Chapter 4
Following the instructions Odarath gave him, Yasilithi crossed the intricately carved pathways within the Northern City. The complex maze would've surely turned him around if he didn't have his map to guide him. The map, enchanted with a Clairvoyance spell, would last only for about another three hours; this was more than enough time for Yasilithi to traverse the city. The map only showed Yasilithi what the shortest path to his goal was, but it doesn't show him if the path was blocked due to a cave-in or if some other obstacle blocked an otherwise fine path, which was where Odarath's instructions come in.
The path Yasilithi took was the most direct path towards the Dragon Emperor's domain. Given the importance of the Dragon Emperor's Tribute, it would make sense for Teverin to pay his dues as soon as he can. Still, it would be a security nightmare for Lady Pakuri if dragons knew in advance which path she would take, even if her life was guarded by some of the most elite dragons in Draconic society. Given how the Emperor's Tribute happens annually, Pakuri is forced to take a different path every year to mitigate potential enemy attacks.
While there are no official dangers from soldiers loyal to the Dragon Emperor, nor will there ever be danger posed by Odarath's soldiers, dragon bandits and rogue deserters do sometimes populate the land. These dragons are considered the lowest of the low: dishonorable, criminal, and untrustworthy. They have no real domain, instead, they are led by a leader who goes where the wind blows. They plunder caravans for provisions, strip the land of its resources from the actual masters of the domain, and generally cause a nuisance for whomever owned the lands they occupy at the time. They are the reason why all caravan and trade merchants contain soldier escorts. During the annual Emperor's Tribute, the bandits learn which caravan from which domain generally contain the most amount of Dragon Egg to plunder. Since House Loern caravans come from very wealthy lands, they make prime targets for various bandits bands.
However, with such high rewards, high risks always follow. Loern Knights are famous throughout the known world as some of the fiercest fighting force in the world. Stories proclaim that the Knights fight fiercely to their last dying breath, and never turn tail in cowardice or defeat. Such was the respect Teverin instilled to the Knights, that their natural dragon's pride is overridden by their sense of loyalty. This fanatical loyalty to following their orders, even if it means their death, makes the cost of plundering Loern caravans extremely expensive. Only the most inexperienced and numerous bands of bandits would dare try plundering Loern caravans. Yasilithi himself has participated in the defense of many caravan trips while as a Knight in Training, as well as a fresh Knight.
Before embarking on this journey, the Twins predicted that the amount of bandits would rise after the death of Teverin's brother. They had written a letter for Yasilithi to bring to Pakuri ordering her to stay put within the Dragon Emperor's domain while they send additional reinforcements to protect her on the journey back to the Mountain City. While teleportation was possible, the distance between the Dragon Emperor's Golden City, where the Tribute Ritual takes place, made the soul cost insurmountable. The Dragon Emperor also does not permit teleportation into, nor out of, his domain, under the threat of strict financial penalties.
As Yasilithi made his way out of the cave systems, he could immediately sense a shift in his immediate surroundings. Motes of light danced in the sky like stars, the wind sang with a hint of otherworldly beauty, and the land itself shifted colors. This was the fabled magical land known as the Dragon Emperor's domain, and Yasilithi has never seen anything like it before. What existed here could never possibly exist anywhere else, and indeed, it was as if the sheer wondrous nature of the Emperor's land was cut off cleanly, with a bladed claw, at the very edges of his border. Such was the claim to power that the Dragon Emperor wielded, that even the land and sky bowed to the imagination of the mightiest known dragon in the world. There were stories of how his Wild Magic was so legendary, and so ancient, that even dragons could be affected by his magic.
Yasilithi shuddered, and a familiar feeling returned. He only felt this intimidated by the power of another dragon once in his life, and that was when he stared down the battle-mad eyes of Teverin alongside his Brothers in Training. He could feel the power of the world rippling beneath his feet, beckoning Yasilithi to try and harness their powers with his limited knowledge of Wild Magic. But Yasilithi knew better. He had seen the consequences of using Wild Magic without actually knowing what it does or without the correct soul amount to sacrifice. Random surges would happen, and the outcome would almost always be catastrophic. This was the leading cause of death while training under the watchful eyes of the mother dragon during Wild Magic lessons. It was the cause of death for his own brother. Surges were less likely to happen the more skilled one was with Wild Magic, which was why the Loern hardly ever used Magic outside of their limited buffs.
