Destroyers and the Dragons

Page 9

      "You have not proven your claim, it must be something that could not be stolen," I say, watching him carefully.

     "Bring her outside," he growls. Curiously I shuffle behind the guards. They bring me outside and I blink in the sunlight while their leader paces in a clearing.

     "What do you know of my people?" he asks.

     "That you can assume human form, that your other form is a huge hulking dragon. That the heir in line for the throne is tattooed. It can only be seen in dragon form, and since you rarely assume that form no one is able to copy it." I watch as he transforms into his dragon form and gawk. He is at least thirty feet long; his wingspan is almost double that, but what I find most fascinating is his color. He looks like the trees. Dark greens fading into lush browns and grays. He turns carefully and then stands on his hind legs, carefully rolling onto his back. He is beautiful.

     "Come see for yourself," he says, as quietly as possible. I shuffle forward and look at the markings. I tentatively reach out and touch the tattoo. I check my damp hand and sigh in relief that there is no ink on my hands.

     "Well it seems to be real," I say, stepping back as he rolls onto his feet again. It's hard to tell, but I think he's smiling.

     "You don't seem to be scared," he says.

     "I haven't found much to be scared of since I was a child and lost my parents and sister," I say, looking down at the ground. I feel the magic standing so close as he returns to his human form. It bothers me that I can not place his familiar face, but I push the thought away and concentrate on the problems at hand.

     "Let's find somewhere to talk and make plans," he says, gently grabbing my arm. We return to the room they fed me in and he takes off the leg shackles. I flex my ankles and wiggle my toes.

     "So when do my bracelets come off?" I ask.

     "When I am sure I can trust you," he replies. I sigh and lean back in the chair, and wait for him to lay down a wonderful plan. Instead, he seems to study my face and then his eyes wander down to my loose tunic. I am suddenly thankful that the table blocks the rest of me.

     "So what's your plan?" I ask, trying to stay on topic.

     "Food first, we were rude to you before," he says, and then gets up and grabs some bread and cheese. He slices several pieces of bread and cheese and then hands me a plate with both on it. I slowly grab a piece of bread and then slap a slice of cheese on top. I bite into this treat and wait for him to come up with a plan still.

      "Well here's what we really need, we need a plan," he finally says.

      "So I'm supposed to come up with a plan without knowing the layout, or any other things," I blurt out throwing down the food in frustration.

    "No, you've got my intelligence and my peoples' knowledge. You are a brilliant strategist," he says.

     "Flattery will not help. I am reckless and I will endanger every person you send in with me," I say, with a shrug.

     "We are stronger than your average human," he says.

     "And that will account for what, when we are overwhelmed by sheer numbers," I say.