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Scales and Honor: Emerald Secrets

Chapter 5: Temple Problems

Hours earlier, before Arcturus had awoken to train with the dragons, Lyndis was already awake and ready for whatever challenges this day was going to bring.

Lyndis washed up at the sink down the hall before throwing on her studded leather armor. Excitement filled her limbs which belt she fastened into place. This is what she missed since she had started traveling with her friends. Delving into old tombs and venturing into mysterious ruins were right up her alley. These places always had traps to avoid, puzzles to solve, and of course, a good amount of treasure to loot. Though there was something about this adventure that didn't sit well with her. Her thoughts drifted to glowing purple eyes, her skin shivering as they seemed to wrap a dark cloud around her.

"Whatever. Loot is loot, no matter how I snatch it. She can just watch as I complete this, no bloody problem."

Even with that thought firmly lodged in her mind, the half-elf still scowled when she remembered who would be leading them to the temple. The dragon Cordenth, the least likable of the dragon twins to meet their acquaintance. A brute even prouder than Veledar, with enough superiority to infect those around him. Hopefully he could keep his snout shut so they could get their job done.

Lyndis stowed her rapiers into her leather sword frogs, stashed her daggers in their sheaths, and threw the cloak of invisibility over her shoulders. She was already out the door of her room when she fastened the golden leaf clasp. She quickly made her way down the stairs to already find Merlia sitting at one of the tables, boots crossed on the table itself.

"What kept ya?" The dwarf gave a chuckle, checking her weapons stowed by her side. "Thought ya might of turned inta the dragon and decided ta sleep da day away." she held up a finger to gesture towards the red dragon upstairs.

"Well, if our new dragon friend is anything like ours, we will have to go rouse him up." She grumbled, not looking forward to that course of action. She remembered a saying some people had about not waking a sleeping dragon.

"Was dat da jerky one Veledar kept butting heads with?"

"That would be the muppet."

"Ladies!" The bartender strolled in with a cheerful aura, "Care to stay for some breakfast?" The portly man tossed some uncooked sausages into a cast iron skillet and placed it on top of the stove top. "Cookin' up some sausages and eggs right up."

Lyndis held up a hand, "Thanks, but I need to be quick on my feet. We need to go explore an ancient and possibly dangerous temple. I figure the sooner we get it done, the better."

"And less time we have ta deal with that ass of a dragon Cordenth," Merlia stood, throwing her quiver over her shoulder. "Nice thinkin lass."

"Fair enough then," The innkeeper sighed as the scent of cooking meat wafted through the air. "I'll have some stuff for you ladies when ya return home from yer quest. Happy huntin!."

Lyndis gave the man a salute as she made her way out of the inn with Merlia in tow. When they stepped out onto the wooden walkway, she spotted something that stood out just barely among the vast branches. Cordenth was hanging with his tail dragging behind him, bright yellow eyes locked right onto them.

"It isn't polite to stalk us, you know." Lyndis crossed her arms, giving the dragon a cross look. One that she realized might have been too aggressive than she intended. "Apparently that is something not below one of your prestige."

"You didn't mention you were a princess," Hissed the dragon as he slunk down from the branches, landing on the walkway with his tail thumping on the wood.

"Yea, I don't go throwing around that information on a whim for obvious reasons. Or maybe it's not so obvious to you dragons. You're well used to attention by the looks of things." She rolled her eyes, ignoring how Cordenth's snout only stared back with a look of confusion etched onto his features.

"But how come?" The dragon snorted, curling back his head. "You are of royal blood! Denying it is no better than covering up your ears and pretend to be human!"

"Oh, you'd be surprised how well that works," Lyndis smiled, covering her ears with her hands. "See? Now mind to task dragon, can we get this focken over with?" She gestured to Merlia, who only nodded along with a singular. "Aye."

"No. Not before you help me understand." The dragon flicked his tail, snout wrinkling as she held her defiant look. "You could be using it to advantage! Your friends should be bowing and listening to your every word! But as far as I can tell, they treat you the same as the others."

"And so the voice of wisdom decreed." Lyndis gave him a dismissive wave. "You know, I had enough ogling and bowing at home to last me a lifetime. Royal or not, my blood doesn't define who I am, and before you ask another stupid question, I am pleased to admit I am not greater than anyone else."

"You're most confusing." He slightly shook his head, lime green frills twitching back and forth, "Regardless, I decided to rise early and wait for you, and not go through the unpleasant process of being awoken by you."

"How nice of ya ta save us da time." Merlia said, checking her gear to make sure it was all set and ready to go.

"Oh, it was entirely for my benefit, little dwarf. Don't start thinking otherwise." Cordenth growled. He turned to head off towards the temple, tail swishing behind him. "Don't fall behind."

Lyndis watched as the dragon held his head high, chest swelling as his haunches swayed back and forth. She stared at his frilled tail, padding after him as a feeling spread through her gut and wiggled around like a worm. Lyndis could tell when someone was trying to put on an act to be intimidating when she saw it. She'd seen this many times before in numerous taverns across the continent. If the dragon was just like them, she would simply have to push further and find out why. Picking up the pace she carried on after him with Merlia right behind.

"So what keeps the grand Cordenth in the forest? Especially one as grand as you? Surely if you headed away from Entis, you could avoid getting caught by an unpleasant company of dragon hunters. Furthermore, if you are better than us, why go through the trouble of puffing out your chest? Unless you don't think you intimidate little ol us."

"You're not a dragon, I don't expect you to understand our ways." He snapped back with a low growl, refolding his wings against his back.

