CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER TWO
Spring, 670 BCE, Prydein
THE COOL SPRING
air whistled through cracks and crevices in an immense cave in the tall, Granite Mountains near the center of Prydein.
The cave tunneled all the way through the mountain and served on one side as audience hall betwixt humans and dragons, while the other was a wide cavern large enough to house more than a dozen wyrms. The cavern side was where dragons were meant to enter, as it was large enough for several dragons to enter abreast. While the other side, in contrast, connected directly with the hillfort settlement and its entrance was only just large enough to admit a single dragon at a time.
Two dragons drifted down toward the wide opening in the mountain, gliding in wide circles on opposite sides of the valley surrounding it. On one side glittered bright scales of shining garnet that reflected the glaring light of Ryujin’s Blaze in the azure sky above. On the other, black agate scales sparkled darkly, drinking in the light.
After making several circles around the valley, the pair landed almost simultaneously, less than two wingspans from the massive opening that led into the tunnel.
A slight sneer touching his lips, the agate wyrm moved to stand near the garnet.
“Thank you for coming,” she said.
Vordillainsura bristled. This was most irregular. The human king should have come to
them
for audience, not the other way around.
He felt certain she thought differently, but then, the Lady of Prydein was practically half-metallic herself. If she had her way, every dragon across the Earth would be at the constant beck and call of some human or another.
“What do you suppose he wants?” Sura growled. He saw no reason to waste time with pleasantries.
“I doubt even he knows.” Her voice sounded light, almost musical.
Sura only just kept himself from snarling at her. “Then why did you insist I come?”
Graayyyavalllia turned to face him, golden eyes shining in the bright light of Ryujin’s Blaze. “To present a united front.” Her voice was matter-of-fact. “The human leaders around the globe have been testing us in recent years, to see what they can get away with. How far they can push us. How much they can demand of us. They need to see us together, with one will.”
Sura forced out a frustrated breath.
“Although we must keep our relations cordial,” she said pointedly, “we need to show them, together, that we will not be pushed. We will not be controlled. We will not be commanded. That we have reached the limit of our tolerance for commands.”
“But why me?” He hated how petulant his voice sounded. “Why not one of the wyrms from your own island? Or at least your domain?”
“Precisely because you are
not
within my domain. You are not compelled to do my bidding any more than any dragon must obey a council member. But as the wyrm who oversees the other major group of Celtic peoples, the two of us acting in unison sends exactly the right message.”
He gave a slight, if unhappy, nod.
“Do you understand?”
He scowled.
“Vordillainsura!” She snapped.
He narrowed his eyes in irritation. “Yes. I understand. Can we get this over with?”
The garnet nodded.
Ahead, a single human emerged from the wide entrance to the tunnel through the mountain, looking pathetically small in the large space.
He was covered in haphazard fashion in the silly bits of leather and iron his kind used for protection, and carried a heavy spear with a head of iron in one hand, and a shield of ash with some sort of painted animal hide stretched over it in the other. As though such flimsy defenses could stop a dragon’s tooth or claw. Much less their elemental breath.
To say nothing of the non-chance the pathetic spear had of piercing one’s scales.
Sura almost laughed.
“Th– the king will… will see you now,” the little man stammered. He kept his eyes downcast, bushy red brows pulled together, and his flesh trembled.
Sura blinked in annoyance, but his garnet companion gave a magnanimous bow of her head and said with surprising grace, “Please. Lead us in.”
The human gave a shaky bow of his own head, then spun on his heels and moved back through the tunnel rather more quickly than protocol demanded.
Sura rolled his eyes. “Must we continue this farce?”
Graayyya turned her head to face him and gave a small smile. “Sura, my disagreeable friend, I realize how much you dislike this. But understand, renewed hostilities with the Humans serves none of us. Do you remember the last time?”
He gave a defiant nod.
“Do you recall that we left huge swaths of land uninhabitable, even by our own kind? I have no wish to leave that kind of destruction in my wake again. Do you?”
“No.” He muttered the word as though it were a curse. He hated being forced to agree with the garnet.
By virtue of being a member of the ruling Draconic Council as well as the Lady of Prydein, and therefore the official ruling body over all the Celtic peoples, she was technically above him in the draconic hierarchy. But even still, he could not bring himself to see her as having power over him. No wyrm raised by a metallic would ever be worthy of his respect.
“No living human remembers the last time we came into direct conflict with them–“
“War,” he snapped, cutting her off.
She narrowed her eyes at him.
“It was war, not
conflict.
Call it what it was.”
The garnet sighed. “You are correct, of course. The point, though, is no human remembers the last war.
We do.
They are bound to repeat the mistakes which led to it. It is in human nature to repeat the mistakes of the past. They do this even when they do remember them!”
