FSE

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Hi,

this is the second piece of my medival series, this time leaning a tad further into the direction of gore, hence the tag, although it's probably around the lowest boundary that I would place this tag on. I'd consider it rather mild, but see for yourself. To the formatting: I had a little trouble uploading, so it might not be as comfortable/dramaturgically pleasing as I usually aim for. In any case: enjoy, antagonise, leave feedback, whatever you like and hopefully see you around!

Bordox

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Tondan let go and the rope went slack immediately. The other men followed suit and without a blink watched as their ends came to rest next down in the pit, left to rot for eternity as Kodar's last companions. His father was down there as well, wrapped in white canvas and bound to the ivy entangled frame they had just lowered down there. Tradition called for the closest female family member, but with no living wife, it was Keliara's honour to carry his antlers. They would be the last of the old stag's remains to be placed into the grave and although the heifer had never participated in any cervine tradition so far, she had immediately agreed when the word of Kodar's end had reached her.

Contrary to the other bovine villagers, she didn't care about the feud and rather paid her last respect to an old friend than cheer about his death. The elder's sudden recovery surely had caused suspicions throughout the entire community, but it had been Ketan, her father, who had called for ostracism first, whether it was his fear of the unknown or mere revenge for their past disputes. Despite his appeal failing due to the majority of Kodar's advocates among them, he had now gotten what he sought. When the boy had entered adulthood, his father already had had the first afflictions again and now, just three years later, it had overwhelmed him. Eldyr... this cursed beast had just watched his father wither away, had refused to help him until time was up.

A single tear dropped down the hole when Tondan averted his look from the white bundle he used to love once. No, he couldn't cry, it didn't behove for the firstborn son, the only son to whimper like a hag, intolerable what it bespoke about the dead. He wouldn't even give in when Keliara looked at him sympathetically for she had no idea about this sort of infamy. Eventually, a question snug up into her gaze and it took Tondan a moment to realise that she had forgotten how to proceed in the ceremony, a quick nod the small pedestal was enough to remind her though. With shaky hands, she started wrapping the former symbols of pride in a prepared canvas and finally soaked them in the oil patiently waiting on the table. The antlers would light the fire to guide his father into the afterlife, a shining beacon for the nescri, a reminder of their duty. One last, deep breath escaped Tondan's lungs before he stepped forth and set the torch ablaze. It came to life immediately and he had to admit the strength it cost her not to drop it the second the flames began eagerly licking down the package, but to wait for the priest to finish his prayers. The time came, the chant echoed into quietness and the inferno was released. Tondan watched it drop into the square, deep hole, illuminate the dirt wall along the way and almost as if the world breathed in for a moment when the fire considered between giving up or finishing its duty. When it did eventually continue however, a man-high pillar rose from the grave, fed on the delicious food it had been presented with and engulfed the figure, the ivy and all the carefully selected resin in the pit. The younger stag didn't know how long he stood there in the approaching winter's breath, how long it took for the bright hell to swallow his father's mortal hull and barely noticed, when a friendly grip gently pulled him off the site and towards the tavern. Countless condolences passed barely acknowledged as friends suddenly expressed interest for the old stag for the first time in years. Nothing another sip from this mediocre beer wouldn't fix.

When the hour turned late and most of the patrons had already left, he eventually looked up to spot the cow again in the hindmost portion of the building, hurdled near a pile of empty mugs. To her honour, it weren't all her achievements, but with her figure and a bit of practice, she had easily drunken most competition under the table. "Ah, Kelikat.... Kesin... Whatever. I'm so glad you're here! Can you see all of these idiots? Gulp down all of my inheritance and pretend to be sorry for my loss," Tondan yelled inappropriately loud when he then tumbled over to her and vastly missed the chair he had aimed for, "but what they don't know, is that he hated at least half of them and you," Tondan pointed at a conspecific disgustedly looking over to him, how he shakily pulled himself up on the table's edge again, "you in particular. Just look at your... perfect, punchable face. Just one try and I will-" "My oh my, it's turning late", Keliara quickly intervened although his muttering did not stop, but rather got drowned under her voice, and determinedly dragged him out of sight before he could attempt anything stupid. He fought back a little, despite his state didn't allow for anything serious. "I think that you had your fair share of fun, but now it's time to go," she stated once they were outside while doing her best to counteract the increased resistance when the first giggles sounded through the door behind him, "You don't honour your father by mimicking his worst habits as well." Snowflakes settled on their heads and the cold helped to alleviate the grogginess, the feelings raging on nonetheless. "He's dead, Keliara, but none of these supposed friends seem to care a lot," came his voice after a moment of walking with his head still hurting and his vision flickering, "have you heard any one of them? The way they just-" Words failed him again and the cow had to catch him before he hit the frozen ground. "I know, but they're your family. They are not yours to choose, but yours to endure, regardless of how disrespectful they are. I for my part was grateful when you asked me to participate although it clearly was a source of ridicule for some," she clarified soothingly and surprisingly noticed tears now dropping from his eyes. "You're probably the only one who really liked him," Tondan replied bitterly, before shakily rising on his own legs again. A snort of disgust shook his attire when he noticed his state and shook her off more fiercely than he meant to, "just because you don't know half of what I do. Maybe it was Eldyr's mercy which took him off the face of the world." "Now you're a bit harsh, don't you think?" the cow laughed after briefly wondering briefly about the unusual relative, "Kodar was a sourpuss, without a doubt, but he did more for this community with the little he had than my family did for generations." "And we all owe him oh so much," Tondan just scoffed and hastily wiped his face dry again, "I can't believe he got this deep into my heart." Another while of silence passed, then she opened the door to his home and pushed him inside. "See you tomorrow when you're yourself again," followed her order right before the door dropped back into its frame.

