Chapter Seventeen

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Chapter Seventeen

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Revaramek galloped down the street towards the gateway. Excitement coiled taut and shuddering in his belly. It prickled at his spines, left his frills flared, their golden edges fully displayed. He’d never gotten to do anything heroic before. And ever since that horrible day he struggled forget, he hadn’t gotten to do anything villainous, either. If he was stuck serving Mirelle, he may as well get to have as much fun as possible. So there was no way in hell he was going to get a bunch of stuffy guards or a stick-in-the-mud councilwoman have all the fun now.

“Out of the way!”  

Revaramek ran up behind the trio of spearmen cautiously approaching the urd’thin and his band. When they didn’t get out of his way fast enough he just bowled them over, spears and armored men flying in all directions. Their commander turned around, eyes wide as he saw the dragon streaking towards him. Revaramek skirted around him, but not before throwing up a forepaw to shove the guard captain aside.

“I’ll handle this! Councilwoman Mirelle has placed me in charge of these affairs!”

“I have not!” Mirelle’s shout followed him down the street. He glanced back and saw her stop chasing him long enough to help one of the guards up. “Let the guards deal with this!”

“Oh, no, Mirelle!” Revaramek snarled, shaking his head as he bound through the city. “You wanted a dragon to solve your problems, and that’s what you’re getting!”

Chapter Sixteen

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Chapter Sixteen

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Revaramek hurtled towards the ground. Wind swept across every inch of his body, flowing over his scales, caressing his wing membranes. The exhilaration of the dive left his sturdy heart hammering in his chest, and his fire glands tingling. He kept all four limbs tucked, his belly twisting in excitement.

From above, the forest looked like nothing more than an immense patchwork quilt woven of every shade of green imaginable. It reminded him of the soft blankets one of his maiden friends used to bring on her visits, all cobbled together from patches of different color and hues. As he drew nearer the earth, the green quilt gradually resolved itself into individual colors and trees. A blue-green fir, a pale green willow, a dark green oak, and flashes of brown where gnarled cypress roots tangled and fought with one another.

It would have been a beautiful dive if not for Mirelle screaming the whole way down.

Chapter Fifteen

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Chapter Fifteen

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“Alright, Mirelle. You can do this. Just…climb on his back. Strap in. It’s perfectly safe. Be brave. Be strong. Just think about-”

“Are you about done babbling to yourself?”

Mirelle straightened. “You’re not supposed to be listening!”

“I can’t help it that dragons have excellent hearing.” Revaramek pawed at the ground, shredding the sod. “Now stop muttering and mount me! Wait, I don’t like that way that sounds.” The dragon snorted. “Just climb on my back already! Ah, damn it, that’s not much better. Umm…let’s see…”

Mirelle whirled on him, grinding grass beneath her new boot heel. “Will you shut up?”

“Will you get on me so we can get this over with?” The dragon tossed his head, then tugged at the dark leather straps crisscrossing his chest plates. “This thing is itchy.”

Chapter Fourteen

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Chapter Fourteen

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Revaramek touched his hind paws down upon the cobbled plaza he hoped was Mirelle’s intended destination. The only directions she’d given him on their short flight were a series of screams, shouts, and half-intelligible squeals. Something about a square and the other side of something or other, and then a whole lot of shrieking whenever he banked. After landing, he clutched her to his chest with one foreleg so he wouldn’t have rear up this time. No sense leaving himself wide open again.

“Now Mirelle.” Revaramak eased the trembling woman down from his chest.  “Remember, you promised.”

Mirelle waggled her boots, feeling for the ground. “You tricked me into that promise!”

“Yes, I did!” Revaramek smiled, lifting his frills. “But that makes it no less valid. Surely an important councilwoman such as herself wouldn’t want to be known for breaking her word.”

