The Forlorn Dragon, Chapter 2
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The Forlorn Dragon, Chapter 2
By William W. Kelso
As the Wyvern and his Satyr rider flew off to spread the news that our evil Master was dead and his slaves were free I also launched myself into the air with a great roar of joy. The evil Warlock who had been my Master for so long had died at my own claws, as was fitting. I had swallowed him alive as he had forced me to do to so many others over the long horrible years I had served him as his mount and slave. My hatred for him had known no bounds; it had been complete and utter. He had transformed me into the horrible creature I was and had forced me to commit unspeakable atrocities in his service. I no longer had any memory of being anything other then what I was now, and I hated the thing I had become under his evil influence. I felt a squirming in my belly and realized he might not be dead yet, and was glad for I wished him to suffer for as long as possible. I knew from experience he could remain alive for days as my stomach was quite large and he was but a morsel to one who could devour up to four cows in one feeding. It had been some time since I had eaten last, so he had plenty of room to squirm, and I would suck in air at times to keep him alive as he was digested alive. I smiled, yes, it was fitting.
The warlock twisted and struggled in the hot wet stomach of the dragon he had once commanded as his slave, he could not believe what had happened! The soft muscular lining of the huge stomach caressed and pushed against his body in an almost sensual way coating him with thick warm mucus, and he could feel his skin starting to burn and itch. NO! He thought, it cannot end this way, being digested in the belly of a beast! I am the most powerful warlock the world has ever known, I am meant to rule! He pushed desperately against the muscular walls as they closed around him, forcing the thick goo onto to every inch of his nude body, and he knew the pressure would soon force it into his bodies orifices so he could be digested from the inside out as well, and he knew it would take him days to die.
I flew through the air as fast as I could; anxious to reach the Warlocks keep and free my mother. And if I passed over any units of his dark host I roared out the news that he was dead, though many of those wearing his slave collars already knew this as the collars had lost their magic. I left chaos in my wake as thousands of beasts and men tried to come to grips with their new freedom, and in many cases turned on those who had commanded and/or mistreated them for so long. And they were not gentle. The mercenaries who had lorded over the Warlock's slave soldiers bore the brunt of their fury.
As I flew through the air any who encountered me, whether friend or foe, made haste to get out of the way of Dragamort, or as I was also known, the Dragon of Death. It is not a name of which I am proud. I am a dragon, but unlike any other ever seen. I am twice the size of even the largest natural dragon, and instead of just scales I am covered in the thick plates and horns and spines of a behemoth. And those plates are etched and engraved in defensive and offensive spells of great power and I am almost invulnerable. That does not mean I cannot be hurt though, I carry more than one scar on my huge black and silver-grey body. However only the mightiest weapons or spells can breach my magical defenses, and even then my natural armor stops most of them. I have never been seriously injured. The same cannot be said of those who have challenged me. But that is over now, no longer will I kill except to feed, and I will fight only in self defense now. The evil in me died when my slave collar was torn off in battle by a lucky blow from an enemy's dragon lance. I am my own creature now, free for the first time I can remember. All the Warlocks former slaves are free!
Think! The warlock thought. He was badly injured and the burning on his skin was becoming unbearable, his eyes hurt so badly he wanted to claw them out of their sockets. His former slave had stripped him of his armor and magical accoutrements and he was dazed and weak, but still a powerful magic user. The stomach gurgled and lathered him in fresh digestive juices and he screamed at the new pain, pushing against the deceptively soft lining, his arms sinking into the rubber like flesh. Then YES, he had it! Desperately he formed the spell in his mind, lost his concentration, and then found the spell again. He really needed to do much more careful preparations for such a spell, but he had no time, no other options if he was to survive, the pain driving him almost insane. With a gurgling moan; his throat burning as he spoke and swallowed the thick digestive mucus, he invoked the spell and was suddenly...elsewhere. The transportation spell was very powerful, and normally required a definite destination in mind, but he was in such pain he cast the spell without setting a fixed destination, so it took him where it would at random. The great dragon flew on; unaware his belly was empty again.
I passed over the Warlocks great keep and chaos reigned below. The word of the Warlock's death had reached the garrison and they were looting and battling one another for the choicest pickings. Most of my formerly enslaved fellow beasts and enslaved animals had fled and it was mainly the human mercenaries who were fighting. One or more commanders had tried to assume command and the troops loyal to them battled with others. But I cared not for that, and when I passed over the battlements and roared many dropped their weapons and ran for the cover of the keeps buildings. With another great roar I landed in the central courtyard and crouching I hissed at those foolish enough not to run and they soon joined their more intelligent comrades. Then with a great roaring shriek I headed towards the cell in which my mother had been imprisoned for so long, and the only home I could remember.
With a great roar I tore the huge doors from their hinges and threw them to the side. I was used to the foul air that poured from the great opening and did not hesitate as I rushed inside. She was crouched in a corner, not sure as to what was going on. But when she realized it was me she relaxed.
"Mother, I cried, we are FREE, the Warlock is dead! We are FREE!!!"
And she shrieked in joy. With an angry roar I tore the heavy metal collars that had bound her for so long; the spells binding them to her had faded, from around her neck and leg, and gently picking her up I carried her out into the sunlight for the first time in over a hundred years.
The sounds of conflict had woken the silver dragoness, and she had crouched in the dark wondering what was going on. Was the keep under attack? Had the Warlock finally met his match? Then she realized the magic spells binding the collars on her neck and leg had failed, and hissing she tried to break the thick metal collars, but was too weak. She felt a sudden tearing fear in her soul, if the Warlock was dead, what of his mount? The great beast he had created with the help of her stolen magic, the great child she had come to love as one of her own? Had he fallen along with his Master? She could only wonder as the sounds of conflict increased, but suddenly she heard several loud roars and the sounds of fighting ceased. She would know that roar anywhere, her son lived! And when he tore down the great doors to her prison and roared that they were free she gave a loud shriek of joy, the day she had given up on so long ago had finally arrived! To be free again, she couldn't even began to imagine what that would be like. With angry bellowing roars her son tore the heavy collars from around her neck and leg like they were paper, and picking her up he gently carried her out into the light.