The next morning, she showed up again, a short knock of warning all he got before stepping inside. Not even a short look went over to the bed until she had opened the windows as light was not even necessary to guess that at least some of yesterday's excess had already made its way upwards and out of the stags body. "How are you?" she eventually asked and rested her gaze on the cushioned mat as only a grunt returned, before the heifer had to move in and get life into her friend. A short breeze hissed through the room and unpleasantly stung through the lined dress of hers, but luckily posed a cogent reason to move for Tondan. With another sigh, he pushed down his meek blanket and stared first at her for a moment, then on his unpleasant creation on the bedside before placing his hooves carefully next to it and slowly rising on his legs. His body failed him though and he would have dropped if she hadn't caught him while he accidentally wiped his muzzle clean all over her. "My apology, milady," he eventually managed to frown as the world slowly ceased spinning and he stood somewhat upright again, "but I feel unable to provide more appropriate surroundings at the moment... and about your dress." "Don't you worry, it's nothing. First you try to stand on your own and then, milord, we shall seek yourself a breakfast." Tondan smiled weakly and was about to express his gratitude when something way more undelightful desperately wanted to leave his throat as well. He was barely able to bend over again and push her out of the way before it joined the rest on the floor. When the spasms eventually ceased and she patted his back encouragingly, he managed to scoff, "this is most certainly not what you hoped for when you came to visit." "It is exactly what I had expected, hence I had no choice but to come. Breathe and then we will get yourself something to calm your stomach," she just declared and guided him outside. A slow breakfast in the tavern lightened his mood again a good while later, but when he was only halfway through his bread ? she had politely declined to share ? the cow suddenly jumped up and rushed off. Merely a short, strangely strained smile was passed to him and a coin purse dropped as 'explanation'. Only later when he had finished his meal did he notice his own one forgotten at home. Another glance on the bartender confirmed that the cougar wouldn't let him leave without paying yesterday's horrendous sum, deferral not an option by the way they reached to the sword under the bar. Tondan would have to pay her back later.

'Later' was soon to be reached though when he had cleaned his hut again and sat on the roof to do the mandatory repair in the reed. Every day brought more snow and without an unusually tight seal, there would be no difference between the inside and an open field in a few nights. Keliara just looked up when he noticed her presence and jumped down to fetch his purse. "You looked a little upset. Is there something of concern?" Tondan asked and briefly paused halfway through searching his chest, then gave it up entirely. A strange red hue had snug into her left eye and the respective cheek looked slightly more pronounced than usual although she did an excellent job of turning it away. "Who?" came his next question to which she just averted her face a little more and moved on regardless, "Well, you seem sober again. Did I leave enough to pay your debt?" "Far beyond that and now I owe it to you, but this is not what I asked." "And this is not why I asked either," she responded and nonchalantly looked around the room, "Ketan can afford it. If that's all it takes to help a friend..." A quick shiver ran through her figure when she tapped on the swollen cheek. "So no, I don't want you to pay me back. Is there anything I can help you with?" Another moment passed before Tondan shook his head and headed for the ladder up the roof again, "I mean... I could mostly afford it at the moment, however who am I to complain? In any case I highly doubt you could assist me a whole lot. With this clothing it would be a miracle if you even got up there, let alone weave the reed in." He pointed at the knee-long dress and the expensive looking trousers underneath. The pointy ends would ruin the silk within a few minutes, not to mention the usual dirt. To his surprise however, the heifer only shrugged it off and looked frighteningly determined to rip it to pieces before he stopped her. "You help me the most if you don't make it worse than it already is; please. Not on my behalf," he sighed and laid his hand on her shoulder, feeling her wince under his admittedly light grip. "He did not...", was all he was able to mutter before fury clogged up his throat. "I'm fine, Tondan. I-" "How often did you tell that to yourself already? I never understood why father worried about you, too young, too naive," his voice failed him once again,"This slime sack ought to have burnt in that hole! Not my father!" "He wasn't always like this," Keliara weakly shushed, yet failed to keep the grief out of her own eyes. "Ketan might be your father, but it's not his right to do this. Neither is your mother's to let this happen." The cow looked at him, her brown eyes slightly above his own, then carefully patted his shoulder instead of providing a proper answer, "I know, my friend, but it's not the time to question their honour." "How long are you going to endure it then?" A sorrow chuckle just briefly passed her lips before she straightened her dress again and left without a comment.Tondan had sealed the hut just in time. As soon as he rose the next morning, the snow already piled up multiple cubits and covered the minor village in its determined embrace. With the main paths impossible to keep clear for long, it also officially marked the beginning of the meagre period in his income. Construction and harvesting of any kind were pointless or too costly for most purposes now, the only jobs remaining minor contracts of low profit. The stag looked outside, felt the tiny flakes cool his skin and remembered the countless moments he had spent against Eldyr's flank back then. The dragon's fire had kept them cosy throughout the night no matter ice or wind and the stellar bodies had never looked as majestic as through his eyes. Had he himself unlearned how to enjoy their sight, so had Tondan taught him awe again. Now that his father's time had come, ever since the creature had refused to help him, the stag had never visited his friend again. Now... he had no idea what to say. Tondan thought for a moment, flicked another snow flake off his itching muzzle, then got dressed to finally right this wrong.

He had marched up the hidden path often enough to find it even within this white hell, soon feeling Eldyr's guiding presence in his head. It lent him strength, eased the strain to fight through nature and after another minute, he had reached the clearing. "Welcome, little one," growled the dragon's voice while the pile of snow in front of Tondan shook gently and revealed an eye. Another breath and a nostril melted its way through the surface. "My deepest sympathy for your loss," he continued while Tondan walked up to the pile, hips deep in snow and the eye closed again to lock out the light, "but your words are unnecessary. Spare them, for they are of no use to me." "Yet they mean a lot to me." "Cloyed sentiment. I know you, little Tondan," the dragon scoffed genuinely amused about bipedal airs. Tondan stepped forth the last metre regardless and slowly placed his paw on the slowly unfreezing scales, "I should have come sooner. Father's death is not your fault, although I still can't forgive you for giving him up so bluntly. You are my friend and I should never have questioned your motives." A moment of rubbing the dark surface went by while he felt the huge body wake from its sleep, sensed the heat flowing back into place and melting the body free. Eldyr had once told the stag it was a deliberate process, the ability to rest for years while breathing just a few times at the change of seasons. "It seems like your relieve was not as effective as you have hoped for," Eldyr eventually responded while floating on the edge of Tondan's consciousness, barely close enough to read the emotions, "your soul is still tinted from grief. If you'd allow me to-" "No, I..." the stag interrupted immediately and wiped a drop of water off the giant head while the former snow already formed puddles around his hooves, "it's about a friend, Eldyr. She's... stubborn and... very determined to suffer. I'm trying to help, but I'm attacking this castle time and time again without the slightest hope of storming it one day." It indeed would have been a lot easier if he allowed Eldyr to strive further into his mind, but for the sake of his privacy, he had asked the dragon not to do so. As he had been warned, It made communication significantly less effective, however the good night sleep knowing that he still had secrets left was well worth it. "How come you always attempt to save the lost?" Eldyr soon asked, a short image flashing through the connection. For a second, Kodar appeared in front of his eyes, miserable as he was a month ago. It had been the last time the two had come to visit in the fragile hope of changing the dragon's mind. Tondan paused for a moment before a sudden rage burned through him and he rammed his fist into Eldyr's snout. "Don't you dare to drag him into this," he snarled, about to turn around when the eye opened again and froze him in place. It wasn't the shock though which kept him there as strands of blue light softly weaved over his body to trap him in a soft however inescapable cage. "Sit down and listen, little one," the dragon just hummed as explanation, then lifted the wing next to his head to open up an improvised shelter. Reluctantly ? and with a considerable force against his back ? Tondan eventually ducked under the black membrane's massive rim and was immediately left in pitch black darkness when the entrance was closed behind him and the grip ceased. The cervine gave in and dropped on the floor like a fawn ready to get his lecture, before a soft glow emerged from Eldyr's maw and illuminated the tiny space between wing, flank and head.

