The Dragon's Consortium 2

56 - Fair Fight

Soterios Dragvern - POV;

"Soterios! Don't!" Csilla whom had been watching in shock screamed out as I transformed. I paid little heed to her words in my crazed state of mind. All I could see was a squadron of soldiers with targets pasted firmly over their heads. I had already made up my mind to take them all out.

The head knight ordered his subordinates to charge. As they approached, I easily worked my way past their attacks using a combined series of hops, sidesteps and other evasive manuvers. As I passed by each soldier, I knocked them unconscious using various techniques in hand-to-hand combat that I had learned and practiced during my days at the Crimson Academy for Physical and Magic Arts.

The small platoon dropped in numbers as its men fell to the floor one by one and before long only the head knight and I remained standing.

He shivered in his boots as he looked at my terrifying montrous form. I outstretched my left arm and Dark Matter formed himself in my hand occupying his greatsword form. Before the knight could react to the situation I bore down on him, striking out with my weapon. He stepped back and braced for my strike, fear plastered over his face.

"Not so fast!" Another individual joined in the fray as he clashed his own sword against Dark Matter, subsequently protecting the frightened knight. I stared at the Soul laden blue sword irritatedly.

"You've sure changed sides quickly!" I growled at the Ranger.

"I didn't come that night to save you. I was merely hunting the beast hybrid that threatened my town and you just so happened to be saved by my actions," he replied calmly.

We both jumped back and began to slowly pace around, each keeping the other in their line of sight. Without warning I launched forward and he followed suit. Our blades clashed once again as we tried to damage our opponent to gain the upper hand.

Once again, we both retreated backwards. I immediately recognised the Ranger's skill with a sword as even with my predictive abilities, enhanced speed and superior vision he was able to keep up with my strikes and parry them almost perfectly. I understood that he was not an enemy I could underestimate and toy with.

He abruptly rushed me swinging his sword expertly in what could only be described in a display of skill. He clearly intended to show off to spectators as he spun his weapon in complete circles using merely his fingers. I played along with his game and dodged each swing as it passed near my body. Once I had finally had enough of his games I decided to give a show to the viewers.

"Let's finish this quickly!" I snickered. Immediately I teleported behind him and delivered a powerful blow to his spine with the sole of my foot. He was flung forward and he rag-dolled along the floor for around ten seconds before he was able to catch himself. As he slowly rose off of the ground, I teleported behind him again and knocked him back down by stiking the back of his head with my elbow.

"It's over for you!" I sneered.

My haughty celebration was cut short by a perfectly placed jump kick to the side that knocked me off to the right. I steadied my self in a kneeling position and looked up from my place on the floor. Csilla ran towards me after her first attack and using her shield bashed me in an uppercut motion. Caught completely offguard, the blow rose me into the air slightly.

"I!"
"SAID!"
"STOP!"

After each word Csilla struck me in succession. First was a lash to the head followed by a knee to the crotch and finally, she finished with a roundhouse kick to the abdomen which left me reeling.

I lurched forward but fell quickly forward as my strength left me. As I was dropping Alduin had appeared and rammed his skull into my stomach throwing flat onto my back, the wing knocked completely out of me. My draconic features receded as my Soul Power had reached a dangerous level of low causing me to become extremely weak.

The Ranger had recovered and stood above me shaking his head. "It seems neither of us are good when it comes to being caught by surprise in a battle. You did good for the odds," the Ranger said to be. As he finished, he jammed his foot into my face and sent me unconscious.

******

"Yes, you can leave him just like that. I wish to speak with him personally. Yes, you are dismissed."

I awoke groggily from my slumber-like like state and slowly regained my senses. As I did, I could faintly hear the voices of others speaking around me.

"Oh? Are you finally awake Dragonborn?"

I stared at the blurry figure and allowed my eyes to focus clearly on him. Standing before me was a man dressed in a thick, embroidered, red coat and atop his head lay a jeweled crown.

I attempted to stand but it was only then that I realised that I was chained to a moving platform by the neck, legs, arms and midsection.

"Oh my apologies. Let me get you out of these chains," the man said. I got up slowly and stretched my sore limbs. The man still stared at me and wqs silent for some time before breaking the ice.

"So you must be the Dragonborn that the Eastern Dragons said that they were sending to kill any who threatened their whole plan right? Sorry, where are my manners. I am the King of Qostros if it wasn't clear before. I apologise for the rash actions of my knights. They do not know about the deal I struck with the Dragons. I assume that you attacked the wife of Mr. Spielberg because she tried to escape like her husband didn't she? No worries, I dispatched a group of ruffians to assassinate her so the deed will be done shortly. By the way, have you heard about that which the Dragons promised me? They are holding their side of the deal right?" the King went on a rant.

"I'm not sure. But you should probably be more careful about who you tell all this to," I told him.

"Why is that?" he asked.

"Because I'm not related to the Eastern Dragons in any way," I replied.

As I said this I could see the colour drain from the King's face.

"G-Guards!!!" he screamed.

Immediately, the sound of running metal boots became obvious. I punched the King squarely in the face and knocked him out before making my way towards the nearby window. I kicked it open and stood on the sill as the knights burst into the room.

"Get down from there miscreant!" one demanded.

With a single backward glance, I leapt from the fifth story window and went into a fast freefall. As I neared the ground I teleported to it, killing my momentum and landing safely. Wasting no time, I quickly exited the grand castle and hurried back home to Csilla.