Dragoness's Star

06 | Be Ablaze

Jackson couldn't breathe. His heart slammed erratically into his chest so hard he was terrified it was detectable.  

He should never have come here. Forget duty, all the hero bullcrap. He wanted to be home. In a nice inn with a toasty room. Where any moment Sapin would stomp in complaining about the idiots at the town house. 

And here he was. In the clutches of the unforgiving night, with a warm liquid dripping down his back he did not want to think about. 

I'm going to die, I'm going to die, I'm going to die.

Jackson slowly crouched down. And closed his eyes. He'd never thought he'd be the one to freeze up in a situation like this.

Calvin remained as still as a statue. His sword remained pointed to Jackson's right. A miniscule bit of light glinted off Calvin's metal-plated boots.

"You need to flee," Calvin barely breathed. 

A large spear thrust out of nowhere right at Calvin. He grunted as he parried with his longsword, stumbling sideways. Whatever it was snarled, bloodcurdling and malevolent. 

Jackson broke out of his stupor and started running. And he ran. And ran. Jumping over the bumps on the ground. Shoving through waves of grasping bramble. 

But he remembered what he was fighting for. Stopping for a pace, he turned around and pounded back towards Calvin. 

Every bone in his body screamed at him to leave. That danger was there. And he felt it. The dragon magic getting stronger.

Jackson shimmied over a wet log towards the scream of clashing metal. He could see the slim silhouette of Calvin barely fending a much larger figure. 

Jackson sucked in his fear. If he did so much as exhale. he'd go running right back the way he came.

Jackson thrust his gloved hands forward. "ETERNO MINOS!"

Three curved balls of yellow-hot light shot forward. The humanoid dragon stepped back. Two of the balls hit the shrub behind the enemy, instantly setting it ablaze. The other ball hit the dragon in the knee, but sputtered off with little effect.

Jackson was aghast. That was one of his strongest spells.

As the bush blazed behind the dragon was enveloped in flames, the area was illuminated. Calvin was bleeding badly from a cut in his side through his swit. He had one knee on the ground and looked ready to black out. 

The looming dragon wore a sleek black cloak that concealed his body. He brandished an obsidian spear and a square shield.

The hooded dragon turned and stalked towards Jackson. Jackson shook in his boots, quite literally.

Standing a few steps away from him, the dragon was easily a head taller than Jackson and twice his size. Jackson knew there was no running.

"What do you want?" Jackson squeaked. "I'll have you know I'm a powerful mage." His voice cracked on the word powerful.

The dragon chuckled, taking a step closer. "Quite the nice little trick you had there. What was that?" His green eyes glinted under his cloak.

Out of the corner of his eye, Jackson saw an injured Calvin start to scoot towards them. 

Entertain him, Calvin mouthed.

Jackson attempted to smile, looking like someone had rammed a Gatorade up his bottom.

"We-well, that's actually a secret... it'll cost you to find out."

Jackson could feel the immediate displeasure radiate from the dragon. 

"I'm taking you back with me. Her highness would be absolutely delighted." Mission failed.

Calvin had nearly inched forward within striking distance. He dug his hand in his pocket. 

The cloaked dragon reached a large hand towards Jackson. Jackson resorted to option two.

"BACK OFF! BAD DRAGON CLOAKY! YOU'RE VERY RUDE AND YOUR MOM WILL NOT GIVE YOU SMOOCHY TONIGHT! NO TOUCHY!" 

The dragon faltered in astonishment. Calvin scooted another foot forward, raising his sword.

Bad dragon cloaky wheeled around swinging his spear. "Did you think I would not notice you?" he said amusingly, knocking Calvin's outstretched sword out of his hands. 

"Not remotely." Calvin brought his hand out of his pocket, chucking a flask of orange liquid at the dragon's face. 

The dragon screamed, falling backwards. Several yells emanated from the forest beyond. 

"Run!"

Jackson grabbed Calvin by the arm and they half-ran, half-stumbled towards Fort Sarka, leaving behind the spreading fires in the bloody rain.

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Cover Photo | Andre Fonseca

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