" Lord ... " A passer-by bowed deeply as Malak and Uhar tread through the gallery, a gallery full of the greatest and most beautiful paintings ever conceived in the Sarnori empire.
He bowed his head, chuckling in delight. Though his origin was a mystery to them, his place was clear in the heart. And in the eyes of those he afflicted, what was he but a lord with gifts from the gods come to bless them with his presence.
"AH... " He studied a painting as tall as three of himself, where a great plane of grasslands was dominated by a horde of dothraki who stood in the foreground to the right. And to the left was a castle of brick and mortar, with pole mounted spears and horse riders defending the castle. " This is the sacking of Sathar I believe"
He crossed his hands behind his back, lips chewing as Uhar studied the painting for a moment, before her gaze parted from canvas to turn and peer at the others coming to view the great works.
" It's a wander they managed to rebuild this place after all that ... what did they call this place in the books again ... oh yes.. the city of wailing children " Wrapped silken gloves touched the canvas and its painted strokes a single time before he moved to the next painting.
One by one he moved to the other paintings, each one telling a different story of the history of sarnori.
" Ever the enthusiast " A rehersed voice, the same sickly overly honeyed words of the well mannered yet conniving magister who strode up behind him, this time flanked by two guards instead of four. " This one here is a favourite of mine actually... "
The magister came to stand before a painting of Sathar, it's silver pools coming to life on canvas with precious strokes, roses twisted with thin buds pressed to canvas.
The well groomed man, hair slicked back and beard well trimmed, sat on the frame of his face pinched with aristocratic demeanour, with long jawline and sharp nose.
" It is beautiful...though i do prefer the sight of the real thing" Malak grunted, the high born sniffing and nodding.
" As do I... but not everyday can I see this from those fields down below" The magister lamented, there was a look there, was it longing or desure behind those eyes.
" Do you travel to the gardens below often" Now more curious about the magister than the paintings he was circling for the last half an hour for this very man.
" Every chance I get, they're quite ... calming especially with my house arguing " Alek looked down, eyes turning to the plaque sitting below the painting for a moment before finally turning to Malak with his dark eyes.
" I would as for one of your gifts... " The magister looked almost fearful to ask, like he feared to consequences of the choice.
" Of course you would... it was an eventuality...come ... walk with me " Malak gestured over his shoulder, hand gently pressing on Uhar's chest plate as he stepped around her, the maguster following as Uhar stepped and made up their immediate guard with the other two lagging behind.
" Let me tell you a story ... before I give you a gift " He folded his hands together, as the magister leant in his ear to listen to the lords story.
" There was once a man, a king even, who helped a creature half man half goat, showing this ugly creature kindness when none else would... not out of any sort of need but the desire to help. And so he aided this creature home" Malaks voice rung, echoed across the gallery as their movements were watched be bother the gifted and believers alike.
" And what happened then" Alek asked as they stepped out of the gallery into a large courtyard of fancy chairs and rising gardens woven around pillars holding up a stone ceiling painted in mural.
" This creature was one of the brethren of a God, a God of festivities, of wine .. fertility and festivity ... this God descended, having witnessed the act of kindness, and allowed this king a wish ... a single wish of any kind to be granted " They strode across the courtyard to the railing overlooking the valley of roses and tulips below.
" And what did this king wish for" They placed their hands on the railing, staring out at the slowly descending sun.
" This king had a deep craving for gold, insatiable, greedy to the point it marred his very soul. And so he asked unto the God, to give him the gift that anything he touched apon with his flesh, would indeed become gold" Malak turned a slow head to the magister, whom shuffled under the unseen stare.
" And then what ... " Now he wanted to know, wanted to know the outcome.
" His wish came true of course, apple, bird ... stone ... everything he touched turned to gold with. He was happy, joyous even at the fact what he posted want in the world ... he had in abundance... " Malak sneered, as Alek hummed in thought.
" I take it that his happiness didn't last" Alek, ever the intelligent man, could almost smell where this story was going, amd his suspicion was confirmed the next moment.
" Less than a couple of days infact. He wished that everything he touched turned to gold. So did his food and drink turn to gold, so did his favourite things. And then, in desperate wanting... his hand grazed his daughter... she became a marvel, a gold statue glinting under the light ... deceased before his gaze" Alek shuddered at the mental image, gulping at the thought of anyone he loved dying in such a way, never to fade as they stood a reminder.
" That's... harrowing ...such tragedy" He turned away. ' What is the reason you tell me this, surely this be not just a simple story '
" Why do you tell me this " Alek asked, lowering his hands from the railing and turning back to the shrouded lord.