As I carried my mother into the daylight I realized the bright light was hurting her eyes, so I laid her down and crouched over her with my wings spread to help shade her. She darted her head about eagerly smelling the fresh air and taking in the sights. And for the first time I saw her in the light and I cringed at sight of her frail emaciated body, at the horrible fungus infections that ravaged her once beautiful silver scales. With a loud moan I started licking the horrible raw wounds where the overly tight collars had dug into her flesh for so long. And then I noticed we were no longer alone, and with a savage hissing snarl I raised my head prepared to defend my mother against any and all foes. But to my surprise I found a small contingent of fellow beasts; humans who had been changed into unnatural creatures like me, waiting respectfully for my attention. And there was an even greater surprise; there were more than a few humans with them, both mercenaries and former slaves.
"What do you want?" I snarled in a deep menacing voice.
I hissed angrily in my deep rumbling gravelly voice, wisps of smoke rising from my nostrils as when I'm upset or in battle rage my fire flux automatically ignites. They took several steps back, but then one of them; a lizard woman, slowly approached me. Deferentially she asked,
"Please, she hissed. We don't know what to do. Is it true you killed the Master and that you set us free?"
"Yes, I replied, I killed the vile monster. But it was a lucky blow from a foe that broke my slave collar and set us free. I merely did what any one of us would have done as like you I had no love for our former Master. Even now he fills my belly."
"Then tell us what to do great one, she said, we have no leader, no commander we would be willing to follow. They have all fled, or been slain. Please, we don't what to do. We will follow you, you need but to command."
After I had killed my Master I had planned on freeing my mother and fleeing as far from this place as possible. I had no doubt that many of my former "comrades" as well as my many enemies, would try to hunt me down and destroy me. Just because I no longer considered them foes I was sure they didn't feel the same way. I had committed numerous horrible acts and atrocities at the Warlock's command; I squeezed my eyes closed at the horrible memories, and I had no doubt many bore personal grudges against me whether or not I had acted on my own or not. I was not loved, but was a thing of hatred to a great many. I looked at the bestial and human faces looking at me hopefully, and said,
"I have no wish to command, I am but a beast and I demand loyalty from none. You are free now, to do as you wish. Leave this foul place and make a home for yourselves elsewhere. I want no part in leading others, I am not worthy."
Several more of the beasts had stepped forward on their hooves or padded paws or whatever had replaced their once human feet.
"Please, the lizard woman said, we have no place to go. No place will welcome things like us; we cannot go home like this. We have been slaves for most of our lives, soldiers who only followed orders no matter how foul. We do not know how to take care of ourselves. Please, where can we go, what can we do? Anywhere we go they will hunt us down and kill us, and who can blame them?"
And I realized that more than one of the fearsome creatures was crying like a lost child. And more then several pairs of female and male beasts, some even with human partners, were holding one another closely. Romance had been frowned upon, and permanent pairings banned under the Warlocks rule. The only sex allowed had been strictly for breeding purposes or temporary pleasure. He had forced his slaves; both bestial and human, to breed with animals and one another to increase the size of his army, and also to experiment in foul cross-breeding experiments. But of course love always found a way, and now that they were free they no longer had to hide their forbidden love. And they were all looking at me with hope in their eyes, and their numbers were steadily growing. I was about to tell them to find another to lead them when I heard my mother's soft voice, and turned my attention to her with a concerned hiss.
"My son, you must help them. You have given them the most precious of gifts, their freedom, and they look up to you now. They have nowhere to go; their former human homes would not welcome them back as they are now. Anywhere they go they will be met with hatred and persecution. Help them find a home for themselves, and for you. They are your brothers and sisters."
"But mother, I replied, we must leave this place of death and horror and find you a healer. You need to get better; I will take care of you."
The Silver Dragon gave a soft hiss of love for her great child; as usual he was only concerned for her. She knew he could be a great leader if he so chose, and that he could make a difference in the lives of his fellow creations, those who had been; like him, twisted and warped by the Warlocks foul magic's.
"My dear one, I am too weak to travel, it will be some time before I can leave this place. In the meantime do what you can for your fellows, for me."
"Yes mother", I replied, and lowering my head I gently nuzzled and rubbed my great head against hers and hissed my love, and she nuzzled me back.
I raised my head to look at the ever growing crowd of fellow beasts and humans who had respectfully remained silent as I conversed with my mother. I knew many of them personally, but had been close to none of them. Our relations had been based on our service to our Master, but still in a way they had been friends of a sort, and we were all brothers and sisters based on our unnatural wretchedness. We all knew and understood the anguish we all felt. I directed my gaze at the lizard woman who had been the first to dare to speak to me.
"You, I said, do you speak for the others of our kind?"
She looked around and many of the others nodded their heads, which was enough for me.
"Then you are in charge of the keeps garrison and security. Give what orders you feel are necessary for our safety, secure the fortress. And if any others return desiring sanctuary here, you must let them in. We turn no one away. Do you understand? No one!"
She gave me a crisp salute, and hissed "Yes, Great One! Thank you!"
And turning to the others she began hissing commands. "You there, lower the portcullis and stand guard, you-gather as many archers and soldiers as you can and mount a guard on the walls, you sister-gather the former house slaves and secure the main keep and let no one take anything on pain of death, you-Wyvern riders, get aloft and fly high patrol, we want no unexpected visitors from above, you-", and so on.
Knowing the lizard woman had the situation well in hand I turned my attention back to my mother. Reaching down I placed my huge front feet on her body, and closing my eyes I concentrated, and did my best to heal her. She gasped as she felt the power flow in to her from my own body, and I gave a grunt of pain. To heal one must give part of their life force to another, and it is always a little painful. When I had done what I could I opened my eyes and she was somewhat better. The fungus infections were gone, and her eyes were cleared of some of the fog of pain and suffering. I had dared not do this while my Master yet lived as had he found out I had that power there is no telling how he might have warped and twisted it. But she was still so weak and frail, some things no one can heal.
She gave a hiss and gasped as she felt his power flow into her, he was so strong! He did much more for her then she would have thought possible, his great love for her made a great difference. She felt much of her minor aches and pains disappear and her scales felt clean again for the first time in as long as she could remember. But he could not heal the damage to her soul or her own life force, no one had that power. But what he did helped so much, and so much of the pain she had grown used to was gone now. She sighed in relief. Yes, this poor great twisted creature had much more love in him then hate.
