Dragonieth 14 The Emissary Fire Dragon

Corin skilfully navigated the way to firm rocky terrain, boulder rings and rock crops that stood within sight of The Glan's walls.

"Not far. We've been lucky so far." Corin said.

Darick groaned when a pack of calleak appeared within their hazy horizon. "You had to say something unlucky."

Luca gripped his longbow and quickly nocked a few arrows. He released them with a steady aim, taking out four of the dog like beasts that sprinted eagerly for them with teeth bared for their attack. It was an enough distraction for their escape. Since the beasts turned their focus and hunger to the recently fallen calleak.

They ran as far from the pack as possible, reaching another safe zone of a bluestone boulder ring. Or so they thought.

A strange creature was curled up at the center of the ring. It carried an oily red sheen along its scaly body and long face held a wise and slightly menacing expression. Yet it didn't seem to be a beast driven by primal urges and baser needs. Rather, it gave an impression of high intelligence and grace.

Its almond eyes blinked open, revealing a pair of glistening amber irises. It unfurled its scaly wings, which stretched out over the entire span of the boulder ring, and slowly rose to its four feet. Its body easily towered over the men, so its head was above the vista of The Glan's walls.

"Nightstalker?!" Darick raised his weapons.

"Put your weapons down my beloved Lord Darick." A deep voice resonated within Darick's mind.

Darick obeyed.

The creature sighed and flapped its wings, stirring a feisty breeze about the boulder ring to knock the men backwards.

Dust clouds were gathered around the creature, forming an opaque barrier. When the dust and wind settled, the three of them gazed with awe at the naked man standing before them. His skin glowed with a pleasant olive tone. He showed off his toned body and his face, which held a handsomeness to rival Luca's.

No one moved as they watched him gather a pack that had been hidden behind a group of rocks and dressed into a simple outfit of dark leather armour and dragon scale boots. He tied up his fine amber-red hair in a ponytail.

"What are you?" Corin asked.

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"You have some nerve to ask me such a question Corin O'Lochlea." The man scoffed.

"Have we met before?" Darick asked politely.

"I'm crushed. I'm your beloved kin. Azaria of the Fire Dragons. Darick O'Lochlea." Azaria warmly greeted Darick.

He boldly approached him and firmly planted a tender kiss to his forehead. Surprising the man and stirring a jealous outburst from Luca.

"You dare touch my Sponsor!" Luca pushed Azaria off Darick with a challenge for a fight.

"Sponsor!" Azaria laughed. "You can't be serious. I was betrothed to Darick way before you were even a thought."

"What?!" Corin and Darick blurted with shock.

"Oh. I see. Your father failed to remind you." Azaria sighed. "I figured this would be the case."

"What is a Fire Dragon doing here?" Corin soberly asked.

"The same thing you are, trying to reach Mount Lonely. At least I was hoping that was the case until I saw you foolishly running for The Glan." Azaria answered and scolded him at the same time.

"What on Staar's name makes you divert from your quest?!"

Luca glared at the dragon man, feeling his wrath at a boiling point. "You have some nerve, stranger."

"I'm no stranger. I am Darick's fiancé by a blood pact his mother made with mine many years back." Azaria coolly challenged Luca, eying him up and down. "A weak common Seriph has no rightful claim over the Lord of Fire Dragons."

Darick and Corin blinked with surprise and slight confusion at the mention of Lords and dragons.

"Surely you're speaking of fiction." Darick scoffed. "Fire Dragon clans are folktales."

Azaria's eyes narrowed, stirring a maniacal glint. "Do not test my patience My Love. We dragons have purposely held back to the shadows to allow Staarkind to flourish. I can not wait around to see you end your life on some foolish errand. Your life is too precious to me."

Luca blocked Azaria's path to Darick. "You won't touch my Love."

Azaria sighed. "Fine. I'll let you off this round. Darick will be mine in the end."

Corin groaned and rolled his eyes at this baby brother's popularity with handsome men.

"How is it you know us and why are you here?"

Azaria a.s.sumed a stance of business as he told them of the demonic energies that woke him from his eight year slumber.

"It seems that Oligarch is not just talking about bring forth Demahan, but merging this world with Scorll. This can not happen." Azaria added on.

He told them that some of the other emissary dragons had awoken in similar ways.

They learned that emissary dragons were once humans who were chosen at the ages of five to be "rebirthed" as dragon shape-shifters. That is, they had their blood transfused with lùth of elemental dragons that were once common creatures of Staar, but faced extinction due to extermination and wars. In order to survive the species, the hybrid ritual became a tradition. Similar to Seriph kind, Emissary Dragons needed to mate with a human who carried the blood of a Saoghal Dragon in order to continue their existence. Otherwise, they would lose their humanity and revert to being a beast without intelligence.

"So, I'm just your convenient tool." Darick grumbled.

"No! You're my Love. When we were 7 years of age, you saved me from a triton attack and scolded me for wandering into the Waterland Swamps without protection." Azaria dreamily remembered. "You held my hand the whole way you led me back to safety."

He explained how he fell in love that day and persistently asked his mother to make Darick his fiancé. So, when both mothers were thrilled with the idea and formalised the arrangement, it made him beyond happy. Then their stronghold was attacked by rival emissary dragons. Darick and Corin was taken from his mother's home to be raised with Alroy in Lochlea.

"Huh. How many other men have you aided this way?" Luca scolded Darick.

Darick groaned as a memory from his childhood surfaced to his mind. Sure enough, in there as a kid like version of Azaria. It had been so long ago that he had forgotten about his life within the Waterland Stronghold, which was his mother's family home. To be honest, he thought Azaria was just another girl from the village.

He looked to Corin for guidance.

"Why are you here?" Corin brought conversations back to the matter at hand.

"To be of help of course and claim my man. Also, I know you seek to take the lifestone to Mount Lonely. I urge you to do so, but the Dragonieth must not be awakened."