Tribulations of a Dragon

“Lauren, wake up, we’ve arrived at Plainshold.” My sleep is interrupted in one of the most horrible ways possible, Kello's face right in front of me. With a groan, I push him away.

"Grumpy, are we? We need to head to the lord's manor for more details and to meet the other teams." Yeah, yeah... I know. Somehow I manage to pull myself together and get up.

Gathering up my things, I leave Addy's wagon, the blinding light immediately assaults my eyes. Maybe Kello wasn't so bad... The sun seems to be a pretty good indicator of morning having arrived. Turns out I slept for a full day.

Stepping out of the wagon, Addy is quick to greet me with a hearty hello. "Slept well, I hope! Don't worry, I won't charge extra!"

I give the dwarf a glance, and it takes me a moment to realize he's joking. A quick smile his way, and his grin grows larger. "Do be careful out there, lady. It gets dangerous in the wildlands."

With a wave to the dwarf, I start moving toward the gates of Plainshold. The towering gate looks magnificent with the surrounding palisade.

A stone wall can tell you that the town has survived early assaults, but I'm partial to the logs making up this stake wall. They're impressive and strong for how easy they are to build.

I'm pulled out of my wall-admiring haze when a guard clad in decent-looking plate armor asks us what our purpose here is. Kello takes the lead and informs the man that we're Guild members and we're here for a mission.

The guard waves us through. Entering the town proper, my nose is quickly overwhelmed by the delicious scents of food cooking. A growl from my stomach reminds me that I haven't eaten for a day. I need something to eat.

I find myself quite liking the food stalls being set up just inside the gates of Plainshold. Many weary travelers must come by here to enjoy a more varied meal compared to what a journey offers.

Reaching the stalls, I pick a few items here and there, making sure to get some varied food.

"Sure you got enough there, Lauren? Perhaps we should fetch a cart." I attempt to kick him, but he dodges it with remarkable grace.

“Shut it, Rein… Just lead the way to Lord Whatshisface’s manor…” He laughs off my frustration as he leads the way.

The lack of wealth in this town is apparent, as everything is just rougher. At least compared to Arrenfret. As we walk down the street, a small stone wall comes into sight, a customary decoration for the manors of rulers within the domain of Immarderen.

Now that I've had some food, my mood improves quite a bit. To make sure I'm fine, I focus my magic senses inward and see how I'm doing from a physical perspective. Which reveals that I'm not doing as well as I ought to be.

Preparing a healing spell, I offer a small prayer to Merciferus, and her comforting presence fills me with warmth. As soon as I finish the spell, my aches and pains disappear. Feeling better, I focus on Merciferus.

Her emotions bleed through the connection, and I can tell she feels resigned, anxious, and sorrowful. "I don't believe we have Merciferus' support for this mission. We need to reconsider."

"Lauren, we need the coin, this mission will set us up for months if we don't get too dumb with spending." Reinfold makes his case, and I can't help but glare at him.

"We don't need the fucking coin that bad, Rein! A God is telling me not to go!"

With my frustration laid bare, I consider asking for a vote on the matter, but it occurs to me just how pointless that would be. I have no doubt Kello would vote in favor of killing, and this mission offers a lot of death.

With that useless thought rattling around my skull, I find myself appreciating when someone pulls me out of my thoughts; we've made it to the lord's manor. I hope he'll be able to shed some light on what we'll be doing here.

Looking at the manor, only one word comes to mind: gaudy. The entire place looks far too rich compared to the rest of the town. Glancing at Reinfold, I can tell he's tempted to steal something when we get inside.

"Don't steal or break any shit, Rein. What we can't afford is to be added to some lord's shitlist." We can afford to abandon this mission, but we can't afford to pay whatever exorbitant price this lord would demand for damage to his property.

Kello has moved to the door, but before he has a chance to knock, it opens, and a servant asks us to join the lord inside.

I don’t know what to do. Maybe I can pick a middle ground and join, but not participate, aside from healing when necessary.

I thought the outside of the building was gaudy, but it's no match for the inside. This place is full of fancy highborn shit. There's no way Reinfold isn't stealing something.

That's a thought I'm gonna push aside. As fortune would have it, we're entering a garden and I spot a small crowd gathering around an overdressed man standing taller than the rest. Judging by the crowd's outfits, they're the other adventurers.

We join the gathering and Lord Gaudy starts talking. "As I've already explained to the first team, the mission offers three gold for each team. How that is distributed among the team members is up to you. I will take no part in that. Focusing on the objective, the mission is as listed."

