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Fire and Ice – Reforged -

Chapter Six

© Cederwyn Whitefurr

17th March, 2020

All Rights Reserved.

Eyes slowly opening, the Dragon stared dumbfounded at the burning sword that was mere inches away from her scaled nostrils, the flame sizzling as it licked hungrily at the wet mud, glowing with such an intensive flare, she was forced to squeeze her eyes closed again.

“No..." come the voice of Sir Kathis, astride her neck, before he dismounted and walked around to her nose, then picked up the sword and then threw it to the side. “I can not kill you...not now, and not ever."

“Do it!" Wept the Dragon, as she shuddered. “Get your revenge, its yours for the taking!"

A hand reached out then trembled, before being placed on the bridge of her scaled muzzle, then Sir Kathis shuddered.

“I will not...for what it is worth – I forgive you and absolve you of your guilt and crimes..."

“You..." She asked, then suddenly her head snapped up and she leapt to her scaled feet, head lifting as she scented the air and began turning.

“What is it?" Sir Kathis asked, confused.

Sniffing again, the Dragon spun about, her eyes widening in fear and disbelief.

“No...it can't be - “

*

From out of the forests edge, a dozen armour clad knights urged their powerful destrier forwards, lances lowered and held in strong grips. At a command, they spurred their mounts, who snorted and tossed their heads, then burst into a thunderous gallop.

“Go!" Sir Kathis yelled, as he stumbled over and retrieved his discarded sword.

Naked as the day he was born, he knew it was a suicidal stand – but his heart knew what his mind did not – he would stand and die – to protect the one he loved.

Indecision fought with anxiety, as the dragon unfurled her wings and crouched. “No, I can take you with me, hurry we can - “

He spun about, then using the flat of the blade, struck her savagely on the shoulder. She screamed as the flames seared through scales and flesh, but it broke her indecision and she crouched, then leapt skywards, her wings beating like a hurricane causing dirt, mud and leaves to swirl and obscure the vision of all before her.

Horses reared and panicked, their riders dropping their lances as they gripped the reins and struggled to remain seated, before a shadow fell over them and with a roar like a summer thunderstorm, the Dragon's voice shrieked a word in a language none present would understand.

That loud, piercing voice that was delivered with such intensity and force, it created a shock wave that buffeted the attackers and allies alike. Clouds began to churn and boil, tumbling over themselves as they grew black and ominous, Within seconds, lightning crashed and the claps of thunder nearly deafened those below.

Humans and horses screamed in fear, as the dragon vanished into the clouds, the lightning striking indiscriminately. Without warning, she dove like an arrow out of the clouds, then there was a scream as a knight was torn from the saddle, clutched in a scaled hand. Both knight and dragon dissapeared into the clouds – before his body crashed back to the ground – the armour rent and torn, the body broken and twisted. Another Draconic scream was heard and from the very ground itself, eldritch fog rose up, swirling and strange, spectral shapes moved and danced within it then dissolved and reformed.

“Form up!" Come a voice through the fog. “Stand true!"

A terrifying flapping noise was heard, slow, methodical and completely shrouded. Something about the fog distorted sound and masked it – before a silvery scaled head slashed through it and both horse and knight screamed as they were dragged into the fog...their corpses thudding into the ground.

“Stand and fight, you godless beast!" Shrieked one of the Knights, presumably, their leader.

A chuckle come out of the fog, the sound of leathery wings beating seemed to be right before them as they dismounted and stood back to back, their swords held out before them, pitiful kite shields their defence as was their heavy steel armour.

“Why should I - “ Come the menacing whisper. “What right have you, to descend upon my woods, to bring your anger and hatred here!"

“Stand – or we'll burn this wood to ashes, see if we don't and..."

A scaled paw slashed out, and a Knight screamed as effortlessly, the talons sliced through armour, skin and flesh crushing bones and slamming his body a dozen paces away, before the fog shrouded it once more. Their fear growing, the Knights looked in all directions, an increasingly smaller cleared space around them shrinking with every one of their number that died. A deep inhalation caused the fog to swirl ominously, before the senior Knight screamed and dropped into a crouch.

“Shields!"