"Your father," the lizard eventually started once his warmth had spread throughout the shelter and watched Tondan lean against his scales through a half opened eye, "was an honourable individual. I respected him for what decisions he made and as sorry as I am about his death, the moment he took my word not to interfere should he ever see through the curtain between worlds again, I felt no right to disobey his demands. Neither of us expected this circumstance to arrive as swiftly, nonetheless he hadn't change his mind even when you brought him here." The giant eye blinked, then the voice returned along the respective memory of Kodar, more as a by-product of their conversation than anything, "I pity your loss, as inevitable as it is, but you and your father were the first bipedals I ever considered worth my respect and this has not changed. You have all reason to be furious, there's nothing to excuse if you decided to leave forever, although I never intended to hurt either of you." The connection flickered for a moment, then returned more urgent, almost nervous, "Pardon my inattention, but there's something more important, little Tondan, something you have to decide now that your kind considers you grown up." "And not since yesterday," Tondan mumbled in-between, but was dutifully ignored. "There is a war coming. The signs of which will become noticeable amidst the next season, after the ice has melted and the tempers had time to heat up again. It will take time, but it is going to burn everything you hold dear about the settlement of yours." "How do you know," Tondan asked, now suddenly very awake, "there have been less merchants for sure, but this doesn't mean-" "It's not only the merchants who flee. Travellers in general have stopped roaming these lands as they did for the past ten winters. Soldiers are gathering in the larger cities, their boots and laughter audible from here, the ravens already seek the battlefields. Even these minor creatures had learnt to read your kind better than yourself. However I am not going to stay until it erupts. As soon as the rivers flow again, I will leave. On the first blade of grass to grow, I will long be gone and if you wish, I can take you with me." The cervine just stared at the inert, obsidian wall and decided whether his friend had developed humour all the sudden, but finally decided to take his warning seriously, "Why do you leave though? A war is hardly a thread to you anymore, you could overwhelm entire armies, you... you could defend our valley with your mere presence, so why do you flee from it?" "So you want me to intervene? Despite knowing very well about my oath never to repeat those mistakes? If you died by your own will in my absence, as a loyal minion or a tragic deserter doesn't matter, it was your choice to make and I wouldn't intervene, but once they come and burn my woods, murder the people I have grown fond of, I won't be able to contain myself as long as I am present. I would set the world ablaze in the dim hope of saving it; that's why I can't stay. Maybe I return to Azkural, maybe I am going to head further south, but I can't give you what you desire."

Tondan lost his voice for a moment, suppressing the tears, thought of ways he could persuade his friend to stay, but his head was clouded with realisation, fear even. Just when he was about to respond, did Eldyr plunge deep into his consciousness again. "Stay out!" he wanted to scream, attempted to fight the presence that shot through his head now and broke the promise he had given, but the dragon's voice was soon to cut him off again, "I just agreed to stay out of your thoughts, not avoid you entirely, but there are more pressing concerns at the moment." Tondan's vision shifted; dark, it smelled like grease and blood. An image flickered into life: A stern bull stomping through the snow, before the vision faded again. A strange unrest rose again when another sight flushed up, this time from a different perspective. Two shivering, feminine hands rubbing together against the cold, then the foreign gaze fell on a crossbow, neither loaded nor cocked, but draped over the back of a similarly intimidating boar. The bull from earlier was leading the group and upon closer inspection did Tondan recognise him as Keliara's father. "Where are they?" he asked when his ? or rather her ? head shook and he felt the confusion spread through the other mind. He had no time to ask whether she could hear him though as the dragon retreated immediately and grumbled in displeasure, "they will be here soon, following the tracks you mindlessly left on full display. Unless I kill them of course, but I suspect you have a sentimental issue with that approach as well." "Ketan might be exceptionally stubborn," Tondan eventually stated and rose once he had returned to his body, "but I haven't hurt his pride enough to justify... this and he usually abides the law in that regard. I will take care of them, just stand back." Tondan felt the older one's doubt through every thought crossing the connection, nonetheless the wing was lifted and Tondan was set free from his shelter, out in the freezing surroundings. A short look behind himself showed, that the newly awakened sky and wind darkened the deep blue mountain enough already to pass as a usual rock from a little distance and even the first flakes started populating the surface again despite the pleasant warmth inside. Another heedful look into the grey mess ahead turned his mood down again, but he had a task to fulfil, so he pulled the coat close again and tried to bring as much distance between himself and the suspicious boulder as possible, already spotting the black silhouettes in the distance. "There you are," came a call soon after, before one of Ketan's three companions put his crossbow down and drew the string, "We thought you might have gotten lost in the weather. What a tragedy that would be..." "I'm grateful for your concerns," Tondan replied and stepped closer while pointing at the swords each one except for Keliara had on their belts, "but as you see, I'm perfectly fine. I was about to return soon anyway, so why don't we walk together and you tell me what you need all of this assistance for." The bull just sneered in response, "the ferals, you know... and other worthless dirt that lurches in the mountains and dishonours my daughter." "I have done nothing of such sort, why-" "Of course you have, you bastard! This ritual you made her perform, the night you spent afterwards... Oh I can imagine how you persuaded my poor child. Just give her something to drink and she will indulge you with desire and... lust! Don't you worry though, my soft hand will soon turn her into a proper wife again as it had always, but you sadly won't be around to witness it." Tondan glanced at named one for a moment, vividly shaking her head and clinging to her father's belt to pull him back before he said, "Once again, I have never done such and your daughter can attest that. I have no intention of ruining your name further than this pointless feud already did. So leave with your henchmen and we will forget about this incident." "You will die here, my friend, you will die for my daughter's sake," the bull just laughed and gave the one to the right a wink upon which the boar raised his weapon, finger on the trigger to end it once and for all. "Any last wishes? Do you want her to disrobe for you a final time?" called Ketan through the rising storm while snow flakes greyed up the air and his companion had to step closer to keep a good sight. Keliara on the other hand had started to scream and actually managed to pull her father back a bit before he regained control and pulled her even deeper into his grip. "Sh-sh-sh. It's alright. It'll soon be over." A last smile passed his lips, then he snapped at the boar. The trigger was pulled and the bolt launched straight for Tondan's head.