I raised my head from healing my mother and looked around. The anarchy that had overtaken the keep on news of the Warlocks demise was gone, and in its place was bustling efficiency. Squads of soldiers hurried past, once again disciplined and efficient now that they had purpose, and many saluted me. Former slaves were cleaning up the debris from the conflict that had been raging in the courtyards and buildings when I had arrived. But now they did so from choice, as free people. I did see one thing that needed doing, the Warlocks flag still fluttered from the top of the highest corner. With a great clap of my wings I took flight, and landed and perched next to the flagpole. With a great roar and I tore the flag from the pole and spitting a glob of fire flux on it I held it up while it burned and roared again, and all those that saw raised a great cheer. Hearing the sound more and more looked up and emerged from the buildings, and when they saw they too cheered. The great keep echoed to the roar of voices, screeches, bellows, hisses, bleats, and all manner of rejoicing sounds. And then as one we all roared out "WE ARE FREE!"
My mother had added her own great roar to our acclamation, and it was later said the great sound was heard a great many miles away. And many of the Warlocks former troops and creations heard that sound, and returned to the keep to rejoin their fellows knowing it was the only place that would welcome them and we turned none away.
As I settled back to the ground next to my mother I noticed a small group of beasts and human soldiers lying down; or propped up against the walls, in the shade, and others were tending to them. They were the wounded and dying, the Warlock had never felt it "necessary" to waste his valuable time or power to heal easily replaced slaves or mercenaries, so he usually left them to their own devices. Well, I wasn't the Warlock, and so long as I could help them none of my fellows would suffer. So leaving my mother's side I went to them, and one by one I healed them, much to their surprise. And in doing so for the first time earned the trust and loyalty of others based on respect and devotion, not fear. They seemed amazed such a huge beast could be so gentle. And the mate of one sorely wounded satyr I healed hugged my great head and cried in gratitude, and I was horribly embarrassed and touched at the same time. The only one who had ever shown me affection was my mother. I knew then I would do my best to care for those under my protection, to earn their trust. I never saw my mother watching with love, her eyes glowing with pride as I administered to the injured and dying.
The Warlock tumbled to the ground, landing in thick mud and slime. He tried to look around him, but the thick mucus covering him had blinded him, his eyes pale marbles, his skin white as an albinos. He was free, but the pain had not stopped as the powerful digestive juices still coating him kept eating away at his flesh. He could sense water nearby, and with a sobbing moan plunging into the thick stagnant water and the foul fluid felt wonderful to his ravaged body. Frantically he rubbed at himself to remove the thick sticky coating of burning juices, and his splashing attracted the attention of something.
I soon found I had undertaken a much greater task; and responsibility, then I had realized. Close to ten thousand former soldiers and mercenaries, not to mention hundreds of fellow creations, were now camped in; and around, the keep. First I found beasts and soldiers who were respected by the others, and put them in command and had them reorganize the army. Not for conquest, but for defense and stability. Those units weakened by desertions as the army had started to disintegrate were merged with other under strength units to form new ones. The former house slaves quickly had the household running smoothly again, and to my great relief many of those who had seen to the provisioning and supply of the troops were still here, and they performed their old duties with zealous efficiency, but one big difference was we now paid for what we needed, instead of just taking it. One of the most rewarding events occurred when we threw open the breeding pens and the children of the creations who had been forced to breed were reunited with their parents, or in many cases just one parent as the other had been an animal. And those with no living parents; or any who would claim them, were quickly adopted, to my great surprise sometimes by humans, no child was left alone and unwanted. We take care of our own. The imprisoned or enslaved natural beasts like Wyverns, Gryphon's, and others were given the choice of going free, or remaining. Many; despite the nature of their service, had bonded with those who had flown and cared for them and chose to stay. Bonds created during conflict and mutual need for depending on, and trusting one another, are hard to break. Those that chose to leave were missed and often their riders chose to go with them.
One problem that arose was a lack of magic users and sorcerers. Most to the greater ones that had served the Warlock had been killed shortly after his death as they had not been much better then he, or had fled. The few remaining minor users and apprentices had to step in and fill their places as no modern army can function without the help of magic. Fortunately several of them were gifted, and even more importantly had not yet been tainted to any great degree by the evil and greed of their former Master. But we made it perfectly clear; they worked for us, not the other way around. We would respect them, but they in turn must respect us. There were no slaves in our new army, and positions of power and command were earned. And then our crazy soldiers did something that truly touched my hearts. For some time after I had torn down the Warlocks hated standard we had been without a standard of any kind. And soldiers like to have a standard or banner under to which to serve, one they can be proud of and fight for. I noticed the new standard when someone raised it over the keep one morning. It had a white field with a rampant wingless Silver Dragoness on it, and the motto "Equal One and All, We Bow to None". I don't cry often, but I had to stick my neck and head into the stable where my mother was quartered, and she held me until I was through. They could not have honored my mother in any greater way.
The giant blood leech moved quickly through the thick stagnant slimy water towards the smell of warm blood. Normally it fed on the great reptiles and other large creatures that haunted the swamp, but most were cold blooded, so warm blood would be a treat. It seized its prey by the neck and latched on with its sucker, the razor sharp teeth lining it digging in as its tongue penetrated the prey's skin and started to suck out the delicious blood as it wrapped its long muscular body around its victim to help immobilize it. The Warlock screamed and clawed at the creature on his back, the filthy muddy water roiling from the struggle.
I quickly found that of course it takes money and treasure to run and support an army, but at least in that area we were well off. The second day after I had returned to the keep the head household administrator (we liked that title better then "head house slave" had approached me respectfully and told me his problem. The treasure vaults under the main keep were warded with great spells, and only the Warlock had the power to open the doors. Well, between our few remaining magic users; and my brute strength and resistance to spells, we were able to open the doors. It was a very tight fit, but I'd managed to worm my way down into the dungeon and cellar levels where the vaults were situated even though I couldn't enter the regular living areas of the keep. And once inside the vaults I had enough room to move around easily as they were vast, and what we saw staggered us. There were five huge vaults piled with treasure from floor to ceiling. There were gold and silver coins, stacks of ingots of every precious metal known, great chests of jewelry and gems, huge bulging bags of gold dust, great works of art, and so much more. It was a treasure beyond imagining, the wealth of untold victims from over one hundred years of conquest and plundering, and it was soaked in the blood of untold thousands. But at least we were well funded. Some special treasures were kept in a smaller vault, trophies of war. They included the royal crowns of several small; and not so small, kingdoms. There were scepters, great weapons, and other special items of importance or rarity. These, I knew, must be returned to their rightful owners or their heirs. We had amends to make.
