by Eden Redd
Dorian stepped forward, “I accept.”
The crowd looked to Lord Lockwood as he stood; chest out and a determination in his eyes.
“My lord, you do not have to accept his challenge,” General Strum said, not taking his eyes off the dragon.
Xoli moved to Dorian’s side and opened her robe. Dorian looked down, reached out and pulled Splitter from its scabbard. Xoli pulled back as Dorian stepped to Strum’s side.
“Honor demands I take it,” Dorian smiled.
Yypith nodded, “You are braver then I thought.”
Nypha stepped over, making eye contact with Dorian, “Lord Lockwood, you do not have to do this for me.”
Dorian turned his eyes to her, a gentle smile on his lips, “I’m not doing it for you. I’m doing it for our friendship. Lord Yypith thinks of you as a prize to be won. He thinks I am a mere human lord with no power. Even if he hadn’t challenge me, I would challenge him for his disrespect.”
Lord Lockwood turned his attention to Yypith, “Since I have accepted your challenge, I hold the right to lay down the rules of the duel.”
Yypith nodded.
Dorian stepped forward, looking the blue haired dragon in the eye, “I am well aware of your shape changing abilities. Change into a human form, no wings, horns, claws or tail. Weapons of choice will be swords.”
Yypith’s form shifted as wings sank into his back. Horns melted into his head while armored forearms and legs shifted to plain skin. The dragon’s tail curled and melted into his body. A moment later, the half dragon had become human with short blue hair.
“You say swords but I would be at a disadvantage against your magical blade,” Yypith sneered.
Dorian smiled, “As I would be at a disadvantage to your strength and speed. We shall call it even, wouldn’t you agree?”
Yypith eyed the lord before nodding his head in agreement. The crowd watched with wide eyes except for Lady Astor as she stepped forward.
“My Lord Lockwood, please choose a champion for your duel. Princess Victoria will make short work of this foul dragon in your court!”
Dorian turned his head slightly but kept his eyes on Yypith, “Thank you Lady Astor, but I do not want Victoria’s beauty marred. I will face my challenger.”
Victoria looked from the sidelines, her stern cheeks glowed pinkish red. Princess Chandra moved to her father’s side. Strum gave the guards a glance and they pulled back, sheathing their swords.
General Strum faced away from the dragon and moved close to Lord Lockwood, “I disagree with this challenge. Lady Astor is right about choosing a champion, but I should be fighting in your stead.”
“You know my father would have accepted any challenge and so shall I. Besides, if I can best a dragon, maybe Lady Astor and Lord Pitt will back down a little.”
Strum shook his head slightly, “This is dangerous.”
Dorian gave the general a kind glance, “That is why you will ensure the duel will be even and fair. Have Xoli prepare her spells and have the guards ready. If it gets out of hand, end the duel and we will sort it out afterwards.”
“And if he kills you?”
Dorian eyed the dragon, “He won’t because my general will kill him.”
General Strum nodded before stepping away. A guard stepped with hands out and sword lying across his palms. Yypith reached out and took the blade. The guard stepped back. Nypha watched, her spirit screaming to end it before it even started. Cindrar and Lirla stayed in their seats, eyeing the lord and dragon as they stood about ten feet apart.
Dorian stared as a guard took his cloak from his shoulders and walked away. Yypith stood in his azure robe, sword at his side and a predator’s hunger in his eyes. The young lord knew he had to keep the dragon off balance or he would be a red stain on the floor. Despite having Splitter, the lord only knew the one special ability and he would only have one shot with it. The duel had to be quick since the dragon’s stamina would outlast his own. Dorian calculated his chances and they didn’t seem favorable. Taking a page from his father’s book, he prepared to push luck into his favor.
“Before we begin, I must ask something of Nypha,” Dorian said and began walking to her.
Yypith simply watched as Lord Lockwood stepped to the green-haired half dragon and gazed into her oval eyes. Nypha look to him with a hint of worry. They both knew this was a dangerous challenge and she mentally prepared to intervene.
“Nypha, no matter what happens, do not come to my aid,” Dorian said simply.
Nypha’s eyes widened, “You cannot ask that of me.”
The lord’s face took on grim shadows, “Then as your lord, I order you not to aid or protect me.”
