The tavern bustled with noise and laugter, all negitive thoughts drowned in mugs of ale or the allure of a pretty woman. The air reeked of human stench, suffocating to sensitive nostrils. Bodies large and small were cramped into rotted chairs and pressed together like tuna in a can. There was no room to move let alone breath easily. Yet most of the tavern's occupants were quite happy with this. Most of them.
In every tavern in the world there is always a dark, secluded corner for those who do not want to be part of the celebrations. In this tavern, two figures sat huddled in the comforting shadows. One was wrapped in a long, brown cloak, his entire face shielded from sight. Yet beneath the guise, dark eyes shifted nervously without a steady point of focus. The other leaned close to the first, dressed in a simple white tunic and leather pants. His skin was darkly tanned but the shock of hair on his head was a fiery red. In his large hands he turned an empty mug, yet the set of his broad shoulders and tilt of his head indicated that all his attention was on the other figure.
"Listen to me." The dark skinned, burly man whispered urgently. "I know what I saw and what I saw was him with your wife. He's not your friend. He's just using you. Trust me."
"I- I don't know." The other stuttered nervously. Again his gaze flicked to a man seated at another table, then shamefully away. "He's been my best friend for seven years."
"When you were dating your wife, do you remember how he looked at her? You told me that he'd wanted her." His voice was deep, a rumbling baritone that had an unual tremor of pleading to it. "What makes you think he doesn't still want her?"
"He wouldn't do that. Not to me." The cloaked man choked, turning his gaze to his hands. His fingers had been clasped together for some time, kneeding and rubbing the skin until his knuckles had turned white.
A soft, sympathetic hand came to rest on his shoulder. "I'm sorry. But I know what I saw."
"Tell me again." The man's voice was a harsh whisper, ripped through with pain.
A hesitant pause, a slow breath and the other began. "Like you asked, I'd been watching your wife for a week. Every day, as soon as you had left, she went out and met with him. The locations would change from time to time but the outcome was the same. Every day, every time your back was turned."
There was a spark of anger in the man's eyes. He clenched his knuckles tighter and swallowed forcefully. "Every day?"
"Yes." Came the reluctant reply. "You know what you have to do."
The cloaked figure shook his head. "No. I can't. Even if he.... Even if he did go behind my back with my wife, I can't kill him."
"Can you think of another way to stop him?" Kind, amber eyes looked beneath the shadows of the cowl, but could not meet the other man's down turned gaze. "You've already tried the athorities. Remember how helpful they had been?"
The man shut his eyes quickly lest his friend see the tears that welled there. He had gone to the authorities, and they had done nothing. Of course, he hadn't noticed the pale fear that shone in the attendent's eyes. Nor the cut off scream that came from his throat as soon as he had left. "I know..." His voice was an inaudible choke, but the lip movements had been enough.
"You have to. For your honour." The other man quickly banished a small smirk that had touched his lips. "Tonight. When he leaves."
The other made a small sobbing noise but nodded sharply. Drawing in a deep breath, he met his friend's eyes and nodded more firmly. "Yes. Tonight."
* * *
The sky was dark and starless, blanketed in wispy clouds that did nothing more then hide the sky. There was no cooling breeze to brush the sweat from the drunken man's face. On any other humid, summer night, he would have grumbled and griped about the heat. Yet tonight, the wonderful swirl of alcohol in his mind blocked out such annoying thoughts. Instead, he sung in a slurred voice as he trundled down the street.
A soft, scuttling noise made him stumble on the off-note chorus. He turned slowly, swaying from side to side with his dry lips parted slightly to allow him easier breathing. A smile soon broke his face as he recognized the source of the noise and the face illuminated by the street lamps.
"Ralt!" He exclaimed in an all too loud voice, flinging open his arms as if to embrace a long lost friend. "You shoulda been there t'night." He slurred, leaning forward to place a thick hand on Ralt's shoulder. "I waaaas GREAT! Everyo... ev-er-y-one loved meh."
Ralt looked down at the friendly hand clasping his shoulder, then back to his 'friend' without emotion. His eyes were dead and he could see only a stranger standing before him. The black beard and scraggly long hair that framed the other's face had once been familiar and discernable in a crowded street. Yet now, it was as if he was seeing him for the first time. "I did see you, Harrig."
