Chapter 26

The hero closes the trap, and his journey begins

"Wait a moment," said the man, as if seeing me for the first time. He had stood and saw leaning closer to me, as if he couldn't believe his eyes. "What is that you're wearing? Are you here to pledge your loyalty to me, as some kind of human dragon or what? Are these others some kind of offering to me?"

"I'm just cosplaying as a dragon," I told him. "You have a problem with that?"

"You're what?"

"Cosplaying. It's a Draconic word that means-"

"I know what it means," the man snapped. "I was speaking Draconic before your grandparents' grandparents were born. You're pretending to be a dragon?"

"Honestly? I'm mostly wearing it because I figured it would enrage you, given your ban on it. The protection aspects are nice as well, of course."

"Of course," the man agreed. "And it's more weird than anything else. What if I wore a suit made of human toenails?"

"That would be disturbing..." I agreed.

"Same here. I'll let it slide, seeing as how you'll be dead either way. You arehere to kill me, I take it?" He looked the four of us over.

"You are the Dragonlord, are you not?" Alita asked.

"Yes, wouldn't want to accuse the wrong guy," Clarissa agreed.

"I am. You may call me Mhen and I am lord of all dragons." He spread his arms, purple robe billowing and the staff in his hand crackling with energy.

Wait, did he put magic on his staff to make it look more magical?

"Don't look like much," Alita told him. "I bet I could take you alone!"

"Oh do you?" he sneered at her. "Maybe-"

"Before we get into that," I interrupted. "I have a question for you."

The others looked at me in confusion, this wasn't in the script but I had to offer him a way out. I had to. It was the only way I would feel better about what was to come if he played his part as we expected.

"Go on."

Why did you lock the princess up in that chamber to die? Why the sword hanging there? But no, I had only one question that needed to be answered right now. "Why did you do it? Why did you turn on us?"

"Is that what I did?"

"According to the king, yes. He told me of when you first appeared, how you helped all those in need. The people loved you, and everywhere you went you were welcomed with open arms. What changed? What drove you to this? Or do you just like sitting around a damp basement with nothing to do?"

"I wouldn't say that. Strange, sounds like you've gotten most of the actually story," he admitted. "But it's what happened after that he probably didn't tell you. He may not even realize it, I don't see why a human would. Yes, in the beginning I basked in my newfound adoration. Having just mastered the spell to take the likeness of a human I went among them. I saw their need, how they lived. I was happy to help, and they were happy to accept my help. But that's the problem, you see. They demanded more. It wasn't enough for them, saving crops for example. The big stuff that magic can do easily but is hard to do otherwise. No, they wanted me to solve more and more minor problems for them. It got on my nerves. I finally saw your people for who they truly are, and I knew unless I got rid of you, forever would you be hounding me for the most minor of things."

"And so you decided to kill us all," Rose ended sadly.

Yeah, couldn't you have just left? Flown to other villages or started a magical school so they didn't have to rely on your magic all the time?

"Not all of you," he protested quickly. "You're still alive, aren't you? The strongest will survive, and be better for it. They'll know how to solve their own problems, and not rely on me. Then I can once again walk the fields and the mountains and the plains in peace. Without you humans dogeing my every step."

"You mean dogging," Alita told him.

"Oh yes, sorry, dogging- I don't care about that! Who has been teaching you Draconic anyway?"

"Sheesh, sorry, don't have to bite my head off."

"Not yet," he replied slyly. "Wait for it."

"So have we won your little game?" I asked him. "Will you call off your monsters now? We did make it here, we solved our own problem like you said."

"Oh, you think I should give up, just like that?" He snapped his fingers. "You made it here, promotions all around and we head back for a beer? Is that what you think?"

"I don't drink beer," Rose told him.

"Maybe the occasional ale," Clarissa agreed. "Beer? No way."

"You know what I- answer the question."

"If you're playing by the same rules as we are, yes," I told him bluntly. "You've accomplished what you wanted, so call off the monsters and give us our gold back. Help us learn magic, so we don't have to rely on you, and can solve our own problems. We're willing to learn, I think you'll find."

"Very well," he replied simply.

There was a moment of silence.

"Really?" I asked, hopeful. "You'll really do it?"

"Honestly using gold like this breaks my heart anyway, I would rather hoard it. If you've really learned your lesson, there's no reason for me to continue, and you can start getting that gold back I've already used."

"We have."

"Are you sure?"

"Quite sure."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"So prove it."

That stumped me. "Do what?" I stammered.

"Prove it. If you've attained the wisdom I've hoped, and you represent the best that human kind has to offer, prove it."

"Tell me how, and I'll do it."

"Oh no," he shook his head sadly. "Remember, this is about solving your own problems. You have a problem, solve it. I'm waiting."

I looked between them, and they looked back at me, unable to come up with anything by the looks of it. But I remembered the journal, and I wondered if this is why it had warned me to come alone. "You want me to kill one of them, don't you?"

"What an interesting choice," Mhen admitted, looking interested. "What would killing one of your companions prove?"

"That I was serious in meaning what I said. That, by her sacrifice, she also realized that giving her life would save many others."