Nypha couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“And forgive me for what I must do next,” Dorian leaned in and pressed his lips to hers.
Nypha’s eyes widened as Dorian’s heat touched hers. The shock painted her expression as a weakness take hold. A loud growl filled the hall and Dorian pulled away, turning his head and his body.
Yypith darted toward him, sword at his side and rage in his eyes. The dragon in human form was a blur as his sword came up in a powerful arc. Dorian barely had a chance to bring Splitter up for a parry. The dragon’s sword clashed into his and Dorian found himself lifted up into the air.
Nypha watched as Dorian grunted, flew about five feet and stumbled back on shaky legs. The lord braced himself as Yypith pressed his attack. Dorian studied the dragon as rage propelled his form, sword down and ready to slash upwards. Reality moved in flashes as Dorian kept his form limber. The dragon was within a few feet and his sword came up. The young lord side stepped, the blade missing him by inches. When it was just passing his face, Dorian flicked his wrist and Splitter slammed into it, sending it up further. Before Yypith could bring it down, Dorian spun, bent his knees and slashed outward at Yypith’s abdomen.
The dragon pulled back, sword missing his stomach by inches. Dorian pressed his attack with a feint. Yypith acting on instinct brought his sword down, the blade striking the stone floor and sparks flying up. Dorian took the opportunity and stabbed at the dragon’s now exposed leg. The dragon shifted his leg in an odd angle, the sword just missing it.
Dorian cursed as the dragon used his shape change ability to bend his form. Yypith gave a hostile stare as his sword came up and cut across. Dorian parried the blade but the vibrations from the parry surged into his hands and arms. Gritting his teeth, he held his ground.
The crowd watched as swords flashed and sparks flew. The dragon and lord turned into a storm of swords, slashing at each other. Dorian kept moving, using his skill to keep the dragon at bay but Yypith used his power to drive at the lord. Dorian dodged almost every incoming strike until one came dangerously close and he parried. Vibrations sang up his blade and into his hand, almost causing him to lose his grip. Spinning away, he regained his grip and his footing but Yypith was on him once again.
Sword swinging down, Dorian dodged to the right. Yypith stopped his swing and drove his shoulder into the lord’s chest. Dorian went spiraling to the floor. Hitting the ground, he rolled back up to his feet, an ache pulsating at his chest. Nothing was broken but Dorian knew if he took another hit like that, his chest might cave in.
“I’m not even using all of my strength and speed. This is a sad game with only one winner. Yield and I will let Nypha say your name while I take her.”
Dorian kept his steely gaze, arms and legs loose and ready, “Yypith, for such an honorable creature, you come off like a beggar at Nypha’s feet. One could easily think you wouldn’t know what to do with such a beauty once you had her. Pity, it takes a human to come between her beauty and your limp pride.”
Yypith glared at Dorian, a fire bleeding into his eyes. The room fell silent, the crowd watching with intense eyes as Lord Lockwood insulted the dragon right before him. Nypha readied herself, for she could see the curling energy around the blue dragon, surging with power. A hush filled beating hearts as Yypith exp
loded into a blue streak across the short distance to Lord Lockwood.
Dorian braced himself as the dragon growled his contempt. Yypith’s sword swinging, Dorian parried one blow but the dragon was moving much too fast. Yypith turned the blade on its side and struck at Dorian’s left arm with the flat side. Pain barely registered as Dorian stumbled off. The savage attacks continued as Yypith brought the sword up and slammed the flat side against one of Dorian’s thighs and then struck the other. Pain flared and the lord found it difficult to stand. Trying to move, the attacks continued. The hard side of the blade struck Dorian across the side of his head, sending him crashing to the floor.
Dazed with blood filling his mouth, the lord felt Splitter still in his hand. Lurching back to his feet, he saw Yypith eyeing him like a cat with a captured mouse.
“Yield Lord Lockwood. You have lost,” Yypith said with a sardonic grin.
Dorian spit red on the floor before looking to the grinning dragon, “Fuck your begging!”
“You leave me no choice but to put you in your proper place,” Yypith said coolly before bursting toward the swaying lord.
