FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 24

By the time she was finished, _satisfying_the needs of her new master, Vishta pulled herself from his slumbering clutches. It was many hours later and his wants had been vast, a stamina that only a dragon of his stature could possess. She brushed her naked scaled form, scowling at the dried fluids that coated her. She'd need a bath for certain, master would not want his new, favorite servant to be so unclean. With a hiss she clambered to her feet, finding herself in one of many of his great chambers.

It was adorned with what you'd expect of a great dragon such as he, of statues and carvings of not his_likeness, but some golden dragon that she'd never seen before. They were fitted with marvelous gems the size of her head, all winking in the dim light. To any shiny obsessed adventurer, they might be seduced by their alure, but not Vishta. She knew they were her master's possessions, just as _she was. To disturb them was quite an offense, something she didn't dare risk on her first day. She shook her head, whispering that there must be a bath around here somewhere, anything to rid herself of her dirty scales. With a huff she gathered her satchel of things, heading out on a new quest of her very own.

Thank the stars she didn't have to look far in what appeared to be a spiraling maze of doors, stone, and artistry. The bath was only a few rooms down a vast hallway, where mechanical constructs in the shape of humanoids strolled the halls, each carved with the symbol of Lumara on their metal chests. How far did her master's connections go if he had things such as this? She'd tried to ask them, but the constructs ignored her, like she wasn't even there.

Deciding to free herself of such an annoying feature, she padded her way into the bathing chambers, a lantern lightning the room in golden light, the moment her foot touched the floor. She'd frozen, gasping in delight as she admired the vast quarters around her. Clearly this was made for beings much larger than she, possibly even dragons larger than her current master! She found where she assumed the water would come from, a few carvings revealing a stone protrusion with symbols with different levels of heat. One clearly was marked with a snowflake, the other what appeared to be a volcano. She scoffed at the last one, what sort of creature would survive water that level of heat? She was only thankful she found a similar protrusion for someone as small as she.

In no time she was gurgling a stream of water in her maw, warm as the hot springs of Parunga, hidden alongside the northeastern shores of Lumara. She wiggled her tail as she hummed, whisked away to those pleasing summers, where Gryphon's danced across the sky. If you got unlucky they landed, trying to win free food with songs and elaborate dances meant to dazzle the eye. As she moved onto scrubbing her scales with a spare cloth, the thought occurred to her not of the K.I.N, but that of her allies.

Would they come and live within her master's new home? It certainly was big enough for the dragon's she'd read up on. They were of the adventuring sort to boot, thinking of themselves as heroes and wishing to help people. What could be better than helping dragons retake their rightful positions? Especially when they were unjustly stolen by the masses? When she'd finished ridding herself of every speck of grime and her master's fluids, she was no closer to the answer than when she'd began.

As if to answer her need for a towel to dry her scales, one had appeared beside her pack. It was brown, stitched with the Lumarian gryphon, folded. She held it between her claws, searching the hall for any sign of her benefactor. Was it a trap? Sniffing it didn't reveal anything nefarious, neither did tossing it across the room. She was forced to grumble and admit that it was just fortuitous. Or perhaps the constructs had brought it in, summoned by some invisible, all-knowing force that lurked within these walls. It might have troubled her some if this place didn't answer her master's every command.

But how did she know that? She stopped dead, mid drying to ponder such an epiphany. She wiggled her snout and had to shrug, figuring that it didn't matter. Master had probably shared some of this information while they were caught up in each other's passions. Either way, with technology such as this, the others would be practically begging for these improvements to their lives!

The trip back to her master's side was one filled with countless questions of her new positions. How would she tell the others of K.I.N? Sell them on the idea that her master had the right ideas of things regarding this world? It would be quite the challenge, but one she'd not shy away from, after all, her master's goals were her goals. She busied herself with further questions, like how he liked his meals prepared, if he wanted her to clean his inner lair, and did he want her to wear something?

As she was about to return to his side and ask what he wanted of her, her ears were drawn to the exhausted groan of another creature. She darted to the hall with a tilted snout, she'd recognize that sound anywhere! It was the sound of another dragon. Oh right! She nearly smacked herself, master had said there was another dragon here. Lucky her! While master was sleeping, he probably had no use of her, she might as well go introduce herself to this other dragon. After all, it was never too soon to start building up favor with the larger beasts that one found their company in.

