Pleep the Dragon Book Two

I still need to do a synopsis of Book One. Each book is three chapters long. This is the second book of the trilogy and I am still working on the first chapter of the third book, so it may be a whil

PG 1:              Created by Anthony Hotopp 

PLEEP THE DRAGON                   Book Two: Chapter One

 

 FROM THE DRAGONS POINT OF VIEW:

 

  Pleep was in a very strange place.  At least he was no longer in pain.  He did not know exactly what had happened, whatever it was had hurt though.  It had felt like his skin was on fire and then he was falling from the sky.  Now he was here, wherever here was.  He seemed to be surrounded by some kind of green mist.  There was no sky, nor mountains and trees, in fact he had to stomp his feet to make sure there was ground beneath him, all he could see was the mist.  The mist was full of light and in many shades of swirling green and was not too unpleasant for green was his favorite color, besides gold that is.  However, it had a very unpleasant smell like that of rotting bodies and spoiled fruit. 

 

  Dragons liked fresh meat and fruit, toasted by preference; they were not scavengers but hunters by nature.  Fruit they ate because it gave them vitamins that meat did not have and they needed, but they only needed it about once a year and only ate it at other times if meat could not be found.

 

 Speaking of finding, how was he going to find his friend? How was he going to find his mom if he could not even find his way out of the mist?  He had tried to fly; yet, there seemed to be no air for his wings to push against or at least no substance to it.  The mist swirled but he did not rise.  That was why he had been tapping his feet to see if there was ground.  Next, he tried walking out of the mist but he could not tell if he was getting anywhere, everything looked the same here, for all he knew he was walking in a circle thinking he was going straight ahead.  It had to be some kind of spell but he could not feel or sense the magic of it.  Dragons had a very good sense of magic being not only magic themselves, but also being the oldest magic users on earth, except for the ancients; yet no dragon had seen or heard of an ancient in thousands of years.   This had all the markings of an ancient's spell however; and lacking all traces of magic or a signature was a mark of the ancient’s sorcery. This was because their magic was of a higher order and that of creationism. 

 

  The magic they used was of the creator, the words of power of original creation and left no mark because it was as if it had always been there.  This was bad, very bad.  If an ancient had captured mom she might be lost forever.  In fact, he might be lost forever too, forever in the mist with his mom right next to him and never knowing it.  His only hope might be his new friend Herman of the man-lings.   He had never had a friend before, much less a man-ling, but mom had told him many a story about them, and some of them were almost as smart as dragons she had said with a dragonish smile. 

 

  Pleep thought back to that first meeting in the cave and had to smile himself.  He had heard the clank and rattle and thought his mom was back.  He had rushed up his little tunnel knowing mom could not fit in it and perhaps was hurt so that was why she had not called out to him.  To his surprise, it had been a man-ling and an armed one at that. 

 

PG 2:              Created by Anthony Hotopp 

PLEEP THE DRAGON                  Book Two: Chapter One

 

He had tried to stop from running full tilt and face flopped skidding almost up to the man-ling’s feet.  He had thought surely the man-ling would kill him, but the man-ling had spared him just as one had spared his mom a long time ago.  So he had tried to show the man-ling he was friendly by rubbing against him which is the dragon way.  Again he had thought the man-ling was going to kill him and this confused him but then it had put away his sword and professed friendship in the dragon way by rubbing his head, like mom did when she was happy with him.

 

  So thinking they had an understanding he had followed the man-ling.  Again he was confused for the man-ling yelled at him and finally pulling his sword had chased him back into the cave.  He waited for the man-ling to calm down as most adult dragons did after being mad, but he was confused and hurt and did not know why it was mad.  When he had come out again he had scared away the things steed, called a horse, which he had never seen before but mom had told him about. 

Again, the man-ling had yelled and pulled the sword and chased him back into the cave.

 

 Maybe he had deserved it this time though; for mom had told him the things that a man-ling wore to protect them were very heavy and they needed a stead to carry them for it was hard to walk in such things.  Therefore, he decided to wait until the man-ling found his stead and mounted it so the man-ling need not walk.  He understood a little of the man-ling speech, which his mom had taught him, and the thing had yelled at him to, 'stay!' 

