Fire and Death in the Flesh

If It Were Only A Dragon [Chapter 25]

The sorcery-infused pages of the pop-up book in the capital’s library did nothing to prepare me for the sight of the beast in reality. Its fleshy wings tore at the air like a ship’s sails in a storm. Beneath it dangled two limber legs, adequately muscular for a creature of its size. They were attached to talon-like feet, directed at the fake bovines mindlessly awaiting it. Dark green pointed scales ran the length of its body, from its narrow head, down to its long tail, embellished with a collection of small fins, sharp like daggers.

The last time I had felt such unease was because I had smashed one of my mother’s vases. Well, several of my mother’s vases. Smashed them all on purpose. Not for the sake of destruction, mind you. I had gotten my first wooden practice sword, and I decided that the old dusty pottery would serve me well as practice dummies, gathered together in the rear courtyard. When one of them shattered into gray ashes, I became slightly worried.

I’m sure my grandfather, who was kept in that urn, would have seen the humor and utility in my practice then. My mother was much less impressed. Her yelling that day emitted the same energy that Greep, the massive bridge troll, was presenting.

It seems the troll had no reservations about rushing to face the dragon as it descended upon us. I saw it as if the seconds of time had been stretched out to many times their length. With talons extended toward its prey, the dragon descended. The hefty, tasty-looking cow was taken up in the dragon’s grasp effortlessly and without a reaction, only to disappear into curls of smoke as soon as it left the ground. The dragon’s talons closed down on themselves helplessly.

Surely it was confused, even as smart as it had been made out to be. The beast swung about in flight, hoping to catch the next nearest bovine. By that time, Greep had already left the shelter of the trees, moving on all fours toward its target, roaring with the only emotion his brain could manage.

Before the dragon could take up another illusory cow, the troll had grabbed at its ankle, holding it in flight there, wings flapping fervently. I whistled loudly for all to hear then tugged at the reigns of my mount. The horses shot out from under the trees, only to recoil against the sight.

As the dragon tried fruitlessly to shake off the troll, kicking at it with its opposite leg, it began producing a low, gurgling growl.

“That’s the sign to pull back!” Nemona shouted at me from nearby, guiding the donkey serving as her mount.

“We can’t fight it if we do that!” I huffed back.

“Nor can we fight it if—“

Before the remainder of her words could reach my ears, the dragon had angled its head back and began a low spit of flames toward the troll and outward across the grassy field. The flagrant wind forced my eyes shut and parched the skin of my face. The horse beneath me complained and bucked. I held on tight with my hips and reached for the potion in my belt pocket. Fully aware of the blue concoction’s effects, I swallowed only a bit, then splashed my hair and face with another sample from the bottle. I felt the cooling sensation immediately, allowing me to open my eyes.

The troll still held tight, seemingly unfazed despite the wilted and singed grasses about it. I whistled again to call upon the others once more. Utter and Mutter were the first to bring their attack, bows at the ready. The arrows simply bounced off its scales, but they were not without notice.

The dragon’s wings continued to flap, albeit a bit slower, with wider movements. It spun itself around against the grasp of the troll, shoving it back and sending both of them to the ground. With one talon, it had Greep against the ground, our furred ally struggling against its weight. The dragon’s wings found rest, splayed out against the ground. The pointed, dagger-like ends held at the burned grasses beneath like a pair of murderous claws. The look in its red eyes told me the fight was long from over.

A rumbling shook the ground, telling us that the next phase was beginning. The dirt beneath the dragon ruptured suddenly. Under the druid’s control, the nearby tree roots spread and found themselves up and around the dragon’s free leg, anchoring it to the ground. It began to bellow and twist itself, attempting to free itself from their grasp.

Prince dashed out from his hiding space in the tall grass, rushing to the aid of the troll. The gnoll bit at the dragon’s free leg while Greep pushed against great scaly weight off. The humans of our party rushed forward with ropes and stakes to throw across the back of the dragon and restrain it further.

With my heart beating faster than the king consuming pastries, I ushered my horse forward, hoping to test my steel and seek out any weaknesses that would present themselves. The twins continued firing volleys toward the dragon’s fleshy wings and undefended eyes. The red, slitted orbs danced around, glaring at us with great malice, one not too different than the one my mother was able to produce.

Those on horseback swung at the dragon’s scaled appendages, making fruitless glancing blows against its hardened defenses. In the meantime, the gnoll had latched to the dragon’s wing, teeth sunk in surely despite the nimble limb’s flailing. As if in gratitude for Prince’s aid, the troll, back on his feet, joined him in holding down the wing.

The ropes caught suddenly across the dragon’s back, securing all but the dragon’s flailing tail, still trying to swipe out against the circling riders. I felt a rising desire to display my own show of force against the dragon, to ensure it knew of the human who led to its defeat. I held my sword out in my good hand, ready to swipe at its long, relatively dainty neck.

Before I could go in for my flashy attack, the troll jumped out in front of my horse, flying through the air like a dog jumping up for a table scrap. My horse skidded out of the way. I caught sight of the dragon being held in a headlock, forced to the ground by the great weight of the smelly, hairy beast.

Nemona’s horse skidded to a stop next to mine.

“You noticed it’s tender neckline, too?” I called out, adrenaline still begging me to make my own attack.

