Hunger struck me again once I had finished my tasks. With Master Dagg still away, I decided it was an ideal opportunity to go hunting again. The cave was quiet, save for the occasional sounds of dripping water and the stray winds that passed through the small crevices in the walls and ceiling. I also heard the faint, pattering sounds of rain above, which affirmed my assumptions of the swamps being shrouded in more dreary weather. I stopped by my sleeping quarters briefly and changed my dirtied clothes. The long, white and black-trimmed, frilled dress I wore that day had begun showing signs of tearing in different places. I could only imagine how beautiful the dress must have looked when it was worn on its last victim. That same elegance and beauty did not have the desired effect on my own frail body, as much as Master Dagg wanted me to believe when he gave me the dress. I felt like a tainted soul wrapping myself in clothes so pure and once full of life and energy.
I changed into a cleaner, knee-length black dress which also carried a similar design. Master Dagg spoiled me with such beautiful gifts. He seemed to make quite an effort to choose certain designs. In just the short months I had been with Master Dagg, my body had become more pale and frail in appearance. While I did feel stronger inside, often, I had feared my body would eventually wither away at some point.
After getting dressed, I left the cave and surveyed the wetlands. The rains poured down relentlessly, showing no signs of stopping anytime soon. Several, large puddles began forming near the banks, which soon merged into the larger bodies of water. For a moment, I simply stood and allowed the rushing rains to drench me. Strands of my snow-white hair stuck to the sides of my face and along my neck, dripping endlessly with excess water. The dress I wore lost its natural outward flare once the heavy rains penetrated it. I discovered a new beauty within the dress's seemingly drab features.
The air was cool and refreshing, despite the sudden chills that ran through my drenched body. The skies, though cloudy, were dark enough to ascertain that it was nearing dusk or evening time. After many weeks of routine and practice, I eventually learned the times of day when the larger morsels of food would emerge.
Hoping that I would have better luck this time, I proceeded towards the banks and into the shallow waters, which only went just above my calves when I waded in fully. With the constant, pouring rains, however, it wouldn't be long before the water's level rose even higher. It was difficult to make out the fish below with the raindrops disturbing the water's surface.
It took several minutes of trial and error until I finally managed to spot a medium-sized carp swimming around near the bank. As I moved in to catch it, I suddenly stopped in my tracks upon noticing a large shadow moving across the ground. Quickly losing interest in my meal, I looked to the skies.
The large, faint outline of a creature that circled the area was practically camouflaged against the dark clouds. It continued this patterned motion for several minutes, as though it had been watching me from above.
I remained perfectly still and kept my eyes on it, preparing to sprint for the cave entrance should it attempt to dive towards me. Through the hissing of the rushing rains, my ears perked at another faint sound of sloshing swamp waters in the distance.
I briefly drew my eyes from what circled above and averted them towards the new presence. The image of several men could be discerned through the mist caused by the pouring rains. I hesitated in running now, fearing that I had already been spotted from afar. I began treading deeper into the swampy terrain where the water level continued drawing further up my legs.
The band of eight men drew nearer and I soon made out Banin's armored form leading the group. The other men were dressed similarly, each with various types of weapons drawn.
I suddenly began running through the waters, sloshing noisily, not caring at this point that my beautiful dress was becoming stained with the murky waters that splashed upon it.
“Miss!” Banin's voice called out. “What are you doing out there?! It's dangerous! Please, come back before you get hurt!”
I immediately froze upon hearing Banin's booming voice and looked behind me.
The other men stopped and sheathed their weapons at their leader's behest. Afterwards, Banin made a small gesture to one of them and he dashed towards me.
I immediately broke into a full sprint to get away from the stranger, attempting to run as far away from the cave as possible. Looking back briefly, the armored man was still chasing me and approaching quickly with his long strides in contrast to my own. As I prepared to change direction in order to confuse him further, I felt my left foot sink down into the murky ground, my sudden movements causing it to torque unnaturally, which sent a wave of pain down my leg. I went down quickly, my body crashing into a heap and becoming covered in mud and murk. I whimpered in pain and my eyes blurred from the rain hitting them.
The armor-clad man caught up to me; pulled me effortlessly out of the mess and then carried me back to his comrades.
I wanted to struggle against him, but my body was too numbed to do so. I leaned my head back in his arms and stared up at the sky, hoping to find that mysterious flying creature again, but it was gone.
I felt my body slip gently out of the stranger's arms and into Banin's own. My eyes darted towards Banin's large form fearfully, but I made no effort to escape.
“Girl, are you mad?!” Banin exclaimed, his voice muffled through the sounds of the drenching rains. “There is a Dragon afoot and you are foolishly running around these swamps!”
