Dragon Mine - Chapter Four

When Tennon got back to the stables, he saw there was a commotion, people had gathered, having been drawn by the sound of a man screaming in pain on the floor. Upon getting closer Tennon saw that the man screaming was the head stable man he met earlier, who was now clutching what was left of his arm. Looking over; Tennon saw there was fresh blood dripping from William’s mouth, behind him was John, who was on the floor gripping the silver coin he had given him earlier tightly. Tennon immediately surmised what had happened; the head man had probably tried to take the silver coin Tennon had given John, away from him. When John refused to give it up, the head man probably lashed out at the boy, with William then coming to the boy’s aid.

“Somebody, kill that thing!!” The head man screams in agony, referring to William.

Some of the soldiers look around at each other unsure of what to do, while a few others began to draw their swords.

“Anybody touches my dragon and they’re losing more than an arm.” Tennon calmly calls out, as he walks toward William and John, completely ignoring the man wreathing in pain.

Everyone looks over at Tennon as he approaches, the more experienced soldiers recognized Tennon’s strength and immediately put away their blades. Others scoffed at his threat; one soldier in particular stepped in front of Tennon, blocking his way.

“You’ve been here less than a day and you’ve already caused quite the mess, I think it best you apologize and be grateful were ending the matter with just your dragon steed.” The soldier blocking Tennon proclaimed.

Tennon scans his surroundings and notices that none of the Noct guards had moved to help or intervene, seemingly happy to let the soldiers solve matters on their own.

Even though the soldier was taller than him, Tennon did not look up at him as he spoke, “Move, I’m only telling you once.”

Despite not looking at the soldier’s face, Tennon could feel the man’s angry glare looking down at him.

The soldier swings his fist at Tennon without warning, but Tennon easily catches it with one hand. The soldier then struggles to pull his hand out from Tennon’s grip but can’t as Tennon stands perfectly still. Tennon then slowly begins to turn the soldier’s fist in his hand, causing the soldier to grunt in pain and move in the direction Tennon was turning it. When the soldier was no longer in his way Tennon finally let’s go and the soldier falls to his knees on the floor holding his wrist in pain, Tennon looks toward the crowd, which immediately begins to disperse. As the crowd disperses the head stable man is helped up by a couple of soldiers and taken away to get medical treatment.

Tennon walks over to John and helps him up off the floor, “You, okay?”

John puts on a brave face and nods.

“Thank you for watching William, here.” Tennon hands John two silver coins.

John’s mouth falls open in shock and was about to refuse, but Tennon stops him.

“Trust me John, you don’t want to be here.” Tennon warns him.

After a moment John nods in understanding, Tennon smiles; again, surprised by how smart the young boy was, John then runs off turning back once to wave goodbye. Once John was out of sight, Tennon leads William out of the stables and into the forest. He moves quickly and quietly, alerting no one, fearing they would use some bureaucratic reason to stop him and keep him there.

‘Better to ask for forgiveness then permission.’ Tennon tells himself with a smile.

Tennon sighed in frustration as he watched from the shadows a group of slavers make camp a day’s ride from the encampment.

‘This is bad.’ Tennon thought to himself.

A day had passed since Tennon left the encampment, and it had only taken him a half a day to pick up the slavers trail and follow it. He’ll admit the slavers were good and hid their tracks well, but there was no reason for Lady Aoife to call for aid. She and her men could have easily dealt with these slavers on their own. She wanted the other Lords soldiers here, but why?

Tennon shakes his head; frustrated that he was unable to grasp what Lady Aoife was up to, so he decides to just wipe the board clean. If he takes out the slavers, then Lady Aoife would have no other reason to keep the soldiers here, forcing her to send them back, and maybe hampering whatever she’s planning.

With his mind set Tennon heads back to where he left William to wait until dark to make his move. Once there he carefully checks his equipment and eats before spending the rest of the time meditating. As he meditates, he goes over what he knows of Lady Aoife, and is baffled as to why such an important figure in all Dohvic history is a relatively unknown recluse.

Thousands of years ago long before Dohvic was ruled by the Dragon Lords, Dohvic was split between the two most powerful dragon clans, the black dragons, and the white dragons. The two clans were bitter rivals and constantly clashed; black dragons were the most physically powerful of all dragons, able to breath a purple flame that could cook a red fire dragon. White dragons while not as physically powerful as black dragon made up for this by being able to wield powerful magics. While most dragons can use some magic, it's mostly centered around their given nature and affinity. White dragons had no such limits and were able to wield a variety magics on a massive scale that kept them on even footing with the black dragons.