The Warlock had cast a modified healing spell as soon as most of the burning digestive juices were washed from his skin. The spell used not only his own strength to heal him, but drew on his surrounding to provide additional power. He had not anticipated being attacked, and the powerful spell began to draw on the leech's life force as well, and they began to merge as the spell absorbed the leech's now frantically struggling body in order to help heal the Warlock. The Warlock realized what was happening, but was too shocked and in too much pain to cancel the spell. They could only float in the water in helpless agony as they became one, the leech's body and life force being absorbed by the Warlocks as they underwent a metamorphosis into a new creature. Finally the churning water subsided and all was quiet for awhile. Then a large "V" shaped wake headed for the shore, and the Warlock pulled himself up the muddy bank and onto drier land. But he would not have been recognized even by those who knew him well. He had become a hybrid like those he had experimented on, a horrible merging of man and leech. He managed to stagger upright on two legs, with a thick tail handing down behind him. His nude body was slick and black, the skin rubbery and wet looking. He had two arms, two legs, and a head with no neck, his body smooth and hairless, his crotch bare except for a vagina like slit that contained his new genitals. His toes were much longer and webbed like a frogs, his tail fairly flat and fringed along the top and bottom, more a fluke really. But the true horror was his face, and he ran his hands over it in growing horror. His mouth was a round gaping sucker lined with circular rows of flexing teeth, and a long tubular tongue covered with hundreds of razor sharp fangs like a rasp licked in and out drooling a thick mucus. Four black eyes with no pupils stared out at the world, eyes that could not close as they had no eyelids, but were protected by a thick clear membrane. Emotionless blank eyes that saw a watery diffused view that was based on dark & light more than form, it was like looking through a glass of muddy water. The Warlock tried to scream, but only a wet mewling squeal came out of that horrible mouth. Like those he had condemned to live as beasts he too had become an abomination. But he still had his intelligence, and his powers, and his hatred of the beast responsible for this for he in no way accepted any blame for what had happened to him. He hated, and planned to return to power and take his revenge no matter what it took. With a mewling squeal he turned and slithered into the water of the swamp which was now his natural element. He was hungry.
Slowly some semblance came out of the disorder as the former slaves and soldiers of the Warlock adjusted to their new freedom. Man chose to leave the army, and soon the squalid town that had existed in the shadow of the great fortress became a real town. Shops and stores opened, and ex-slaves began to ply the trades they had been trained in, but now as independent business folk who would be paid for their services. And as word spread even merchants from other countries and kingdoms began to arrive and soon there was a healthy trade. Arrangements were made to provide the standing army with victuals and other supplies, and the armory was rebuilt and soon it and independent smithies were kept busy repairing and making armor, accoutrements, and weapons. There was a building boom as well as the tumble down shacks and poorly built buildings were torn down and replaced with properly constructed buildings, and a sanitary system was designed and built, and the main thoroughfares were paved with large smooth cobble stones. A huge army camp was also built nearby, fully fortified and with permanent barracks and other building. The commissary and medical branches were restructured and improved. And of course taverns and hostels opened, and soon there was a small, but thriving, black market. It was tolerated as it provided a source of supply for many luxuries not available in the stores yet, but the dealing of drugs was banned and strictly enforced.
I had never before realized just how much was involved in running a kingdom, or the "Free Country" as we came to call it. I went from being basically a mount and warbeast to being an unelected king of sorts. Everyone came to me for directions, permission, advice, and it was driving me crazy. I knew very little about many of the questions put to me, and common sense can go only so far. It did not help that I was illiterate. But I was able to choose some able advisors who were of immense help, and regulated much of the smaller details to them. And to my embarrassment the people of our new society would cheer wherever I went, they said I was a reminder that they were free now, to live their lives as they saw fit.
The Army was completely restructured more along the lines of the old Empire. Units became smaller, but better equipped and trained. A military genius from the ranks designed new tactics and weapons that were remarkable, and the design of the new army camp was impressive. Adequately defended it would be almost impossible to breach its walls. A chain of permanent outposts and smaller forts was established, and regular patrols sent out. We freed many lands that had been under the Warlocks sway, and claimed for ourselves only the kingdom that he had originally usurped then he killed the Royal Family and took over. It was more than large enough for our means. To our surprise several of the lands and smaller kingdoms we freed asked to join our new country as their own royalty and leaders were mostly dead or long gone and they saw our standing professional army as protection, and a chance to build lives for themselves instead of returning to serfdom under new Lords. We accepted them, and sent aid to help them rebuild as well. Our country came to be called the "Federation of Free States". Some few families even found loved ones who had been transformed by the Warlock, and accepted them back with open arms. It would appear love sometimes make allowances for appearance. But many other kingdoms and the old Empire still saw us as enemies, and rebuffed all offers of reconciliation or alliance, and there were rumors they were raising a great army to march against us.
For some time I had realized my mother as not getting any better; and in fact was slowly declining. I tried my best to heal her; seldom had a day gone by without my using my powers to ease her suffering. I didn't want to accept; refused to believe, the inevitable. But finally the day came when she could no longer even walk on her own, and she spent her days curled up in a pile of fresh hay in the airy stable we had gutted to make room for her. I was holding "court" in the shade of the fortress wall when a messenger respectfully informed me that the "Queen" wished to see me. I quickly concluded business and turned things over to one of my advisors, and then hurried to her side.
I feared the worst and felt my hearts lurch when she didn't respond to my voice at first, but then she opened her milky eyes and smiled at me. I laid down next to her and rested my head next to hers, and she licked my snout, and said,
"My son, I am dying. No, there is nothing you can do; you have already given me so much more time, your love has kept me alive. I have lived to see the Warlock destroyed, his foul empire undone. You have done so much here, made me so very proud. Please, I want to go home, back to my lair. It is on the upper slope of the mountain called "The Spear of the God's" that faces the rising sun, high towards the peak and can only be reached from the air. Please, my son, take me home."
The people clambered and protested when I told them I was leaving, that is until I told them my reasons. The day before we left many came to pay their last respects to my mother. Most who came were changelings like myself, because in a way she was their mother as well, it was her power that had powered the foul magic that had twisted them into new forms, but they in no way blamed her. The saddlers made a harness so I could carry her more easily, one designed so even my large clumsy feet/hands could undo it easily. Then early the next morning we left, my mother's frail body strapped close to my chest, and I carried her weight easily as I was six times her size. People and beasts lined the courtyard and walls and cheered us on our way.
