The dragon had to keep to large open spaces. All she had to do was stick to the highly enclosed spaces, and she’d be fine. She could even get to the keep from here simply by walking along an enclosed passageway from the apartments to the keep. If her parents or any survivors were anywhere, they would be in there. And she had to know.
Deciding not to think about it further, she climbed the ladder one step at a time.
At the bottom, she let her eyes adjust to the light. There wasn’t much here other than some dusty scythes and other equipment used by the servants to keep the forest from creeping up too close to the castle. But what she was looking for was a back door.
There it was, still on its hinges, the door to the lower apartments, usually occupied by the servants themselves. Taking a tentative step forward, she lifted the latch and pulled the door open.
This one was quieter than the cellar door, but every sound made her wince. She herself was trying very hard not to breathe.
She entered the hallway beyond, a long hallway that led to various rooms for servants. Above them would be much finer rooms reserved for guests, though not the most important guests. Those stayed in the visitor’s apartments at the other side of the castle. Though these hallways did connect with others that led to her family’s own private apartments, Una’s old room and that of her parents.
Yes, that would be where she would go first. Chances were, the ceilings had entirely caved in, and she would find no one there. But since she was on this side, she might as well check out the private quarters. Then she could search the keep.
She climbed the spiral stone steps at the end of the hallway to take her to the second level hallways. There were three levels here, if you counted those partially underground. Her room had been at the top level.
What was she doing? How would George even know to find her in here? Even despite her urgent need to search every corner of the castle, she knew that she and George had literally no plan to confront the dragon, let alone kill it.
They’d spent too much time in useless talk, it seemed. Now Una was left with nothing but her desire to find her family, or indeed anyone else. Well, she would just have to trust that George would know what to do. He could enter any way he wanted. It wouldn’t make a difference in the long run. Going up against the dragon was a losing situation no matter what entrance you used.
So she was just going to leave George to his fate? Was that what all this was leading to? She didn’t want that. She knew she didn’t.
Pausing, she considered going back. She could always return once George was with her. Was her need so great she would forgo any sense of safety or strategy?
Yes, she needed to return. She owed George that much, and she had already come too far. Turning on her heel, she took the first step back down the stairs.
A sound echoed along the corridor. Instantly, Una spun, and thought she caught faint movement disappearing around the corner, and the dim sound of bare foot falls along the tile floor.
That was no dragon. That was a person of some sort.
Una began jogging forward, moving just slow enough that her feet made little to no noise. She thought of calling out, but that was too risky. If the dragon heard her…
She rounded the corner and peeked around it, trying hard not to make any sudden movements or anything else that might spook off or provoke whoever it was. Could it be someone she knew? She didn’t dare hope.
Down the next corridor she could see a flicker of movement at the end. Someone in what appeared to be beggar's rags was silently scurrying to the end of the hallway before finally disappearing down that one too.
Someone was alive in the castle. The realization struck Una so hard, she nearly had to lean back against the wall. But who was it? It could have been anyone, from a serving girl to one of her parents. But there was a chance. At last she knew, there was a chance.
Turning the corner, she hurried after the strange figure, once again withholding the urge to call out. She could see open sky here where the wood roof had burned and caved in. This must have been the west entrance to the apartments. One of the doors hung part way off its hinges, most of the wood burned away.
She crept forward, keeping an eye on the open ceiling and the door. When she reached the entrance, she peeked out at what would have been the upper ward.
And stopped dead in her tracks.
Where she expected open grass, overgrown and covered in weeds, she saw nothing but barren earth. In the center lay the dragon, its enormous green scales and white belly lying on the barren land, its tail wrapped around itself like a snake, and huge wings folded gently along its sides. Smoke rose lazily from its nostrils.
But worst of all, its eyes were open, and they were staring right at her.
