Ellis wondered for a moment whether he was dead or not. He still felt Mary holding him, her heart pounding nearly as fast as his own. Somehow, he found the courage to open his eyes.

  Unfortunately, he was not dead.

  Stopped only a few feet from them was the dreadful visage of the dragon’s head— ink black with a piercing blood-red stare.

  “How devious…”

  The dragon slowly drew himself away from them both, stuck out its chest and flared its wings in a magnificent display of size and power.

  “What new, accursed thing have you wrought upon me?”

  Ellis’ mind was swimming with questions, but they quickly gave way to impulse. He grabbed Mary as firmly as he could and pulled her further up the bridge. They managed to reach the cusp of the forest glade when Ellis looked over his shoulder.

  The dragon had not moved; its tail lashed violently in the air and its gaze was murderous.

  “Ellis!? What are you doing!? Let’s go!”

  Ellis studied the dragon despite Mary’s protest. The predatory playfulness of before had all but evaporated. Now, the dragon stood before them with an aura of something else entirely.

  Caution.

  Mary turned to run toward the forest but Ellis grabbed her arm.

  “Ellis, stop playing around! We have to go—”

  “Something is in the forest, Mary.”

  The tone in his voice scared her; but not as much as the implication of his words. She saw it now; the dragon would come no closer to them — no closer to the forest.

  Suddenly, the dragon narrowed its gaze and snorted fiercely. In the distance, a flock of birds lifted from the canopy and flew away into the sky.

  Whatever it was, it would be upon them soon.

  Mary and Ellis frantically eyed one another; no matter how they looked at it, they were trapped. In front of them, placid, obsidian death stood vigilant with promise of a grim holocaust. And behind them? Something so formidable that even this creature of legend was fervid with anticipation. Mary turned her ear toward the wood, trying desperately to listen for any sound of the coming threat. Ellis too, tried in his own way: listening first with his physical senses, then opting instead for something more subtle.

  They heard the movement of massive limbs sliding over fallen stone. Then, a low growling moved over them as the dragon lowered itself in preparation.

  Ellis tried his damnedest, but he could sense nothing— feel nothing. Nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing strange or familiar… except—!

  A rustling of the underbrush sounded from deep within the forest glade. Whatever it was had made it through the narrow mountain pass and was approaching just beyond view.

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  A crack echoed through the valley as the dragon’s tail whipped against the canyon wall, sending broken rock tumbling into the abyss. A sinister hiss left its mouth; a forked tongue flicked the air and steam began to rise from its flaring nostrils.

  Ellis and Mary could hear now the clear and unmistakable footfall of boots against the earth. Ellis then felt a weight so heavy leave his chest that he nearly collapsed from relief. For he knew now what he had sensed and he felt foolish that he had not realized it sooner. Ellis wrapped his arm around Mary’s shoulder and squeezed her gently.

  “It’s alright, Mary.”

  They watched as a man appeared from within the gloomy embrace of the forest glade; an abnormally tall man with pointy ears and a sword on his back.

  “Telhari!”

  Both shouted his name so excitedly it took them a moment to remember the situation they were in. He gave them both a small smile, but he was unmistakably preoccupied.

  “You two, please head back toward the mountain pass.”

  Telhari walked calmly passed them both and further down the bridge toward the dragon. For but a moment, the dragon’s back legs flinched and it seemed to recoil. Then, as if angered by its own actions, it let out a shattering roar and dug its claws into the mountain side. The roar faded into a low growling that continued on as the dragon stood off against Telhari.

  “Please go,” he told them, more sternly this time. “Now.”

  Ellis and Mary nearly tripped over themselves as they ran the rest of the way up the incline. Together they made for a nearby tree and leaned heavy against its ancient bark. However, realizing that Telhari was not following behind them, they resigned quietly to observe from a distance.

  Telhari had never before felt such an immense presence from a foe. He was painfully conscious of Mary and Ellis behind him, and though he did not show it, he was grateful more than anything that he had arrived when he did. Masked by the aura of this place, even he could not tell exactly who or what lay beyond that mountain pass. It concerned him greatly, but he had no time to ponder over such things. If such a beast had arrived in Omnirius, then it was of the utmost importance that he find a way to end things as peacefully as possible. Telhari brought one leg forward and bowed slightly toward the dragon.

  “Hhaz Ka’Shyl, Darazak.”

  A piercing cry left the the dragon’s throat and it reared back with tortuous joy.

  “What a pleasing surprise, indeed!” The dragon then relaxed and lowered its head toward Telhari in turn.“You are versed in our sacred speech, mysterious one. Though I must confess, I know not what manner of creature you are, and therefore, I cannot return your kindness.”

  Both Telhari and the dragon lifted themselves to full height and eyed each other wearily.

  “I will not ask again, mysterious one...” the dragon growled, “What are you?” It then moved itself lower toward the ground; there was a tension building in its body once again.

  Telhari saw this but held his ground. He looked calmly into the dragon’s murderous eyes and spoke plainly.

  “Vlag’Zestaiyr.”

  The dragon’s eyes became wide, and in a movement of fury it thrashed and rended once more the canyon walls, crushing boulders in its mighty grip.

  “You lie!” the dragon hissed.

  Telhari said nothing. His calmness infuriated the dragon unendingly, but after a few more moments of observation the truth became apparent.

  “Though perhaps you speak truth, after all.”

  “Are you so shocked? Your kind have persisted since the Old Age. Surely you did not think you were the only ones capable of such a feat?”

  “Indeed not. Forgive me, Thrice-born. I have feasted on the flesh of many who bear your resemblance, but never before have I encountered one with your such presence…nor any that have bore such a blade as that which sings at your back.”

  The dragon tilted its head curiously as it looked over Telhari more deeply than before; studying every bit of him, even on levels incapable and unimaginable by the human mind. Satisfied, the dragon turned himself away from Telhari and moved like a billowing wave down the incline and back toward the ruins. Telhari took this invitation and slowly walked down the stone bridge.