He had merely the time to send a short prayer to Uska when it came flying across the clearing, yet stopped right in front of his forehead. He blinked in surprise, carefully tapped blue shimmer around the pointy end between his eyes, then quickly stepped away when it dropped to the ground and left a deep hole in the white surface. "So you take care of them, little one," growled Eldyr's voice as another command was barked and another arrow came flying, this time by an archer of the group while the boar grunted and reloaded his weapon. The next projectile didn't even come close to its target and burnt up until the iron tip was easily carried away by a gust of wind. Not fully understanding, but neither willing to find out why it didn't work, the third of the bunch now unsheathed his sword and decided to end it the inconvenient way. "No! Tondan!" the cow cried out and fought her hooves back under her body to rush to his aid, but was held back by her father. The wolf approached unhindered, salvia drooping from his lips while he imagined what he would do with his victim. Lost in his fantasies though, he was unaware of the shadow approaching behind Tondan, glowing eyes fixed on the tiny canine. "Drop that weapon," rumbled stones through Tondan's head, yet the mercenary never broke stride, merely perked his ears a little, and continued his approach with renewed vigour. "Drop it or die!" barked Eldyr again when he was mere feet away. The wolf lifted his sword to strike down, but before he could move in the slightest, a dark blue rock came down and pressed him into a puddle. The stag heard bones crack and flesh rip in just a brief moment where the body vainly tried to resist being flattened, the gaze widening in disbelieve for the last glimpse of sensation, then the first crimson droplets flew in his direction. Some hit his face, some his torso, but most of them stained the pale ground as they froze into the uppermost surface, a similar, if peculiarly slightly darker liquid spreading through the snow where once was a man. The shocked cry got stuck in the stag's throat as the dragon lifted its leg again from the bloody lump, Leather and accessories neatly compressed into the unidentifiable, organic pile. Passing it nonchalantly, Eldyr just briefly gave the little one a warning snarl not to interfere before moving on to the rest of the foursome. With the storm increasing in strength, most of what followed was luckily hidden from Tondan's sight, although not so for the remaining three with one running for his life already and the other two frozen in terror. "Come back here, you coward!" echoed Eldyr's hiss through everyone's head and even disrupted the fleeing boar's rhythm, but not enough to stop them. Unworthy the chase, the dragon just roared after the figure and shook his head briefly, then turned to the remaining mercenary. Indeed had the fleeing boar now turned around and fixed his widened eyes on the danger behind him. Or rather had his head turned around more than it was intended to while the rest went slack and the limp figure fell to the ground while this little trick had cost Eldyr barely more effort than one would need to pluck a flower. "And now to you... a petty father and a-" An arrow interrupted the dragon's words when it flew towards his eye and scattered on the quickly closed lit, merely indenting the surface lightly. As a response, the dragon threw his head around before a pillar of fire erupted from the depths of his throat. The bow was burnt to ashes before it had been loaded again whereas his opponent had no time to worry about his lost weapon when his existence was annihilated with a blink of the eye as well, only a few droplets of liquid metal sizzling on the now black, snowless perimeter. "Well, just a petty father then," was all comment Eldyr gave once his body's heat had ebbed down again. Only right when the beast turned to the last enemy did Keliara out of Ketan's paralysed grip. "Please, don't! Take everything, but not him!" she begged and threw herself against the one leg without much of an effect besides a low growl, "Be at ease, tiny morsel, I see no reason to hurt either of you for now." After a moment of consideration, the dragon eventually laid down in front of the bull, absently following his widened eyes to the point where his former lackey had stood, "unless he will do me the favour and draw this terribly frightening sword? Come on, I grant you the first strike. Ah, how eager you are to slay a dragon." Eldyr playfully raised a claw and watched the blood and other pieces of his former victim drip off it, then bared his fangs at Ketan. To his surprise, the bovine actually reached for his belt, but only to open the buckle and drop it to the ground to defensively raise his empty palms. While stepping away, he started to mutter, "I... none of my... men h-have injured you, have they? Barely an inconvenience," he quickly raised his gaze, was soon to lower it again though, "s-so do as my daughter said and... take her in my stead. She i-is almost untouched, a fine meed for my life, isn't she? Heh? Do with-" "You couldn't deny me anything even if you wanted to, but what use do I have for one of your females, in whatever state? Your kind is not even robust enough to gnaw on," he grinned as his enemy fall on his knees, hands pressing the sides of his head as if that would stop the dragon's intrusion, "so now... give me a reason that you are a creature worthy of living, for nothing so far has proven you are." Another gasp escaped his lips before his eyes widened even further and he broke into spasms when the foreign presence dug deeper. "For my sake then! Oh beast, do it for me. If you don't plan to hurt me, then let him live, as I can't without him," the heifer demanded and stared up the dark wall. For a moment, it looked like Eldyr would just ignore her, but eventually decided to relieve the pressure and just sent a gust of air to blow the whimpering bull away. With his neck as a barrier between father and daughter now, Eldyr eventually concluded his judgement, "Live then, live for her sake and get out of my sight, but never lay your dirty extremities on either of the two again." Ketan blankly stared at him for a while, then turned around and complied with a sudden zeal he had never before shown in his life. The dragon watched him disappear in the grey clouds and jump when he passed his former companion, while the dragon's mind investigated the little one's friend. What in interesting creature indeed... "You on the other hand..." he continued and suddenly wrapped himself further around her until she was surrounded by a scaled wall with his head hovering over her and his eyes locked onto hers, "you are a peculiar one. I failed to notice before, but you really are a meed well worth his life, though not one to spare I'm afraid."