Time slowed down as Dorian watched the dragon come charging toward him. The dragon’s power burst outward in thick heat and he was on the young lord in a blink of an eye. Yypith’s sword moved with supernatural speed and Dorian tried to keep up. There was a flash as Dorian brought up his sword arm while stabbing out his left hand for balance. Dorian was about to whisper the mystical word for Splitter’s armor piercing ability when a scream from the crowd filled the air.
The attack was so swift and accurate; Dorian felt nothing as his left hand separated from his wrist and went spinning into the air. Yypith grinned evilly as Dorian watched in slow motion, his hand soaring through the air. The dragon pulled back his blade, eyeing the lord and waiting for the pathetic screams to surface from his throat. Dorian ignored the loss of his hand, knowing this was the opening he was searching for. Blood spurted from the wrist as shadows cast downward, partially covering his grim expression.
Yypith opened his mouth, ready to claim victory until Dorian pointed his spurting wrist at the dragon’s face. A bolt of red splashed into the dragon’s eyes and parted lips. Time slipping away, Dorian pressed his attack as the dragon looked away with another spurt of blood painting the side of his head. A hand went up to wipe the blood from his face when a whisper filled the space between them. Eyes opening, Yypith watched as Dorian closed the distance, Splitter glowing with power. The sword penetrated the dragon’s stomach, stabbing through and the sword point emerging out of his back. Power flashed and Yypith groaned as Dorian crashed into him. Lord and dragon fell to the floor, Splitter’s ability still active as the sword penetrated hard stone, impaling the dragon to the floor.
Yypith’s eyes were the size of saucers seeing Dorian above him. The sword was buried in his gut and the Lord of Uboria, grinning with a mad gleam in his eyes.
“Yield,” Dorian hissed.
Before the dragon could respond, Dorian twisted the blade hard, steaming dragon blood emerging from the wound.
“YIELD!” Dorian screamed.
Xoli’s hands were glowing with sparking auras. Nypha and Strum were already running to Dorian. The crowd stared with wide eyes but the moment between Dorian and Yypith seemed to last forever, until the dragon in human form nodded in painful agreement.
“I yield,” Yypith said with pain in his voice.
Clerics burst from doorways and rushed to Lord Lockwood. Nypha and Strum were there, hands taking hold as Dorian smiled evilly at the dragon under him. Splitter’s glow died. Weakness filled the lord as he fell back into Nypha and Strum’s arms. The world around him began to dim. Looking up at Nypha, she spoke but he couldn’t hear the words. The light fading away, the lord smiled gently, lost to the green-haired dragon’s touch.
Living energy slammed into Dorian as he stood at death’s door. Clerics placed their hands on him, pumping healing energy into his body. The darkness of death was blasted away as energy filled his heart and limbs. Strength replaced weakness and Dorian gasped and his life returned to him.
Princess Chandra picked up Dorian’s hand and held it to her chest. She stepped over, a strange shadow in her eyes. The princess hesitated to give the hand back until a cleric reached up and snatched it from her hands. Kneeling down, the cleric attached the severed hand and chanted to her goddess to restore the limb back to Dorian’s body. The goddess heard the chant as veins and muscles reached out and took hold from wrist to hand. Thick wet sounds filled the small area while the hand reattached and light glowed around the edge of the wound. A short moment later, finger’s flexed.
Dorian sat up. Nypha and Strum helped the lord to his feet. Yypith struggled, still impaled in the floor and molten blood seeping into stone. The lord walked over and took hold of Splitter. With a wretch, the blade pulled from the stone and Yypith’s body.
“Heal him,” Dorian said as he looked down with dark eyes.
The clerics moved to Yypith’s side, glowing hands touching his body. Blood curled back into the wound and it slowly closed. Strum put an arm around Dorian, pulling him away with Nypha and Xoli close behind. The clerics finished their healing, stood up and walked away without so much as a second glance at the blue haired dragon man.
Yypith sat up, sorrow and embarrassment filling his face. Cindrar was up and stepping to the sitting dragon. Yypith looked up to her blank face, heart sinking.
Cindrar looked down with indifference, “I rescind my offer and agreement. You lack patience and foresight. Leave and never speak to me or my family again.”
“Lady Shadowfyre….I….” Yypith began.
