Chapter 59: Two Things
The Dragon’s Pit echoed with the distant roars of its denizens, the air thick with heat and the faint tang of sulfur. Baines stood at the entrance of Lady Darka’s lair, his piercing gaze fixed on Smallfoot, who trembled under the weight of his threat.
"You," he said, pointing a finger at her, his voice cold and unyielding. "If you come to me again to waste my time, I’ll kill you." He turned sharply, his scarf fluttering as he strode toward the pit’s exit, his silhouette swallowed by the cavern’s shadows.
Smallfoot stood frozen, her human eyes wide with fear. She knew Baines meant every word; the lethal edge in his voice was unmistakable.
As the only dragon with bargaining power, her failure to secure a deal left her vulnerable. She glanced desperately at the larger dragons, their massive forms looming like ancient sentinels, but even they remained still, wary of the unseen presence Baines commanded.
Wick’s invisible menace hung in the air, a silent threat that kept them rooted until Baines’s figure faded into a distant blur.
Even then, they dared not speak. Smallfoot recounted the failed negotiation, her voice heavy with defeat.
The dragons’ shared question lingered unspoken: What now?
...
Baines emerged from the pit after ensuring the teleportation tablet to return when the time was right.
He made his way to his quarters in the Darkan stronghold, the bustling streets of Darkos alive with tournament preparations.
Crimson banners fluttered overhead, and the clamor of hammering and shouted orders filled the air.