Kaelthar roared, the sound reverberating off the smooth obsidian walls of his prison. His crimson scales shimmered faintly in the dim torchlight, his wings pinned beneath the thick iron chains that bound him to the cold stone floor. Every flick of his tail sent sparks skittering across the room, but the enchanted restraints refused to yield.
His captor stood at the far end of the chamber, watching him with an expression that was far from the fear he was used to. Instead, Princess Elyra's emerald eyes sparkled with determination, her lithe frame wrapped in leather armor instead of the silks one might expect from royalty. Her braided auburn hair spilled over one shoulder, a single strand of silver glinting at her temple—a inherited trait, Kaelthar supposed.
"You'll regret this," Kaelthar growled, his voice low and guttural, yet strangely melodic. The sound of it made most mortals tremble, but Elyra remained still, the corner of her mouth turning into the faintest of smirks.
"Perhaps," she said, her tone light. "But I doubt it. You've terrorized the northern kingdoms for decades, Kaelthar. Burned villages, stolen treasures, and hoarded knowledge that could change the course of history. It's about time someone put you in your place."
Kaelthar bared his teeth, smoke curling from his nostrils. "And you think that someone is you? A spoiled little princess with a sword too big for her hands?"
She took a deliberate step forward, her boots echoing against the stone. "Do I look spoiled to you?" she asked, gesturing at her scarred hands and the dirt-streaked armor that had clearly seen countless battles. "I've spent years preparing for this moment. Studying your kind. Learning your weaknesses. You're not invincible, Kaelthar."
Kaelthar's golden eyes narrowed. "You think binding me makes you victorious? I am a dragon, girl. These chains won't hold me forever. And when I'm free…"
"You'll what? Burn me to ash?" Elyra's voice was sharp, her gaze unflinching. "Spare me the threats, dragon. If I wanted you dead, I wouldn't have gone to the trouble of capturing you alive."
Kaelthar tilted his head, intrigued despite himself. "Alive? What possible use could you have for me?"
Elyra hesitated for the first time, her confidence faltering just slightly. It was enough to stoke Kaelthar's curiosity, and he leaned forward as much as his chains allowed, his claws scraping against the floor.
"There it is," he said softly, his tone mocking. "The crack in your armor. What are you planning, little princess? Surely not some foolish attempt to tame me?"
Elyra straightened, her resolve returning. "I don't need to tame you, Kaelthar. I need your help."
The dragon blinked, taken aback. He had expected defiance, arrogance, even an attempt to break his spirit. But a plea for help? That was new.
"My help?" he repeated, the word dripping with disbelief. "What could you possibly need from me?"
Elyra's expression hardened. "My kingdom is dying. The land is barren, the crops fail, and the people are starving. The only way to save it is locked away in the Vault of Eternity—a place they say only a dragon can reach."
Kaelthar laughed, the sound echoing through the chamber like thunder. "And you think I'll help you? After you bound me in chains and dragged me to this pit?"
"You will," Elyra said firmly. "Because I know what you want most of all."
Kaelthar's laughter stopped abruptly, his gaze sharpening. "And what, pray tell, do you think that is?"
"Peace," she said simply. "When was the last time you were unbothered in your lair? Not hunted by every knight in the kingdom. I can give you that peace...I can command the knights to treat your land with the same veneration that they treat my father's throne."
For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The flickering torches cast dancing shadows across the walls, and the air seemed to crackle with unspoken tension.
Finally, Kaelthar let out a low rumble, a sound that was neither agreement nor denial. "You're playing a dangerous game, princess. But I'll humor you—for now. Tell me more about this Vault of Eternity."
A triumphant smile spread across Elyra's face, though she quickly masked it with a more serious expression. "I'll tell you what I know, but for now," she said, turning toward the exit. "Rest while you can, dragon. You'll need your strength."
As the heavy door slammed shut behind her, Kaelthar's lips curled into a sly grin. The princess thought she was in control, but he had played this game before. He would help her, for now. But once he was free…
The chains clinked softly as he shifted, the faint glow of his scales lighting up the dark. The game was just beginning.