''Dragons, or drakkaks as they are more formally called, are magnificent creatures. Truly, there are few animals quite like them. And they are beautiful.


    ''I was lucky enough to see a dragon once and survive. It was a fire drakkak, as I recall. The scales were as red as blood, perfectly overlapping with each other to protect the flesh beneath. The eyes were a swirling crimson, holding vast amounts of wisdom. The wings were huge, and powerful. I was left in awe as the dragon flew away. I have never had an experience like it.


    ''Despite the beauty of the creatures, dragons are incredibly dangerous. The tales of their prowess in battle are not exaggerated; in fact, they rarely do the creatures justice. Their talons can rip buildings to the ground, tear through armour and stone alike. The flames of a fire drakkak can melt the oldest glacier, and the ice of an ice drakkak can freeze the hottest volcano. A single dragon can wipe out whole cities, and when more than one come together to form a Storm, nothing will stand in their way.


    ''The minds of dragons are something else entirely. I had heard of it before I met one, but when I came into contact with him… there are no words to describe the feeling. There is nothing to compare it to. A fully trained adult can force their thoughts onto a human, for a little while at least, and even younger ones can influence the minds of weak-willed humans. The thought of that is enough to make any man tremble in his soul.


    ''Once, nigh on fifty years ago, there were dragons in this part of Wardom. Two fire drakkaks, living in the mountains between what is now Prolla and Lorr. This was during the reign of Threkrig the Great, who ruled most of this land at the time. His soldiers hunted down the two adult dragons, and slaughtered them for trophies. Hundreds of soldiers were lost in the process, slain by the ferocious beasts. Thousands more had died before, as the dragons laid waste to whole towns.


    ''Despite the beauty of dragons, even I hope they do not return to this land, for the toll would be immeasurable…''


    - On Dragons, by Denkel Foliar, the Scholar of Camelot, written in the third year of the reign of Arthur Pendragon.


    ***


    Sophia gazed about her as she entered Lorr. The city was bigger and busier than Prolla, and also seemed more chaotic. Hundreds of people moved through the streets, the light of the setting sun glinting off the tall buildings on either side.


    The journey down from the mountains had been long and tiring, for both the riders and their mounts. Sophia had come alone with Zander and Andromeda, knowing any larger group would only draw attention. Sophia knew they could not rest yet; the dragon could already have been released, and they needed to be in position for when it appeared.


    She wore light armour, hidden beneath her other clothes and a cloak. Her only weapon was a short sword and some knives, things that would not be noticed by any who happened to see her. The other two were the same.


    The time the journey from the mountain would take had been carefully calculated, as was the time it would take Lasraul the dragon to fly that far. Zander didn’t want to be in Lorr for longer than necessary, in case he was recognised by old enemies. So far they were on time, but Sophia couldn’t help but feel worried. There were too many things that could go wrong, and she still did not trust this plan. For one thing, there was still the chance that Lasraul would not come for Lorr. Sophia didn’t dare consider what they would do if that happened.


    They soon arrived at the palace of Caedan. It towered over them, a long high wall running around it. Almost a dozen soldiers guarded the front entrance to the grounds. They could never get in that way, but that was to be expected.


    Zander led the way along the edge of the palace wall. They led their horses as they walked, indistinguishable from the rest of the crowd. The sun had gone down, the moon just visible past the roofs of the surrounding buildings. Sophia looked at the wall as she walked. The plan was to find a place far enough away from the main gate and the crowds of the city to use as an entrance. Nothing special was needed, other than a nearby rooftop they could use.


    The crowd thinned out the further they got from the main streets. Soldiers patrolling the walls barely glanced at them; when the time came, they would be no trouble, their attention being elsewhere.


    Zander finally decided they had found a good place. The wall was slightly lower here, and the building beside it was perfect for their needs. Zander nodded his approval and turned away. Now they just needed to find a place to stay nearby, where they would wait until their distraction arrived.


    As they made their way further from the wall, a roar split the night air. It was heard even above the noise of the people in the streets. Zander looked back at them, grinning. It seemed there would be little waiting involved.


    They turned around and were already moving back towards the palace when Lasraul passed overhead. The torchlight glinted off the red scales along his stomach, his leathery wings beating slowly to carry him across the sky. Sophia almost stopped to look at him. He was even more magnificent and terrifying when free. Flames leapt out of his jaw, setting the buildings ablaze. Screams began to emanate from the streets.


    They reached the wall of the palace again. There were no soldiers in sight, all rallying elsewhere to stop the dragon. Like they had a chance. The streets were emptying, everyone fleeing for safety. Sophia almost pitied them. She knew nowhere would be safe from the dragon.


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Zander climbed onto his horse, standing up. He jumped up, grabbing onto the roof of the building beside. He pulled himself up and Sophia threw a rope to him. Andromeda climbed up first, Sophia following after. They released their horses to roam free, and they left the rope behind. If all went to plan, they wouldn’t need it.


    They leapt across the gap and onto the wall, Sophia just making the distance. The wall was utterly deserted in both directions. They dropped down, landing in what Sophia thought was a training arena. Equipment was scattered across the floor, abandoned once the dragon arrived.


    Zander led them across the arena and into the palace. They drew their weapons as they moved. Sophia feared they would get lost in the long halls of the palace, but Zander had assured her the Emperor’s chambers would not be hard to find. The palace reminded her of its Prollan counterpart, as they had the same majestic architecture and beautiful murals adorning the walls.


