Ice cracked under the heavy footsteps of a grunting Clydesdale. Its hooves Carried him lightning fast down the side of a sheer mountain face. The road was slick and covered in a thin layer of icy glass, the steed did not falter.
A cloaked rider clung tightly to the reigns. Her thin body held close to the saddle.
"Fall.. Fall Damn you"... she whispered as a wisp of frost swirled from her curling lip.
Off in the distance a large crevasse in the mountain separated the road. Over the gap A thin cobble bridge hung like a wire suspended in air. The horse, ran at full speed galloping across the precariously suspended bridge. The horse had not yet cleared the bridge when its rider peered across the gorge. Her eyes were met by one large shimmering eye.
The eye was brilliantly crimson red with a slit pupil an encrusted in a fold of black leather skin. Powerful wings beat against the wind as the black creature thrust itself into the air.
"By the nine divines!" The rider hissed, as she pulled on the reigns.
The horses sturdy chest rose quickly and it lunged forward to the end of the bridge. Back upon the road the steed struggled to maintain speed as the last of its stamina diminished.
A darkness covered the land and blocked out the sun. As the rider lifted her gaze from the road she saw the monsters full girth as it hovered above them.
Thin transparent wings were outstretched with a nearly fifty foot span. Atop a long neck rested a short square head with jagged horns protruding out in every direction. The body of the beast resembled a serpentine plated with thick black scales that interlocked to form an impenetrable armor. The dark black body narrowed into a pointed tail with a razor sharp spade at the tip.
"Kril Kaaz Nis Filok Dii uhznahgaar yol su'um" The thunderous voice reverberated across the mountain side. A low sizzling sound rumbled from deep within the dragons throat as it vomited forth black smoke. Molten fire spewed from the beasts mouth and charred the mountain sides.
The rider dug her heels into the horse forcing it to keep a steady pace. In one quick motion the rider had withdrawn an arrow from the quiver and knocked it securely in her bow. With pinpoint accuracy she drew back the arrow and aligned it with the dragons throat. The arrow soared into the sky but was swayed from its course by a swift blow from the beast mighty claw.
"Ah-Ah-Ah" the dragon cried, taunting the young rider as it circled above her.
The rider cursed herself and bit her lip as she calculated the next move to make. Time was short and her arrows were limited.
The dragon swooped down low and spewed wretched fire across the trail, blocking the riders path. She pulled the reigns tight and her horse jerked to the side narrowly avoiding the flames. As she turned so too did the dragon, spouting flames across the road until there was a glorious ring of fire surrounding the girl and horse. The rider was trapped. Furiously she flung herself from her horse and reached for the glistening hilt that was securely fastened to the steeds saddle. She pulled forth a long thin blade set with ornate red jewels.
She glanced over her shoulder at the wall of flames behind her, there was no where left to run to. The dragon still circling overhead watched its prey intently. The rider stood tall clutching her sword in both hands as she turned her gaze toward the heavens. "This battle will end here!" She cried. "Come and fight me like the mighty Dova I know you to be"
The dragon snarled, as it could not refuse this bold Challenger. It slowly descended. Heavy talons crashed against the ground as it landed breaking the circle of flames. "Very well brave Kaaz. We shall fight as true rivals, but know that I will kill you!" The dragons voice was mighty and the earth trembled beneath them as it spoke in human tongue.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Ti'Khay dropped a heavy bag of coin onto the table spilling golden septims everywhere. She laughed as thrust a large flagon of ale into the air. The sweaty patrons of the Bee and Barb inn cheered and crowded around her as she regaled the epic accounts of her perilous battle.
"There I was in the heat of battle, the beast at my throat and a towering wall of flames at my back." She took a large swig of ale that dribbled down her neck as she spoke "Just as I thought all hope was lost.. the beast raised its head for the finishing blow. It was then I spotted a small opening under its neck" The crowd watched her intently as she spoke "I fearlessly charged at it, severing the foul demons head from its body!" The crowd cheered and marveled at her in amazement.
"Your a hero! Amazing!" They cried as the ale flowed from there cups spilling onto the floor.
"How big were its teeth?" Someone called from the mass of people.
"Huge, and razor sharp!" Ti'Khay shouted back to the crowd.
"And the wings? How big were they!" Someone else called
"Bigger than a house, bigger than this whole Inn" Ti'Khay called as she drunkenly stumbled into a chair. The crowd was wild and excited as they sang and feasted in her honor. "The Almighty dragon slayer!" They cried as they drank and raised there mugs in her name. The frivolous merrymaking carried on until late into the night when the ale had run dry and the fires had all died. Men and women were sprawled across the tavern, stupid and drooling they leaned against one another. Some had even passed out still in there seats.
Ti'Khay was propped in a corner counting her coin. Her eyes tinted red with exhaustion, her fur was stained with liquor and smelled strong of sulfur. The khajiit yawned, and stood up gathering her things from the table. She moved to the door, stepping over sleeping drunks as she went.
"Come back any time, mighty dragon slayer" the barkeep called to her with a smile as Ti'Khay dissappeared into the night.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Her pockets jingled with coin and her belly was fat and full of Mead as she approached a small camp nestled on a hill near the edge of the rift. A small light glimmered in the distance, as she grew nearer she saw her faithful companion curled near the fire.
"Welcome back, mighty warrior" the cat near the fire groaned and rolled his eyes.
"Have you had your fill of praise for the night, I swear these nords will believe anything you tell them"
Ti'Khay stopped near the fire and untied the sword from her belt.
"Why so cynical Kharjo. I was only having some fun" she smirked with a cocky remark.
"I think I deserve it, after all I did kill that dragon"
She sat down next to the fire and stretched out her back. Sliding her toes close to the flame. She pulled her rucksack close to her and sifted around inside of it. A moment later she was unwrapping a chicken leg from a slide of parchment and throwing it into the flame. The leg of meat sizzled and blackened in the fire.
"Whatever, you just tricked it into thinking you were dead and then jumped on its head when it wasn't looking." Kharjo shook his head
"Some victory that was.. at least you got some coin for its hide"
Ti'Khay had just taken a large bite from her chicken when Kharjo spoke, furiously she swung her chicken leg at him, spraying grease everywhere.
"Now you listen here, I am the Dova Kitty and you are my minion. I'd like to see you kill a Dragon! But until then don't mock the way I do my business"