Let Sleeping Dragons Lie
#9 of Snapshots
Snapshots no. 9
Author's Note: Another entry in the 'Snapshots' series. If a picture is worth 1000 words, how much of a picture can 1000 words paint?
Thanks to my secret beta reader on this one - you know who you are, even if you didn't wish to be mentioned by name. :3
Thanks also to Thakur for the idea. Go check out his 1000 word adventures too!
Let Sleeping Dragons Lie
Why, Farhad thought, do I let him do this to me. Why is it so hard to say 'no'?
"Hurry up, runt, or I'll leave you behind," Salim said, gesturing impatiently at his younger brother from the doorway. The torch in his hand cast brooding shadows along the spiralling stairwell.
Hastening, Farhad's footfalls echoed through the stone halls, reminiscent of tolling bells, as he tripped through the doorway behind Salim. Another room, hoarded with strange objects, mystic tomes, and more dust than any one person could lay claim to. Suspicion budded in Farhad's mind that this place was larger within than it initially appeared outside.
He wanted bravery like his brother, but, this old tower was eerie. Even Salim's friends weren't convinced to sneak inside upon the wizard's departure. Farhad wished to be outside, even though he didn't really like the group of older boys, who had denied the dare. Only he'd been dragged along, unable to protest. Would he and Salim hear if they yelled that the wizard was returning? From the countless stairs they'd ascended, Farhad doubted it.
Salim prodded at various dusty books and scrolls, frowning. Tugging a cloth laying across a pedestal revealed a translucent orb, shimmering in the dancing torchlight.
"Wow!" Salim exclaimed. "Look at this!"
"I don't want to," Farhad said, shivering. Had the air wavered and distorted around it?
"I don't think we should touch anything in here."
Salim snickered. "Still scared, runt? Think it's going to bite? It just shows someplace far away. Go on, double dare."
Reluctantly, as though tugged by an invisible cord, Farhad approached, glancing in. His stomach lurched with vertigo, the sight of a bustling bazaar far below causing him to recoil.
Salim laughed. "Such a pussy. Come on." He moved towards the next door. Farhad had little choice but to follow.
Endless stairs, rooms and finally a vast chamber came. It's four towering glass windows beaming sunlight which relieved the duties of their torch. Centrally a polished mirror sat reflecting the golden light.
Except...
That gleam was far too rich to be mere sunlight.
"Gold!" Salim breathed, walking towards the mirror as if bewitched. "Sweet Kadesh, Look at it all?"
"Salim, we shouldn't-" Farhad began protesting, but his brother was already by the mirror. Impossibly, the glass didn't stop him, merely rippling like a pool of water as he passed through. What choice was he left with? Firming his conviction, eyes closed, he too stepped through, momentarily caressed by a liquid kiss before feeling open air. He opened his eyes hesitantly, wrinkling his nose at the sudden smell of sulphur, and forced himself to clamp his hands over his mouth to silence a scream.
Within the center of the expansive, glittering chamber they now stood within, lay a massive, scaled monstrosity. A spiked tail, leathery wings. Sword-like claws flexing and relaxing in mounds of gold. Glistening fangs revealed occasionally by curling lips. Even with its body balled like a slumbering pup's, it projected the aura of a master predator by simply twitching. Steam twisted from nostrils the size of their mother's prized serving bowl. Thankfully, its great eyes remained shut. The rhythmic, whistling sound could only be a reptilian snore.
"Salim," Farhad called, not daring past a whisper as he tugged on his brother's arm. "Let's go. Please!"
"What? You scared of it? Going to run like a rabbit? It's asleep, dummy. Father says dragons can sleep for 1000 years."
Skeptical of Salim, Farhad remembered that dragons hadn't been seen in 1000 years but... "What if it's already slept that long and wakes up?"
Salim rolled his eyes. "It's snoring. More importantly, look at that treasure! We can walk away from here as rich as sultans! I'll wager we could jump on its nose and it'll sleep through." He grinned devilishly, which always precluded that dreaded phrase. "Go on, touch it. I dare you."
"What? No! Salim, let's go..." Farhad whined. Despite the butterflies in his belly, his eyes fixated on the slumbering beast. Those smooth scales, stretched over taut muscle that rose and fell with the steady breaths...
So beautiful.
Salim walked further into the room. "Fine, if you're too much of a pussy, I'll do it."
"Salim!" Farhad hissed, sudden terror for his brother gripping him, sending him lurching after, trying to snag Salim's arm. He missed, and nearly fell into a pile of gold and jewels. Ignoring him, Salim sauntered right up to the sleeping dragon, his feet sending coins and rings clinking and rolling. He laid a hand on its shoulder, almost treading upon one of the massive toes. For a moment, he stood there, apparently at his ease, before giving the dragon a pat -as though it were no more than a loyal hound. Then, he turned and walked back, a triumphant grin on his face.
"See, little rabbit? Nothing."
Still afraid, Farhad advanced cautiously, reaching out to place a trembling hand on the dragon's snout. Marvel claimed him. The feel was strange; hard and warm like desert sand, roughly pebbled, yet smooth as silk.
Salim began to pile his pockets with whatever loot he could. Farhad, having acquiesced to his dare, turned, whispering, "Now, I've done it, can we go?"
A breath of air behind him. Fear plagued Salim's face.
"W-what?"
Farhad turned his head, stricken by the same fear. A gaping mouth overshadowed him, and with a blinding snatch towards him, swallowed him whole. Salim, close enough to the window made a dash, jumping through, freefalling down to the moat. A huge splash broke his fall. Immediately, he began to sink, weighed down by the gold in his pockets. Struggling, he turned them out, allowing the treasure to sink into the murky depths, and struggled to the surface with a gasp. Worthless trinkets, compared to life. Swimming to the bank, he looked back up at the tower, his stomach reeling.
"Farhad!"
Sobbing overpowered him as his heart caught within his throat. "Brother, why didn't you remain a coward... Why?"