A Dragon’s Tale

Ethan struggled to his feet for the first time in almost two days. He heard the door behind him slam shut because the guard who released the straps hadn't stuck around to see what happened next.

Ethan stretched all of his limbs to their utmost to work the kinks out after his long confinement. As he stretched, he noticed something very peculiar. His groin felt a little different. A quick peek showed he was back down to three testicles. The fourth one seemed to have disappeared since Beth died.

He felt his heart sink at that, but for some reason...

He shook his head.

It just didn't feel like she was gone. Maybe she was, but...

*Are you ready for this?* Alana's voice rang out in his head. It was dripping with worry.

*As ready as I'll ever be.* Ethan replied then put the missing testicle out of his mind. He had more pressing concerns right now, like preventing his imminent and gruesome death.

The room he occupied was only about ten feet square. Behind him was a locked and barred door; in front of him was a large portcullis. Beyond the portcullis, he could hear thousands of people all talking at once.

Looking through the gaps in the portcullis, he could see an enormous arena. It had to be at least three hundred feet in diameter. The look reminded him greatly of the Roman Coliseum, even down to the arches spread around the outside. There were tens of thousands of people in the stands. Ethan wasn't sure how many, but he guessed at least fifty thousand. Not all of them were human either. Ethan saw elves, orcs, and even a few creatures that looked suspiciously like trolls.

*Please be careful,* Alana said in his head again.

*I will be.*

The sound of gears rotating and ropes straining heralded the portcullis cranking into the ceiling. Once it had fully raised, Ethan stepped through the archway into the light.

"And fresh from a brutal murder in our streets, comes a terrifying dragon!" The arena announcer said, and his magically magnified voice boomed over the vast sea of people. "Will our champion's blade prove this dragon murdered an innocent girl? Or, will the great God Illuminar favor the dragon and give him victory to prove his innocence?"

Directly across the arena, another portcullis cranked upwards and a man walked out. He was clad in chainmail from head to toe and wore a steel helmet. He carried a longsword in one hand and a very large kite shield in the other.

"And now, give it up for your champion!" The announcer boomed and the crowd erupted into wild applause.

*The rules are simple!" The announcer bellowed. "Anything goes. May the best fighter win!"

The champion raised his sword to the crowd and they cheered even louder. Ethan couldn't help but notice the champion had both weapons and armor but he had neither.

*Are they going to give me a weapon?* Ethan asked Alana.

*Probably not.* Alana replied. *But fortunately, a smart wood elf thought this might happen and gave you two weapons for just such an occasion.*

Ethan called his spear and hammer to his hands, but he could tell they were quite far away. This would take some time.

*Suggestions?* Ethan asked.

*Don't die.* Alana replied.

*I don't plan on it.* Ethan said. He could feel the confidence she was trying to project, but their bond was filled with worry.

The champion finished playing to the crowd, raised his shield, and started toward Ethan. From Ethan's perspective, the champion might as well have been an armored tank. The shield covered everything but the champion's feet -- which had armored boots -- and his head, which was protected by a steel helmet.

*Maybe I could just fly away?* Ethan suggested.

*I wouldn't try.* Alana replied. *They have archers all around the arena. I bet you can fly low. But they would probably object if you try to leave.*

*I don't fancy being a pincushion today.*

The champion was getting closer. He had closed half the distance to Ethan and he still didn't have a plan. His weapons were still a long way from arriving and a heavily armed juggernaut was approaching fast.

Ethan looked around the arena looking for anything that he could use as a weapon. There wasn't much. The champion had closed to twenty yards before Ethan spied a something that might work. It was a pole about six feet long that looked like it had come from a spear. It didn't have a head -- and worse it was behind the champion -- but it was better than nothing.

He didn't think he could get around the champion but -- with the help of his wings -- he might just get over him. Ethan dropped to all fours and cautiously advanced toward the champion.

"Fine day for a walk isn't it?" Ethan said. The moment Ethan's mouth opened, the champion flinched and tucked tight behind his shield.

He didn't respond.

"It seems a shame to ruin such a fine day with a fight doesn't it?" Ethan said again.

He didn't really think there was much hope of a peaceful solution, but he didn't see the harm in trying. The champion still didn't respond and continued advancing. He was only a few yards away now, close enough to be dangerous with just a few steps.

