Emperor

by Isaac Hooke

  Was it everything you imagined? he asked.

  That and more, my Breaker. She sighed mentally. Though I was afraid, because I couldn’t control the griffin, it was also exhilarating. They didn’t let me fly again, not until I was of age. And then I took to the skies almost daily. You know, when I first learned of dragons, I told my mother that one day I would own one, and fly across the sky with it wherever I went. But my mother laughed and told me, ‘dragons cannot be owned. Stick to griffins.’ I guess she was wrong.

  Everything can be owned, Malem said. For a price.

  And what did you pay to own this particular dragon? she asked. Nemertes, ancient and terrible, dragon among dragons.

  Malem considered for a moment. She followed Mauritania. When I took Mauritania, she followed me. I’m not quite sure why. I’ve Broken her a few times since then to ensure her loyalty. In fact, I have her Broken at this moment, though these days the Breaking is mostly to maintain communications. Whenever I release her from our link, always she returns. I guess what we have now is more akin to friendship. So, I suppose the honest answer to your question is, she stays of her own free will—I don’t own her. But some could argue that even friendship comes with a price tag, in terms of time and attention.

  Interesting, she sent. After a moment: And what is your price, Breaker?

  He laughed, though thanks to the wind, she would have only realized it by the rumble in his chest. I’m easy to please, Woman. Cook me a decent meal once a day to keep my belly happy, keep my house and clothes clean so that I don’t roll around in dirt, and pleasure me in bed each and every night with the energy of a rabbit.

  He felt her breasts vibrating behind him, and he knew it was her turn to laugh.

  And you say you are easy to please, she sent.

  He shrugged. Depends on your point of view, I suppose.

  My point of view is that of a queen, she said, her voice becoming slightly snooty in his head.

  Oh, of course, your majesty, he sent. I’ll throw myself face down into any puddles we come across while going for our daily walks, so that you might tread across my back and keep your royal feet from getting dirty.

  That’s more like it, she said. She snuggled against his back, pressing her head close to him. He sensed jealousy from the energy bundles of Gwen and Ziatrice on either side of him, and he knew they were watching.

  He didn’t care too much. Jealousy was something he had learned to cope with, given his situation. It usually simmered in the background, and rarely boiled over. In fact, it made the women try all that harder to please him in bed. He doubted Gwen would have been so feisty, for example, without the knowledge that she was competing against eight other women for his affections.

  Malem watched the land roll past below. Ahead, he could see Fallow Gate. The city had recovered well from the attack Ziatrice had led against it. The bricklayers and cobblers had been keeping busy the past six months, it seemed: the city almost looked like it had never been assaulted. There were only a few remaining signs of the siege—a collapsed building, a broken fountain—but he was sure eventually those would be repaired, too. Unless the citizenry decided to declare them as monuments to the siege.

  I sought to escape my fate for so long, Wendolin said suddenly. A princess, groomed to become queen. And now that I’ve finally done it, all I can think about is returning.

  You can go back to the Tree Elves at any time, you know that, right? he said.

  I know, she said. I haven’t decided yet. It suits me to stay, for now.

  Okay, he said. Just know that you’ll still be bound to me if you go, and that binding will give me slots for breaking monsters, but we won’t be able to communicate after twenty miles separates us. Which is probably for the best, if you decide to leave.

  Makes sense, she sent, and had no further comment on the matter.

  Soon Fallow Gate was well behind them, and he could see the distant mountains of the Harken range, where the Metals resided. Malem had received reports that the half dragons had returned to Khaledonius to begin rebuilding. Evidently word had spread to them of Vorgon’s banishment. Malem wasn’t sure what his reception would be among the Metals, considering he had led the assault on their city.

  But he had let the king go when he had a chance to capture him. That had to count for something.

  If these Metal fuckers attack me, I’m going to tear them from the skies, Nemertes announced.

  Relax, Malem told her. We have their princess with us. I’m sure everything will be fine.