Yasilithi hurried down the path, quickly following the ancient, beaten field below him. Already, he had sensed signs of fighting. He smelled the blood of various species, slave and dragon alike. He recognized the bodies of elite slaves all Loern bring with them, along with even more unidentified bodies around them. Their weapons were not anywhere to be found. Further down ahead, Yasilithi saw the bodies of about a dozen or so dragons, undoubtedly newly minted bandits who underestimated the small number of troops Pakuri brought with her. Yasilithi could see and smell the charred, blackened scale and skin, fused together by intense flames, on every single body. He did not recognize anyone amongst the burning corpses, which meant his brothers were still all alive and actively protecting Pakuri.
Yasilithi breathed a sigh of relief. He had cared for the well-being of his Brother Knights, as they had fought and trained together, through thick and thin, and had most definitely saved each other's scales more than once over the centuries. The older Knights were legends even amongst the ranks of Knights, and were rumored to be unstoppable heroes who could almost rival the Loern dragons in strength. They almost always made up the core guard of any outgoing member of the Loern family. The captain of Lady Pakuri's guard, Vorun, was a close friend of Yasilithi's and Night Bearer when not in active duty. His strength rivaled that of Yasilithi's, but could beat Yasilithi in a hypothetical fight by virtue of having centuries of experience more than the younger dragon.
Eager to meet with his mentor while as a fresh Knight, as it has been almost a century since he had last seen his friend, Yasilithi pressed on forward. While he was delayed by several days in the Northern City, Lady Pakuri and her escort travelled by foot, since they were moving with their massive tribute in tow. This meant that progress was painfully slow, which was why Pakuri and her escort always set out early to make it on time for the Tribute. What would take them several weeks to travel to where they are now, took Yasilithi mere days to catch up.
As the sun rose up, Yasilithi couldn't help but roar to the sun in worship. Fulfilling his duty as the Sun Bearer, he prayed to the Sun to grant him the strength to protect Pakuri's life and fulfill his mission. Almost immediately, he sensed a wave of killing intent in the distance. Barking orders could be heard in preparation for a hostile encounter. Smiling mischievously, Yasilithi decided to ascend far into the clouds. Several large figures in the distance immediately shot forward after him, along with a small few smaller specks slowly following them. Hidden in the clouds, Yasilithi stalked his prey. He could hear the wooshing of wings as Knights fanned out to search for their adversary. Yasilithi was confident that no one amongst the Knights could use weather-manipulating or location divining Wild Magic, so he was safely hidden in the clouds, with his scent conveniently masked by the scented vapors the clouds contained.
Yasilithi's eyes quickly detected a shadow appearing behind him. He lashed out with his tail, and smacked the back of the dragon's head, causing it to wobble and descend from the clouds in panic. Clearly, the Knights did not expect a powerful opponent. After all, what were the chances of meeting an individual who was just as skilled as they were in the art of melee combat? Yasilithi picked off dragons one by one, avoiding the smaller shadows, as he did not wish to waste the lives of the elite slave guards, until he saw the silhouette of his target. A dragon just as big as himself, with a distinctly misshapen wing. Roaring, Yasilithi lunged at his target breathing fire that evaporated the moisture around him. With a reaction speed that defied all logic, the Knight met Yasilithi's fire with an equally powerful breath of his own. The two clashed, their breaths utterly extinguishing all traces of the cloud from the sky. They could clearly see each other now, but the challenge was on. The dragon had understood that Yasilithi had intended to test their mettle.
Yasilithi opened with a swipe to the side, his other arm tucked in to block any body blows. His opponent countered by dodging the swipe, and quickly head butted Yasilithi's side. Normally, most other dragons would meet nothing but tough dragon scale and daze themselves by ramming onto Yasilithi's underbelly. But Knights are no ordinary dragons, and this dragon was an exception even amongst the Knights. With the wind knocked out of Yasilithi, and unable to react properly to subsequent attacks, Yasilithi retreated. But flying backwards is a much slower task than flying forwards for a dragon, and his action only delayed the inevitable. As if anticipating Yasilithi's movements, the Knight flew forward at the same time Yasilithi flew backwards, and grabbed his head, slamming it onto his knees. Without letting go, the dragon, with agility that defied his size, flew around and over Yasilithi's body, and... Stopped. Had he continued, Yasilithi's neck would've snapped and fly clean off his shoulders. His body would've been dead cold before hitting the ground.