Finally did Tondan find his voice again when he watched the winged lizard curl up. Cautiously, he stepped around the dark puddle under his hooves, suppressed the light feeling in his stomach, and sprinted the rest of the way to squeeze between the scaly mass before the gap could close. "Eldyr, let her go!" the stag demanded and headed for her side, but two claws sharply placed on either one blocked his way with a third one lightly resting on her forehead, not enough to pierce the skin, but enough to be uncomfortable, even beyond the red remainders on it. "You have no idea what this is, do you? If I had noticed earlier, this world would have been cleansed of her already, but now that I have the time, we shall investigate a little, slice by slice." Tondan wondered how the cow stood as calm in the face of imminent danger, but he wouldn't let him continue this rampage on his only other friend despite knowing how little he could do if the dragon decided differently. "Let her go, Eldyr, she has never hurt anyone, I vow with my life that-" "You wouldn't recognise a sorceress even if she ripped your throat out by her sheer will," the dragon sneered, but stood still for only a moment longer, "she's a plague and even if she hadn't hurt anyone so far, she would be willing and predetermined to do so either way." "I am definitely not-" her sentence was cut off by a startled gag when invisible pressure built up around her neck. "Don't you dare to corrupt him any further with your sweet lies, little demon. Tondan, I don't envy you for this, but nothing she has ever said to you can be trusted. These things only have as much of a desire to kill as to deceive, independent of what alluring shape they take."

For the first time this day, a tiny tear made its way down the heifer's cheek when looking into Tondan's eyes. She shook her head as far as the dragon's influence allowed for, but so far, Eldyr had never lied to him. Had these eyes beguiled his father and him all these years? After the old stag's first breakdown she had been there and he just wanted to believe her, yet... "Read her mind then. Read it all. If there's any proof for your claim, then you can find it, right?" Eldyr stared at him a good while long before he responded, only for Tondan this time, "What you don't want for yourself, you'd willingly do to it? Just let it leave in dignity at least. You've seemed to like it." "If she were who you claim her to be," he said under his breath, "I wouldn't care what you did with her, but as long as there is a chance that I don't lose the best friend I ever had besides you, I'd take it." "How generous," the dragon eventually chuckled, then turned to her again, "your maybe, maybe not friend has just decided to give you an opportunity to prove innocent. The more you resist, the more it will hurt." A puzzled look darted between the two while the veil of tears ceased and the reasonable part of her was taking over, not for long though when the dragon lowered his head again and Tondan saw her twitch in his shackles while he could only imagine the burning roots of his presence spread through her head.

Moments passed, the storm around them hurried on without halt and Tondan once again could only watch. He feared that it might take as long as with his father, but eventually Eldyr was done. Keliara dropped to the ground immediately once the both supportive and captive strings were released, and the talons were pulled out of the way for him to kneel down besides her. "I... it isn't supposed to... Tondan, this thing isn't supposed to know, it isn't-" another shiver ran down her body while she sank into his lap and Tondan shot a furious look up at the dragon. "Are you pleased now? Is she the scary monster you tried to protect me from?" The dragon responded by gently frying the tips of the stag's antlers with a gust of fire, "it... she is a sorceress, but with," he paused in disgust before moving on, "no intention so far to hurt you or anyone else, too incompetent to even have discovered her capabilities yet." "What does a civilised dragon like you say then?" "Don't take this too far! There is only this much patience I can have with your kind," Eldyr growled, but finally continued with a mostly dishonest, "Pardon me, thi-... Keliara, although it doesn't change what you are." "Is it because-" the stag asked softly as he remembered the first encounter with the dragon, the memories he had shared. Latter one burst the thought to pieces immediately when he uncoiled and left the couple under the full influence of the worsening snow storm to waddle back into the cave, "yes it is. So never dare mentioning her in this company again. You will see, one day its wall is going to break and it will no longer discern friend and foe." Another furious burst of flames dissolved the remains of his first victim when he stomped over it and marched back into the cave, apparently done sleeping outside for the time being. "Will you and your pet come along then, or did I save your lives for no reason?" he eventually called when the others did not immediately come in as well and although Keliara was rather reluctant to follow the grumpy dragon, she didn't want to freeze out here either. Once Tondan noticed the pressure on his head reduce, he pulled the cow a bit closer once again, to whisper into her ear. The dragon had far more sensitive one's after all. "Eldyr usually is... different and while I have no right to tell you his reasons, please... try to forgive him. Maybe not now, quite possibly never, but at least give him a chance. I don't want to decide between the two of you." "You already have by not telling me about... all of this," she sniffled in response, still trembling from the violent intrusion, but with no shimmer of accusation. It was merely the painful realisation, that she came second in his priorities. "I know that there is more to know than I do at the moment. Don't expect me to trust this creature any time soon, but no, I am not going to 'make you choose'" "While we are at that topic," Tondan in turn continued while they entered the cave and the wind finally stopped howling, "why did your father assume that we spent a night? As far as my vague memories reach, we never attempted to." A sudden, sheepish frown passed over her snout when she retreated slightly from him, "I am not going to marry this merchant whom father and mother had picked for me. He has no decency, no respect, he's merely looking for someone to warm his bed and his house. So I... kept looking myself and found... someone." "And you told Ketan that you stayed over night, where-" "Where in fact I was with the one of my choice. And I didn't tell him. He just... suspected... you. Oh by the forgotten gods, I never wanted it to come down like this!" A short tremble shook her figure, her clothes as soaked with half-molten snow as the stag's were, then her back straightened suddenly when the dragon hesitantly approached. The half opened maw passed with the mere rustle of scales, the leg that had recently rested atop their foe was placed close behind them and the beast came to a halt. A gust of air and dust violently washed over the two as it dropped onto its belly and a wing cut off the last remainders of light from outside when it mostly closed against the rest of the body.