" Wishes are more often than not, a curse as much as a blessing. The story of this king is a warning... against greed, and taking advantage of powers beyond one's understanding... do you understand"
" I ... do think that i do understand" Alek refused to meet his gaze, thinking to himself for several moments, deliberating, musing even. And then he opened his lips smto whisper a question. "Whatever became of this king "
" Oh... I do believe he begged the God to remove his blessing. To which he did after an ordeal... but nothing was ever quite the same for him " Malak shrugged, to him it was simply a story, to Alek, it was a warning of tongues and hidden threats. " Now ... why don't we go settle your accounts for that wish "
And so they made haste back to Malak's abode for the time being, the guards taking external sentry whilst Uhar stood at her lords side as always.
The magister shifted uncomfortably, before slowly lowering himself before the man he suspected of holy origin, head planting itself on the floor as he spoke through grit teeth.
" Milord ... I ask this day a gift from you " It came out strangled, never before had he been forced to ask from another, never before had he had to prostrate himself to someone he didn't recognise equal or great than himself.
" And what is it you seek " Malak held back a chuckle, a deep rumble cascading from his chest that echoed within the chamber.
" I ask ... for long lasting prosperity for myself ... and for my kin in coming generations " Alek didn't raise his head, for his wish wasn't of benign nature, it stemmed from greed, stemmed from desire, and they both knew it.
" Very well magister ... I can do that for you, I'm sure you'll keep my story close to heart " It was as much a warning as it was approval, and with a mere wave of the hand, the gift settled itself into gate.
[ Blessing given ]
" I thank you for your generosity lord of roses, I won't soon forget your kindness" And so he rose, looking unsure of how to proceed. What he sought was done, there was no need to linger any longer. But there was something he had become aware of recently, something he wished to verify, something he wished to lay eyes apon himself.
" I ... have heard that you had a drake egg in here" Alek stepped from side to side uncomfortably, but he knew, there was little to no way that this holy man wasn't aware of Leah's loyalties, and so he spoke plainly in his own city.
" I do indeed, allow me a moment" Malak stepped to the chest where the drake egg had been stored, opened the lid and over his hand into the hot pebbles. Only to freeze, face twisting in confusion.
" It's gone ... " The magister froze at the words, as Malak sifted through the emptied stones half melted to the base of the chest. Finger raking through and dispersing them all in order to verify that the egg was indeed ... missing.
" What do you mean ... it's gone" The magister's true anger and agitation gave Malak pause, whose brow knitted at the genuine display of barely concealed rage and confusion.
" I had assumed your little spy was taking it to you... interesting" Most intruiging even.
" Leah ... she wasn't to be just a ... " The magister began to defend, feeling that the situation was about to completely unravel from his control, only to be waved off as Malak scoffed and marched for the open door.
" Oh shut up, I don't care for your excuses. I will be leaving this city as soon as my treasure it recovered and you will fund my travels, lest i retaliate for your transgressions against me. This pit of snakes has proven unworthy" Malak grunted, stepping outside into the dark of the night under the clear moonlight peaking from behind the clouds.
" If she hasn't brought you the egg... then where did she take it" Contrary to being angry, Malak was rather amused by the unexpected turn of events, hands rising to cup his hidden chin, lips pursing slightly as he hummed.
" That insolent brat ... " The magister stormed past, he couldn't deny the fact that the lord of roses wanted to leave, he just hoped that the man would spare them before his powers were lost at the great drakes birth." I believe I know where she is going .. come along "
' You fucking idiot ... ' Malak sneered, nudging at Uhar to follow behind as she and the guards fell into step behind them as they crossed the city in a hunt for the missing Leah.
....UNDER SATHAR...
Guards rushed down narrowed winding staircases, Torches lighting the dark walls as the sound of distant rushing water crept up from the depths.
' I wander how many people know about these tunnels' Four guards to the front amd four to the back, Malak and Alek skipped down the steps down through the stone that Sathar sat apon.
The smelt of mould, pitch black in the might, the shouts echoing from below as the shuffling of feet cascaded higher into the staircase.
" This is a rather big fuck up on your part" He skipped down three steps at a time, as Alek winced at his judgemental tone.
" I... I understand milord, I didn't know Leah would act in such a way ... I thought better of her " Alek winced, he had coveted the source of the lord of roses power for himself, and now that pitch had taken it for herself, he should have known, should have expected it even, but he had placed his trust.
" A mistake on your part... " They reached the base of the staircase, which opened up into a large cavenous opening with rushing waters running alongside a path of brick that lead farther into the shadows.