Laughing, the dragon gingerly let go of Yasilithi's head, and patted him on the cheeks. Yasilithi laughed in return and clasped his claws.
"Yasilithi, you handsome dragon! Almost took out my squad. Most worthy of the Sun Bearer title! Had you not been hasty with your first move, this would've been a tough fight."
"My thanks to you, Master Vorun! It has been a century since I've seen you! I thoroughly enjoy your feedback, and shall take it to heart."
"It has, hasn't it? Time really flies by when you think about it... Tell me, do you have a mate yet? And don't call me master. We are peers now."
The two dragons flew down, and the Knights on the ground were relieved to see a familiar face. The slaves had cleared the sky the moment they saw Yasilithi.
"No, I haven't really given it much thought yet."
"No? A dragon as strong as yourself should've been having swarms of females clamoring to be your mate. You're old enough to be a parent now, Yasilithi."
"Well... I'm not really interested in being a father."
"Well, if you're ever interested, my daughter is about to become a Knight soon. She just needs to face Master Teverin's final test once more. I would be a very proud father if you were to take her as your mate."
"Sir, that is for your daughter to decide."
"Fair enough, youngling. Tell me, what brings you all the way here from Strunmahsahsun?"
By now, both had touched the ground. Yasilithi looked at Pakuri and bowed deeply. All the Knights and slaves flanked her sides, and Vorun stood between Pakuri and Yasilithi. Even though he knew who Yasilithi was, his first duty is to ensure all threats to Pakuri is addressed.
"I bring a letter from the Twins to Lady Pakuri. For her Lady's eyes only, I'm afraid."
Yasilithi opened his pouch, and took out a gold-embroidered letter. He gave it to Vorun, who opened the letter. He grunted in satisfaction, as he couldn't read the contents, and handed it over to Pakuri. She read the contents and nodded.
"Yasilithi Ragrivin, you are now a part of my guard duty until we receive additional reinforcements from Strunmahsahsun. How delightful. It is rare to have both the Night Bearer and the Sun Bearer in one place. I worry for the safety of our home though."
Vorun looked at Pakuri in disbelief.
"What do you mean by additional reinforcements, my lady? Are we not enough? Do the Twins distrust our abilities?"
Pakuri shook her head.
"I don't mean it that way, Vorun. Please, keep your pride in check. It appears that the Twins worry for my safety when we return from the Tribute. We shall be staying within His Majesty's city until then. Yasilithi should be able to explain more... Something about an invasion, I was told?"
Yasilithi bowed. The Knights gathered around Yasilithi to hear of the latest news from their home.
"We were attacked by a fighting force of over 300 dragons, lead by Master Teverin's apparent brother. We do not know his name, as Master Teverin has decreed that his brother dies a nameless dragon."
Whispers spread throughout the Knights. Vorun looked at Yasilithi in disbelief.
"Don't pull my wings. 300? No leader has ever amassed those numbers before. Not even Master Teverin. Even then, we don't have enough Knights to kill that many and live to tell the tale."
"It was a suicidal charge, meant to crush us and take our homes. The enemy planned to occupy our cave once we were all killed. This was evident by the sheer number of dragon younglings who perished attacking the side entrances into the city. Our own Knights in Training and Younglings who have yet passed their Test of Combat led a valiant and successful defense."
"So how did we win? If you're here, then obviously our home wasn't destroyed, and there would be spare Knights to defend the city."
"Master Teverin slew his brother in a duel, as expected. The remaining army retreated after witnessing their leader killed. The Twins probably believe some, if not a majority, of those dragons shall turn to banditry, hence the enhanced escort back home."
"Hmm... Well, we didn't notice any real increase in bandits lately. But I trust the Twins' judgement. We shall hold out within the Golden City until more Knights arrive. I pray to the Sun that our Tribute is sufficient to buy us enough goodwill to stay in the city for a short period of time."
Vorun turned, and ordered the slaves to keep moving. The Tribute to the Dragon Emperor is kept locked safely in a giant Adamantite box, filled to the brim with various precious Dragon Eggs. The Dragon Emperor prefers gold, but his son prefers platinum eggs, so the chest is full of both gold and platinum Dragon Eggs. Various artistic pieces crafted by Teverin's most skilled dwarves and humans were also buried within the mix, all of which depicted the glorious might of the Dragon Emperor. As such, the Tribute is incredibly heavy. It would be no problem if dragons were to move the transport, and perhaps if Teverin were to purchase some Unbreathed slaves for his home, they would've sped up the Tribute transportation process. Alas, they had to make do without Unbreathed, and so an army of exceptionally strong slaves were used.
