The Treasure of Dragons

Life is a treacherous thing.

You’re born, thrust into a world that is as unforgiving as the gods above us, and expected… Expected to do whatever it is that others think you should do. And if you think you should be expected to do otherwise, you’re ridiculed or worse, killed.

I am expected to hoard a cave full of gold for the eager human warrior to claim. I’ve had many enter my lands, expecting to leave carrying the wealth of kings and queens. Their charred bodies litter the path outside my home. I want to give them a proper burial, but I have found that their corpses send a certain message to those that venture nearby. Both a message of warning and one for those with greed deep within their hearts; a dragon is near.

I stretch my wings, sun reflecting off my indigo scales, creating shades of blue, purple, and even pink. Wheeling around, I drop like a stone. My heart soars as I plummet, diving down and spreading my wings at the last minute to carry me into the dark cave I call my home. My claws click on the stone as I land. The cave is barren. Up a small staircase, one that humans would never notice in the dark, is a bed. My home. There is no treasure, no heaping mounds of gold. There is me, and that is all. I would love a home, a real home, amongst people. To farm and trade and live. But my reptilian indigo eyes give me away every time I’ve tried. There is a scar running down my arm, a vicious thing, that reminds me of what happens every time I have tried to do something…

Unexpected.

I hear the sound of footsteps as magic shimmers around me. I spin to face my intruder, but it is too late. The magic already has me in its grip, transforming me from something dangerous and formidable into something not. Soft skin replaces scales, and claws are turned into slender fingers. Hair the color of midnight cascades down my back. Before the magic even fades, I feel the blade of the warrior’s sword press against my neck. I could transform back, but I’d be dead before the magic took hold. The warrior’s eyes, the color of spring skies, stare into mine and I try to think. How can I get away? How can I live through this?

“There is no treasure here,” the warrior says, gesturing to the cave. “Where have you hidden it?”

I roll my eyes. Treasure. It was always about the treasure.

“Gold doesn’t grow on trees my dear,” I hiss. “How would I acquire such a mass of treasure? Truth be told, there is none.”

“You burn villages to the ground. Steal pretty maidens for nefarious purposes. I’m sure, with wings like yours, you could fly far and wide stealing your gold.”

“Maidens do not interest me, and neither does gold.” My eyes flick to the sword against my throat. “Kill me. I serve you no other purpose.”

I close my eyes. There is no escape. My sword is with my clothes on my bed. In human form, I am as weak as a kitten. There is no holding off this human’s attack.

I feel the cold metal leave my neck. Moments later, it is replaced by a warm hand. My eyes snap open and glare at the warrior. His eyes ever leave mine. Overwhelming sadness lay in them. What right did he have to look at me in such a way? His life, meaningless as it was, had to be exponentially better than mine.

“Do you have clothes?” he asks. I nod. “Get dressed. You may think me addled, but I think we can help each other.”

“Help?” I sneer. “How do you expect to help me?”

“Do you like this? Do you like being hunted? Having to kill? A dragon with no treasure is unheard of…”

“A dragon with treasure is unheard of,” I interrupt. “It’s you stupid humans and your greed that painted that ideal.”

“I think we can help each other.”

“Why?”

The warrior sits on my floor, removing his helmet. He has blonde hair that is cut close to his head. Upon removing his gauntlets, I see the rings. This man is nobility. He runs and hand over his hair.

“I could kill you right now,” I warn. The warrior shrugs.

“If you don’t, the mountain giants will.”

Giants. I had a few run ins with giants when I was searching for a cave. There is no arguing with them. Nothing anyone can say to make them change their minds once it was made up. They were known for attacking kingdoms because a bird pooped on a rock. It didn’t matter how many times you explained that you didn’t tell the bird to do that, you were to blame and your kingdom would burn to the ground.

“My kingdom is under attack. The giant said that he wanted a crown made of gold in exchange for our lives. To make a crown large enough, we needed a lot of gold.”

“So you thought of a dragon’s hoard,” I surmise. “I won’t be able to convince them that I have no gold. They won’t believe me.”

“I know. Like I said, I think we can help each other in this. I want you to attack the giants, to scare them away from my kingdom. In exchange, I offer you a place to call home.”

“Chained in the dungeon?”

“Hardly. A place in my court.”

My eyes narrow as I observed him. “Only a king can make those promises.”

The warrior stands and bows to me. “King Whelan, of the Fortmount Kingdom. Do we have a deal?”

“Did you know that dragons can sense the truth?” I ask as I walk past him to the small staircase. “I heard the truth in your words, King Whelan. I will have a place in your court?”

“With a warm bed and whatever else you desire.”

I dress quickly and strap my sword around my waist. I hear King Whelan’s footsteps behind me as he ascends the staircase.

“Then I am yours. Skylar.”

“Skylar?”

“That’s my name, King Whelan.”

“And mine is Whelan.”

“Yes, King…”

“No, my lady, just Whelan.”