Their continued cries helped her locate them fairly easily, each one a tortured thing that ever stretched her heart. By the time she'd crept down into the cold depths of the bleak dungeons, she'd almost been tearing up. Hands on the wall, she peered with caution down the prison cells, her snout wiggling out of curiosity. Most of the darkened steel barred cells were empty, all save one. Inside was a green dragon of modest size, a young adult if she had to guess. He was chained from snout to tail with thick clasps of iron, leaving no way that he could twist or contort his body. His lime green wings were tied up with heavy leathers, fastened with dark buckles. She eyed his snout, spying a strap to make sure he couldn't rear back his head. Sure she thought he would never dare hurt her, but maybe he didn't care? It wouldn't be that hard for this dragon to drown her in poisonous gas if given the mood.

But the longer she stared, the more she couldn't think this dragon would harm her. Across his scaled snout were scars freshly healed, some even dark crimson were they'd scabbed. His horns were both splintered, his eyes a sunflower sea of sadness. She was reminded of her youthful days, mourning the death of her father. Against he better judgement she tiptoed towards him, seeking only to put an end to whatever pain clearly had him gripped in it's terrible claws.

She emerged from what shadows she could, clearing her throat to gain his attention. That brought an abrupt end to his cries, leaving them both in an awkward silence. She, waiting on baited breath to see what he'd do, he raising a brow and wondering why he had a visitor. So he wasn't going to be the one to speak first? Suppose she needed to coax it out of him. The kobold adjusted the goggles on her head, fixing him with a steady glance. "So, what has you down dragon? You don't seem all too thrilled to be travelling in my master's wonderous machine!"

"Why should I be thrilled?" The dragon answered with a harsh snort, "I'm in the dungeons, or haven't you noticed."

She laughed nervously as he growled, "I'm sure its just a misunderstanding, or a punishment. What did you do to earn my master's ire so?"

"He's your master?"

"Mhhm, and he's ever so generous, merciful and grand." She sighed, leaning against the bars, "Have you happened to see him?"

The green dragon shifted in his bindings, the fire in his eyes so intense, the air itself might catch ablaze. "He's nothing of the sort kobold. He's cruel, manipulative, and sees others as mere playthings upon this earth. No matter how you shake your tail, he is a villain."

That didn't sound like her master at all! "Now that seems rather unfair mister dragon. All I've seen of my master is put an end to a vampire and promise to restore dragons to their former glory." Her arms found her hips, "Where is the villainous behavior in that?"

"Did he tell you what happens to those that don't accept his truth?" The dragon settled a lonely eye upon her, "Those that refuse to bend to his demand? They'll be nothing like puppets when he's done with them, if their lucky. Mother warned me what he might do."

"It sounds like your mother lied to you dragon." She chuckled, ignoring how he growled. "Can you perhaps move your neck for me slightly?" When he did so, revealing he had no way to maneuver to her and end her, she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Any reason for that?"

"None." She lied, grinning with all her teeth. "So, who are you to the master anyway? Looking at you, you're a spitting image of him! Minus the golden scales of course, and the chipped horns, the wavy lines on your membranes. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were brothers!"

What fire was in the green dragon's eyes flickered, wavered. He looked away from her with a defeated sigh, "Your master has my brother now, buried deep."

"He's your brother?" Vishta gasped, earning favor with this dragon would be double as good! "You have quite the sibling then. People are going to worship at your paws!"

"And who are you to him then? Just a servant?"

She nodded blissfully, "I traveled with your brother when he wasn't my master. Came here, trying to warn him about something..." She caressed her chin, what was she going to warn him about? Was it about that dragoness from before? She'd hardly put up a fight! "Then he became my master after killing the Queen of Eternal flame. See, nothing but hero stuff right there."

"If only things were so black and white." The dragon wilted, after tugging uselessly at his chains. "You mentioned traveling with my brother?"

"Uh-huh. He and his queen friend Lyndis, though her real name is Lynalla." She chuckled, "Though don't call her that, she practically sees red when ya do."

"Guess she's like a dragon in that regard."

"What's your title then dragon?"