The elf shoved a hand to my face before jumping down off her mount. “Tell your men to hold positions, keep the dragon as is.”

I glanced about to attempt a headcount of the others, either readying bows or swords or ropes or even teeth. The dragon was completely immobile, held by roots and ties and meaty troll mitts. It was clearly aware of its predicament, like a rat cornered by a hungry cat— well, if you ignore the size aspect of that metaphor. Its eyes blinked slowly, red and angry and… who knows what other emotions it could handle.

“Hold!” I called out. The others had already taken notice of the elf approaching the dragon’s head, held in forced submission.

Nemona spoke loudly but calmly. “You are no simple beast, dragon. A creature of great intelligence, no doubt. And surely you understand my words.”

“What are you on, elf? Do you think it went to school or something?” Eriques clamored from the other side of the dragon.

“One might say a dragon’s intellect could rival that of many humans,” Nemona added without skipping a beat. “Therefore, it would be cruel to end you here, a creature with a lifespan akin to that of an elf. And no doubt… being in possession of unfathomable magics that rival ours, as well. Therefore, I offer you a life as my companion in the capital city of this land, where we may share all that we know.”

I heard a sudden stomping in the grass. Nariza marched up past me, finger waiving. “This is not what I signed up for! Gladius! Nemona!”

I couldn’t help but shrug. “I mean… yes, of course, there’s no way we could have this thing back in the capital. Its shits alone would shut down half the city! Not to mention how many more of those psycho cultists it would create.”

Nariza turned back and clapped in my face. ‘That. Is. Not. The. Point! I won’t mention that it is an intelligent creature that is gorging itself on livestock when it could be much happier and healthier eating a fully plant-based diet.”

“But that is what you’re— “

The druid jerked to face Nemona, interrupting again. “And now this woman wants to take it as a pet? Talk about demeaning!”

The elf jerked back. “A companion! Were you not listening!”

Nariza stomped the grass, somehow causing it to spring back up to life from its dead, burned state. “I heard about you, from my very short time in the ministry of magics. An elf so obsessed with a dragon she saw a couple hundred years ago that she even mentioned wanting to… mingle with one.”

Nemona scoffed. “Well, I never! I mean, I would have to know more about their anatomy first, wouldn’t I? I couldn’t even be sure if this gent here is male or not!”

The earth-rumbling growl began once more. From that distance, I could feel the air being sucked from out surroundings. I shielded my face and held tight to the reins of my horse, ready to run if the flames were to come my way.

Thunk

The sudden low, hollow sound interrupted the building growl in an instant. Had I blinked at that moment, I would have missed the filthy cowbell from the dung pile impacting upon the side of the dragon’s face. Even Greep couldn’t help but watch the unexpected object’s fall.

“You ate my favorite cow!” Farvin shouted. I had missed him as he walked in front of me, my borrowed dagger in one hand, the other hand still in the air from lancing the cowbell.

“Is this really the time, lad?” I said through gritted teeth.

Farvin spoke louder than I had ever heard him speak. “If this thing is really so smart, then it should be able to understand what it did! Make him feel what it’s like to have the animal you raised from birth just to be… eaten up!”

“Cows get eaten all the time, Farvin, please…” I begged.

“Only by unfeeling, bloodthirsty barbarians!” Nariza shouted back.

“Can both of you just shut the fuck up?!” I ordered. “We can have this debate another time! And Nemona–“

Before I could take charge, Farvin took his own charge, dagger in hand, toward the dragon’s face. I could almost feel the meaningless strikes of the dagger against its scales. I nearly ran forward, but the dragon moved quicker than any of us could have imagined. In one fell swoop, it freed its neck from the troll’s grasp, just enough to angle its jaw above the easterner, fitting its mouth about him in one fell swoop. Just like that, Farvin was on a one way trip on the same journey his cow had taken.

“It ate the country boy!” Eriques screamed.

The troll was knocked away next by a swipe of the dragon’s neck. The bickering magic users were in sudden agreement to retreat as one, mounting the same horse beside me. I glared at Nemona, who left me with only a narrow look and a triplet of parting words on her lips. “Remember the weakness!”

I shook my head, refusing to believe what had happened, but knowing there to be only one option.

My horse had other plans. As the troll began rampaging again, I was bucked off. When I had righted myself, I caught the sight of a glint in the grass. Not the filthy cowbell, but the dagger that Farvin had attempted to use against the beast. It would be the necessary tool.

“Don’t let him back up to the air! Keep a hold of him!” I called out to my men, still holding at the ropes and stakes keeping the dragon partially immobile. “I need to get to its backside.”

The next movements I took felt like pure instinct. I dashed for the dropped weapon. The dragon was intensely aware of my movements. I would have ended up ate just like Farvin had Prince not sprung into action to claw at its cheeks and eyes. I rolled under its neck and grabbed up the dagger to bring around to the other side.

The dragon’s wings went for me next, but the the twins and their sharp arrows threatened the webbed sections of flesh enough to keep them at bay. The ropes and roots were still holding one of its legs in place, but its tail still posed a threat. Somehow, Nemona and her dear troll had anticipated our movements. The great spiked tail struck Greep across the chest, but he managed to hold on, skidding backwards against the force.

Nemona and her horse dashed just outside of it’s range, calling to me. “Look for a slit,” she directed. “Right between a pair of scales on its pelvis.”

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