Book 4: Chapter 50: A Piece of Divinity |
They approached cautiously, moving down toward the dragon and its worshippers with care. Michael swept his eyes across the area, realizing that aside from the dragon and its worshippers there was also a town surrounding them. Rock had been carefully carved away to create a sunken series of streets and plazas that contained a number of buildings built directly into the rock. From where he was standing it seemed clear that the initial carve out had been done by massive claws.
He looked out across the worshippers, finding none of the golden letters he was used to, then moved his eyes toward the town where he found several patches of them. They moved carefully into the town, finding a number of carefully carved steps that allowed them into it. They felt immediate relief from the cool winds, and with the heat radiating from the dragon they felt quite comfortable in spite of the elevation.
The homes within the town were much like those in the village they’d seen before, but with far more draconic iconography and far more people. They received curious looks, but not worried ones. There was a certainty within the people there, one that Michael recognized within himself. They believed they wouldn’t be hurt, they had faith in their god’s protection and power.
Michael carefully followed the flashes of gold he saw until he reached a darker skinned man with neat hair and a clean appearance that didn’t match those around him. He looked vaguely familiar, and when he saw Michael he approached him immediately.
“Champion. Bruntus told us you would soon arrive.”
“I’m glad I could meet his schedule,” replied Michael with a smile. “Are you and his other followers okay? The air is thick with blood.”
He nodded. “The dragon takes only willing sacrifices of men. There have been a couple fistfights and things of that nature, but nothing serious. We are well liked for helping to free so many from slavery.”
“Didn’t they sell one another into slavery to begin with?’ asked Michael, recalling what he’d heard when he’d learned of Broan long ago.
“A few do. Most of the slaves are actually taken in Broan raids.”
“Is Brunhilde here?” he asked, memories of a woman with dark hair aiming a crossbow at him coming to mind.
“Yes, she’s with the other. I’ll lead you to them,” he gestured for them to follow and they fell in line behind him.
“What’s your name?”
“Danten.”
“Thank you Danten.”
The man nodded and led them through the sunken maze of a town until they reached a small house with smoke coming from the chimney. He gave a very peculiar knock on the door and after a few moments the door opened and they were let in.
Inside they found an exceedingly clean and well organized home with fine furniture and several woven and carved decorations adorning it. Among all of these fine things were ten other men and women. They, like their abode, were well kempt and all had their hands busy with something even as Michael and the other walked in. Some were knitting, others carving, and one was even at a loom.
Brunhilde was the one that let them in.
She looked at Michael with a smile. “I’m glad you made it here safely, Champion.” She looked at the others, her smile widening just a bit as she saw Pyotr. “Glad to see you again as well.”
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Pyotr smiled back shamelessly. “It is good to see you as well. How’s your friend?”
“Busy with her daughter tucked safely away in Swandia.”
Pyotr shrugged. “Guess I was only good for one that day.”
“Shameless bastard,” muttered Ollie under his breath.
Michael chuckled. “So, what’s the situation?” he asked.
Brunhilde’s expression became more serious. “We successfully managed to help coordinate a slave revolt in Broan. The people in the mountains have been very kind to us as a result, but their dragon has refused to meet with us. He considers us unworthy of speaking to.”
“Were you able to get a read on him? A history?” asked Marcus.
She nodded. “The people here lived very difficult lives. Creatures from within the mountains, goblins, wargs, and other tribes were constantly attacking them. Their titles and deeds weren’t enough to help them do more than just survive. One day the dragon appeared and settled on this mountain. They anticipated that it would be another thing to survive, but for a long time it didn’t even move. They realized that it was giving off heat and so a few people began to settle near it. They realized that it was hurt, and one man approached it. In spite of its wounds and hunger it didn’t hurt him, but it told him that if he could feed it, he would grant him a favor. The man and those nearby brought forward what meager food they could, but it wasn’t enough to restore the dragon’s strength, until the man offered himself. The dragon accepted, and since then has looked over the mountain people. Their lives are still hard and imperfect, but the greatest threats from the mountain are settled and the dragon granted them many secrets for cultivating food and mining. The people here decided the dragon’s intervention was more worthy of worship than the gods we follow and so they worship it instead.”
Michael nodded, absorbing all that information.
“Do you know why the people here don’t have titles and deeds?” he asked. “If it was a simple as a lack of worship of the divine then many more people wouldn’t have them.”
She shrugged. “That I don’t know. They only say they have been emptied for a true blessing later.”
Michael frowned.
“I know they’re a bunch of heathens, Michael, but let's not get too smite crazy,” said Ollie with a smile.
Michael chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’m not too interested in starting a crusade here. I’m not sure of what exactly we can offer a dragon though to get their support.”
“Only one way to find out, brother,” noted Pyotr.
Michael nodded. “True enough.” He pushed himself off the bench he’d sat at. “Let’s see if he’ll talk to me.”
Brunhilde nodded and grabbed a coat to join them.
Once they were prepared they all walked out of the home and followed the main path through the sunken village until they walked up a set of stairs leading right to the dragon itself. The worshippers continued their chants as they approached, ignoring them as those in the town had.
Michael found himself in awe of the creature in front of him. Gray scales the size of a gauntleted hand, horns like trees, and wings that looked as if they could keep a football stadium out of the rain. He walked directly down the center path toward it, feeling the heat emanating from it build and build as he got closer until he was sweating heavily under his armor.
Once he was only a few yards away, the dragon opened a black eye as large as him.
It moved, causing the ground to shake as it uncoiled itself. Despite already seeing it drawn to its full height in a vision, in person only a few feet from it was a very different story. He stayed calm, standing firm where he was. He’d met a god far larger than the one in front of him only a few days prior. They certainly felt different though. The god of the dwarves had been a tremendously powerful and grand being, but the dragon in front of him was another story. This was a creature of myth, one whose likeness had somehow crossed worlds, and he felt some primal portion of his mind responding to it.
The dragon stretched out its wings, then slowly coiled back down, arching its neck to look more closely at him. He could feel wisdom in that gaze, and power.
“Finally. A worthy speaker for the gods.” The dragon surprised him, he had expected it to speak into his mind, or using some magical method, but no it spoke through a mouth filled with teeth the size of his arm. His breath was like opening a door during a Florida summer.
The dragon looked at the others, his eyes sweeping across them.
“An odd and motley collection of humans you are.” He returned his attention to Michael. “Only you are worthy to speak among them though…. So speak.”
Michael met the dragon’s gaze. “I am here to ask for your help. As I’m certain you know there is a great rift growing daily in the south. An invasion is coming. They seek to kill and enslave everyone in this world, including you and your people. I ask for your assistance in driving them back. Someone as powerful as you could slay hundreds of them without effort.”
Something rumbled deep within the dragon’s throat.
“I will help you, but I ask those you represent to pay a price for it.”
Michael paused for a moment. “And what price is that?”
“A piece of their divinity.”