"Oh reeeeally?" Harrig leaned further forward, almost toppling to the ground if he hadn't been holding Ralt's shoulder. "Did ya like it?" A wide, boyish grin spread across his craggy face.
"No." Was the simple, flat reply. Ralt removed Harrig's hand from his shoulder and took a step back. The other man seemed confused for a moment, fear lighting his face as the sound of metal being unsheathed met his ears.
"Had a bad day, buddy?" He joked weakly, quickly sobering as he saw the long curve of a sword flash in the lamp light. He only now noticed another figure standing behind his friend, hovering like a dark angel.
"Like you wouldn't believe." The humour in Ralt's voice was dry and forced. A smirk had flitted across his lips, quickly disappearing under an angry scowl. "You slept with my wife."
"Wha- what? Where the hell did you get that non-sense from?" Harrig staggered back a few steps, coming up against a building's cold, wooden wall. He felt along the rough expanse for a latch, a crevice, anything that would indicate a door.
Ralt's steps were soft in the silent night, crunching lightly over the dirt ground. He held the sword before him, the tip pointed slightly towards Harrig's throat. "I know. I've had someone watching you. Every day." He seethed, a snarl curling his lips. "You were with her every day."
"Who? What? Is this a joke?" The sobered man asked in a wary voice. He watched the other figure out of the corner of his eye, noting that he was nearly twice the size of himself. Built like a tree.
"No joke." Ralt said in the same, emotionless tone. He advanced closer, light winking over his sword as it arched delicately closer to Harrig's exposed throat.
"Come on, Ralt!" Harrig exploded, holding out his hands in an act of desperation towards his friend of seven years. "You know me better then that!"
"He's lying. Kill him." The shadowed man spoke at last. He remained hidden in darkness, yet Harrig could hear the smirk that must be tugging at his lips.
"This is Red." Ralt jerked his head towards the other man. "He's the one who's been following you." A wicked smirk twisted his lips. There was no forgiveness in his eyes.
"He's a lying bastard!" Harrig's voice cracked as he sought futilely to regain Ralt's trust.
"Just admit you did it, Harrig." Ralt's eyes softened, replaced by a deeply set hurt and sadness. "Make it easier on both of us."
"I didn't do it! I wouldn't! You know that!" Harrig was shouting now, pressed tightly against the building wall. Frantic eyes darted from his friend to this stranger, Red, and back again.
"Just say it!" Ralt lunged forward, the sword flashing ever closer to Harrig's life.
"I- I can't. I didn't-" The man's plea was cut off in a gurgle as the steel weapon thrust through his heart. His eyes grew wide, filled with betrayal, before they slide closed forever.
Ralt stood over the fallen form of Harrig for a few moments, breathing harshly as he glared down at his blood tipped sword. Tears streaked down his face and the smouldering anger still lit his eyes. "Damn you. Why didn't you just say it?" He asked of the dead man.
"It's over now." Red's voice, soft and caring, came from behind him. A reassuring hand rested on his shoulder and offered him the comfort of a true friend. Ralt sobbed softly, closing his eyes to banish the tears. He heard a clatter and didn't even notice that the sword had fallen from his grasp. "Let's get you home. So you can rest."
Ralt nodded mutely, following the directions of the hand as it guided him down the street. He didn't look back.
* * *
The house was dark and silent when they finally entered. A once cheery fire left in the hearth was now no more then a few flickering flames. A plate of food sat on the table, left out for a tardy husband. Ralt didn't notice either in the darkness of his own thoughts. Instead, he removed his jacket and sat down heavily in one of the wooden seats, not looking up to watch Red blend in with the shadows again.
"Thanks." He said after a long period of silence. "I guess... it was the right thing to do."
"It was." Red's voice was oddly deeper. Looking up, Ralt couldn't even distinguish the outline of his friend in the shadowed corner. "It has made my job a lot easier."
"What?" The man asked in confusion. He had to keep his voice low, lest he wake the rest of his family.
"You never guessed, did you?" A throaty laugh, an unusual rip and ruffle of cloth falling to the ground. Ralt squinted into the darkness, curious as to why Red suddenly seemed so different. There came another laugh, deep and menecing. Then, from the depths of the night made darkness came the flash of two, glowing red eyes.
