|
|
Song Of The Dragon
I chanced upon a cave one August day and saw a brawny hero enter there. So tall and strong he marched upon his way.
His armor gleamed of silver, polished fair. A look of stern ambition gripped his face and light glowed in his flowing golden hair.
I followed, out of sight with careful grace while he, unmindful, stepped into the dark. I could not help but cautiously give chase.
He walked like he was in a royal park. A mortal with the confidence of Zeus, invincible, unfeeling as a shark.
Some unknown odor choked me like a noose, but curiosity is like a drug. This time it helped, but didn't cut me loose.
We crept along with darkness like a hug. Around and down and deeper still it went. His torch shook off the darkness with a shrug.
The tunnel leveled off before it bent and broke into a chamber filled with gold. I thought of all the ways it could be spent.
Atop the mounded money, grand and bold with eyes reflecting back the torches light a monster caught our gaze, aloof and cold.
The glinting scales, claws, and deadly might enthralled the man before me in a mire. I shrank into the shadows, out of sight.
The tension in the air was like a wire. Electric current flashed between their eyes and flickered through the air like living fire.
And then the creature spoke, to my surprise. A voice to shake the deepest of the seas spoke soft convincing words to move the wise.
"Welcome, human. Enter if you please. Peruse a bit my secret, hidden home discovered with delightful, programmed ease.
"This is a place where few remain to roam, so far below the land of sun and moon, beyond the earthy scent of must and loam.
"I choose this day to grant to you a boon, to give to you your life, and maybe more. The payment I will ask of you too soon.
"You see before you something you abhor. I see it in the fear upon your face and how your sword is threatening the floor.
"The legends tell of horror in my grace, a deadly serpent bearing scarlet wings. To kill and loot for me was commonplace.
"Admittedly I have done all these things, but life is nothing more than power's greed, and madness is the only truth it brings.
"I entered life a boy with common need. An urchin on the street, with hunger's pain, I only knew the passion to succeed.
"My education lacked in all arcane, including how to read the written word. I found my niche where others would refrain.
"At first a simple dagger was preferred, concealed for a quick efficient throw, but to the longer sword I soon deferred.
"With just a twitch of steel the blood would flow and some poor fool was put into the earth while I would gain a fortune with each blow.
"I sold my blade to any with the worth and kingdoms fell before my mighty force. I took each conquest bright with wicked mirth.
"My path was turned from fates unruly course by one who taught the ways of ancient lore. I learned to read through weeks of pure discourse.
"The months that passed were filled with books of yore until one day I found a magic text. It's leather cover showed each crack and pore.
"I opened it and touched the page, perplexed. The writing on the page had come alive, the words, like ants, compelled me to the next.
"I learned to read, in time, the swarming hive. The moving figures started to come clear and enigmatic words gave me new drive.
"I puzzled with the writing for a year before the words unfolded in my mind. A single word then brought a glowing sphere.
"I sought a sage to show me how to bind these words I'd learned into a lucid key, to give insightful scope to one purblind.
"Instructed, I discovered how to see the energy that envelopes all life. I found it in myself, in great degree.
"I learned to wield the power like a knife and knew I'd found a greater kind of blade to knight myself and make the world my wife.
"My fortune grew with every spell I laid, and few could stand against my growing power. The ones that did soon found themselves betrayed.
"Then late one night, beyond the witching hour, assassins stalked my gilded inner halls and penetrated my enchanted tower.
"I slept until I felt their daggers' scrawls, then swiftly sent them to the depths of hell. Yes, even now they answer Satan's calls.
"I quickly found a dark, forgotten spell to save me from the agony of fear. I sprouted scales, like a serpent's shell.
"My body changed with every turning year from wings grown on my back to tread the air to fire breath to blacken, burn, and sear.
"From teeth as sharp as knives to rend and tear, to claws and talons used to rip and maim. Of death and pain I surely dealt my share.
"A thousand years went by me like a game and money turned to treasure, then a hoard, yet still my thirst for riches was the same.
"I found myself encaged and growing bored. This place a fortress haven, and a curse, for few would dare the hole without reward.
"My size had grown beyond the mere perverse to what you see before you, something mad, created by an insane universe.
"With nothing left to hold or keep me glad my universe had paled to my sight and only served to further make me sad.
"But now the time has come to make it right, to pay for what's to be if you would live, for me to step beyond the final night.
"I ask of you the thing you came to give, my payment for the evil deeds I've done. My wicked ways you need not soon forgive.
"Raise now your sword, as if to strike the sun. Then plunge the weapon deep into my breast, and with a single stroke I am undone."
With this the monster closed his eyes in rest, anticipating death, and with it, peace, to end a monarch on a golden nest.
The hero bowed his head, as in unease, and grimaced with distaste for what he saw. A noble creature begging for release.
"I pity not the life you find in flaw." The words the hero spoke were full of hate, and fierce determination set his jaw.
"This thirst you have for death I will not sate. I choose instead to leave you here alone a prisoner of your self appointed fate
"I care not for your treasure or your throne. For what you've done, and lives you took away, the end for you shall always be unknown."
At this he dropped his sword and let it lay. He turned his back upon the quiet room, and walked away, returning to the day.
I thought to see the fighter meet his doom, but there the dragon sat, a silent storm. The steam rose from his nostrils in a plume.
My eyes surveyed the scale-covered form as torch light faded down the corridor. The darkness made the room seem to transform.
I silently approached the open door and listened for the sound of heaving breath. The silence was a smooth and polished floor.
I know the dragon craved for only death, and certainly deserved a gruesome end. His torture was to live with his regrets.
But what if I became the one to send this demon to the pits he sought to grace? Would I inherit all, this dividend?
With this new thought my heart began to race within my body, threatening to burst. I would become the master of this place.
I stepped into the room, cautious at first, but quickly overcame the urge to flee. The time had come to slake this monster's thirst!
I knelt to find the sword I could not see, and as I lay my hand upon it's hilt, the dragon spoke again, this time to me.
"Are you another flower that will wilt when given opportunity to grow? Or is there something more behind your kilt?"
The words of evil froze me, head to toe, and only iron will gave me my voice. "I come to steal the prize. Would you say go?"
"I would if nothing more were in your choice." Sedate and mild, the words he spoke were free of malice and conversely of rejoice.
I rose and weighed the options I could see. A lifetime full of riches drew me on but on the other hand, fear said to flee.
"The warrior you hid behind is gone and left you with the means to end the game. Now wield the blade and send me to beyond."
At this the air above was filled with flame, an anguished cry from one who once was grand. It tore the darkness and my heart the same.
My fears were washed away like so much sand as, in that final moment, I saw truth reflected in this agonized demand.
I charged ahead and felt the sharpened tooth of steel bite deep into that noble breast. I felt the heat of tears escape like youth.
I toppled with the beast onto the nest and lay with bloody hands and troubled thought beside that still and silent scaled chest.
When I arose, the treasure I had sought meant nothing next to all that I had found within the cave where chance had set my lot.
I covered up the dragon on the ground with all the gold and treasure he had gained. His life became a rare and gilded mound.
The sunlight found my hands and head both stained and yet my step was light, unburdened, free as I departed and my past remained.
|