"I think I do. You see, I believe you're no different than these people in this village. Just another treasure that your mother can call hers." She crossed her arms confidently as the dragon simply snorted. "Then you put on this act simply to vent at your inability to do something about it. How about that Cordenth?" She nodded at him with a grin. "How'd I bloody do?"

Cordenth turned his head his sharp eyes narrowing at her into slits. Within them was a brilliant fire that seemed to be trying to light the air between them. If not for his mother's request she was not so certain the green would not have snapped further at her. However, the dragon did not say a word in response. He mumbled something under his breath with a growl and returned to leading them through the village. Though he did so with a quick increase in his spead, practically trotting along with clacks of his claws against the wood. He was fast enough that the girls struggled to keep pace with him. He did this several times and slowed down with a smirk on his muzzle as they caught up. He brought them back to the forest floor, traveling along a well worn path between the sea of dark green trees that reached out for them. Somehow the forest seemed more welcoming now to the dragon focused rogue, that with this green dragon with them the fauna wouldn't want to snatch them away. His tail swayed, his neck tilting back to take peaks just like Veledar did to Arcturus. Though Lyndis admired the bark on trees, the smooth rocks along the path. Anything away from that pompous jerk of a dragon. When they passed a tree that was being consumed by teal moss the dragon started into a sprint. Giving off a soft warble as he left them behind with a tossing of dirt and wiggling of his tail. They broke into a sprint after him, cursing his name until they had finally caught up to him several minutes later. Cordenth was standing proudly before them, a smirk right on his snout as the two red faced girl's eyed him with daggers.

"What's wrong with you?" She practically snarled, thrusting a finger towards him like a sword. "Are you trying to set a bad impression for you? Here I thought VELEDAR was bad!"

Cordenth rolled his eyes, gesturing to the form of a great stone temple behind him with an extended wing. "I've done what my mother asked. Nothing more. Inside, there is a green orb that she wants you to retrieve."

Lyndis looked to the temple and almost gasped out at the magnitude of it all. Out of all the temples, tombs, and ruins she had adventured into, this one put everything to shame. It was large, almost as equal to the large tree castle back home. It had multiple sections they could enter, all made of stone with thick vines and yellow tinted moss trying to consume them like a ravenous beast. Even from this distance, she could notice large carvings of dragons on the stone, many different species all swirling together with their wings outstretched. Like a great storm they all spiraled around, lost within some unknown dance of the ages.

"Xcuse me for askin', but wha does da orb do?" Merlia interjected, taking Lyndis out of her staring contest with the temple. "An wut ya tink is in dere for beasties?" The dwarf unslung her bow with a smirk. "So I know what story dis be."

"I'm afraid I am not more knowledgeable than you in that regard." Cordenth sighed, "Mother did not consider me privy to that information. She only instructed that I should not go inside with you."

"Well isn't that sorta convenient? For ye ta bring us all da way here only ta stay on da side on yer bum?" Merlia strolled over to the closest door that towered over her like a giant. "Figures. Stupid green witch."

Lyndis passed the dragon as he gave the ranger yet another dirty look with swaying tail. Let him be upset with her words. It was no secret that their hands were tied by his mother. She rolled her eyes, placing a hand onto the stone door that Merlia had just whistled at it's height. The door had to be thirty feet high by twenty feet wide, easily large enough for the Emerald Lady to fit inside. There were engravings of dragons decorating the doors, separate from those that adorned the walls. These ones were standing proudly on a rock face, snouts raised high towards the shape of a stone sun. The door appeared to be very heavy, certainly crafted for dragon standards. Then as her hands went to her waist she noticed something. There was no way for _them_to open it. That couldn't be right. She quickly glanced around at all the stone, not seeing a way immediately inside. An idea formed within her head as her mind whispered for her to climb. She turned peered over her shoulder to their green guide, who settled down on his haunches, staring at them intently. Perhaps she could turn a certain dragon into an asset to have around. As if reading her mind Merlia bumped her side with an elbow.

"We dan' need him, lass. Ya only be inviting more words wit em."

"Normally, I'd be tempted to agree, but I'd rather have a dragon at my side when I venture into one of their temples."

As Merlia nodded, Lyndis continued to share her thoughts. "Perhaps if I played to his pride?" She turned round towards the green dragon, giving him a warm and inviting smile of any good maiden from a story. "Oh Cordenth," She took a step towards the dragon, gesturing to the door. "This door looks awfully heavy. Could we perhaps get a helping paw from one such as mighty as you?"

"This has to be a joke. You can't even get the door open by yourself?" Cordenth smirked, his tail flicking with amusement. "Two little scale-less bipeds require aid from a dragon? You go on about how equal we are, then can't do it?" His smirk turned into a tooth filled grin that lit the fire of irritation in the rogue's gut. "How am I not shocked?"

Lyndis waited for a moment, but the dragon did not seem to be moving. Perhaps he was going to be a tad less easier to manipulate than she thought. Unlike many of the other strangers that had worked on in the past.

"You betta offer him somethin'." Merlia whispered, leaning in close. "Dats how dragons work remember lass? Favor fer a favor."

Of course, how could she have forgotten about that? It was what had gotten them into this whole mess to begin with."Good thinking," She patted Merlia's shoulder as the dwarf went back to pretending to inspect the door. With a heavy sigh the princess swung around, again approaching the observant dragon with a happily swaying tail. His eyes filled with a sense of wanton joy as she swallowed what pride she had. "Please Cordenth? How about you do this for us and we will owe you a favor? And to further sweeten the deal, you could brag to your mother about how invaluable you were in the day. That without your shrewd intervention her adventures would have failed."