Both ruled their respective territories through iron fists, and the other dragons were forced to take sides. But it didn’t really matter who they sided with, they were just pawns to be used and discarded. This back and forth of constant conflict lasted millenniums and ravaged all of Dohvic and the myriad of races that lived within.

That finally changed when the black dragon prince, Ebenon and the white dragon princess, Melina, met and fell in love. Under normal circumstances this union would have been a perfect opportunity to finally unite both clans and end the fighting. But that wasn’t the case, despite not being able to agree on almost anything, the one thing both clans did agree on was the keeping of bloodlines pure. Relationships between different clans and races was strictly forbidden, those that broke this law were dealt with swiftly on both sides. Knowing this the two decided to elope anyway and abandon their respective clans. They then secretly gathered allies among the other dragon clans who would eventually become known as the Dragon Lords. Needless to say, when the black and white dragon clans heard of this, their response was brutal, and thus did The Great Dragon War begin.

At first the three factions were in a stalemate: one not moving against another for fear of the third taking advantage. This changed when Dragon Lords acquired the help of humans, offering protection in exchange for servitude. Humans who had at this point been living in constant fear of dragons, eagerly accepted. Though small, the humans’ added power was enough to tip the scales in the Dragon Lords favor. Seen as little more than pest by the other two factions, the humans were able to move about enemy lands spying and gathering information. It was during this time that the tactic of dragons taking and maintaining human form to perform sneak attacks and launch offences became standard. Despite their heavy losses and their dwindling numbers neither black nor white dragon clans would concede defeat. By the time The Great Dragon War was finished, both the black and white dragons were wiped out, tragically this included Prince Ebenon and Princess Melina. Having contracted an illness while pregnant, Melina would not survive past childbirth and Ebenon who had suffered a fatal wound in the last battle, would die the same night his child was born. That child is none other than Lady Aoife, her parents started The Great Dragon War that wiped out their respective peoples and changed the face of Dohvic forever all for the chance for her to be born.

As Tennon went over all this in is head, he still couldn’t understand why such an important figure to all of Dohvic shut herself away. She’s basically the embodiment of the future and freedom all Dohvic now shared.

‘Could the rumors about Lady Aoife be true, is that why she secluded herself?’ Tennon wonders to himself.

Rumors were just about the only thing people knew of Lady Aoife, the biggest being that she is unable to take dragon form. The rumor goes that knowing she was going to die, Melina decided to birth her child while in human form, something no one, no dragon, had ever done or even considered doing. Normally female dragons are pregnant for a few months before finally laying their egg or eggs, they then care for the egg or eggs for a few more months before they finally hatch. So, no one at the time knew how this would work or if it even would work, they tried to dissuade her, but no one not even her husband could change her mind.

When asked why she stated, “I want to feel the warmth of my child against my skin and see their face with my own eyes before I pass, not some cold hard shell.”

Thankfully Princess Melina got her wish and was able to hold and see her child before she passed. There are versions of the rumor that state; that even though he was at death’s door Ebenon went to his wife and child embracing them both. He and Melina both passing together while holding their child.

As far as rumors go Tennon personally hoped the last one was the truth, but the heart of the rumor is the fact that Lady Aoife was born in human form and because of that she unable to take dragon form. There are many who believe this is the reason she hides herself, and why she hasn’t shown herself in ages.

‘But that still begs the question, why reveal herself now?’ Tennon ponders.

Looking up at the sky; Tennon sees the waning light giving way to the stars. He clears his thoughts and begins focusing on the task at hand, he quickly rises and makes his way back to the slavers camp.

Tennon watched and counted about twenty slavers in the camp, he saw no captives in the cages so they must be in-between raids. Knowing he could just walk in and kill them all, Tennon decided to go with a quieter approach, silently slipping into the camp. He enters one of the tents and eyes the sleeping slavers, upon closer inspection he sees that their clothes were still bloody from their most recent raid. Angered filled Tennon, though he wasn’t a citizen of Noct he still felt for his fellow Dohvic countrymen, unsheathing his blades he quietly kills the slavers before they could wake. Exiting the tent; Tennon decides to forego his previous plan of doing things quietly. A patrolling slaver spots Tennon, but before he could shout out in alarm, Tennon quickly throws a small hidden blade into the man’s throat. As the slaver falls, Tennon quickly moves about the camp killing slavers before they could warn the others. He had killed five of them when one slaver he didn’t have time to reach finally manages to call out in alarm, alerting the rest of the slavers to his presence.