" One that I intend to rectify" They crossed the narrowed path carved from the rushing waters, under the torch light that illuminated the interior around them.
" What is this place by the way " He spied snakes carved into pillars holding the ceiling, destroyed bridges riddled with effigies thay were destroyed by time.
" It's... a path to the chapel of Syan... the serpant God... " True to his word, the cavern ended with a building carved into the caverns end, with snakes carved into eachother, eating, devouring eachother. A wooden door stood shut, with two guards familiar to Alek amd Malak both standing sentry.
" Step aside ... fools" The Satharian guards obeyed his words without word nor delay, dropping their spears and bowing to the side, stepping away from the door leading into the subterranean church with reverent obedience for the magister.
" And just how did she get her on guards of her own ... " Malak pressed, as those brought by Alek began to push open the doors, only for a bursting flame to suddenly erupt from the seams in the black wooden doors, their screams echoing as it sesred their hands and arms for a moment before dying down.
" Ah ... that is ... concerning ... Uhar. .. " She stepped around, dauntless of the burnt grounds and the fallen guards cradling their wounds, hands reaching for the doors.
With silent and negligible effort, her hands gripped the wooden latches, and dragged the screaming doors open, heedless of the heat that billowed her robes, that made the men shield their faces and cower away.
' That's... ' The smell of sulphur wafted with the heat, as Uhar finally lowered her arms, standing front, hand falling to the hilt of her sword in preparation.
" I do believe Leah Is attempting to hatch my egg... we must hurry " And so they stepped into the blackened church and into the heated bowels of what was to be the birth place of heat and primal magic Incarnation.
Silence echoed across the stretch of their journey, hallowed crackling echoing from deeper within. Seared corpses of the deceased guards lay sprawled, their bodies blackened so by the flame that ate at their flesh.
" Disgusting .. " Malak cruched a blackened corpse underfoot as they passed through a tunnel with an archway at the end.
" Not one for the dead" Alek raised an eyebrow, this thin at the lack of care shown to the fallen.
" I don't care for those who steal my things magister... I'm rather upfront about it infact" He kicked the head off another with a grunt, and from the tunnels they trod, light peeled in the distance.
" By the gods what has she done" Alek cursed, and saw the carnage wrought.
Leah stood atop an alter, with several decrepit destroyed corpses layed about, the stone pedestal the egg sat alon caked in the blood of those sacrificed to draw the drake to life.
" Leah ... " She snapped around, snatching the egg from the pedestal even though the flames surrounding it seared her clothing. " What have you done"
" What you lacked the conviction to do" She snarled, spittle flying from her mouth, cradling the dark malformed egg closely. Yet she remained unharmed, by both the flame used to rouse the egg from the oils she had poured over the church, still blazing behind her, and the eggs heat itself. It was almost like, she was blessed to not be harmed from it.
The guards circled the risen platform she stood, and in a wide eyed panic, she mads a gesture as if to lob the egg at them, a scream tearing from her lips. "STAY BACK YOU FILTHY SWINE "
" Leah ... calm down " Malak and Uhar stood behind Alek as he tired reasoning with the girl, whose curses wrung and hatred flared. The orange flame at her feet burning the last of her dress away to reveal her supple nude form, and yet she remained unharmed.
" SEE THE DRAKE HAS BLESSED ME IT'S POWERS ..MEEE ... NOT YOU, NOT THE LORD OF FALSE GIFTS BACK THERE ... ME " She decreed with false bravado and self assured spirit. Her loud voice and the rising heat around seemed to rouse the egg, even as Alek tried in vein to talk to her, the heat creating a burning gash in the eggs surface as what looked like molten slag began to drop from within its yolk.
' Why is he trying so hard to reason with her' Malak would have expected a man of his station to order a servant girl run through for her current actions, let alone try and talk her down from delirium.
And yet it failed, Alek's soft words meeting deaf ears as a man smile came to her face.
" IT'S HATCHING HAHAHAHA IT'S... " She cradled the egg despite the burns marring her flesh.
She held the egg high overhead as molten heat escaped the lightning strike shaped crack in the eggs surface.
A wing, chitinous plates covering arms whilst thin membranes attached themselves to the arms to make its wings, coloured a burnt black and red.
" IT'S... " Her cry echoed as the egg suddenly exploded away from the beast as large as her torso, the burning egg pieces peppering her face in debris that immediately began to bleed, yet she ignored them in favour of studying the beast in her risen hands, A smile as sick as she were in the mind dancing on her face.
" What is that" Alek shuddered as he and the guards slowly spread around the antechamber, around Leah and the newborn drake. The guards looking between eachother with both fear and reproach.
