Chapter 8

Flames

here we go! albel's gonna try and bind with crosell...will he succeed, or burn in hell...read now!

Crosell snorted. "A Binding? With me? Hmph. What makes you so worthy?"

Albel sighed. Usually, he wouldn't let anyone talk to him like that and live, but here, he had to make an exception.

"Truthfully? Nothing. I should be calling myself a worm, maggot and even fool. The only reason I don't is that I am too proud and my enemies would think I had grown soft."

"Then why do you want to risk a Binding?

"Because I am a reckless idiot. Now, are you going to Bind with me or not?"

The dragon looked thoughtful for a moment, then he sighed. "Very well, human. Let's get this over with." The dragon moved closer till he was eye to eye with the young knight. "By the way, if you fail and I have to burn you to cinders, then no hard feelings, right?"

Albel nodded. "Fine."

The dragon let out a sigh of relief, almost knocking Albel over. "Sorry about that." He cleared his throat in what Albel assumed was meant to be an impressive way.

"Young Nox!" he cried. "You seek to Bind with I, the most powerful and wisest of our race! Correct." it wasn't a question.

"Yes."

"And you are aware that if you fail, you shall die by my mighty fire breath!"

"Yes."

"Very well! I shall now ask you three questions. Choose your answers carefully, for they shall determine your fate."

The dragon lowered his head so he could look the man with one huge golden eye. "What matters the most to you?"

"Nel." Albel answered immediately.

"What are you most afraid of?"

Albel hesitated. "That one day, I will kill those I love the most because of my bloodlust."

"What do you hate the most?"

Albel looked up in surprise. That had been the question that had let him down before.

"Well?"

"Myself," he said finally.

The dragon raised a scaly eyebrow in surprise. "Yourself?"

He nodded. "Yes. Years ago, when I first came here, the dragons had deemed me unworthy, and had decided to kill me. But my father sacrificed himself for me. Because of my foolishness, my father died. In cowardice, I hid and pushed others away from me. And when I had finally opened my heart, my wife was taken from me, because I wasn't strong enough to protect her. Despite what others may think, I am weak. Physically, no. But mentally…I am no better than the maggots I see crawling past me."

"I see…" the dragon nodded thoughtfully. "Tell me, why do you want to bind me? Why is it you are willing to risk everything for only one night?"

"Because I love her. I love her, and I won't let her go. I realise it is selfish, but I need to see her, one last time, so I can tell her something."

"And what is that?"

Albel told him, and the dragon nodded, seeming satisfied. "You may complete the ceremony."

Albel could feel the flames already licking at his skin, burning away his flesh. Once more, he heard his father's screams in his head. Nonetheless, he drew himself up to his full height. "Dragon, do you accept my proposal? Will you Bind with me and lend me your strength so I may cast the ancient spells of necromancy?"

The silence seemed to stretch forever. Finally the dragon opened his huge maw. Albel tensed.

mwah ha ha ha ha! oh yes, there is a cliffy! and if you want more, you must review! mwah ha ha ha ha ha! sorry it's so short...

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i need you to comment in the review on...

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i'm sorry, but with the SATs coming up, i'm getting worried that my english isn't what it could be...so yeah, please tell me!

bye!