I wanted to smile at his words, but the sharp pain in my leg prevented me from doing so. Instead, I maintained a calculating stare into his own brown eyes, hoping he would be wise enough to turn back while he was still able. Master Dagg still hadn't returned from his errands; though, I did not wish to see the displeased look on his face if he ever caught me in Banin's clutches.
My cold, silent staring made Banin appear uneasy. He promptly averted his gaze towards the rest of the swamp as though he were expecting to see the Dragon at any moment.
Banin held me close to his body in a protective gesture as he yelled out to the ghostly shadows that danced about the area. “We know you are here, Necromancer! You were foolish enough to show yourself in Lakis with that pathetic disguise. You cannot fool us any longer! Show yourself!”
I had my doubts in Master Dagg showing up, but I still watched the area expectantly.
As the rains finally began showing the slightest signs of calming, the creature from the skies returned. It circled us from above again, its shadow looming like a hungry vulture.
Suddenly, several large, feathered forms fell lifelessly from the creature and into the murk around us.
Banin and his men scrambled about, trying to dodge the incoming attacks from the sky, which, upon closer inspection, were actually decaying harpy corpses.
Banin's face paled at the sight of the corpses which now littered the swampy waters and he turned his attention back to the flying creature.
“Have you become such a feeble old Dragon that you can no longer withstand my blade?!” he shouted. “Are you truly so weak and pathetic that you toss corpses at us, now?!”
We all stared at the skies in silence afterwards, only to realize that the real trouble came from below.
Even in Banin's arms, I could feel the small vibrations that the swampy earth gave, parting the waters into seeped crevices formed by the tiny quakes. The murky waters came alive, taking the forms of harpies covered in mud and filth.
Their eyes, which had been gouged, were replaced by crimson orbs of glowing magic, which seemed to be the source of their animated state. They stood hunched over, their bodies limp and moving seemingly to another's will as though they were marionettes. With death malformed in their eyes, the foul creatures encircled us all. In unison, a horrific shriek resounded from the creatures and pierced our ears.
At Banin's command, his men moved in to attack. His grip was solid as he held me more protectively while he watched the battles ensue.
Ironically, however, I felt more uncomfortable being in Banin's arms than I did knowing that we had been surrounded by an overwhelming number of zombified harpies.
The armored men made quick work of the monsters, severing heads and spilling blackened blood until there was nothing left but heaps of feathers and bone. When the last one had fallen, the swamps were once again quiet, save for the slow-falling, steady rain.
The creature above had finally ceased its circling and prepared to land. Swooping down gracefully and landing before us within moments, the creature revealed itself to be a beautiful and majestic Dragon with scales that mottled in a dark-green and obsidian color. The membrane around its wings was old and frayed in several places. Two, large horns protruded from the Dragon's skull-like head, which curved around its jaw lines. Perhaps at one point, the Dragon once had a face, but it had long-since decayed. Attached around its neck was a small, glass phylactery which pulsated with a strange, yet, seemingly familiar dark magic within. The Dragon's ebony eyes regarded us with a cold stare, as sickly-green acid drooled from its maws. It cloaked its torn wings about its body and lowered itself to the ground, as though ready to pounce on us all. Something familiar was carried in the Dragon's eyes which brought curious memories.
“ … M … Master Dagg?” I whispered in disbelief.
I heard a small chuckle rumble from Banin. He looked at me briefly, before shifting his attention back to the Dragon. “So,” he smirked, “you have some feeling towards this girl, do you?”
Master Dagg hissed in response and rested his eyes on me. The way he glared into my own eyes told me that he was highly annoyed in my leaving the cave. Normally, he wouldn't care of such things; today, however, he was obviously in a different mood.
“If you would rather have the girl than me, then take her and leave this place,” he growled at Banin. “Never return, or you will face something far more horrid than undead harpies.”
Banin raised his brows in slight surprise at the Dragon's response.
I looked away from both him and Master Dagg, feeling so used and helpless at this point. “No, Master Dagg,” I said weakly, “I don't want to go back with Banin. I would rather die here.”
Banin suddenly dropped me and I fell to the soaked ground with a painful thump. He drew his longsword from its sheath and aimed it at my face. “Perhaps, he has tainted you,” he said in a low tone, eyeing me carefully. “You may not even be a living being. Prove to me that you are not another undead creature and I will spare your life.”
I heard a small chuckle rumble from Master Dagg's large body and I quickly looked back at him in a panic. I was expecting Master Dagg to save me, but he remained in his spot, watching the scene with amused interest.
“H — How am I supposed to do that?” I asked Banin nervously. At first glance, I probably could have easily passed for an undead being. I looked sickly enough, with my skin devoid of all color and the lifeless, morbid gaze that remained in my eyes. “Must you open me up and see my beating heart for yourself in order for you to be convinced that I am not undead?!”