Ralt gasped, toppling back over his chair in his surprise. He sat on the ground and gaped at the nightmarish creature that stepped out of the corner and was bathed in moonlight.
Gigantic, towering over him like a demon out of his dreams. Pale light washed over his blood red scales, caressing the chisled muscles of his torse and legs. A long, whip-like tail danced through the light and darkness, taunting and playing. Two sleek, leathery wings extended from his shoulders and arched over his head, accenting the two, black spikes that grew from his flaming hair. His face had become more draconic, flattening the nose and turning the eyes into burning ovals of a solid colour. Winking in the light from around his thick throat was a red, circular gem held on a silver chain, previously hidden beneath his shirt. The Drasis grinned, flashing sharp, white teeth beneath his scaled lips. "Boo."
Ralt's mouth formed into a 'O' and worked like a fish caught out of water. His eyes grew even wider and he tried to scramble away from the beast, finding his feet tangled in the chair that had toppled with him.
"Nothing to say, Ralt?" The red Drasis, Renegade in this form, asked mockingly as he stepped closer. His talons clipped lightly over the wooden floor boards.
"W- why?" He asked in a small voice, trying to skitter away for every step closer 'Red' took.
"Why?" The Drasis threw his head back and laughed out loud. His voice was deeper then it had been, ringing through the household like a fatal thunder. "Why do you think?" He hissed, quickly stepping around the chair and pinning Ralt against the wall with his eyes. "There was a contract out on your friend's head. Not only do I get money out of this, but I had a little fun doing it too."
"Ralt? Is that you? What's g- Oh!" A woman's groggy voice floated down from the stair well. Ralt tried desperately to get to his feet before his wife made the rest of the trip into the front room. He stopped trying as she reached the last step and stood stock still, gazing in horror at their guest.
"Hello honey." Renegade drawled in a sarcastically sweet voice. A sneer pulled at his lips, revealing long canines. "Care to join us?"
"Saral!" Ralt called her name in a sharp tone. "Go back to bed. Go!" He reached out to her as if to push her away, half standing and half caught in the chair. Suddenly, he was forced off the ground and thrust back against the wall. Air whooshed from his lungs and he faintly made out the sound of a feminine shriek through the fog in his mind.
"Don't move." Renegade growled, holding Ralt by the neck as his red gaze fixed on Saral. The human dangled at least a foot off the ground, his eyes half-lidded from the result of the impact. Another smirk wormed its way onto Renegade's face. "Come down the stairs and stand by the table." He instructed, a low purr humming in his throat.
Slowly, Saral did as she was told. Her face became pale as the moonlight outside as she inched closer and closer to the creature from nightmares. She hesitated as Ralt choked, gasping for air and gripping Renegade's arm. The Drasis didn't seem to notice.
"Mommy?" Another voice. How sweet this scene was becoming. Two smaller forms pitter pattered down the stairs in bare feet with sleep laden eyes. They didn't notice their father or the beast that held him, only the huddled form of their mother standing by the dinner table. "Mommy, I can't sleep." One of the children, both girls, murmured sulkily.
"Why don't you ask mommey to sing you a song?" Renegade's booming voice startled both children. The younger let out a short scream before her mouth was covered by her mother's hand. The other curled up in the safety of her mother's other arm, staring in fear at Renegade. The red half-dragon chuckled to himself. "What a sweet little scene."
He threw Ralt suddenly, heaving the man through the air and over the table. Saral screamed, clutching her children as her husband crashed to the ground and moaned painfully. Renegade walked swiftly around the wooden object to capture the entire family against the far corner. A malicious grin filled his face and eyes. His long, serpentine tail whipped back and forth as if in eager anticipation. "Ralt, you stupid fool." He mused with another low chuckle. "Did you really believe me so fully?" Renegade paused to watch the father of two shakily push himself to a sitting postion and crawl over to his wife and children. "Harrig was innocent. As innocent as yourself. You killed your best friend, all because I told you to." The last was said with a flippant air, cutting deep into Ralt's soul.
"Please, let me live." The man begged, pulling his wife into his arms. She still clung to her children as if they would protect her from this creature. "I- I have a family. They need me."
