Dragon's Coin
This story was written and posted on my original account here on the 9th of January in 2011. It was for the second Dragon's Lair writing contest. We were supposed to listen to a particular piece of music that has unfortunately not shown up when I have gone looking for it. While doing that, we were supposed to write what we felt and imagined. I pictured a rain storm rolling in with the sound of rain interrupted by something quick and strong like clashing swords in a duel. This is the story and characters that formed from that music and how I felt listening to it.
Dragon's Coin
Originally posted on other account 09-Jan-2011
Mild corrections and reposted here 10-June-2020
by B. A. Maddux
Moonlight glistened off the drop of water as it fell from the dark green clouds slowly rolling over St Luna. This glittering raindrop was the first to be blown this far east on the fickle winds of the large storm that had built up in the previously clear, late-afternoon skies. The rain had been coming down hard on the western half of the city for the last three hours, bringing early darkness to the mostly deserted streets on this chilly Tuesday night.
The drop of water finally struck the nose of a coyote standing on the east end of Coil Street. It was hard to tell if the male had even noticed. His eyes were hidden behind the dark, reflective lenses of a pair of Luminesce brand sunglasses, his fluffy tail only moved because of the growing wind, and his ears remained pointed west, the direction he was facing.
Two more drops fell on the dark leather duster the coyote wore, turning the earthy brown into a wet black. An errant gust of wind pushed the duster open enough to reveal he carried both a blade of some sort.
At six o'clock, a microcam detached from his shades and floated in front of him, capturing his image. Two rings sounded from where his Luminesce lightly gripped the sides of his skull under his ears. Instead of a third, a holographic image of an alligator appeared before the coyote, projected beside the microcam.
The reptile was in a silk three piece suit, well tailored to fit and accentuate not only the strength of his body, but also suggest that he was an individual of great importance.
"How did you get this number?" the deep-green scaled hologram snarled.
"Good evening, Mr. Scupper," The coyote said in a deep, calm voice. "I have been asked by Mr. Skarson to deal with tonight's transaction with you. My name is -"
"I do not care who you are," the hologram growled, interrupting, "His eldest son was to come to the exchange, not some mammal. This insult will mean the death of Scar's daughter."
"Before you do anything rash, Mr. Scupper," the coyote said quietly, "You might want to listen to what I have to say. It would be worth your time."
The few odd sprinkles grew into a light shower on the coyote as he and the gator stared at each other's images for a full minute.
Then, Mr. Scupper growled and narrowed his yellow eyes to glare at the other, "You have my attention, Mr. Coin, but only because I see that you are a very expensive mercenary to hire."
The coyote gave a slight nod, "You found my name quickly. Do you know my specialty?"
"You are a killer for hire. You seem to have a spotty record, though. Not all your marks die."
Shaking his head a little, the coyote frowned, "I feared your information would be poor when you called me Mr. Coin rather than just Coin. I am not a hired killer, despite sometimes killing. As with tonight, I am hired to let people know They face a choice that will determine how their life goes."
From the west, three figures, glittering with moonlight reflected from the water covering them, approached the coyote as he spoke with the hologram. Various sensors built into Coin's Luminesce and the light armor he wore under his duster had detected them earlier, despite the heavy rain. Their thermal outlines were displayed on the lenses of his shades, as well as the weapons they were carrying.
The largest, a lanky crocodile, had a ten inch blade in his hand and a gun tucked into his waistband in front of his belly. The other two were raptors, one scaled black as midnight, the other a blood red. Their only weapons, the foot talons clicking on the wet blacktop as they approached.
Sneering as the three spread out behind his hologram, the well dressed alligator shook his head, "Coin, there is only one path I can see my life taking. To the top of this city. Old Scar - sorry, I suppose I should call him Mr. Skarson since he's paying your fee - is finished. He can't even keep his daughter safe. For all the importance dragons supposedly put on their offspring, he did a miserable job of protecting her. And now, he has failed to do as I asked to get her returned unharmed."
Coin smiled. "You misunderstand dragons completely, Mr. Scupper. He does hold her sacred. Unlike your species and mine, the species of your three associates surrounding me, dragons do not reproduce very often. Nor are their clutches very large."
With a grunt, the hologram laughed, "Then why did little Seline only have one rather pathetic guard? That seems a poor way to protect what is sacred to you. My teams managed to capture her with ease."
