Prince of Dragons

Chapter 27 - Calm before the storm

A/N: I know, it has taken me awfully long to update once more. I'm sorry. This chapter is one of the longest, if not the longest, so far; I hope that can serve as a small means to make up for the waiting time.

If you haven't read the whole of chapter 26 yet (I uploaded it in three chunks, but I believe Wattpad only gives notifications when a new chapter is uploaded, not when an already existing chapter is made longer), then you may want to read that first; otherwise, you're missing part of the story.

I hope you'll enjoy the chapter!

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It had taken him days, weeks, but now the moment had finally arrived.

Sir Enorwin, crown prince of the Flaming Lands, stood at the entrance of a dark cavern. His golden armour was heavy, but he also felt proud to be the one wearing it. In his gloved right hand, he was clutching the leather-wrapped hilt of his sword. A gilded shield was attached to his left forearm.

Looking around carefully, the prince stepped into the cavern. Although it was dark, for some reason, he could see everything clearly, to the stalactites hanging down above him.

It was logical for a black dragon to hide in a place like this; it was as dark as the creature's scales. However, darkness was no match to the golden light shining from prince Enorwin's armour.

"You really think so?" a low, rumbling voice suddenly spoke. Suddenly, the light of the armour went out, and Enorwin was cloaked in darkness. He turned around, trying to figure out where the voice had come from. He saw nothing. The entrance to the cave was no longer visible; he was too far away from it and had taken too many turns already. He had left the daylight and walked right into Dragon King Darfith's domain, all the while too confident to notice what he had done.

"Darfith?" Enorwin stammered. He had wanted it to sound like a command, a threat, but it had come out as a trembling question. He kept turning around, looking in all directions, his sword extended.

"Over here, young prince!" the rumbling voice said mockingly, the sound echoing against the walls and seemingly coming from all directions.

And suddenly, right in front of him, two yellow eyes appeared. Enorwin screamed in terror and jumped back, his sword extended. He could feel his heartbeat in his throat, and pearls of sweat ran down his cheeks.

Darfith let out a roaring laugh. "You should have listened to your companions instead of coming here on your own!" he growled.

Enorwin ran forward, ready to stab at his opponent, but the great Dragon King opened his mouth in time and breathed a flame, completely enveloping the boy in fire. Enorwin wanted to scream, but it was as though his mouth was sealed shut; all he could do was stand there while the flames consumed him.

The last thing he saw was the flames in front of him twisting, changing, and then forming a face. A face Enorwin recognised all too well.

"Duke Hadufried," he whispered, and then all went black.

Enorwin sat bolt upright in bed and screamed, gripping his mattress with all his strength. His face was wet with sweat.

Slowly, his breathing and his heartbeat began to calm down. The prince rubbed his eyes, his posture relaxing a bit.

He threw a look over his shoulder at the small window behind him. He could just make out the snowy mountaintops in the distance. Somewhere, hidden in those mountains, concealed by them, Dragon King Darfith lived in his cavern. And someday, within the weeks to come, Enorwin would have to face him.