As we flew she roared in pleasure, and I roared too. It was a long flight, but I flew fast and straight without stopping, and early the next afternoon we reached our destination. The mountain reared straight up, steep and sharp like the spear point it resembled, its sides sheer and unclimable. She directed me to a large ledge high up on one side, and at the rear of the overhang was the opening of a large cave. As we entered she gave low keen of grief and loss at the sight of the desiccated corpse of a male silver dragon, his body naturally mummified by the crisp cold mountain air. I paused as she gently licked the mummies snout, his jaws still open in a final roar of defiance as he had died defending his mate. He had six broken off dragon lances and numerous spears and arrows sticking from his battered scales, how he had fought on with such horrendous injuries I couldn't understand. And the evidence of that great battle was everywhere, the ledge and entrance to the cave was littered with the bodies and bones of the men and beasts he had killed before going down under overwhelming numbers.
"His name was Swiftsure, mother said in a sad voice. We had only been mated less than a year, he and I. How beautiful and magnificent he was, how happy we were, how much in love. We had just set up in our new lair when the Warlock came with his soldiers and we fought them for almost a day. He refused to yield and I did my best to help him, but a mighty spell from the Warlock incapacitated me. I, I, watched as he finally fell with a dragon lance through his main heart. And I was taken to that horrible place after the Warlock hacked off my wings. I was heavy with eggs, and the Warlock took those too, took our unborn children. He was so beautiful, so brave, he fought so hard, my love, my Swiftsure."
I carried her deep into the cave to the main chamber, the dark being no barrier to eyes that see just as well I total darkness as in the brightest day. I spit fire flux into the tops of stalagmites that had been shortened and had the tops hollowed out for that purpose. The light revealed a nest of tightly woven saplings and tree trunks lined with, skins, cloth, and padded with now long dry moss, feathers, and other soft materials. It had been meant to hold the eggs my mother never had a chance to lay. If there had been a hoard or treasure it was now gone. There was a heap of old animal skins, pelts, and even blankets and quilts near the nest, and I gently laid my mother down on it. She nosed at the covers, and said softly,
"I can still smell him, we were so young."
I was tired from my long flight, so I lay down next to her and held her close keeping her warm with my huge body as we both feel asleep. I woke later and was terrified to find her having trouble breathing, and I held her close and tried to heal her, but it was no use. I begged her not to leave me as I cried, terrified to be alone. She looked at me with love in her eyes, and rubbed the side of my head with her hand, her claws gently scratching over my scales.
"My son, you are the only child I ever had, and I could want no better. I hate to leave you with all my heart, but it is my time. Please don't grieve for me; you've brought me home, given me my freedom, brought me back to what might have been. I am so very proud of you, you did not let the Warlock's evil twist your soul, and your own good heart beat him. You have a family, a very large one that depends on you. They need you as much as you need them. Return to them and help them build their lives. I love you more than my own life, but know I will always be watching over you and the other beasts as well. I am so tired, so very tired my son....." and her voice grew fainter as she feel into a final sleep.
I held her to me, refusing to accept what was happening. I used my powers to ease her suffering, but could not save her. When I finally felt her hearts stop as she gave one final rattling breath I roared my grief, "Mother, don't leave me!" I wailed, and hugging her cried as my whole body shook in great gasping heaves; my world had come crashing down.
She awoke as if from a dream and stood up, and realized she was young again and spread her wings in joy. A darker form moved out of the shadows and giving a bellow of joy she ran to greet her mate, but he was insubstantial, his outline faintly blurred and wavering.
He rubbed his snout against hers, both of them cooing their love. "I waited for you my love, I knew you would return." He said.
"We're dead, aren't we?" she asked, even though she knew already.
"No, not at all, her mate replied, we just live in a different reality now, one were we will be young forever. There is no pain or want here."
"But what of him, my love?" she asked, looking at the huge grieving dragon still holding the now empty husk of her body.
"He must remain for now, her mate said. I would have been proud to call him my son. Now come, we must go. Now that we are together again we can cross over to our new home."
"You really waited all this time, alone?" she asked in wonder.
He smiled, and nuzzled her again. "I could not leave without you my love; you would not have left without me. We are mates for life, in both worlds. But do not worry; you will be able to visit him from time to time. He will not be able to see you, but will know you are there. We are allowed this."
"Not yet, she said, not yet. I cannot leave him without saying goodbye one final time."
Swiftsure just smiled and nodded, they were in no hurry.
I held my mother's body for a long time until I was able to recover some of my self composure. Then I carefully arranged my mother in as comfortable a position as possible in the center of the heap of skins and blankets. There was nothing for me here now, in this sad place. I started to leave the cave, and then paused. Carefully picking up the mummified body of her mate I gently laid him next to her, their heads side by side, their snouts touching. I pulled the lances and other weapons from his body and threw them into the depths of the cave. And I left them there, my mother and her mate, together again forever.
As I exited the cave I turned, and digging my claws into the living rock I braced myself and with a great roar brought the rock face down, sealing the cave under tons of granite. No one would ever disturb this place again. Then I lay down on the ledge and looked out over the world as the sun started to set, gold and silver light like mercury fading to black shadows, and lowering my head gave a great wailing cry of loneliness and started to cry again, my head resting on my folded front legs. I didn't see the two faintly glowing beings standing next to me.
"He has two souls, Swiftsure said in wonder, dragon and human, the two joined. He is a mighty drake; I have never seen his like before. Even a Gold would be hard put to face him."
"He was forced to so such horrible things, to commit atrocities for a master that cared nothing for him or anyone else, the Silver dragoness said softly. So much pain and horror, yet he remains kind and gentle. He was but a child when that foul monster twisted my magic and changed him into something he was never meant to be. Yet that goodness survived that horrible agony."
"He will live a long life and accomplish great things I think, replied Swiftsure. Now come my love, it is time for us to go, we will follow the sunset to our new home."
The dragoness started to follow her lover, but then turned and looked at the now sleeping giant again. She walked over to him, and lowering her snout she gently nuzzled and stroked his armor plated head with love and affection, and spoke softly into his ear,
"My son, I am happy and with my mate now, but know I will always love you and will always be with you, you will never be alone. My love for you will never fade."