Groaning, the slaves pressed forward, and the Tribute started moving. Pakuri rested on top of the Tribute, and the Knights flanked her on all sides. Yasilithi and Vorun, the representation of the Loern Knights' might, took the lead.
—
The rest of the journey to the Golden City was uneventful. Like any caravan trip, sporadic bandit attacks happen, but as time went on, the attacks occur less and less frequent the closer they were to the Golden City. Soldier patrols from the Dragon Emperor's domain happen more and more frequently, thus further deterring bandits from entering too deep into their territory.
Due to the Dragon Emperor's immense wealth, he is capable of putting a small bounty on every bandit killed. Bandits are already rare as it is, as not many dragons prefer its nomadic lifestyle and dishonorable methods. The bounty system is mainly to encourage his soldiers to expand their patrol areas and engage any bandits they encounter. As such, the closer one gets to a City, the safer the road. Other territories usually do not have the same bounty system as the Dragon Emperor usually because the territory's Lord is too greedy to part with any more Dragon Eggs than he has to. This usually results in slightly more dangerous roads for merchants and travelers to tread through. As such, trading within the Dragon Emperor's domain, and in between the Loern's Northern City and the Dragon Emperor's Golden City is a hotly frequented road, which greatly expanded the Dragon Emperor's already overflowing coffers.
The Golden City was an open-air City made of gold, which sat upon a flat field of grass that offered an unrivaled view of the surrounding lands. The centerpiece of the city, and the place where the Dragon Emperor resides, is the Platinum Palace, which was a massive, ancient, flying structure that took its slaves several centuries to build, and was unrivaled in terms of beauty, size, and value. Even the Loern's own Citadel pales in comparison to the Platinum Palace. The Palace made the nose of every dragon that ever saw it tingle with excitement and greed, and it swarmed with guards to prevent any trespassers. It was the symbol of the Dragon Emperor's indomitable power, and his immeasurable wealth. To represent the Dragon Emperor's influence over the world, all paths that branched into the world will eventually lead back to the Platinum Palace. The Tribute Ritual takes place within a section of the Palace, as well as the Dragon Lord's Gathering, which takes place every ten years.
As the Loern's Tribute draws closer to the Golden City, they started to spot other caravans and Tributes making their way to the city from various other domains. Some Tribute had guards twice as numerous as the Loern's own, which spoke of that domain's wealth, and others with less guards bore signs of wear from battle. Given how fresh their soldiers still looked, it appeared that bandits largely steered clear of the larger Tributes and were insignificant to the smaller ones.
The natural law of strength also applied to each domain and their Dragon Lord: if their soldiers and Tribute could not make it to the Tribute Ritual due to the dangers of the road, then they were not strong enough to deserve the domain and the title of Dragon Lord. This usually means either a new Dragon Lord rises from the ashes to complete the Tribute, or a neighboring Dragon Lord takes it as a sign to invade. Thus, completing the Tribute was also a sign of strength in Draconic politics.
Everyone knew of the Loern and their Knights, and did not scoff at the number of Knights present. Within the Dragon Emperor's domain, open conflict and hostilities was forbidden. Constraint and discipline was demanded by the soldiers of every Domain's representative, and so only the most well-behaved soldiers were selected for the job. Even then, every soldier from the different Domains had begrudging respect for each other. They would have no reason to attack each other unless directly ordered.
Yasilithi saw Vorun nod at several dragons as the roads joined together. They all nodded back, in respect, but did not say anything. Their leaders, perched on top of the Tribute just like Pakuri, completely ignored one another as their slaves groaned on underneath. They have all gone to war with each other at some point in the past, and to avoid breaking the Dragon Emperor's law, they chose to simply ignore each other's existence. The entire congregation culminated at the entrance of the Golden City, where great gates were erected and large swarms of soldiers patrolled. Normally, these gates were largely symbolic, but with tributes in tow, no dragon is willing to part with the riches contained within to fly over the gates, and thus must wait for the guards by the gates. Slowly, one by one, as the Dragon Emperor's soldiers processed each Tribute and the domain from which it hailed from, the line outside shrunk. When it was time for House Loern's Tribute, the soldiers merely glanced at her shiny black scales, and nodded her through.
