Continuing the escort after that ridiculous meal, I could feel the tension in the air thickening with each passing moment. The group we were escorting the Duke, Duchess, and their entourage were as unbearable as ever.
Their endless complaints echoed through the forest path, grating on my last nerve. It was like they had nothing better to do than whine about every little thing.
"This path is so uneven! Why can't we take a smoother road?" the Duchess whined, her shrill voice slicing through the air like a blade.
"Do you have any idea how much dirt is getting on my boots?" the Duke added, his tone dripping with indignation. "These are imported from the finest leatherworkers in the kingdom, and this mud is ruining them!"
I clenched my fists, feeling my patience wearing thin. They hadn't stopped complaining since we'd left the damn restaurant. It was as if they were allergic to anything less than absolute luxury.
"Is it too much to ask for a proper escort?" one of the ladies-in-waiting muttered under her breath. "This is hardly the protection we were promised."
I shot her a glare that could have melted steel. "You want proper protection? Then stop fucking whining and let me do my job."
She paled, quickly averting her eyes. But the Duke, oblivious as ever, continued his tirade. "This whole journey has been a disaster! If we don't find proper accommodations soon, I'm afraid we'll simply have to turn back."
"Turn back?" I barked, my voice edged with fury. "We're halfway through the damned forest! You think we're just gonna turn around because you're afraid of a little dirt?"
Before anyone could respond, a low rumble reverberated through the air, causing the ground beneath us to tremble. The horses whinnied in fear, and the entourage froze in place, eyes wide with panic.
"What was that?" Cassandra asked, her hand instinctively moving to the hilt of her sword.
I knew exactly what it was. I could feel the heat radiating from the source of the sound, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. My instincts kicked in, and I immediately took a defensive stance, eyes scanning the treetops.
"Everyone, get behind me," I ordered, my voice leaving no room for argument. The entourage scrambled to obey, their fear palpable.
Then, with a deafening roar, it appeared.
The dragon was massive, its scales gleaming like polished obsidian in the sunlight. It descended from the sky with a grace that belied its size, its enormous wings beating the air with thunderous force.
The beast's eyes, glowing a menacing shade of yellow, locked onto us with predatory intent. Its maw opened, revealing rows of jagged teeth, and a plume of smoke billowed from its nostrils.
"By the gods," the Duke stammered, his face turning as white as a sheet. "We're doomed!"
I almost laughed at the irony. "Doomed? Maybe. But not before I get my hands dirty."
The dragon let out another ear-splitting roar before lunging toward the group, its massive claws outstretched.
The Duke and Duchess screamed, cowering behind me, as if I were a mere shield against the force of nature descending upon us.
But I didn't move. I let it come.
Just as the dragon was about to strike, I unleashed a torrent of purple flames from my hands, the magic crackling with intensity.
The flames collided with the dragon's attack, forcing the beast to veer off course with a growl of frustration. It landed a few yards away, scorching the earth beneath its claws.
The dragon's tail lashed out, smashing through trees and sending splinters flying in every direction. It was a spectacle of raw power, but I wasn't intimidated. My blood was pumping, adrenaline surging through my veins as I readied myself for the battle.
"Stay back!" I shouted to the entourage, though I didn't really give a damn if they listened. "This is going to get messy."
Cassandra, ever the eager helper, stepped forward, sword drawn. "I'll help!"
I spared her a glance. "Don't get in my way."
She hesitated for a moment, but nodded. She positioned herself to the side, ready to assist, but I could see the fear in her eyes. She was strong, sure, but she wasn't prepared for this.
The dragon launched itself at me again, its maw wide open, ready to tear me apart. I dodged to the side, barely avoiding the swipe of its claws. My feet moved instinctively, each step calculated to avoid the beast's deadly attacks.
The dragon snapped its jaws at me, but I was faster, rolling beneath its body and coming up behind it.
"Let's see how you like this," I snarled, summoning another blast of purple fire. The flames shot from my hands, spiraling toward the dragon with searing heat. The dragon roared in pain as the fire struck its back, scorching its scales.
