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Chapter 12: Crashing Hopes

There was a sudden knock at Arcturus' door, quick and hard, almost like they happened inside of his skull.

There better be a good reason for this, the paladin begrudgingly pulled himself from the sleepy dragon to look groggily out the window. Morning had not yet arrived as the stars still hung high in the sky. Veledar snored as the bed strained against his weight. It appeared the dragon had returned to his normal size during sleep, and right now that big body of his was taking up most of the room. Arcturus removed the dragons forepaw from his middle, then took a few steps towards the door, shivering in the cold blanket of air that enveloped his bare clothes. From the door came the sound of the rapid knocking once more.

"Arcturus, open the fock up!" came the sound of Lyndis' harsh voice. Arcturus pulled open the door as she bolted in and slammed the door shut. She was fully dressed in her armor, weapons, and gear. Her face was full of determination but her eyes had a tint of worry in them as she turned to look around the chamber.

"Well aren't you a rude lady," Veledar mumbled sleepily.

"Shut it dragon. Now is not the time for whatever humor passes through that sleepy head." Lyndis snapped back, her voice lowered. "Arcturus, get your gear on. We are going to have company in just a few moments.

"That doesn't sound bad," Veledar yawned and stretched out to take up the entire bed. "I wager the angry elf feels bad for last night, and to make up for his harsh words and complete lack of respect, he had his servants bring us food!"

"Unbelievable..." Lyndis sighed.

Arcturus figured whatever she spoke of was serious. "Lyndis, who exactly are you expecting?" he asked as he put on his plate piece by pieces. During this time Lyndis stayed at the door, cracking it open every now and again to see if anybody approached.

"Why the sagged face? Maybe these people heard of my exploits last night. I know! They want to pay their respects to the dragon that kept their streets clean of thugs!" Veledar growled excitedly as he picked himself off the bed.

"Wrong again. Honestly, dragon, you must be the worst guessing partner I've ever had. Here's the situation. The folks that had that broach I took found out sooner than I would have liked, alright? We best head for your mother's den quickly before they come to get what is rightfully theirs."

"Hmmph, hardly a challenge." The dragon snorted. "I can handle whatever company you have dear Lyndis, I am a dragon after all."

"Well I remember getting the better of you on quite a few occasions, dear dragon." Arcturus pointed out only for Veledar's snout to scrunch up,

"Well that doesn't count!" he hissed.

"Why not? Because you're a mighty dragon and I'm a puny little human?" Arcturus smirked as a loud crash of shattering glass came from Lyndis' room. Whoever broke into the room made a mess, throwing things around undoubtedly searching for the brooch.

"The half-bitch isn't here!"

"Well check the whole damn inn you lazy fuck! Knives wants her brought to him in one piece." yelled another voice.

"Oy, why does it have to be in one piece?"

"Cause boss says so. Now do as I say or I'll carve myself a trophy from your own flesh."

Arcturus pulled his sword as the door from Lyndis' room slammed open. He heard the window open in his own room and realized Lyndis was no longer next to him. He turned around to find that she was already one foot out the window.

"The fock you're lookin' at? Thought we'll go out the door?" she hissed through clenched teeth.

"We can take them." Veledar whispered, hunching over and baring his teeth.

"No, you overgrown lizard. If you fight here the entire inn will be destroyed."

"Fine!" Veledar groaned, "but let it be known I chose to let these fools live a while longer." He moved his claws and shrank down to his waist high size.

"If only you fought as well as you talk..." Arcturus sighed as he clumsily climbed out the window and onto the street below.

"Next time you say something like that I'm going to bite your shiny metal ass."

Arcturus gritted his teeth when his metal boots clanked on the cobblestone street. He looked up to see Veledar flying out the window.

"Stupid dragon."

"Shh!" Lyndis whispered from a nearby alley. She was crouched over and gestured to Arcturus to come over to her. She then pointed to a large group of men and women of different races gathered at the front of the inn. They were adorned in leathers, chainmails, some were even in platemail. They had crossbows, spears, and all other sorts of weapons. From afar it looked like a small army had gathered to bring the mean innkeeper to justice, with grim frowns and determined looks upon their faces.

Arcturus watched Lyndis sneak carefully from shadow to shadow until she was well beyond the mercenaries' view. He rose to follow her when a yell pulled his attention; a shout of pain from the elven bartender.

"I told you, I don't know where your "princess" went! She was supposed to be in her room!" the elven man said before getting tossed through the door. He landed hard on the street, like no man deserved. Even from where he was hiding Arcturus could see the large red stain on the man's brown tunic.

"NO! He already told you everything!" From the inn ran another elf wearing white undergarments who picked the wounded bartender up. "You bastards. Why don't you believe us? We're a common inn! What would a princess do here?"

Arcturus figured the woman must've been the elf's wife. Then, when the situation already looked grim, two ogres smashed their way out of the inn, busily munching on whatever they could steal from the kitchen. These two brutes stood at nine feet tall covered in taters of hide. Their faces were rough with a large underbite of yellow teeth.

"Half ogres." Arcturus whispered quietly to himself

"Come on!" he heard Lyndis say in a harsh whisper. "We have to get out of here."

His attention turned back towards the man as one of the half-ogre's fist collided with the barkeep's face.

"P-please, he doesn't know anything else!" Cried the barkeep's wife trying to hold back one of the ogres, who simply tossed her aside like a ragdoll.