I figured Banin was trying to test Master Dagg's patience, and it appeared that Master Dagg knew this, also. Not much got past that old Dragon so easily. He continued watching us both amusingly, waiting for our little act to finally cease.
I held out my arm for Banin to touch my wrist and feel the pulse of my beating heart which would dismiss all further suspicions and doubts.
He hesitated before eventually taking it and placing his thumb just below my wrist. His eyes remained on Master Dagg as he felt the nervous, little pulse. In a huff, he tossed my arm down.
“Does this girl truly mean nothing to you, Dragon?!” It was evident in his tone of voice that his exasperation of the situation continued to grow.
Master Dagg rested his body on the ground and curled himself up comfortably, appearing non-threatened by the Hemlock Hunters' presence. “If it means being rid of you imbeciles once and for all,” he scoffed, “then, yes — she is as worthless as a piece of lint.”
Banin laughed and faced Master Dagg after shoving me aside. A few of his men approached me and grabbed my arms to ensure I wouldn't run away.
I watched helplessly while the two of them started exchanging words.
“You are not as strong as you used to be, Necromancer.” Banin pointed the clean blade of his longsword at the Dragon's throat.
Master Dagg looked down at him blankly, as though the cold steel aimed at his scaly skin did little to faze him. He flicked his forked tongue out, eagerly awaiting Banin to follow through with his blade.
I watched as Banin's hand never faltered even as he stuck the blade cleanly into Master Dagg's neck, drawing blood from the wound.
A small grunt came from the Dragon and he slumped over weakly, inadvertently drawing the blade deeper as a result.
“NO!” I cried and struggled to stand, despite my injured leg. I was stopped immediately as the armored men restrained my arms and legs then turned my head towards the scene, forcing me to watch Banin withdraw the sword from the Dragon's neck. He drew back and in a swift thrusting motion, Banin used the momentum of his weight to lodge the blade into the Dragon's heart.
Master Dagg did not even bother to fight back. Was this what he wanted all along? I thought.
I struggled violently against their strong grip, attempting to break out of their hold, but my continued efforts were futile.
After giving the Dragon's body a series of stabs and slices through its vital parts, Banin stuck the sword in the swamp water to wash off the excess blood then sheathed it back into the scabbard. He stood back and studied Master Dagg's lifeless form for a few moments before turning his attention back to me.
“That was … too easy,” he said with some disappointment and uncertainty in his voice.
“No. He would rather die than to deal with the likes of you,” I spat at him, “and I would, as well.”
Banin laughed and approached me, lifting my chin to make my eyes gaze into his as he spoke. “Are you daft, Girl? He is a necromancer. He has probably already found a way to turn himself into an undead creature. It is strange, however. I have not known any Dragon to not put up a fight. Tell me what you know about him. What are his plans?”
His questions fell on deaf ears as I kept silent. I was determined to remain uncooperative towards him until he either killed or released me. Unfortunately, neither happened and he only became more persistent with questions that I barely knew the answers to.
“Why do you insist on defending that vile creature?!” Banin grabbed my arm and spun me around so that I was forced to look at him. “Do you really wish me to kill you for your crimes of being in affiliation with a necromancer?!”
I glared at him, remaining silent.
He sneered. “No, on second thought, I think killing you would be far too easy. Tell me why you hold that Dragon in such high regards? What sort of things has he told you?”
The questions never ceased and I remained steadfast against his persistence. I had learned much from Master Dagg, who taught me the value of patience.
Now I truly understand the annoyance Master Dagg has for Dragon-slayers, I thought, seething inside.
Seeing as his questions were getting him nowhere, Banin and his men finally released me.
I held my sore arms and regarded them with a menacing stare. I was not afraid to fight them all to my death, as much as the notion sounded foolish and Master Dagg would never approve of such things. He had always preferred less-conventional methods of getting rid of an enemy.
I diverted my attention over to Master Dagg's heaping Dragon-corpse and limped past the men to tend to the body. I knelt down beside him and ran my hand carefully over the bleeding wound. I could sense Banin and his men watching me, but I did not give them the incentive to attack again. I remained at Master Dagg's side with my face buried into his scaly body, attempting to cry through burning eyes, but the tears would not come. For a moment, I thought I felt the faintest breath of air come from Master Dagg and I examined him closely. Either the old Dragon was truly dead or feigning death well.
I glared at Banin menacingly. “Haven't you done enough?!” I shouted. “You've killed him, now go away!”
Banin narrowed his eyes then slowly drew near. “He will not be dead if you become his new vessel.”
His words were like riddles to my ears and I was not in the ideal mindset to try and comprehend it. With anxious eyes, I stared at the Hemlock Hunters, who, at Banin's behest, approached me and Master Dagg with weapons drawn. I was prepared to die with my master — or perhaps, I was already dead.
Nothing else mattered anymore….