‘Counting the three from before that should be eight, so there are about twelve left.’ Tennon calculates to himself.

As if on cue the twelve remaining slavers charge at Tennon, but despite their superior number, they were no match for him. Tennon easily dodges and deflects all their blows, and then one by one begins cutting the slavers down until there was only four left. One of the remaining slavers begin to shout at the others, from his tone Tennon inferred he was the leader of the group.

“Get it together you fools, he’s clearly a dragon! Empower yourselves and rush him before he has the chance to transform!”

Tennon inwardly chuckled at their misconception and watched as all four men then quickly took swigs from small flasks around their necks, he watches as a faint glow began to surround their bodies.

“I see, so that’s how you’ve been able to kill and capture our people, by using body enhancement potions. From the glow surrounding your bodies, they’re the potions used exclusively by the Lion Head Empire’s army.” Tennon muses.

The slavers charge Tennon again, they were noticeably faster than before and the weight of their attacks heavier. The slavers begin to smile with glee as they see Tennon get pushed back, not realizing that he was allowing himself to be pushed back.

“Hmmm, those potions seem to be the real deal, both your speeds and strengths have doubled. Okay, that’s what I needed to know.” Tennon states.

“Don’t let his brave talk fool you, we got him on the ropes boys!” The head slaver called out.

As the slavers charge toward him once again, Tennon rushes towards the closest one with a speed they couldn’t track, reaching slaver before the slaver could reach him. Before the slaver could register what had just happened Tennon quickly removes the slaver head from his shoulder with on quick slice of his blade. The other slavers stop in their tracks astonished by what they just saw. Tennon continues to move swiftly towards the next two slavers, they swing their blades at Tennon as he approaches, but Tennon easily blocks both blades. He kicks one of the slavers away knocking him to the ground, with his second blade free Tennon makes quick work of the slaver in front of him slicing him in multiple places before finishing him off with a slice to the throat. The slaver Tennon had kicked away was still scrambling to get up when Tennon walks up and stabs him through the chest.

Tennon slowly approaches the last slaver, who falls to the floor terrified, and raises his blade into the air.

“Why are you doing this, this isn’t what we were promised!” The slaver screams out in terror.

Tennon stops at the slaver words and points his blade at the slavers neck.

“What were promised, who brought you here?” Tennon questions.

Tennon suddenly turns around and deflects an arrow that had been headed for the slaver with his blade. Noct soldiers step out from the shadows surrounding Tennon and the slaver, Lady Aoife appears behind them.

The soldiers make way for Lady Aoife as she begins to speak, “Well, isn’t this a surprise, conversing with slavers I see.” Lady Aoife accuses in a sweet voice.

“Interrogating not conversing, my lady.” Tennon quickly corrects.

“You trust what that man says?” Lady Aoife asks.

“I think it worth exploring.” Tennon replies.

“My, my, Rai’s right eye protecting a slaver? Should I take this as a sign that Coerth is in league with the slavers that have been troubling my domain?” Lady Aoife calmly insinuates.

“I ask that you refrain from making such slanderous comments, my lady.” Tennon says through gritted teeth.

The Noct soldiers surrounding Tennon immediately ready their weapons toward him, their anger at how he just spoke to their lord filling the air. Lady Aoife raises her hand and the soldier quickly lower their weapons and stand at attention.

Lady Aoife glares at Tennon, “Have care how you speak to me.”

“Forgive me my lady.” Tennon apologizes, his calm tone masking his anger.

Lady Aoife smiles, seemingly enjoying toying with Tennon.

Realizing that Tennon was his best shot of getting out of this alive, the slaver who was still on the floor grabs hold of Tennon’s cloak and begins to ramble.

“We were brought in from the east, a man there claimed-”

Before the slaver could finish, he’s pulled away and lifted into the air by Lady Aoife, her hand around his neck.

“Wait!!” Tennon calls out.

He barely got the word out as Lady Aoife snaps the slavers neck and drops him to the floor. Tennon was shocked, one second Lady Aoife was a few feet in front of him talking the next she was behind him holding the slaver in the air.

‘What just happened? No matter how fast she is I should have noticed her moving, how did she do that?’ Tennon asks himself. ‘No, that’s not what’s important. The fact that she killed him right when he started talking is what matters.’

“Are you unharmed, when I saw him lunge and grab hold of you, I feared for your safety.” Lady Aoife states with fake concern.