Coin looked over his left shoulder, raising his shades so the raptor approaching him from that direction could see his hazel eyes. "Ms. Scathe, I was sorry to hear of the loss of your sisters. Mr. Scupper may not understand the bonds of family, cheapening their deaths as he just did, but I know how the loss of just one of my litter-mates affected me. You have my sympathy."
The blood red raptor paused her circling approach, letting out a surprised chur, her eyes widening as she saw the pain the coyote's eyes shared with her.
Turning back to face the hologram, while dropping his shades to cover his eyes once again, the mercenary frowned at both the hologram and the crocodile who were now standing together.
"Species that are born in litters or clutches that are raised together," Coin stated, "often develop very close ties to their siblings. Those who are left to fend mostly for themselves at an early age never understand that."
"What does this have to do with anything, stupid mammal?" Mr. Scupper snarled. "All it says to me is that I am a stronger being for having come so far on my own."
"It means you only understand vengeance when someone wrongs you personally," Coin said. "Coyotes and raptors, however, will feel the need for vengeance against those who harm their litter or clutch-mates. I imagine you know of this enough to misdirect the raptors you hire against those who were defending themselves and their ward from an attack you ordered, rather than against you for putting them in said position."
"I pay my people well to follow orders. They all know the risk, mercenary. Money buys loyalty - something I would think you, of all kinds, would know." the gator crossed his arms and smiled, while the crocodile snickered, slowly rubbing a thumb against the blade in his other paw.
"Perhaps money can buy a level of loyalty from some -" Coin started.
"How much cash will buy yours, Mr. Coin?" Mr Scupper interrupted.
The coyote frowned, "You don't have enough to -"
The crocodile lunged forward with the knife, while the male raptor behind Coin's right jumped up, swinging the talon on his right foot at the mercenary's neck with a spin kick.
Ms. Scathe chose not to attack, Coin's words echoing through her mind.
To her, the coyote seemed to both move like lightning in response to the assault, yet also as calmly as one would stroll through a quiet park. He took a single step forward and to his right, pulling a katana from under his duster.
The blade cut through the pouring rain, seeming to leave a wake along its path. It swung up and around as Coin pivoted on his left toes. Moonlight sparkled from the water and blade as it sliced through the joint between taloned foot and right leg. Bright red sprayed from the wound and also trailed in the wake of the sharp weapon as continued around.
Shock registered in the wounded raptor's eyes as he fell in what seemed like slow motion. With the hand not holding the blade, the mammal gave a quick shove to the wounded reptile's hip, changing his trajectory so he would land near the female of his species.
The katana continued its arc around the coyote, rain and momentum washing away the blood as it neared the wide eyed crocodile, seeming to aim for the reptile's neck. The reptile's reaction managed to bring his own blade up to protect his head and neck, but failed to adjust to the sword's sudden twirl at a flick of the mercenary's wrist to re-grip it, blade facing down in his fist, which brought the point rushing between ribs and through the left side of the scaled thug's heart.
Coin twisted his wrist to widen the fatal wound before pulling the blade out and kicking the gape jawed crocodile back through the hologram of a very shocked looking alligator.
"My point, Mr. Scupper," the coyote said turning to face the camera fully again, "is that when you harm a dragon's offspring, you draw their vengeance down on you like a million suns exploding. You already have his ire for kidnapping his daughter, and even now he is disassembling your holdings and alliances outside Coil Street."
The hologram glared to his left, "Check on our people."
"I am here to let you know there are two sides to this coin you flipped when you tried to ransom Miss Skarson's safety to her father. Neither of them are that your demands are met." Coin paused, his left ear barely twitching at the wet sound of a talon slashing through flesh, followed by gurgling gasps coming from behind him.
"What do you think these two things are, mammal?" Mr. Scupper asked with a snarl.
"Option one," the mercenary stated, beginning to slowly walk west, down the middle of the street in the pouring rain. While the full moon had risen far enough to illuminate most of the path, the eastbound clouds were quickly shrinking the time that it would be visible.
"Miss Skarson is turned over to me unharmed, immediately, and we leave safely. In this scenario, you loose most of your power base for trying something so foolish as to attack a dragon's offspring rather than the dragon himself, and leave the country forever."