Chapter Thirteen

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Chapter Thirteen

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Revaramek watched Mirelle approach through slitted eyes. He’d been awake for a little while now, but remained sprawled in the grass, savoring the warm sun. Just as he was contemplating where best to go and hunt his breakfast, the girl came around the wall of trees separating The Cathedral from the rest of the grounds. He watched her long enough to know she was coming towards him, rather than heading to her home. No doubt she meant to startle him awake and yell at him for sleeping on her favorite flowers or some other such horrific crime.

As soon as she drew near, Revaramek jumped to his paws, greeting her in a loud, brassy voice. “Good morning, Subject!”

Chapter Twelve

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Chapter Twelve

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Mirelle slept deeply through the night, and woke feeling refreshed. It was unusual for her to sleep so well, though she certainly wasn’t going to complain. Images from vivid dreams lingered in her mind as she lay in bed. Vivid dreams were unusual, as well. She tried to recall them, but the harder she grasped the images the faster they dissipated. She may as well have been trying grasp gossamer spider webs without damaging them.

Mirelle pushed herself up onto her elbows, thinking about her dreams. Something about Revaramek, dancing on a sand dune in a desert. She chuckled as she pulled back her quilted purple bedspread, and swung her feet out of the bed. Dreams were odd.

Chapter Eleven

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Chapter Eleven

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In the gloomy light beneath churning clouds, and dark canopies, the tiny dragon stalked his prey. It slithered and scuttled over mossy rocks. Its tiny scales, green like his, blended into the moss but its shiny black legs gave it away. It paused, flicked out its pink tongue, and clacked mandibles beyond its angular head. The little dragon froze, one paw hanging in the air.

When the creature moved again, he moved with it, creeping ever closer across the battered stones. Soon he drew almost near enough to snatch its tail in his jaws, and yet he waited. This was the third time that day he’d hunted a spider-snake. Welts on his paws reminded him why he had to be patient. He crept a few paces closer, ignoring the way the creature’s tail flicked back and forth, as if daring him to pounce. That was what got him bitten earlier. This time he was patient. This time he was ready.

Chapter Ten

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Chapter Ten

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By the time Mirelle left the Chamber of Law, the sun hung low enough to paint the village in the burnt golden shades of early evening. She fumed as she passed through the gateway in the palisade that surrounded the summit plaza. Things had spiraled from annoying into catastrophic so quickly her head was still spinning. All she’d wanted to do was enforce the old truce to make the damn dragon do his job, and keep their village safe. Now she was stuck with him.

Chapter Nine

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Chapter Nine

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Revaramek took a few steps back as Tavaat and Beka opened the doors to the pub. Given that this was his first time being allowed indoors, he wanted to make a grand entrance. As soon as he had enough room, he bound forward, cackling in glee.

“I get to go inside!”

The dragon burst through the entryway, and Tavaat and Beka scrambled out his way. Revaramek’s cackle stopped as soon as he saw all the tables and chairs littering the floor within the building. He tried to stop himself, and skidded a few paces. His unsheathed claws gouged the smooth wooden floor before he stumbled, tripped, and flopped onto one of the tables. It shattered beneath him, blowing table legs out to his sides. Chairs toppled across the floor, upending other chairs.

Chapter Eight

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Chapter Eight

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Councilwoman Mirelle stood in the Chamber of Law with her fists clenched, and her jaw set. Ornate, brass lamps set in alcoves in the paneled walls shed warm orange light. A spicy, herbal aroma wafted from censors hanging on chains in the corners of the room. Tapestries woven with scenes from the village’s history hung from the high ceiling, above an oval shaped table cut from dark mahogany. An inlaid emblem with a stylized fist emblazoned upon a shield was set into the table. The other four council members all sat around the table but Mirelle’s chair remained empty.

Head Councilmen Kendrick drummed his fingers against the table. “You know, Mirelle, it’s proper to sit for these meetings.”

Chapter Seven

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Chapter Seven

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“Come along, Underling Revaramek, we’ll take you to Mirelle’s bar till she gets back.” Beka’s sing-song voice drifted down the street.