I didn’t know what to make of the king, or the way his eyes looked at me. Was he lusting over my naked form? I had dressed and I hadn’t seen that look until now. I hadn’t been around humans enough during my life to interpret their looks and actions unless they were for my nonexistent bounty. I chose to ignore the look and follow him from the cave. Whatever it was, I’d discover its meaning sooner or later.

His horse was at the top of the mountain pass. It pranced nervously when it sensed my presence, but a slow pat and reassuring whisper calmed the creature’s nerves. Mounting his steed, Whelan held out a hand.

“Will you ride with me?”

“I can fly just as quickly.”

Whelan nods. “While that may be true, my kingdom will attack you if you fly in unannounced. They will not know that you are there to protect them.”

Grasping his hand, I pull myself up and position myself behind him. His horse did another nervous prance, but Whelan’s steady hand made her calm down rather than bolt. Tightening his grip on the reigns, Whelan nudged his steed. With a jolt we were off, and the sudden movement made me gasp and wrap my arms around Whelan’s waist. I felt his chest vibrate with his laughter as he urged his horse faster. I looked around, not recognizing a single landmark. I am used to the sky, with the stars and the sun as my guide. These trees and mountains mean nothing to me. I look up, shielding my eyes against the glare of the sun.

We would be in Fortmount Kingdom by nightfall. And if this human king betrayed me, I would tear him apart and burn his kingdom to the ground.

******

“My lady, we’re here.”

The words startle me awake. I don’t remember falling asleep. I feel my face warm as I dismount. Stretching, I look around at the kingdom I was supposed to save.

The giants had already taken a deadly toll on this place. Many of the buildings were destroyed, and the castle looked like someone bit a chunk out of it. I could hear laughing and singing in the distance, and my keen eyes picked out a fire along the mountainside. That’s where the giants were.

“They won’t attack at night,” a man says as he approached. “It’s a blessing and a curse.”

“How so?” I ask, not taking my eyes away from the fire. My ears could catch three distinctive voices, maybe four. Four giants.

“A blessing not to be attacked. A curse to try and salvage what we can just to lose it again.” The man turns to Whelan. “My lord, any luck slaying the dragon?”

I turn, staring the man down with my reptilian eyes. “As a matter of fact,” Whelan says, walking until he stands at my side. “No. I did not.”

“You brought it here?”

“Skylar has agreed to help us,” Whelan says. He gestures in the direction of the giants. “We will die without her help, Gerald.”

Gerald looks at me, then at Whelan, then back at me. He shakes his head. “What did you promise it? Maidens? Gold? You realize that we have neither to give.”

“I promised her a place in my court. It seems that dragons have no want for gold or maidens.”

“And if you betray me, I will kill you,” I growl at Gerald. Gerald’s eyes widen before his mouth split into a grin and laughter bubbled out.

“I like you,” he says, holding out his hand. I grasp it. “What is your plan?”

I look back at the giant’s fire. “They don’t see well at night. That’s why they stopped attacking you. Gather your men and be ready. I’ll attack them at midnight.”

I walk away from Gerald and Whelan, deeper into the kingdom and towards the castle. I am curious of the human’s home. Many of the villagers had seen me talking with the king, so they don’t shy away or scream when my eyes meet there’s. A little girl, no more than seven, watches me with wide innocent eyes. I kneel down, beckoning for the little girl to come over.

“Are you going to save us?” she asks. I can see dirt smudged on her face and hands, and her arm are bruised from where something fell on her.

“I’m going to try,” I say. I glance around, expecting her mother to come any moment. “Where are your parents?”

“They’re dead.”

My heart breaks for the little girl. To know such suffering at a young age… She learned the most difficult lessons in life early on. With nervous fingers, she reaches out and touches my hair.

“You’re pretty. Are you sure you’re a dragon?”

I smile. “Very.”

“I thought dragons were mean.”

“I’m sure some dragons are.”

Whelan’s boots crunch on the ground behind me and the girl’s eyes grow wide. She drops down in an awkward curtsey. “Your majesty,” she whispers, keeping her eyes on the ground.

A frown creases Whelan’s face as he kneels down next to the girl. “There’s no need for formality little one. What is your name?”

“Crista.”

“Rise, Crista.”

The girl edges around Whelan, coming to stand next to me. Her hand grasps mine and I look into her trusting eyes. I would not let this girl down. I can’t.

With Crista in tow, we walk to the palace. Whelan finds the girl some warm food, something to drink, and a place to sit by the hearth. Pulling me aside, he whispers, “What is your plan?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never cared for a human before but I can’t stand to leave her.”

Whelan laughs, his hand coming up to caress my cheek. “I meant about the giants.”

“Oh.” I think it over. “I will start by flying over their camp. Once I’m sure of their number, I’ll light the forest around them on fire and trap them. Then, I’ll kill them.”

Whelan nods. “The forest can be sacrificed. We don’t venture into it much in fear of the giants living in the mountains. I will ready the men in case you need back up. I intend to honor our deal and I cannot do that if you are dead.”

“And what of the girl?” I ask. “What will become of her?”

Whelan looks over at Crista. “She likes you.”

“She does?”