"Option two," Coin said, still walking slowly down the street with his microcam floating the same distance in front of him, still showing the increasingly irritated Mr. Scupper's hologram. "Anything else happens."
"This results in Mr. Skarson declaring a full out war of vengeance on you. Everything you own or have interest in will be destroyed, with you watching and helpless to do anything to prevent it. You might have a few small victories here and there, though I doubt it. Still, you might get a few lucky shots in. But the end will be inescapable and painful."
"We shall see how sure old Scar is," The alligator screamed, "when I present him with both your and his daughter's bodies. I have a swordsman of my own, and I am sure he is properly motivated to kill you in a duel."
Lips twitching slightly in a smile, Coin kept walking down the street, water soaked into his fur and running down his duster in sheets. "I will happily face your honorable sword-drake. But if I were you, Mr. Scupper, I would still make sure Miss Skarson is ready to go home in ten minutes. Coin out."
The hologram vanished as the camera floated back to settle into its place on the shades as the coyote continued his casual walk west on Coil Street.
"Ms. Scathe," Coin said, "Might I inquire as to why you are following me rather than leaving the area?"
"Call me Sara. I want to see how this ends." She said softly, though still loud enough to be easily heard in the pouring rain.
"Very well, Sara. Though I do ask that you do not interfere when the dueling starts. Both of us would take great offense to any outside meddling."
Out of the sheets of rain ahead of the mercenary, a humanoid, wingless dragon stepped into sight. His sandy-tan scales shone in the light provided by the nearby street lamp.
"Greetings of the Moon, Night, and Storm, brother Coin," the draconic male said in a voice as deep as thunder.
"Greetings of the Moon, Night, and Rain, brother Rumble," the coyote responded. "I wish this meeting were under different circumstances."
"I as well, but my master demands I fight you, so I must." The dragon pulled a broad blade over his shoulder from his back, easily holding in one hand a weight that would have taken the shorter coyote both hands.
Coin holstered his gun and stepped into the circle of illumination the streetlight provided.
Without speaking, the two began circling clockwise around the edge between light and darkness. Rain continued to pour down as they made one revolution, then another.
Shadows gathered around the outside edge of the unofficial ring. Two raptors of the same shade and pattern as Sara joined her and a quiet conversation started up between the three.
A pair of monitors in black raincoats gathered on the south side of the ring, dark eyes focusing fully on the coyote as he approached the side of the circle they stood near.
After the third circle was completed, the two fighters came together in a clash of steel. Their blades moved rapidly through the downpour, flinging waves of water both past each parried strike to splash against their opponent.
Clang, CLACK, clink!
Clink, CLANK, crack!
Rumble's large sword flew from his hands at the last hit, spinning to splash down in a puddle on the edge of the circle of light.
Coin lowered his sword and stepped back, looking to his side at where the three raptors were standing. Meeting Sara's gaze he then shifting his eyes towards the pair of monitors who were scowling at him and licking their lips.
Having retrieved his sword, Rumble nodded to his opponent. "Ready."
The two moved in tight circles, trading swings at each other, only to be parried each time.
Clack, CLANG, clink.
"Why are you working for Mr. Scupper, Rumble?"
Clang, CLANG, CRACK!
Coin's sword flew down to his feet after a hardy blow.
"I can't say," Rumble growled, taking two steps back and pointing his sword down to let the coyote pick up his dropped blade.
The mercenary shrugged and squatted to grab his sword.
The two monitor lizards rushed Coin as he was reaching for his blade.
Rumble moved to intercept them, but Sara and her two siblings leapt on them before they got three steps. The raptors made quick work of the surprised pair of lizards.
"He has my family in a 'safe place.' and will kill them if I don't do as he says," Rumble muttered as the coyote stood up with his sword. "I have to fight you until one of us is dead."
"I understand, brother," the coyote said. "Let me see how far Mr. Skarson's forces have gotten with their part of tonight's work." The mercenary reached up to touch a button the side of his shades.
"Roger, have you been following the events here?" Coin asked, getting a soft buzzing sound none of the scales standing nearby could make out clearly in response. "Understood, please make as clear a connection as possible to that team."
The microcam detached and flew up before Coin. A very wavy, black and white, hologram with another dragon male in a commando uniform appeared.
"We're getting you pretty clearly, Coin, are we coming through okay?" the hologram asked.
