Legend of the Dragon's Claw
By Amos Whirly
Introduction: Claw of the Red DragonThe waters of the forbidden harbor lapped gently against the sandy shoreline. The coral and rocks littered below the waves scraped the bottom of the small wooden boat as it drifted toward the shore. The craft ran up on the beach, and two men jumped out, dragging the boat farther onto the sand to keep the tide from grabbing it.
A man, taller than his subordinates, stepped from the boat and started toward the forest that loomed darkly behind the shore. The men watched him go, eying the large hide bag their captain carried across his back. The red sun glinted off the golden treasures within the bag.
One man, bearing another bag of treasure, followed the captain into the forest. The winding trail led to a small cave in the side of a mountain. The captain entered without fear.
Down they went for what felt like hours until they entered a huge, fire-lit chamber overflowing with precious gems and rare stones, pirated from all over the world.
The captain set his bag down and began distributing the items around the cave.
"Captain Wang?" the man asked.
The captain turned to him, black eyes darker than a midnight sky.
"What should I do with this?"
The man showed an intricately carved dagger and sheath to the captain.
"Place it on the altar, Zao," the captain nodded to the golden altar at the center of the room.
The man nodded and did as he had been commanded, laying the beautiful dagger and sheath on the ceremonial cloth that covered the golden altar. Both men continued distributing their stolen goods to all corners of the cave. When they were finished, they stood side-by-side and gazed at the dagger.
The sheath had carved of ivory and jade, highlighted with gold. The dagger was no less intricate, crafted of the finest metals and covered in detailed inscriptions.
The captain pulled the dagger from its sheath and gazed at it. The hilt was jade, carved in the image of a dragon, stained red.
"The Dragon's Claw," he murmured.
He tucked it away in his belt, leaving the sheath on the altar, turned and headed for the stairway.
"Captain?" Zao called after him. "Do you not want to sheath as well?"
"The Claw is not a weapon," the captain responded quietly, beckoning his subordinate to follow.
"I do not understand," Zao mused. "Why do you leave the sheath?"
"Two parts to a puzzle, Zao," the captain answered. "Two parts to a puzzle."
The captain pulled the dagger out and displayed it.
"It's barely sharp enough to cut rope," he said. "It is worthless as a weapon."
"Why then did you have it made, Captain?" Zao asked.
The captain shoved the dagger back into his belt, and he and Zao began to walk up the stairs.
"There are more important things in this world than weapons, Zao," the captain nodded with a smile. "Honor. Victory. Family. This dagger shall provide me with the key to preserving my family's name for eternity."
The door to the chamber swung shut behind them, echoing the in darkness like thunder before a storm.