An Inconvenient Prophesy

It has been a general rule amongst us dragons to not meddle in the affairs of humans. If you come across a battlefield, walk away. You discover the dead and dying, leave them to their fate. It is what has kept us safe and what has allowed us to achieve some measure of peace. As long as a dragon isn’t foolish enough to take a deal protecting a tower or go idiotically terrorizing human villages, they aren’t likely to send knights to hunt us down.

I would have walked away from the child in the crate and its dead companion just like I had many times before if strange creatures had not appeared and immediately begun to attack me. Like living, shifting shadows, the creatures lunged at me. They were easy enough to banish with my claws and the heat of my flame, but still unlike anything I’d seen before.

As the last one dissipated, I shook out the tension in my scales. Glancing back to the child in the crate, I shifted my vision once again. The aura of prophesy I’d seen when I first walked up remained but to my dismay, it had spread to me as well.

Prophesies were finnicky things. Some were very specific about who would be involved and their fruition or failure was a one-time thing, up to those who were named. Others allowed for more ambiguity, attaching to one candidate, then another should the first perish. Still others were a mix of the two, and walking away from your part in it can lead to a gruesome fate.

It was impossible for me to tell which kind this was, having little experience with human magics. That being said, I did not wish to risk it. With a huff that brought about a soft giggle from the child, I gripped the edge of the crate in my teeth and made my way to the forest’s Elder Dragon. Surely they could help me rid myself of this nonsense.

“Fascinating.” The Elder Dragon crooned, dipping his head lower to see the child in the crate. His scales jingled like the crystals they resembled, grown clear and loose with age. He straightened and turned his gaze down at me. “You are right. The young human has a prophesy attached to it, though what prophesy I know not.”

I craned my head back to meet his ancient eyes. “So what now?”

“Have patience little one.” He replied, turning to the cave walls behind him, full of crystals and books that held knowledge from ages past.

I stomped my feet a bit at his ‘little one.’ True, I was small for a fully grown female Midvale Dragon, but I was an adult. I’d had my century celebration not even six months prior. Not that it had done much good so far.

“Hmm.” The Elder Dragon hummed, bringing me back to the moment. “It doesn’t seem to be a prophesy that was given or recorded by dragonkind.” He snapped a book closed, releasing a cloud of dust. “It must be of human creation.”

“What does that mean for me? Why has the aura attached to me?”

He chimed as he settled onto a ledge. His old joints seemed to be bothering him. “You must take the human young to a human. They may have the answer you seek.”

“What?” Leave Midvale? Intentionally venture into human territory? Was he crazy? “Isn’t that a bit risky?”

“Where’s your sense of adventure? You young dragons are so protected these days. When I passed my first century celebration, I flew all across the known world, venturing from one sea to the other, befriending many creatures along the way.”

“But… what if the humans attack me?”

“Then fight back.”

“But—”

“Enough!” he roared, his scales trembling with the force of his shout. I cowered back. The child whined. “There is likely no way to remove the prophesy’s hold on you. Take it to the humans and figure out what you must do. Have some courage to live a little. That’s also how we did it in my day. Now bring me that map.”

After showing me the location of a nearby human monastery, he gave me instructions on how to care for the child while I travelled and sent me on my way.

The journey wasn’t very long, even though the Elder Dragon advised me not to fly with the child. It would have been shorter if I hadn’t had to stop and care for the child every few hours. Change it. Feed it. Calm it down. Thankfully, the monastery was just on the other side of the forest so it was only after one day that I began to hear the chants on the breeze.

Human music was one of the few temptations that could drag a dragon out of hiding. Especially the deep, resonant tones of the monks. I’d heard stories of the tiny faerie dragons that would roost within church eaves just to listen to the songs.

We were still a good day and a half from the monastery, but my dragon’s hearing allowed me to enjoy it from a safe distance. The child began to hear it too, the next day, quieting and listening to words that apparently even most humans didn’t understand.

The dawn of the third day I stood with the crate at my feet, staring through the trees at the towering stone building. How was I going to approach the humans without them attacking me on sight? I’d been avoiding the roads so as not to run into any of them thus far, but I was quickly coming to when I would have to talk to one.

Could I scale the cliffs while carrying the crate? Maybe. It would be easier to fly up there. The Elder Dragon had told me not to fly with the child but it wouldn’t be for very long.

I sighed. In any case, I needed to get closer. Before I could stoop to pick up the crate, a shuffle nearby caught my attention. Focusing, I could find the sound of footsteps, much closer than I would have expected. Perhaps I’d been distracted, but as I continued to listen I could tell the footsteps were sure, near-silent. Whomever it was, they were used to walking through the forest.

As they neared, I stepped in front of the crate, the child looking to me for comfort, sensing my unease.

“Hush, Little One.”