Arcturus looked to Lyndis who had already began to leave the man to his fate. He looked again to the man and his wife. Could he really leave these two innocent souls into the hands of these rogues? Arcturus felt the familiar tug in the back of his mind.

His oaths, compelling him to stand against injustice.

Without another thought he drew his sword, undid his shield, and marched out towards the group of mercenaries.

"Hey! Let them go!" He bellowed, holding his sword high and pointing to the elf.

The collected group looked dumbfounded for a moment before bursting out laughing, as if Arcturus was a mere squire brandishing a sword.

"And why should we do that?" one of the men sneered as he spit onto the street, "Because you want to play hero? Don't you know who we are, boy?

"No, and frankly I don't care. You let those people go or this street is going to get messy." Arcturus said.

The group started laughing again as another man stepped forth from the collected group. He was dressed in fancy clothes, bright purple with gold runes stitched into them. He was a tough looking Half-elf with a scar across his face, long braided hair, and blue eyes.

"Listen here, boy. Listen well cause this'll be the only time I speak to a runt like you. Name's Knives. It would best for ya to just put that sword away and walk the other direction. Pretend you didn't see a thing, eh? Make this easy for you."

"So you're Knives, huh? Pretty stupid way to get your hands dirty."

"Not really," Knives chuckled. "I own this town." he held his arms out wide, "I own the food, the merchants, the very people in it! No guard would dare to stand against me or my army. I can murder you in the middle of the street and nobody would look twice at your mangled corpse, because they respect Knives more than a random lowlife who stole his daddy's armor."

"Interesting theory, Knives. But I have a different one." Arcturus smirked, throwing glances at Knives' minions who continued to brandish their weapons threateningly. Arcturus counted thirteen people not including Knives. This would be difficult, but with Lyndis and Veledar it would be doable. "How about you face justice for your crimes here and now? The city will breathe a sigh of relief once I clear off the stain that chokes it."

"Stain...right. Someone kill this fool before he further embarrasses himself," laughed Knives, holding his nose, looking down and shaking his head.

Arcturus could feel Lyndis' eyes on him, scolding him for his actions. He closed his eyes and imagined familiar eyes. "Selina," he said softly to himself as the two half ogres bounded towards him. In one motion he sliced deep into the half ogre that reached him first. The swing severed the limb in one clean slice followed by a sickly smack. The ogre naturally collapsed near his missing limb with a groan of anger and pain.

The thugs were on him in an instant with shouts and bursting anger. Arcturus had to adopt a stance of total defense as they attacked him from all sides. Within the storm of swords, spears, and bludgeons, he had to constantly keep moving to stop the group from flanking him, and despite all the blocks ,parries, and glancing blows he felt some of the weapons hit him square on.

He silently thanked Matilda for his armor. Without it, he'd be dead several times over.

"Grah!" A heavy blow knocked him to the ground before the sea of thugs. He recovered quickly however, punishing the fool that had done this by slicing off his fingers. Arcturus parried another strike before the remaining ogre grabbed his shield and ripped it from his grasp. Their next attack had him disarmed, and finally circled by the thugs. They looked to him with sneers and grins of victory. He raised his gauntlet clad hands as if to fight them with his fists.

"Haven't you learned your lesson, boy? This is what you get for playing the hero." Knives chuckled from behind the wall of muscle. "Any last words? Perhaps telling me where that princess of mine is?"

"Yeah. I think I may know where she is."

Knives slowly revealed his broken -and in some places missing- teeth. Arcturus grinned as he saw the elven man and woman make it to safety. He looked up as he heard the sound of a wing flap overhead, followed by a fireball detonating behind the thugs. Several men were incinerated close to the blast, while others fell in the wake of the blazing explosion.

"There's a-" one man started to shout before a rapier was plunged into his chest. The man fell to reveal Lyndis.

"Heard you were searching for me," she smirked, crossing swords with another thug.

"Lyndis! Bless your timing. I almost thought-"

"Now's not the time!" the half-elf hissed.

Arcturus fought his way through the ranks of men and snatched his weapons in the confusion that followed. With several well-placed strikes he felled three thugs easily. On the fourth strike of his sword, the thug he was aiming for collapsed with an arrow sticking out of him. Arcturus almost froze at the realization. It looked like their mysterious helper was back.

Through all the fighting Lyndis was flipping, stabbing, and weaving her way through the remaining thugs. The man called Knives was backing away from the whole fight as the situation was spiraling out of his control. Lyndis managed to jump her way over to him, holding up her rapier to his nose. "What's the matter Knives? You think you can just muscle your way through everything?"

"Yeah, about that...just realized it's best for both sides if you can just keep the broach, princess. You won't hear from me or my people. Just...just get out of here, will ya?" Knives said as a drop of sweat dripped down his head.

"Well you see, normally I would let you go, buuuuuutt. You see my friend over there? The one in the silver armor currently cutting down the last of your thugs? Well he isn't too keen on letting people like you live, so I am going to have to refuse your generous offer."

"Bad business, princess. Bad business when Knives have to come out!" Knives said, pulling a hidden dagger from inside his shirt. He twirled it around in his hand before pointing it at Lyndis, "I am going to cut that smile off your face."

Arcturus cut down the last thug, the man's lifeless body collapsing onto the street. He turned to face Lyndis facing off with Knives. The man threw him a quick glance before he focused back on his opponent, his eyes wide with fear. Who wouldn't be? A man in full plate striding over to you, covered in the blood of your minions?

If Knives was a good fighter Arcturus would never know, as an arrow pierced him right through the shoulder. The rogue leader gasped in pain as Lyndis leaped in to take advantage of the distraction. In one swift motion she had him pierced on her rapier through his heart.