Then the champion attacked.

He charged forward leading with his shield. Ethan only had time to take a single step backwards when the champion's sword flashed out from behind the shield. Ethan dodged the blow by jumping rearward, then he pushed off with all four legs to make a flying leap into the air. The leap carried him almost ten feet into the air, and a single flap of his great wings carried him a dozen yards behind the champion. Ethan landed, grabbed the broken spear shaft from the ground, and turned to face his attacker.

The crowd went wild.

"Amazing!" The announcer's voice boomed. "Our cunning dragon evades our valiant champion and his just deserts to acquire a weapon. But will a simple stick be a match for an elven steel blade?"

"Biased much?" Ethan rolled his eyes.

The champion whipped around, hid behind his shield again, and began jogging toward Ethan.

*Be careful,* Alana said telepathically. *The elves figured out how to mix some organic components into steel so it could be enchanted. It's likely only enchanted to be self-repairing, but he might have a trick up his sleeve.*

*Thanks for the warning,* Ethan said. *Like this could get any more one-sided.*

*You'll be fine, just hang on until your weapons arrive.* Alana said telepathically. *That'll go a long way toward evening the odds.*

*I'm trying.*

His weapons were still at least two minutes out.

As soon as the champion was within range, Ethan aimed a thrust with his spear shaft. The champion deflected it with his shield and aimed a thrust at Ethan's heart. Ethan narrowly avoided the thrust, but the champion pressed the blade against his scales as he drew the sword back. The blade cut through Ethan's scales and left a shallow cut on his side.

"First blood to our noble champion!" The announcer boomed and the crowd exploded in thunderous applause.

Ethan took a few steps back as the champion prepared to engage again. Ethan started to make quick, fast thrusts directly to the shield to throw the champion off. After the first couple hit the shield, the champion aimed a strong cut, but not at Ethan. The champion's sword bit into Ethan's spear shaft and hewed a good-sized chunk of wood out of the front.

*Careful, he's trying to destroy your weapon,* Alana said.

*I can see that.* Ethan took another step back and pulled his spear out of danger.

His weapons were only a minute away.

The champion attacked again, and this time it was obvious he was going for Ethan's spear shaft. Ethan pulled the spear shaft out of harm's way, but he soon realized he'd made a terrible mistake. By moving the spear, the champion's line of attack was now open.

The champion charged forward and aimed a strong cut at Ethan's neck. Ethan jumped backwards to avoid it and was mostly successful. He could feel the blade nick one of the scales on his neck. A mere inch deeper and the fight would've been over.

The champion pressed his advantage and aimed another cut at Ethan. This time, Ethan brought the spear shaft up to block the sword. The sword took another large chunk out of Ethan's spear shaft. The spear shaft couldn't take another hit.

His weapons were still thirty seconds away.

Ethan leapt backwards again to get out of range, but the champion was relentless. He closed the distance again and began slicing with his sword. Ethan blocked an attack, but half of his spear shaft went flying as the blade finally cut all the way through. With only three feet of stick to defend himself, Ethan did the only thing he could think of.

He jumped over the champion again. However, the champion was clearly anticipating it. When Ethan's wings hit the down stroke, a jet of pain shot through Ethan's right wing.

He howled in agony.

He managed to land on his feet, but his wing felt like it was on fire. A quick glance showed that the champion had cut through the membrane and essentially rendered his right wing useless. Ethan tucked it into his back and tried to ignore the searing pain.

The weapons were only ten seconds away.

The champion was almost on top of Ethan. Ethan changed tactics and tried to use the three-foot stick like a sword. It worked for a few seconds, but only because he retreated constantly. Ethan took a flying leap backwards to avoid the champion, but it wasn't enough. The champion was on him like white on rice. He didn't have room to maneuver and the champion's blade finally sliced through the last bit of the spear shaft.

His weapons were still several precious seconds away.

Ethan had no weapons, no defenses, and no place to run. He could only think of one thing that could buy him a few seconds. One thing that could possibly save him. A Roar. Ethan opened his mouth wide to release one, but it wasn't necessary. The moment Ethan opened his mouth, the champion stopped mid-attack and ducked back behind his shield.