Having gone through the ritual often enough, Tondan was fairly calm, but could sense his friends anxiousness. "If you wish to sleep, go ahead, if you can't, we can talk through the evening," Tondan smiled, despite neither could see anything, and sat down against the comfortable flank, then softly coaxed her to do the same, "He probably won't mind, but this is when we usually cease conversation." Keliara couldn't relax as easily though and adjusted her position multiple times before a deep growl from her backrest told her to stop. "The storm is too thick right now either way. You were soon to get lost amidst it if you tried to head back," the stag eventually explained and reached his fingers out to rest atop her shoulder, "and it is only going to turn colder even in this cave. We probably have to stay until tomorrow, so do whatever you like in the meantime." Nothing he could have said now would have changed anything about their situation and so a tense silence followed until she raised her first question, "What... who is he to you? How did it come to this and why... do you trust this murderous-" Another growl echoed through their tiny shelter and cut her off when she felt an unpleasant nudge by their shelter's leg. Tondan eventually started explaining nonetheless, leaving out the more personal details of their relationship, and the bovine listened closely, yet her mind returned time and time again to how this thing had cold-heartedly slaughtered the three. "They meant harm; to me, to you, to everyone else. They proved guilty and willing to repeat their actions, so they failed their life in turn. I didn't hope for it either, but it's not like I could blame him," Tondan sighed although he had to hold back the same memories or otherwise would have lost his lunch. Sadly he couldn't see her expression, but felt the short tremors running through her form. "Do you think that we can return safely?" Tondan continued and roughly nudged the wall behind his back to state the addressee. "Whatever you held dear is now lost to fear, I'm afraid. If the last one didn't use its tiny legs and failed to return, the rest of the nest will blame it on you," Eldyr answered when he entered both of their minds a little more roughly than strictly necessary, "and if it returned, it would have told everyone, sending them either on their way here or to your leader's armies. You would find yourselves burning at the stake the moment you were spotted." "I could explain-" Keliara started, but was soon rudely interrupted by the dragon again, "You can hardly do anything against their ignorance. Your kind fears what they are too short-minded to grasp and never in your history have you responded differently. The coward's end would have been your only chance, but as it is no option for you, the two of you can either leave these lands or die by their will. The upcoming war is going to tidy up the rest." "A... war? What war? Regardless how terrible you think of us, we have lived in peace for my entire life. We have moved on," the cow laughed in disbelief and nudged Tondan encouragingly, "Something like... him doesn't know the slightest. Remember, I would be murdered like the others if he were as wise as you claim. Furthermore, he's proven nothing. First of which... I am no... spellcaster for certain." "It is your life to waste, thing. If you intend to die, then do so, but do not expect me to pity you for it," snarled named one, then retreated from them again. Another moment of silence passed while they sat in the darkness before Tondan replied, "I am not so sure, Keliara. I of course pray for him to be wrong, but I know your father. He is stubborn enough for both of us and proved eager for my head as well. My antlers would be a beautiful decoration above his bed though, don't you think? And about the other-" He felt her answer more than he heard it when a fist hit his stomach, before he was pulled in close, her eyes probably burning in rage right now. "Don't you believe one word of it. You will see."

And indeed, the next day he saw. It was in their eyes. Former neighbours, even friends looked at him like a monster when they passed the first few houses, children pulled back the moment they came around a corner. At least none of them dared to touch them, likely fearing for their life as well when they noticed the red stains on Tondan. "So you want to stay?" latter one asked when a glob of salvia barely missed them and the culprit slammed their door shut, "Even in the rare case your 'husband of choice' doesn't believe your father, he won't be spared of their suspicion either." Without receiving a proper answer, he eventually headed for his home with her. It was obvious that she better not went back to her family for now. "What is your plan then?" Keliara scoffed once they had closed the door, sadly unprotected. If he had owned a lock, he would have definitely used it now. "Do you just want to give up? Prove them right? Tondan, these are your friends!" "They surely are good friends if no one of them stood up for either of us, not even smiled when we came. The one who spat at us; we used to play as fawns, he later hired me from time to time and one could have considered us close at the very least," he just said and dropped on a rickety chair. While he reached for his chest and searched the contents for something edible, the bovine dropped on his bed's edge. A painfully long time passed without either one saying something while Tondan prepared a breakfast and reached her a bowl until a quiet knock announced the arrival of a visitor. Keliara was about to put the stew down again, but the stag signalled her to stand back when he raised his knife and went to answer the door. His fingers slowly clenched around the door knob and he moved slightly behind the blade, then swiftly yanked it open. "Let her leave," a voice demanded harshly once the door started moving, making Tondan hold his weapon even tighter when he saw the stallion filling the frame, "I don't know what you want from her, but whatever it is, I will do my best to compensate." Slightly taller than Tondan, a little older possibly, he stood pasterns deep in snow with a coat more expensive than Tondan would be comfortable to afford; an unusual sight in this part of the village. "That surely would sound reasonable," Tondan replied cautiously and released the door a little, "if I held someone captive, but at the moment... well I'm afraid you came to no purpose." The other one's stern face broke for a single moment, revealing the not-so-determined nature beneath the wealthy front; nonetheless did the equine step forwards and repeated his demand a little louder, but without gaining much confidence. "Listen. I'm sure you have a genuine interest in her health, but there's no reason to worry. I-" Tondan started, but suddenly felt a pull on his side of the door. "Sem?" Keliara asked softly and took over the handle, "What are you doing here? Oh, Sem..." She finally stepped closer and pulled the stallion in a passionate embrace. "I'm fine, honeycomb, I'm fine," she continued before he could raise his voice, "But I'm glad you tried to buy me free anyway. Come in, you'll lose a leg if you stay outside for longer." "So you are not..." 'Sem' muttered when he was pulled inside, regardless of the stag's heedful gaze, but the heifer couldn't care less. A short kiss cut off the rest of the stranger's questions and by now, Tondan heavily doubted that it was just a usual friendship. "So the... 'husband of choice' I imagine," he eventually concluded a little disgruntled about the lack of his participation in the plans, yet did nothing to stop them. "Tondan, let me introduce you to Semon, a close friend," came her immediate response, possibly with a little subtle accusation at the end, before she moved on a little softer, "And I am certain, that there's a good reason for his concerns. Now... won't you offer him a seat?" The stallion couldn't quite hide his reluctance, the mildly derogatory glances he threw around, obviously used a tad more luxury, but he did an extraordinary job of hiding it.