"You should have just let this whole business go, Knives," she said, kicking him off of her rapier. Knives fell, clutching his chest, hitting the ground with a loud thump.

"Good to see that bastard come to deserved end. Why did he call you princess?" Arcturus asked, cleaning his sword and putting it in his scabbard.

"It's a long story," Lyndis sighed, "Too complicated for me to go into right now, but at least this bastard is dead." She kicked Knives' corpse hard with her boot.

"Nrraaaaah! Get off my bear, ya big basterd!" Came a shout from further down the street.

Without a thought Arcturus moved swiftly towards the voice. Perhaps it belonged to the person that had been helping them from the shadows. He did not have to go far, as -after he rounded a corner- he found seven more thugs attacking a large brown bear and a dwarven woman with braided red hair. In each of her hands rested a well crafted hand axe, smeared in dried blood. At her feet was a bow, possibly what she had been using before the thugs had closed in on her. To protect herself against harm, the dwarf was wearing dark grey studded leather with small golden dwarven runes around the edges.

And by the looks of it, she knew how to fight. Arcturus quickly realized that when the woman ducked from a sword swing that nearly cut her hair clean off, then returned the strike by crashing her axe into the man's gut.

"Almost got me right in the 'ead! You got guts ya do!" She laughed, pulling her axe out, causing the man's insides to spill out onto the street.

Arcturus joined her by smashing one man's head in with his shield, then he pulled out his sword and plunged it through the neck of another.

"Thank ye laddie! Pretty good for a human!" The dwarf lady cried as the large bear tackled a man and mauled his face. The man flailed with his sword, slicing into the bears muzzle and drawing blood before his neck got torn to shreds. The remaining thugs were cut down in a matter of moments from rapier, axe, bear, and sword. Once again Arcturus cleaned his sword and sheathed it in his scabbard, while Lyndis started to loot the dead bodies.

One of these days I have to do something about that habit of hers, Arcturus shook his head, then walked to the dwarf who was tending to the bear's snout with a rag.

"Quit your fussin' you big baby. I've had bigger cuts to deal with." she said, rubbing the rag deep into the cut. The bear let out a pained moan. "Oh you'll be alrigh' in a few moments. Human," she turned her head to Arcturus. "Thank ye for helpin me outta that bind back dere. Although it be about time you returned the favor. Ya seem to draw alotta bad attention." she said with a laugh.

"A most unfortunate consequence," the human chuckled. "What do you go by? I can't simply call you our hidden friend now that we've met."

"Name's Merlia Gallowglar! Explorer at heart an' smasher of skulls when needs be. Dis moaning pup here is Ulga."

"Charmed. I'm Lyndis Kuxion," the half-elf said, handing Arcturus a bag of gold. "Your share of the loot," she said quickly before resuming her business.

"I'm Arcturus Lund," he said sticking out a hand to the dwarf who shook it with a big smile.

"Arcturus, eh? I saw you an' yer lizard friend walkin' around gettin attacked like righ now. What are ya lot up to that seems to draw so much attention?"

"This one is on you," Lyndis placed a hand on his shoulder. "I am going to do a second pass and see if I missed any loot." Lyndis patted his shoulder before returning to the sea of corpses.

"I don't want to involve you in our affairs, even if you are as stout as you look. Merlia."

The dwarf didn't seem to take his words lightly. Frowning, she crossed her hands, then unleashed. "Ya listen here ya clankin collection of pots and pans! It sounds like ya three are on an adventure, I like me some adventures. Makes da best stories, an' I can handle trouble just as good as any man, don' you worry about that laddie."

Arcturus sighed, "You have helped us quite a bit, so it wouldn't be fair to deny you a chance at adventure, as risky as it might get. We are heading to the capital to retrieve a book for a friend."

"A book? What's it made from, gold? Cause when ya put it like dat it don't sound that excitin." She laughed.

"That's only part of it. I also want to get some answers from my king. Especially why he wished me to end the life of an innocent dragon."

"So ya sayin' that little red scamp of yours is a dragon? Do I look like a fool laddie? I tink he is a wee bit too small for a dragon." she said, her eyes full of skepticism.

"Oh believe me, that one's more trouble than you can handle, especially if he just heard you," Arcturus whispered, then smiled as the dwarf squinted her eyes at him. "He just changed his size and hid his wings."

There was a sudden scrape of talons on stone that made Arcturus hold up his arms and gesture to the form of Veledar. "He probably heard me say the word dragon and could not resist swooping down on us."

"Now now, Arcturus, I think you are starting to know me a tad too well." Veledar chuckled before strutting over. Arcturus could see he was clearing puffing his chest out. The dragon stopped several feet in front of Merlia before spreading his wings wide.

"I am Crimson Sky, easy to say and obvious to the eye...Merlia, was it?"

Arcturus watched the dwarve's face. If she was concerned or scared of the dragon's presence she did not show it. She just watched him move with her eyes wide.

"Well best keep them hidden in dis town. Knives there probably has more idiots waitin' in the alleys. Best we head to me camp. It's a couple miles north of here. Once we get dere ya can tell me wha' else ya lot up ta."

"I find myself confused by your request, Merlia. Do you invite us to your camp out of kindness, to question us, or perhaps join in on our adventure?" Veledar asked, strutting around her.

"Why else would ya three be askin' bout da silver dragon, which rumor says lives on dat dere mountain?" she pointed to the towering mountains overlooking the town. "I'm comin' with ya, and there's nothin' ya can do ta stop me."