  We’ll see, Nemertes said. Something tells me they’re going to hold a grudge, considering what we did. Is it wrong for me to feel no regrets? Because damn, I had fun destroying that city.

  And you’re supposed to be good now, he sent. Your evil ways are behind you.

  Ha! the dragon said. Just because I’m ‘good’ doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy a little death and destruction now and then. I’m a blue dragon!

  Do you still want to slay me? he asked Nemertes.

  Nah, the dragon said. Haven’t wanted that for a long time. Okay fine, maybe it’s only been a few days. Back when you were still in bed with Vorgon. But hey, now that you've come back to the light, I'm good with you.

  I still haven’t figured out what changed your attitude toward men, Malem said. I thought you hated us, for what we did to your mate.

  She was silent for a time.

  Finally:

  Let’s just say, I wasn’t too happy Mauritania was obeying your orders, at first. She had Broken me, with Vorgon’s power, and with her liberal use of the Green Rot as a means of discipline. Over time, strangely, we became friends. I respected her, and became loyal to her, so that soon she no longer needed to bind me, nor discipline me. She satisfied my thirst for death and destruction, and she had my same wicked sense of humor. When you Broke her, and she ordered me not to kill you, I almost defied that order out of my loyalty to her. But something held back my talons. Maybe a remnant of my former conscience, which I had thought lost long ago.

  Whatever the case, when you showed me I didn’t have to kill everything that moved to feel good about myself, and that I didn’t have to constantly destroy to feel complete, that was a turning point for me. Besides, ‘evil’ and vague terms like ‘morality’ are merely points of view put forth by those in power to maintain that power. I’m sure you’ve figured that out by now.

  That might be true to a degree, Malem said. Especially when it comes to many man-made laws. But some things are obviously evil. Killing a newborn, for example.

  Really? the blue dragon said. There are several animal species that kill their own young, for various reasons. Does that make those animals evil?

  That’s what differentiates man from beast, Malem said. Our moral compass. Anyway, I’d love to debate the intricacies of good and evil with you sometime, but for now, I think I’d prefer to sit back and enjoy the flight. I have to mentally prepare myself for dealing with King Agantas.

  Coward, Nemertes sent.

  The peaks of the Harken range filled the skyline, and it wasn’t long before Mount Ademan appeared, thrusting above all the others. Malem steered Nemertes directly toward it. He could discern the broken walls of Khaledonius near the upper peaks.

  The glint of the sun upon scales alerted him to a score of Metal dragons launching from the distant parapets. The creatures headed straight toward Malem and his airborne companions.

  It looks like the Metals have returned after all, he sent Abigail. You know what to do.

  Abigail and Weyanna pulled ahead of the others. Solan, Gannet, Sylfi, and Brita followed in a V shape behind her, while Nemertes brought up the rear.

  As the two opposing parties grew near, Malem slowed, as did the other four that trailed, allowing Abigail and Weyanna to pull ahead.

  As Abigail and Weyanna approached the dragons, Malem directed Nemertes into a circular holding pattern, matching the flights of the other four that stayed behind.

  I hate all this circling, Nem
ertes said. I feel like a vulture.

  What’s wrong with being a vulture? Malem asked.

  Vultures dine on the kills of others, Nemertes replied. They’re bottom feeders. I dine on my own kills.

  Abigail and Weyanna circled the Metal dragons, too, the whole group of which had also assumed a holding pattern.

  He heard shouts above the wind as Abigail addressed someone among them, but he couldn’t make out what was transpiring.

  Finally, after several minutes:

  They’re going to let us land with our riders, Abigail sent. She spoke over the general mental connection he shared with the others, so that Wendolin and the other riders would know what was going on. But not you, Breaker. The king wants to speak to me first. You and Nemertes are to wait here until we summon you. Just keep circling the area until then.

  That’s fine, he told her.