'Is as listed' my ass. The listing barely qualifies as a listing.

"Three teams, hopefully your teams, will travel west and cull a growing goblin tribe. We know they've taken over an abandoned settlement a couple of decades ago, but we haven't had the need to act until now."

Why now... It sounds like the goblins have just been living on their own and not bothering anyone. If anything, having them there is an excellent barrier to protect against the predators of the forest. I don't see anyone else speaking up, so I do. "Why the shit do you want to act now? What changed to make them a threat now?"

"My, what language... But a prudent question. So what changed? We found out there were far more than anticipated. They're multiplying rapidly and will soon grow out of control. On top of that, we've had Dragon sightings in the region, and the goblins would make quite the treat for it to grow. We do not want the Dragon to grow."

The lord continues to talk about this and that and how the goblins are a threat to their very town, and if Plainshold falls, so will others. It feels more theatrical than anything.

I tap Reinfold and Kello on their shoulders and give them a signal indicating that I wanna vote on what to do. Reinfold gives me an annoyed look, but signs that he wants to continue, and Kello, to my frustration, votes for continuing the mission as well.

Giving up for now, I just listen to the gaudy man talk about what we're here to do. He doesn't actually say anything useful until he mentions that their reports of the Dragon have it flying southwest most days. But according to the lord, it leaves the goblins alone for the most part.

That should be easy to avoid. The plan itself is simple: we are to enter through the west gate, the teams split up, and reconvene in the central pathway.

And the first team is a fighter like Kello, an archer, and a mage. I wonder why they don't have any support, but I guess they just go the brute-force route.

We are the second team. The third team consists of a large man with a shield, a mage of some sort, and a healer.

"And that is all. Any questions?" The highborn man looks around at us, and the shieldman speaks up.

"Yeah, how we s'posed to get there? Long walk from here, don't wanna waste time when we can kill today."

"Ah, yes, my simple friend. I've arranged for a carriage to take you closer, but it obviously can't take you straight to the enemy gates. You'll need to camp for one night and launch the attack in the morning."

The lord gives us directions to where the carriage is waiting, and it sounds familiar. As we take our leave, I talk to the other healer and ask if he's gotten any messages or oddities from the Gods.

"No, I don't speak to the Gods. I assume you do then? Who and what are they saying?" I tell him about what I get from Merciferus, and to my relief, he actually pays attention.

He looks like he considers it for a moment and then takes a few rushed steps to catch up with his team. After mentioning a few words, they all look my way...

People start shuffling away toward where we came from, and I'm left self-conscious as the third team keeps stealing glances my way.

Walking through the streets again, I bring up abandoning the mission. "Guys, this is real. We can't do this mission, it's cursed or some shit." Kello glares at me as he speaks up.

"If you want to leave so badly, Lauren, just do it. This is an easy mission, don't you remember how easy goblins are to kill? Their advantage is in numbers, but in a settlement, they're too spread out to use that. This is free gold!"

Conflicted feelings swirl within me... I want to support my friends, but I don't want to disregard what my intuition is telling me... Needing guidance, I offer another prayer for Merciferus, but she doesn't respond...

Hurt wells up inside me as my conviction grows. I'm not going to abandon my friends just because I feel uncomfortable.

Reaching the gates, I see a familiar sight. Addy's standing next to his wagon with a large sign. He's waiting for us. If I had known he'd be our transport, I wouldn't have packed my things... The teams are quick to load the wagon with equipment, and we set out almost immediately.

As we're traversing the landscape with surprising speed, I notice Addy pull something from a pocket and whistle for his beast. It turns its head, and he throws something to it. Shortly after it eats whatever it is, our speed increases significantly.

If I had to guess, we arrive a tenth of a day after setting out. Addy's beast is ridiculously fast... I have no idea how the wagon manages to stay together or stay this comfortable.

I can see our target to the north, it looks remarkably intact for having supposedly been overrun. I'd like a closer inspection, but we'll need to get further west and move through the trees to approach.

Judging by the sun's position, it's only midday when we arrive at the treeline. Reinfold and the first team's archer are quick to set out and scout the area. And the rest of us move farther north to position ourselves in line with the west gate.

Reinfold reports back as we move, he hasn't found anything we need to care about. That's a relief, but when the archer returns, his blade is covered in blood. "Found a goblin. It told me that the Dragon left some time ago. We should attack today instead of waiting for tomorrow."

