Chương 1715: [1612] – Y07.112 – Hearts of Fire II

The red dragon, thickly built, descended upon the central domed building, wings threatening to blot out the sun. Its scales scales gleamed brightly, as though each had been shined by a thoughtful touch, large horns jutting outwards like a pair of greatblades, and with each large breath, its chest heaved large, though any thought of smoke slipping through its nostrils were kept at bay.

At the tip of its tail, a bony club, spiked, vicious, laying upon an open crescent atop the dome, though its claws were far more terrifying, which could tear even the mightiest of beasts apart. It turned towards the half dragon, the same Rais who called himself the Chief of the village, and after a moment, its head turned towards the half dragon, who was certainly a dragon in disguise. However, even if one of those was upon the Lower Realm, there were far greater threats.

"Kal Iyrmen," the creature called, wings folding to its side, bowing its head lightly. The response was a deadly silence. Ramizash then leapt off the building, spinning as it did so, shifting from the large scale of red into a half dragon, a head taller than most, horns of great bone, adorned in a black shalwar, a black turban, a red vest over his muscular front.

He carried a greatblade upon his back, the kind which would be most warrior's primary weapon, but was merely acceptable enough for the handsome half dragon, whose skin was as black as the night, hair as fiery as the sun, and eyes as clear as the open sky, and a smile which was awkward, as though he had forgotten how to smile, though his movements within his form were swift and fluid.

"Lord Ramizash," came the response from the one who could only be known as Duteous, who stepped forward to approach the half dragon.

"How do you fare?"

"I fair well, as ever, Kal Duteous, for the sun shines ever bright, the skies are clear, and honoured guests abound," Ramizash declared, voice deep and gravelly, still smiling an awkward smile.

"There is no need to smile in such a manner," Duteous assured. Ramizash's face returned to match the likes of Jurot, which was neutral, as though one might have forgotten how to express any emotion other than apathy.

"Your journey has been safe, I hope?"

"Yes."

"…"

"…"

"Shall we speak privately?" Ramizash asked.

"It would be best," Duteous stated, and with that, Ramizash turned, only to pause as someone cleared their throat, a half elf, who was raising his brows towards the one known as Duteous Dogek. A half elf who wore two little Iyrmen, each green of skin, amber of eyes, and it was then Ramizash blinked. Adam raised his brows, motioning his head to his children, and Duteous blinked in return with the understanding his grandnephew was showing him mercy.

"You must be Kal Adam," called a voice, deep and gravelly, causing many others to look the half elf's way. Adam formed a tiny circle with his mouth, in the same way as his twins, and he blinked.

"Yes. Yes, I am. It's a pleasure to meet you, Lord Ramizash."

"I did not expect to meet you so swiftly, but I should have expected for you mortals always move so swiftly," the half dragon joked, though his face was entirely neutral still.

"Are those all whom assisted Lord Taymora accompanying you?"

"Some remain in the Iyr, I think, but most of the youth here were those who were there," Adam said, motioning an arm to all those around, though Korin cleared his throat.

"Well, Kal Korin and Alladi Sara here weren't, but the Sword of the Lady, Kal Lani, was there." The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"I assume my son had not shown you the proper respect, and I hope you are willing to forgive him, his blood boils with a fiery heart," Ramizash called, causing Rais Ash to narrow his eyes, and though he would dare to speak up, seeing the look within his father's eyes meant the old man would definitely beat him senseless if he acted out.

"To you, Sword of the Lady, I bow my head, and to you, Ray."

"The Rais has welcomed us openly," Ray Vonda replied, not quite lying, the woman smiling towards the dragon. Lani blinked, standing up slightly, having forgotten she was meant to be acting differently now that she was the Sword of the Lady, and she placed a palm over her fist as a martial greeting for the dragon.

"I should have expected the Iyrmen to be travelling with other great heroes," Ramizash complimented, bowing his eyes to the Peysh, and then his eyes fell to the children. He approached, with a hesitant step, but reached out a hand to take the children's hands one by one, and though the three appeared to be devilkin, their smell was obfuscated by magics, and he was more hesitant to hold onto their hands, but as he approached the green skinned toddlers, he paused a moment.

As they held his hands, his eyes slowly trailed to the side, towards one particular Iyrman, whose eyes were like that of a beast's, far more openly so than the other Iyrmen around, and upon hearing the names of the children, greeting them each, and upon hearing the green boy's name, he understood. It was that old man, with his wooden leg and arm.

'You old geezer, did you bully him too?' Adam thought, though he remained silent, for the way the Iyrmen stared at the dragon reminded him of the first time he had stepped into the Iyr.

"What fortunate children, for they are descendants of a great hero of old, and share the name with not one great hero, but many others, one who had slain the blight known as the Azure Terror, and to be the children of a Ray and a Mo who has yet to choose to rise." Ramizash smiled awkwardly, the kind of smile that said he needed to smile at that time, and after a moment the smile disappeared, though the compliment hung in the air.

"Lord Ramizash, the world is a big place," Jirot replied, staring up at the dragon, holding an intelligence within her eyes not even the dragon had expected, and the pair held one another's gaze for a long while.

"The world is large, even for we who are dragons, and as dragons, one might suggest the world is even more dangerous for we."

"Yes," Jirot agreed, for she was raised in the one place which taught their children how dangerous the world was dangerous to dragons, or rather, the number one reason why dragons were in danger, for she was raised in the place that was very reason.

"It is dangerous for my brother and I because we look like bavwa." Ramizash remained silent for a long moment, closing his eyes as he fell deep in thought. Upon opening his eyes, he turned to face the half elf.

"Have you thought of the method of your ascent?"

"Excuse me?" the half elf replied.

"You have already begun your rise, but do you intend to follow the path of your grandfather?"

"I…" Adam fell quiet for a long moment.

"I don't know."

"If you do not choose your path quickly, the world will remain a dangerous place for your children," Ramizash said.

"No matter the path, the world will always be dangerous for my children," Adam replied in the dragon's tongue, not in the common speech of the drakken, but the high speech of the dragons themselves. His eyes remained sad, and almost flashed with something dangerous, but that gave way to the sadness once more.

"I'm too close to the Iyr, but not an Iyrman. I am a half elf in Aldland, and I've already offended quite a few people there. In Aswadasad, I am slightly more likeable, and my connection with Black Mountain is nice, but I spend most of my time in Aldland."

"I have heard you defeated the Elder of Amber." Adam smiled.

"I suppose I have defeated him each time we fought."

"How many times did you two fight?"

"I fought him twice, once before I fought his Fariq, the other time after."

"You fought the Fariq too?"

"Once or twice."

"You already said you fought him twice."

"Oh. Right. Twice."

"…"

"…"

"Let us speak privately tonight," Ramizash said, since he wished to hear Adam's secrets for himself, or at the very least, the amount the Iyr would allow him to reveal.

"I will host you personally in a few hours, once I have conversed with Duteous."

"Ah, of course," Adam replied, and he paused, allowing his twins, and the rest of the children, to repeat the words.

"Thank you, Lord Ramizash." Ramizash nodded, and with that, led Duteous elsewhere. A shadow emerged upon the half elf, the fellow peeking up at the dark skinned man, who invited himself to sit with the half elf and his family.

"Rais Ash, how may we help you?" a particular fool of a father called, and though a tinge of nervousness touched his tone, his smile was the kind that suggested he understood why the half dragon had stepped forward.