Arcturus had a quick discussion about traveling to Merlia's camp. Veledar moaned that there was yet another person wanting to travel with them on HIS adventure. Lyndis brought up the point that the more work force they had the better chances to succeed at getting the dragon's book back. Veledar complained, but gave in to the half-elf's compelling arguments.

"Fine, Merlia. We shall follow you to your camp. However, if this is a trick, I will do things to you that will make you swear in every dwarvish word known to your kind," Veledar squinted his eyes, and snarled at Merlia.

"Ya don have ta worry bout me stabbin ya in the back. Who do ya think I am, a sneaky goblin? Cause I gotta tell ya dragon, dose be fighten' words!"

"Just lead us to your camp." Veledar sighed, looking towards the sky.

"Good, now da lot of ya get ya horses and follow Ulga and me."

The group quickly left the town on horseback, with Merlia leading the way atop Ulga. Veledar flew overhead, following them closely. They spoke little as the night wind battered them from all sides. Arcturus saw even Veledar struggle against the winds, although he doubted the dragon would ever admit to having such trouble. They arrived at Merlia's camp within the hour. It was a simple tent and a dead campfire tied down to resist the harsh winds. It was next to a tree where it looked like Merlia had hung several pelts to keep the place dry. Arcturus led Smelly over to the tree and tied him up. He turned around as he heard Veledar land behind him.

"Gods, can we get a fire going? My focken hands are freezing," Lyndis rubbed her hands together."

"Ah, forgot ya elves couldn' stand da cold," chuckled Merlia, pulling out flint and steel from a pack on the ground. After several failed attempts to light the humid wood Veledar let out an annoyed groan.

"That little thing is going to do nothing to this wood. Here. Let me show you how it's done, dear Merlia," the dragon said, then unleashed a jet of flame from his mouth to light the wood in an instant. Arcturus took a seat beside Veledar, who had laid down by the fire. The others gathered around as Veledar started telling Merlia of their journey thus far. Although he started the whole tale with the "Great injustice done to him." He told of the trip through the fairy realm, the fight with the bulettes, and spoke fondly of their time in Drakenburg up until Knives ruined everything.

"Dats all well an' good Crimson Sky, but what's yer business with da silver dragon?" Her eyes went wide, then a coy grin grew on the dwarves face, "Oh I get ya, yer lookin for a she dragon to keep ya big bum warm at night!"

"Gods no!" Veledar replied, scrunching up his snout and sticking out his tongue in disgust. He stopped only to make gagging noises as he turned away from Merlia. After a few more moments he was able to respond with, "Nothing of that sort you perverted dwarf. That dragon is my mother. Is it so strange that I only wish to pay her a visit? It's been years since I last had any contact with her!"

As Merlia and Veledar talked back and forth, Arcturus took note that Veledar did not mention the lady Lida. He must not have heard what the old woman said, that the journey to his mother's mountain would only bring hardship and pain upon them.

He perked up as Veledar had started telling a story about how his mother had put on a play with magic for his sister, brother, and himself. When he mentioned his brother Veledar frowned, but continued with the story. Once it was finished he was going to ask Merlia why she was around Drakenburg but Lyndis beat him to the question.

The cheerful dwarf frowned during a sigh as her eyes looked hurt. "I'm on an adventure of course!" she said, her face perking up. "Little UIlga an' I get inta heaps of trouble while we explore da unknown."

"Lumara is the unknown?" It was Arcturus' turn to frown. Far as he knew Lumara encompassed most of the continent.

"Well ta me anyway. I'm from da south of course. Straight pass that other place." She paused for a moment in thought, scrunching up her brow, "Drenedar!" she exclaimed, "Da one with all da trees and Pegasus. Aldo tha place wasn't a great fit for a dwarf. Everytin was so tall, bright and clean! She laughed, "Can ya believe I watched a group scrub down da streets ta have dem perfect? Ridiculous!"

She leaned up against Ulga and pulled out a knife from her side, then slowly started to carve a piece of wood she found nearby. "If ya ask me things need ta get a little dirty, rough, take a few scraps, den ya can tell da difference between what's cheap and what's important."

She paused again for a moment to cut off a large section of the wooden stick. "Anyways, I'm from a small village beneath da mountain o stonehammer. Da village has me whole clan. It be called da village of stone in case yer wonderin'."

"A tad bit ironic, is it?" Veledar smirked, "It's granite this, steel that, perhaps another village called pebble?"

"Well ya scaley git dere is a town called pebble." she replied, locking eyes with the dragon. They stared each other down with unblinking eyes before they both burst out laughing. "Back to me story den. I had a yearnin to see da world outside me village, so I set out for da surface. So far I find humans the best....no offense lass." she said, looking to Lyndis. "I have found da elf folk are a tad slow moving for me tastes."

Lyndis silently mimed half-elf to herself as she pointed to her ears.

"Humans though, they always be striving to move forward, dey always seeking to learn, always eager ta explore. Determination is sometin to admire in dem."

"I agree as well, even if said determination seems to get them in trouble from time to time." Veledar said, Arcturus felt the dragon put a claw on his shoulder. "Isn't that right Arcturus?"

"Are you talking about yourself again, dragon? Because I sure didn't dive myself out of an airship before I met you!" Arcturus laughed.

"Your words wound me, human. I thought we are kind of simpatico." Veledar grinned, placing a paw to his chest.