"That's not the plan, guys. We need more information. Rushing in is only going to lead to injuries." I doubt my friends are listening anymore, nor is the first team from the looks of it, but I see the shieldman giving me a slight nod. He doesn't seem to want to chip in aside from that, neither do his friends.

As we move into position, I watch the small creatures at the gate, they look remarkably civilized. They've built a decent-looking gate, and the palisades look maintained. Effort has gone into that.

The gate has two goblins guarding it, wearing simple armor made of what looks like copper, it's even fitted to each guard.

I'm always surprised at how human-like some of these godless beings are. Goblins are even known to carry coins, wear clothes, and mimic trade, but they're simple creatures.

“Hey look, that one’s helmet is damaged. You think it’s too dumb to recognize how that weakens the material?” And with that, I punch Kello.

"Shut it. They're about to die, there's no reason to be cruel about it. Just get it over with and let them rest."

Reinfold and the archer from the first team line up their shots, and a moment later, the two guards fall. Two perfect shots. We’ll need to wait a moment to see if any other goblins heard them drop before we move it, but it should be clear.

No signs of movement, so we move in, but I'm suddenly overwhelmed by a mental message. Someone left a ward sign here. I look at the other magic users, and they seem to have felt the same.

"By decree of Lord Wreyn of Oakhold, the goblin town of Tuiran is protected as a valuable asset of Lord Wreyn. Any attack on Tuiran is an attack on the lord himself. Should your intentions be peaceful, you may enter at the goblins' discretion. Should your intentions be to cause harm or otherwise damage Lord Wreyn's assets, you will be met with far greater force, leaving you only enough time to regret your actions."

The mage from the first team is quick to speak up. "Some lord fucker just told us to piss off. Any takers?" Nobody seems to be moving to leave when the mage speaks up again.

"Doesn't matter, we've got Guild authority to cull these disgusting beasts. Let's move in."

Kello moves past the two corpses, and Reinfold is quick to search the one he shot. Judging by the smile on his face, he struck gold.

We move quietly as a group as we enter the settlement proper. Kello looks like he’s itching to kill some of these goblins. “Hey Rein, bet I can take out more than you.” Reinfold is quick to take him up on the challenge.

I hear the sounds of blades hitting flesh as we start spreading out. Three teams moving in three directions. We should be able to take out the required number of goblins before we get too far into this place.

Any resistance to our incursion is quickly met by a blade or an arrow. The goblins barely manage to scratch my teammates. The few scratches they do get are easily healed.

As we continue, I keep an ear out in case one of the other teams calls for backup, but so far, all I hear are death wails from the goblins.

As I contemplate how wrong this whole thing feels, I'm pulled back to reality as I hear shouting in the north.

“DRAGON!” I look to the skies and see it. A Dragon flying towards the first team at an alarming speed. In barely any time at all, I lose sight of it behind the buildings.

“Lauren, are we regrouping at the gate or assisting?” I don’t fucking know! This wasn’t part of the plan and I didn't want us to be here!

"Fuck! We need to help them. Rein, go the long route. Kello, you go direct, and I'll follow you." We haven’t heard them shout since the Dragon landed. I hope they found cover, but I fear they didn’t.

Rushing through the passages, we soon find the first team, or what remains of it… Their bodies were torn to shreds and in the middle of the gore stands a human. “You’ve been naughty little adventurers.”

"Where the fuck did the Dragon go and who the fuck are you?!" This bastard is wearing ornate plate armor and carrying a long-handled spiked mace. I push my senses out to feel his magic, and it scares me. This man is not normal.

“Walk me through this. You find a goblin settlement, you find the magical warning put up by a local lord, and you ignore it. What could you possibly be thinking? What do you think will happen from here?”

"Shove your questions up a demon's ass. Where in the hells did the Dragon go?! We need to kill that thing before it attacks a settlement! And what happened to these people?!"

“Don’t mind her, she’s taking care of something personal. Now please answer my question. What were you morons thinking, ignoring Lord Wreyn’s decree?!”

I’ve rarely met someone this quick to anger who also carries such a palpable will to carry out any threats he might throw. “Rein, shoot this fucker!”

"Reinfold, Kello, stand the fuck down!" As I yell out to them, Reinfold lets loose an arrow, but it just stops dead in its tracks as it collides with a barrier. Shit…

“Now that wasn’t nice, although I guess the fault lies with me. I misjudged your intelligence when I believed you might be capable of carrying on a conversation to save your lives. My mistake. But if you believe you can kill me, I invite you to try.”