 

  So… He stayed until he figured it had found its steed and then followed again.  The man-ling saw him and made his steed go faster and faster until finally he had to take to the sky to keep up for dragons really were not made for running being heavy in the hind and light on the top.  Again, the thing saw him and crashed through the brush until he was hidden.  It was kind of like a game of hide and pounce his mom used to play with him and he figured if he played it good the man-ling might like him again.  So he followed just out of sight until it entered a little man cave.  He followed it in avoiding the steed, which he did not want to scare off again.  He thought with pleasure how happy the man-ling would be that he had played the game right but everything seemed to go wrong at once.  First of all, the cave entrance was too small and had something blocking it that had broken when he pushed through it.  Then the cave had been full of man-lings and all of them except his, had stunk of fear.  One had even peed on itself before running out the back of the strange cave. 

 

  His friend was more than mad, he was actually turning purple, and he slapped Pleep and called him a bad dragon.  It never occurred to Pleep to get mad back in the dragon way for he knew he had done wrong and the man-ling had become a kind of figure of authority. He was embarrassed and did not know what to do so he had just rather slunk out in the dragon way of showing he was sorry.  In a lesser creature, it would have been called fawning.

PG 3:              Created by Anthony Hotopp 

PLEEP THE DRAGON                  Book Two: Chapter One

 

  Yet, the man-ling did not seem to understand his apology and once again took to his steed and tried to lose him.  Pleep did not understand. Man-lings though possessing dragon qualities still tended to do things that made no sense.

 

First, the man-ling had made friends with him, then he had established dominance over him, and now it was again leaving him alone.  Pleep did not want to be alone anymore.  He missed his mom and he was not yet ready to face a world he knew so little about. He would have to follow the man-ling again and somehow make it understand that he needed its help, both to tell him what to do and to be his only friend. After all, in Pleep's mind the knight had offered both in the dragon way.  All he had to do was make his friend understand what he needed.

 

 Therefore, Pleep kept out of sight but kept the man-ling in his sight until it got where it was going.  This time he would not make the same mistakes.  He picked a nice roomy window with nothing baring it and entered the cave/home of the man-ling.  He could tell it was its home because the scent of him was everywhere.  He walked carefully so as not to break anything because he knew that made it mad.

 

  Then there was a scream behind him and man-lings were now running in all directions yelling and trying to get away.  Everywhere he stuck his head was another yelling man-ling.  Then he reached the top of the stairs and there saw his man-ling.  He was so glad to see him he uttered a ‘pleep’ and thundered down the steps both to greet him and to get away from the others.  Everything went wrong then.  The steps broke beneath his weight and the man-lings companion had some kind of fit and now was lying on the ground.  He looked over the man-lings shoulder to see if he could help and again the man-ling showed him who was boss.

 

 He did not understand all the words but he understood enough to back off.  Then the (yes it smelled like a she) man-ling female started shrieking and Pleep knew who was really the boss.  He still did not understand the words however he really did not need to.  He had heard his mom yell at his dad that way once and he had never seen his dad again.  Mom had said his papa needed his own space.  Then had come word that he had been killed in a fight with a red dragon.

 

 He hung his head in shame thinking he was the cause of that.  Now it seemed that he had gotten his friend in the same kind of trouble.  It was meekly and slinking now that he followed his friend out of the cave/home.  His friend again mounted his steed and looking neither right nor left set out into the setting sun.  That was ok with him it felt right to be going that way especially if he could be with his new friend and he certainly was not yelling now.  Now he was getting worried for his friend and steed were going into a bad area and the stead was stumbling with weariness.  Suddenly his friend came to his senses though, and then it was all right.

 

 PG 4              Created by Anthony Hotopp 

PLEEP THE DRAGON                  Book Two: Chapter One

 

 Pleep determined that he would do whatever he could to help his friend so when he saw him trying to build a fire he tried to help get it going.  Of course, he could not yet control his flame enough to make a little flame and bungled it.  But his friend did not seem mad if fact he began talking to him in a gentle voice and the more he said the more words pleep began to understand.