"Now that would be something to see," he admitted. "If one of them just stood there and allowed you to take their lives. Of course, if one is good, isn't two better? I mean I see three of them, certainly you don't need to leave with more than just one."

"I see," I told him, sounding resigned. Time to go back on script. "You don't intend to ever stop. This is all just a game to you, isn't it?" I drew my sword. "You know, I think Alita was right. You don't look like much. Maybe I'll just solve my problem by killing you."

"Oh will you?" Mhen screeched. "Foolish human, I might have actually done it, had you killed two of them. Had you chosen which of your friends lived or died. But no, you think you can take me? The greatest dragon who ever lived? See my true form and tremble!" He started tracing a magical symbol in the air.

"Wait, you can't-" I tried to say, but he just laughed and slammed the glowing symbol into himself. In the place of the man was… A very scrunched up dragon, pinned between the ceiling and the floor here who gave a little squeak of surprise. His limbs were mostly pinned against the floor, and his head was bent over because he was far too tall to fit in this tiny space. We had known what was coming and flattened ourselves against the far end of the room, so we weren't crushed under his bulk. I smirked and advanced, there was still a little room to move, for me at least and my party. Not so much for him though. "Didn't exactly think that one through, did you?" So much for the greatest dragon, who can't think one step ahead and realize he's way too big for the space he's trying to occupy.

"Wait a second, let's be reasonable about this," he managed.

"Oh, we're very reasonable people," I assured him. "Aren't we ladies?"

"Very much," they all agreed, raising their weapons and advancing.

"Wait, wait!" he cried, and we slowed.

"Yes?" I asked. "You've changed your mind?"

"Maybe?" He worked one claw loose and traced the same symbol in the air, managing to press it against himself again. With an inrush of air the dragon was gone, and the man was back.

"Where do your clothes come from?" Rose asked.

"Fools!" he ignored her. "You should have killed me when you had the chance. Now I'll just wait for you outside, at my full size, and you will all know true despair!" He laughed and vanished.

We all breathed a sigh of relief. It was over. At least, I hope so. "Come on, we better head back there just in case."

"You wouldn't have killed us, right?" Alita asked me.

"What? No. I would have fallen on my own sword before I raised it against you," I assured her. "Any of you."

"How could you even ask that?" Rose asked her. "Do you really think so little of him?"

"Me? What about you? Where do your clothes come from, honestly."

"What? It's a legitimate question."

"Come on," Clarissa told them. "Before he releases the water down here, it'll only take a second for him to realize what's happened."

So we slogged back through the castle, using our light magic this time as we didn't have to conserve any more. (I hoped) The way was easier because we could follow the markings we made, and soon we saw the shaft of sunlight through the door that told us we were close. I didn't hear the sounds of combat, which was a good sign, and we stepped around the device that I heard shouting coming from.

The reason we couldn't use our magic to wish ourselves out here. It may just work after all. "No problems?" I asked the solders that were there.

"None at all," one answered. "It seems it worked perfectly. He's been swearing at us, but-"

"Is that the so called hero?" a voice shouted. "What is this? Let me out of here at once!"

"Oh, I don't think so," I told him. I walked over to it and knocked. "I think you're going to be in there a long, long, time."

"I'll escape, just you watch. Fireball!" There was a noise from inside. "Yipes! What in the world? What is this? I demand to know what you've done to me!"

"Pretty simple, really. For some reason locked doors around here are quite troublesome. You can't get them open without a key. So I thought to myself, what happened if you built a frame, and you installed six doors to make a cube? Could you trap even a Dragonlord? It seems the answer is yes."

"You haven't trapped me. I'll just magic myself out like so!" There was a word barked, probably Draconic. "Wait, what?"

"It's how the magic works," I explained. "You used the magic of 'outside' first I assume, we know that spell. It takes you to just outside whatever building or cave you're in. In this case, just outside your castle where we put the doors. But you can't use that spell anymore because you're technically outside already. This isn't a building, and even if it was for the purposes of the magic, what door would the spell select? The last one closed? I made sure to close and lock the bottom door last, and the magic can't shove you underground so it wouldn't work in any case. And you won't be able to use 'return' magic either, because it takes you to the place you left from. In that case, right here in front of your castle, where this cube is. As long as we don't move it, you're stuck here."

"You trapped me behind doors?" He sounded incredulous. "These are actual doors?"

"That's right. They can't be smashed aside, burned, chopped apart, only unlocked. Believe me, we tested it, and it made some trouble for me in the past. They're just wood, but somehow being a door makes them special. So I thought, why not use that to our advantage? I knew right where you would go, so I left this here for you. You can't escape with magic, and you can't open a door without a key. I wouldn't suggest transforming either, that would be very messy. I won, without fighting you for even a second. So would you say I've learned the lesson you tried to teach or not?"

"Ha! I'll get out of here, just you wait!"

"I don't think so. Die in the dark, just like you left the princess to do. We're done here."

We signaled the dragons, who started dragging the basket back to pick us up, while the guardians of the cube started setting up camp. Until we were sure the Dragonlord had died of starvation or thirst someone had to watch the area. Just in case. They had agreed on a rotating schedule, which I and my friends were part of, as we needed to see this through as well.

