Awakening the Dragon

Awakening the Dragon is a part of Tales of Arkain.

## Synopsis

This story happened between after the liberation of Derryn Outpost and before Gardon Bloodclaw's and Ironfist's appearance.

## Story

Gardon watched inpatiently as Birram mumbled magical phrases incomprehensibly, his arms crossed. They had been in this caves for hours, it seemed like a dead end but Birram had insisted that this was the right place.
Coming to this place had been easy. The Emperor had given Gardon and the Ironfist not only massive resources but also authorisation to do whatever they deemed necessary to achieve victory - meaning that Gardon and the Ironfist could go where they wanted and basically pretty much do as they wanted. Theoretically. In reality, of course, things were not always that easy. The Royals were stubborn and many other generals of the Imperial Army did not trust Gardon, he had a reputation as "untrustworthy", "sinister", "cruel" and many other things while in fact he was just willing to do what he needed to do. Others simply did not have the stomach to realize that victory required sacrifice. The end always justified the means. Only few were willing to acknowledge this fact. It did not matter. Their opinion would not matter, Gardon did not care if they'd change it once he had won this war for them. He did not do this for recognition or reputation, he did it because the Demons had to be stopped. Let them all hate and mistrust him if they desired to do so, he did not care. Their opinion was the last thing he cared about.

"We have been here for hours now, Birram." Gardon finally said and by doing so, he mentioned what everyone else was thinking. Only the highest ranking of the Ironfist had accompanied him to this place. The rest of the army Gardon had taken with him had set up camp not far from the cave - but far enough away to avoid detection, remaining on standby. There was no telling if this would go as planned, so it was not bad to have additional forces ready if required. Birram continued as if he had not listened to Gardon until he was done with his last invocation. "I have studied all texts about the ancient creatures that were still available, mylord. I have spent the entirety of our journey with further studying the texts. There can be no doubt. This is the right place." Birram explained and rammed his staff into the ground. He then finished his final spell and the earth inside the cave began to shake. The soldiers started cursing and grabbed their weapons. Gardon and Birram stood there, unmoved by the sudden eruption. Then, on the other side of the cave, a bright light appeared and blinded the vision of anyone looking in that direction. When the light had faded and the soldiers could look again, Gardon's gaze fell upon a strange woman. Behind her, two torches seemed to have appeared, lightening the cave after the torches the Ironfist had brought with it had fallen dark in the sudden eruption earlier. The woman was a sight to behold. She wore a dark dress with golden decoration. Expensive jewelry seemed to highlight the decoration. Around her neck, she wore a golden necklace that carried a ruby. Her skin was pale, almost as white as milk. Her face was beautiful, covered in long, black hair, and Gardon had little doubt that, if this woman would appear in any court, the nobles would throw themselves at her. He knew that she was ancient but from looks alone she could be in her twenties or thirties. Her orange eyes seemed to study her visitors with little to no interest. She radiated an aura of superiority, an aura of power and knowledge. She said nothing - and neither did the members of the Ironfist. Birram had advised against raising voices until being asked to - a sign of respect, a foundation for a possible partnership. Yet Gardon had little time for such games. There was a war to be won, he had no patience for idleness. The woman seemed to sense his inpatience and finally decided to speak. "You are far from home, Humans of Rodan. You have studied the ancient texts we left behind well enough to call for me. I do not fancy being called upon by your kind for unworthy reasons, I will tolerate your gazes only for so long. Tell me, what brings you here?" she asked. Birram looked at Gardon, the latter nodded and stopped crossing his arms. Then he and took a step forward. "Queen Kasraazs, I am Gardon Bloodclaw, general of the Empire and leader of the Ironfist. My men and I have travelled far to ask you for an audience. We are here to request the assistance of the black dragons in the war against the Demons. Many centuries ago, your people stood side by side with the humans of this continent - I ask you to do so again. The power of your people is without equal, with you on our side, victory is assured." Gardon elaborated. The dragon queen had not looked at him during his speech but now her gaze met his. Her face still seemed unimpressed but Gardon had no doubt that he had her full attention despite her hiding it fairly well.