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“THERE YOU ARE,” the words came rolling out of its incredible maw, almost like they formed by magic rather than by movements of his mouth and tongue. “I SMELLED YOU COME IN SOME TIME AGO. YOU ARE THE FIRST TO ENTER HERE IN SOME TIME, UNLESS YOU COUNT ONE DELICIOUS KNIGHT WHO CAME HERE A YEAR AGO.”
Una did not move. She could not. Staring into those cat-like eyes, she stood transfixed, hypnotized by its powerful yet strangely soothing voice.
“THERE IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT YOU,” said the dragon. “YOU ARE NO ORDINARY FOE, COME HERE TO CHALLENGE ME. YOUR SMELL IS NOT LIKE THOSE OF THIS LAND. THERE IS SOMETHING FAR...OLDER IN YOU.”
Una remembered the words of Duessa, that she possessed old blood, whatever that meant. Perhaps she could use that to her advantage.
Steeling herself, she adopted a new persona, this one far older and wiser than Una felt. She borrowed on what she’d seen of Duessa, from the way she had stood, and stared down her nose at Una. Confident and cruel.
She stood straighter, and exited through the door. “I am not here to kill you,” she said in her proudest voice yet. “I am here to bargain.”
The dragon sniffed, a whooshing sound that filled the whole open ward. “YOU DO HAVE AN ANCIENT SMELL ABOUT YOU. AND THE ARROGANCE TO MATCH.”
“I am of the old blood,” said Una. Sure, she didn’t know what that meant, but the dragon seemed to have an idea. Maybe she could even learn more from him. “I wish to form an alliance.”
“AGAINST WHOM,” said the dragon with some amusement dancing in his eyes.
“Against…” Una racked her brain. “Against, the...ah, Faerie Queen.” That had to be a good answer. Surely the dragon was no friend of Gloriana.
The dragon’s jaws opened wide, and a great and terrible laugh echoed through all the halls. “THE FAERIE QUEEN? SHE IS NO CONCERN OF MINE, AND NO THREAT EITHER.”
Una’s heart faltered. This wasn’t working. “She is more of a threat than you know. She has sent others to kill you.”
“LIKE YOU I SHOULDN’T WONDER,” said the dragon, still laughing in his words. “TELL ME, YOUNG ONE. IF YOU TRULY ARE A MEMBER OF THE OLD BLOOD, WHY HAVEN’T YOU REACHED OUT TO STRIKE ME DOWN ALREADY? YOU SHOULD KNOW AS WELL AS I DO, THAT THE OLD BLOOD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MY IMPRISONMENT IN THE OTHERWORLD.”
Una’s heart froze in her chest.
“YES,” said the dragon with even more amusement. Slowly, he raised himself to his feet, his eyes never leaving Una. “YOU LACK KNOWLEDGE, OR YOU WOULD HAVE STRUCK BY NOW. BUT SEEING AS I CAN SMELL THE BLOOD ON YOU, I CANNOT ALLOW YOU TO ESCAPE THIS PLACE.” A warm glow began to illuminate the back of his throat. “GOODBYE, LITTLE ONE.”
Una threw herself backward, darting as fast as she could for the door. Just as she slipped inside, a torrent of firepower slammed into what was left of the door, where she had been just moments before. It flew off its hinges and crashed into the wall beyond.
This was not good. Oh this was not good at all. She ran for all she was worth down the passageway where she had seen someone run before, but this time she wasn’t following whoever that survivor had been, she was running to save her own life.
She heard the dragon’s thundering footsteps as it approached the apartm
ents. Not daring to look back, she rounded the corner as yet another burst of flame came shooting down the corridor. No doubt the dragon had stuck his head through the door and sent the flames after her.
The hairs on her neck singed as the flames hit the wall and spread in all directions, including hers. She kept running. She was in the visitor apartments now, and at the end of them there was a passage that led to the front gate. It was the closest route to get out of the castle, and her only hope at the moment.
The dragon sent no more fire down the hallways, which worried her. But she had no time to waste. She arrived at the end of the corridor and found the door blown off its hinges long ago. Running through the opening, she could make out the front entrance straight ahead.
