The Dragon of Charred Scales

Unanswered Questions

Jheecu

"It has been in the plans a long time for the duo of the prophecy to be brought either to Oita or Talbagu. Let them stay in Hasinji for a while, since they will likely only focus on magic mastery and fighting techniques for some time. Finally, the time came to get them out, which I was chosen to be a part of," said Dalquiri after settling down in my room. Unfortunately, I do not have any extra bedding material for her to lay on. She refused to take mine. But she is a tough dragon, and a younger one too. The hard floor will not be too uncomfortable.

"But something had happened. I was not chosen to carry the two, since I am not a swift dragon. I was meant to be a guard. Unfortunately, the swift dragon I was guarding was killed before she could grab them."

"Before you go any farther, are Novayar and Oculeera alive?"

She nodded. "Yes, unless something happened later on. I believe the dragon who captured them took them to Talbagu. But the plan was to create diversions and sow chaos. Except things went wrong."

Dalquiri shuffled her wings. "We had many dragons inside the clan to help out, but the Greatest Elder was not evacuated like the duo. Like she felt it was safe to stay. I fear she heard our plans, perhaps from a double agent, and decided to turn it against us. I really don't know."

"So, what all did you see? What happened? Maybe something will make sense to me."

Taking a deep breath, she spoke, voice low. "It was night, the dead of night. A few dragons from here joined those of us from Talbagu. Most of us were chosen for our seer gift, or for our prowess in whatever skill we were best at. Deliah, daughter of Valmeti, the swift dragon who I guarded, was one of the fastest fliers I have ever seen. She planned to grab the young dragons in her talons and fly away, with me covering her escape."

I growl silently. Something similar was planned the night my nest was stolen. Several dragons stayed behind to keep me from pursuing. A few died as a result. But I understand the necessity of it in Hasinji. Xanmet-kal would never let any other dragon request to transport those two elsewhere.

"But she was attacked by a spell to bind her wings before ever making it to the shield bubble. If it hadn't been so sudden, so unexpected, I would have been able to stop her fall with a spell. My orders, though, made me search for the backup swift dragon for if Deliah failed. In the chaos, though, I had trouble figuring out who was friend or foe. All were fighting and some were falling out of the air."

She shook her head, looking down. "Many died that night. Too many. That was not the plan."

"Do you know the specifics of the plan? Or just the general points? Obviously things veered off from the expected."

She shook her head, still looking down. "Not all of the specifics. Just that there was to be a diversion by damaging some scarcely populated buildings, then swoop in to grab the duo off their guard."

"We're the guards already assigned to them, or did they come out of nowhere?"

"Already assigned. Whether for a rumor they heard or just because, I have no idea."

I would have thought they would be guarded from the first time they stepped foot into a dragon clan, and forever more. Keep those two within whatever bubble they want, shaping them through lessons and through filtered news. That still may be the case, though. Say there is a threat that might be related to the prophecy, or just because a conjurer is a desired item. Tighten the walls around them.

"Regardless, neither are swift dragons," Dalquiri continued. "Guarded or not, no matter if they are in Kucho or Hasinji or Talbagu, it makes sense that a swift dragon will always be around to fly them out of harm. Both can fly, but not fast enough."