“And I have heard from Geraldus and the Dragon King what is being currently planned and the proper action that was needed to counter these small raids against my home,” said the king, brushing his white beard. “But going to the Northern Region is strictly forbidden. Anyone who travels there never returns.”
“This is a great concern, but it seems Ralenskrit and Belverda made it to the Northern Region and made it make down,” said the Dragon King. The giant lizard descended with his escort of bodyguards. His eyes had shown great concern. “Those two scientists made it up and down from the forbidden place, and the map we’ve shown you lays an artifact from the White Knights themselves. We all know Lusìvar is coming back and we need someone with the strongest manpower to go against him, and Vaeludar seems to be the only logically choice here.”
“Wait, hold up,” said Vaeludar.
The two kings stared at Vaeludar stunned.
“Don’t go sending me to the Northern Region as if I was some kid. I’m a living being as well. I’m not a weapon to be used for war.”
“Vaeludar, don’t talk back to the kings that way,” said Geraldus.
“No, Geraldus, he’s right,” said the Dragon King. “There’s much wisdom in him, and we’re forcing him into something against his will. The Three Gods gave us freewill and we are taking it away from him. We aren’t his parents and they haven’t been around since they left him on your doorstep.”
“And it is my responsibility to take care of him under my roof,” said Geraldus. “I’ve raised him since he was a kid. He once walked a twenty mile distance from my village and had never been in the capital city. He had never seen the outside world. I’m not sure if he is ready to leave this village yet.”
“But I was ready to leave this village the day I killed the Minotaur, which had its eyes bent on the destruction of this village,” said Vaeludar. “It is time for me to see the outside world. But what people say is true: the return of a Shadow King? Supposed to be in those tales I’ve heard about. Then what am I to argue with people who lived a lot longer than I have.
“If no one will go to the north, I will go and fetch these armor artifacts. If Lusìvar is more powerful than I am and seeks to conquer the two islands, then I will go to the north and get myself that artifact, even if I have to go alone. And when I go, I am going of my own freewill and for future generations of life that don’t deserve to be enslaved.”
The adults were stunned by Vaeludar’s sudden change of mind. They couldn’t tell what was talking: a human or a Dragon. Marina looked happy for Vaeludar’s decision. Princess Stephanie took no comment in the matter, since she was still drenched in cold water.
“And there is one more thing before you depart on your mission, Vaeludar,” said King Uragiru.
“What is that, your Highness?” asked Vaeludar.
“You’re going to need some people to go with you on this quest, and I have the perfect people to go with you,” said King Uragiru.
SIX COMPANIONS
A
fter the little meeting, the Dragons flew away, and the humans and Vaeludar went into Geraldus’s house and close to the fireplace with a dimming fire lit. Before entering, King Uragiru ordered his guards to wait outside. Vaeludar, King Uragiru, and Geraldus stood by the fireplace to discuss of what was going to happen while Marina kept her distance from the males and sat down.
Before they did, Eliana was at the fireplace at the time and she saw Princess Stephanie wet. She had a thought Vaeludar was the one to get a princess wet. So Eliana led the princess away.
King Uragiru and Geraldus sat on two close wooden chairs. Vaeludar decided to stand on his own dragon feet. They was to seat for him to sit, due to his long tail that stretched long and a heavy weight Vaeludar felt in his legs.
“These companions you’ve mentioned,” said Vaeludar.
“The right people with the right talent with the right personalities should travel with you on your journey to the Northern Region,” said the king. “They’re the best of the right people a king can ask for. There is a troubling barrier in the mountain range bordering the Northern Region that destroys the power of flight but it seems Griffins can only fly. You’re going to be walking through the mountains bordering the known Regions and the unknown Northern Region.”
“Well, I have indestructible skin. I have other abilities the normal Dragons don’t have. I have wings that make me fly. I was planning on going alone. I guess people are welcome to join if they can keep up on the ground. ”
Marina and King Uragiru remained silent.
“What’s with the deranged looks? I gave a suggestion of how to travel.”
“Traveling alone to unknown lands is a dangerous idea,” said Geraldus, stroking the burning wood in the fireplace with a metal stick.
Then Princess Stephanie was running back downstairs, dressed in one of Eliana’s robes. She looked at Vaeludar angrily. This princess was about to unleash a fury of dragon fire at the human dragon hybrid, although Vaeludar had doubted dragon fire could harm him.
“You!” she said in a furious tone. “You ruined my dress! Do you know how it took for my maidens to make that dress?”
“Did you know how much of a poor fashion sense I have?” asked Vaeludar, showing her his half-human torso. “I am nearly naked, princess. My half human body is as bare as a wolf without fur. I don’t wear human clothes since dragon wings are permanently attached to my back and