“So?” Sura growled. What did the human propensity for repeating their mistakes have to do with him?
She sighed again. “Sura, since we are the ones who remember, we are the ones who have to rise above those past mistakes and prevent them from spilling over into war again.”
Sura growled deep in his chest. He did not like where this seemed to be going. “Just what are you saying, exactly?”
“I’m saying that as long as Gurgastius’s requests are not too outrageous, we should endeavor not to offend him. Maintaining peaceful interaction is more important than our pride. But as I said, he needs to see that we are united and will not acquiesce to unreasonable demands.”
This nonsense again,
Sura thought. It was a point they had disagreed on often. But seeing no sense in renewing the old argument, he kept silent. Above any other consideration, this was neither the time nor the place for it.
The last thing they needed was for the Humans to see them squabbling. The less united they appeared, the weaker they would seem, and the more likely Gurgastius would take the initiative and make some ludicrous demand.
As much as Vordillainsura welcomed the chance to destroy the Humans, he wanted it to happen on his terms. When he chose.
With a frustrated sigh, he dipped his head down beneath the height of the garnet’s, though only just. The message, he knew, would be clear. He would accept her decision in this, at least for now. But he was none-too-pleased about doing so.
She gave a curt nod, then turned and followed the human through the tunnel into King Gurgastius’s Draconic Audience Hall.
Sura followed more slowly, casting furtive glances in every direction as he passed into the tunnel. This whole situation stank of an ambush.
The tunnel was, of course, far larger than any human had a need for. Although he’d been inside it many times, every time he found its size incredible.
This is how humans should treat dragons,
he thought, remembering the story Graayyyavalllia had told him of the creation of this edifice. The hillfort on the other side of the mountain had already been there for decades, but it was only at Graayyya’s direction that they dug out the tunnel, connecting the larger entrance to an internal chamber near the hillfort side, and making it large enough to house a dozen full-grown dragons comfortably.
The ceiling stood close to six wingspans tall— more than thrice Sura’s considerable height, though he could reach it if he reared up and stretched his neck —while the chamber was close to a dozen in width, and stretched half a hundred in length. He doubted there was another human construction like it anywhere in the world.
Impressive as it was, he still had difficulty believing that even Graayyyavalllia would have actually helped in the physical construction of such a site. Why would she degrade herself in such a way? Dragons constructed lairs, they did not waste their time and effort digging or building for humans.
Glancing around the vast chamber, Sura narrowed his eyes. The walls were lined with human men in their ridiculous coverings of iron and leather. Each held a small, round shield in one hand, a long-hafted spear in the other, and wore a sword belted to his hip. The very image of the one who led them inside.
Recalling Graayyya’s words from only a moment ago, he stopped himself from sneering. Doubtless, another human leader would be impressed by this show of force. He estimated there were at least five-thousand men arrayed around the walls of the chamber.
But to a dragon— or to him, at least —the presentment of all these armed humans stank of desperation. What was Gurgastius trying to say with this?
He narrowed his eyes as he glanced about once more. Perhaps it was different here, he couldn’t be certain. But in Gaul, it was unusual for an average human warrior to wear such trappings.
For the humans, their paltry defenses were an expense that many could not afford. Most of the common soldiers, so he understood, went into battle with no more than a shield for defense. Possibly supplemented with several thick layers of cloth that may or may not dampen a sword strike or spear thrust. So why were there so many here in full armor?
Is he expecting to intimidate us, impress us, or make us feel secure under his protection?
Sura almost laughed at the last thought. It was the sort of nonsense a metallic might suggest.
As they made their way down the long tunnel to the audience chamber, Sura ignored the aesthetics of the chamber. The paintings, engravings, tapestries, and banners adorning the walls did not interest him, nor did the displays of crossed swords and spears or the stands of armor spaced about the chamber.
At the far end of the smooth stone-floored chamber sat King Gurgastius in a tall, gilded throne.
Sura couldn’t help thinking the chair looked ridiculous. Why did humans insist that a special chair made them important?
Well
, he thought.
It is a beautiful chair. But it is, in fact, only a chair.
The bulk of the throne appeared to be silver, with inlays of gold and platinum showing scenes of the Celtic migration from Iberia. It was adorned with an array of gemstones from diamonds, to emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and close on a hundred other types, ranging from fine, beautifully cut stones to raw chunks, from massive stones to flake-like slivers.
The king sat with his thickly-bearded chin in one palm, elbow resting on the silver arm of his throne. His expression seemed to vacillate between dour and bored.
Sura would have liked nothing more than to leap across the distance between them in an instant and put an end to this farce, but Graayyya hung much on ceremony and had been clear that she would not tolerate any behavior from him which might be viewed as disrespectful.
Were it almost any other wyrm, he wouldn’t have given a wyvern’s teat what she thought of his actions, but he was not prepared to risk displeasing the garnet.