The group laughed and spent the last bit of the night talking until they all fell back asleep around the fire.

Arcturus woke in the morning to the sound of Veledar's rustling. He breathed in the cold morning air before stretching his arms. The morning sun had already peeked through the clouds high in the sky.

"Arcturus, I am not a convenient table to rest your arm upon." Veledar said, bumping into him, nearly causing Arcturus to fall.

"Maybe you shouldn't be so good at it!" he said, turning towards the dragon to catch him sticking his tongue out at him. The dragon took off after his stomach gave a loud rumble, leaving Arcturus in a spray of light snow. He tended to Stinky and Smelly, noticing that the two females -Merlia and Lyndis- were meditating around the fire with a spellbook in front of Lyndis and a scroll in front of the dwarf. He took a spot at least ten feet away and began his own ritual of combat meditation. He swung at the air, slashed and thrust for half an hour before taking out his rations and stuffing the nuts and dried fruit into his mouth. He downed them with a swig of water from his water skin, longing for a hot meal served from an equally warm bowl.

Arcturus' mind went from one meal to another until he thought to a steak he had months ago back in Entis, and his mouth watered as he remembered the succulent flavors that washed over his tongue. He mentally shook his head to rid the image of that delicious treat from his mind, but the following roar was a much better distraction.

Veledar landed in front of him in a spray of snow. After he shook off the white powder from his scales, Arcturus noticed the look of worry on Veledar's snout, something he had never seen before on the dragon's face.

"Let me guess. You stepped on someone's toes and now they're coming back here to demand payment for yet another one of your misdeeds."

Arcturus was almost ready to grab onto his gold pouch when the dragon growled. "I saw a bunch of gryphon, and on top of them I'm pretty sure we have riders."

"How many?" Arcturus immediately frowned.

"A dozen. Maybe more. I didn't exactly stay there to count them."

Arcturus gulped, feeling his heart skip a beat. He had a pretty good idea what was coming for them. "Ah, blasted. You got us in real trouble this time. Why in the world have you gone out there, on a whim, without even thinking of using a protection spell?"

The dragon snarled, but dared not to say anything. Even someone as proud and mighty as Veledar knew better than to make a fuss in this sort of situation.

"So what's the plan? Are you going to stand there and dazzle them with your scales?"

"Shut up." The dragon hissed as the human paced around, muttering angry things beneath his breath.

"It don't fockin' matter who messed what. It's done now. Get your things and MOVE. Go! MOVE!"

Arcturus knew gryphons were fast fliers, possibly faster than even Veledar. "How far away are they?"

"Far enough to give us advantage." The dragon spoke.

Arcturus nodded and quickly donned his armor. He reminded himself to thank Matilda again for crafting such a wonderful thing. Within the span of five breaths he was already suited up.

Arcturus threw his stuff into his pack once more and mounted Stinky. He held the reins tight as the others gathered around him, all their things packed into bundles, although by the look on their faces the females didn't have enough time to fully prepare all their spells. Lyndis pulled out the same map she read at the inn and held it inches from her face.

"If we follow this path we will reach the passage point, and with this broach we should be able to pass unhindered. Hopefully the gryphon group will lose us in the snowstorm." Lyndis said, pointing to a drawing of a mountain pass on the map.

"It is a good plan. May the Gods show us favor." Arcturus said, quickly taking the lead with Lyndis, Merlia, and Veledar flying overhead.

They rode over the snowy land, not even taking a moment to hide their tracks. Arcturus patted Stinky's head and pushed the horse to keep running past his normal limits. He did not want to see those gryphon knights right now. More than that, he dreaded the thought of claiming responsibility until he had everything squared away. If these two sides got into a fight it would be hard to pull his swings against people just doing their jobs.

Arcturus' heart quickened when the skies rang with the screech of a gryphon in the distance. The hunting party was closing in now, and even with all his armor, the paladin felt the hair on the back of his neck straighten and his blood warm up with anxious anticipation.

"Lyndis!" he shouted back to her, eyes scanning the skies for their winged friend. "How much farther until we reach the pass?"

"Not far!" She cried back, "Perhaps a mile to go before we get to the spot on the-"

She was interrupted by the sound of Veledar's roar, and Arcturus knew that type of roar well. It was the sound of a dragon in pain. Splinters and leaves burst from the forest as Veledar descended towards the ground. He fell in the snow alongside the two gryphons that tried to hold him down.

"You trespass in the king's lands, dragon! Stand down or we'll have to subdue you by force!"

"Isn't that...what you're already doing, you stinky birds?"

"Veledar!"

The dragon didn't hear his shout; not with his roar deafening any other sound. Arcturus cursed under his breath as he pulled his horse towards the squabble of scales and feathers.

Please, Gods. Be merciful. Don't let this turn into another bloodbath.

"Veledar! Veledar, stop!" Arcturus shouted in vain as the dragon shoved his smaller captors away. His tail smacked one of the gryphons unconscious into the snow, while his forepaw managed to get around the other's neck.

Arcturus pushed the horse as hard as he could, shouting from atop his lungs. "Veledar! Do NOT kill him!"

The dragon seemed to have heard something, turning his angry, spiteful gaze to the rider that dismounted a close distance away. "This little wretch would have me delivered back to his king in chains! Isn't that right, birdy?" Veledar tightened his grip until the gryphon's defiant screech slowly turned into a softer, helpless squawk.

"Don't. Please...I know how it feels to hold someone's life in your hands, but this is not the way."

"It is either us, or them!" the dragon smashed his tail into the ground. "I would have their lives before they chain me again!"