After the mandatory introduction followed the expected questions, both parties knowing just half of the events and it took a while to calm Semon about the past events. Neither Tondan nor Keliara were less surprised to find out that former one was considered a heretic with the heifer his first victim of many to come and although he now understood Semon's initial antipathy, there still was a certain distance between them Tondan refused to cross. It was definitely mutual though, if for different reasons possibly. "So... what now? It seems like you are not going to face a lot from this, Keliara, at least nothing you aren't used to anyway... it's rather me who finds themselves in imminent danger," Tondan noted quietly after a particularly unpleasant silence, "Meaning if I leave by tomorrow, you will be confronted with little more than a few uncomfortable questions." Her response was immediate and determined, "you... we will not surrender that easily. And least of all will you leave our home because of some trifle! Father's feud is... outrageous. He can't prove his-" "He doesn't need to prove anything. I didn't make the slightest attempt to hurt you, even to force you to anything, but you saw their stares. They already believe him, regardless of what have done and what I am going to do," Tondan laughed, then took a messy sip from his mug; water of course, but still it earned him a strange look from the stallion, "if you don't want to lose me for some reason, you can of course come along, but I highly doubt that our Semon here is particularly happy about the idea." "Come on, Keli, if it's what he wants, then we should let him do so. There is no need to risk our future for this," named one agreed and tried to embrace her softly, but was shaken off in an instant. "There is no future if we are willing to lose our friends that easily," she scoffed, then rose from the table, visibly annoyed by both of them, "Where is the point in a marriage if I can't even hold my father off my loved ones?" "You won't give up anything for me!" called Tondan; almost in unison to Semon's protest, "Keliara, don't be ridiculous!" "At least one thing you agree in," the heifer scoffed and blankly stared at them for a moment, then stormed off. A few moments passed after the door had slammed back into place and before Tondan raised his voice again, "To be absolutely sure: I'm not doing this for you, however I do leave by tomorrow. If it weren't for her sake as well, at the very least I enjoy my life too much to wait for the stake to be built. Call me craven, but I rather believe the grumpy dragon." "Listen Tondan," grumbled Semon, then lifted his gaze from the ground, "I can't say with honesty that I like you either, much less your... way of life and if I had to decide, a dragon's friend would never roam freely. I would foolish though, if I didn't appreciate what you do for Keli despite your family's... predicament. Think ill of me if you like, that I want you to leave, just know my reasons. She... needs this certainty; this safety." He sighed deeply then stood up as well, "I better look after her now. I will have to apologise for this, I'm afraid." "Tell her that I don't prefer my choice either, but that it is the only way." "Of course. I will try to apologise in your name as well before she kills you herself."

Something else would intercept his plans the next day though. Heavy steps approached outside, the thin walls not even sufficient to muffle the numerous boots and before Tondan was fully awake, Ketan already barged through the door and placed his new sword on the stag's chest the moment he tried to stand up. The way the bull's fingers moved along the handle poorly betrayed that he wasn't quite used to the replacement yet, though this didn't impede his persuasiveness in the slightest. "Get up, slowly," the bull ordered with a little touch more triumphant than Tondan had expected from this recreant strategy. He wouldn't have tried anything either way with so many onlookers around, either drooling in excitement, anger or just curious to see someone get hurt. "Now, you bastard," his oppressor continued once he stood against the wall and watched more and more enter his home, "you are convicted for high treason. Don't attempt to flee or I will have to chop your head off prematurely and we can't ruin the other's entertainment, can we? Now where is my daughter? Where have you taken her!" Upon receiving barely more than a confused shrug, a command was barked, "search this entire shithole! She has to be somewhere!" Tondan didn't see much of the horde turning his house upside down as he was pulled outside and poked with a pitchfork until he stumbled towards the village square. "You will die here, Tondan. Your bloodline will end and I shall stand victorious," Ketan sneered when pointing to the group already setting up their pillory. For many winters now, it had sat lonely and disregarded in a barn somewhere, but not even time could cure the indents left by rocks, clean the stains of refuse and blood from every crevice, pity reminders of its previous occupants. Apparently the old bull had arranged the short version reserved for individuals deemed unpleasant enough to even put before a proper jury. Just half a day of public presentation and the usual discomforts before he would be executed. "It's a wonderful day, isn't it? Imagine if it was windy," Tondan just smiled strangely relaxed, now that his fate was written in stone. Just the lack of warm clothing was a little concerning, but it could have been worse. "Where did you put Keliara? Better speak up now, for I have no problem in making it as uncomfortable as possible until then," Ketan hissed in response, then spat against the stag's muzzle and ripped the thin linen cloth over his chest to pieces as if this would prevent him from freezing in the first place. In fact, Tondan felt too cold by now to even be embarrassed when he cleaned his face again and replied, "I didn't 'put her' anywhere. The only offence I ever committed was to leave her around you. Enough of her life has been wasted around an-" A strike broke his sentence when the back end of Ketan's sword hit his head. "A heretic won't plant a doubt in me, not as long as I have a beating heart in my body and a duty to perform!" came the immediate response while the stag was pulled onto his hooves and dragged over to the tattered pillar in the centre. "Both of which I highly doubt," he muttered when his arms were fixed in their shackles and he was pressed into the wood, close enough to see the different markings in the splintered surface, even bite marks at some places. There was nothing he could do now, so there was nothing he could make it worse either. Shivering from the icy air and metal, he didn't have anything to lose anyway.

The stag lost track of the time pretty soon. A while after the others had left, his legs hurt from standing upright, the back soon joining in with what little pain it managed to pour through the numb feeling overall. Not even a passing villager did him the favour of a short conversation, even if it consisted mostly consist of ungrounded accusations, Tondan would have appreciated it, but instead they just hurried to pass him and not be witnessed near the enemy. Only when the sun had traversed it peak and startled leaning towards the ground again, did the masses return. The figure on the pillory was nothing more than a shivering mess after a day out in the cold, barely able to move at all, so he didn't even notice until a special someone brutally pulled on his antlers, "Where have you hidden my daughter, traitor? Is she alive? Have you sacrificed her to this beast?". "I-I h... have n-nev-" Tondan tried as determinedly as his body allowed, but was rudely interrupted, "Then die with your secret, but die knowing that I've settled our feud; the only purpose you ever had in your life shall be fulfilled in your end." Someone opened the metal restraints the stag hung in, suddenly leaving all his weight on his antlers instead when he was dragged over to another block. He struggled weakly, but failed to draw more than a short chuckle from the bull. "It's my victory, Tondan, but I must admit: you were a worthier opponent than I had anticipated," the other one grinned, then fixed the first wrist on the wooden base. This would be it, half blind, he would spend the last moments on his life on a cold piece of wood in his home village. Or rather his former; what kept him here by now? Just before the second one was put into place, did a shout carry through the crowd. Tondan couldn't tell what it was supposed to mean, but he definitely noticed the impact it had. The stern wolf holding him in place faltered and although the sudden loss of control was to not much use to the exhausted figure, it allowed him to turn the head where everyone was pointing. A shadow in the sky, dark, shapeless, separated from the background, distant but definitely approaching.