 

   He even gave him a name of his own and that was good because his real name was very long and he doubted his friend could say it.  Of course, the name he gave him was basically baby talk but a man-ling would not know that.  Pleep had not yet developed the skill of speech either in dragon or in man-ling talk.  Despite that they seemed to reach an agreement on the name and he learned his friend had a name too.  Then Herman asked him what he wanted and he was stuck with trying to give an answer.  He rolled his tongue, scrunched his lips, and made the hardest effort of his life.  "Momma," he yelled.  Herman understood.       

 

  Sir Herman made a deal.  He would find Pleep's mom (dead or alive) and then they would go their own ways. This made Pleep very sad.  Both thinking his mom might be gone and that when they found out he would have to leave his new friend, in fact his only friend.  Except for occasional dragonish get-togethers where the kids played and the parents talked, Pleep had never really had a friend and found that he liked the feeling.  Then the attacks began and he realized how much his friend really meant to him. 

 

  The wolves really could not hurt him, unless they got really lucky and scored on an eye, but they could hurt Herman and his stead.  So… When he heard them creeping up on the camp he waited until they were right on top of them.  Then he let loose with all the flame he could muster.  He was surprised that the steed even helped in the fight, he had not realized that the animal could fight on its own and had thought it totally defenseless.  Then the animal had actually offered him friendship almost as clearly as a dragon would by coming up right to him and then slowly backing away.  It was a sign of friendship and respect that needed no words.

 

 Now Pleep had two friends and found out that 'she' was called Nelly and was a warhorse trained for battle.  Twice more they fought off wolves, once a pride of lions, and finally a troop of trolls. It was unnatural for them to attack so.  It seemed they were on the right track and somebody or something did not want them to succeed in finding Pleep's mother.  It had happened too many times now to be coincidence.  Something or someone was trying to stop them.  It remained to find out who or what was against them.

 

  Night and day they were harried and even though most of the things were harmless to Pleep his friends were getting stung and bit and pecked and it was hard to fight against things as small as insects and birds and such.  They were all lacking in sleep and bad tempered and that was when Pleep really learned the measure of friendship.

 

PG 5:              Created by Anthony Hotopp 

PLEEP THE DRAGON                  Book Two: Chapter One

 

 Sir Herman would not give up.  "I promised you I would find your mom Pleep," He said one day in camp, "and not all the stinging, biting, pecking things in the world will stop me from it."  He had shaken his fist at the sky or perhaps the unseen enemy, and then cursed as another stray bee stung him. 

 

  Then finally they had reached what was possibly the demesnes of the unknown enemy and possibly where his mother was lost or captured.  The land itself had the ancient smell of the old ones the ones whom dragons fear for theirs is the power of creation and even dragon magic could not stand against it.

 

  Even Sir Herman had felt it though to him it just had the stink of a trap and he had told Pleep to circle the outside and slowly circle inwards.  Pleep had launched into the sky and then to his surprise had found his friend along for the ride inside of his mind.  He was pleased by Sir Herman's thoughts of his strength and the freedom of flight and had become maybe a little careless.  He was circling ever inwards when he caught the scent of his mother and swooped in too low in his excitement.  The mist had enveloped him and burned him, and he had tumbled from the sky.

 

 Now here he was trapped in the mist and for all he knew his mother was just a dragon length away and there was nothing he could do.  He could keep trying but this was very old magic and he was not even versed in but the most minor of dragon spells.  After all, he was only a century old and that was very young for a dragon.  He sighed, and hoped his friends could figure something out for it seemed that the next move was up to them, or perhaps to the unseen enemy.