“So that’s how you want to play it.” Tennon whispers to himself before addressing Lady Aoife, “You didn’t need to trouble yourself my lady I had everything well in hand.”

“As a valued guest I couldn’t afford not to.” Lady Aoife replies. “Now come, let us head back to the encampment, there is much we need to discuss.”

From the look on Lady Aoife’s face Tennon knew this wasn’t a request, and that if he went back to the encampment he would never leave. He knew she wouldn’t kill him, not because it would start conflict with Coerth, but because it would disrupt whatever she’s planning. Plus, he would make a good bargaining chip. Thinking of what to do, Tennon sees William hiding at the edge of the tree line waiting for his call.

“I think it best I head back to Coerth, my lady.” Tennon replies.

“Are you disobeying, did Lord Rai not put you under my command when he sent you here?” Lady Aoife asks.

“If you recall when we first spoke, I said I was yours to command until these slavers are dealt with.” Tennon looks down at the last dead slaver at Lady Aoife feet. “It would seem they have been dealt with.” Tennon replies cheekily.

After a moment of silence Lady Aoife begin to chuckle then laugh, the sound of which caused something inside of Tennon to stir awake, but he quickly shakes the feeling aside. With her head resting on her hand to one side and her other arm wrapped around her waist Lady Aoife looks at Tennon with a sleepy smile.

“Honestly, I’m tired of all this pretense do you mind if we drop the act so to speak?” Lady Aoife asks.

“By all means.” Tennon answers.

“Then I’ll keep it simple, come with me quietly and you won’t get hurt.” Lady Aoife offers.

Tennon takes a deep breath and turn up his head as if to consider her offer before exhaling loudly and turning back to face Lady Aoife.

“Guess I’m going to have to get hurt.” Tennon answers.

Lady Aoife smiles before turning and walking away, “Capture him.” She orders.

The soldiers surrounding Tennon put away their weapons and begin to close in around him with their fists at the ready. Tennon puts his blades away, killing any of them could give her cause, for keeping him here trapped. When it came to hand-to-hand combat Tennon wasn’t the best, but he was good enough, added to that his above average capabilities, meant he had a chance.

A soldier behind Tennon lunges for him; he dodges out of the way only for another soldier swing his fist at him. Tennon is able to block the attack and capture the soldier’s arm, using his foot to knock the soldier’s feet out from under him, he uses the arm as leverage to throw soldier into three others. Tennon moves to the break in the circle so that he was facing all the soldiers, angered that they no longer had him surrounded the soldiers charge in and attack. Tennon is able to block, dodge, and counter most of their attacks. But these were no regular human slavers, these were draconic human soldiers, they were well trained and had superior numbers. One fist manages to catch him in the face, he able to recover and counter but not before another fist catches his side. Tennon grits his teeth and pushes through the pain, countering whenever he had the chance. Little by little the soldiers were tiring and their numbers lowering as Tennon knocked more and more out of the fight. From the corner of his eye Tennon saw that William was still waiting at the tree line for his signal.

‘Not yet.’ Tennon told himself.

Distracted for a moment Tennon is barely able to block a fist headed for his chest, he knocks the fist away and then jumps, dropping kicking the soldier into another one behind him. Despite being out of breath Tennon quickly gets up and ready's himself only to realize that all the soldiers were down. He hears the sound of two metal hands steadily clapping and look to see that it was Lady Aoife.

“I must say Lord Rai chose his eye well.” Lady Aoife compliments.

She then raises her hand, and another group of soldiers appear from behind her along with the sorceress he had seen in her tent, Isla. Isla smiles as she and the soldiers approach Tennon, a magical glyph illuminating her hand, a spell at the ready.

With the group only a few feet away Tennon yells, “NOW!!!” as he reaches into one of his pouches and pulls out a white rock and throws it at the group.

The rock explodes sending out a shockwave that knocks almost everyone to the ground, William runs out of the tree line and straight towards Tennon, knocking down the few soldiers who managed to withstand the shockwave.

Tennon quickly mounts William and takes off into the sky, “Good job buddy, I owe you all the steak you want when we get back.”

William let out a happy shrill.

Tennon looks back down at the soldiers in chaos and notices Lady Aoife watching after him, a small smile on her lips. He suddenly realizes that the shock rock he threw never affected her, she could have easily stopped him if she had wanted to, Lady Aoife then gives him a small wave. A small chill runs down Tennon spine, he looks away and towards home. He had to tell Lord Rai that a storm was coming to all of Dohvic and that Lady Aoife was at the center of it.