Of Mice and Dragons
Prologue
It was a strange, yet unnerving sight in the Planasene Forest of Nevarra. Trapped within natural prisons, tree roots strangling each and every limb, qunari warriors shivered with a contorted rage. There were seven of them, each facing a perpendicular area. And in the middle of this area, that the moonlight touched with an eerie hand was an imposing figure. The figure chanted some indistinct verses, as if a song, full of brittle and madness.
The qunari were barely conscious, yet the chant lulled and beckoned them from their prisons. They felt the roots stretching and moving, giving them room to breathe and escape. One by one they disentangled themselves and then as if in a trance stumbled to the figure touched by the moonlight. Their swords, and helmets and shields made a clinking noise and it reverberated throughout the otherwise quiet forest, the sounds mixing well with the chant.
As they grew closer, the figure became clearer, it held a womanly shape and faced them with a calculated awareness. Leaves, dirt and roots covered her body – yet uncharacteristically, a horns- shaped helmet covered her head. She smiled, wickedly, as she chanted. Her voice became louder, stronger and it implored them.
When the first qunari reached her, quick as lightning, she cut his throat and let him bleed on the stone behind her. But the others kept moving, unaware or perhaps uncaring.
A creature roared in the distance, the ground trembled. The woman kept chanting, killing. One by the one the qunari fell onto the stone. All except one. This one stood right in front of her, unmoving, his eyes were blank and unknowing. She watched him like a hawk, but made no move towards him, only taking notice of his appearance.
He had been the leader of this group; his horns were long and crooked, longer than most of his kind. He was bulky, strong and intimidating. But the woman regarded him as if he was a mouse and she was the snake.
She came closer and caressed his cheek as if a prized possession. She had now stopped chanting.
"You will do." She hissed in his ear.
The roar in the distance grew louder and louder, until the trees shook and parted as something huge flew down to the ground. Fire engulfed the trees surrounding the area where the woman and the last qunari warrior stood.
The woman closed her eyes and chanted again. Her voice now becoming unnatural, akin to the noise the creature made behind them. The blood from the fallen warriors glided up from the stone, and then when the wind changed darted to the leader and climbed into his mouth and ears. He made a gurgling noise, as if finally aware, fear crossed his eyes. And then he fell to his knees, in shock and despair. The blood ran through his body, changing his own, making him stronger and more fearless.
And then as if possessed, got up and turned around, heading to the flames. The flames touched his body, but didn't burn him. It only tickled, slightly. He made his way to the creature behind the flames, the dragon with glistening grey scales and piercing amber eyes. It watched him curiously but did not attack. And he approached it, not as an enemy but as a friend as the woman behind him cackled in the night.