"Lass, I tink I might have a betta way!" Merlia shouted, cupping her hands." How 'bout I just use da bull's strength spell on one of us and we go about doin it! Why go through da trouble of dealin' with dis one? Especially if he can't do it anyway!"

Cordenth tapped a claw to his snout several times as he eyed the dwarf with curiosity, "Hmmm, that does sound like a good offer." He said, just as his tail started to tap the ground in rhythm with his claw taps. If the dragon was not a natural killing machine and was not pissing her off, Lyndis might have even called him adorable. She kept her brow wrinkled though, no sense in him knowing that random thought to grace her.

"Figure it's much better to have a dragon to help us with whatever draconic things are lurking inside." She shot back, eyeing as the green dragon's snout drifted between the two girls, grumbling to himself. "Besides, always good to have a dragon by your side."

Merlia raised an eyebrow and smirked, "Don't go tellin' da dragon dat. Ya might swell Veledar's ego!"

"I'll do it!" Cordenth proudly announced, "And after you witness my heroic deeds, you will even hold more respect for me. Perhaps even be slack jawed in pure awe." The green strutted to the door with such confidence that it seemed to be oozing from every scale. "Now stand aside." He grinned, placing a scaled paw on the door "Let one such as myself take care of this." The dragon's muscles tensed, claws scraping against the stone as Cordenth gave a heavy, teeth gritting push. At first looked like perhaps he was not trying. The dragon gave a grunt and pushed again, his talons dragging thick lines in the stone. Lyndis fought back a chuckle as the dragon struggled to do anything against his stone adversary. Despite his boasting, he couldn't open it.

"First time you pit your herculean strength against a _simple_door?" she flashed a mischievous smile at the dragon that gave Merlia further ideas. "Seen better attempts by a drunken halfling."

"Oy, it looks ta me like ya bit off more den ya could chew." Merlia laughed. "Perhaps we should go back and ask yer mother for help?"

"Grrrrr..." Cordenth placed a second paw on the cold stone redoubled his efforts to open the door. Yet again his muscles tried to push, talons scraping up stone dust at the effort."It has to be stuck!" He snorted, smacking a paw against the hardened material. "Or made of some sort of dense stone!

"Do ya need a bit o' help dere, lad?" Merlia finally asked as Cordenth dropped down on his fours.

"It would appear so, wouldn't it." The dragon hung his head in shame. "I couldn't even a stupid door."

"Don'cha worry. We'll leave this portion out when ya tell yer mum 'bout yer help." The dwarf laughed as she placed a hand to his green flank. "Bozok Mul," she said softly, an aura of green light enveloping her fingers. The magic flowed across her digits into Cordenth, enveloping him with a viridian curtain. There was a brief flash of a bull's head before the lingering light was lost within the dragon's scales.

Cordenth sprung up in a flash, his paws resting against the stone once more. "Lets see this door stand in my way now!" He roared, pushing with all his might. Unlike the previous two attempts the door cracked loudly, before giving way to the herculean might on display. It slammed open, crashing against the inner wall with a bang that shook free any loose rock and plans to the ground. The green dragon bounded upwards with a mighty trill and flaring out his wings. There was a brief smile on his face as he admired at what he had done. Though he suddenly stopped, composing himself with a swish of his tail and curling his head back to two girls. "Just needed the right amount of draconic force is all." Cordenth looked away with twitching frills and pleased rumble. "And you two were worried we would have to get mother involved. Though this will be quite the tale I'm sure. How the mighty Cordenth helped you accomplish your goal."

"Dun forget da enchantment from da dwarf!" added Merlia, holding up her finger. "Da mighty dragon would be no where without it. Weaker than a sickly ox!"

"Ah yes.." Cordenth looked away with a wrinkled muzzle, looking as though he might just want to forget that part ever happened. "But of course, charms are said to work better on dragons. I think even with that spell you'd have needed my assistance." Cordenth raised his snout but kept an eye looking to them. "Come along now, ladies." He pressed forward into the temple with a sway of his haunches. "I'll keep an eye out for danger, stay behind me."

Lyndis crossed her arms as the dragon gave her a confident smile, one that showed off all his teeth and reminded her all too well of their red companion. Perhaps just a little application of this could chip away at whatever act he was putting on. She smiled warmly at his little display of happiness, a small crack in whatever stern and annoying armor he wore.

"What are you waiting for?" Cordenth called back to her, gesturing with his neck and roll of his eyes. "You're not going to let me do all the work are you?"

"Aye lass." Merlia elbowed her, scampering off after their green guide. "Can't be starin at his tail all day. Might be getting da wrong impression!"

"Right.." She trailed off, shaking her head and following after her two companions without another word.

The dark and musky hallways were filled with lingering dust and smelled of ancient stone. Though there was no light to grace this far into the place it did not trouble any of them. After all, each of them could see in the dark without natural light. For once she laughed at how poor Arcturus was the only one. It was not long until the long and winding hallway eventually opened outward into a vast stone complex of mismatched squares that reminded the princess all too well of caskets for the dead.

"Wow," Cordenth gasped, pulling his head back into the shape of an S.

"Are these...graves?" Lyndis advanced hesitantly, the green dragon right beside her. Both their eyes lingered on the worn stone, all covered in scratches or debris that must have fallen from the ceiling far above.

"Not that I'm aware of." Cordenth replied softly, taking his paw steps perhaps even slower than she. Within his bright eyes was a needing sense as they took in each row of stone they past. "Mother doesn't speak of this place often."