An arctic blast of ice and frost tore apart the fog – crystallising the water vapour within it, as the dragon exhaled its terrifying and lethal breath. One was too slow, and he was frozen into what looked like an ice sculpture by the breath – before the silvery tail slashed out and when it struck the knight, he exploded into thousands of fragments like a dropped crystal decanter.

A young knight, barely past his squire rank, dropped his sword and shield then screamed and ran into the fog.

“I don't want to die, I don't want..." His voice faded away, as the other Knights quickly exchanged glances.

“You'll hang for this!" Snarled their leader.

One by one, the Dragon picked them off, dividing them up with illusions and her powerful magicks. At last, she broke apart the fog with her powerful wings, thrashing them so the wind from them was like a cyclone and she took stock of what was left...her silvery eyes took in the death and carnage, before she sighed with sadness and guilt. A dozen paces from her, lay the dying senior knight, who coughed up blood and using his sword, he dragged himself to his feet, staring defiantly at her as he swayed back and forth.

“You..." He spat at her, then took a stumbling step. “I'll deliver your heart on a platter..."

Quirking an eyebrow, the Dragon stood her ground, both incredulous and amused at the tenacity of this obviously mortally wounded human who dared to challenge her.

“You're too late lizard - “ He coughed and stumbled, his sword falling from his gauntlet clad hand.

“Oh, really?" She asked, a cruel smile spreading over her scaled lips. “For what pray tell is that?"

Coughing up blood, he lifted his head to look into her eyes. “Where's the traitor? Well? Where's he who you protect? Did he sheathe his sword in your cold slit?"

Anger spread across her muzzle, as his words hurt worse than any blade, before she blinked and turned her head, looking back towards her cottage.

“Sir Kathis - “ She called out.

Silence greeted her...

“Sir Kathis!" She shrieked, making the knight clutch his hands to his head in pain.

“He's...gone – you think this was all we sent for him? We gave our lives – willingly – for the King, so we could bring that..."

He gasped, as she leapt, her left paw crushing him to the ground and snapping ribs and collarbones as she glared down in feral rage.

“What did you do too..."

He looked up at her, before a smile parted his bloodied lips, then the life faded from his eyes as death claimed him...

*

Sir Kathis had stood no chance – he too had been blinded and lost in the fog, the flames from his sword no help as they were reflected and scattered, limiting the already confusing visual capabilities he had. He heard voices, shouts, cries and other things in the fog, some that made him sick to his stomach, as he stumbled around, lost, confused and virtually helpless.

He didn't even cry out, when four heavily armed knights appeared and in seconds, had him on the ground and gagged, before tight manacles were slapped onto his wrists and he was carried away into the swirling mists without a chance to defend himself...

*

For months, Sir Kathis languished in the King's dungeons beneath his castle. Half starved, regularly tortured and beaten - he was a broken man, once strong, virile and honourable – now? He was a third his weight, emaciated and broken in both body and spirit. His hair and beard were matted, filthy and unkempt, his body caked with his own excrement and filth.

As the iron barred door rattled, he suddenly screamed and flinched, barely able to lift his arm up to protect his eyes from the flickering torchlight that suddenly filled the chamber.

“Get up..." Come a growl from the jailer.

Sir Kathis cringed back into the corner, trembling and drooling, his sanity almost fled.

Sinking a thick leather boot into his kidneys, the jailer laughed and scratched at the filthy tunic that barely covered his bulging belly.

“I said, get up..."

Seeing this pitiful wretch, the Jailer snorted and two guardsmen undid the chains that bound Sir Kathis to the wall and forcibly dragged him out, the heavy door slamming closed behind them with an ominous clank.

He was paraded before what he thought, was the whole town. Peasants threw stones and rotten vegetables, even manure at him, as he was wheeled along to the centre square on a donkey drawn cart. He tried not to flinch as the stones struck him, but he couldn't help it. One particular large one struck him astride the temple and he fell onto the rotten stray in the cart – cheers screaming from the peasants and others alike.

Finally, he was dragged from the cart by six fellow knights, one he recognised by the standard on his shield. They dragged him up to the platform, on which stood a large stake that had been driven into the ground, kindling and logs piled around it, two barrels of pitch standing to one side.

“Sir Palenore - “ Sir Kathis gasped. “My brother, please, do not..."

Angrily, the Knight backhanded Sir Kathis, dropping him to the ground, before he was cruelly dragged back up.