“Please do not be alarmed.” A soft voice called out as a man emerged from the surrounding underbrush. He wore the plain robes of one of the monks, giving me a respectful bow as he stopped. “I sensed your coming, noble one. What you carry is very precious.”

I didn’t need to glance back at the child, sitting quietly in the crate behind me, to know what he meant.

“What is your purpose here, human?”

He gave a small smile. “I am simply here to guide you to the monastery.”

I shifted. “Why not just take the child?”

He shook his head. “I’m sure you are just as aware as I am that you’re connected to this prophesy now. There are things that you must know. Besides, I think she likes you.”

Finally, I glanced back as the child, girl, giggled. I was still a bit apprehensive, though. The monk must have noticed.

“I promise, no harm will come to either of you. Please, follow me.”

He led us through the forest to a large door in the side of the cliff. Before long, the rough cave walls changed to shaped stone and we made our way up a surprisingly grand staircase. We reached the top and exited into a sunlit courtyard.

I couldn’t help but marvel at the building around me. It smelt like it was older than me by quite a bit, maybe a remnant of the ancient wars, before we dragons hid ourselves. Repairs were evident here and there, efforts made to keep the building safe enough for humans to live in.

The monk led me to a sheltered alcove just next to the courtyard and bowed.

“Please, wait here. The master of our order will be here shortly.”

I set the crate down closer to the wall and cautiously sat before it. A few monks walked by as I waited, pausing to bow before moving on. Perhaps humans weren’t as crazy as I’d been taught. Before long, another man walked up, this one dressed in fine travelling clothes, an emblem shining on his chest. He looked me over with impatience.

“What took you so long?” the man asked, his hands on his hips. “It’s been three months since they told me a dragon would bring the prophesied child. I was beginning to think they’d lied to me about this whole thing.”

“Watch your tongue, human.” I responded.

“You can speak, huh? I didn’t expect that.” He folded his arms. “So then you can respond. What took you so long?”

His tone sent a shiver of anger through me and I felt my scales begin to rise with my tensing muscles. I fought to keep my growl from getting too loud. Maybe they were crazy.

“That is enough, Sir Jerron.” An older man appeared, the first monk and another human male flanking him. The rude man glared, but backed up a bit. The older man, bald with the lines of experience on his face, turned to me. The robe he wore was similar to the first monk, with a small emblem hanging from his belt I assumed marked him as a man of authority. “I apologize, noble one. Sir Jerron can be a bit forward.”

I let myself settle a little. “I will let it go for your civility.”

He bowed. “Thank you, you’re very kind. I am Jameson, master of this order. Welcome to our monastery.”

“So tell me, Master Jameson, what is this prophesy? It only just attached to me, but apparently you’ve been waiting for me?”

He nodded. “Yes. There are some things you should—”

The girl began whimpering with a cry I had begun to recognize as her being hungry. Master Jameson smiled. It was a kindly smile that reminded me of some of the older dragons, those with mountains of patience but firm discipline.

“I see. First, we should allow you two to rest a bit. If you’ll allow, noble one, Lukas shall take the girl and care for her while we discuss matters.”

I hesitated before stepping aside. The monk from before bowed once again and approached the child. A rare uneasiness fluttered through me as I watched him walk away with the girl, then returned my attention to the men before me.

Master Jameson continued. “I shall get to the point. There is an evil coming, one that threatens our entire world. That child is the center of a prophesy, one that we must fulfill or else perish.”

“When you say ‘we,’ you mean…?”

“All who live. Humans, dragons, and any other beings you can think of. All life will be destroyed.” He must have had incredible senses, because he seemed to notice my internal grimace. “I am sorry, noble one, but you are already a part of this prophesy. We need you just as much as the others.”

I glanced up and noticed a group of figures watching from the courtyard. It looked like several noble houses were represented, wearing different crests. Whether or not all were from the same country, I couldn’t tell. Something of this magnitude had to have been known to that Elder Dragon. He’d set me up.

I would have to deal with that later.

The men before me were still waiting for me to respond. I sighed. “Are you certain of this?”

He nodded. “I’m afraid so. The dragons will not be immune to this calamity. In fact, a dragon was specifically mentioned in the prophecy.”

Obviously. “What must be done?”

“The child holds the power we need. She must be taken to an alter in the Northern mountains, where the power can be released and destroy the evil.”

“An altar? Are we to sacrifice the child?” Seems rather heartless, even for humans.

“It is unclear how the power will be released. I don’t think sacrifice will be necessary, but there should be instructions at the altar itself. They’ll be in an ancient script, but I will send one with you that can decipher them.”

I sat in silence for a moment, letting the taste of their anticipation roll on my tongue. “The Northern mountains lie beyond the Great Valley. That is not a quick journey.”

He gave a knowing smile. “So you agree to go?”

“It would seem I have little choice.”