"You know what?" Renegade took on a thoughtful expression. "I'm in a good mood tonight. I'll let you live." He waited long enough to savour the looks of relief and greatfulness that washed over every face. "If you kill your wife."
"What?!" Ralt cried, horror and disgust replacing his fleeting happiness. "No! I can't!"
"Do you love your children?" Renegade asked in a falsely gentle voice. He knelt before the family, eyeing the two, sweet little girls holding tightly to their mommy.
"Yes! Of course I do." Ralt insisted. He didn't see the reason for this question but kept the desperation in his voice just the same.
"Then prove it. Kill your wife and I'll let you and your children live." He loved this little trick. It had belonged, originally, to one of his most promising students. She'd had a soft spot for children and greatly enjoyed tormenting families. Unfortunately, that same student had found 'redemption', so to speak, and left his side to join with the Light Clan. Pathetic bunch of passifists that they were. It was too bad he'd have to kill her now. She'd been one of the best.
"No. No." The man moaned through a lump in his throat. He hugged his sobbing wife and rocked back and forth like a madman.
"You see girls?" Renegade smiled kindly at the two children. "If your father really loved you, he'd do anything to keep you alive. But he won't do that. No, you're not important enough to live." The smile was replaced by a heart chilling grin. "Don't you see? No human can ever love another. If they did, we wouldn't exist." With that, he whipped around and raked his claws through Ralt's throat. The man gurgled once then dropped to the ground, dead.
Saral scream, the children screamed, Renegade licked the blood from his claws before doing the same to the rest of the family. He hadn't even had to get up from a crouch. Sighing, the Drasis stood and stretched his sharp tined wings. That had almost been boring it was so easy. He glanced around the house to see if there was anything worth taking. Assuring himself that there wasn't, the red assissin left to collect his money then return home. It had been a fun night but he was getting sleepy.
The next morning, six bodies had been found, littered among the town. Four in their house, murdered in a heap; one in the street with a sword beside him; and the last one, a wealthy banker who had had his neck snapped in half. All the money in his estate had mysterious disappeared with the killer.
* * *
The next morning was sunny and bright, filled with the happy songs of birds and a cloudless sky that was swept with a cooling breeze. In a camp on the outskirts of a forest, figures began to wake and prepare for their daily chores. Men gathered hunting supplies. Women herded children to breakfast and a bathing. Small tents pitched around the edge of the encampment were opened up to the fresh air. All except the largest one. The one reserved for their Leader, who slumbered on after a hard night's work.
Renegade smiled in contentment as he lay on his soft, cotton blankets. Warm sunlight lit the tanned sides of his tent and turned it to gold. Beside him lay another figure, curled up like a sleeping babe. He kept his eyes closed for a while longer, enjoying the peace of his rulership.
The figure beside him stirred and purred in her half-sleep, stretching a black arm over his bare chest. He smiled again, keeping his hands behind his head and watching out of the corner of his eye as his bed mate, Orlana, began to wake.
"Good morning, sweet heart." He purred softly into her ear. The black Drasis' smile broadened and her eyes fluttered open slightly. Unlike his, they were feline like and shone a pure, beautiful green.
"Good morning." Orlana returned in a velvety soft voice.
"Shall we go see the children or simply lie here all day?" He rolled onto his side and toyed with a lock of her pure black hair. She purred softly, nuzzling his chin and running a claw gently down his chest.
"You haven't yet seen the gift I brought you." She pouted playfully. "I worked so hard to catch it."
He chuckled softly, stroking the woman's scaled cheek. "Then I shall go play with it now. Come, my darling, I want you to be a part of this."
An excited purr thrummed in her throat as she quickly got dressed and followed her lord out into the morning brightness. Like any other Drasis, Orlana didn't see the need for a great deal of clothing. Her outfit consisted of skimpy, green shorts and a matching top with only one strap crossing over her back. Of all of Renegade's mates, she had lasted the longest. Most notably because she won every challange ever brought to her. In this world, children were bred to the strongest and most skilled parents. She was the best of both.
Orlana latched onto Renegade's arm as the red male strode easily through his clan. Other Drasis bowed and lowered their eyes to their passing lord. A few donned feral smirks, knowing in which direction the dominant male headed.