*He's afraid you'll breathe fire,* Alana said telepathically, but Ethan barely heard her.

Those precious moments were all he needed. His hammer and spear soared through the air and finally landed in his hands. Ethan took a deep breath and a low growl escaped his throat.

It was time to turn the tables.

Ethan threw his hammer directly at the champion's shield. It obviously bounced off, but the champion was entirely hidden behind his shield and couldn't see what hit the shield. However, he obviously assumed that Ethan had hit his shield with fist or foot because he came out swinging with his sword. Instead, the champion discovered a razor-sharp spear point headed directly for his heart.

The champion didn't have time to move or dodge, so the spear point hit him directly over the heart. Ethan felt a rush of triumph... but it was short-lived. The Champion's chain mail stopped the thrust completely. Instead of skewering him alive, the Champion was merely knocked backwards by the force, though he rolled through his fall and came up with his sword and shield ready.

Ethan pressed the attack.

With his longer reach and incredibly fast spear tip, Ethan was able to keep the champion on the defensive. Every time the champion started an attack, Ethan would launch a fast and powerful lunge. Ethan even managed to hit the chain mail several times, but the tip just wouldn't penetrate it.

*Turn it around.* Alana said telepathically after Ethan failed the third time to penetrate the champion's chain mail.

*What?* Ethan asked.

*Your spear, turn it around.* Alana repeated. *I specifically picked the spike at the back to penetrate chainmail and had one of Lord Borden's armorers attach it. Use it.*

Ethan stopped attacking for a moment to flip his spear around. As it turns out, the champion was just waiting for such an opening. The champion charged in and began to rain sword blows on Ethan almost faster than he could keep up. Ethan blocked them with his spear and discovered that the shaft was almost impervious to cuts. The champion's blade barely nicked the wood.

Thank God for Alana's enchanting skills.

Ethan stayed on the defense and retreated away from the champion. The champion was so close that the length of Ethan's spear was actually a disadvantage because it was so long.

Ethan retreated far enough that they crossed over his hammer, which lay on the ground after hitting the champion's shield. Ethan waited until the hammer was several yards behind the champion and then called it to his hand. The hammer leapt off the ground and sped toward his hand, hitting the back of the champion's knee in the process. The champion stumbled forward, eventually dropping to one knee to catch himself. Ethan used the opportunity to leap backwards to create some distance.

Ethan felt something inside of him shift at the sight of the champion on his knees.

He was a dragon.

Dragons didn't fear any living creature.

He looked at the champion not as a threat but as prey; his prey. He was a pitiful creature to be stalked, hunted, maybe even toyed with; and then killed like the cattle he was. The dragon part of him wanted out. It wanted to play with this insect who had dared to cut his wing.

A curious kind of calm came over him.

He had spent nearly four weeks with little do but train; two weeks with Heinrich and two on the Argo with Serif. Despite his relative inexperience, he could hold his own against this champion. He could beat him.

Ethan felt a low growl escape his throat; a growl he didn't cause.

*Ethan, what's wrong?* Alana's voice came over their bond.

*Nothing.*

Nothing was actually wrong; he just had this primal urge to hunt. Like a starving man with a banquet suddenly before him, the urge called to him.

It called...

It would not be denied.

Worse, he didn't want to deny it.

* * *

Alana felt the change before she saw it. Ethan's emotions shifted slightly as The Dragon's influence exerted itself. It was a subtle thing, but there. His body language changed. He seemed calmer, more confident, and definitely more dangerous.

"He's gone full dragon hasn't he?" Rachel said from beside her.

"Not quite, but he's getting there." Alana nodded. They were both in chains near the edge of the arena. Soldiers guarded them on either side, but she wasn't paying attention to them.

"What happens if the dragon kills the champion?" she asked Rachel.

"Nothing will be able to save us from the Magistrate's wrath." Rachel replied. "The champion is his son."

"So even if we win, we lose." Alana grimaced.

Rachel nodded.

* * *

Beth had watched the entire fight with bated breath from the violet shades of the astral plane. Gabriella was right beside her, having not left her side since rescuing her from the tendril.

"What's happening?" Beth asked as the dark pulses from Ethan's shadowy halo began to surge in intensity.

"Do I really need to explain?" Gabriella replied.

