Dragonsfall, or: The Dragon, the Witch and the Captain

Chapter II: The Sack of the City and the Imprisonment of the Loyalists

A week hence from the meeting of the Duke and his messengers, a new day dawned upon the moor; the sun became a fiery red in the sky, and the night sentries of the city saw a great explosion rise from the forest. The Great Horn was sounded and again the City's guard was marshalled with the Captain at their head. Silver was their armour and tall were their spears as they rode forth to meet their foe. The Dragon crashed through the forest, felling trees with every step and setting aflame the foliage before him. Afterwards, the path he took to the City would come to be called the Dragon's Ruin. The Captain bade his men to use the same stratagem as before, but to be warier for he had his flame once more. As they rode forth, fire poured from the trees and the Dragon emerged from the forest. Rage and lust for battle filled his eyes. The Captain's archers fired their arrows; but as they approached their target, the Dragon let out a wall of flames that burned the darts to cinder and their heads fell ineffectually at his feet. The Captain's men then split apart into two parts on either side of the Dragon. He ordered them to begin their assault, but it was here that the Witch had prepared herself. From the burning ruin of the forest emerged a host of black clad mercenaries; they were men cast from the Duke who bore against him a grudge and men who were simply to be paid for their service. The Captain saw them riding towards his men and ordered a retreat, but they were doomed. In their surprise, they had forgotten the Dragon and now he lay between them and the City. The Captain's men turned around and rode back to the City with the Witch's men in pursuit; they ran alongside the Dragon who whipped them with his tail and broke their horses and armour. The Captain drove his men onwards while ordering his spearmen on the causeway to retreat back into the City.

The Witch, meanwhile, had made her way into the City in disguise ere the dawn. When the Horn was sounded, she used the ensuing confusion to gain access to the Duke's castle. She quietly killed the guards and ascended to the floor of the Earl's room. She knocked loudly upon the door to be heard above the din of the battle and movement of troops; he answered and she entered. He held a sword at her, but when he saw who it was, he dropped it. 'Forsooth, is it thee, my love?' he asked
'Yea, indeed it is,' answered she as they embraced. 'I hast done all this so that the plan we made years ago could finally be fulfilled.'
With exuberance, both of them left the Earl's room to go to the Duke's chamber.

The Captain and his men crossed the white causeway and entered the City, closing the huge wood and iron gate behind them. But more than half his mounted spearmen had already been lost; he ordered his remaining ones dismount, for horses are more a liability in such a closed space. The Dragon thundered across the bridge to the gate and drew in a breath like none he had ever before. The Captain's men formed a phalanx on the other side of the gate. 'Ye are all great soldiers and against whatever comes through that gate, we shall triumph and be victorious!' said the Captain. At that the gate exploded in a shower of wood, metal and fire. Several men were killed when they were pierced by the flying shards. The Dragon and the mercenaries flooded through the smoking ruin of the gate. Many of the Captain's soldiers were crushed underfoot by the Drake, yet others were incinerated by his fire. The market was set aflame and the mercenaries charged against the Captain's men, but they were valiant. In particular, the Captain slew many men with his great spear, such that afterwards even his enemy held him in great regard. If not for the Dragon, the Captain may still have won the day, but such was not his luck. The mighty Fire-snake slew, crushed, ate and burned any in his path.

Up in the castle, the Witch and the Earl entered the Duke's room. He spun around. 'Son...you!' said he upon seeing the Witch. 'This...this be your doing, Witch!'

'Indeed,' responded she, ''tis my doing. But I hast only done that which will have reunited me with my love.'

The Duke turned his gaze to his son, 'Son, this enchantress harlot hast put thee under a spell!'