At the forest's edge rested three, wheeled cages. Though most clans used only stakes and traps made of wood, the Blood Claw Clan had their own, metal barred, fully transportational prison. Plus the added bonus of home made torture devices. In one of the cages lay a crumpled excuse for a human body. He seemed to be sleeping but was, in truth, only trying to avoid the shrieks and reaching claws of several Drasis children gathered around him. One snagged the back of his shirt, tearing a gash into his shoulder and gurgling with glee at the sight of blood. The others hung onto the bars or jumped on what part of the wooden floor they could reach. They looked like a contingent of hellish demons, set to torment this poor fool. To Renegade, they were a beautiful sight.
"Come here children." He commanded, reaching out an arm for the one who had drawn blood. The little female shriek and scrambled into his embrace, immediately slashing a claw at his long locks. Renegade laughed and gripped her small arm in his hand, fixing her with a kind yet stern glance. "You know better then that, Baket."
The child cooed sorrowfully, lowering her green eyed gaze. She was the youngest daughter of Orlana and Renegade. Mostly red with black wing sails and streaks through her long, thick hair. She was also Renegade's favourite.
The other children, six girls and three boys of varying ages, gathered around his ankles with excited growls as he reached the side of the cage. Orlana grinned wickedly, pride swelling her heart as each of the young ones tried to gain their father's attention. They all strove to be noticed, pushing back their siblings to get the best vantage with the tall red. Each one hissed jealously at Baket as she snuggled in Renegade's arms with a triumphant purr.
"Now, my darlings," The Drasis lord purred deep in his throat, watching the human figure stir slightly. "What shall we do with this thing?"
"Kill! KILL! KILL!" Baket shrieked at the top of her small lungs, squirming in Renegade's grasp like a hungry snake. The blood lust in her eyes made Renegade laugh again.
"Yes, my pet. He will die." He looked up again to see the human man groan and push himself up on his hands. "But first, daddy needs to talk to him."
Renegade set Baket on the ground and immediately, the children dispersed to crowd behind their mother. Not all of them were Orlana's children, but since she was the ruling female, they saw her as such. There was only one who thought differently.
Illraist, daughter of Renegade and his former mate, Illiauna, swiftly undid the latch to the cage and yanked the man to the dirt ground. She smiled viciously as he collapsed there, unable to support his own weight. Unlike the other children, Illraist hated Orlana. She was next in line to inherit the Blood Claw Clan, but as long as Orlana lived, she had to fight for her father's attention. Of all of Renegade's offspring, she was the oldest and most cunning. Her scales were a smoky blue, as if she were constantly standing in a mysterious fog. Sleek, black spikes rose from her head and accented the longer spikes coming from her wing tips. Her clothing consisted of a simple, tattered shirt and shorts held on with a thick rope. The human at her feet groaned in pain. A swift kick to his gut rolled him onto his back. Illraist hissed and quickly caught hold of his shirt, pulling him roughly to his feet.
"Be respectful to your lord." She growled in his ear. Her eyes, sapphire blue like her mother's, shone with laughter at the man's pain.
The human opened his eyes, wincing in the painful light of the sun. He had been captured only the night before, and not one of his wounds had been tended to since then. He could feel the life seeping from his body, and prayed it would leave him before this beast could finish him off. A snarl twisted his lips and he spat at Renegade's feet.
"I will not bow to a monster!" He exclaimed, as if to prove himself a hero. The Drasis clan laughed, forming a ring around their lord and the human scum.
"Yet you bend your knee to an overweight imbecil every day. I find that amusing." Renegade's mocking drawl brought more laughter to his kin. He stepped forward and caught Illraist's eager gaze. A smirk tugged at his lips and he nodded his approval of her presence. "Tell me," He turned back to the man. "you're an informant for the bounty hunters, hmm?"
"I'll tell you nothing!" The man defended again. Renegade was having a difficult time seeing who this weakling was showing off for. His bravery certainly wouldn't prolong his life.
"Yes, you will." Renegade insisted, reaching for the silver chain around his neck. The human's eyes widen and he struggled vainly against Illraist's hold.
