Page 6 of Realm of Thieves

I’ve never seen a dragon this close before. I’m not sure anyone has and lived to tell the tale. I’m shredded by the pain of losing Lemi and yet I’m so utterly enthralled by this creature, even though I know I’m about to die. It’s like I’m trying to suck in every last detail of life that I can.

I don’t really believe in any gods or goddesses, but if I had to it would be the one my father believed in. That god was fair and just and merciful. So I pray to him in vain, to let this be quick and let me be reunited with Lemi and my parents soon.

The dragon inhales, her nostrils flaring to the size of dinner plates, then blows her hot herbaceous breath on my body. Ever so slowly she runs her nose over my boots, over my calves, up my thighs, pausing and sniffing as she goes, her eyes pinned on me the entire time.

I’m practically squirming as I try to hold it together, try to keep myself from screaming, from running. My lungs are tight, my breath coming sharp and shallow, hot tears spilling from the sides of my eyes and to the ground. I lie as still as possible, locked in her gaze as she brings her mouth over my stomach, her scaled lips pressing against my belly.

Terror, terror, terror.

I feel the hard poke of ancient teeth against my armor, and then she continues to smell me, up, up, to my chest, to my chin.

Oh god.

Then she stops on a sharp inhale.

I stare at her wide-eyed.

Predator and prey.

This is it.

This is the end of everything.

I should close my eyes. I shouldn’t watch my demise as it happens.

But I don’t.

I suck in the last drops of life.

I had so believed in a better tomorrow.

But that tomorrow ends today.

I watch as her head tilts ever so slightly and her pupils contract into dark slivers before expanding into black holes that swallow all the silver pigment. It’s like staring into a void. Then she pauses and her head tilts ever so slightly, enough to make me frown right back at her.

I swear she’s looking at me like…like…

An arrow comes from nowhere and slams into her neck, piercing her thick hide with ease.

The elderdrage lets out a deafening bellow that blows out my eardrums, raising her giant head in surprise, her attention on her assailant.

My attention follows. I turn my head to see the stranger standingnearby, a bow at their side. They’re cloaked and I can’t see their eyes but they are standing still, their focus on the dragon. They should be running, for no arrow could ever do any significant damage to a dragon unless it went straight through their eye, but the person doesn’t move at all.

They’re merely watching and waiting.

Then the dragon gives another roar, which trails off into a low whimper, and the great beast starts to sway on its feet until it topples over to the ground in a heap just a few feet away, the impact creating cracks in the rock and shaking the earth.

What in damnation just happened? Did they kill the dragon?

How is that possible?

I’m staring at the dragon, waiting for it to get up and take its fury out on me, but it lies totally still, its eyes closed. The only sign that it’s alive is the faint rising of its pebbled stomach.

I look back to the stranger now and they’re crouched at Lemi’s side. They run their gloved hands back and forth over my dog’s body, muttering something under their breath.

Lemi!

“Get away from him,” I manage to cry out, my words caught in my throat. I roll over and try to push myself up but keep slipping on the red yolk that coats my armor in crimson slime. A few minutes ago this substance was worth everything in the world and now, without my dog, it’s worth nothing at all.

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