"Viridian Knight." He sighed, staring off to the ceiling, past it's hardened walls and out into infinity.

"Pretty one, how'd you get it?"

"Decided to protect a dragoness."

"Was she a pretty one?" When his eye traveled to her she just shrugged, "Come on, dragons don't go saving pretty she dragons?"

"She was beautiful." He sighed, "But it was her spirit that ever captivated me. Now what is your name? I can't call you kobold this entire time."

"You could." She countered, "But it's Vishta, member of the K.I.N."

"Oh, I've heard of you." Came his snort, complete with a growl, "You remind me of my mother. All those plots and schemes."

"I think you mean information gathering. People always be needing that, they also overlook us kobolds. Bunch of us went, why not use that to our advantage."

"And yet you ended up wrapped around the claw of my brother, like most kobolds long ago."

"That's...Different." She replied, her voice not so sure. How was he different? She knew that he was, but she couldn't find an answer. When it became apparent that she was taking too long to speak, she smacked her tail against the stone, "Greatest dragon I've ever known."

"Then you've known frighteningly few." Growled Viridian Knight. "Now why have you come down here to talk to me? Hoping to butter me up for your master?"

"Of course not, though if he demanded it, I'd do so in a heartbeat." She replied, leaning against the wall with a sigh, "But I thought it would be fun to have a little talk, get to know the apparent brother of my new master. Good to know the people you'll be working for."

"You think you'll be working for me?"

"After you get over this cell period, sure. Master is probably angry for some reason...Why is that exactly?" She pointed to his shattered horns, "Did he do that?"

"Only one of them." Viridian knight groaned, "How bad is it?"

"How important are horns to a dragon?"

"Quite." His tail flicked, "It's damage greatly isn't it?"

Not one to intentionally anger a dragon, she tried to change the subject. "Did you know that this place has baths with the heat of boiling water?"

"How damaged is it?" The dragon growled.

"Fine, but don't go blowing me."

There was a pause upon the dragon's snout, "Excuse me?"

"Yea blow me." She growled, pointing at his eyes, "With your poison, poof. I don't want to go choking away cause you got mad. Promise me that and I'll tell you."

He sighed, "I promise to not blow poison at you."

"Good."

"Now how about my horn?" When she told him, the dragon's eyes painfully clenched. He shivered in his binding's grasp.

"It will be ok, I'm sure they can be returned to you." She wanted to slip into his cage, pat his scales to reassure him. "Once master is calm, we can ask about regrowing them or something. He can do anything if he puts his mind to it."

"We cant ask anything of your master. It's clear now that he used his powers on you, and you can't remember that." Groaned the dragon, "And I have to get out of here."

"I'll go ask him about it then."

"We can't tell him." He countered, stopping her quick turn.

"Wait a moment." She wheeled around, "This sounds like you're asking me to break you out. I'm certain if he put you in there, he had a good reason!" Her arms crossed, her brow furrowed, "You're trying to get me into trouble on my first day! That's rather rude!"

His snort told her all she needed to know what he thought about it, that she was being the ridiculous one. She would have walked away right then and there, asked her master about all this, if the dragon didn't apologize with pinned frills. Even his eyes seemed to swell, inviting her to forgive him. How could she not?

"When did you see Lyndis last? Or has she contacted you?"

"Not after Qu'ittax. She went off with your brother." She spun around, pretending to search, "Speaking of which, shouldn't she be here? What happened?"

The green dragon sighed, "It's not important then. I thought there might be word if she was alright."

She gasped, "Did Lyndis get hurt?"

He weakly nodded, the chains straining against him, "Dangerously so. I feared she might die."

That was terrible! Now who was going to be her master's beloved? Her mind raced with possible situations, could the K.I.N help find a mate for him? She didn't think a dragon would be fine on their own for extended periods of time, their numbers were so low already! "Wait...How do you know she didn't die?"

"A friend of mine spirted her away, carrying her to a place that I thought might save her."

Her spirits soared, well this seemed like a problem that was going to solve itself! "Well where is this place Viridian Knight? I'm sure master would love to get his paws on his beloved again! We'll both get praises and rewards for this for sure."