"No! No!" He cried desperately, shaking at the sight of that winking, glittering gem.
"Yes, yes." The red Drasis sighed as he placed the jewel around the other's neck. He grew so bored of their futile resistance. The gem flared and sparked to life, swirling with shades of red. From a blazing inferno to the deep, sluggish flow of blood. As it settled, the man's eyes grew glassy and blank, and all struggles ceased.
Illraist removed her grasp and stepped back, letting the clan bask in the wonder of her father's magic. The human who had once been unable to support himself, now waited with a zombied patience, standing perfectly still before the towering red Drasis.
"The bounty hunters, where are they?" Renegade demanded, all playful laughter gone from his voice.
"In the woods. By the lake." The human returned in a monotone voice. His jaw hung slightly slack and he stared at a point just above Renegade's head.
"Good." Renegade purred, motioning for two of his warriors to come forward. "Find them, kill them. I tire of human weakness." They bowed and prepared to take off. "And if you can," Renegade added with a sly smirk, "bring back a treat for the children." The two warriors grinned viciously and bowed again to their lord. When they had left, gliding over the forest tree tops, Renegade returned to the spell bound man. "What do you fear most?"
"Heights." A ripple of laughter from the clan. Renegade grinned, supressing his own chuckle.
"I see..." He mused, glancing around at the trees shading this area. "Climb that tree to the very top." He pointed towards the tallest oak and watched as the man obeyed without question. The other Drasis growled and roared to honour their leader's genius.
"Bring me my pendent." He commanded of one of his kin. The green male immediately obeyed, flying up to the human's precarious position and snatching the silver chain and gem from around his neck. Another roar of laughter filled the encampment as everyone watched the man huddle against the tree branch, his face pale with fear. The pendent safely back in his clutches, Renegade slipped the silver chain around his neck and smiled smugly. Though weak, humans were so fun to torture.
While the Drasis were enjoying an amusing show, another figure came onto the scene. Opal white wings flared in the wind, carrying a sleek, black body towards the ground. A spiked head swayed back and forth on a serpentine neck, guiding the movements of his muscular form. Holding to the dragon's back was a drow assissin, dressed in black and carrying a black handled sword. Black eyes carefully scanned the ground below, searching for a target given them.
This isn't right. Dvamsak hissed in his rider's mind, red tongue flicking over black scaled lips. Krent's gone insane this time.
I like it about as much as you do but we have our orders. Zaithyr returned, a note of annoyance in her voice. She had loaded her arrow sheath and restrung her bow before accepting this assignment. Not even she, greatest drow assissin of them all, trusted a Drasis.
Dvamsak banked and spiraled to a landing outside of the encampment. The occupants of the Blood Claw Clan had taken notice of them, and were even now moving forward in a mass to see what stupid beast had dared disturb them. A slightly crooked tail whipped back and forth uneasily over the grass as Zaithyr slid from her bond's back and waited by his shoulder.
Renegade laughed, walking easily through the path cleared for him. He strode to the front of the assembly and stood impressively before his kin, arms folded and wry smirk on his lips. "Well, well." He began with a low chuckle. "It seems this drow has brought us our dinner."
Laughter and cheers from the crowd of thirty or more Drasis behind him. Zaithyr sneer at the weak joke and stepped forward slowly.
"Can it, Drasis." She smirked, seeing Renegade's smug look fall. "I'm here to give you the chance of a life time."
"The chance of a life time?" Renegade laughed, red tail whipping behind him, mimicking his emotions. "I have lived several life times. Mostly likely, I have already experienced this 'chance.' " More laughter, calls to kill the dragon.
"Not likely." Zaityr's ashen lips turned up in a smug smirk. She stood opposite him, almost mirroring his stance. Her arms were crossed over her chest and her feet braced against the ground, ready for action should he so much as twitch. "You'd sooner jump off a cliff then take this offer. But I'm giving it to you anyway, on Krent's orders."
"Krent?" Renegade mused, raising a clawed hand to scratch at his chin thoughtfully. "Ah yes." He grinned, looking down at the drow. "That fool hydra rider. He's mixed up in a war with the dragon riders at the moment, isn't that right?"
"A war you should be a part of." Zaithyr growled, never faltering in her gaze.