Not yet,
he thought, consoling himself. He had plans. Big plans. But he needed more support to see them through. Announcing his intent, or even beginning his coup, would be useless without the support to make sure it succeeded. Exile would be the best possible result he could look forward to if that happened.
The worst result didn’t bear thinking about.
No, he had to wait. Until he quietly acquired the necessary support, he would continue under the yoke of the cowardly metallics. As much as he might respect Baalhalllu for his wisdom, insight, and power, Sura chafed under the platinum wyrm’s insistence on pandering to the foolish, arrogant human leaders.
These people
should be our slaves!
he thought, only just stopping himself from gnashing his teeth.
With a shake of his dark head, he pushed the thought away. This was not the time to get worked up over it. Cool and calm. That was what he needed right now. Patience. His time would come.
Sura followed after Graayyya in her slow, stately walk through the immense chamber. He did his best to emulate her regal bearing and polite mien.
Though the distance was little more than ten times his own length, traversing it seemed to take an age.
At last, Graayyya came to a stop with about a wingspan between her and the steps leading up to the throne. Suppressing a sigh of mingled relief and annoyance, Sura stepped around the garnet to stand at her side.
With effort, he kept the sneer from his lips and maintained a carefully neutral expression. He stopped half a step behind the garnet. If he did not maintain the show of deference to her, it was likely to offend both her and the human king.
Following her example, he bowed his head to the human king as a sign of respect, though he never took his eyes from the human. Graayyya could trust the humans all she wanted, but he would not. This whole situation still carried the stench of an ambush.
The human’s lips curled back in a sneer and Sura only just stopped the growl fighting to form in his chest. This was
not
an acceptable way for a human to acknowledge the presence of two dragon masters!
“Greetings, my friends,” the human said in his primitive, guttural tongue. Sura couldn’t be certain, but he thought he heard a slight, sardonic emphasis on the last word.
Graayyya inclined her head a few claw-widths lower than before. “I trust the day finds you well, King Gurgastius.”
King Gurgastius
, Sura thought.
Not your majesty, not your eminence, not my king, but simply, king. I wonder if he’ll notice the slight in those words.
The king’s mouth curled up an in unpleasant smile. “And you, great wyrms. Your journey was…” his eyes narrowed. “Uneventful?”
What was he playing at?
The stench of ambush grew within the vast chamber.
Graayyya flashed a charming smile. “The way was pleasantly quiet, King. In these peaceful times, I would expect nothing less. Don’t you agree?”
The king’s eyes seemed to focus and harden. Sura would not have said the king’s eyes had been soft or unfocused before, yet those qualities grew by orders of magnitude. “Peace,” he spat in apparent disgust. “Is that what you see in my land,
dragon
? Peace?”
Graayyyavalllia seemed taken aback. Her jaw hung open.
The king went on coldly. “I do not see a land of peace. I look at my realm and I see strife. I see famine. I see war approaching my borders from all sides.”
Even Sura’s jaw fell open. War? From where? What people did he think were coming?
“And here sit my dragons, complacent and lazy, heedless of the disasters approaching my realm. As though it matters not at all!”
My dragons?
Sura thought.
This human needs to be taught his place.
Graayyya’s jaw clamped closed and she narrowed her eyes. The movement was slight. Sura didn’t think the king would even notice, but he could well guess its meaning.
“And what,” she said stiffly, “pray tell, would you have us do, King Gurgastius?”
The human’s eyes narrowed and he hissed venomously, “Must I say it again? Do as your king has commanded! Bring peace and plenty to my realm. Destroy mine enemies. Put the fear of the gods into any who would oppose me or try to take what is rightfully mine.”
Sura opened his mind, connecting to Graayyya directly.
After a moment’s thought to ensure he was putting this in a way she would be receptive to, he asked,
has he lost his mind? Has he forgotten that we could destroy him and his realm in the blink of an eye? How does he think this will end?
Graayyya gave a small, sad smile.
I have to believe he has been corrupted somehow. Something has twisted his mind around on itself.
Sura scoffed.
You give him too much credit.
No, my friend. I knew him before. He was always rational,
humble, and respectful. Not like this man at all.
The garnet’s smile faltered after their near-instant conversation. From the slight tremor around her eyes, Sura guessed she was struggling not to glare at the small human. “My friend, you–“
“Friend?” the King sneered. “Friends do as they’re bid–“
“
My friend,”
she repeated emphatically. “You have forgotten yourself. We dragons are not here to fight your battles for you. We are not here to bring in harvest for your people. We are certainly not here to hunt down your enemies for you, especially when said enemies are not even campaigning toward you yet!”
Gurgastius’s lips twisted into a snarl.