    They spent what seemed like an hour moving through the palace, but Sophia knew it could have been no more than ten minutes. The roars of the dragon could be heard outside, as could the screams of the people. Sophia hoped the dragon would not attack the palace until they were out.


    Zander slowed down as they approached large ornate doors. They were on the second floor of the palace, and they had yet to see anyone. Zander spotted something on the floor outside the doors. As Sophia approached, she saw what it was; drops of blood, on either side of the doorway.


    “Something strange is going on here,” Zander said. He looked up to the doors, as did Sophia. She could see that they were slightly ajar, one not quite clicking into place with the other. She did not know what they would find on the other side.


    Zander kicked the doors inwards, his hands gripping his sword tightly. Sophia followed him in, scanning the room. A man sat in an opulent chair directly in front of them. His head was tilted back, unseeing eyes gazing at the ceiling. There were numerous holes in his chest from knives, blood still gushing out of them, spilling across his dark skin and expensive clothes. A crown lay on the ground close by. Caedan was dead, but not by their hands.


    “Who could have done this?” Sophia asked, not expecting an answer.


    “Someone who is using the dragon as an excuse to claim the throne,” Zander said. He laid a hand on the body. “He is still warm. They may still be nearby. Let’s go. Our job is done.”


    As they turned towards the doorway, a man appeared there. He wore lavish clothes and a cloak of purple hung from his shoulder. Two soldiers were with him. Both groups stared at each other for a moment, surprised.


    Zander reacted first, leaping forward and plunging his sword into the chest of the lead man. The two soldiers turned to run. Andromeda was on the first one swiftly, striking him down. The other was quicker, already almost at the end of the corridor. Sophia slipped a knife into her hand and threw it. It crashed into the soldier’s shoulder. He staggered but kept his balance, and managed to get around the corner. Sophia cursed silently.


    “Let’s hope everyone is too distracted with the dragon to bother with us,” Zander said. He looked down at the dead man. “General Ingmar, I had hoped we would meet again.” He stabbed the corpse another time for good measure, before turning to Sophia. “It seems one of the Four Generals wanted to rise in the Afterlife.”


    He began to run down the corridor. Sophia kept her sword drawn in one hand and a knife in the other. She did not want to be caught off guard again. Zander did not lead them back the way they came, instead aiming for the front entrance of the palace.


    They emerged from the building into a courtyard. Half a dozen soldiers waited for them there, one of them the man who had caught the knife in the shoulder. They were led by a tall man, a cloak of simple black clasped by a silver lion around his throat. A Paladin, Sophia thought.


    Zander charged the soldiers immediately, Sophia and Andromeda with him. Sophia threw her knife as she approached, hitting one soldier in the throat. She faced down the Paladin, parrying his first blow. He was a good warrior, forcing her to retreat across the courtyard. She knocked his sword out of the way and smashed the side of her blade into his face. He reeled backwards, to where Zander was finishing up an opponent of his own. Zander thrusted his sword through the Paladin’s back before he could recover from Sophia’s blow.


    They strode out into the streets. Half the city was alight by this stage, and still the dragon flew back and forth breathing his deadly flames. He disappeared into and out of clouds of smoke, swooping down to slaughter any group of soldiers he saw.


    Zander led them at a sprint through the streets. They weaved between different roads, many of the ways blocked by fallen buildings and fire. Sophia flinched as the dragon swooped past overhead. She turned around to watch him set the palace on fire. Sophia spun and continued running.


    “I’ve found you, Zander,” a voice said in her mind, the voice of Lasraul. The dragon landed with a crash onto the road ahead of them. Sophia skidded to a stop, turning swiftly to duck down a side street, Andromeda following her. She soon stopped, realising Zander was not with them.


    She made her way back to the corner, poking her head out. Lasraul stood in the middle of the road, his four long legs bent slightly to bring himself closer to the ground. His wings were folded at his side. The sight of him alone was enough to send shivers down Sophia’s spine. Zander stared at him, his sword drawn in his hand. He looked tiny compared to the massive beast in front of him.


    “You were a fool, Prollan, to think I wouldn’t kill you,” Lasraul said. “You thought you were so clever, coming to Lorr to ensure I would follow. Well, I followed, and now you shall be my feast.”


    “I’m not scared of you!” Zander shouted, striding towards the dragon. Sophia wanted to run out there and pull him away, but she knew it wouldn’t help.


    Lasraul laughed in her mind. “But you should be! I am Lasraul the Annihilator, destroyer of Lorr! What are you compared to that, human? Nothing! You think you are so wise, but really you have been under my control all along! And it took so little to convince you to set me free, for the idea was already there.”


    Sophia felt a gasp escape her mouth. Zander had stopped too, the realisation also dawning on him. Sophia remembered Zander telling her about how the dragon could influence thoughts, and how Lasraul was making himself appear stronger in her mind. But he had been wrong; it was him Lasraul was influencing, not letting him see that his idea had been foolish all along.


    “I shall kill you for this, worm!” Zander screamed.


    “You cannot kill me, Zander. You should have realised that by now.”


    With a cry of battle, Zander charged the dragon. Lasraul opened his jaws and flames sprouted out, engulfing the General. When the fire stopped, nothing was left of Zander. Sophia turned and fled the burning city with Andromeda.