Arcturus approached the angry dragon unarmed. "I know how it feels to be powerless. I too had my choices stripped away when Dread Flame wrapped his vile claws around, holding me while my family died in front of my eyes. You are not him, Veledar. You are not a monster, but if you strike this gryphon down now, your claws will forever be stained with innocent blood."

"Listen...to him..." the gryphon croaked.

Veledar brought his bared teeth closer to the creature's beak. "Say another word. I dare you."

"Veledar. Veledar! This power you feel...it is not justice,Veledar. Please, please...think what you're about to do..."

The dragon's body shivered with pent-up tension. Arcturus noticed a few minor wounds along his sides, undoubtedly inflicted by the two gryphons. This wasn't the Veledar he knew from before, so instead of wasting his time on words, Arcturus quickly checked the unconscious bird, muttered a silent gratitude to the gods, then looked at Veledar from his knees.

"You're lucky this human has more mercy than your king" The dragon leaped over to Lyndis who quickly put the gryphon to sleep with a quick charm.

Arcturus let out a sigh of relief. "Great job, everyone. Lyndis, try to do what you can to shield us from their eyes. Merlia, shoot them down if they get too close. Aim for the wings. We want them off our tracks, not dead."

"Got a soft heart, laddie. Think they'll show us da same mercy?"

"Only the Gods know for certain. We are not Knives to use fear and intimidation. We're not cutthroats, to slay our way through those who stand in our way. We're better than that!"

"I'll remind you these words when you'll be tied up in the bowels of an airship." Veledar growled.

Arcturus got back on his horse, and the party got moving again, leaving the two gryphon scouts behind. Arcturus knew the hunting party wouldn't go easy on them. That's not how he trained his men.

The same men who inched ever closer to his position.

Arcturus felt an arrow wiz by his head to strike another gryphon that appeared overhead.

"We've got a whole flock coming down!" Lyndis cried out. Arcturus quickly put his party into combat formation, with Merlia and Lyndis striking from afar while Ulga and Veledar held the line on the ground. Several gryphon landed around them, one more surprised than the other.

"Paladin! You're alive!" a gryphon said, quickly silenced by a black one encased in silver armor.

"Snap it shut, DuskWind! We have orders to capture the target at all costs!"

"Doesn't have to be that way, SkyWing," Arcturus approached the flock leader. "Order your flock to stand down. I will talk to whoever is in charge of this operation."

"The time for words passed the moment you allowed your prisoner to escape. ATTACK!"

The gryphons charged or leaped at them from a spearhead formation. Arcturus knew his chance of success would be minimal at best. After all, he fought alongside gryphons like these for years. They were the best Lumara had to offer, specifically requested by him when he believed the king to be an selfless, honorable man.

Arcturus threw one last look at Veledar. "We're better than them," he spoke softly only for the dragon to hear before he drew his sword and charged forward.

He aimed to injure the head of the snake, but a screech was all he heard as he was lifted out of his saddle by another gryphon. He felt claws press hard around his torso, and within two heartbeats he was dropped hard onto the ground. The gryphon was on top of him in an instant, tearing at the joints of his armor without saying a word.

"Stop this madness!" Arcturus hissed before droplets of saliva pelted his face alongside a deafening screech.

Arcturus didn't strike back with his voice. He hit with his fist right on the side of the gryphon's beak, stunning the white gryphon long enough for him to free his sheathed sword and slam it on the back of the creature's head strong enough to put it to sleep.

"Nghhh, heavy bastard." With a great shove he pushed the unconscious gryphon off him. He stood up slowly to see that Stinky had been cut deep into his neck and now lay bleeding in the snow. He did a look around to find that Merlia and Lyndis were nowhere in sight. They must have been separated by another flock. Another screech pulled his mind from his friends, and Arcturus quickly ran to Veledar's side to help him. Three birds lay incapacitated on the ground, leaving four to deal with. The dragon kept them at bay with tail swipes and short bursts of fire, but Arcturus knew the flock would adapt to the situation. He was halfway there before a gryphon got close enough to leap onto his back.

Veledar roared, thrashing about as the others latched on different parts of his body to drag him down.

_ Hang...just a moment longer..._Arcturus unstrapped the shield from his back, the cacophony of growls, hisses and screeches getting louder the closer he got.

When he finally reached Veledar, Arcturus smashed his shield into the side of the first gryphon he found, a purple male that fell prey to Veledar's tail. The gryphon crumpled to the ground. With him out of the way, Arcturus pulled onto the tail of another, not to hurt, but annoy the creature, for once it looked back Veledar shook himself free.

"BlackPaws, SunWing!" the flock leader inspected his fallen kin.

"They yet live."

"Thanks to our mercy," Veledar accompanied Arcturus with a tired huff. "I have to say, you gryphons don't fight half as bad as you look..."

"Then you'll find my beak more than a match, scaled one!"

Arcturus cursed as the two of them were forced back on the defense. Gryphon after gryphon came down from the sky to reinforce their leader, and soon enough Arcturus found himself in total defense as the sea of feathers struck at him with beak and claw.

"Enough!" a familiar voice called out from above. The gryphons backed away from Veledar and Arcturus, their keen eyes locked on them.

One gryphon landed in the snow in front of Veledar, carrying a man in familiar black plate upon its back. It was Garroth, standing before them with a tabard of Lumara draped over his pristine armor. He held a crossbow that pulsed with the familiar hum that Arcturus had gotten used to. Arcturus looked above to find ten more gryphons hovering, with men wielding more of the same crossbows that Garroth held in his hand. They all had them pointed at Veledar.