“We are here,” she continued, as though she didn’t see the expression, “to advise you. To help you. And to enable peaceful relations with the peoples with whom such would otherwise be impossible.”
The King glared.
“And so, my king, is there anything we may
help
you with? Do you have any honorable, just request we might consider?”
The King blinked, his expression going blank. Then he stood in the stiff, barely mobile fashion that humans seemed to believe somehow denoted regalness. He spoke softly, with deadly calm. “Get out of my home. Remove yourselves from my realm. I will not tolerate dissent. I will not accept disobedience. If you will not do as commanded, then you have no place in my realm. Remove yourselves this instant.”
He wants to die,
Sura growled silently to Graayyya.
She gave a slight shake of her head
. I don’t know what it is, but something must have happened to him. Something terrible. Perhaps he has gone mad.
Graayyya turned to face Sura, a crimson tear glimmering in her golden eye. “Vordillainsura, my friend, I believe it is time we left the king’s presence. This line of conversation is getting us nowhere.”
Confused, Sura gave a small nod and turned to lead the way out of the chamber. What was she doing?
“Do as I command! Remove yourselves from my realm. You are no longer welcome here. I will find dragons who will do as they are bid! Do not come back to my realm.” The king’s voice trembled with rage by the time he finished.
Sura seethed. He wanted to turn around and spew his acidic breath on this foolhardy human. How dare he! To think that this pathetic human had the temerity to order him. To command great wyrms to do his bidding.
Were it not for Graayyya, he would have done exactly as he wished. Were it not for her, the ostensible mistress of all Prydein, having ordered him not to, he would have destroyed every last human in the chamber and melted the hillfort down to slag for good measure.
As it was, however, he held his head high and put all the swagger he could muster into his steps.
Let my every movement be an insult to this foolhardy human
, he thought.
A part of him— perhaps not such a small part, if he was being honest —hoped the mad king would order the soldiers arrayed around the chamber to attack them. It would be just the excuse he needed to tear this ridiculous settlement down around the humans’ feet.
Let them witness firsthand the power of an angry wyrm.
With a frustrated sigh, he pushed the thought away and led Graayyyavalllia out of the tunnel into the midday glare of Ryujin’s Blaze.
“Mistr–“
“Not now, Sura,” she snapped.
He took a deep breath as he struggled not to lash out at the garnet.
“I need to speak with Dauria. And Baalhalllu. And the rest of The Council,” she muttered, clearly not speaking to him.
What do you need those moldering sacks of bones for?
Sura thought bitterly.
You should just listen to me and turn around and strike the fear of gods into these idiotic humans. The only lessons they will ever respond to are power, violence, and destruction.
He kept silent, however. Angering her would avail him not a thing.
She paced back and forth, apparently oblivious to his presence, her visage growing more and more worried with each cycle.
Sura did his best to maintain the appearance of calm.
At length, she stopped her pacing and raised her eyes, meeting his gaze for the first time in over an hour. Her eyes widened, as though she had forgotten he was there. “Vordillainsura. My apologies. I did not mean to keep you here waiting on me. I trust you are ready to leave this place?”
“Beyond any doubt,” he said, struggling to maintain his calm. To suggest she had been trying his patience would have been tantamount to calling the Antarctic region a bit chilly.
With a nod, she turned away toward the west, where he knew she made her lair. Turning her head back to watch him from over her shoulder, she said briskly, “I know direct confrontation is your usual way, but please, believe me when I say that will not serve you well this time. We need to come together and find a solution which does not involve mass genocide and destruction. Can we agree on that much, at least?”
Sura contemplated for a moment. As much as he despised humans, he had to admit that he didn’t want to destroy them all. Enslave them, certainly, but not destroy. Not all of them, at least. They had uses, after all. Limited uses, but uses all the same.
After a long moment, he nodded. They could gather their imbecilic council and talk the matter over if they wanted. In the end it would avail them little, if anything at all.
Graayyya turned from him once more, appearing satisfied, and leaped into the air. She snapped her wings out to catch the thermal updrafts, which sent her soaring skyward.
Sura watched her fly away toward the west until she was little more than a speck on the horizon.
He shook his head. After the things he had seen from Gurgastius this day, he saw no chance of the mad king being reasoned with at any point in the future, near or far.
But go ahead and try anyway. I have my own
–
Vordillainsura had to use a talon to snap his jaw closed, so great was his amazement. The idea that slammed its way into his mind was brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.
He turned toward his realm in the east, but Graayyya’s voice in his mind halted him.
See to your people, my friend. They will need you in the coming days.
With a grunted reply, he leaped into the air and began his trek home. Gathering strength from his Apex, he sent a silent message to every agate and malachite wyrm he knew of throughout his realm in the east.
For his plan to work, he would need as much support as he could find.
Hopefully, what he could find would be enough.