" It's my drake of course " The sarcastic reply from Malak made Alek pause, grunting in affirmation
" That's not like any drake I've ever seen" Indeed, where as other newborn dragons were smooth with soft scaled, eyes of different colours and ultimately vulnerable.
" Have you ever seen a drake " This thing appeared anything but frail. Armoured plates covered it's back, spine, chest and legs. It's chest appeared to have a second armoured ribcage like structure covering the vulnerabile areas of its chest, said chest rising and falling rapidly as if struggling to breath.
It's clawed legs clutched at Leah's outstretched hands, mangling flesh under its talons as it fought for purchase.
What could be mistaken for bone protruded the length of its spine and tail, but was actually interlocked plates that glowed with heat underneath.
And it's face, it's face was anything but great. It was demonic almost. With gutless lips and more teeth than it should have had. Curled hors protruded from the back of the skull, six of them in total curling like a rams horns.
At the front of these horns lay a pair of eyes that slowly opened as a deep rumble broke through its gumless sharp teeth. A forked tongue licking the air as deep red, rose coloured eyes slowly blinked open.
They studied, they didn't see like a dumb animal, they stared, they comprehended as it raised its head of its own volition.
The very heat of its gaze warped the air, as it studied the figure that held it with what appeared thought.
" THE GREAT DRAKE HAS BEEN BIRTHED. THE LORD OF ROSES IS NO MORE " Leah cried as she levelled a hateful glare at not just Malak and Uhar, but the magister himself. " You thought you could keep me from rising, that my place under your foot as your sister would mean I would never be able to rise to Queen of Sarnori"
' Sister ' Malak blinked at Alek who stared an ugly glare at his now revealed sister, as she lowered the drake to her bosom.
" Now with this weapon. ... nobody could stop me, with its wish granting abilities as the ome who birthed it, imprinted on it it is bound to honour me" She stroked its armoured plating like a rough toddler, the drake peering at her, listening to her words.
" Leah ... this madness ... " The magister tried to find some way of reasoning with his sister.
" SHUT UP " She bit, presenting the drake and holding itself infront of herself like it would attack wherever she aimed. " It's too late to stop me, stand aside and let me kill the false God "
The magister seemed uncomfortable, even hesitant to step aside as her arms shook.
" You have ... one small problem ... with that. The drake isn't yours" It's head arched violently at Malak's voice, weaving around and immediately locking onto his position like a cat does something its interested in, it's neck craning as it looked around the magister to gaze apon him.
" The drake decides who it graces its power with, and do you think it will give its power to some pretender" Leah bit, dragging the drake back under her armpit even as it began to squirm to free itself.
" You're right ... but you're far ... far too late to imprint on It " Leah and the magister looked confused, as the newborn drake became more and more violent in its thrashing, now it's small wings were tearing at her shirt, scarring skin as it's hisses began to grow more pronounced.
" Sister ... " The magister took half a step back, looking apprehensive at those rose red eyes in its head that darted around, it's mouth opening and snapping shut angrily. " Let the drake go "
" What ... no you just want it for yourself" She stepped away farther into the antechamber. " Like always "
" Sister... " The magistrate tried once more in futility to urge his sister to put the now increasing insistent beast to he put on the ground.
" I SAID NO " She cried out angrily, stamping her foot and screaming into the chamber with all the pretence of a queen nit getting what she wants.
" I've had enough of these games. Sorry magister... " Malak stepped around the dark skinned man, strode fully into view of the drake and made his presence bearable to everyone within. " Come "
The reaction was as immediate as it was violent, as the drakes neck rounded, mouth wide and keen for flesh as its sharp razors bit into the hand clutching his side, severing bone, flesh and muscle in one go as its swallowed the hand whole.
" AAAAAAHHHHHH " Leah cried as the mangled stump of her hand, spewed blood, more blood than one would think over the face of the drake and its dark black and red scales, where it fell to the ground with a grunt, rolling over itself yet sustaining no damage.
She collapsed onto the ground, clutching her stump, as the drake turned and regarded her with contempt.
It clearly contemplated harming her once more before turning and bounding with its closed wings and taloned legs, scraping across the ground where it was scooped up by the hand of it's only recognised master. The man whose voice it recognised from when it was stewing in the egg, the only voice it knew.
It's ruby eyes peered up, preening at the silken gloves that ran down its bone plates, stroked behind its chin and yowled under the screams.
" Well ... "Malak spoke as Uhar stepped forward and wiped the blood from the drakes body, where it eyed her closely and its owners reaction before allowing the woman to tend to it.
" What should we do now ..."