 

End of Chapter One: Book Two

Created by Anthony Creighton Hotopp

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ACH Incorporated

ACH Unpublished Works 2003

 

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PG 6:              Created by Anthony Hotopp 

PLEEP THE DRAGON              Book Two: Chapter Two

 

MYSTERIOUS LADY/ A LONELY CAMP/ MORNING QUEST/

A DECISION MADE

 

“Who are you?” asked Sir Herman.  He was somewhat proud that he had not stammered.  Truly beautiful women had that effect on him.  At one time, his wife had affected him this way.  She still made him stammer, but with her anger not her beauty. In fact, he could imagine the yelling she would do if she even saw him talking to a beauty like this.  She was very jealous and possessive.  Thoughts of his wife cleared the last of the cobwebs from his brain.  He was married and had no right to think tender thoughts about another woman anyhow. This also was part of the knight’s code.  A knight was honorable above all else. “Nogarda,” she said simply in reply to his question.  Sir Herman’s heart gave a thump and he found himself staring into her gold/green eyes again: ‘a beautiful name for a beautiful woman,’ thought Sir Herman.  Then he shook his head angrily trying to force those types of thoughts out.  

 

  He straightened his armor and dusted himself off; obviously, this had to be a lady in distress.  They were far off the beaten path in what was now enemy territory, and the only reason for such a beauty to be out here would be because the wizard had taken her child.  The townspeople had told him as much.  They also said that any who went there never came back.  Had she no male relatives, a husband, a brother, or father, had they then been taken already, or were they cowards?  So that still begged the question of why she was here, and how she had gotten here?  It was time to get some answers and beauty or not she was going to provide them.

 

  He checked on Nelly briefly while he focused his thoughts on the questions he wanted to ask the mysterious lady.  Nelly was still saddled and all his possessions were in place.  Good old horse, she was a true friend. Even had the woman been a thief Nelly would have protected his belongings.  Also if the woman would have meant him harm Nelly would never have let her near while he was down.  He started to strip Nelly’s saddle then stopped for a moment confused.  He had no plan and did not know if he would need to ride quickly or not.  He left the saddle on but dug out a small sugar cube for her.  As soon as Nelly had finished, he turned to face the lady.

 

  He looked down as he came up to her so as not to be trapped in those eyes again.  Besides, in polite society, (or which there was very little left) it was considered impolite to stare at a lady, even if she did return that stare as a warrior would.  His mind was full of very important questions; however, what he found himself asking was “May I call you ‘Nog?’ that would be much simpler?”  It would be simpler because Nog was such a common sounding name, definitely not the name of a queen, or a princess, or a Goddess.  He had to quit thinking like this.  It did not help when she answered, “Yes,” in a cultured musical voice.  Her voice was like the tinkling of the bells they strung on strings for outside occasions.  He almost looked up to ask his next question, then caught himself and instead stared at her feet.

PG 7:              Created by Anthony Hotopp 

PLEEP THE DRAGON              Book Two: Chapter Two

 

  They were beautifully dainty feet, no shoes, and yet they looked clean and well taken care of, not at all like those of a peasant or a field worker.  None of this made sense and every time he looked at her or heard her voice he wished he were once more on the ground with his head in her lap.  Maybe she was a sorceress, and had thrown some type of spell upon him.  That would explain a lot.  “Are you a sorceress?” he asked her.

  “Yes, you could say that,” she surprised him by replying.

 

   He looked up in his surprise, and then looked down again just as quickly, now staring at his own feet.  She suddenly cupped his chin in her soft hand and lifted his face to meet hers.  “Fear not Sir Herman, I have not thrown a spell upon you nor will I.”  As his eyes met hers, he saw they were brown and rich.  Why had he thought they were gold/green?  Nobody he had ever met had eyes like that, these were just ordinary, slightly tired, soulful eyes, and sad, the sadness leaked out of them now as tears and he knew he had to help her.  He had to do the right thing.  Yet she had said she was a sorceress, where did he stand on that?  He really did not know, maybe her cause was worthy.

 

  The warrior and the knight took over in him then.  He was on quest and everything else was of second importance.  Some how Nog was part of this and he had to find out what her part was.  For all he knew she could be the hidden enemy.  Would that not be a twist of fate equal to a great quest?   He almost violently pulled away from her grasp and addressed her.  The command and strength he had been lacking earlier coming to the fore.  “Nevertheless Sorceress You must answer some questions, and if you be my enemy then know that I intend to rescue the little dragon and his mother if she lives!” 