There were four main territories in the world, all hailing from the four directions of the world. The Dragon Lord of the West, Krahdrog=Lah Pruina. The Dragon Lord of the East, Vithahrkut Furtim. The Dragon Lord of the North, Fonaarven Japeto. The Dragon Lord of the South, Teverin Loern. Their names and Houses are world-famous, and the only dragons who could rival Teverin in terms of might and magic. During the Tribute Ritual, due to their distinguished Houses, the Dragon Emperor's soldiers hardly need to verify their existence. In fact, if they were missing from the Tribute, their absence would be sorely noticed. Due to the lack of proximity between their borders, they normally have no quarrel with each other. However, ever since House Loern began pushing their territory closer and closer to House Pruina's territory over the past few decades, Pruina began rapidly expanding towards Loern territory. The minor Dragon Lords who hold territories in between the two Great Houses have all either fled or pledged their allegiance with one side or the other. The other two Great Houses have thus far stayed stagnant in territory growth.
Through the great golden gates, Yasilithi could see more dragons in one place than he had ever seen before. The structures were huge, and as the name of the city implied, were plated with gold. Some of the structures were floating in the sky, as if some ancient Wild Magic perpetuated their eternal flight. Others were large enough to scrape the sky. Dragons flew from one place to another, and ramps were constructed for slaves to reach the floating buildings. Dozens of Unbreathed dragons served as ferries for slaves and goods alike. And within the city, there were so many different types of dragons that Yasilithi has never seen before. Vorun caught Yasilithi staring at a strange-looking serpent creature.
"Oriental dragons, Yasilithi. From the East."
"Dragons? Them? They looked like giant snakes!"
Yasilithi could not help but stare in bewilderment. However, if he looked closer, he could see dozens of tiny arms and legs on either side of their bodies. They seem to grip the air, working in unison to propel them through the sky like a strange fusion of snake and centipede. Yasilithi chose to believe that's how they flew despite the lack of wings.
"Aye. They're generally peaceful, and keep to themselves. Rumor has it that they came from a massive island that showed up out of nowhere somewhere far east into the Great Ocean."
"What sort of breaths do they have?"
"It varies. From what I've seen so far, they breathe water and mist."
"We will be at an elemental disadvantage, then."
"If they are sufficiently powerful enough, indeed. But none can match the fury of our breaths, Yasilithi, other than the mighty Loern. Never forget that."
Yasilithi caught the serpent-like dragons staring at his own procession, whispering to each other. His acute draconic senses could only pick up a few words through the hustle and bustle of a giant, busy city. He heard words like "fire", "Knights", and "Southerners". He puffed out his chests, stretched his wings, and strut through the city streets. Vorun nodded in approval. In the City of a Thousand Dragons, the Loern must show that they are the mightiest of the Four Great Houses, and the Knights are proof of their greatness. The Oriental dragons looked on.
—
The Loern occupied a massive structure on southern side of the Platinum Palace. It was spacious enough for multiple dragons to perch in, and there were clear signs that the structure was occupied before. Everyone except Yasilithi knew where to go, and what to do. The slaves unpacked the provisions for the duration of the Ritual, and secured the Tribute to the center of the building. Every Knight perched on every corner of the building, inside and out, keeping a watchful eye for intruders. Pakuri herself remained still, sitting on top of the Tribute chest, as if she were the last line of defense in case some dragon did slip through her Knights' detection.
It was most likely the same situation for most other retainers. The Great Houses occupied the largest buildings, on their respective corner of the world. In between were smaller Houses that dotted the city. Most were temporary residences, filled by a first-come-first-serve basis, although this wasn't enforced. If a retainer's party wasn't strong enough to stop another party from entering, they would be forced to move somewhere else. If there were too many Dragon Lord retainers in any given year, most would end up in the streets, with their Tribute completely vulnerable to pilfering. They would have to defend their Tribute for however many nights until the Ritual arrives. Therefore, there is a risk for the smaller Houses to to come early for the Tribute only to be continuously kicked out, but there is also a risk in coming in on time for the Tribute, but with no time to relax from a long journey.