Then she and her mate leapt into the air and she followed him into the setting sun as they slowly faded from sight, both roaring in pleasure and delight at their freedom and at being reunited after so long, their eternal love for one another stronger than ever before. But she would be back for she had another love as well.
I dreamed my mother was holding my head and nuzzling me, I could smell her sweet spicy scent, feel her warm breath on my scales, and heard her whisper in my ear that she loved me, and always would, and I sensed another loving presence with her. I woke up "Mother?", but no one was there. I felt a warm breeze wash across my body and heard a faint sound of wings, and fell back asleep feeling strangely comforted.
The Warlock rested in the mud on the bottom of the sluggisly flowing stream. His new instincts had driven him to hunt, and he lay in wait among other giant blood leeches. When a dark shadow passed overheard and blotted out the dim light he quickly swam up to the underside of the huge crocodile with strokes of his tail, and latching on with his fanged sucker; and mucus which he could make sticky, he chewed a hole through its tough scaled hide, and inserting his tongue fed on the reptiles thick cool blood, his throat pumping as he filled his stomach until it was bloated. It took a little while, but the blood never stopped flowing as he had injected an anti-coagulant into the wound. Finally full he withdrew his tongue and dropped off, letting himself drift to the bottom of the stream to lie in the cool soothing mud. The blood had been delicious and he felt satisfied and full. He had found he could breath equally well under water or on land, and he didn't do it through his mouth, it was solely for feeding. He was still somewhat horrified by what he had become, but could appreciate his new forms capabilities as well as limitations. He tended to dry out, his skin becoming painful and cracking if he ventured too far from water or a humid climate, but had developed a spell that cloaked him an invisible shield which would prevent evaporation of the slimy mucus that covered his skin and kept it moist. But he did not plan to stay like this; he would use his magic to return to a more desirable form. But for now he was perfectly suited for the environment in which he was living. He had no idea of where he was, but surmised it was somewhere in the Great Southern Swamp as it was the only place the great reptiles and Saurian's still survived, they were extinct elsewhere.
Now that he had eaten a strange new urge came over the Warlock, but he wasn't sure what it was at first. As he lay in the mud he felt another leech brush against him, and the touch felt strangely, erotic, arousing. Unable to stop himself he grabbed the other leech, and it wrapped its soft muscular body around his and he realized what was happening, but couldn't, didn't, want to stop it. He felt his penis harden and slide from his vent, and maneuvering the other leech into position he mounted it. The coupling was brief, with as much pain as pleasure, but it thrilled him in a way he had never known. Perhaps it was the sheer bestiality, the very obsceneness, of the act that made it so enjoyable. His lust unsatisfied he went in search of more "lovers". Unlike the other leeches he was male only, not a hermaphrodite, but it would turn out that like with many changelings his seed was viable and he would breed true. All the leeches he mated with would lay eggs which would hatch a new race of human/leech hybrids, both male and female. Unknowingly he was fathering a new race, a terrible race of intelligent blood sucking parasites, with intelligence strange and alien in its pure malevolence towards all living creatures.
During the period he was attached to the great reptile he had fed from the Warlock had been carried a great distance and was now near a large village of swamp dwellers resembling amphibious lizards, called by some Trogs. Human sized creatures with webbed feet and hands, rubbery skin, large jaws with impressive fangs, and long tails. The males were distinguishable from females only in that they had crests and were slightly larger, their coloring ran from green to brown, the most common being mixed stripes and blotches of both colors. They lived a simple primitive life which suited them fine, that is until the Warlock arrived. That simple life ended when the Warlock pulled himself out of the swamp and entered the village for the first time. The Trogs had no idea what he was, but knew he was unnatural. But they were no match for his powers, and after he set the few brave warriors who challenged him on fire they had no choice by to submit to his will. And so the Warlock started his new empire with a wretched village of a few hundred primitive reptiles he made into his slaves.
He was neither a kind nor benevolent ruler; his new slaves existed only to serve him. He took over the largest hut in the village and had the Trogs enlarge and modify it extensively. It was still crude and primitive, but would suit his purposes for now. His bed was a pool full of mud and slimy water that he had his slaves dig in one of the rooms; he would burrow into the soft cool mud to sleep. Like his "followers" he went nude now, being what he was now clothing only irritated his soft rubbery skin. However he found it did not bother him in the least as he had no concept of modesty. He used his powers to give himself speech, and to steal the eyesight from a female Trog, leaving her blind. But he was not through with her, he raped her repeatedly which was most pleasurable, at least for him, and then sucked the blood and softer organs from her body leaving behind a desiccated husk. He enjoyed it so much he almost exclusively fed off of intelligent beings now, females, so that he might slake his unnatural lust and hunger at the same time. Now that the eyesight in his four eyes was improved greatly he was able to do much more, and began writing a new spellbook from memory. If he was unsure of a spell he would practice on a "volunteer" until he got it right. The Trogs hated their strange new Master, but were too terrified of him to try and fight back again. The body of the last Trog that tried to fight back, by poisoning the Warlock, hung suspended from the gate of the village, skinned alive, as a warning.
The Warlock sent Trogs to trade with human settlements in order to acquire some basic supplies he needed, such as paper and writing implements. He made sure they would return by telling them what he would do to their families if they did not. It was effective way of controlling slaves, and he was well practiced at it. The humans the Trogs traded with considered their tales of a "leech man" who had appeared and was terrorizing them to be "wild tales". No one was interested enough to investigate, so the Warlock remained unmolested as he slowly rebuilt his powers and; due to his new form, added new ones.
The Warlock returned to the swamp at times to find, and mate, with other leeches, and the "2nd generation" of new leech hybrids also had improved eyesight. Finally he had the Trogs dig a large pool in one of the huts and "stocked" it with other giant leeches as his "harem". This saved him the trouble of hunting for them in the swamp as they were fairly rare. It was also the first time he realized he was breeding true as the eggs the females laid in the "pleasure pool" hatched miniature versions of himself. He was delighted, and came to be quite fond of his "children", and when it was obvious they were intelligent he began to train them. It soon became obvious though, that while intelligent it was more of a feral kind of intelligence, and it was almost impossible to control them and they could not read or write. Their outlook on life was that of giant leeches, not truly civilized beings. They lived to feed, and little else was of interest. That was most disappointing, so the Warlock decided to try a new method of breeding, hopefully to produce more hybrids like himself, ones that would have human intelligence and be much more useful.
