by D. H. Dunn
He reached in and delicately unbuckled the Princess from her car-seat. She stirred, eyelids fluttering before closing again. Did she see him? Would she remember his face?
He pulled her out into the cold morning air with his good arm. His heart continued to pound, he could feel it in his eyes as he looked at his daughter. The Dragon would be here soon, but they would find only the King. He gave her a soft kiss on her cheek, the warmth of her skin brushing against his cold, coarse lips. Truly a Princess, one he could not fail.
Drake handed her off to the Prince, turning his thoughts away from the protests that rang in his ears. All he needed now was for the Prince to leave, to take her safely off to her mother. Then he could end this. All of it.
He heard the door slam as the Prince loaded her into the Mustang. Drake kept himself rigid, as still as a statue in a courtyard. If he looked at her, he might run after them just to get one more look. One more glance, one more blue sky.
Only when the Mustang’s exhaust had fully dissipated did the King allow himself to move. His time was short, but all he needed to do was retrieve the weapon from the Bronco and wait. The black dragon would be there soon, and the Drake would be ready.
He heard it before he could see it. He had been counting the smaller mounts as they rolled by RT 1 on a lazy New Year’s morning. Common folk off to jobs or relatives, common business. The unmistakable rumble of the black dragon’s deep growl passed off the highway, moving so fast it almost seemed to fly.
Drake used his left hand to steady his right arm, the long weapon reloaded and ready in his fingers. He had fired it one handed before, many times in the past he suspected, but this would be the last time. It looked like a wooden bow to his eyes, but he could feel the metal in his finger. The differences didn’t matter anymore, no more than the mist in his mind. The wizard and his pills had put the mist there, but he would be the one to remove it. To clear things at last.
His hand shook violently, almost in cadence with the rumbling beast charging at him. Drake squinted through the morning fog, trying to keep his focus on the rider. Not to save himself, at this speed even rider-less the beast was sure to consume him. For justice, for both him and them.
He let his weapon cry, his own eyes too filled with tears to see if his aim had been true. The dragon was upon him, Drake welcoming its heat as the metal teeth tore into him.
Sometimes, even a King deserved peace.
Also by D.H. Dunn - Under Everest
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Sincerely,
D.H. Dunn
Free Short Story - Cracks and Crevasses
Click the link below to download CRACKS AND CREVASSES - the short story prequel to UNDER EVEREST
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