  The Metals also plan to leave five dragons here to watch you, she sent.

  Also fine, he said.

  I’ll stay with the Breaker, Sylfi said.

  There’s no need, Malem said. Nemertes can easily handle five dragons.

  Even so, I’d feel better knowing the two of you weren’t alone, she said.

  I can certainly vouch for that, Ziatrice said. She was Sylfi’s rider.

  So, while Sylfi remained, the others flew forward to join Abigail. Meanwhile, five Metals broke away from the group, and headed toward Nemertes and Sylfi.

  Abigail and the others were soon well on their way to Khaledonius. The five Metal dragons sent to watch Malem soon flew alongside, circling with Nemertes and Sylfi. Those dragons gave Malem and his mount angry looks, but said nothing.

  Like I told you, Nemertes sent, if these fuckers attack…

  They won’t attack, Malem assured her. He tried to send soothing vibes through his bond to her, but it didn’t help.

  I hate this already, Nemertes said. Can I bite off one of their heads? Pretty please?

  Behave, Malem sent.

  “You are a traitor,” one of the dragons finally boomed, speaking to Sylfi. It was a platinum.

  “I betrayed no one,” she said. “By joining the Breaker, I helped save the world. Vorgon is gone now.”

  It was only a half truth, considering the earlier attack pointed to Vorgon’s return, but still a valid point as far as Malem was concerned. She had helped save the world.

  “Yes, but at what cost?” the platinum dragon said. “We lost our city!”

  “A city can be rebuilt,” Sylfi said. “A destroyed world, not so much.”

  “Does it please you to bed the man who killed my brother?” another dragon said. A bronze female.

  Yes, perhaps it had been a bad idea to come here.

  Sylfi didn’t answer.

  “Does it make you happy, knowing that I cry myself to sleep every night, and mourn his loss, and the loss of our hoard?” the dragon pressed.

  Again, no answer.

  “Does it—” The bronze began.

  “Shut the fuck up!” Nemertes boomed, so loud that Malem started in his saddle. “Before I rip out your guts and wrap them around your neck to choke your sorry ass!”

  Damn, Wendolin said. This is one dragon you don’t want to piss off.

  The other dragons remained quiet after that.

  Malem felt the tension ebbing from Sylfi. But it stayed inside Nemertes. The blue dragon was all wound up, and ready to strike out. When Malem saw a herd of mountain goats rushing past below, harried by wolves, he steered her toward the pack so she could get some of that tension loose.

  Nemertes swooped down, and three of the Metals dragons followed in alarm. They kept their distance, however. Two stayed back to watch Sylfi, who continued to circle overhead.

  Nemertes ripped into the goats, just tearing them apart. She scooped up some of them in her jaws and swallowed them whole. The wolves weren’t immune from her wrath. They turned around and hightailed it from the scene, but Nemertes followed, merciless. She sent ribbons of light magic into them, imploding the animals as they ran.

  When she was done, she had killed nearly the entire herd of goats, and the wolves that pursued them. None of the kills had gone to waste: she’d gone back to eat any she’d left lying dismembered or imploded on the shoulders of the mountain.

  Malem felt some pity for the animals, but he knew this was the natural order of things. Herds of animals died to dragons all the time in nature. Not to mention the perhaps millions of creatures that died daily in predator and prey relationships across the world. One could not pity natural law.

  Shit, Nemertes said as she slowly flapped her wings to regain her former height. Ate too much. Now I feel like going to sleep.

  “Someone’s going to be shitting bones tonight,” Sylfi commented when she returned.

  “Shut your chromium hinny,” Nemertes said.

  The dragons continued circling. Nemertes struggled to stay awake, and Malem had to send her stamina every half hour or so to help her out. He wasn’t sure how much longer she would last, however, and wondered if she’d just land and collapse at some point. Maybe he should let her.

  But then finally two dragons appeared from the city. He didn’t recognize the Metals, a Gold and a Chromium.