"Not in all the time you've been here?"

"No." He muttered with a swish of his tail. Cordenth looked as though he had just tasted something awful by the way his eyes narrowed. "She can be quite strict at times."

"I can see that if she has you wrapped so neatly around her claw." Lyndis stopped in her tracks as they passed before a large mural on the wall in various bright colors. Though most had been chipped away parts of it remained. The painting seemed to depict mortals banding together to fight off a horde of dragons swirling dragons above. The ruling dragons circled the humans, elves, and dwarves below like angry leaves lost within autumn's cold chill. She continued walking, looking to more of the mysterious murals. It looked like that after a time, some of the dragons joined the other races in the fight against tyranny. There was a large image depicting what appeared to be a gathering of wizards holding bright colored orbs above their heads. It appeared that, thanks to those very items, they were able to defeat the dragon overlords and take the world for themselves. Then came an age of peace.

"So where do these carvings tell us to go?" Lyndis asked as she spied along the base of the inscribed walls. Under the various depictions of the conflict were markings that looked like they had been done with claws.

"It says to go..." Cordenth lowered his snout as they strolled along, reading the markings. "Nowhere. It just narrated the story of how the mortal races banded together to defeat the dragons of old."

Lyndis looked around the room and finally found three different corridors leading off from the room they found themselves in.

"Well, if I had to hide somethin' in a temple, I wouldn' be tellin' people either." Merlia replied, walking over towards the dragon. "Wouldn make sense ta."

Lyndis' eyes followed along with the stones as they continued forward as the old adventurer's curiosity bubbled up within her. Perhaps she might gleam some hidden clue hiding away within them. She padded her way to the first hallway, Cordenth within arms distance of her. He appeared to have slunk closer to her. Was he being a tad protective? She shook her head, shifting her mind back to task.

There was something off among the stones that made up the floor. Not a single one around this area was covered in any dust or moss. It looked rather pristine all things considering. It reminded her of her first tomb back in Drenedar, one that had belonged to a ghostly spirit guarding its treasure trove. She leaned over a groove she spied within the stone. It was as if something had been dragged across the stone, and roughly the size of two or three of her fingers held together.

"Over here!" she called out to the others.

"What are ya shoutin about?" Merlia strolled over.

"I second what the dwarf said." Cordenth lowered his snout, nostrils mere inches from her exploring fingers. "What do you think you've found?"

"Use those dragon eyes." Lyndis pointed out the grooves. "If you two don't have any better ideas...I think this might be the first hint to go down. Looks as if something was dragged out."

"Or in." Cordenth snorted, sniffing at the mark. "What could mother have gotten out or in of here? What makes you so certain this isn't a dead end?"

She tilted her head to the side, giving the dragon a hardened look as he gleamed back into her. "Who's the expert explorer?"

"Fair enough."

"Besides, do you have a better idea?"

"Not at the moment." He snorted, fluffing up his wings.

"Well then, I say this might be our best shot at, you know, not getting lost."

"Can't argue with ya, lass. Ya have ta tell me one day of all da tombs ya been thieven from."

"She's both a princess and a thief?" Cordenth gasped. He shifted from paw to paw, his eyes narrowing at her. They traveled from her boots to her hair, his tail swishing across the floor as he let out a grumble. "No one told me you had so many...unique abilities."

"Don't worry about the shady part of my business, Cordy. I haven't stolen from dragons," she said, patting him on the snout.

"Not yet, anyway." He pulled his lips up in a snarl, causing her to retract her hand. "For all I know you'll rob my tail blind when my back is turned!"

"Then keep your eyes focused on my behind if that makes you feel any better." She laughed as she pointed to the hallway, "I'm taking the lead, and I bet my last gold that whatever we're looking for is down this hallway."

"A princess, a thief, and a gambler. I suppose I should not be surprised to learn you're also a dragon in disguise, huh?" Cordenth rubbed his chin as Lyndis waved for the green dragon to follow.

"That would explain the staring." Lyndis chuckled as she ventured ahead.

"I'm not staring." Cordenth snorted, pinning his wings against his back.

All good so far, I just must keep him going for just a while longer. I figure whatever lays between us and this treasure might end up needing the touch of a dragon given the history depicted all around us. Although why have him wait outside? She snuck a peak at the following dragon, thoughts aplenty with scenarios his mother might have in store. Her hair stood on edge the longer she thought about it. Which was rare for her, there were hardly many places she felt as sure as she did exploring some ancient structure. She had called it the adventuring spirit growing up, her parents called it her rebellious spirit.

Lyndis led the group down the hallway, whistling as she went. The path had its turns and such, with many more murals to be seen. Some were still painted, depicting a swirling vortex with dragons inside. The others seemed to have been scratched and craved right off the wall. She felt the marks upon the stone, they were the same size and shape of the ones further behind them. Lyndis shifted her eyes to Cordenth who as inspecting another mural behind her. His ebony tipped talons ran across a section of the mural as the dragon took in the artwork with slowly twitching frills before sniffing at the stone. His talons. She stared at the onyx colored sharpened tools, then back to the mural with the scratch. It was destroyed by claws! Dragon claws?

But why would a dragon come in here to ruin a mural?

"Cordenth?" she asked, causing the dragon to perk up his head and focus on her. "Would you be kind enough to put your paw right here?" she pointed to the section of ruined mural she was standing next to.

Cordenth made his way over and gently did as she asked, "Sure, like this?" He flexed his claws, scratching them lightly against the stone.