But Viridian Knight was not as receptive, the dragon positively looked distraught by her response. When she went to ask him about it further, he was strangely tight lipped on the subject. "Oh come now, you can't just clam up right now! Not when you hold such valuable information!"

"Information that might buy me time." He replied sternly, wiggling his nose. "I'd rather not share it and deprive my life of value."

After that the green dragon got very quiet, not even answering her when she asked. Vishta didn't poke or prod further, but did dig into her pack and retrieve what remained of her limited rations. Sure it was just assorted nuts and a waterskin, but it was more than she'd had for proper food. "Do you have a way to communicate with her? Check and see if she's ok?"

"I would if you relinquished the bindings on my paws." He tugged at his bindings, "Perhaps release them?"

"Very funny, I already told you no." She stuck out her tongue.

"Worth trying." Grunted Viridian Knight, "But no. I have no way to see if she survived."

As his spirits ever seemed to dim, an idea suddenly sparked to life within her. He might not be willing to tell where her master's beloved did go, but perhaps he would trust her if he allowed him a way to communicate? She sprung up, starting to dig through her pack with renewed conviction. With assorted clangs and thuds she was emptying the contents onto the stone floor.

"What are you doing?" Asked the dragon.

"Just sit there, don't go anywhere, you're really going to love this. I have a device that's really going to blow those scales right off you. Practically fresh from Lumara."

"Now you're pulling my leg." He snorted in disbelief.

"Doubt it." She smirked, procuring the golden orb she'd swiped from Hurta's corpse. The dragon's eyes went wide, curiosity apparent. "Like what you see?"

"What does it do?" He asked, trying to appear disinterested. "A ball to toss around? Come now."

"Nothing so simple." She caressed it with her claws, playing it up like a magician. "But a contraption to locate those we know, send them messages for them. It gets spirted to them by a tiny owl, invisible to all but the recipient."

The Viridian Knight did freeze, eye locked upon the orb. "You can't be serious. You just happen to have something like that?"

She nodded, knowing she had him. "Long story, but have it. If I let you use this to try and contact Lyndis, would you think about sharing where she is?"

"Your master would be ok with that?" He asked softly, gears winding in his head. "Letting me ask if she's ok?"

"Course he would! It's his beloved isn't it? I'm sure he'd be delighted to know that she survived whatever danger she was in!" She was almost bouncing on her claws, this was the type of favor she'd hoped to garner, what luck!"

He sat in silence as she pondered what rewards awaited her, when he spoke it was filled with purpose, determination. The defeat that had been in him was all but melted away, "But if I find Lyndis with this owl. I'll have to tell her were we're heading...So that she may find him of course, be reunited with her...lover."

Oh, now he was talking sense. "Of course, master would love if she were to return! Oh, he'd be over the moon! I can't wait to tell him right now, I bet he'd even let you out of that cell!"

"You mustn't tell him about this." Viridian Knight hissed, "Let it be a surprise, he'll love it even more."

"A surprise?"

"Yes, your master loves them, can't get enough."

"Are you sure? This sounds like intentionally holding good information from him." She placed her arms on her hips, staring intently into his eyes. Was he trying to trick her some way, take all this credit for himself? "How do I know you don't just want to get out of this cell, screw me out of the reward?"

"You can trust me Vishta, I don't care for rewards or prizes. They can all be yours."

"What kind of dragon are you?" She growled, not believing this ploy. A dragon that didn't wish to garner favors or treasures from other dragons? Crazy.

"One that treasures people and books far more than gold and favors." He replied softly with a whine. "I just want my brother to be alright, and whatever that has him swept away. If you need proof that you can trust me Vishta, I'll give you my name." He tried to bow his scaled head, but found it quite restrained. He grunted and groaned, finally giving up with a sigh, "Though It's not as regal as I'd have hoped in which to give you, It's Lyyreth."

She nearly dropped to the floor dead. A dragon had given her his name? That was one of the rarest signs of trust that she'd read about! Her arms fell as she trilled in delight, "Well Lyyreth, that's just what I was looking to here. Sure, we'll keep this a secret. I can't wait to see my master's face when we find Lyndis and bring her here. He's going to be so happy!"

"He's certainly going to be something." Lyyreth sighed, resting on the floor with a pleased with himself smirk.