10 Minute Tales, Part 2

Aug 5 - Revoked

The beast grumbled as it tapped its talons on the stony ground. Where was she? He had plenty of words to share with her, none of them pleasant. He could clearly see the smoke in the distance. He could see the magic that tainted those faint plumes. She was behind it. He huffed, talons starting to dig a small ditch in the rocks below.

"Where..." he growled, voice too powerful for most humans to hear. She would understand it fine. He suddenly perked up as he realised. He could hear her horse. He sat up, shuffling his weight slightly as she came into view. She bore that same proud expression that had drawn his attention. Now, though, it seemed... somehow disconcerting.

"I'm here, master!" she grinned, yelling with a strength far beyond that her frame would suggest. "I've done as you asked!"

"I asked you to defeat one knight." he grumbled, his patience tested. "What, pray tell, did you do?"

"I beat the knight!" she brought the horse to a stop, hopping off before it had stopped. Disgruntled, it trotted off and chewed at some grass. "Made sure the family wouldn't later seek vengeance, too."

"How many times do I have to tell you?" he growled quietly, staring at her with intense, fiery eyes. Even she couldn't miss something was up, and her proud expression softened a little. "A dragon is a being of conquest, yes. It is not a mindless tool for destruction. You have stopped this village from seeking revenge, yes, but at the cost of the entire kingdom looking for us."

"Let them come!" she growled playfully. "We'll show them we're not to be trifled with!" She raised her spear in pride. It almost hurt him to see the reminder of his trust in her, to see his talon tied to the shaft of the spear.

"No. All you would show them is a beast. A monster. You would show them something they must fear. A dragon is not an enemy to life, only that which would harm it."

"Humans have dragonslayers specifically designed to hunt dragons down! You can't honestly claim that they deserve mercy!" She smiled, almost disbelieving what she was hearing. She hadn't learnt, then.

"Show me your Mark." he commanded. She frowned in confusion but obeyed. Her top was raised to show his signature, his emblem of power that now decorated her stomach. He frowned slightly as he concentrated. To give the gift was taxing. To take it back, more so. The mark glowed as the ritual begin.

"Hey, what are you doing?" she frowned, looking at the mark. Her confusion turned to panic as she watched it fade away, becoming unblemished skin once more.

"I will not stand idly by as you endanger all of dragonkind. If you seek my powers once more, you must demonstrate your worth anew."

"You can't do this!" she objected, glaring at him. "You already chose me, remember?"

"It seems as though I chose in haste." he replied, the last of his powers withdrawing from her body. She was human again. Mortal.