  “The Breaker and his companions have been granted audience with the king,” the Gold said. “We are to escort them to the keep.”

  7

  Malem crossed the throne room of the Metal dragons. The red carpet he strode upon was bordered by pillars; half dragon soldiers armed with pikes stood between them, watching him pass with angry eyes.

  He approached the steps that led to the dais where the king sat. As he neared, he saw that the king no longer wore the gold and diamond crown that once rested on his brow, nor the lion skin that had draped his shoulders. King Agantas still had his chest plate of golden dragon scales however, with the sigil of a fiery talon engraved into the breast. He also wore those familiar boots trimmed with ermine fur.

  The ivory throne itself remained mostly intact compared to the last time Malem was here, though the agate gems gripped in the dragon-shaped mouths of the armrest were missing. He had seen similar signs of looting while Nemertes had crossed the city to the keep, with the streets missing their diamond paving stones, and the buildings stripped of gold and emeralds. Many structures still possessed damage from the siege.

  Abigail stood demurely at the king’s side in a plain red dress whose collar reached to the neck, showing no skin above the bosom whatsoever. Opposite her stooped an old man in a white robe, leaning heavily on a wooden staff as gnarled as the man. Malem figured he was a mage of some kind. Behind the throne, two more pike-wielding soldiers resided.

  Jayden, Abigail’s brother, was conspicuously absent.

  Where’s Jayden? Malem sent Abigail.

  He didn’t join any of the dragon flocks that coalesced during the flight from Khaledonius, she replied. No one knows what happened to him. I hope he escaped. His body was never found in the city, or upon the nearby mountains, so there’s that.

  I hope he’s all right as well, Malem said. He truly did, because if anything happened to Jayden, Malem felt responsible.

  He halted at the base of the steps.

  “Breaker,” Agantas said by way of greeting. His voice was cold.

  Malem knelt, and bowed his head. “King Agantas.”

  “Rise,” Agantas said.

  Malem stood, and gazed into the king’s eyes. There was anger there, mixed with respect.

  “There are many here who hate you,” the king said. “And yet you have also done the world, and thus dragonkind, a great favor. You have banished Vorgon, and broken free of his control. Because of this, though you led the attack against my city, I have ordered my people to tolerate you. I don’t know if they will ever truly forgive you, but by welcoming you here, that’s a start. And considering that you control a large army stationed in the Midweald, it seems prudent that we engage in friendly relations.”

  “It certainly does,” Mal
em said.

  “Excellent,” Agantas said. “We have much to discuss. But the first topic is my treasury. Vorgon looted the hoard stowed deep inside Mount Ademan. All the gold, all the silver, the coins, the magic weapons, accumulated over centuries of dragon rule. My daughter tells me the contents were used to pay the demon’s dark army. That host is yours now. And I’d like our stolen treasure back.”

  Malem shook his head. “I can’t do that. It’s all I’ve been using to pay them.”

  The stolen valuables had become part of his own treasury, kept under guard in the basement of the palace the oraks were constructing for him in the Midweald. The stockpile was quickly running out, however, because in an effort to ensure the loyalty of his army, he had increased the base wages after taking over from Vorgon. It also seemed only fair to make the pay levels of the soldiers closer in alignment to what men would get for similar work in the cities, or as hired swords for merchant caravans, considering that a good portion of his army was composed of men drafted by Vorgon from the conquered cities.

  In an effort to boost that treasury, he had dispatched roving bands to raid the gobling tribes that hadn’t yet joined him. His teams also looted the dens of any hill giants, ettins, ghrips, and giant spiders they encountered in their hunts. There usually wasn’t much loot involved, but the raids themselves helped keep the aggressive natures of the dark fighters in check, and if any soldiers died during a raid, Malem simply looked at it as less swords to pay.

  So yes, it wasn’t a lie that the treasure stolen from the Metal dragons was the main source of funding for his army.