Just as the man finishes the sentence, Kello rushes forward to attack. Axes gleam in the sunlight as they collide with the barrier. Reinfold unleashes a volley of arrows, but it has no effect as far as I can tell.

“Come now, if you want to kill me before the Dragon returns, you’ll need to do much better than that, you pathetic fools.” He’s goading us…

"Kello! Don't be an idiot, he wants you to attack him!" But the idiot just attacks... He's far too caught up in his aggression.

“I’ll show you fucking pathetic, you highborn cockgobbler!” Kello is taking the bait… I look for Reinfold, but he’s gone. I assume he’s trying to attack from a different angle. It’s a common tactic against barriers, but this isn’t a normal opponent.

“I guess credit where credit is due, little adventurer. You have indeed shown me what pathetic is with that useless flailing.”

In a blur, the man steps forward, his barrier colliding with Kello, knocking him on his ass. Raising his spiked mace, he gets ready to strike back at Kello, so I shout to distract him and ask for his name. But instead of answering, he brings the mace down on one of Kello’s knees, destroying it.

“I should introduce myself, shouldn’t I? I am the Captain of the Guard in Oakhold, Neithro the Absolute, Siege Breaker of the Twin Wars, The Unbreakable Wall, Warden of Grand Mage Wreyn of Immarderen. Do you recognize any of these titles, or do I need to give you time to read some history books?”

Fuck! FUCK! Repeating my orders to stand down, neither of these fools obey. Reinfold needs to get back here instead of attacking. Rushing to Kello's side, I drag him away from this monster of a man. Reaching for my magic, I make sure to heal Kello’s knee. The injury is far worse than it should be.

“Appears we're out of time, a pity. I was enjoying myself.” Terror grips my heart as I realize how thoroughly fucked we are. We were too focused on Neithro, and I forgot the Dragon!

As I look around, the damn thing swoops down and I barely manage to jump away. Kello isn’t so lucky. He screams in agony as the Dragon’s claws impale his legs.

It moves off Kello and approaches Neithro as it lets out a deep, rumbling growl. I make out what sounds like words between pauses. “You… okray…?" It can speak in the beast tongue…

“I'm flattered that you worry, but these pathetic insects couldn't harm me if they had a thousand years. More importantly, what do you want to do now, Kira? You respected my orders with the bandits, so I’ll respect yours in your home.”

We’ve attacked a Lord’s domain and the home of a Dragon. By the hells, this mission is cursed…

Kello is still screaming and pleading on the ground as the two monsters have a casual conversation. I need to heal his wounds, or he'll bleed out. Getting up, I rush toward him as I prepare my spell. His legs are shredded, I’m not sure I can heal all of his wounds, but I have to try.

I pray to Merciferus and feel her presence as I cast my healing spell on Kello, she’s scared for me... His wounds close up as exhaustion hits me. The flesh stitches back together and his legs become whole again. I feel a sense of relief until I notice the Dragon watching me.

I can tell that it looks pissed off. Even more so after I finished healing Kello. I look at those fiery red eyes, like burning rubies of coalesced hatred and rage, as they stare directly at me. I’ve never been this terrified in my life.

Something large and blunt hits me in my stomach, sending me flying. Hitting the ground a distance away, I look up and see the Dragon’s tail swishing back and forth. If I had been hit by that bladed part, there's no way I would've survived...

The Dragon’s focus shifts to Kello as it walks over him, I don’t know what it plans to do, but it scares me.

Raising up a claw, it hovers talons over Kello’s chest and starts looking at me again. Talons dig deep into Kello as he lets out a gurgling scream. The other claw joins the first, now eight talons are penetrating Kello’s chest. I can’t heal that… Where the fuck is Reinfold?!

The Dragon keeps its gaze locked on me when it suddenly gives a little jump, as it does, it tears Kello apart. The claws rip Kello’s chest to shreds, his organs spilling across the passageway. It growls at me, but I don’t catch what it said. My attention is too focused on the gruesome scene of my friend’s inevitable death.

“She told you to try to heal that, murderer.”

"Are you kidding me?! That thing is the fucking murderer! It just killed Kello! It probably killed these people as well, and now it'll probably kill me too! How the fuck am I the murderer?!"

“Do try to calm down, little cleric. I do believe these things are a direct result of your employer’s incompetence. After all, Lord Wreyn gave quite clear instructions to stay away. And rumors of a Dragon in the area are quite commonplace by now. A skullbroken ogre could tell that it should stay away.”