An eardrum bursting roar broke through the frosty air and easily overwhelmed the countless panicked voices when Eldyr came closer. Well before he landed on the definitely insufficient space between the huts, his shadow already covered the setting sun and sent most of the former watchers fleeing. A group with pikes bravely marched forwards in the hopes that the arm length of increased reach had any impact on their survival, but then deemed it not worth the risk and fearfully stood back. Keliara emerged from underneath the dragon's belly, still nauseous from the bumpy flight in the beast's grip and helped Semon who had way more trouble sorting his raging thoughts again. Another deep growl eventually was enough to break the remaining bystander's paralysis, sending them running in all directions, but one individual would not escape that easily. Despite tearing down a row of stone buildings with his swaying tail, Eldyr sent his mental talons to dig deep into Ketan's head. "You," he just stated before snapping out and latching onto the twitching lump's leg. As moderate as it was, the bull's scream increased both in pitch and volume when he was dragged out of the alley, face smearing through the dust and rubble of demolished buildings raining down where the passage had been to tight for the giant head. Eldyr didn't care for the little one's friend, huddled over Tondan's slack body and begging for him to wake up, neither for the other bipedal meanwhile just watching. All he could think of was Ketan's consciousness desperately trying to fade when he was lifted from the ground, his shin just briefly supporting the full weight until snapping and leaving the bull dangling against Eldyr's lower jaw. His teeth had to dig deeper into flesh and bones to keep it there. "You," the dragon continued and worked against his victims futile escape to delirium just a bit harder, "you have repeatedly exceeded your natural rights, you are petty, pathetic and so disgustingly arrogant about your own significance in the world. And now look at you." "Make it stop, Keli, this wasn't the deal," Semon demanded and tied to pull her off of Tondan, but although she heard the same words, even felt a little of the lizard's intentions drain through the lose connection, she wouldn't protect her father this time. A line had been crossed. Merely a short glance was passed to the bloody, screeching figure in the dragon's maw before she returned to her friend. "I... can't and even if I could, look at what he did." "But this... this is wrong, my love. Stop this madness!" "No, I won't," she shouted then rose from her position to finally look at what happened next to her, tears streaming down her determined face. "You don't have to watch, tiny morsel, and neither does your partner," Eldyr grumbled through their heads loud enough to even drown out the desperate screams from his jaw. Semon still disapproved the dragon's nickname for her, but it actually helped break the spell and he followed the offer, turned to pull Keliara away as well, but she put up a fierce resistance, eyes still locked on the disturbing scenery, "b-but I want to. I will not watch you end his life while I hide out of shame over my betrayal." "As you wish," came his response, before a short burst of anger burst through the still brittle connection. With a sheer disgusting noise, the last strains of damaged tissue in Ketan's leg had torn apart and the whining rest was about to drop when the dragon bit after it and finally caught on the significantly more solid, but in turn more vital torso. A few more panicked, rustling breaths escaped his muzzle, then the figure hung slack, merely the blood that didn't make its way into Eldyr's maw dripped down and scattered as soon as the half frozen droplets hit the rocky ground. With a spiteful disappointment, the beast chewed a couple of times, then the heifer could see a tiny lump move down his long neck. "I told him, that your kind is too fragile for my purposes," the dragon said, then spat out a former sword and other distasteful items. A few more choughs of fire were necessary to clean the throat, then Ketan was gone. The dragon looked around, licked his teeth again, then happily dropped to the ground without a sliver left of his former anger.

Only now did Keliara realise that she had held her breath. Slowly letting out a whimper, she suddenly felt her future husband clench onto her, eyes pressed shut and at the verge of a panic attack. He hadn't seen anything, even had been spared from the dragon's presence, but the noise had been enough on its own. "Do you regret your choice?" Eldyr finally asked somewhat softly and reached around the inert couple to take a look at Tondan, "Maybe it helps to quieten your self-reproach, that I wouldn't have acted differently even if you hadn't told me about this situation. It would merely have delayed your father's demise. So be at-" "Stop! Stop at once you..." she couldn't finish that sentence before collapsing into Semon's arms. The dragon didn't divert a lot attention to them however when he blew a light, warm breeze around the unconscious stag and shattered the handcuff with a carefully extended talon. "The little one is going to be fine. For that I am grateful, however I won't let him stay. Not after what you were too blind to see," Eldyr eventually concluded as he lifted the limb figure over the other's heads, then slowly moved to the centre of the market. His spreading wings unroofed a few houses while his mind reached out to the couple. "It is time to go," he growled and lowered his head in front of them, "thus it's your choice to make: trust your kind once again... or join us at least until we have left the reach of your lore." First Semon looked up, then Keliara. The green orb of the beast's eye glowed in front of them, the iris widening and contracting while his gaze darted from one to the other. Whatever it had done, this thing seemed so off-puttingly far off anything they had seen of it so far, even caring in a sense, so the heifer eventually raised her voice, shakily but determined, "We h-have to consider your offer... first. Would you give us a moment?" "When the sun touches the horizon, I will be on my way, regardless of your presence. Bring baggage if you like, but don't strain my courtesy," it stated softly and closed its eyelid before the scaly giant curled up around his friend, blew a last wave of hot air over them and went inert; until they returned or the time ran out would be their decision now.

To his pleasant surprise, former happened. If a little hesitantly, the two approached shortly before the time would have run our, both weighed down by medium sized backpacks and wrapped in warm clothes. Neither looked happy about the arrangement but they seemed confident in their decision, for now at least. After all, their argument had even pierced the general feeling of fear and uncertainty of the countless bipedals in the settlement. "So you have made up your mind," he noted and pulled his head from under a wing, "Step closer." When the giant reptile unfolded this time, he managed to stay clear of any buildings and stretched pleasurably. The first flaps almost blew them off the ground before he gently extended a leg for them to climb in, briefly revealing the unconscious stag in the grip of the other. First Keliara, then Semon stepped onto the improvised platform and once they were inside, their paw finally closed against Eldyr's belly, covering them in a protective shell for their journey. "Sleep if you like. By the morning, we will be far enough to part ways if you wish to and I assume that you'll need your strength by then." "I will definitely not sleep while-" "At least stop moving then! It tickles!" Eldyr interrupted Semon's complaint, before they could feel him rise in the air, each beat of his wings sending a tremble through his entire body and shaking the little chamber like an earthquake. After a few of them though, the movement luckily died down, merely the gusts of wind audible from outside until they could almost believe sitting in a normal room again; dark and scaly, but pleasantly warm. An unusual carriage into an unknown future.