Cindrar turned and began walking away. Lirla stayed in her seat, hand waving goodbye and blowing the dragon a kiss.
Ten
Dorian, Nypha, Strum and Xoli stepped into a side room. The young lord walked in, turned and fell onto a comfortable couch. Looking up, he tried not to smile as the three glared at him.
Nypha and Strum began talking at once. Dorian couldn’t make out what they were saying as they tried to talk over one another. Xoli stood next to them, hood down and oval eyes watching the lord as a smile began to creep into his cheeks.
“One at a time please,” Dorian grinned.
Strum cleared his throat before he continued, “My lord, that was your plan? To lose a limb and attack him?”
“Not exactly,” Dorian kept his smile, “I was looking to distract him long enough so I could get an edge on him.”
“He sliced off your hand,” Nypha said incredulously.
Dorian lifted up his hand and wiggled his fingers, “It works fine.”
Nypha stepped closer, lip trembling, “That is not the point. What you did was reckless. He could have killed you.”
“But he didn’t. I know it seems bad but I had to show a level of strength. Yypith created the perfect moment to show that. I knew he wouldn’t kill me but I also knew I didn’t have much of a chance against him unless I tried something daring. Now, he will leave you alone. Lady Astor and Lord Pitt will think twice before pushing their agendas. It had to happen this way, for all our sakes.”
Dorian stood up and stepped to Nypha, looking into her wet green eyes, “I know you were worried but my clerics would have been able to bring me back even if I did die.”
Strum crossed his strong arms, “I had the guards call on them to stack the deck but they can only bring you back a certain number of times. You didn’t need to waste one of those chances tonight.”
Dorian looked kindly to the white haired general, “I didn’t die so my chances are still good should the time ever come.”
Strum’s expression softened, “What will you have me tell your guests?”
“Tell them that I require rest after such a duel and they should enjoy the rest of the evening. I’d rather not go back out there to dodge princesses. The evening was already a full one and I’d prefer to retire to the tower.”
“And Yypith?” Nypha ask
ed.
“He is welcomed to stay as long as he wishes but my guess is, he will move on,” Dorian said with a sad smile.
Nypha’s eyes were half closed as she spoke, “I will take Lord Lockwood to the tower and ensure he is protected for the rest of the night.”
Xoli raised an eyebrow as General Strum gave a slight nod of his head. The general turned and left the room with Xoli close behind. The court sorceress glanced back at Dorian and Nypha before leaving and closing the door behind her.
“I’m sorry if I wor….” Dorian was cut off.
“Lord Lockwood, never do such a thing again! If you do, I will do more then give you a scathing tongue lashing!”
The lord looked to the green haired half dragon. Nypha’s shoulders were tight with fists nearly vibrating at her sides. Dorian was about to say something when Nypha launched at him, arms coiling around and holding him close. The pair stood, caught in a warm embrace. Dorian said nothing as the dragon held him. Instead, he drank in her wondrous scent. Nypha could barely contain herself as she held him. Dorian’s arms moved up and hugged her waist as she pressed her face to his neck.
The lord and dragon stood, holding each other in silent comfort. Dorian wanted to speak his mind again. He wanted to tell her how he felt, how he always felt. Nypha buried her face in his strong musk, unable to say the words that danced in her heart. The connection was there but duty and honor clashed with desires of the soul. The two felt close and miles apart at the same time.
Dorian lost his nerve. He thought about how she acted last night in the library. How she came off cold to him. Now she was here, holding him but he could not shake the thought of her only being there because she owed his father. It stabbed at him again and again, despite his heart singing to her touch.
Nypha’s lips sealed as doubt crashed onto the shores of her heart. Feelings writhed with sweet temptation but she considered it to be nothing more than her mating cycle. Images of Dorian fighting on despite losing his hand roared into her thoughts. The strength and power he displayed alone would have been enough to sway her to act on her temptation, but the words from her mother echoed on. She couldn’t risk letting her heart chain to such a beautiful human. She thought back to that beautiful and terrible moment when he was covered in his father’s blood, and he turned to her, wrapping his skinny arms around her. In that instance, he touched her on a level she never thought was possible. It sang on in her dreams and she could never let it go.
