| But that was impossible! Even if they had the knowledge, they couldn't
have undone it! They hadn't had the time!
It had started so long ago when he'd awoken, fully formed and grown, in these very caverns centuries ago. He had no memories of anything before (only impressions of a fierce struggle...and he was the wonderful result). He opened his eyes and found the still warm corpse of some female of his species over in one corner (and also the corpse of some pissant human mage by the looks of him...but that was nothing). What was of more importance to his draconian heart was his nose! His nose smelled the delightful smell of gold and gems nearby. Turning, the dragon found....it already claimed and bonded to a female dragon (with the stench of a human female on her for some reason)! Now this dragonness was too powerful now for the male dragon to take
away what should be (in his twisted mind) by rights his, and though the
male had sulked away and later on managed to scrap together a Hoard of
his own that would surpass this upstart female dragon.....he'd never forgave
the treacherous thing. Despite that, the two had what could be called a
love/hate relationship. Finally, however, the male's eye's were caught
by the sight of red hair and warrior prowess of another. It was a mere
human female, but.....something about her just made his black heart beat
faster every time he spied upon her while he was on wing! It was the daughter
of the king of the Great Kingdom. The one that we now know as "Thessamer:"
Now, by now you've probably figured out that that the dragon had designs
on Thessamer as a mate. His plan was that the dragon would get some dragon's
blood and preserve it fresh (somehow) to keep a similar blood curse that's
on Malachi 3's blood active. That blood would get into wounds that Thessamer
would get while slaying a decoy dragon (actually the now brain dead but
magically controlled body of his former rival). Anyway, the blood curse
would blossom and Thessamer would change into a female dragon in relatively
short order. Since this Dragon is unaware that Thessamer knows that not
all dragons are evil, the Dragon believes that Thessamer will change into
a female dragon with....a compatible view of things similar to his own.
It's not a matter of love at first sight here, but rather a matter of
draconian lust (to be blunt about it).
The Dragon's first attempt at capturing Thessamer had been thrawted
by Fred (who is a son of a Duke in the Great Kingdom). That frustrated
the dragon.
The second attempt was successful, and got not only Thessamer, but Fred
as well. They had been on their wedding night when he'd snatched them,
and the dragon had every intention in killing the defiant Fred....but something
about this young knight made the evil fiend laugh. He kept them both under
wraps (sometimes letting them out from time to time to have them run about
acting out "plays" or "games" as it were). Always keeping them in the Caverns
so they never would discover the truth about their altered memories and
about themselves. Since the dragon blood was rare that the Dragon was in
search of (few dragons are willing to die so that blood curse is activated),
the Dragon kept feeding the captives Youth potions until he got that blood
(the blood of that treacherous female who'd he'd finally had his revenge
upon....one of his minions was able to slip a special poison into her fodder
which put her into a coma)...
.....
So he's finally got that blood, then. Yep.
Now, he was in the process of one last, twisted game with them all where
the end result was Thessamer as a dragon. As for the others, he'd snatch
them up again for either playing for later....or other things (perhaps
even as a snack).
That had been the plan. Then this business of his toys disappearing
and returning with friends had marked a marked change in those plans, it
seemed. Oh, in the past others had come in and disrupted his plays and
games....but that had been challenging enough to make it fun and interesting
to the vile dragon. In the end those would be heroes always ended up in
the same place: his gullet!
See, these caverns had been laden with so many traps and tricks over
the centuries that only those with intimate knowledge of it all would have
a hope of not being captured (or killed). Even if these would be heroes
had been able to enlist the aid of his "toys" (i.e. Thessamer and Fred),
that aid would be of limited use. See, Thessamer and Fred only knew what
he, the dragon, LET them know! Nor could his toys or anyone else leave
the Caverns once in! His magic would prevent that! Then, at the a new game
or play was done, the dragon would alter their (the toys') memories anew...sometimes
implanting new or even false information. It was added insurance.
But the way this group had been moving through the caverns was....almost
as if his toys remembered prior sessions! Now, if they take a left at that
intersection up ahead they'll be teleported right into....
"Well, looks like this it your cue," the dragon sighs, looking at a
large figure behind him.
He assumes his human guise. Perhaps his ultimate goal could still be
obtained and Thessamer could still be his. Mayhaps an old face can make
her rash so she makes mistakes....and perhaps that'll be enough.
She'd make such a....fine mate!
He sends a mental command to that figure behind him and the prone female dragon, laying upon a pile of gold and low quality gems, jerks awake and hisses at the intruders as they enter into this last act of this abbreviated play. "Well, if it isn't Minestus and Moreau!" Astra chuckles mirthlessly, recognizing from pictures she'd been shown by her friends and family of past enemies of the family. Minestus blinks in surprise for two reasons (and the brain dead dragonness mirrors her master's motions). First, he's never revealed his name EVER to anyone besides other dragons (the sound of it spoken was like a slap to his face....and mind). Second, he is now only seeing how.....similar looking Astra was to Thessamer. His view through Thessamer's mind been perfect to spy upon his adversaries.....but not good enough really to get a GOOD picture of the others faces and such.... His draconian blood then ran cold when he hears. He'd sensed her
spirit depart this still living shell, but..... Why was she speaking without
his commands?!
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