Dragonspawn: The Chronicle of Tazio

Chapter 1:

Two Months after Imprisonment

Tazio was awoken by a splash of cold on his face. He was chained to a wall by his wrists and ankles. His body was bare except for ragged black trousers.

This was a daily routine for them. The Priests would enter his chamber and shoot freezing spells at him. He was used to it by now.

They had already spent two months torturing him. When he had first been abducted. He had originally believed they wanted to get back at him for being a companion of the Dragonspawn.

But this was not true. The Dragon Priests had abducted him because they had learned what he was truly searching for. The Ancient Books of Cloudrend.

These books hold the secrets of everything in Cloudrend. They also held the source of the Empire's power. For Tazio was never working for the Empire.

Tazio was a modern day Knive. Not because he was inducted by the Knives many months ago, but because he was descended from the original Dragonspawn, also named Tazio.

Tazio's father, Ignotas, had told Tazio stories of the Books. When Tazio turned twenty, he left his home in search of them. His search led him to a woman named Ackilas. She trained him in the way of the Assassins.

Being an Assassin wasn't relevant to the search of the Books, but it certainly helped him make his way around Cloudrend without raising suspicion.

His search then led him to the Vaults of Maldak. In these Vaults he encountered men from the Empire. Men that tried to find the Books and destroy them. He managed to destroy these men before they could destroy the Books.

He found the First Book in the Vaults. After spending months studying it, he learned where the the Second Book was located.

That led his search to Frostfront, the original capital of Cloudrend. Tazio confronted the Geen about the Book. When that plan failed, he searched her house and discovered its location.

He spent almost an hour underneath her house before he found it. The Second Book. When he returned to the surface, he attempted to assassinate the Geen.

This failed due to a confrontation by the Dragonspawn. Tazio decided to save his own skin and join the Dragonspawn, whom he grew to like and trust.

With two Books in his possession, he set off to Vanderville, home of the Knives, with his companions. Upon arrival, they met with Virlas, who immediatley picked up on his secret.

He and Virlas spent weeks pouring over the Second Book. When it came time that Virlas betrayed the companions by attempting to kill the Dragonspawn's Dragon, Emeralda, Virlas tried to save himself by revealing Tazio's plans to the Dragonspawn.

Tazio silenced him and drew the Dragonspawn back to Vanderville before he could be questioned.

After they left Vanderville, they traveled to Redwalk. They staged a coup de tat against the current Geen, who wasn't even supposed to be leader.

They then went to Dragontopia, where they fought, and lost against the Ancient Dragon Arcluse. When the Dragonspawn disappeared, the Dragon Priests appeared and took him.

Tazio had been locked in the same tower for two months. He didn't know where. He was malnourished, but he refused to be broken.

Tazio was torn from his thoughts. The Priests had blasted him with another blast of cold.

"Wake up, dog!" shouted the nearest Priest.

Tazio opened his eyes. He could see three of them. With their ugly blue, red, and green masks. The Priest with the green mask was the only one able to speak Modern Human. He must have adapted as time passed on.

Green Mask gave him some bread and water. But only a small ration.

"Now, you have been here for two months. Just tell us where you hid your Books and where to find the other Books and you'll be free to go."

Tazio didn't answer. He just continued to stare at the ground.

"Fine. Have it your way, dog."

Green Mask struck Tazio across the face. He turned, motioned to Red and Blue to do the same and left.

Tazio receeded back in to his thoughts.

I will escape.

I will have freedom.