“Do not speak to me..." Snarled the Knight. “You are no sworn brother, you have forsaken your oaths of our order and defiled the King's very order!"

Angry voices rose up from the gathered knights and the populace who had assembled to watch the execution.

“I, Sir Palenore, do hereby decree the following to be true and right, before the eyes of man, King and the very Gods!"

“Please..." Sir Kathis begged, as he was dragged over and chained to the stake.

“By Order of His Majesty, you, stripped of name and titles, stand hereby accused of the heinous crimes. Treason, conspiring with an enemy of the Kingdom, and this, the most grievous of all your numerous crimes! Sexual relations with a beast!"

“Lady Jessica is no beast!" Lord Kathis's voice cracked as he struggled futilely against the chains that bound him. “Listen to me, once, their kind and ours lived in peace and harmony – side by side and..."

A gauntlet hand was driven into his stomach, making him gasp and the air rush from his lungs.

“Silence!" Roared Sir Palenore. “You would seek to fill our heads with such vile lies and corruption? Such words are heresy before King and God! We know, you had engaged in unholy rituals, fornicated with beasts of the forest against their will, then willingly conspired to overthrow the king himself – with a creature spawned from the unholiest depths of the abyssal hells!"

Sir Kathis struggled back to his feet, before he summoned his strength and defiantly lifted his head.

“I will not be silenced, for the truth shall be known! Lady Jessica was once a loved, respected and proud member of the Nobility! Her mate and herself once sat at court, even at the King's very table..."

A hush rippled over the crowd, and they began to part, as a bear of a man, tall, dressed in ornate robes and with a magnificent crown upon his head, strode purposefully forwards.

To either side, peasants and nobles alike dropped to one knee before the regal man, who strode purposefully straight towards the execution sight. He held him regally, yet those close to him sensed the pain and torture within him as he carried something in a ornate box before him.

“Your majesty - “ Gasped Sir Palenore, as he and his knights bowed their heads and knelt.

Turning to face the gathered people, the prince set down the box, then ordered it be opened. As the shattered crown was lifted – gasps and moans swept over the crowd.

“My father, the King, is dead..." Spoke the Prince, tears shimmering in his eyes.

Sliding a ornate vellum scroll from his belt, he unrolled it and cleared his throat. Silence spread across the mourners, as they awaited the words that would be surely written upon the scroll the Prince held.

“In my fathers own hand, his words were written, that which I shall read to you all..." Began the prince. “I, Lord Halistar the King, do hereby announce that I am only mortal – as such – I made mistakes. I banished the people of fur from my kingdom, through fear, ignorance and misinformation and lies from one whom I called friend and my most trusted adviser. They were a valued member of our society, yet through my ignorance and lies told to me, I banished them and placed a death warrant on their furred neck. For this, I am sorry, in this letter, I hereby declare, with openness and truthfulness, I was wrong and the declaration of their arrest and execution is to be suspended. Those who return, are free and shall be compensated for their hardships. None shall bear repercussions of my foolishness – they shall be reinstated to their full rights and titles, here-fore signed and dated..."

Surprised voices rang out, some cheered, some wept, some angrily screamed abuse and epithets. For several moments, the prince let the crowd give themselves their voices, before he held up one hand.

“Such were the words of my father..." He spoke calmly, before the sneered and tore the vellum in two and threw it to the ground. “My father is dead – his words and his laws are hereby absolved and are to be stricken from this, my kingdoms new birth!"

Startled cries come from the crowd.

“I hereby declare, as of this moment and time, as your new King, a bounty is to be placed upon these unholy man-beasts! Their head to be delivered to the castle, their weight in silver shall be granted unto those who bring their severed heads to me!"

“My lord - “ Stammered Sir Palenore.

“I am the King now! Snarled the Prince.

Bowing his head, the Knight stepped back. “As you command, Sire... Executioner..."

“Hold!" Growled the Prince, a cruel smile spreading over his face. “I shall do this myself, to show even the King, stands by his word..."

Sir Kathis struggled as he was doused in the pitch, before the new King was handed a burning torch. As he approached, Sir Kathis tried to focus, before he seen the shadow that was cast behind the King.

The Silhouette of a Dragon...

