Conall's Dragons

Prolouge

The Message

"Sir. May I ask once more." says Kyrak frustratedly, "Please let my daughter take the test again. You know she is an amazing flier, Anna would be a fantastic addition to the scouts! She graduated at the top of her class." "Kyrak I already told you the last 50 times you came, a student can only take the test once. Also, if I could do anything I would. But, everyone else thinks it is a blessing that she didn't get a dragon." Ragnor looks at Kyrak and realizes he had said the wrong thing. Kyrak's expression turns cold and he says, "Does this have anything to do with Lily." Ragnor's face flushes pale and he shifts awkwardly in his chair. Kyraks coldness turns into anger and he says louder "Does this have anything to do with Li-" Kyrak is half way out of his chair when a knock sounds from the door. Kyrak slowly sits back down, rage still burning. Ragnor wipes the sweat from his forehead and stands. "Yes? Who is it?" "It is Claud, I am a bird keeper from the west wing. A message arrived for you this morning. It has the seal of the Hodge fortress." Kyrak is snapped out of his rage and looks at Ragnor, surprised. He says, "We aren't supposed to get a message from the Hodge fortress until the full moon, which is in 5 days." Ragnor nods nervously. "Ok, come in." Claud comes in the door and shuts it carefully behind him. He puts a medium sized wrought iron cage on Ragnor's desk and hands him a little slip of paper. Ragnor takes the note but can't take his eyes off the bird inside the cage. It's feathers are charred and it is taking shallow breaths. Kyrak stands up and says to Claud, "What happened to it?" The man shuffles his feet and stammers, "I- I-" Ragnor suddenly says sternly, "OUT with it!" Claud jumps and says nervously, "I don't know. But- I think you should read the note." Ragnor seems to remember the note and reads it. A look of pure terror spreads across his face and he starts to shake. He collapses into his chair and tosses the note numbly onto the desk. Kyrak picks it up, looking worried. He reads:

Hodge fortress has fallen. Do not come to our aid. WARN CONNAL. Ignis is not dead!

Ioco Arminel

Kyrak goes pale and looks at the messenger concretely. He says, "Has anyone else read this except for you?" Claud shakes his head and Kyrak says, "Don't tell ANYONE about this. And that is an order. Also, send a message to all the other fortresses and to the castle. Tell them to meet us at Hodge in 10 moons from now." Claud says, "Yes sir." and turns to the door but stops and asks, "Do you want me to take the bird?" Ragnor nods and says, "Yes, please do.". Claud grabs the cage and leaves the room. Kyrak sits and says to Ragnor, "Do you want me to take the scouts out to meet them?" Ragnor turns to him and says, "No. I will. I am the leader of this fortress. They will expect me to be there." Kyrak nods and says, "When are you going to leave?" Ragnor taps his foot thoughtfully and says, "Well it takes about 3 days to get there. So in about 5 days." "Do you want me to come with you?" Ragnor scratches the stubble on his chin and says, "No, I need you to stay here and watch over the fort." Kyrak nods and goes to the door. He is about to open it when Ragnor says, "Wait. Kyrak, if this is really what it says it is," he takes a deep breath and says, "we will need all the help we can get. So, I can't guarantee she will have her own dragon, but Anna can be an apprentice to Dyna." Kyrak smiles and says, "Thank you, Ragnor." The door closes behind him with a thud.

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On the other side of the spike range a smoldering mass of molten rock and lava, are all that remain of Hodge. A tall man in a black cloak skips around debris. A sudden shout echoes through the air. A pale smile shines from under the man's cloak and he lifts his hand up to his lips and whistles shrilly. The man stops a second and whistles again. At the edge of the nearby forest, a flaming dragon suddenly emerges from the trees. The flaming reptile is holding a man in his claws. The dragon walks forward and drops the man at his feet. He wiggles and tries to move away from the dragon but then sees the other man and stops. Perspiration appears on his forehead and he tries to stand but the dragon gives him a deep growl. He freezes and his eyes dart from the man to the dragon frantically. His foot is crushed and is bleeding heavily, and handsome blond hair is riddled with bits of stone. The cloaked man kneels down and flips his hood up to reveal his face. A single beetle black eye shines from under a sheen of greasy blood red hair. He tilts his head and says, "What's your name?" The man stutters out, "N-nicholas." The cloaked man smiles and says, "Perfect." He suddenly pulls out a short knife from under his cloak and swings on top of the man, pinning him to the ground. He holds the knife up to his throat and whispers in his ear, "Where is the Chara stone?" Sweat starts to roll down his face and Nickolas says, "Who- Are- You?" The man chuckles and whispers, "I thought you would have guessed by now. I saw your father kill my father. So, You can call me Ignis." The last word rings through the silent air and Nick freezes, his fear beyond words. "Now," Ignis holds the knife closer to Nick's throat and he flinches as a single drop of blood rolls down is neck. "Tell me where the Chara stone is." Nick seems to regain his bravery and he says, "I-I don't know. And I wouldn't tell you if I did. I won't die a traitor, I will die a hero! Like my father!!!" As he shouts the last words, he swings his left arm around to hit Ignis in the temple. With lightning speed, Ignis, without removing the knife from Nick's throat, catches his wrist. His eyes flash evilly and he snaps Nicks wrist. Nickolas screams and his arm goes limp. It flops to the ground, useless. Nick smiles and says through gritted teeth, "You should always check-," he fights to stay conscious as he says, "a person for a weapon!" He swings around his right arm, takes a knife out of his belt and aims for Ignis's temple again. Ignis, surprised, drops the knife at his throat to block the other hand. Nick then knees his underbelly and makes him fly off of him. Ignis doubles over and swears under his breath. Nick struggles to his feet, wobbles a bit and points his knife at Ignis, "Why do you want the Chara stone?" Ignis smiles and starts to laugh uproariously. He suddenly cuts off and stares at Nick. He whips out a red stone from under his cloak and mutters something under his breath. Nick freezes and a faint haze of red surrounds him. Beads of sweat roll down his face and get into his eyes. Ignis walks over to him and rolls the stone between his fingers. He comes up to him and says, "I like your fire, and frankly," he picks the knife off of the ground and whips it off, "you are too important to kill so I have a much worse fate for you." He smiles evilly and he swiftly cuts his thumb. Blood starts to pour out of the wound and he swaths a single stripe on Nick's forehead. He steps back, whispers another few words into the stone and the mist around Nick dissipates. He falls to the ground and his eyes roll into the back of his head. As he lays on the ground a terrifying change occurs. His body morphs and his limbs bulge, healing at an exponential rate. His hair, like ink on a canvas, turns blood red. Nick stands up and stares at Ignis with unblinking black beetle eyes. Ignis looks at him with a glint of insanity in his eyes when he says, "Now. Where is the Chara stone." Nick says, "I don't know, Lord Ignis." Ignis's face turns cold and he says, "Figures. Firi," He turns to the dragon and says, "Kill him." The dragon snorts out a burst of flame and walks over Nick. Ignis walks away but suddenly stops mid step. "Wait." The dragon stops and looks back and forth from Nick to Ignis impatiently. "Make him suffer... but do not kill him.  Make it so he can tell them what he has seen. Once you are done, go look for others, it must be here somewhere." Firi nods and lumbers over to Nick. Ignis turns his back and starts skipping through the molten rock and stone like nothing had happened. A snarl reverberates through the rubble and blood splatters the ground making an ominous hiss as it touches the hot ground. No scream echos the terrible sight. Ignis smiles and thinks, This world will get what it deserves.