"You won't escape our grasp this time, dragon. Tell me what you've done to Arcturus, and I might find a spacious chamber to spend the rest of your days in." Garroth said, his voice full of hatred. "You are going to pay for all the grievances you've caused to the Crown."

"Grievances?" Veledar scoffed. "The only grievance I'm guilty of is existing in your land! Your dragon slayers came into my home, stole my treasure, accused me of unspeakable deeds, and now you're here blabbering about imprisonment when the man you seek is right in front of you!"

"Arcturus?!" Garroth pushed his visor up. "By the Gods...I thought someone stole your armor. Lift your visor up. Let me get a quick look at you."

"Garroth," Arcturus dipped his head, took off his helmet, then looked back at the man. "This isn't how I imagined we'd meet."

"Same here, lad. You can imagine my surprise. I thought you'd been kidnapped; held for ransom by this band of thieves you're traveling with."

Arcturus got in front of the dragon when Veledar started to snarl.

"I'm on an important quest that allows no delays. Garroth, if my name still means something in Lumara, you will allow me to depart."

The man grumbled before he let out a long sigh. "It is true we have history together, but the king requested your return, along with delivery of the red beast."

Arcturus knew things were about to blow. He saw it in Garroth when he moved his hand over to his crossbow. Felt it in Veledar's quickening breath.

"Garroth-" he began to speak, but was cut off as Veledar suddenly bounded towards him, grabbed Arcturus and bolted into the sky.

"Arcturus! Incapacitate the red beast! Shoot it down from the sky!" he heard Garroth shout orders as Veledar carried him higher into the sky.

"What...the fock was that?"

"They're going to imprison you, right after they throw me into a jail!"

He felt his stomach lurch but thankfully his mind was still too focused on Garroth to pay attention to the nausea. Storm clouds had suddenly appeared in the sky, making Veledar's flight more unsteady with every passing moment. They must have been close to the point Lyndis had talked about. He looked back down to the tiny forms of Garroth, his men, and the gryphons now chasing after them.

Veledar carried him further and higher into the sky and towards the mountain in silence. "Nice friends you've made during your time in Lumara." the dragon said in deep breaths, "Why, my mind bristles with all sorts of exciting scenarios like my first meal in prison, or my first crap. Do you figure they have crapholes dug into the earth, or they'll slowly let me-"

"Shut up. Please...stop talking. We're still not safe enough for prattling..."

"As if their feeble wings can keep up!" Veledar roared joyfully. "I got you out, human! I have you, they don't! You know what this means, right? You owe me!"

"Stupid...bumbling fool... They have gryphons! They can still catch you!"

"Nonsense!" Veledar said, "Those creatures could not hold a candle to me, They are basically oversized kittens!" the dragon chuckled weakly. Arcturus could feel the dragon's wing beats, they were different than the last time he was carried into the sky. These were slower, and the dragon seemed to be straining. Despite him not saying anything, he was clearly hurt.

"Besides," Veledar said, flapping his wings again. The snow started to whip by Arcturus' face, causing him to shield his eyes with one of his hands. "They would be foolish to follow us into my mother's snowstorm."

"The same storm that will smash us into a mountain! Lyndis and Merlia have the broach. We will be lost without it!"

Veledar did not reply for a few moments, clearly weighing his options on what to do next. "Well you see-" Veledar was cut off as the battle screech of a gryphon sounded from behind, followed by at least twelve others.

"Graaarh, they have the most impeccable timing!" Veledar said, his voice clearly masking worry. "You know, I really don't want to be captured by this bunch of feathers. I don't think they will be as rational as you were."

"Arcturus! We're coming for you! Hold fast, paladin! Lumara's light outshines every darkness!" he heard the voice of Garroth bellow into the sky.

Arcturus looked back down to see the form of three gryphons closing in on the red dragon's tail. Their eyes locked onto him, then shifted back to the dragon. "Don't worry, Paladin!" one of them squawked. "We'll get you!" The gryphon that spoke swerved out of the way as a stream of fire shot towards him.

"The only thing you need to get is out of here, you fools!" Arcturus shouted back as he clutched Veledar's forelimbs tighter. He felt Veledar pull him closer as the gryphons moved towards the dragon.

One of them flew towards the dragon's wings. Veledar let out a roar of pain, as the gryphon undoubtedly attacked his scaleless membranes. A second one flew towards the dragon's left, and let out a loud screech. This one seemed to dance in the air as Veledar tried to snap at him with his maw, his teeth only clamping onto thin air. The last one flew below the dragon, his eyes locked onto Arcturus. The golden gryphon angled his wings slightly and maneuvered into position below the dragon.

Veledar suddenly thrashed his body as he did a swift turn. The dragon pounded his wings against the air and the gryphons were suddenly left behind. They recovered quickly however, and in another heartbeat they were right on top of the dragon all over again. Veledar let out another roar, as claws no doubt ripped into his flesh once again.

"Fly away you damned fools!" Arcturus shouted to the gryphons again, "I don't need to be rescued! You're going to get us all killed!"

The gryphon below moved closer as the one to his left suddenly grabbed onto Veledar's limb with his talons, ripping into the scales with ferocity.

"You are not safe with him! We'll get you back sire no matter the cost." The gryphon slashed again quickly, drawing more blood from the dragon.

"Ngrraaaaah. You want to play rough?" Veledar hissed.

