the family is capable of doing that! Now you want me to go the police. They’ll lock me up! Even if I come clean, I have priors. They won’t care. I’m not going to go to jail like Aunt Sophia! I didn’t do anything wrong!”
