Page 87 of Consort's Dragon
You’d abandon your people?
“They abandoned me first.”And that hurt.
It is hard to forgive those who betray.Doing the right thing, though, should transcend that emotion.
“I’d say if I can rid Daerva of Zhos, I’ve done enough.”
This Benoit is corrupt, and I will wager your people regret not standing for you.
Avera sighed.“You’re most likely right.After all, the citizens never really had a choice.When your life and that of your loved ones is threatened, you do what you must, even support a murderer.But…” Avera chewed her lip.“I’m struggling with the thought of putting my life on the line, perhaps even losing it, for people who most likely won’t appreciate it.”
I understand.
Avera felt immediate chagrin.“I’m sorry.Of all people, er dragons, you would know just how unfair it can be to give everything only to be betrayed in the end by those you sought to aid.I want you to know that I don’t expect you to sacrifice yourself again when it comes to facing Zhos.The dragons have already done more than their part.It’s humanity who failed by squandering that chance.”
How will you remove Zhos from our world without aid, though?
“I don’t know.”
A pity we don’t have a weapon from Zhos’ place of birth.
“How sure are we that it can’t be harmed by anything of our world?”
The dragons fought it.Or attempted to.While its magic has no effect on us, allowing us to get close, we could do no damage.We bit it.Clawed it.Lifted it in the air and dropped it.Zhos never showed any sign of injury.
“What of swords and other sharp weapons?”
All manner of weapons were tried.Even materials.Steel, obsidian, iron, poison.Even the mightiest of all, wolfframm.Nothing ever managed to even scratch its skin.
It seemed hopeless.“What does Zhos look like?”
It is small.Smaller even than you.Two-legged, two-armed, with a tail that ends in a barbed point.Pointed ears and horns.It most closely resembled a bat, but without wings.
“Why did it come here?”
I believe it was by accident.The rift it travelled through only opens every thousand years.When it last opened in the sky, all manner of things dropped.Rocks, much dust and sand, even a few creatures, including Zhos.It emerged from the fissure atop the back of a flying beast.I was the one to first spot it from my cave along the lake.Its mount was easily dispatched, but Zhos…Starlight went quiet for a moment.It fled and I didn’t think much of it.I had other things to concern me.
“Oh?”Avera didn’t ask, but Starlight caught on.
The humans and blooded who served me at the time began to die.The lake that used to provide water became poisoned from the debris dumped by the breach.
It took Avera only a moment to make the connection.“You’re talking about the Lake of Tears.It wasn’t always acidic?”
No.The dust from the portal ruined it.While I dealt with the issues it caused, Zhos fled, and I thought little of it until it began causing problems.
“Do you think this rift will open once more in the same place?”Avera asked.
Thereabouts, yes.It’s been appearing for as long as my memories go back.Usually without incident.The previous fissures would appear, remain open for a few days, then disappear.The last one was the first time anything ever emerged from it.
“I don’t suppose Zhos could be convinced to simply return back to where it came from.”
It is a creature governed by its own greed for power and conquest.Here there is nothing that can impede it.
“Not true.You and the dragons figured out how to paralyze it.”
Starlight snorted.By accident.I confronted it and was injured.When I took flight to escape, my blood dripped onto Zhos, and it froze in place.The few drops, though, only paralyzed it for a few hours.It was suggested we use more blood.A lot more.
“And so the dragons sacrificed themselves.But how did it end up in Fraegus Spire?”
