The Dragon of Charred Scales

Side Quest

Jheecu

In human standards, Harogbas and I make an odd couple, and I sense a few eyes watch us through windows as we walk along the sidewalks. We are of similar height, both a little short, but the rest of our features speak to our upbringings on opposite sides of the planet. Were they to see our real forms, they would do worse than stare. But I do not look back or act bothered by it all. I am a dragon, a being deserving of their respect, walking with the one I love enough to have once considered a preferred mate. One day soon, they shall know everything and give us the respect that is due.

I let him hold my hand to guide me. The warmth from his hand helps keep mine from freezing. It does not in any way match being wrapped up in his wing. Especially now with wings large enough to fully wrap around me. That is something I have never felt since being a youngling. But even such a little warmth makes me feel better.

The dinner we had truly tasted good. Harogbas picked a good steak house. If I can get ahold of some money, I will come here more often during the winter. Hunting and smoking my own meat when I can is handier than coming here, but that can change. Perhaps in the future, steak houses will be flooded by dragons craving well-seasoned meat. Perhaps they will be run by dragons, infusing the meat with dragon smoke for humans to try. They can have their fill as I have had mine.

Street lights winked on as the sun dipped below the horizon. Few cars whizzed by in this residential road. Our destination must be close. Or at least I hope it is.

Harogbas eventually steered me up one driveway with little to distinguish it from the others. A beat-up old silver car. Light tan paint on a single-story house. Snow cleared from the driveway and sidewalk but not the yard. Not that anything can grow in a yard right now.

I stood a step behind him as he knocked on the door. Not much time passed before the door opened and a small old lady stood before us. A frail looking disguise hiding something much more dangerous, kind of like us. A golem, a kewmoni, the first I have seen outside of Oita. If I remember correctly, their numbers are quite small. Native to parts of what humans call the Middle East but a few have moved elsewhere.

"Harogbas," she said with a rasp.

"Beatrice Knarlow," Harogbas said with a nod.

"Thought you would be more of a coward and come to kill me with more of your goons," she said. I took a step forward, fists clenched. She should be afraid if she felt her life is in danger, but I see no fear. "I should have guessed your strength dragon arrogance would have kept you from bringing a small army to finish me."

"I am not here to hurt you, unless you act against Jheecu here or anyone else. I do have a dragon's sense of honor."

Her eyes bored into mine with the knowing look of a seer. "Jheecu... I have heard the name before. Are you here to kill me? You have an angry aura about you. I have heard you have a dark past."

"I do not kill anything but prey," I responded, revealing nothing to her. My past is none of her business, even if other dragons who know me have looser mouths.

"Our purpose would be better discussed inside, but it does not involve harm," said Harogbas.

"No one here speaks a word of Draconian except us. You two stay out here."

I look around. With nighttime approaching, few are outside. Inside would be better, but this associate obviously distrusts us. But I would rather stay outside instead of walking into a possible trap. She may be weak in magic, but even weak spells can ensnare us.

"Harogbas, you have changed. You, you have corrupted." With that, she took a step back, eyes wide with just a touch of nervousness. "This is recent?"