A Sad Story

" Growing up, I never had real parents. Whether they died, or just didn't feel like raising me, I don't know. I lived on the streets of Yoten for a few years, before the nightstalkers took me in. Maria was the one who found me. She saw potential in my, at least that is what she said. She trained me, taught me everything I knew. Half a year ago I finally got guilded. The night after the ceremony Maria came to me and asked me to steal a magical artifact called the 'heart-blood-dagger".

As Skarra spoke, she tugged on the straps of her top and revealed her back. Black and red markings were etched into her skin between her shoulders, forming a heart. The lines were jagged, with some branches growing across and along her back, seemingly spreading.

"It's a weapon that binds itself to the soul of the first person touching it, in this case me, and can kill even dragons with a single strike. Only problem is, it takes the bound soul in return. This way Maria has one use of the weapon, without dying in return. After I handed it over to her, she vanished. It the wife of the guildmaster weren't a truth-dreamer, she would have gotten away with it. Maria was like a mother to me. She raised me just to use me and then leave me behind to take the fall for her."

As Skarra ended her retelling, she lowered her head, like she wanted to hide her eyes. She was trembling. In the short time we had been together, I had never seen her like this. She looked ... lost.

The dragon stared at aus for a while, then the woman began to speak with her layered voice again.

"So the woman has not only stolen from us, but from your guild and yourself as well. Yet there might be time to recover what was stolen. Child, how do you propose we go about reclaiming what is ours?"

It took a moment before Skarra answered. As she spoke again her voice was almost as calm as usual.

"Maria might be a grand-master of the nightstalkers, but she is still bound to Leanias Oath that prevents her from killing other humanoids, so killing her in a direct confrontation should be a piece of cake, especially for me."

"Given that the Oath is still in effect", Venosa said.

Lopus stood up again, spreading his arms like he wanted to hug the whole room.

"Skarra is quite the formidable foe. I can vouch for that."

The dragon though for a moment, her nostrils twitching like she had to sneeze, then her head swung up and down in a giant nod.

"I will entrust you with this, task. All of you!"

Farheia's gaze meed Skarras eyes.

"Bring back what has been stolen, and you are free to go. Fail however and you will learn why people rather kill themselves, then feel the wrath of a dragon. As for you hunters...", she swung her head around to look at Lopus and Venosa.

"... this will be a good test, to your abilities. Your predecessor Ragan spoke of you with the highest praise, so it is time for you to prove yourself worthy of his words. As for how you go about the matter or who leads the operation, I will leave the planning to you."

The two hunters bowed before the dragon, mirroring each others movement, while Skarra stuck with a grateful nod. Only I was a bit perplexed by what I heard.

"What a moment. All of you surely doesn't include me ... right?"

A strange sound arose from the dragons body, like rubbing two saws against each other. Was that a chukle?

"Why wouldn't it?", the woman asked.

"W-well first of I am injured... secondly I never even held a weapon or used magic before... I would have no used in battle."

Farheia pondered on my words for a moment, before the woman spoke again. Her words apparently directed at everyone but me.

"This conversation does not involve you anymore. Leave."

Venosa opened, her mouth trying to say something but the woman shut her up with a single word, the sound of it echoing through the hall.

"NOW!"

The two went to leave, but not before Venosa shot me an apologetic look. Only Skarra didn't move an inch, my arm still on her shoulder..

"I was also adressing you, child."

Skarra's body stiffened under me. She seemed to weighed leaving me alone against defying the orders of a dragon.

"He can't stand alone", she said. The dragons eyes became dangerously narrow.

"You have garnered some sympathy through your story, child. Do not waste it on something that is not negotiable."

I gave Skarra a smile that hopefully hid the fact, that I was about to faint from fear. What could the dragon possible want with me? Would Farheia really force me to accompany them in my state?

"It's ok. I got this."

All the bravery I had left was combined into these words.

"Be at ease. A private talk, is my only intention."

Skarra looked up at the dragon, then slipped out from under me. For a second a threatened to fall, but I got a hold of myself. She gave me a last look, then turned and walked up the stairs.

"So ... what do you want to talk about?"