But the beast wasn't done yet. It whipped around, its tail coming at me like a battering ram. I barely had time to brace myself before the impact sent me flying into a tree. Pain shot through my body, but I gritted my teeth and pushed myself back to my feet.
"Is that all you've got?" I spat, wiping the blood from my mouth. "Come on, you overgrown lizard!"
The dragon responded with another roar, this one more furious than the last. It lunged at me again, its claws tearing through the air. I met its attack head-on, my sword clashing with its scales in a shower of sparks.
The force of the blow reverberated through my arms, but I didn't back down. I pushed against the beast with everything I had, my magic flaring as I struck.
"Cassandra, now!" I shouted, hoping she could at least distract the damn thing.
Cassandra nodded and charged at the dragon's flank, slashing at its hind legs. The dragon roared in pain, momentarily distracted by her attacks. It was the opening I needed.
I summoned a massive surge of purple fire, the flames twisting and spiraling into a concentrated beam. With a roar of my own, I unleashed the full force of my magic on the dragon, the beam of fire striking it square in the chest.
The impact was so intense that it knocked the beast off its feet, sending it crashing to the ground with a thunderous boom.
The dragon writhed in agony, its scales blackened and charred from the fire. I didn't let up, pouring more magic into the attack until the flames consumed the beast entirely. Its roars grew weaker and weaker until, finally, they ceased altogether.
The dragon lay motionless, its body smoking from the intensity of the flames.
I stood over the dragon's lifeless body, panting heavily as the adrenaline began to wear off. My hands were still crackling with purple energy, but I could feel my strength waning. I had poured everything I had into that fight, and it had paid off.
Cassandra approached cautiously, her sword still at the ready. "Is… is it dead?"
I glanced at her, my expression hard. "If it wasn't, you'd already be dead."
She flinched at my tone but said nothing. Smart girl.
I turned back to the entourage, who were still cowering behind a tree. The Duke's face was as pale as a ghost, and the Duchess looked like she was about to faint.
"Now," I said, my voice dripping with menace as I wiped the soot from my face. "Shut the fuck up for the rest of the journey, or I might just let the next dragon finish what this one started."
The Duke and Duchess stared at me, their faces a mixture of fear and disbelief. The Duke's eyes were wide, his mouth slightly open as if he wanted to say something but couldn't find the words.
And they weren't wrong.
I smirked, wiping the last remnants of soot from my hands. "What? Cat got your tongue?" I asked, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
The Duke swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing nervously. "N-no, Lady Ciara. We—uh, we just… didn't expect—"
"To see a dragon? Or to see me handle one like that?" I interrupted, raising an eyebrow. "Either way, now you know what I'm capable of. So maybe, just maybe, you'll think twice before complaining about every little thing, huh?"
The Duke nodded frantically, his hand trembling as he reached up to straighten his disheveled collar. The Duchess couldn't even manage a nod, her eyes still glued to the smoldering corpse of the dragon.
I chuckled, low and dangerous, as I turned away from them and started walking. "Come on," I called over my shoulder. "We've got a destination to reach, and I'd rather not waste any more time."
The group hurried to follow, their footsteps quick and quiet behind me. No one dared utter a single complaint as we continued our journey. The only sounds were the rustling of leaves and the occasional crack of a twig underfoot.
The once-constant chatter and whining had died down to complete silence, the fear of what they'd just witnessed keeping them in line.
Every now and then, I caught one of them glancing at me, their expressions wary, like they were afraid I'd turn on them next. It was almost amusing, watching them try to stay as far from me as possible while still keeping up.
I kept my smirk hidden as we walked, savoring the peace and quiet. Maybe now they'd finally shut up and let me do my job without any more interruptions.
It wasn't long before we reached our destination, a grand manor rising up before us in the distance. The Duke and Duchess let out sighs of relief, clearly glad to be nearing the end of their perilous journey.
I paused at the edge of the forest, letting them pass me by. "Welcome home," I muttered under my breath, watching as they hurried toward the safety of their estate.
We had arrived. And damn, it felt good.