The Trogs, for all their fearsome appearance, were basically peace loving creatures. They lived in a swamp no one else wanted, and since they had little in the way of wealth they were pretty much left alone. They needed no clothing, only a few basic tools, and not much else. They got all the food they needed from the swamp, so were basically self-sufficient. So it came as somewhat of a shock when they began to raid isolated human settlements, they would attack without warning and took little in the way of loot except for slaves, always human females. After a raid they melted back into the swamp where it was impossible to track them. Any pursuers either returned empty handed, or never returned at all.
The Warlock ran his feeding tongue over the fangs lining his sucker mouth as he looked at the nude woman spread eagle on the rack. She was very plain, a farmer or fisherman's daughter most likely, definitely not a lady. She was strongly built and stout, large breasts and wide hips, and her young her face already had the creases; and her hands the calluses, of a life of hard work. As he ran his hand over those large breasts the Warlock gave a slobbering gurgle of lust, he drooled constantly and could do nothing to stop it as he could not close his mouth, so had learned to ignore it, the drool just joining the slick mucus coating his body. He felt a stirring in his vent, but not yet. The girl stared at him in utter terror, whimpering when he touched her, and then gave a soft muffled scream when he rubbed against her vagina. He already knew she wasn't a virgin, her scent told him that, but that was of no importance. He fondled her breasts again, and said in a wet sounding voice,
"Do not worry my dear, sluuurp, I will not harm you. You are very pretty, but will soon be even prettier, urrgg. Sluck, you will become my consort, the first of many. A great, smack, honor. Yessss, pretty, so pretty."
And leaning over the Warlock ran his long prehensile tongue over her body, slobbering and enjoying the salty taste of her sweat and fear before sucking it back into his mouth with a loud slurp.
Trudy looked up in horror at the THING standing over her. The slick black slimy skin, the tail, but most of all the horrible neckless head with the gaping fang lined round mouth, the tongue inside constantly moving and licking those fangs, and the four blank soulless eyes. What was IT? What did it want with her! When it started to touch her body, intimately, she suddenly thought she understood. Oh, by the Mother, NO! She thought. She would have screamed and begged if not for the gag in her mouth. But how could it rape her? It had no sex she could see; in fact it looked female as it only had a slit between its legs. But that was not the creature's intentions, not yet, as Trudy would soon learn to her ever growing terror.
The Warlock turned away from the terrified girl and motioned to a Trog standing in the door. The beast nodded and disappeared from sight and a short while later the Trog returned leading two more Trogs who carried one of the giant leeches from the Warlock's "pleasure pool". It was one of the Warlocks' favorite "mates", one he had mated with often and had given him much pleasure. The Warlock turned from where he had been licking the cringing girl again, and said,
"Bring my mate here; put it on the table with the girl. The two Trogs carried the squirming leech over to the table and laid it next to the girl, who screamed when she saw the hideous creature. The Warlock watched as the leech waved its head around to inspect its new surrounding, and then when it sensed the warmth of the helpless girl's body it swung its head eagerly toward the source of food, sweet, warm blood. It quickly slithered onto the girls bucking straining body, and with a happy gurgle latched it's fangs onto her neck and began to dig its tongue into her body to feed. The girl struggled desperately against her restraints, her eyes bugging out in sheer horror at the touch of the leech's horrible slimy body and the pain of its fangs and tongue tearing at her flesh.
The Warlock waited in the leech was firmly attached to the girl and sucking her blood, its rubbery body twitching as it filled with blood, the obscene sight filling him with a horrible lust. Quickly he cast the same healing spell that had been responsible for his own transformation, but modified now to join two into one. At first nothing seemed to happen, then suddenly the leech quivered and went slack and limp. As its fangs loosened a rivulet of blood trickled down the girl's chest. The leech paused as a strange sensation spread through its body, then when the pain started it began squirming and writhing, only this time it was trying to release its hold on its prey, desperate to escape the growing agony.
Trudy screamed and screamed into the gag in her mouth as the giant leech began to slither up onto her body, and she struggled until her wrists and ankles were bleeding, but it was no use. She felt it's sucker clamp down on her throat, and felt its rasp of a tongue push through her flesh and attach itself to a vein, felt her life's blood flowing into the creature as it sucked the blood from her body with horrible wet slurping sounds. Her eyes rolled up in her head and she thought she would soon be dead. Later she came to wish she'd been right. She was aware the horrible leech man was saying something, but didn't pay any attention. Then suddenly she felt the leech stop feeding, and then it began violently thrashing and struggling as it tried to tear itself from her body. Trudy felt a burning tingling sensation spreading through her body, and it blossomed into agony unlike anything she had ever experienced and her own struggles doubled.
The Warlock watched in fascination as the spell began to take effect. He could see the node of the spell that powered it. First it attached itself to the leech, and then a latticed matrix of virulent violet glowing lines rapidly spread across both the leech's and the girls bodies, until they were completely encased in the web of magic. Only the Warlock could see the spell working with his astral vision, to the Trogs it merely seemed the leech and girl were in pain. The web of magic slowly sank into the two bodies until it disappeared, but their bodies now glowed as their aura's began to merge, flowing into one another's, the girls brighter aura absorbing the leech's darker less powerful one, and then her body began to absorb the leech's body as well, and as it did she began to change.
Trudy's eyes bulged even more, but she could no longer even try to scream as he mouth was locked in a rictus of agony, her muscles paralyzed. Her body bucked and cramped horribly as the leech began to sink into, and spread across her body like a dark stain. The poor leech felt even more pain than its simple mind could comprehend as its body literally dissolved as it flowed into the girls. The black stain spread across the girl's body, over and around her breasts, down her stomach and over her spasming sex, down her legs and arms, and in its wake left a new black rubbery skin, slick with the slime it extruded. As it covered her head and body all her hair fell out leaving behind just slick glistening black skin. The leech was now completely gone, every last trace having merged with the girl, but the change was far from finished. It seeped into the girl's body, the leech's aura being completely fused with the girls until she had the auras of both the leech and her own, and as they joined the internal changes started, the previous agony paling compared to what she would experience now as she became a new being, neither human or leech, but a horrible combination of both.