"Do you dare threaten me?" The Drasis snarled, stepping swiftly across the soft grass. A tremendous roar and snapping of large jaws directly before his face stopped him in his tracks, and silenced his clan. No one had ever dared stand up to Renegade, not even the dragon he had killed.
Dvamsak growled low in his throat, lips pulled back in a snarl to reveal rows of needle sharp, white teeth. His facetted eyes glowed red as he stared down the Drasis lord. No one threatens my rider! The bold, vicious voice attacked every mind in the clearing. Zaithyr smirked, Renegade blinked, and the Drasis clan remained completely and utterly silent.
Slowly, the red lord narrowed his eyes and growled a warning. "I have killed creatures far stronger then yourself, dragon."
And I have been trained to kill since the day I was born, Drasis. The black/opal dragon returned with a sibilent hiss.
"Now, now." Zaithyr drawled amusedly, stepping around Dvamsak's many spikes. She lay a hand on his cheek and smiled sweetly at Renegade. "Let's play nice, hmm?"
"What do you want?" Renegade growled reluctantly.
"I'm here with a message from lord Krent, rider of Toth, king of the hydras." Zaithyr spoke his full title, as if trying to impress the Drasis lord. She didn't. "You, Renegade, have been chosen to become a Hopeful for a Hy-dragon clutch."
"Hy-dragon?" Though still annoyed, Renegade was slowly becoming curious.
"A cross between a dragon and a hydra." She grinned, knowing the history of the Drasis. They were cross-breeds themselves. "Just imagine it, a creature the size of a hydara with fully intelligent heads and a set of dragon wings. Better then both races, don't you think?" She asked innocently, continuing before Renegade could come up with a reply. "The clutch is on another world, Cy Dragonstake, and a Drasis would be best suited as a candidate for these.... darlings."
"Why should I agree?" He ignored Dvamsak's looming muzzle. Once this was all over and done with, he'd kill the stupid creature.
"Because, if you do it will benefit both you and your clan." Zaithyr smirked, knowing full well that she possessed this situation. "You'll have the strength of a hydra behind you, loyal only to you, and your clan will be seen as twice as powerful. Seeing that you're the only Drasis to ever bond a Hy-dragon."
Renegade growled as he thought over the information. He would be twice as powerful with such a creature behind him. And there would be no chance of betrayal as long as their lives were tied together. He would be able to rule not only the Blood Claws, but all other Drasis clans as well. "Very well." He conceeded dryly. "But on one condition, my clan joins me wherever your lord has placed me."
Zaithyr was already moving towards Dvamsak's shoulder as she replied. "No problem. Krent's already arranged to transport the entire clan to the hydra lair."
She gasped in surprise, quite unlike herself, as she was suddenly being pinned against her bond's flank. Renegade's demonic face hovered over hers, a wicked snarl twisting his scaled lips.
"No one commands my clan but me. Make sure your lord understands that." He growled once more then released her, still towering over her slight form.
"Alright. Sheesh." Zaithyr looked at him warily out of the corner of her eye as she mounted. "I'll inform Krent. Now, get on." She motioned behind her and was surprised, again, as Renegade chuckled softly.
"No need, my dear." Turning, he motioned to one of his kin who had wisely already prepared his things. To survive in the Blood Claws, one had to be as close to telepathic as possible. "Get the human from the tree." The red lord grinned, holding the closed bag of his possessions tightly in one hand. "I'll bring a gift for these... Hy-dragons."
To keep the human from screaming, he had to be knocked unconscious. Zaithyr was given the 'honour' of carrying his scrawny carcass on the back of Dvamsak's saddle as they prepared to leave. To her annoyance (and unadmitted fear), Renegade did not join her on the dragon's back. Instead, he flew along side.
I don't trust him. Dvamsak growled as he pumped his wings to gain altitude.
Neither do I. The drow assissin cast the Drasis another suspicious look. She wondered briefly how he would follow them to Cy, but quickly banished the thought as Renegade latched on to Dvamsak's tail seconds before they betweened. The dragon's furious roar was lost in the nothingness of space. Yet as they glided on, Renegade's chilling smile was not lost on her. Indeed, the sight would haunt her throughout the remaining years of the war.
