From his vantage point atop the dragon, Aragon could see the panicked faces of Osalde's soldiers in the courtyard below. Some raised their weapons defiantly, while others simply stood frozen in terror.
With a nod from Aragon, Eliviraa unleashed another stream of fire into their ranks.
The courtyard became an inferno, the screams of the dying mixing with the roar of the flames.
Those who survived the initial blast fled in terror, any thought of defending their lord's home forgotten in the face of such overwhelming power.
As the flames spread to the manor itself, the front doors burst open.
Osalde's son, Richbane, emerged, leading a group of terrified family members. His eyes widened in disbelief as he took in the scene before him: the dragon perched atop his home, and Aragon seated upon its back like some conquering god of old.