The Loern's own building had the look of a giant mountain, as was their normal habitat. The plethora of dragons living under Teverin's rule usually prefer caves and mountains as their homes. The same goes for the Western dragons, although they usually also live in underground caves and had slaves build complex underground tunnels. The Northern dragons prefer to live in the sky, and only touched down on temporary mountain stops for food and water. As such, they occupied a massive, floating platform to the north of the Platinum Palace. The Eastern Dragons occupied a beautifully forged gold statue that resembled a massive tortoise with the head of a Dragon. It was a mystery on what their habitat looked like, as their lands were usually shrouded in mist and fog. Aerial surveillance ordered by the Twins was usually muddled by intense lightning storms and thick, heavy clouds, while low-flying travels were usually halted by torrential rains.
Tomorrow would be the day of the Tribute Ritual. Tomorrow, Yasilithi would get to see all the subjects of the Dragon Emperor in all their glory, and perhaps see the Emperor himself. Yasilithi has never even heard of a description of the Dragon Emperor, as all of his current Knight Brothers were always busy elsewhere while he was on Sun Bearer duty. He has, however, witnessed His Majesty's might. No other Dragon was as capable of manipulating the World with his Wild Magic than the Dragon Emperor himself. No other dragon could make Teverin give up the Throne. He was a true dragon, strongest above all, second only to the celestial deities Sun and Moon themselves, and perhaps just as ancient.
Deciding to explore the massive city, and not wanting to get in the way of his Brothers' preparations, Yasilithi decided to set out on his own. Before he could go, however, Vorun asked Yasilithi to wait.
"Is something the matter?"
"You are not in Loern territory anymore, Youngling. It's dangerous out there."
"I am not afraid of any dragon. Nor am I a child."
"But you shall obey the Dragon Emperor's law as if they were crafted by the Twins themselves. Not doing so will sully our name."
"What could possibly be a danger to me then?"
Vorun sighed.
"Might is only half the battle in Draconic politics, little one. Many of these dragons here are older than you. Perhaps even older than me. What they lack in raw strength, they shall make up in cunning."
His eyes dart around, as if looking for an invisible threat. His eyes seem to recall a painful memory.
"Don't answer any probing questions. Don't make any promises. In fact, don't talk at all. Let me do the talking."
"What of your duties here?"
"Don't worry about that. Lady Pakuri has agreed that the senior dragon must look out for his junior, and that's all that matters."
"Hmm... if it's an order from Lady Pakuri... I have no right to refuse."
"Good. Now that that's settled, we shall go. You choose the destination, Yasilithi."
"I wish to see the Eastern Dragons."
"Then East we shall go."
—
Even at night, the City glowed with unnatural light. The stars above could not shine through the luminosity the city produced. Everything had a golden glow, which made it obvious what the Dragon Emperor's favorite color was. Yasilithi agreed: if a metal shone the same brilliance as the Sun, it must be a special color. Along the many busy streets, a golden sphere floated above, similar to the one Odarath owned, but smaller and glowed brighter. They were evenly spaced apart, and provided light for the various slave races that could not see in the dark. It was also a testament to the Dragon Emperor's confidence: he was not afraid of making his City a glowing beacon, because he was infinitely sure that no one dared take his throne.
Yasilithi and Vorun followed down a path towards the oriental dragons' statue. Along the streets were various retainers and their soldiers browsing the city's own bustling shops, hoping to purchase quality equipment for their best slaves or find a nice meal. Slaves ran or flew to and from shops, delivering various items ranging from scrolls to Dragon Eggs to large crates of food. They watched as retainers aggressively showed off how well equipped and well fed their own slaves were, as the strength of a Lord could be implied from how well-kept their best slave soldiers were. There were places where retainers ordered their best pet champions to fight each other, to prove that their slaves were the strongest and had the best equipment. The Dragon Emperor's law prohibited dragons from engaging in open hostility, but that does not mean that slaves could not fight each other. Thus, this was one way retainers can let off some steam during the Tribute.
No one dared challenged the Four Great Houses' slave champions, however. It was an unspoken rule that only the Great Houses can challenge each other. The slave champions House Loern generally fielded were Cave Troll champions, who specialized in medium ranged combat. House Furtim of the East had Human slave champions, who specialized in melee combat. House Pruina of the West fielded ice elementals as their champions and thoroughly benefited from their masters' Ice Breath. House Japeto of the North had frost giant champions, hailing from the highest mountains, and had deadly accuracy when throwing large boulders. Every single Great House had impeccable weapons and armors for their slaves. Their slaves also were very well-fed, and shone with a sense of power that placed them leagues above others of their own race. Even the Loern, with their pitiful knowledge of Wild Magic, fielded impressive gear for their slaves, due to their massive talent pool within their territory.