"So we won," Rose said, standing there at my side. "And without the big fight we feared. A pity he couldn't see reason. We could have learned so much from him."

"Maybe," I agreed.

"My heart was about to burst, when you went off script like that," Alita complained. "It worked out but what were you thinking?"

"I had to give him a chance. Given how horrible that trap back there is, I couldn't condemn him to it without being absolutely sure."

"I think it was the right thing to do," Rose told her.

"I have to agree," Clarissa added. "You really did finish this honestly. Yes, he ended up trapped in that ingenious device you thought of, but you did give him a chance. More than he would have given you."

"Thanks. I'm just glad none of you are hurt."

"Nothing a bit of spellwork and a good night's rest wouldn't cure," Rose said with a smile. "Our armor needs some work too, if it's ever going to look as good as it did before."

"Why do we need it anymore?" Alita asked. "We won."

"We won't but the minions of the Dragonlord are still out there. Eventually they'll learn what we've done. If some are as smart as that one wizard I spoke to, there will be attempts to free him. They'll need keys, not easy to get when you're a monster, but we'll have to be on the lookout. We need to sweep the land end to end, and make sure they're gone. No more will be made, it's true, but how many are still out there? We have won the day, but there is still much work to be done."

"I'm sorry I asked," she groaned.

We all laughed.

Back at the castle we presented ourselves to the king and told our tale. As before the princess was at his side, sitting in the throne room.

"And you're pretty sure he's gone forever?" the king asked.

"I don't know how he can escape, given how doors and transportation magic works," I told him. "We'll be guarding the cube until we're sure he's dead. Given what the other dragons have said he'll probably hibernate, slowing his degradation so it could be years before we can be sure. But for now he's no threat to anyone."

"Well done!" The king hopped up off his throne. "And without whatever I thought was hidden here in the castle. How about that? I expect you'll want my kingdom now, as a reward? It's yours, here's the crown!" He whipped the crown off his head and held it out.

Er, what? Why would I want that? Besides, weren'tyouthe one to counsel me never to become a king? Pretty sure he did. Wait, that makes so much more sense now that I think about it. He really does hate it, doesn't he? Being king.

"You would give up your kingdom, just like that?" Rose asked.

"Yeah, that doesn't make a lot of sense," Alita echoed. "What's wrong with it?"

"Nothing!" the king assured us, maybe a little too quickly. "I just want to reward you, that's all. Would you like to marry my daughter? Oh, but there are four of you. Well, you could all marry her!"

"Dad!" the princess yelled. "I can't marry four people. And three of them are girls!"

"What do you have against girls?" both Rose and Alita shouted back, then looked at each other, red faced.

"Anyway," I went on, "I still have work to do. The minions are not gone, they must be dealt with, and we must guard the cube. I have no time for running a kingdom." If what you're doing here is running a kingdom, anyway. I don't see it. "Though I thank you for the offer."

"One of you, then? A queen is just as well." He offered the crown to the others, and they shook their heads. "I see. Pity, pity." He put it back on his own head. "Perhaps in some kind of advisory role?"

He really wants someone else to take the blame if something happens? Is that his game here? "I'm told at one time kings had dragon advisors," I told him. "We happen to know three, why not ask one of them? Rekindle the tradition and make it harder for another Dragonlord to rise. After all, you don't make war on a kingdom you're the adviser to." Right?

"Oh, good idea, I'll ask them right away!" He ran out.

"Take care of your father, will you?" I asked the princess.

"You really don't love me, do you?" she asked sadly. "I felt so strongly that you had to in order to succeed. But you didn't need me at all. It's so strange. I expected to marry you, but I guess that will-"

You know, maybe I should have taken that crown when I had the chance. Put this kingdom on the right path and get it away from these two. No, that wouldn't be right. They need time to heal and- I found myself being kissed by someone, and in my shock didn't really kiss them back. Clarissa pulled away from me and spun on the princess.

"This one is mine," she told her. "Get your own. Let's go, hero." She grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the room, the other two trailing us and trying to stifle their laughter. "Don't read too much into it," she told me in the hall. "I like you and everything, but I saw that look on your face."

"What look?"

"Like you were about to say yes in the hopes that she might whisk you to her bedchambers right that second."

"I had no such look! It was pity, I was thinking about them needing to heal and the two of them drawing closer in their time of need and shared grief over losing the queen."

"Sure, keep telling yourself that. Come on, we have work to do."

"Tell her! Come on, you saw!"

"I don't know what I saw," Alita told them. "Rose, what did you see?"

"Hummm… I wonder."

The three led me, protesting, back into the sun. It was good to be among friends, and we did have work to do. Schools to set up, magic to rediscover, a world to fix. This world was broken, if trapping the Dragonlord behind a set of doors actually worked. I needed to discover how and why, and if anything could be done. If anything should be done. But for now, I was content. The danger would lessen every day we killed monsters without them being replaced, and soon people could travel again and start living their lives. Maybe even in a basket.