Nidian leaned his back against the cold iron beams of his cell, or rather his crate. Nestled into a cluster of others that at one point had his fellow Hoharoans. Dozens that had been plucked from the city during its destruction. Argas had graciously accepted his surrender, and promised the suffering of Nomad's Haven would end. But now he was here in something akin to hell. He had watched several of the other get dragged out of their cages.

  They had screamed and fought back, digging their nails into the earth as they vanished from the scene. He shuddered at the thought of what fate awaited them. All he knew was no one returned. and he had the time and the silence to dwell on it as to why; not that he wanted to.

  It was dark, and cold, the recent drizzle leaving the cages wet and slick. His clothes had been thoroughly soaked and he was chilled to the bone.

  Nidian pulled his legs to his chest trying to block out the harrowing thoughts his mind manufactured, a distant flicker of torchlight drawing his attention and with it suspense. The ominous light multiplied, it became dozens as a large assembly moved up the hill in formation. The sound of marching became audible as they surrounded the area. The dead grass and rubbly earth illuminated by the line of dancing flames.

  They stood at attention in silence, every one of them holding the same stance. Standing tall, head bowed, torch raised to the sky. The last one in the convoy of cultists walked over and inserted the large skeleton key locking the front grate. With a hefty click it unlocked and he slid it open.

  "Come forth, Lady Illenith commands your attention." Argas instructed.

  Nidian shivered, curled against the back corner of his enclosure as the man ordered him. He slowly complied, dragging himself to the opening and standing to his feet, getting a harsh shove from the cultist. Now he stood in the center of a ring of creepy mask wearing men, the only avenue of escape the way they had come. Before he could even mull over the possibility of out running them the earth shook. Thud after thud as her slick dark shape began to reflect the flames. The crimson eyes deeply fixated on him.

  Nidian stumbled backwards as it registered. It was a Demraxite. Her body towered over him as her talons slammed down on either side. Her head pivoted to get a full view of him with one eye. He could see the horror on his own face reflecting in her pupil. It was the one from the forest. Those scorched human skulls entangled in the oily strands of her mane.

  "Finally got done in did you? Your weak little legs give out on you?" She cruelly teased him. He felt the weight of a horse's kick; a single claw forced him onto his side, tossing him like a pebble.

  He had to gasp from the sudden sharp impact, staring at the ground as he winced in pain, trying to crawl away. Illenith sadistically waited for him to make it a few strides before pinching his head between her vile claws, forcing him to turn back toward her.

  "What made you think you were going to get away with the map? How little is in that fragile head of yours?" She hissed at him as the cult watched in emotionless silence, attentively watching as she abused him.

  Nidian tried to think of words through the splitting ache in his head born of the crushing pressures. "I didn't know what it was! I was just told to take it! I didn't want it! It was forced upon me!" He breathed out through his teeth. His arms scratching at the cold obsidian pillars that held his head in a vice.

  The pressure dropped and he fell to the floor grabbing at the sides of his head. Her arm retracting back beneath her. "Really now? Argas said you were quite knowledgeable on its contents. Shame no one informed you what I do to liars."

  "I had it translated! I don't know half of it! I just started! I swear I'm not withholding anything! He wanted the book, I just wanted my friends safe! What else do you want?" Nidian blurted. His heart was smashing its way through his ribs, his lungs pinned to his spine.

  The Demraxite paused. "You translated it? You speak the language it is written in? Perhaps you're of more use to me than I thought..."

  Argas' head swiveled in surprise, almost concern it seemed. Illenith immediately taking note, "Is there a problem? Argas?"

  Nidian looked to the left as the man who ruthlessly struck down Malles began to quiver in his boots just upon being spoken to.

  "O-Of course not Lady Illenith..."

  She skeptically tilted her head up away from him, a thrum in her throat. "Well then city boy. You translate the journal for me and maybe I won't eat you." She maliciously grinned, her jaws looming in front of Nidian. He could feel the hot air from her nostrils rushing over him. If he agreed he'd be lying but maybe it would prolong his survival. Before he could agree her previous words resurfaced. "No one informed you of what I do to lairs.."

  Denying her was a death sentence. But Malles was the one who had done all the translations. He knew some old Daemorian, snippets of Moreiik, but nothing useful in this case. The looming threat of what would happen if she caught him lying though. He couldn't decide and the time pressure from her impatient eyes delivered a crushing weight to his chest.

  "I-I can't do it..." He squeezed the words out through the choke hold his fear held him in, sensing the immediate irritation.

  "And why might that be?" Illenith hissed, her jaws clicking inches from his feet.

  "My translator was killed by that guy!" Nidian tactfully responded. His finger angrily pointed toward Argas who took a step back, laughing nervously.

  He went stiff as a board as the massive draconic head faced him. "Care to explain?"

  Argas' jaw was agape. He was compelled to just deny it, but he knew better than to fib his way through things.

  With submissive head nod he exhaled and shook his head. "I don't know what he's talking about! The only person who was killed in our visit was some idiot kid!"

  Nidian stood up, the opportunity to stack on pressure revealing itself, "Yeah! His name was Malles! He was the one translating it! I had no idea what I was doing! I have nothing to do with that stupid journal! So great job killing the one guy you're after!"

  It wasn't all truths, Nidian knew he in fact had taken up interest in the journal. He took Malles' offer on the translation efforts. He intended to deliver it to the Kordish officials. But the anger towards Argas for taking his life made him only want to redirect the dragons anger. A strategic and heartless move to secure survival and revenge.

  Argas balked, the little twerp was purposefully making him look bad. He looked up at Illenith who had nothing but fury in her eyes. Disappointment beyond measure as she raised her head.

  "You killed the one person anyone has found to be able to translate it? The level of incompetence is nothing short of unacceptable."

  Argas knew he had dug a hole deeper than six feet, and Nidian had just shown Illenith the shovel. He tore his helmet off, his green eyes ablaze as he turned toward Nidian. His sweaty locks of tangled hair pulling free from the mask as he cast it aside.

  "You preening little- I'll kill you!" He screamed as he lunged at Nidian. Before Nidian could blink the dragons jaws descended. They snapped down atop the frenzied man with a force that rattled Nidian's skeleton. Instantly getting dizzy from the shock of her teeth hitting each other. He fell to the ground and looked away as her head retreated and the vile sound of his disappearance slipped into his ears. The sound forced him to pull a hand over his mouth as he retched.

  Argas was gone in an instant, not a trace of him remained where he had stood. Nidian flipped onto his back and crawled backwards. The dragon's tongue snaked along the exterior of her jaws as a single talon pressed onto Nidian's boot. He yelped as his foot crackled under the pressure of her casually setting it upon him. All the other soldiers had gone pale under their armor, none daring to make a sound after witnessing their commander's demise.

  "And where do you think you're off to? You've lost all other use to me, maybe you and Argas can make up at least." Illenith cackled.

  Nidian's vision tunneled and locked onto her, his heartbeat drowning out his hearing as it went rampant. He was out of ideas, incapacitated, and face to face with death.

  The behemoth cracked a sadistic smile and stared directly into his soul; forcing him to whimper the only phrase he could hope would save him. "Navi save me.."

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