My eyes fixate on Kello as his head turns, he’s somehow still alive and he’s mouthing something… “Run… Run…” How can I fucking run from this thing?! It can kill me anytime it wants. There's no point...

“How many did you kill, Cleric? By your own hand, specifically.” His question comes off as noncommittal, but I feel that my answer will be a critical part of my chances at a future.

"I didn't kill any. I'm a healer, I don't kill for fun. Merciferus wouldn't allow it." He looks away as he taps his chin with a finger.

“Should you heal any surviving goblins, you might be able to bargain for your life. That's an interesting question, though. How many of the people you've wounded and killed do you need to save in order to appease a Dragon? I guess we’ll find out if you happen to save enough.”

I might survive this... My thoughts are a swirling whirlpool of confusion and fear when I suddenly hear crunching. Looking up, I see the Dragon eating Kello… I won’t even get to bury my friend…

I'm stuck just staring at the scene, lying here in a useless heap as Neithro approaches. Gripping my tunic, he pulls me up with no effort at all. “Well? What are you waiting for? Go search for survivors and make yourself useful enough to be kept alive.”

I can’t pull my eyes away from the gruesome sight of Kello’s fate until the Dragon lifts its head and stares at me. The fucking thing is licking its lips…

“Kira, do mind the spatter. I’d rather not get covered in any more idiot than necessary." That's all he thinks of Kello? An inconvenient mess?...

Forcing myself to stand, I'm struck by just how much everything hurts. I push my magic sense inward, and I see several of my ribs are broken, I’ve punctured a lung, and I have some internal bleeding. I need to heal that before I can do anything.

Using just enough healing to change it from life-threatening to excruciatingly painful, I start moving back to where the first team and my team have taken out some goblins. Please let there be survivors…

It doesn’t take long before I find a few goblins, looks like the first team was quick to attack a group. I see one trying to hide beneath the corpses, but I need to heal it. I rummage through the pile until I find it. A female, and it looks terrified.

I grip its arm and push my magic senses into it to check for injuries. I see several old ones and a few new ones. I pray to Merciferus and heal the little thing…

Sorrow, fear, and regret overwhelm me as I feel the Goddess’s presence. This is what she didn’t want to happen…

“What the fuck are you doing, Lauren?! Why in the hells are you healing that thing?” I look back and Reinfold is standing there with his dagger drawn.

"I'm trying to survive! That's what in the hells I'm doing! This fucking mission has turned so sideways that we're pointing straight down into the pits of damnation. And you should know that Kello's dead. The Dragon fucking ate him..." I see rage fill him as I tell him about what happened.

"Get up, Lauren. We need to avenge Kello. We can't allow that monster to live after what it did to him!" I beg him to let it go. We don’t stand a chance against those two monsters. None of my pleading reaches the furious man as he stomps off in the direction I came from. I can’t stop him…

I finish healing the little thing and check the others. She was the only survivor in this pile, but I have to find more. I need to find more. As I continue down the passage, I find more corpses, but no survivors…

Tears trickle down my cheeks and I can’t tell whether it is from pain or regret. Trudging through the street, barely able to keep myself standing, something touches me and I let out a scream. Caught up in my own thoughts, I didn’t notice the goblin I had healed following me.

She takes my hand and leads me somewhere, and I just follow. Whether this will lead to my salvation or doom, I don't know; perhaps they're one and the same.

We make it a ways down the pathway when I hear a bone-rattling roar behind us. I suddenly find myself confident that whatever Reinfold did after leaving me just destroyed any chance we had…

Looking in the direction of the roar, I see the Dragon take flight and come directly towards me. This is how I die…

It lands in front of me with a booming crash, the cobbled street is ruined, shards of stone flying toward me. In a moment of clarity, I turn to flee the beast. I don’t make it two steps before I feel teeth ripping into the flesh of my lower left leg, and I’m pulled off the ground.

"Please! Let me go! I did what I was told, but I couldn't find any others! Please give me another chance!" My pleading falls on deaf ears as I feel flesh tearing from my leg, the Dragon carries me as it climbs a building. Screams escape me as pain overwhelms me. Blood hits my face as the Dragon takes off.