“Thank you, noble one.” He bowed. “Please, rest. You shall all set out at first light.”

With that, all left me alone in the alcove. I laid down, but did not rest, listening to everything in the monastery. The chanting of the monks created a background for the noise of men and women settling in for the night. I managed to pick out the sounds of the child, sleeping happily somewhere not too far away.

Footsteps stopped before me and I looked down to see the other man that had been with Master Jameson earlier. His hair was a mess and his simple trousers and shirt were covered in a fine layer of dust. It lightened his hair so much it nearly matched his amber eyes. He wasn’t a monk, but he wandered as if he knew the monastery well. A tray weighed him down as he gave me a deep bow.

“Pardon the intrusion. I bring you some roasted meat.” He paused, his eyebrows scrunching together. “Is this… is this an acceptable meal?”

A grumble of a laugh rolled in my throat. “It’ll do.”

He set the tray on the floor before me. I thought he would walk away, but instead he remained.

“There is a question in your eyes.” I said, looking over the tray before me. They’d roasted a whole pig. Something like this must have taken all day to prepare. They really had been expecting me.

“Do you have a name we can call you? I mean, if you prefer ‘noble one’ we can continue, but since we’ll be travelling together, I thought I’d ask.”

“You’ll be coming as well?” I asked. The pig smelled surprisingly good. I was having a difficult time keeping myself from devouring it in front of this man. “Are you the one deciphering the altar?”

He shuffled his feet, scratching the back of his head. “Ah, no. I mean, I can read some of the ancient script, but I’m just coming along as a helper.”

I adjusted my arms before me. “Very well, human. Tell me your name and I shall tell you mine.” There was power in names, but the ability to use that power had long since vanished from our world, so I saw no harm in it.

A bright grin grew on his face. “I am Mathis. Stableboy and listless dreamer, at least that’s what the monks say.”

So he’d been taken in. Interesting. “Well, Mathis, I am called…” I watched his face gloss over as I gave my name in dragon tongue. I gave him time to process it while I began picking over the meat. It tasted as good as it smelled. He finally got ahold of his thoughts and shifted.

“I… don’t think I can pronounce that.”

“Likely not.” Finish the pig first, then you can lick your claws when Mathis leaves.

“I was expecting something else, like Grag the Terrible or Sho the Great.”

I recognized those names. They were from long ago stories of knights battling dragons they believed to be of great evil. From what I’d heard, they may have been, or they may have been total idiots, making a bad name for the rest of us. “Those names were given by humans and are not very flattering.”

We sat in silence for a moment and I decided to give up on being as polite with my eating, picking the bones clean. I finally gave in to lick my claws by the time he spoke again.

“Is there a name you would like us to call you? One we can speak with our human tongues?”

I chuckled. “I do not know your language well. Why don’t you pick one out and we’ll see if I like it?”

The comment was meant to fluster him, make him nervous that I might get angry, but instead he crossed his legs and sat before me, thinking. A glance up. A head shake. Another glance. Narrowed eyes. Tilted head in consideration.

“What about Azure?”

It sounded simple enough. “Does it mean something?”

He bit his lip with uncertainty. “It’s a color. The color I would describe your scales, to be exact.”

Short and to the point. Simple enough even the humans will remember it. “Azure it is then.”

The bright grin returned and he popped up like a gopher checking outside its hole. A parting bow. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Azure. I look forward to travelling with you.”

I gave him a small bow and he left.

Once the sun lit the sky, I met the rest of our companions. For a questing company, it seemed rather large. Sir Jerron from the day before, a scholar from the monastery, three other men, two women, and at least two support staff for each group, including Mathis. Add to that the supply donkeys, the child, and a woman to care for her, it was just short of a parade.

Master Jameson came before me as the others were finishing final preparations for travel.

“Noble one, I have one final gift for you.” He held up an amulet, a white gem wrapped in a rough wire housing. It shimmered with magic to my eyes, some ancient spell that clung stubbornly to the minerals within.

“I have little need for jewelry.” I wasn’t like those fools that had been enamored by human trinkets.

He smiled. “I’m sure. But this is more than just a pretty stone. This amulet is left over from when dragons and warriors both inhabited this monastery. When worn and invoked, it will allow you to take human form.”

“Human form?” I didn’t even try to disguise the disgust in my voice.

“I understand your distaste, my lady, but you may have to travel through a lot of human territory. A dragon will draw a lot of attention and it is imperative that the evil we work against does not know the true purpose of this company.” He handed it to Mathis. “We cannot force you to wear it, but if you decide it’s best, Mathis will carry it for you. Please, consider it.”

I gave the smallest nod, an acknowledgment, not a promise.

“All right,” Sir Jerron shouted as if a whole flock of birds were singing. “let’s go.”

And so we set off, following a prophesy tied to a child.