"You know much about the history our my kind for someone who does not even hail from this continent, else you would not have been able to summon me, Gardon Bloodclaw. But you are not being honest with me, you are more than a simple general of the Empire, are you not? You are of.... higher standing." she asked. Gardon's look did not change but his eyes became colder as he continued to meet the gaze of the black dragon queen in humanoid disguise. His soldiers still stood there, not saying a word, their hands no longer on their weapons but still ready to arm themselves if necessary. Birram said no word, he seemed to study the dragon queen - while she was focusing on Gardon, he could proably afford to do so and Gardon would not try taking this from him. After all, Birram was the one who had found the knowledge to summon the dragon queen in the first place, it was his achievement. Now it was up to Gardon to forge an alliance. The dragon queen raised her voice once more: "If you know our history, however, then you should also know that we and the humans are no longer allied. We no longer have any interest in the fate of mankind. The Kingdoms and your Empire have nothing in common with the nation we lend our aid to once. Zyainor has fallen, our former friends and allies are long dead." Gardon took another step towards the dragon queen. "Zyainor may have fallen and you may have changed your allegiances, Queen Kasraazs, but do you truly think the Demons would care about that? They want to conquer these lands and subjugate all non-demonic beings that live there - including your black dragons. Even with your power, you cannot stand against them forever if you are on your own. They will not leave you be until they have either killed or enslaved all of you." he explained.

The dragon queen raised her eyebrows, she seemed annoyed though Gardon still had her full attention - which, he was sure, others would kill for. Too many simple-minded nobles would have cared only for the looks of her human body, nothing more. Gardon was above such desires - which further intrigued the dragon queen. "Your words ring true, but even if we WERE willing to ally with Humans, we do not support the Human Kingdoms. They have been founded by the usurpers of old. Their rulers are descendants of traitors and murderers, nothing more. And your Empire does not strike me as a nation that would sanction the cooperation with our kind - we have been watching you ever since your arrival. Then there is your unsufferable alliance with the midgets, who have many among them proudly calling themselves 'dragonslayers'. No, we cannot choose to work with such beings. We stopped working with Zyainor, why should we work with its renegades now?" she explained. Another step of Gardon towards her. "What if we could bring it back? What if the Kingdoms were no more but Zyainor was to return - along with its dragon cults. You were worshipped by the old Zyaise, we could bring your golden age back. Join me, not the Kingdoms, not the Empire, and I will bring back Zyainor - as vassal state of the Empire. The Emperor will not care about who is worshipped on this continent as long as it stays loyal during his lifetime and pays its taxes. When you have aided me in saving this continent, no one will be able to oppose the idea of having the black dragons return to Arkain once more. I know that it must make you suffer that you are here, hidden, waiting for the ages to pass by, knowing that your kind is being hunted and killed if you leave your caves and refuges." Gardon said. The dragon queen laughed, it was light-hearted and beautiful but at the same time also intimidating and arrogant tone. She held her hand towards her mouth while she laughed, her eyes closed. When she stopped laughing, she opened her eyes again and focused her gaze again on Gardon - this time it was not as 'studying' as earlier but instead calculating, as if she was considering about how believeable his claims were. "You are a bold man, Gardon Bloodclaw. Only few would claim that they could offer what you offer. Tell me, does your brother know about this proposal?" she asked. Gardon did not show any reaction. "The Emperor does not know about this, no." he said. Queen Kasraazs laughed in response. "Doing this behind his back and counting on him helping you uphold the bargain then?" "He WILL remember who supported humanity in this conflict." "Maybe so... Very well. I will give you a chance to prove your words. We will seal a pact. If you return the nation of Zyainor, my black dragons will assist you. However, in order to return Zyainor, you will need to find an heir of the ancient line of rulers, an heir of the Ca'lea and Ca'laer. Only this heir can bring the nation back." she explained. Gardon's gaze darkened. "I have to fight a war, I cannot search for an heir that may not even live anymore." he said. "Then fight your war while your henchmen - you appear to have enough of them to spare a few - are looking for all possible heirs - if there is more than one, the most suitable one must be found. There's still several in the human realms who remember where their loyalities SHOULD lie. In the meantime, one of us will join you and support you directly. And more than that: You will be given an armor as it had been worn by the Zyaise, a long time ago." she said and another light appeared to her right. A man in dark armor appeared. His eyes were black and in his hands he had an armor that looked like the armors Gardon had read about in the ancient Zyaise texts: The armors worn by the rulers, the Ca'laer and Ca'lea, of Zyainor. Queen Kasraazs pointed at the newcomer. "This is Thanok. He will from now on serve as your right-hand-man. He will train your forces to perform even better on the battlefield and support you in your battles - and not only watch you for us, he will also help you find the true heir of Zyainor. Unless you changed your mind, that is." Kasraazs said. Gardon nodded. "We have a deal, dragon queen." he said and looked at Thanok. "I wonder, however, what qualifies him to train my forces?" Gardon asked. Now Thanok's eyes met his. "I have trained black dragons. Trust me, I know what I do." he said. Later that day, Gardon, Birram and the Ironfist left the area. Gardon wore a new armor, the armor of the Ca'laer of old. And the Ironfist had a new drill sergeant who would form them into an even more deadly weapon than they already were. They made their way back to the Derryn Outpost, neither of them knowing yet where this pact would later lead them all.