They’re Here

With another thunderous roar, the dragon lunged at them. Red struck first, delivering a swift blow to its head that left it reeling. Her strikes weren’t just stronger now – they were faster too, sharper. Without hesitation, she swung off Kestrel’s back and slapped his haunch, urging him to bolt. The horse veered around the dragon and galloped toward the city. From the gate, once closed tight, guards were now spilling out – fully armed.

Still reeling, the dragon’s gaze tracked Kestrel, muscles twitching to spring. Only its tail was near Red. She brought her war hammer crashing down on it, pinning it to the ground with brutal force. The beast recoiled violently, its crushed tail lashing and throwing Red off her feet before coiling tightly around its own body, protecting its wound..

The fall knocked the breath from her chest, yet she forced herself back up, gasping before her lungs could properly fill. The air itself seemed against her – thick, stifled, choked with fog that coiled heavy around the dragon’s form.

The black-scaled monster turned back to her, lowering itself like a predator about to spring. It was no longer dazed.

Red filled her lungs and charged, hammer lifted, ready to meet its fury with her own..

But the dragon surged upward, wings flaring wide. A searing column of fire burst from its jaws –flame black as pitch, its edges rimmed with sickly violet, the heat of it searing the ground into glass. From the walls and the balistraria of the towers, volleys of arrows –great and small– whistled through the air, rattling like rain against stone.

The ground beneath her was uneven. She threw herself behind a jagged mound of earth, the heat pressing close, but it wouldn’t be enough for long – the dragon advanced, flames still spilled toward her as it came.

Then came the guards – three hooks on chains hurled through the haze. One caught, sinking deep into the beast’s flesh. With a savage heave, they hauled together. The dragon shrieked, the sound splitting the air like iron tearing.

It twisted, clawing the chain. But οne guard was already climbing the chain, his emerald cloak streaming behind him like a banner, his chartreuse eyes fixed on the prize. He drew steel mid-ascent, an acrobat in motion. The dragon yanked the chain, dragging the men off their feet, but the climber leapt free, his blade sparking as it met the monster’s wrist which came to meet him. The cut barely nicked scale.

With a roar, the beast struck at him. He vaulted onto its tail, clinging as it uncoiled. In an instant he was behind it, high above the ground, springing again with uncanny balance toward its back.

Red charged anew, hammer raised, the heat rolling over her in waves.

The dragon’s wings beat like thunder. With a violent sweep, it flung the guard aside. With a tremendous leap, it lifted off, climbing high above them. The guard tried to land on his feet, but the rush of air from its wingbeats toppled him hard to the earth.

Circling wide, the beast dodged the storm of bolts and arrows, then exhaled its black fire upon the town. Flames clung to the walls, spreading to the nearest roofs. Smoke bled into the sky.

Red and the others sprinted toward the gate. But after one more circling pass, with an ear-splitting roar, the dragon vanished into the dark clouds heading back whence it had come.

♦♦♦

The two human forms that had appeared through the jungle before now came into clearer view. The first looked every bit a bard: blue-eyed, with straw-blond hair tied in a loose knot, holding a lute. The second, a young woman with turquoise eyes and short, carefree brunette hair, held a painter’s brush and palette. She looked weary, but lifted her brush all the same. With a single flick, she erased the rhino’s lingering outline, the lines scattering away like colorful dust in the wind.
“That will be all for now – thank you,” she said, exhaling.

“Hello!” Fawks called, breaking the silence.

“Hello,” the woman answered with a tired smile.
“Hey,” said the bard simply, studying them with calm but serious eyes.

“Thanks for helping us,” Elias said, regaining his breath.

“That’s alright,” replied the painter, tucking her tools into her belt.

“Are you lost?” the bard asked, his tone more curious than friendly.

“Well, not exactly,” Elias replied. “We were heading toward the Common Ground core – until those Shades found us.”

“You’re still well within the Outskirts,” the bard observed.
“But tell me, why would you want to go inside the Common Ground?” A question that ought to have been natural somehow sounded like suspicion.

Elias hesitated. “I’m searching for answers– ”

“Ah, answers,” the bard cut him off with the faintest smirk. “Aren’t we all?”

