Dragon Tamer
The night was cold and unforgiving as Elonda trudged through the forests of Oaklore Keep. Wind whispered through ancient trees, carrying stories of wolves and wild things hidden in hills beyond. Though time spent without shelter had aided in her adjustment to the elements, a fear of things unseen still stirred restlessly in the pit of her stomach. The night stretched on as she fell to a fitful sleep by the fire she intermittently awakened to feed.
Morning came in a blessed relief as dawn broke through the canopy. Eager to be on her way, Elonda packed her things and headed uphill for a better view of the direction she would take next.
The efforts of her climb were rewarded with a breathtaking view as the mountains and forests unfolded before her. The crisp morning air lifted her spirits, calling her to adventure. She closed her eyes and filled her lungs with vigor as a wind rushed up to greet her.
"Today, I begin my own story by my own hand," she exhaled. "Today, I embark as Elonda of Lore!"
A great shadow raced over her, followed by a powerful gust of wind as she turned to head downhill. "What-" she began as she looked up. Her heart nearly leaped out of her chest, for what she saw, she never expected to see in her lifetime. A great dragon with crimson scales like fresh-drawn blood and wings of golden silk circled above her, diving down to the clearing below the cliff on which she stood. Its long, twisted horns shone like polished black onyx on its great head as it raised to watch her, eyes burning white, piercing into her soul.
Frozen in terror, Elonda could not help but simply stand, gaping at the great beast while it contemplated its next meal. Much to her surprise, however, the dragon lowered its head to reveal a priestess cloaked in white robes lined with gold, her hood drawn low over her face as she clutched a black and gold chest.
"The path is clear, Lady Celestia," squeaked a small moglin next to her as he stepped forward.
As graceful as a deer, the priestess stepped off the dragon, bowing and whispering in an ancient language as she touched her forehead to the dragon's muzzle. A low, throaty rumble came from the dragon, as if in reply, before it spread its wings and took off.
"You may lower your weapon, Warrior, we are simply passing through" the priestess informed as they walked past her. Elonda quickly sheathed her sword, not realizing she had drawn it.
"Apologies, m'lady," was all she could reply as she watched their descent until they vanished into the forest. Odd, she thought. A priestess traveling with only a moglin for protection in these woods….
A breeze gently pushed Elonda forward, urging her to follow the dragon tamer and companion. Not more than five minutes later, a scream pierced through the forest followed by the unmistakable roar of a gorrilaphant. Before she even had time to think, Elonda found herself sprinting after the woman's cries and the sounds of the raging beast. Boring through to a clearing, she saw the moglin unconscious beneath a tree as Lady Celestia struggled to untangle her robes while the gorrilaphant advanced. Sword unsheathed, Elonda lunged forward and slashed at the animal, yelling to turn its attention to her.
With a great bellow the beast whirled around to Elonda and charged. Leaping out of the way and rolling back to her feet, she dashed toward it, sword glinting in the sunlight as it raised its arms for a final blow. In one, swift movement, she vaulted underneath it, spinning to bring her sword through its vulnerable stomach. Landing as a bloodied mess on the other side, Elonda stood as the gorrilaphant collapsed behind her.
"Are you alright?" she asked, turning to find the moglin and the priestess strangely calm after such an event.
"Yes, thanks to you," Lady Celestia replied with a grateful smile. "May I know your name, Warrior?"
"Elonda," she said as she sheathed her sword. "Elonda of Lore, m'lady."
"So it is her…" the moglin whispered before a glance from the priestess silenced him.
"Alas, Elonda of Lore, if I may ask a favor of you," offered the priestess as she handed a small bag to her. "Please let Captain Rolith know I am unharmed, and will be traveling a shorter road to my home."
"You'll need an escort, priestess," she countered, looking around the forest. "To where are you-"
But the priestess and moglin had vanished.
Elonda searched the surrounding trees in a panic, looking for any sign of where the lady and moglin might have gone, only to find no trace that they had ever been there. Puzzled, she looked at the pouch she had clutched in her hand. An engraving decorated the front of it, simple lines curving to the shape of a dragon's head, while on the back was written something in a language Elonda did not recognize.
She wanted me to follow her, she realized, and tucked the pouch beneath her armor - the only evidence that her encounter with the priestess wasn't just an illusion.
After retrieving her things, Elonda headed back to Oaklore Keep, requesting an audience with Captain Rolith after arriving. Whispers of gossip swirled around her as onlookers and passers by gawked at the blood spattered hero while she waited for Rolith.
Finally the great doors on the meeting room of the Knights of the Pentagonal Table opened, and Elonda stepped aside to allow the men to vacate the room.
"Enter," came Rolith's voice.
"Dear gods, what happened?!" he exclaimed as she walked in.
"Captain, I have come to deliver a message," she said, waving off his concern as she stood across from him. "The woman I saved requested it of me before vanishing."
Captain Rolith looked at her, brows furrowed in confusion. "Continue," he warranted and placed his elbows on the table, his fingers laced has he brought his face to them.
Elonda took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "The lady wants you to know that she is unharmed and will be taking a shorter route to her destination, wherever that may be."
"Who is this woman and how did your paths cross?" he asked.
Elonda swallowed before answering. "She descended the skies on the back of a dragon, sir. I believe her name was-"
"Lady Celestia," he breathed, finishing her explanation before looking back up at her in panic, his eyes flicking from the blood on her armor to her face. "What happened? Where is she now?!"
"I-I don't know, Captain," Elonda replied, unsettled by his sudden panic. "A gorrilaphant attacked and I defeated it, though I'm not entirely sure she needed saving," she added pensively.
Captain Rolith stood up, slamming his fist on the table. "Why didn't you escort her?!" he thundered.
"I tried, sir, but she-"
"This is unacceptable, Elonda!" he shouted. "Though your sister defeated Darcar, bandits and thieves still roam the woods! Not to mention the obvious threat monsters still hold! Lady Celestia-"
"Vanished!" she yelled back at him. Rolith stood in a shocked silence as she continued. "Before I could insist on accompanying her, she disappeared without any trace."
The Captain exhaled, closing his eyes as his jaw tightened. "Find her."
"Sir, I believe she's more than capable-"
"Find. Her," he growled, "and escort her to Sunbreeze Grove."
Elonda stood for a moment, swallowing hard before nodding. "Sir," she said and turned to leave.
Once outside the Keep's walls, Elonda closed her eyes and listened to the wind blow the leaves in the trees around her, goading the Warrior to a steady pace in the direction of Sunbreeze Grove.