And the dragon stood right between her and the gate.
“YOU ARE QUICK,” said the dragon. “BUT NOW IS YOUR TIME TO DIE.”
The Faerie Queen had been right. Without help, she was going to die in this place, consumed by dragon fire. Why had she ever allowed herself to be drawn into the castle? Her eagerness at finding somebody, some remnant of the life she had once know had been too much for her. It had blinded her to the danger, and now she would pay for it with her life.
She closed her eyes, waiting for the inferno that would take her away.
“Dragon!” yelled a voice from beyond the green beast. It was coming from the main gate.
Una opened her eyes, and for a moment, everything seemed to freeze. The dragon turned with great hulking steps to see who had spoken, and as he turned, Una could see beyond.
George was here. He sat atop his horse, and from head to toe, he was covered in shining, polished armor. The Red Cross in his shield and on his chest plate stood out starkly from the glittering splendor of the plate. Around his waist was his sword, but in his hand he held the spear that Una had lost when the mule ran away.
“AND WHO ARE YOU?” said the dragon. There was no fear in his voice.
“I am your bane, worm,” said George in a voice of confidence that Una was not used to hearing from him. Maybe wearing that armor changed a person. She hadn’t seen him wear it before. He swung himself off of his horse, and gave it a pat. The horse gratefully moved out of the line of fire. The dragon paid it no heed.
“WELL THEN,” said the dragon. From Una’s position, she could see the muscles in the dragon’s haunches tighten, preparing to strike, “YOU SHALL MEET THE SAME END AS YOUR COMPANION.”
With that the dragon’s mouth opened wide, and white-hot fire burst from its muzzle.
But George was already moving. Even in that heavy armor, he moved with a speed Una would not have thought possible. The fire shot right past him, and he charged with spear upraised.
“Get out of here, Una,” cried George as his spear met the dragon’s scales with a heavy blow.
The dragon cried out, even though his scales deflected the spear-tip easily. But it had been a strong strike, partially throwing the dragon off balance. The dragon’s cry was one of annoyance and surprise. He had likely never felt such a blow before, even from other knights.
“Go!” cried George. His call startled her into action. She stared around, looking for a good place to hide. She could just leave the castle, but she would not leave George, and something told her she would be needed by the time this battle was over.
Movement caught her eye. Behind the dragon in the distance was the keep, and at the base of the keep, she saw a lone figure step into the open doorway that led to the stairs. Whoever it was wore the beggar’s rags she had seen earlier.
Instantly she moved behind the dragon and began running after the figure. There was no way out of the top of the keep, which meant if she could make it to the base, she would have the figure trapped inside. She would have answers. And perhaps the person, whoever they were, would have knowledge she could use against the dragon. They had survived this long in a dragon-infested castle.
The dragon took no heed of her as she passed. His attention was fixed squarely on the Red Cross knight. The battle for Castle Silene had begun.
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Watching Una run away towards the central keep, George threw himself to the side again as the dragon sent another jet of fire his way. Honestly, he was happy and a bit surprised to have lasted longer than thirty seconds against this foe. But his dodging and weaving would do him little good in the long run. He was already sweating hard from all the exertion of moving so fast with all his armor on. He had to get in closer.
Racing, he darted forward and brought his spear to bear, but out of nowhere, the dragon’s tail lashed out at him. He only barely managed to bring his shield up in time. The tail hit him, and threw him backward, nearly shattering the arm that held the shield. When he recovered from the ground, he saw the large circular piece was bent, but still working for now. After that attack, he was exposed, and had to get back in close with the dragon.
But the dragon was not there when he looked. George knew where he had gone, though. Great gusts of wind heralded the arrival of the dragon from above. Before George could do anything about it, great claws reached around him and latched onto his body, pulling him away from the ground and into the sky. His spear and shield fell beneath him.
