A massive shadow enveloped the camp and came and went quickly in the light of the setting sun. The roar sounded, reverberating through the space sounding ever so nearer. Immediately, all the goblins dropped their logs and weapons on the ground, fleeing in every direction. A line of green fire blasted in a line from the sky igniting trees and dry bushes in its path leaving a devastating trail of flame in its wake.
One of the trees next to Jex and Ray had been set aflame. Ray yelped loudly, leaping into Jex's arms. He held her close for a moment before threading his fingers with hers and ran the opposite way toward their guide in the middle of the camp. Jex kept his gaze on the sky as the massive shadow reappeared, getting closer to the ground. He feared for Nimer and watched the creature overhead take a nosedive toward the camp.
"Nimer! Watch out!" He yelled trying to alert the man, his voice drowned out by the squeaky screams of the goblins.
Nimer ignored the chaos and dove toward the spot where their weapons had clattered onto the ground, just in time to grab them before they tumbled into the fire. They didn't reach Nimer in time before a massive creature dropped from the sky, landing in front of him. He rolled on the ground pulling his coat over the weapons as he held them close to his chest.
Both Jex and Ray fell back, landing on their rears. Jex looked up in reverence. What stood before them was a prodigious creature with large spines protruding down its spine and down to the tip of its long tail. Green scales covered its body and glittered in the light of the bonfire. It had huge, webbed leathery wings that arched above its curled, cat-like posture and extended more than thirty feet in the air as it landed on its hind legs.
The creature folded its wings and leaned forward on them, using them like massive legs. Its snake-like head thrashed back and forth and it stared right into Jex's eyes with deep, glowing green orbs. It opened its mouth flashing a long row of knife-like teeth and a forked forest green tongue curled from its jowls. With a heavy huff, smoke streamed from its flared nostrils and it let out a guttural roar.
Jex remained still, Ray clinging to him like a parasite. He could feel her tremors. Ray clawed her fingers into the fabric of his shirt even tighter and he placed a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to calm her. In the dim light, Jex could see a small red gem embedded on the creature's forehead.
"It has a gem on its head," he barely uttered.
"Don't you dare, Jex. That thing will kill you," Ray requested quietly.
Jex squeezed her hand and made careful movements as he slowly rolled onto his feet and stood. He let go of Ray's hand, leaving her on the ground. She looked up at him, fear manifesting in her eyes.
"Jex, where are you going?!" She whispered harshly, groping for the end of his olive cloak.
He didn't answer and waved a hand out toward her, motioning for her to stay still. Jex made note of Nimer on the other side of the dragon-like beast. The guide stared at him, shaking his head, warning him not to proceed any further. Jex brought his finger to his lips, a mischievous smile growing behind it.
He prowled low to the ground, walking slowly heel to toe. Jex slowly raised his hand out toward the creature. "Easy," he muttered, his voice calm and smooth like velvet. He kept steady eye contact with the beast, only looking away when he could hear the loud thundering growl gurgling from its throat.
"I mean no harm," Jex spoke again. He tried not to flinch when the creature opened its jaws wide and roared. His main goal was to show no fear toward the creature and maybe he'd earn respect from them.
Strangely enough, his efforts seemed to work. The dragon took a few steps backward as Jex approached with his right hand out and palm toward it. Tilting its head side to side and letting out a low purr of curiosity as it watched the bold farm boy. Both Ray and Nimer stared at him dumbfounded, not believing what they were seeing.
"Are you a friend?" Jex asked, standing merely a few feet from the beast. "If you are, you won't hurt me."
The savage monster arched its neck, his slited nostrils wiggling while taking in the boy's scent. It moved its head forward hesitantly, slowly resting the tip of its nose in Jex's arched palm. He could feel the smooth, rough scales brush against his skin as victory met the young man's eyes.
"You're friendly then?" Jex confirmed, straightening up and lightly grazing his fingers over the creature's light green scales.
