During which the Dragon meet doesn't go very well...
89.2
“Trakaan Astranax, Fafnir of the tale of Sigurd and the Dragon, Destroyer of Worlds, Kinssssslayer,” and that last one came as a sneer, the Shadowdragon's long sinuous body coming closer and closer, the darkness dancing all about him.
Trakaan did not back down, he faced this Elder Wyrm, faced him head on.
“Tales of your courage and your foolishness have become legend among our kind as well. It is not only the flesh bags whose history you've become a part of. Your foolishness... because that's what it truly is, now, isn't it... foolishness, has left an indelible mark on your own people.”
Trakaan growled deeply, the flame surging within him, making him larger, his wings spreading, allowing the Shadowdragon to see just how much larger than him he really was.
Karanthus didn't back down, his eyes merely narrowed as he brought his neck lower, his eyes turning to Trakaan's underside. This would've been a sign of submission from any other Dragon but not from a Shadow, not from Karanthus. He was telling the much larger Wyrm something else entirely.
“How many have you killed?” Karanthus continued prodding him, his words and his body like a man's knife, jabbing at Trakaan's underside, a Dragon's only weakness. “How many of us? If it weren't for Domina's death, which you caused as well, by the way... my Dancers and I would've killed you long ago.”
His Dancers, the Shadowdancer Syndicate, Karanthus cadre of Elven assassins, gifted with a Shadowdragon's stealth abilities by a petrified Shadowdragon egg they kept in their gloves, would've most certainly paid him a visit long ago if it hadn't been for Domina. Of this fact, Trakaan was most aware. Not that they would've gotten very far with him. If
Karanthus wanted him dead, he would have to come himself.
“First she protected you from us, from her own father even, then she died for you.... YOU.... a creature that brought nothing but shame and death to all of his own kind.”
The Shadowdragon held out one of his talons then, held it out and then pointed it down at the multicolored floor beneath them.
“This audacity now,” He went on, his voice a hiss. “This ridiculous audacity that brought you here should be all I need to sway the others. Zorrak will agree with me, oh he certainly will. The others won't take much work..... perhaps they'll let me kill you here now....”
Trakaan's growl grew even deeper, louder, as he brought his own head down to Karanthus' level, meeting him eye to eye.
“I'd like to see you try, bottom-dweller.”
And the flash of fury that passed through those night black orbs would have signaled the start of their duel right then and there had not the next member of the Council announced his arrival with the earsplitting ferocity inherent of his kind.
Trakaan turned to find Zorrak the Blue, Master of the Great Thunder, behind him him now. And of course it would be him second, one who's own murderous intent Domina had warned him of.
Zorrak was the largest Dragon Trakaan had ever laid eyes upon. He was massive and majestic, much like all Thunder Dragon's, well-muscled with a set of jaws more befitting that of a crocodile's toothy snout. His eyes were yellow like Domina's, but unlike hers which had always been filled with a heartbreaking love and understanding, Zorrak's were filled with a haughty, cruel, contempt.
The Blue snorted and circled Trakaan, his eyes slowly taking him in entirely, and with his arrival Karanthus's own neck lifted with new found dominance.
“It takes two of you to---”
“SILENCE!!!” Zorrak's thunder crack of a voice split the very air asunder.
Trakaan shut his trap, but did not back down, that he would never, could never, do.
“You consider yourself a member of the Council, youngling?” The Blue asked him, his voice lowering to nothing more than a whisper, his tone far too gentle to be anything other than mocking. “You dare to show your face here?”
“I am a member of the Council by ri--”
“I SAID SILENCE!!!!”
And with that thunder did crack and Trakaan felt himself fly, his entire body shaking with energy, to slam hard against the spire's diamond wall.
He recovered quickly from Zorrak's breath weapon, righting himself, his flame leaving his insides and traveling up into his throat.
The Blue was before him as lightning quick as he had struck, one talon immediately across Trakaan's throat. As this happened, the Shadow's exploded around him, clouding his vision, confusing him.
He was about to die now, he knew it, his fire would go awry, Karanthus' blinding effect would ensure that, Zorrak would then have his throat and all of it will have been for nothing.
One thing did console him, at least he would see her again.
End Part 89.2
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