Coin responded, "Better than I had hoped after speaking with Roger."
The hologram nodded, then waved for someone off screen to move closer. "You can go ahead and talk to your son now, Mrs. Haskel."
Rumble took a few steps forwards, "Mom?"
A female dragon that had Rumble's eyes and crest stepped into view on the hologram, a boy in tow that looked like a younger version of the shocked swords-drake.
"Yes dear, it's me," she said. "These nice men have told us what kind of danger we were in before. I often suspected Mr. Fivven next door was not to be trusted, but not to the extent he proved to be tonight. I want you to know we're okay. And - are you out in a storm? What are you doing out in the rain like that? Is that mean old Mr. Scupper making you work outside in weather like that? You need to just tell that old fraud to shove it and get a job where you can stay inside when the weather is bad and..."
Whatever else Rumble's mother was going to say was cut off as the connection broke down completely into static.
Coin chuckled a little, "Here I was worried I might have to assure you that she was not being forced to say anything by Mr. Skarson's men, but I don't think she can be forced to say anything she doesn't want to."
Rumble smiled and rubbed the back of his neck, "No, there's just no scripting mom. So now I have to work for your boss, Coin?"
Shaking his head, the coyote pulled a business card out of his shirt pocket and handed it to the dragon. "You can if you want to, but he'll make sure your family gets set up somewhere safe and settled in comfortably no matter what. You can also call the number on back if you decide you want to work with me."
Sara cleared her throat while looking at the watch on her wrist. "You said my old boss only had two more minutes."
"Hmmm," Coin scowled, "I may be running a little behind." He started down the street again, this time with Rumble on his left and Sara with her siblings on his right.
Other than the continually pouring rain, the neighborhood was silent as they moved closer to the old office building at the west end of Coil Street.
The microcam, which was still floating before Coin as the group paused at the foot of the stairs leading up to the double doors in front of the building Mr. Scupper called his headquarters, blinked twice, a soft ring sounding from his glasses.
"Receive," the mercenary said softly, and the hologram of the well dressed alligator appeared once more beside the camera. The reptile's tail was just barely shaking, and his aura of confidence no longer seemed to pour out of the image.
"Mr. Scupper. Have-" Coin started.
"Shut up, mammal! She is at the front doors. Take her and those miserable traitors with you and never return!"
Coin walked up to the front doors, opened one up and saw the seven year old dragon girl standing there, playing with opening and shutting the umbrella. Her deep blue scales shone with health, and her small wings appeared whole and unmarked.
"Miss Skarson?" he asked softly, knowing that was who she was.
"I am, but call me Seline, that's my real name. Are you the person to take me home? I don't like it here."
"I am here to take you to your father's car," Coin said, holding out a hand for her to take, "which will take you home to your family."
The girl placed her hand in Coin's paw.
Stepping outside with the girl, the coyote met Sara's scowl. "So you have what you came for, and now you leave?" she asked.
"He has handed Seline over unharmed," Coin explained to the raptor. "My contract now demands I get her safely home. Which requires I leave."
"So we're supposed to just go with you and disappear, never setting foot near the bastard who ordered my sisters to their deaths?" She asked.
Coin grinned and shrugged, "That was Mr. Scupper's wish, yes. But I don't work for him, so would not have to follow his desires. None of you are currently working for me, which suggests that neither my orders or Mr. Scupper's wishes should have any bearing on your own actions. If any of you want to go in and have a discussion with your previous employer, that is your affair. Since the broadcast we just saw came from the third floor, you might want to start there."
The three raptors walked inside, Sara looking over her shoulder at Rumble and asking, "Coming?"
Rumble nodded and moved after them, giving coin a grim smile. "Don't wait for us. We will be a while."
Turning to look down at the young girl, Coin smiled, "Ready to head home?"
Nodding, Seline slipped free of his paw and ran down the steps, holding the umbrella against the rain coming down, but jumping into the middle of the large puddle on the sidewalk.
With that splash, Coin moved after her, not letting her get too far away, but letting her jump from puddle to puddle as she liked.
The rain began to let up.
Splash, SPLASH, splash. "Whee! Hee-hee!"
As they walked slowly from the neighborhood to where Seline's father had a car and guards waiting, the girl's laughter and splashing almost covered up the screams of an gator begging for mercy playing softly from Coin's shades on the line he left open.