A cursory sniff from Yasilithi told him that, while the equipment sold in the Golden City were decent, they still paled in comparison to the Loern slave champion equipment. These equipment sold were for the common rabble, and were sold for, in his opinion, outrageous prices.
As they came closer to the oriental dragon territory within the city, they started to spot more and more human slaves mingling within the crowd. Yasilithi gave Vorun a surprised look, as he knew humans were some of the most frail species he's ever seen.
"I had that same look when I saw them the first time, Yasilithi. But trust me, these humans can give our own cave trolls serious trouble."
The humans had shimmering robes, wore masks that took on the faces of their masters, and didn't carry any weapons. However, they had massive, spiked gauntlets equipped.
"I don't see how."
Vorun chuckled.
"One day, perhaps you will get to see how strong humans can become if you train them up a bit."
"Perhaps."
"Oh, yes, I forgot to mention. Humans are the chosen slave champions the Eastern dragons field. It appears that humans in the East worship their dragons, like how we worship the Sun."
"How blasphemous. The Sun is a true god; he cannot die, nor can he be touched. He has shone on this world ever since the first dragons roamed this land. These Eastern dragons shall fall before my claws just as easily as any other dragon."
"Careful now, Yasilithi. I admire your confidence as a Knight Brother, but they are a Great House for a reason. Keep that in mind."
Vorun paused, and looked around.
"We are close to their statue."
They left the main road, turned a corner, and followed a wide path snaking away. The bustle of slave and dragon voices died away, and a more solemn tone wafted through the streets. The air felt humid, and the streets were almost exclusively lined with humans. They gazed at the two blood-red scales dragons with astonishment, and scurried away when Yasilithi glared at them. They witnessed statues and other crude artwork erected in their masters' image: long serpentine bodies, with dragon heads, breathing fire, and large tortoise shells with dragon legs, tails, and heads protruding from the shells. These were indeed exotic dragons that Yasilithi find fascinating.
Then they saw it: a massive structure, just as impressive as their own, but much more intricately carved and decorated. It was one of the turtle dragons Yasilithi had seen statues of, and the body was made of gold, with eyes shining of bright ruby. The tail itself was glowing, as if a lit with an internal fire, and Yasilithi's nose told him it was made of a gem he has never smelled before. It was pale green in color, but not as clear nor as beautiful as emerald. It held wisps of white washed across its surface, as if the clouds themselves were imbued within the gem. While not as lustrous as other gemstones, this gem held its own beauty in a way Yasilithi could not describe. The shell of the massive statue was also made of this gem, as far as his nose could tell. The entire statue reeked of decadence. Yasilithi briefly had a passing thought as to why House Loern does not possess Eastern territory to obtain such exotic luxuries.
They flew up to the sky to view the statue in all its glory.
"Why couldn't we have something like this?"
"Well, the Dragon Emperor apparently liked the Easterners so much that he commissioned this dragon as a gift for them. Or so I've heard. Something about exotic gifts and tributes."
They watched as several Eastern dragons snaked through the air, whom in turn carefully observed Vorun and Yasilithi. Vorun, not wanting to take the risk of speaking with the Eastern dragons, decided to head back towards their own temporary home. It was already very late, and they must rest in preparation for tomorrow's Tribute.
—
"They're gone. What sort of spying value could they have gotten from simply looking at our home?"
An Eastern "long" soldier patrolling the skies pondered to his partner.
"Perhaps they simply came to see us. We are quite different from the Western world."
"Still, this must be reported to Empress Furtim. The Loern have proven themselves to be dangerous warmongers. We cannot risk the chance of another invasion."
"Do you really think they'll split their forces? They're already clamoring for war against the Pruina, if our intelligence is correct."
"Their soldiers and slaves are not weak. If it were not for our Wild Magic, I doubt we would've been able to repel their first invasion."
The elder long soldier looked at his younger comrade.
"Go. Tell the empress that the Loern's fire dragons have been spying on us."
"If you insist."
As the younger dragon slithered away, his elder looked towards the Southwest, where he spotted a giant structure resembling a mountain in the distance.
"The Great Mother help us."