Beth wasn't sure she needed to. The shadowy vines that stretched from the halo to his head grew noticeably thicker and burrowed themselves deeper into her husband's skull. They started to stretch beyond his skull too. Having gained purchase on his head, thin roots began creeping down onto his neck.

"Please, tell me how to help him." She begged her compatriot.

Gabriella looked genuinely sad as she replied. "I would like to, but I cannot."

"Why!"

"Most importantly, because my Lord said so. But also, if I intervene then Ethan will never meet a few allies he will need, including a delightful Fey. Without these allies, he won't survive the darkness that is to come."

"But--"

"Peace young one." The luminous woman said kindly and gently, but her voice carried such authority that Beth didn't even consider speaking. "It will all be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end."

* * *

The Dragon stood up to its full height and glared down its snout at the pathetic insect before him. He had plenty of mana, so he focused some of it on healing his wing. It didn't take long because the membrane was so thin that there wasn't much to heal. With that done, he took a moment to examine his prey.

He marveled at the difference between seeing while he had let the dragon out and while he kept his instincts bottled up. Every part of the world teemed with life. His eyesight hadn't changed at all, but he could see so much more. The world looked exactly the same, yet completely different.

The champion that had once looked like an armored juggernaut now looked more like a child swinging a toy. Ethan saw everything as before, but now he also saw all of the weak spots he could exploit. This so-called "champion" was no match for him at all.

Ethan crouched low and exhaled. It came out as a low hiss.

"Shall we play?" Ethan said to the champion. For the first time, a flicker of fear entered his opponent's eyes. The dragon smiled. Prey should be afraid, they should be cowering before him. The champion's fear stoked a primeval fire inside of him.

This is how the world should be.

He growled, then attacked.

Before, Ethan felt like he was struggling to hold his own. This time, the situation was reversed and it was like toying with a child. It felt like the champion was moving in slow motion. He tried his very best, but the dragon was simply too good.

For several minutes, he played with his prey. He taunted him, cornered him, used his spear to trip him, knocked his sword out of his hand, let him retrieve it, and then did it again. Ethan played with the champion as a cat plays with a mouse.

And He liked it.

He liked the power, the control...

...and the hunt.

He LOVED the hunt.

The crowd in the stand had gone completely silent. The battle was over and they knew it. The dragon loved the audience's stunned silence. They needed to see this puny human was no match for him. He needed to remind them that dragons are apex predators without peer or equal in the world.

Finally, the dragon grew tired of the game.

He used his hammer to hook the champion's shield and pull it out of the way. The champion counter-attacked, but Ethan deflected his sword with his spear, then lunged his right wing out and used his wing's claw to hook the champion's chainmail sleeve. A quick jerk later, the champion was sprawled face down on the ground. Ethan pinned the champion to the ground with his legs and twirled his spear in his hands.

He had won. He knew it, the champion knew it, and judging by the collective intake of breath from the crowd, they knew it too. He only needed to complete his victory, to plunge the spear through this champion's chest and show the world he was superior.

But he hesitated.

Every instinct in him screamed that he should finish this hunt. The clever hunter's reward was prey. Ethan growled at the champion, who stopped struggling the moment he felt Ethan's spear touch his back.

*Ethan, you've won.* Alana's voice rang in his head. *Let him go.*

He didn't want to let him go. The champion had dared to injure him and all of his dragon instincts screamed that he couldn't let that pass. Slowly -- without consciously meaning to -- Ethan raised the spear above his head. It was just one pathetic human. What did he matter?

Ethan stopped with the spear's chainmail-piercing spike primed for a thrust into the champion's heart.

He wanted to.

He wanted to so badly.

*Ethan, no!* Alana said telepathically.

Ethan shook his head trying desperately to clear it. He couldn't remember why killing humans was wrong. They were mere cattle; utterly insignificant to a creature like himself. Every part of his body screamed at him to plunge the spear directly through the champion's heart. He had never wanted to do anything so badly.

He wanted to punish this pitiful insect for daring to harm him. The urge to finish off this pathetic vermin was overpowering. Ethan -- or maybe the dragon -- raised the spear even higher, then brought it down with all his might.

(End of chapter 7)

Note: This chapter began on day 40 of Ethan's life in the Ten Kingdoms and ended on day 42.