“I’m exploring!” Fawks declared proudly.

“And I,” Elias pressed on, “seek an audience with the Warden. Supposedly, he’s been here longer than anyone.”

“Hmph,” the bard scoffed.

“There are others older than him,” the painter added quietly.

After a short pause, the bard gestured toward the horizon. “The shortest way to the Common Ground is through those mountains.” He pointed in the same direction Elias and Fawks had been heading. “That range you see is only the first of many. It’s a hard road. Alternatively, there’s a stone-paved path that winds around… it begins not far from here, but it takes days.”

“In a little while, it’ll be nightfall,” the painter said. “Better if you stay with us tonight. I’m Cecile. This here is Bard.”
The man inclined his head, offering no further explanation.

"Bard?" Elias muttered to himself.

“I’m Fawks!” he blurted. “And this is Elias.”

“Pleasure,” Elias nodded. He wasn’t entirely sure he could trust them, but their eyes looked clear. And after all, the enemy of your enemy is your friend.
Besides, the promise of rest, and maybe a good meal, was far too tempting to refuse.
At last he said, “We thank you. A bit of rest, for once… that’s something we can’t say no to.”

Cecile moved a few steps ahead, motioning them to follow. Elias and Fawks obeyed, with Bard trailing behind. Cecile walked gracefully, and to Elias she reminded him a little of Fawks’s own carefree stride.

Descending the hill, they entered the jungle, traveling crosswise to the direction Elias and Fawks had been going before. Their new path ran between ανδ parallel the ridge of high rocks bordering the bay and the mountain chain opposite.

♦♦♦

Behind the walls, chaos reigned. Half the city was on its feet, the rest locked and barred indoors. To their right, the stables were among the buildings caught by that black fire – flames that, it seemed, water could not quench. The few horses of Tarlmere were being led out to safety. Red sprang forward to hug Kestrel, who whinnied joyfully – he seemed glad to see her alive again. The stablemaster was already tending to his wounds.

A potions woman a little further off handed out a draught which, when diluted into water, doused the fire. Meanwhile, other blazes were being fought down in every way the townsfolk could imagine.

“–Thank you,” someone pressed a Dral into Red’s hand, which she ate to recover some of her strength. It was Roric, who had tried once and then twice to strike the dragon earlier.
Half the guards had surrounded her now, hanging on her lips to hear what had happened, and to await any command.

Red looked around sorrowfully at Tarlmere, knowing it was already lost.
“We must evacuate,” she said, her voice flat and weary.

“Evacuate?!” the city guards exclaimed in disbelief.
“Just for this dragon?” one dared.

“This dragon is only the beginning,” Red said grimly. “There’s a vast army of Shades not far from here. Should they march, they’ll overrun us before nightfall.”

“It already looks like night,” muttered another, staring up at the blackened sky.

“Couldn’t we withstand a siege until the Warden sent aid?” asked another.
“Yes! Let’s call for aid!” cried a third.

“No – they are endless!” she cried when someone pressed for hope. “We haven’t the strength. We could not hold them for a single day – much less until help arrives, which has not even been called for!” Her voice rose, echoing down the wide street. Heads turned. Her words carried on the smoke-laden air, and more and more of the town heard them.

A ripple of panic spread; some shouted, “The town will fall!” Fear leapt from voice to voice like fire catching dry straw.

“Yes!” Red answered, seizing the moment before the fear consumed them. She raised her voice for all to hear: “We must evacuate the city – now!” Turning to the guards, she barked, “Through every street – pound on every door!” Then back to the crowd: “Tell those still locked inside: we leave at once!”

Her eyes lifted to the gatehouse. “Sound the alarm again!”

The great bell thundered above, joined by the long blast of the war-horn. The noise reverberated through the streets, rolling like a storm through the smoke and cries.

“All of you – gather at the gate beneath the Turning Tower!” Red commanded. “Take nothing with you. Your life is your only wage!”

“Go! Go!” she urged, her voice cutting through the din. Guards broke into motion, and the townsfolk scattered after them.

And as if in answer to the first war-horn, a second sounded – this one from deep in the forest.

Red turned pale as ashen cloth. “They’re here!”