"Yes, that's perfect."

"Hold on. Are you trying to imply that I did this?" His head tilted to the side, a scaly brow raising as he looked her up and down. "I'm not that much of an art critic you know. Less so about ancient art."

"No, but maybe another dragon did," she said while she inspected his paw.

Cordenth's paw barely fit the damaged mural, and it looked as though the dragon that destroyed the mural was much larger.

"That's fine for now," She gestured to the dragon to put his paw down. "Thank you for your help."

The dragon looked to her as she continued down the hallway, remaining eerily silent. Lyndis figured he must've been too embarrassed to form out a proper answer that matched the level of such a menial task.

They continued down the hallway in silence for a few minutes, following the old stone work. Cordenth was the first one to break the silence.

"So how does a princess become an adventurer? Not questioning your motives, to be clear. I just find myself genuinely surprised I did not notice it yesterday, as we were walking about the walkways."

"How could you notice it while walking?"

"It's the way you carry yourself. Subtle, I must confess, but you can see in your walk that you are better than everyone else. Now, why did you not stay and rule over your people? I don't think I could have turned away from that."

Lyndis sighed. She had not really told many people about her reasons for leaving. "I just found myself yearning for more than the pompous, ever-boring life of a ruler." Her hands moved to her hips, "It might sound usual, cliched, or whatever you want to call it, but I craved for excitement, adventure, things I had read about in stories. These things called to me, begging me to seek them out." She shrugged as he scoffed her words with a snort. "Of course, the adventure I found was not all the fancy, care-free tale I had dreamed of in my younger days, but it was still better than getting told what was expected or required of me."

A heavy sigh left her throat, "I just wanted to take care of myself, and not have a kingdom waiting on my every breath."

"Pfft." Cordenth pulled back his head. "Speak for yourself. I would love a kingdom to hang on my every breath. The things I could build, the marvels I would achieve! It's nothing short of glorious!" The dragon grinned, fluttering his wings as he seemed to look out to phantom rows of subject waving for his name. "What dragon would not want those things?"

"Oh, I bet ya would have loved ta have an entire people at the claws of yer feet," replied Merlia as she cracked her knuckles. "Smoochin along, blessin da ground ya walk on. Like a bonified saint."

"I can see them now, waving and basking in the endless bounties brought forth by my immaculate rulership." the dragon continued. "Scores of baskets or gifts brought to me of grateful subjects. Be a better ruler than my mother ever was."

"Hah!" Merlia slapped her knee, letting out a belting laugh. "Ya might be able ta out ego Veledar ya green scaled bum!"

Lyndis just ignored the dragon as he continued on with his vision of a perfect kingdom. She focused on the long hallway until it ended with yet another large room. This chamber was not as large as the last one, but was still fairly big. It had many stone pillars with indentations draped in dark green vines that went to the floor. The chipped and broken walls were lined with tattered, dark green tapestries that bore gold borders stitched into the raggedy cloth. The air was heavy with a dust, and smelled heavily like oak. How odd, course she was with a dragon that smelled sort of like a pine tree.

Speaking of the devil, she glanced back as he padded around the room, unfolding and refolding his wings. His snout was held high, inspecting the ceiling itself which was covered in a thick blanket of twisted vines. She noticed upon her entry that beside the pillars of stone were two eight foot tall carvings of blackened material in the shapes of knights clad in full plate mail and armed with a sword in one hand while the other held a shield.

Lyndis slowed her pace as they advanced into the bowels of the room. She turned to see that Merlia was already scanning the corners for traps. She let her own eyes do the same, looking for any small thing out of place, any imperfection that might've hid deadly intent.

"Blasted." She had just stepped on a stone she had deemed safe when she heard a loud click. Her ears perked up at the sound as she turned to find that Cordenth had not taken the hint and walked in without care. The dragon was currently holding up his right paw, "That clearly was an ominous sound, wasn't it?" The dragon asked, worry spreading over his snout as he tucked his wings closer to his body. Perhaps Cordenth was not as confident as he led on.

"You're bloody right that's a bad sound!" Lyndis shouted at him, "Didn't you see we were going in slow? There's a reason why you don't charge like an enraged boar."

"I-I'm sorry. This is my first time in a place of such nature."

She sighed as the dragon did not offer any kind of rebuttal, and just stood mute after he uttered his apology. His snout was looking around the room, most likely looking for what he had done. She calmed herself as she was reminded it was her idea to bring the dragon in, after all. She should have known he had zero experience in such places.

"Hey, green snout. I'm sorry too. It's obvious whatever you stepped on has been weathered down by years of-"

"Lass!" Merlia suddenly shouted out, drowning out Lyndis' apology to Cordenth. "Behind ya!"

Lyndis turned on her heels while drawing one of her rapiers simultaneously. She saw that the two carvings were currently pulling themselves out of the pillars. With loud cracks, the figures broke free, landing on the stone floor with thunderous thuds that seemed to shake the whole room.

"Yeah, guess I was wrong 'bout that." Lyndis gulped whatever saliva she had left in her mouth. She dearly wished they had Arcturus or Veledar with them now.

No time for wishful thinking, she thought, swallowing her surprise in an instant. "Well, my resplendent Cordenth, if you have any hidden or special abilities, this would be the perfect time for you to shine!" she shouted as the two stone figures leaped towards them with their stone swords held high. She heard Cordenth give a roar, followed by the sound of his wings beating hard against the cold air of the temple.

