The Ember of Life

Chapter 6

Silence. Silence gathered in a cloud around Zendrayus, and seemed to stifle all conversation. Dertharion twitched his mouth, annoyed. While the sound of a reward was tempting, he wanted to draw out more information about what happened afterwards. It would at least take his mind off the horrible heat. It appeared that the White was not one to volunteer things, however. He shot a glare at the Plaguehide. Which, as the Green was flying behind him, had very little effect. Finally, frustrated, Dertharion tried to wrest some words out of the White. "What kind of reward does Saliss have in mind for an Ember?"

Zendrayus swung his decaying head around to look at the Green. "For the Ember? I doubt he has any sort of reward in mind."

"What??" Dertharion snapped angrily. "You promised me a large recompense!"

The Plaguehide nodded. "Yes. You will get a reward."

"Then why did you say-?" Dertharion stopped.

"You asked me whether or not Saliss would give a reward to the Ember," Zendrayus said, a crooked smile growing on his frayed lips. "I told you he would not give one to it, but that he'd give one to you. Now, what is so confusing about that?"

Dertharion could've wrapped his strong claws about the Plaguehide's skinny neck and choked the life out of him at that moment, but he swallowed hard. "Fine. What is MY reward going to be?"

"Saliss offers many things," the White said over his shoulder as his tattered wings bore him along. "Power. Wealth. Land. He offers these freely to those who serve him faithfully - or shall I say, to those who please him."

Dertharion smiled. Already he saw himself, ruling over a small part of the city, clad in golden armor. Who would had thought that almost a year ago he had been at the brink of death, hated by all and spurned by his own? For a moment he almost remembered the Charred, but he swiftly removed the thought from his mind.

"Which would you prefer most?" Zendrayus asked suddenly.

The Green adopted a smug expression. "Power."

"Of course." The Plaguehide laughed his peculiar coughing laugh and put on a burst of speed that prevented any more conversation, much to the Green's dismay. Up ahead of them, more and more shrubs began to crop up on the sands. They were nearing the edge of the Wastes.

.....................................................

Ebony spat out sand. The heat had reduced him to walking, and his wings were so sore he feared to use them. His canteen was empty now. Raising his head, he looked desperately for any sign of the Wastes' end. Nothing. The sand stretched on and on in endless waves. For a moment, Ebony dismally pictured himself dying, his bones becoming bleached by the furious sun. Then a sound from behind him caught his attention, and he twisted his neck around.

The gennyid. The gennyid was following him, its armored body smoothly sliding after him a few dunes behind. Ebony swallowed. It was twice his size, easily. Was it hunting him? Did gennyid even go after dragons? They probably did. With a sigh, he adjusted his mental death picture to contain being eaten. The gennyid was getting closer. Uneasily, Ebony tried to increase his pace, but he was too tired and dehydrated. He was stuck plodding along at the same pace and the creature was rapidly gaining on him.

Ebony stopped short, turning on his heel and facing the beast. The gennyid immediately ceased its motion, tilting its head curiously.

"Go away," he said to it.

The worm made a scraping sound with its mouthparts and lowered its head to the ground. It almost looked...pitiful.

"Well..." Ebony said helplessly. He couldn't believe he was attributing draconic emotions to a big ugly worm. Who was he, Jet? "Good worm. Good worm."