The creature nodded its massive head slowly in response.
"It can understand me," Jex whispered, a small spark of triumph meeting his eyes.
A deep growl rumbled while a rough, male voice from the creature, echoing in Jex's mind. "Your soul, It is strong like an ox, swift like a falcon's wings, kind like a loving father, and curious like a child. I know who you are."
"I am Jexel Rosesmith," Jex said with a grin.
"No, you are not," the dragon answered.
Jex tilted his head. "Who am I then? I've never been anyone else."
"You are Drakhorion Flamebane, the whisperer of dragons, tamer of the realms, and the Dragon King himself. Your soul tells me your true potential."
Jex laughed a little uneasy. "You flatter me."
"Take it as a compliment," the beast returned, slowly blinking its four lids, moistening its green eyes. "What do you seek?"
Jex stared into the beast's intense eyes. The longer he looked, the more he felt a connection to the beast. "I seek to find the Kingdom of Zaniah," he stammered.
The dragon raised its head staring down at Jex. "I recognize your soul and what you seek. You have not been tempted by Ravathor."
"So you know about the kingdom?" Jex asked, his eyes widening in surprise.
"More know of the kingdom than you realize, my king," the creature answered. "You will reign and bring great power to the kingdom when you awaken."
Jex's eyebrows knitted together and his face reflected confusion. "I was only seeking adventure. I promised my father I'd get out of the house. But to rule a kingdom, that is a lot to ask of a mere farm boy."
The creature roared, laughing at Jex. A toothy grin relished the creature's face, showing off its jagged set of sharp teeth. "You have wit. You will get what you seek to bring power back to the Kingdom of Zaniah."
The high pitched sound of rock shattering resounded through the area. Jex took a few steps back as the red gem in the middle of the monster's forehead glowed brightly. He shielded his eyes from the bright light but lowered his hands away from his face after seeing the gemstone hovering over its head.
"You're giving me your shard?" Jex asked.
"Yes. I have kept it safe all these years in search of you. It is time I pass it on so you may return glory to our kingdom," the creature answered. The stone slowly drifted downward and settled in Jex's cupped hands. The size of the shard appeared much larger than the others, about the size of a river stone. "The time of souls has come again. Find the key, Drakhorion.."
"I will," Jex said with a smile.
The beast stretched its large wings into the air and with a mighty push toward the ground lept upward into the sky, taking off and vanishing with the last light of the sun.
Jex admired the gemstone, its rough edges twinkling from the large flames of the bonfire still lit next to him. He turned around with a smile to address Ray, holding up his prize next to him. He opened his mouth to speak when Ray grabbed his shirt with two hands and forcibly shook him.
"Are you crazy?!" she yelled in his face. He could feel the heat of her breath.
"No, why?" he asked innocently.
"You literally tamed and talked to a dragon!" she yelled, tears springing to her eyes.
"What were you thinking, getting close to a monster that could eat you in one bite?! If you had been attacked…" Her words trailed off and her hands loosened. She could feel her heart palpitating in her chest and her breath get snagged in her throat. She bit her quivering lip then buried her hands in her palms and began to sob.
Jex was at a loss for words. A twinge of guilt overcame him and he looked down at the stone. He began to question whether the stone was worth his own life or not. Pocketing it, he wrapped his arms around Ray, drawing her close to him. "I'm alive, that's what matters," he said quietly, stroking her hair.
"I'm not going to lose you, not again," Ray said stubbornly, muffled by his embrace.
"I'll be frank. That wasn't a smart move on your part," Nimer said, butting in and handing them back their weapons. He sheathed his own two swords at his sides. He then pulled one of the cemented torches off its makeshift mount from the wooden wall and held it up.
"If that dragon hadn't been an awakened soul, you would have been killed. But it proved its worth in the end. You are who I thought you were." Nimer took a knee and bowed with his head hung low. "Welcome soul of King Drakhorion Flamebane. It is a pleasure to be your guide."