“No..." He gasped. “You can't be..."

His smile spreading wider, the King's eyes shimmered from a rich blue, to a mercury like colour, the reptilian slit narrowing, before it switched back again. “I know now, I can smell the scent of the whore that laid the egg from which I hatched... Tell me, did she please you? Did her arm, furred form pleasure you sexually – or did she take you as her true form, show you unimagined sexual perversions only our kind know? I can not help but wonder...what it feels like, to take a Doe, to lay with her as man and woman...mayhaps when I feel the urge, I'll hunt her down and find out for myself..."

Sir Kathis tried to break free, but the bonds that held him were too strong, and the Prince reached out, then trailed his fingers lightly through the sticky black pitch that coated Sir Kathis' face.

“How in the name of the Gods..." Sir Kathis choked and shuddered.

“Gods? Oh, I am no child of those sad, pathetic imaginary creatures... I am a Dragon, a creature to be feared and respected – soon – shall humanity bow before me as their new Lord and Master – or face my righteous wrath. My reign over these pathetic mortals will be long and glorious – my future a certainty – unlike yours..."

Sir Kathis struggled, as the King smirked, then waved the torch back and forth.

“Oh, I imagine this will be quite exquisitely painful Sir Knight...so do me a favour, one last time? Scream...your pathetic kind do so amuse me so when you're breathing your last..."

Dropping the torch, the King stepped back as the pitch instantly burst into fire and smoke, igniting the tinder and brush that surrounded the stake. Sir Kathis grit his teeth, trying desperately as the fire licked and consumed his feet and shins, not to cry out, to give voice to the agony that consumed him. As it spread, he cast his eyes over the crowd, then in his last moments, he screamed – he couldn't help it...as in the crowd, he saw a hooded and cloaked figure, whose mercury coloured eyes wept tears, before it turned away and moved through the crowd.

*

That night when Sir Kathis had been so cruelly tortured and burned alive at the stake. No one had been unmoved by it, apart from the King, who sat on a throne on the castle balcony and watched gleefully until there was nought but ashes and bones...

*

His bones and as much of the ashes as could be claimed, vanished by morning – no trace was found, and the King placed a bounty on the head of whoever had claimed them – but no one was ever found...

*

With a loud thump, the Dragon landed on the ledge of the mountain, before she folded her wings over her back and bowed her head, banishing the wards and protections over this, the resting place of her beloved. Unable to fit, Jessica summoned her magicks and the form of the Whitetail Doe swept over her. Her eyes filled with tears, she moved into the hollowed out cavern and approached the large funeral casket that rested on an ornately engraved platform. Lying atop the casket, was an incredibly lifelike effigy of her slain mate, replete with armour, shield and sword. His actual sword burst into cerulean flames as she approached and she stopped, gazing down at it.

“Soon enough..." Jessica's sob echoed off the walls.

Grief, suffering, pain – worse than anything – swept over her, as she dropped to her knees and clutched her head in her paws, then gave birth to the agony that threatened to consume her.

“My love, I miss you more than you will ever know. For it was through you, a mere human, I learned how to look past my own misgivings and instincts – to learn to love, truly love, another. Would I, had I had the strengths of character you had possessed – willingly sacrificed my life you you? I would have given anything – even my own life – for you my beloved..."

Quietly, she placed a single wild rose at the bier, before she turned and walked back out of the cavern. Here, she knelt and bowed her head, before her furred pelt shimmered and once again, her true form washed over her. At her command, the sword flashed as it was torn from the bier and appeared, hovering in mid air, before her. Jessica took it in her scaled paws, biting back the agony as it seared scales and flesh. No pain it could bring her, matched that within her heart at this moment.

“My love - “ Jessica murmured, as her tears solidified and fell to the cold stone, shattering into millions of pieces. “You said once, Dragons can not cry...this isn't true my beloved – we do – it is just that no-one is ever there to see it..."

Clasping the sword in her scaled paws that began to smoke and turn black, the scales crumbling, Jessica lifted her head to gaze up at the moon, before she plunged the sword deep into her scaled breast. As the blade was drenched in her Draconic blood, its flame was quenched – right before Jessica gasped and fell forwards – the sword plunging through her heart and extinguishing her life like a bedside candle blown out by a draft of wind...

END