George knew he was in trouble. All the dragon would have to do was drag him to a great height and drop him to the ground below. With all this armor on, he would collide with the ground like an anvil, and that would be it for the Red Cross knight.
His sword. He still had his sword. Reaching at his belt, he brought the weapon to bear in a flash and immediately hacked at the dragon’s scaled claws.
At first, the sword did very little, only barely denting the scales themselves. But when he drove the sword underneath the scales at an angle, he got a reaction. The dragon roared, and the claws tightened around George. He gasped as one of them began getting uncomfortably close to a gap in his armor. If it were to get through…
He hacked at the scale one more time, making sure to take it at the right angle. Two scales came flying off at his attack, and it was enough.
He plummeted through the air as the dragon let go of his body. The impact took all the wind out of the knight, but he was still alive. He would have to thank Jove or whatever gods were listening for making dragons heavy. This one had only managed to lift some twenty feet in the air before dropping him.
Instinctively, he rolled on the ground and scrambled to his feet, not an easy task with this weighted plate armor. His spear lay to one side, and he hurried to pick it up.
The dragon swooped in for an attack, raising his claws as he did so. George brought the spear to bear just in time. It slid across the dragon’s scales as he lunged forward. He missed the more tender parts of the head, like its eyes and mouth, but instead the spear slid along the scales and embedded itself into the joint of the wing with its body.
The dragon roared, and fire burst from its gullet involuntarily. The spear had punctured the beast, in the soft tissue of the wing’s joint. Its eyes were wide.
The tail came flying for him again, but he dodged out of the way just in time. But in doing so, he had to let go of the spear, which was still stuck in the monster’s wing.
He watched as the dragon reached around with its serpentine head, lay hold of the spear in its jaws, pulled it out, and snapped it into pieces.
That had been his only long-range weapon. It was down to him and his sword now. He could only pray that would be enough.
Raising the sword high, he rushed the dragon. But he didn’t get far. Soon his entire body was caught up in the coils of its tail, though he still managed to keep his sword in his hand. Even as the beast crushed his lower body, he hacked at the scaly tail over and over again, making sure to attack at an angle to try and knock the scales off, for going against the scales resulted in nothing but the slightest dent and a chipped sword.
The dragon’s grip around his middle lessened, and once again the beast tried to flap its wings to raise itself up.
It was trying to retreat,
George realized, or at least assess its losses and regroup. Whatever George was doing, it was working. He was putting the dragon on the defensive.
What added more to his joy was the fact that as the dragon tried to pull away, its wing buckled, crippled by the wound George had already inflicted.
But before George had a chance to celebrate, the tail recoiled around him again, then released, propelling him forward like a stone in a sling.
Instinctively, he focused on holding onto his sword and shield as his body smashed into the nearest stone wall, back first.
He groaned as he slid down the side of the wall, feeling the armor conform around him. The back of his plate had caved in slightly, enough that he had less room to breathe inside the metal shell. If he survived the day, it would be quite a chore to get this plate off of himself.
As he tried to rise, he stumbled. Armor was awkward, even more so now that it had taken the brunt of a major impact with the wall. He was slow, and the moment cost him.
The dragon sent out a maelstrom of flames hurtling in his direction. Knowing he could not get out of the way, he raised his shield.
The impact slammed him back into the wall again, and his entire body felt as though he had jumped in an enormous blacksmith’s forge. Grunting, he pulled the shield up so as to keep his face out of the direct flames. But all that did was open up his leg armor and the bottom part of his chest plate to the dragon’s flames.
The beast did not relent. The flames enveloped George, literally cooking him in his armor, growing hotter by the second. It would be only a matter of time before his clothes caught fire underneath the armor. Then everything would be done for.
The flames stopped, evidently because the dragon simply couldn’t keep it up indefinitely. George lowered his shield to look through his helmet’s visor. The dragon was breathing hard, readying for another attack. He could not give it the chance.
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