He shrugs. “Children are like that. You were nice, promised to save us from the giants, so she likes you. She has no reason to fear you. She’s never seen a dragon and has never seen someone scarred by dragon’s fire. All she knows are the stories, and right now a nice dragon is more believable than a mean one when there are giants burning our home to the ground.”

“And what about you?”

“I like you too,” Whelan says with a smile. “I know I came to kill you, but there was something about you… I couldn’t do it. And right now, I’m starting to think that all those stories were made up and that you are the real victims. I want to make things right, starting with you.”

“Just like I want to with Crista?”

“Exactly.”

I smile, unbuckling my belt and handing it and my sword to him. “Then let’s kill some giants.”

The courtyard is clear by the time we get outside. I unlace my dress, letting it fall to the ground. I walk to the middle of the courtyard, knowing that all eyes are on me and not caring. If this works, I will have something that I never expected to have. A home.

Magic shimmers around me, changing me from human to dragon. My indigo scales glitter in the moonlight and my powerful wings lift me into the air. I am as quiet as a viper as I make my way through the sky to the giant’s camp. They have no idea what’s coming until I fill my lungs up with heat and breathe fire down around them.

The trees encircling their camp burn, trapping the three giants. Beating my wings, I send gusts of wind into the flaming trees, coaxing the flames to be larger. The giants roar, throwing crude weapons and stone at me. I easily dodge them, wheeling around to light one, then another, on fire. Their screams echo through the night and as the third tries to put out the flames he too is engulfed. Within moments it’s over and the three giants are dead. I roar, pleased with my work as I wheel around to fly back to the kingdom.

There is a sudden movement to my left, then I am falling. I land hard on the ground, charred giants and flaming trees around me, I try to move, but can’t. I am trapped in a net. The humans. I roar, trying to use my magic to turn me human to no avail. They have betrayed me.

A figure jumps through the flames, running to my side with knife in hand.

Whelan.

I roar, clawing at the ground and trying to get away. I can’t get a full breath to breathe fire. Panic swells within me. I won’t die. I refuse to die.

Suddenly the net gives way and I am in the air. “How dare you!” I screech, filling my lungs with heat. I will kill him. I will kill them all.

Strong arms surround me, squeezing the flame out of me and cracking bone. The giant roar, squeezing tighter until spots dance across my vision. I had killed three giants. I had forgotten about the fourth. My eyes search until I find Whelan. He still stands next to the net, knife in hand. The net had been cut. He wasn’t trying to kill me. He saved me.

With a surge of strength, I snap my wings out, breaking the giants hold before turning on him with tooth and claw. The beast slams a fist into the side of my head, darkening my vision, but I refuse to stop. I feel white hot pain rip through me as the giant grabs and tears my wing. I wrap my tail around the giant’s neck, squeezing until he stops everything, his attention now on trying to save himself. But it’s too late. With a violent jerk, the bones in the beast’s neck shatter and he falls lifeless on the ground. I try to lift myself into the sky, but it’s no use. My wing is in tatters, and pain ricochets through my body.

I fall to the ground, and there is nothing but darkness.

******

“Lady Skylar, wake up! Please wake up!”

I slowly open my eyes, groaning as the sun shines into them. I look around, and find Crista sitting on one of my large claws. With a giggle she flings herself across my claw, hugging it tight. “Oh, I’m so glad you’re awake. I was worried you were going to die but King Whelan said he’d do anything to keep you alive.”

I shift, wincing at the pain that slices through my body. With effort I lift my head, turning to look at the source of my pain.

Healers stand around the remnants of my wing, checking the sutures and making sure it is clean. I can’t believe it. I must have died. There is no way humans would care for a dragon like this.

“They’re the best I’ve got,” Whelan says as he came over. “They think you will make a full recovery, but you’ll have to take it easy until they say otherwise.”

“No problem,” I murmur, laying my head back on the ground. Even with the pain, I manage a smile. I am being cared for. I never had anyone care for my before.

“Now, I know that I promised you a place on my court,” Whelan says, walking over and sitting next to Crista. “But I have only one seat available and I’m not sure if you will want it.”

“And which seat will that be?” I ask. As long as I have a home here, he could tell me to muck the stables for the rest of my life and I doubt I’d care.

“Well,” Whelan blushes and Crista nudges him, bubbling with excitement. “I’d like to make you my queen.”

“Queen?” The word is barely a whisper, but holds all the weight in the world.

“You are brave, and you are fearless. But you are also caring. I need someone like that to help me build relations with our new allies.”

“What new allies?”

“Why, the dragons, of course!”

“Dragons?” I can’t believe my ears. Humans expected me to hoard treasure, to covet maidens. But here, in Fortmount, I am finally able to do the unexpected. And soon, other dragons would be able to as well.

The world may be a treacherous place, but after all this time I finally have a place I could be safe. A place to call home.

THE END

Bio: "Under the name Heather Kuehl, I have published numerous short stories, poems, and books. After a brief hiatus (and a name change) I am excited to share my stories with readers again."

E-mail: Heather Dade

Website: Heather Dade's Website

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