Story

THE DRAGON
By Danny A.

When Garok told me that he wanted to go fight a dragon, my first thoughts were that he had sustained one to many hits to the head by troll clubs. I started thinking of where the nearest mental facility was...while Garok elaborated on his plans.

“I was thinking that if I slayed a dragon, then perhaps more people would recognize me as a real hero, and not just a trouble maker.”

I had known Garok all of his life and he WAS always in trouble. That was the main reason why I had remained his companion through out all of his “adventures” and mishaps. After saving him from the clutches of an angry amazon tribe, soothing him after he fell in love with a nymph and got deserted and after helping him get uncursed from an evil weapon that came into his possession I had become his lone companion and rescuer. It is a thankless job…but…at least I get to fulfill good deeds on a daily basis.

Garok was still explaining to me how nobody took him seriously and that “he would show them!” I finally had to interrupt and ask him one simple question. A question that “I” thought would knock him off of his high horse and he would lose the crazy notion in his head.

“Where are you going to find a dragon? And when u find it, how are you going to kill it?” Ok, so it was two questions…but they were both very good questions. But the only one to fall off their horse in surprise was me.

“I will summon one, and then slay it with the Righteous One” said Garok simply, as if there was no other way. Perhaps there was no other way. Whatever answer I was expecting however, was FAR from what Garok mentioned. For a few awkward moments I couldn’t speak. Then I gave it to him.

“WHAT! What the hell do you mean you are going to summon a dragon?”

“Its simp…”

“And secondly, are you crazy? The Righteous One is broken! Shattered! 500 years ago! You are daft my friend!”

“But it’s not…” started Garok.

“And thirdly, even if you DO manage to summon the dragon, and find all the missing pieces of the Righteous One, AND find some way to forge it anew, HOW are you going to slay it? The power it took to wield the Righteous One was more then any human, elf, dwarf, or high one has today!”

Garok seemed to hesitate after that, and I thought that I had gotten through to him, but I was sorely mistaken.

“Well for one thi…” Garok started for the third time.

I played my last card. I couldn’t believe that Garok could still have any arguments for his quest. It was preposterous!

“HOW ARE YOU GOING TO SUMMON A DRAGON?!”

I yelled. I yelled loud. I was getting scared! Dragons were nothing to mess with. And I didn’t want Garok to even think of summoning or slaying a dragon.

Garok blinked, staring intently at me while I tried to calm down. Then he started again.

“I have the power to do that right now. The sword is not shattered. Lastly, I will have help.”

With those three short answers bouncing inside my head, I began to wonder if that trip to the mental facilitys shouldn’t commence right now. Walking in between Castle Ravendale and the small town of Edinburg talking about slaying dragons and awakening long buried powers was crazy! Unheard of. But it was happening.

“Please listen as I explain” Garok pleaded. I stopped where I was and immediately sat down on a stump. I knew that I would not be able to listen to Garok’s explanation standing up. It was too much.

“Fine, go ahead”

Garok came and sat down opposite of me on a large, protruding rock. He had an excited look on his face. He was glad that I was going to listen to him finally.

“Okay, it started back at Castle Ravendale. Remember when we were at the pub and you were talking to that beautiful Elvin maiden? Well, I took that time to sneak outside for a bite to eat. The food in the pub was awful. Well anyway, I wandered outside and I noticed a peddler selling some spicy smelling lamb meat. I walked over and started asking for a couple silver pieces worth. That’s when I heard some voices in a nearby alley talking about dragons. That intrigued me, so I snooped over (after getting my spiced meat, of course) and listened in. They were talking about an artifact that was uncovered by a farmer tilling up some new land. It was thought that it was a…”

“Wait!”

“Huh”

“What kind of artifact?” I asked. I hate to admit it but I was already getting interested. Anything that was called an artifact, was an important item. There had been several “artifacts” found in the last several hundred years and they had all been spectacular finds. Dangerous, in the wrong hands, but spectacular nonetheless.

“Well, I didn’t hear all of it but it was supposed to be an amulet.”

“An amulet?” I asked puzzled.

“Yeah, but it was what the amulet did that puzzled me. The Voices said that the amulet could enhance any magic 100 fold!”

I looked at him with a skeptical gaze and said “An amulet? An amulet is supposed to enhance magic? I think you heard wrong my friend. Amulets are only supposed to ward away evil spirits and as recognition of rank! There is no way that any device could enhance magic!”

“Well I thought that too! But what if its true? Think of the possibilities!”

“I am. And that’s why I think that it isn’t possible! It would mean unlimited power!” I stood up and I started walking back down the path. Garok, not very quick on the draw, had to jump up to catch up with me.

“I mean…our priests…they would be able to….to…raise the dead!”

“Yes! I know! But another thing, before the voices left, I caught word that they were sending the amulet to Stonely.”

“To Stonely? What’s at Stonely? And who lays claim to this Amulet?” I was beginning to believe that this could very well be the thing that we need to turn our adventuring lives around, although I still wanted nothing to do with dragons.

“Well, I think that they wish to test the amulet. To test its true potential. And the “they” that I refer to is the Winged Folk”

“WHAT? Why do you continuously leave out important information like that! The Winged Folk? Oh Celeste save us! You knew this all along… and you did NOT tell me?”

“Well, actually Hawk, I did just tell you” Garok said meekly. I normally don’t get mad. I usually kept a cool head and took things in stride. However, was something that was inexcusable.

“We have been partners for how many years now? Have you not learned to tell me important bits of information AS SOON AS YOU HEAR IT?!”

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