"Veledar!" Arcturus screamed from the top of his lungs, then the gryphon screeched right over him.

"He's almost through, sire. Just a few more moments and-"

Arcturus felt his body lurch as Veledar slammed his wings against the air. However the gryphon holding his limbs made headway, and Veledar's paws found themselves spread apart by the gryphon's stronger talons. Arcturus felt himself drop with the gryphon below extending his paws ready to snatch him from the air.

"Got you sire!" The gryphon exclaimed.

But Arcturus felt no talons grab onto him. In his possessive fury Veledar returned for him, slapping and fighting his way through the gryphons just like the birds said: through any means necessary.

Arcturus looked up as the wind howled past his ears. Terror clutched at his heart as he dropped into the void below

This is how I die, in the sky, with nobody to hear my screams, he thought as Veledar was currently lashing out as three more gryphons surrounded him. The dragon bellowed something, and lightning seemed to arc from the sky to his claws. In a flash of bright blinding light, Arcturus saw lightning bolts fly out in all directions around the dragon. They sprung from him to the gryphons who erected their own spheres of light just in time to deflect the deadly surge. The magic must've costed them all a heavy price. The gryphons glided down towards the ground, almost numb, while Veledar too seemed to struggled to remain conscious.

Arcturus dared not look down at the ground he knew was rushing to meet him. He closed his eyes and waited for the sudden stop, hoping the dragon had the sense to at least save himself. Don't come for me, you pile of thoughtless scales. For once in your life do the selfish thing. Save yourself instead of dying with me... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

But this dragon was not like Dread Flame, to only protect his own hide. He dove down through the sky, his pain forgotten as his wings pounded at the angry air. It was replaced by the sickening fear as he watched Arcturus grow further away from him. The worst thing was Arcturus' silence as he fell. He had joked around with the human about his screech when he picked him up first, but he was always safe in his paws. Well except now of course when Veledar watched the human tumble through the air, his front cape flowing through upwards against the wind. He knew why the human was silent. It was the absolute dread of inevitability.

Veledar willed himself to go faster as he saw the human clench his eyes shut probably to pray in his last seconds; make peace with himself and the rest of the world.

In turn, Veledar tried to not think about his dying brother...the face on his own snout when he had plummeted to the ground....

"Arcturus!" He gave an ear-splitting roar, the loudest his wounded throat could muster. The human HAD to know he was coming. I will not let you die. Not in my story! Veledar grit his teeth as he willed himself to go on. He was going to give this damned kingdom a story of a hero. A dragon who saved his human instead of monsters who kidnapped innocent maidens. His name would be spoken across the taverns of every human settlement. Veledar the protector, savior of paladins, conqueror of fiercest storms.

Veledar streaked through the air, silence only broken by the sound of the whistling wind whipping by his snout. Arcturus was falling, and falling, and falling faster, still very much out of his reach.

He tucked his wings, then his limbs, trying desperately to increase his speed. The air became a whipping menace, and the pain increased tenfold. Veledar tried to focus on Arcturus, and not the ground rushing towards his outstretched talons. Nothing else mattered now.

Nothing but Arcturus.

_ Pull up now or you are going to die_, instinct screamed inside his skull.

But he was so close now. He almost had Arcturus. There was no way he could pull a selfish move now. If he was going to die at this moment, he was going to at least save the human. Let himself be the hero he knew he was. Let his tale be something people remembered in song. Veledar the heroic red dragon. He narrowed his eyes as he closed in on the human. They were both going to live, or both were going to die.

"Arcturus!" he roared again with the same ear-splitting ferocity.

Arcturus opened his eyes as Veledar closed in on him. Veledar reached out with one of his paws, and in that terror-filled second he realized if that if he just grabbed him and opened his wings, the air would break the human's back due to the shift in weight. Possibly even tear his wing membranes to pieces. There was no room for error in this, not with the ground coming so close now. He continued to reach out with a paw as Arcturus rose his arm in return to grab his. He felt the human wrap himself around his limb, then Veledar pulled him close and clutched him against his chest.

They fell together.

Veledar slowly opened his wings a nerve wracking fraction at a time. He felt the wind strike them like thousands of daggers, and though his membrane was being ripped apart, the descent started to slow, but he knew it was not going to be enough. He spread his wings wider, feeling the bones in his joints crackle with mind-numbing pain. He could see the snow dunes approach, the grey stones littering the place, the trees in the distance.

The world was always so beautiful seconds before death.

Veledar angled his wings and aimed himself at a possible landing. "Arcturus, remember this part of the story." he shouted as he tilted his wings and flipped his body, placing himself between the ground and the human he clutched tightly in his limbs.

"N-no! VELEDAR!"

Veledar felt his body crash into the snow. Pain shot through his entire body like a flood of electricity. It made his teeth rattle, his spine quake, and his bones shift inside his body. He felt his wings break into thousands of painful fragments, and he gasped out, the air driven from his lungs through a horrendous growl. He clutched Arcturus tighter as they skidded through the soft snow, leaving behind splotches and streaks of red.

NO! I...I must... Veledar internally screamed as his own body started to wither. He could not move, not with so many broken things inside him. His next gasping breath brought in the taste of blood, and the dragon spat the substance onto the ground, unable to take in the air he sorely needed. Stars danced around his vision as he flopped his head back into the snow, letting out choking breaths as the skies above them grew darker. After a few heartbeats, even the pain died down. Veledar felt nothing.

Nothing apart from the darkness that wrapped him in its tenebrous cloak.