The closest granite knight charged towards her faster than she would have thought possible for a being made of that stuff. She swerved out of the way as its blade crashed down into the spot she had just been, then three arrows hit the thing right in its stone chest.

Lyndis looked to the arm that had stabbed downward with the sword, and she spotted a small crack near its elbow. She struck the crack with her rapier, causing it to fragment more as pieces fell off the knight. She mentally cheered at her success, but did not take long to savor her small victory as the second figure moved in to attack her. She slid though the first one's legs as the second knight crashed into the first one.

Cordenth slammed into the first statue with a slice of his claws on the arm Lyndis had weakened. The dragon gave a great roar as he grabbed and with a mighty tug ripped the guardian's arm from its stone socket. Before the arm had shattered against the hardened floor Cordenth let loose a second mighty roar, shoving the now flailing creature into the second knight. Both constructs stumbled from the blow, trying to not loose their footing and fall.

Seizing the opportunity, Lyndis ran forward, slicing at the second statue's legs. She struck at any small crack she already saw, causing more of the figure to break off as the cracks grew. Its shield went to smack her aside, but with a quick utterance of "Fiik Ilir" Three copies of herself appeared.

Try hitting me now.

However, the stone statue was not fooled by the trick, and went to smack her with a savage strike of its shield. Luckily, she rolled out of the way, the deadly moving stone missing her by scant inches. Looked as though the gods were on her side. When the knight picked it back up there was a large crack and indentation on the stone where she had been.

Guess they don't use magical sight. How fortunate they saw through that illusion. No matter, just needs a different plan.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Cordenth's roar of pain, followed by the sound of the dragon getting tossed to the floor. She looked to see the him roll on his side, panting and growling. Cordenth stood up with hatred brewing within his yellow eyes. The dragon gave savage roar and charged the statue. It was that look that reminded her of the obvious. Cordenth was still a dragon, and that she should probably keep that in mind when they played and teased with him. The dragon collided with the knight as it rose its shield, only for an arrow from Merlia's bow to crack it in half.

Lyndis remembered the one behind her as she dodged yet another attack, feeling the air rustle her cloak as its weapon swished behind her. She resumed her attack on the statue, her eyes locking to the weak spots she had already taken advantage of. She sliced at the weakened leg quickly, causing the cracked stone to break off under the potency of her magic blade. The stone statue toppled to the ground, crashing hard as other parts of it broke off from the impact. She gave a quick look behind her to see that Cordenth had started ripping the other statue apart piece by piece, and from the look of it, Merlia's arrows had weakened several spots for the dragon to exploit.

She turned to the statue in front of her, a wounded thing that was dragging itself weakly on the ground towards her. It lashed out again with its sword, but Lyndis quickly managed to jump back and out of the way, though not fast enough to entirely avoid the damage.

"Gah!" She grunted as she felt the sword graze her studded leather armor. Her eyes went wide as she realized that if the inhumanly heavy blade cut any closer, she would have been sliced clean open. With her eyes still on the statue, Lyndis waved her left hand and muttered, "Pyra". A wave of fire spread forth from her hand, bathing the stone in intense heat. The stone on the statue started blacken and roast, soon whatever was left of it folded inward to ash. She was about to leap forward and finish the thing off with her magic rapier, but a ball of molten fire flew past here and collided with the statue. Realizing what it was Lyndis flipped backwards, the fire's heat licking at her neck. She landed with a heavy thud on the stone, with debris flying past her, and a burst of wind ruffling her hair.

"Ya almost blew her ta pieces, ya scaly bastard! Ya lucky she has trainin' in dodgin' things like dat!" Merlia shouted at the dragon, who's snout was looking oh so smug.

"Looks to me I saved her. You'll see, she will be thanking me in a moment."

"Thank you?!" Lyndis stormed towards the dragon. She held her rapier out to drive her points home, "That blast was too close you focken muppet! No, don't give me that smug stare. You bloody listen! Don't try anything like that again if you wanna keep your scales clean. I don't care if you're a bleeden dragon. You do anything reckless again, and I will personally kick your arse so hard, your mother's gonna feel it."

She stowed her rapier, enjoying as Cordenth just looked at her in shock, "Next time you feel fire comin' up your throat, give a person a warning, or allow them to get to a safe distance before you spew."

She watched the smug demeanor of the dragon melt away like wax before a flame under her tempest of words. He folded his wings and his snout, following her in silence as she paced back and forth. If there was not clearly an adult dragon in front of her, she would swear the mighty Cordenth was nothing more than a scaly, frightened puppy.

"I...I didn't know," he began to say before shutting his snout. "I am truly sorry. I had no intention to hurt you."

Lyndis sighed as she put her hand up and took a long, deep breath. "My cloak took the brunt of the damage, but I'm alright. Just remember, alright?"

Cordenth nodded in silence, then she heard Merlia give a shout from behind.

"Ah, blasted misfortune. Dere's nothin on em to loot!"

Lyndis had forgotten that part of adventuring. When there were monsters or dangerous guardians around, there always happened to be treasure close by.

"Well you sure did not skip a beat," she laughed, joining the dwarf in sifting through the wreckage of the stone guardians. They only searched for a few more minutes before Lyndis had to admit the dwarf's first declaration had been a correct one. With a sigh of exhausted disappointment, she left the piles of rubble behind. She did, after all, have to get back to inspecting the room.

"Come on, Cordenth. There's nothing to see here. Let's keep checking this place out."

If what she had said had any effect on the dragon, Lyndis didn't know. However, he did stroll past her with a look of confidence burning in his fiery eyes. Perhaps he was looking for a way to repay her. Grow bigger in her mind.