Dangling by my leg in the mouth of a Dragon, I’ve never felt pain like this or been this terrified. The Dragon takes flight again, the jolt sending a new wave of pain through me. I am completely at this thing’s mercy… if it has any…

It lands with as little grace as before, and I hit the ground hard. I feel my skull impact the ground as my vision blackens. If it wanted to kill me, it should’ve just done it…

“Now be careful, Kira. If you want her to help you with your friend, you need to make sure she survives.”

She needs my help?… Why… My sight returns as my confusion increases. I look around and see another goblin on the ground, an arrow protruding from its chest. I don’t recognize the goblin, but I do recognize that arrow. Reinfold shot this goblin.

I’m too far away to heal it, and my leg is ruined. Clawing at the ground, I drag myself toward the wounded goblin, but before I'm able to reach it, I feel another rough tug on my leg as a fresh wave of agony shoots through me. The Dragon is pulling me closer to the goblin.

Putting my hand on the little thing, I push my senses into it and… Fuck… I don’t have enough magic to heal this…

I pray for Merciferus to help me, but she can only do so much when I don’t have the necessary magic, and it’s not enough. "I don't have enough magic, I can't heal a wound this severe..." I don’t think the Dragon understands me.

“She’s saying that she needs more magic to perform her spell. Do you happen to have any magic potions, Kira?” I don’t like how it stares at me… There’s cruelty in those eyes…

The Dragon slams a foot down on my intact leg, and I feel the bone crunch. Screaming in pain, I suddenly feel a much worse pain. A burning fire floods my body, burning me from the inside out. All I can do is pray I survive, and to my surprise, I feel Merciferus pulling at my consciousness.

The pain is gone, and I find myself bathed in comforting light. Looking around, I see a tall woman with beautiful golden hair and four glorious white-feathered wings.

"Why didn't you listen when I told you to stay away? Why did you come to this town when I told you to be afraid?! Why are you so willing to throw away your life?!"

My foolish decisions made a God cry... "I'm sorry, Merciferus... I should have listened, I see that now. I wanted to stay away, but I couldn't abandon my friends..."

"I know you couldn't... But please listen to me when I tell you to turn around." I want to agree to her request, but I can't. If I can save people, I have to try, even if it might be dangerous.

Looking around, the place we're in looks entirely empty aside from us.

"I know you're about to ask where we are. This is your subconscious. I pulled you in here to shield you from the pain you're currently experiencing. Your mind wouldn't be able to take it, I needed to intervene. Please just do what the dragon tells you. You can survive this, and I need you to."

"Why do I get to live when the others are dying? What makes me so special?! Please tell me how I can save my friends... Please..."

"I think she's waking up, Kira. Whatever you did looks very uncomfortable. Do me a favor and avoid telling Lord Wreyn about it. He'd want to know what it is and experience it for himself because that isn't pact magic."

Shit... I hear Neithro again, and pain hits me like a landslide. I'm still very much hurt... The Dragon growls at me as it looks me in the eyes with that piercing and fearsome gaze.

"Hrreal... my... thrriend..." I reach for the fallen goblin and push my senses out. The clarity overwhelms and disorients me. What the fuck is this... I can see everything with barely any effort, every injury, every past wound, and exactly where I need to focus my healing.

I prepare to cast my spell as I grip the arrow, ready to pull it out and heal the wound. The flesh fuses beautifully, and if I didn't know, I wouldn't be able to tell she had ever been wounded.

"Now you have a decision to make, Kira. Do you let her live so she can heal more of your people, or kill her for her transgressions? If you choose to let her live, then stick with it, don't just kill her because she annoys you. Tempting as it might be."

I lie down on the ground and relax, at least my fate is out of my hands now, which, for some reason, fills me with relief... It almost looks funny how much thought the Dragon is giving to the decision. I might be going mad because I can't help but smile at the scene.

As I find myself with some extra time while waiting for my judge and executioner to deliberate, I push my senses inward, and what a fucking mess I am.

Three ribs that aren't broken, a punctured lung, internal bleeding, several breaks in my 'good' leg. Strips of flesh cover my foot on my bad leg. At some point, I broke my elbows too, probably during the flight. How am I still alive...

Deciding to throw caution to the wind, I decide to just ask a question. "Since I'm fucked beyond reason, mind if I make myself a little more comfortable while awaiting my execution? I could just heal myself real fast."

Neithro seems to find my question amusing as he walks off while laughing, and the Dragon just stares at me, as if I barely exist.

"I should fetch my mace before someone touches it. If the archer is still attached, I'll bring him back for you, Kira. You seem to have a taste for adventurers."