The Warlock watched in delight as the spell worked perfectly. His mate to be was now completely covered in a lovely black moist skin, but much more was to come as this was only the beginning. It would take some time; several hours, for the life forces of the leech and woman to become completely assimilated. He knew she was experiencing the same agony he had during his own accidental transformation, but felt no sympathy or compassion. He had felt little of those bothersome emotions as a man, and the thing he was now was completely incapable of such emotions, they had disappeared with his humanity. He settled back in a comfortable chair to watch the transformation continue as the new creature was born.
Trudy could feel her insides changing, churning and heaving as they were reformed into new organs, felt her bones liquefying and flowing into new shapes, and raising her head looked in horror at the black shiny skin covering her body, skin that was hers as she could feel it, skin that itched and felt dry, at her roiling squirming abdomen, visible ripples moving across the terrible skin. She passed out more than once from the ever increasing pain, only to wake again as another wave of agony washed over her aching body. She felt a sudden pressure in her lower back, gave a silent scream of pain as a tail began to push out from her spine, growing longer and thicker, until raising her head she could see it whipping back and forth between her legs. A tail she had seen before, on the creature that sat impassively watching her torment. NO! She screamed in her mind as she suddenly realized what was happening, NO! No that, not like him! Please! Oh Gods no!
The Warlock stood up to watch the final stages of the transformation. He watched the woman's neck thicken as it swelled to join with her head; her ears were absorbed into her body until only small holes remained. He undid the gag so her twitching gaping mouth could change unhindered, her lips thickening into a powerful sucker as her jaws grew together and rounded into a maw lined with flexing hooked fangs, and her tongue lengthened and thickened, slobbering across her chest as she gave high pitched squeals of agony, her still human eyes staring up at him, pleading with him to stop the pain. Then as he watched the eyes began to change, the utter terror reflected them fading as the eyes split into four dull black pupil-less orbs with no eyelids, staring up at him showing no emotion, no sign of intelligence at all, the horrible dull vacant eyes of a leech. The contorting body suddenly went limp, and he knew she had passed out from the sudden lack of agony, the sudden cessation of pain overwhelming her traumatized nervous system. He ran his hands across the lovely smooth slick flesh of the female's new body, a body like his. The only noticeable difference being she had retained her breasts, something which he could appreciate as enough of his humanity remained for that. Sexually her slit was the same as his though, but he could tell the difference. He slobbered in lust, running his tongue across her own where it dangled from her own slobbering maw. She is perfect, so beautiful, he thought, feeling the closest thing to affection he was still capable of. He ran his hands across the rest of her body, stoking and fondling her lovely tail, the tip of his tongue penetrating her sex and tasting its sweetness. He could sense the eggs in her needing to be fertilized, smell her signal that she was receptive to mate, felt a growing lust more intense then he had ever known. With a gurgling hiss he took a bucket of thick stagnant swamp water and threw it over her body.
Trudy woke to find her body still undergoing horrible changes; she could feel them as her body was twisted into a new hideous form. The creature removed the gag from her mouth and she tried to scream, but could only give wet gagging squeals as she felt her tongue thicken and lengthen until it lolled out of her mouth, felt her jaws lock and then flow together as she ran her new horrible tongue over sharp fangs as they sprang form her gums. "Ummmffffurrrggllle!" she squealed. "Nu, uuuu, urrrgggllle!", and then she felt a strange primitive mind flow into, and merge with hers, a mind in as much pain as herself. She fought that mind, and won, but knew she was changed now, her mind no longer quite human as strange needs and desires flooded her thoughts, new sensations she could identify. She stared up at the creature standing over her, and felt her eyes suddenly blur, and when they came back into focus she realized she now had four angles of vision instead of two, and her sight while sharp was strangely washed out with very little color. Then as a suddenly as it had come the agony left, and the sudden cessation of that agony after hours of torment overloaded her senses and she mercifully passed out.
The Warlock watched as the creature strapped to the rack stirred and raised its head at the touch of the warm water, its eyes staring at him blankly. It seemed to be trying to talk, but only slobbered and squealed. The squeals became louder then faded away. He had not included the ability to talk in the spell; the female had no need of that, her only purpose was to give him pleasure and lay eggs. She would be well cared for, she was precious to him, the first of many. And now he could no longer resist his lust, he wished to mate. He climbed onto the rack and lowered himself onto her body, his tongue slathering over her breasts and gaping mouth, her own tongue trying to avoid his at first, then finally returning his caresses and twining around his, her tail lashing against his in a way he found incredibly stimulating. As he penetrated her sex he threw back his head and they both squealed in pleasure. This was different then with natural leeches or Trog females, much better, much more intense, so much PLEASURE! He pressed his own sucker against hers and their fangs locked, and their entwined tongues slid past one another's and down the others throat and the sensation was incredible. They moved together as he thrust, wet gurgling muffled squeals of ecstasy coming from deep in their throats. The intense pleasure finally peaked and he climaxed, blasting a thick capsule of sperm into her egg sack where it would dissolve into the cluster of gelatinous eggs. But he was not through, far from it. He paused to rest for a short time, and then began to thrust again. They would remain locked together for over three hours, their bodies shuddering through numerous orgasms, his mate now as enthusiastic and blinded by aching lust as he, a willing partner as her mate fertilized her eggs.
Trudy woke as the warm water splashed over her, the fluid soothing her itching burning skin. She looked up and saw the creature looking down at her; she looked at her body and tried to ask him, why? To beg him not to do this obscene thing, to give her back her humanity. And when he started touching her she understood, and tried at first to resist the horribly arousing touches, her body responding to his caresses against her wishes, but finally gave in as her own lust overwhelmed her, her body was ripe with eggs, she needed to mate. The males scent and touch drowned her in a sea of pheromone induced lust and she gave herself to him willingly, wishing she was free to lock her legs around his body as he mounted her, his hardness filling her and bringing her to levels of pleasure she had never experienced. She locked her sucker against his, her tongue exploring his mouth and throat, the teeth on their tongues retracted so the now soft muscular appendages could wrap around one another without causing any pain or damage. She stared into his blank dull eyes with her own wishing the pleasure would never end, unable to even close her eyes as orgasm after orgasm rocked her writhing body. And it went on and on.
The Warlock watched as his newest mate slithered into the muddy sleeping pool and submerged. She seemed to have lost her horror at what she had become over the last several days, eagerly mating with him repeatedly, the feel and scent of their bodies driving them mad with lust. With a squeal he followed her; it would be some time before they would rest this night.
The End
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