"Now, look for anything out of the ordinary. That can be a switch, a pressure plate, anything that might open a secret room. Just remember to go slow. I don't want to meet those stone guys mates."

Cordenth nodded, watching the half-elf intently. Lyndis led him around the room as she searched for the things she had just mentioned. She was about to give up when, once again, Merlia was the one to shout out.

"Found a switch!" the dwarf held up one of her fingers to point to where the statues had first emerged.

"Well what's the hold up? Let's go ahead and pull it!" Lyndis pulled out her rapier once again. "Cordenth, get your claws ready in case it summons something even worse."

Cordenth nodded. With a heavy clunk, Merlia moved the switch. Nothing seemed to happen at first, but the sound of stone scrapping against stone drew all their attention to a secret door that was sliding open to reveal an entrance to an even larger room than the current one.

"Damn, but I do love when things just work out like this." Lyndis stashed away her weapon with a sigh. "Plus no trap!" She clasped her hands together. "Well, clumsy dragon and hawk-eyed dwarf, let's go see what we found."

She led them through the stone doorway, which dwarfed Cordenth in size. The room before them had many pillars with carvings of the wizards from before. Each one held one of the mysterious orbs in their hands. From each of the orbs held high was a vortex of air, swirling around like the greatest storms imaginable. Complete with lightning striking along the clouds, when she glanced closer she even spied painted tails and wings of dragons lost within the storm.

"Fascinating, really." Cordenth said softly, tracing his claw over one of the carvings.

"Tell me about it." She replied, softly stepping onto the stone floor. She scanned the room top to bottom with her eyes, only moving in after she was satisfied no trip wire awaited them. They went through the room foot after foot, paw after paw. The air around her smelled thick with the scent of a bog. Or was it a marsh? It made her wrinkle her nose for a moment before she shivered. Somehow the air around her had cooled. "I have a very good guess that what we're after lingers in this room." She waved her companions after her.

"Why ya say dat, lass?' asked Merlia from behind.

"Hairs on end? The temperature drop? I can just feel it in my bones."

They moved past a pillar to reveal a green orb resting on a purple cushion placed on a tall granite pedestal. She could see that whatever the orb was made of, something was swirling around its surface. It made her gasp, but also fill her with a sense of dread for some reason. Something did not feel right, and she always trusted her gut.

"I take it that's it? Not very impressive looking." scoffed Cordenth,"Even this room is not as grand as I would have thought."

No sooner had he finished uttering his thoughts when a crack, loud as thunder, reverberated through the halls. Lyndis covered her ears as they rang with a sharp pain.

"Well that was the most fockin' awful of roars," Lyndis laughed the moment the sound was over. However, whatever was going on was not completely done with them. Lyndis suddenly felt what could only be described as a vacuum sucking the air around her towards the orb. Although it did not seem to be affecting her in the slightest. It was loud, however, although she imagined if she just spoke loudly her companions could still hear her.

"Well this isn't that bad. Maybe it's an illusion of some kind?" She shouted over the wind, "Heck maybe on a hot day we could use it to cool off!" her words descended into a short fit of nervous laughter. She was just about to laugh some more when the sound of claws scraping on stone caught her ear.

The dragon was struggling to hold his ground, even lapping his wings against the vacuum. His muscles were all tensed in great effort, and his claws were dug clearly into the stone. Teeth clenched, Cordenth tried to find purchase, wings tucked against his body as close as they could get. Despite his intense effort, she could see that he was being dragged along the stone ground towards the orb at a snail's pace. Lyndis remembered the pictures that had depicted the storm, and the dragons swirling around in the vortex created by the mages.

"Bahamut's bottom, this is why she told him to keep away!" Lyndis thought back to the Emerald Lady's warning with dread as she ran to Cordenth, with Merlia right at her side. They held up their hands on the dragon's chest, and readied for a push. Whatever good that would do.

"Ready?!" shouted Merlia, "Push!"

Lyndis gave it all he strength as she pushed against the dragon's chest. She saw Merlia give the same amount of effort as Cordenth struggled to hold on. He stopped moving for only a moment before they felt their own feet started to slide on the floor along with the dragon. She looked up to see Cordenth's eyes wide with shock, filled with terror, as the dragon stared at the menacing orb just sitting there on its cushion.

"This isn't working. We must try something else!" Cordenth's voice cracked as he moved a solid foot closer to the orb. "Come up with something! Please I beg of you!"

"Change yer size if ya can ye scaly git!" Merlia shouted, "Ya might be too heavy!"

Cordenth nodded as he let go of the stone to quickly preform the gesture Lyndis had seen Veledar do before. With a puff of purple smoke, the dragon had turned into the size of a housecat, clinging desperately to the stone with his little claws. Lyndis grabbed him in both of her arms and held him to her chest, only to feel as though hands had grabbed her and pulled her entire body towards the orb. She tried to walk away from it, but she found the pull on her was just too strong. Even now, she was struggling to just move her legs.

"Oh, graceful goddess, you have to save me. Do something, Lyndis. Please! I'm not supposed to die like this!" Cordenth cried into her chest.

"Oh shut your snout, you whiny hatchling. I'm Lyndis Kuxion...adventurer extraordinaire...and I'm not gonna let a stupid orb get the better of me!" Lyndis pulled out one of her daggers and rammed it as hard as she could into the stone. Her trick seemed to offer temporary reprieve against the howling suction, until the strain on her arm start to grow exponentially. It started to feel as though she was hanging from that arm. She glanced back, the menacing orb looking all more devilish as it waited for their demise.