Revaramek hissed at her, pinning his ears. “You don’t get to call me that! I work for Mirelle, not for you.” When that only made Beka laugh, he snarled, realizing what he’d said. “I mean, I don’t work for anyone! I have…volunteered my support. To…whoever this council is. To be ordered to annihilate your enemies, and then be done with all of you. But I am no one’s underling!”

“Oh?” Beka glanced at him over her shoulder, her reddish-brown braids swaying. “Do you prefer the term minion?”

Chapter Six

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Chapter Six

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Revaramek limped across the pasture long after the girl had donated her breakfast to the grass. He paused, shook his hind end, and then continued onwards with a hiss. Stupid wench. Stupid boots. Stupid balls. No, wait. He liked those. Just didn’t like that bossy harlot and her boots. Someone oughta toss her in a lake. Or a mud puddle. Or an outhouse. Or a burning outhouse.

The dragon tossed his head, growling. He was far too resplendent a creature to be bested in so humiliating a manner. It was insulting. And to think he’d only been in that compromising position because he was trying to help that cold-hearted harpy back to the ground. He’d show her. Why, that was the last time he’d ever expose himself to her.

Wait, that didn’t sound right.

Chapter Five

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Chapter Five

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Mirelle screamed. She hated it because she knew how much satisfaction the foul beast must have taken from her scream, but she could not stop herself. She’d been frightened enough of the idea of flying to try and run back to the trees, where he couldn’t just snatch her in the sky. But to actually be yanked from the earth, hoisted aloft by a remnant of some ancient, wicked breed, from a time best forgotten? Now she knew why maidens had once been so terrified of being abducted by such beasts. It wasn’t the lewd tasks the dragon had in mind, nor even the prospect of becoming his dinner. Being eaten would be terrible, to be certain, but at least she wouldn’t be so…so…

High.

So quickly.

Chapter Four

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Chapter Four

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Revaramek followed Mirelle through the marshy forest. “I do not like being blackmailed.”

“I’m not black mailing you.” Mirelle glanced back at him, curls of black hair bouncing across her shoulder.

“Extorted, then.”  He hissed, pinning his ears back.

“You’re not being extorted, either.”

“I am!” He lashed his tail against stand of ferns, scything the fronds down. “You’re an extortress!”

“I’m not an extortress!” Mirelle shot him a glare, hazel eyes flashing. Amazing how brown eyes can burn like that. “That’s not even a word!”

Revaramek growled at her, flaring up his spines. “Extortress!”

Chapter Three

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Chapter Three

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Mirelle gave the dragon all the time he needed to collect himself. She almost wished there were more women here to see what happened. No doubt some of those poor maidens he had an affinity for would have taken a great deal of satisfaction in watching him writhe. If nothing else, she was sure they’d have all shared a good laugh at the look on the foul beast’s face.

What a tale she’d have to spin in the tavern once this was all over and done with. She leaned back with her palms against the stump, imagining it. “Have I ever told you about that time I kicked the wicked dragon himself right in the balls? No? Oh, well, buy a round of ale, and I’ll tell you the story.” 

Chapter Two

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Chapter Two

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Mirelle followed the winding trail through the marshy forest. It was a beautiful day she wished she could appreciate. Afternoon sunlight filtered through the thick canopy, dappling the path with golden blotches. A warm breeze rustled the leaves, carrying the scents of water and moss from the marshlands. Birdsong carried warbling music, and insects buzzed and chirped from hidden places. Yet it was hard for her to enjoy her walk, knowing where it would end, and why she was here.

Chapter One

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Chapter One

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The dragon called himself Revaramek the Resplendent. Revaramek because it was the name his mother gave him, and Resplendent because even for a dragon, he knew he was especially magnificent. His emerald scales glittered in the sun, while the markings across his limbs and vast wings shone like copper fire. Yes, he was a beautiful creature, and everyone knew it because he was always telling them.