Rise of Fire: Dragons Reborn [COMPLETED]

Chapter 42

**** This is a shorter chapter, sorry for my extended hiatus! This has been a rough end to 2019 and things haven't been going great for me. I lost my interest in writing for a while and struggled (and am continuing to struggle) with setting up plot and laying down dialogue. But I made a promise to myself to see Rise on the bookshelves one day and that means I have to continue pushing forward. And so I will. And I'll keep pushing my other books forward too, little by little. I hope you all stay with me as I keep pushing, and I hope I continue to deliver a story you enjoy as much as I do. So please bear with me, and thank you for your continued support.*******

He sat behind his sprawling desk with a sour expression on his face. His attitude was as poor as it had been in quite some time, and all of it stemmed from the bitch giantess. She had brought him nothing but trouble and woe, though the main source of his trouble and woe lie before him in the bowl of crystalline water on his desk.

"So you do have the rider?" The woman's voice was like that of a serpent, it never ceased to send shivers up his spine. She was darkness eternal, cruelty reborn, and most of all a massive pain in his ass.

"Yes, how many times do I have to say yes before you get the message? I've seen the little blighted beast that she totes around with her constantly and I can assure you it's the dragon. Besides, by your description of the rider I can promise you she's one and the same." How could anyone not recognize her? Her blazing red hair, multicolored eyes, hulking frame, and her aura of danger. She was nothing short of a demon, and that was an odd parallel for him to draw considering his demonic minions.

"You've done good, Gordon." Her pale image flickered for a moment as her lips pulled up into a smile. Her teeth were nearly as white as her flesh, he couldn't help but think she needed a good couple of months under some sunlight.

"Thank you, my lady." He inclined his head slightly. He was treading dangerous waters, it felt as if he had sharks circling eagerly waiting to eat him.

"I was wondering, what might I receive as a reward for delivering the baby rider to you? She is quite troublesome, I've expended a great deal of resources to acquire her and keep her under my thumb." He was most sore about the loss of his demonic minotaur. It had taken months to find the minotaur, and it cost his increasingly finite supply or magi to bind the demon's soul to the bull.

"Reward?" She tapped a slender finger against her chin as a vein of ice crept up his spine. He could already tell things weren't going his way. They never went his way with her... But he couldn't stop pressing now, he had already broached the subject and he wasn't going to be denied. Not again.

"Yes, I've lost a great deal of my magi, my coffers are nearly drained, serving Vekkar has taken its toll on my kingdom. I need some compensation if you want me to continue serving." It was a weak hand and he knew it. Vekkar had no cares for money or the struggles of his disciples. If they could not serve they would simply become stepping stones, corpses on the road he was paving forward. Yet he could hope that the Princess of Darkness would relent just this once and allow him access to the undoubtedly endless resources of the Dark-Father.

"You want.... Rewarded for your service..." She sounded as if she were confused about the very concept of a reward. He grit his teeth in annoyance,

"The baby rider is a handful. It's been hard to keep her contained here and the longer she remains the more dangerous she becomes." He could feel her rage growing as if it were a tangible monster lurking in the darkness. She was always watching, always keeping her eyes and ears focused on the shadows. He knew it wouldn't be much longer before she started to unravel his web.