"Merlia!" Lyndis shouted, her voice dripping with desperation, "Maybe if we knock that damn thing off the pedestal?"

"Aye!" Merlia pulled out her bow in a single motion. Lyndis did not watch her fire as she put her head down and tried to not thing about the pain now building on her poor arm. She felt Cordenth's claws digging into her other arm as the dragon held on for dear life. She heard a couple arrows getting loosed, followed by their impact on the orb with a loud twang.

"It didna work lass!"

Lyndis looked to the little green dragon snuggling into her embrace, desperate and fearful for his life. There was a small voice in the head back of her head, a spark that kept her alive in worse situations.

You only have to let the dragon go and all your problems will disappear along with him. Who is he, to deserve your sacrifice? What do you owe him? An impolite brat that brags about his status at every step of the way?

"No..." Lyndis gritted her teeth. Surviving was not good enough. Not when it came at the cost of another's life. For that reason, the thought alone filled her with disgust. That may have been so. Cordenth might have been a jerk, but she did not think he deserved to die over that fact.

"I've got you," she looked once again to the tiny dragon shivering in her arms. "Whatever happens, happens to the two of us. Alright? I'm not...letting you go..." She strained with all her might as her grip on her dagger start to slip under the monstrous pull of the orb.

"Please, please, please." she heard Cordenth repeating into her chest. His eyes tightly closed in prayer.

"I'm goin' ta grab it!" Merlia shouted, "It's da only thing I can tink of now!"

Lyndis felt one of her fingers slip off the dagger. "Do it!" she screamed, just as the rest of her hand was pulled off. Her entire body lifted off of the ground, pulled towards the menevolant orb by invisible hands. She grasped Cordenth tightly in both hands as she tucked her head in and closed her eyes.

"Got it!" Merlia cried as she snagged the orb.

Lyndis shot her eyes open as a pulse of blue light flew in all directions. She felt the pull on her vanish instantly as the floor welcomed her with its hard granite embrace.

"Oh, thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you," Cordenth nuzzled against her chest as dull pain throbbed around her body.

"Like I said...not that big of a deal." The half-elf rubbed the dragon's spine with a smile, as the green dragon would not stop nuzzling her.

"How's our wee dragon?" Merlia strolled over, looking like a cat as she rolled the green orb in her hands.

"He's fine. Bit shaken, but fine," Lyndis groaned, "Although his tiny claws can be quite the nuisance."

She looked to the green orb held by Merlia. From this distance, she could see it had a mirror like surface, that looked as though there was something swirling beneath the surface. She felt a chill run up her spine. Something about this whole thing felt wrong. She turned away to focus on Cordenth instead, to take her mind of the orb. Despite his nuzzles, the dragon was still clutching her a bit too tightly.

"We're fine, Cordenth. The orb's magic has been nullified." she whispered, as if she were talking to a frightened child. She stroked the dragon from snout to tail as she started walking back towards the exit. Thankfully, as she calmed him down with suave rubs over his spine, Cordenth retracted his claws from her skin.

"Hey, quick-wits. Thanks for the rescue back there." Lyndis said, turning to Merlia.

"Dun ya mention it lass," Merlia laughed, "Jus buy me a drink or two ta settle ya guilt."

"You can bet your boots on that!"

"Y-You do this every day?" the dragon stuttered.

"Walking? Of course we do." She laughed, cupping his jaw.

Cordenth's eyes narrowed, "No, I meant risking your life for treasure."

"Sometimes... Comes with the package of being an adventurer." she held up her arm so that she could look the dragon in the eyes. "Despite the mishaps, you did quite good for your first time. I honestly have seen worse during my long tomb-looting career."

"I'm relieved to hear that, although, hopefully, I won't be doing any more ventures into old dragon ruins any time soon!" Cordenth spread his wings and leaped off her arm. He changed his size mid flight, landing with claws against the stone as he shook his head, stretched his wings, and twitched his tail. The dragon stopped and looked back towards them, "One more thing." He dragged a single digit across the stone, his frills turning a darker shade of green. "Would you be so kind as to keep this incident away from Veledar's ears? I don't want him to...you know..."

"Secret's safe with us." Lyndis mimed across her heart..

"Ya can count on me too, lad. Not every day we are faced wit our own mortality." added Merlia, as she pulled out her water skin and took a swig. "Ya jus gotta learn to take it in stride and do better."

Cordenth was silent for a few minutes. Lyndis guessed he was trying to find something witty to say. Only when they had returned to the entrance and saw the sun again, did he open his maw to speak.

"You know, I probably haven't thanked you properly for saving me back there. Both of you." he raised his snout high, "I didn't think you were going to do it at first. Why did you do that? I mean, my mother would say it's because, as a dragon, I am more important, but I feel that was not your reason."

"It's because you needed us at that moment. It did not matter to me if you were a dragon or anyone else, Cordenth." She walked over to pat the dragon on the flank, "You also are not quite the hopeless cause I imagined when we first met."

"Well, I hope whatever mother needed this orb for was worth the effort," he wrinkled his snout. "She works so much in the dark, I sometimes just feel like another part of her mysterious plans."

"Well, let's go git us some answers den." Merlia said, stashing the orb in one of her pockets.

"Yea, and hopefully Veledar has not burned the village to the ground." laughed Lyndis in reply. She then patted Cordenth's smooth scales once again, "Come on, Cordy, know anywhere good to eat? I believe I'm starving."

"I know just the place!" the dragon chuckled, and together, the three walked back towards the village.