 

He was not sure what kind of response he was expecting from her, defiance, anger, shame, bewilderment, but the response he got was totally unexpected.  She laughed a sweet tinkling laugh that befuddled his senses again, even though he was now immured somewhat to her beauty.  Then she said, “Of course you are going to rescue them Sir Herman, and perhaps my child and myself as well, although I cannot ask that of you.  That is why I guided you here.”    

 

A LONELY CAMP:

 

Nelly nuzzled Sir Herman from behind almost knocking him off the stump he sat upon before the small campfire.  She was a little worried about him. Usually he would talk for hour upon hour to her and even though she did not understand the words, his soothing voice was usually what put her to sleep.  Even when that silly Dragon had been with them, he had kept the habit up.  He may have been directing his words to it but at least he was talking.  She somehow knew instinctively that it helped him as well, to talk, and straighten things out in his mind.  He had said not a word though, since the nice lady had left.    He chuckled, pet Nelly’s face, and told her “Thanks Nelly, I needed that.”

 PG 8:             Created by Anthony Hotopp 

PLEEP THE DRAGON              Book Two: Chapter Two

 

 Then he continued.  “It is just a lot to take in Nelly.  Like the way she knew my name.  The lady is a sorceress and yet she is captive of the wizard.  She was really there but she was really not for her body is held captive in the tower.  How could she be here and not here it is all very confusing.  Her lap felt real as did her hands.”  Thoughts of Nog’s lap, face, and hands momentarily overcame his senses.  She was just so beautiful and he was so confused about the feelings he had whenever he thought of her.  Perhaps she had not thrown a spell on him, however her beauty had.  He could not get her, with her regal looks and musical voice out of his mind.  He had no right thinking like this, he was a married man and she was not a woman but a sorceress.  Nelly nudged him again and he sighed and reached for the heated field rations simmering on the little fire in a cast iron bowl.  It was basically gruel, however with a little sugar it was edible.  He took another swig of pure fresh water from his leather water sack. 

 

“You are right Nelly I cannot allow myself to be distracted.”  Nelly pulled up a cud to chew and relaxed as Sir Herman continued to straighten his thoughts.  “So the way the situation sums up is like this.  Pleep, the little dragon is being held in the mist, as is his mother.  His mother cannot free herself or her child because it is a very powerful spell and she was injured in a fight prior to her capture. There are others in the mist but none can see each other, and as long as the mist holds, they neither thirst nor hunger, nor do they have any other earthly needs.  Yet, without food and attention Pleep’s mother cannot heal, which she needs to do in order to free them from the mist.   Now my job is to go into the mist carrying only the supplies that I can carry with me to heal the Dragon.  The sorceress is going to provide me with a spell that will bring the momma, the baby dragon, and myself together although we will still be in the mist.  I have to affect her healing and then escape using her powers and beard the Wizard in his lair, even though she did not ask.” 

 

 “To make things even more confusing, the sorceress is being held captive as well in his lair and her behavior guaranteed, by the threat of killing her child which the wizard has captive as well.  To sum it up she has been guiding me here through her arts when she felt me questing for the little dragon’s mother.  She can tell me nothing about the wizard for a spell prevents her from doing him harm, yet she is able to help me because my quest is to find momma dragon and what I do after that is up to me.  Sigh. I cannot even mention in her hearing any thoughts of confronting the Wizard or ask any questions about he or his lair.  She can only lead me into the mist and leave me to my own devises.  She too wants to be rescued but she cannot ask it of me, nor can she be sure I will not just rescue momma and leave.”

 

“But the really confusing thing is that she was here, but it was only some kind of spell allowing her to roam the valley and immediate outskirts during the day.  A favor granted by the wizard to keep her from going stir crazy being trapped in the tower all the time.”

PG 9:              Created by Anthony Hotopp 

PLEEP THE DRAGON              Book Two: Chapter Two

 

“Sigh.”  Well that about sums it up and as I see it I have to go along with her even if she is lying and even if she has thrown a spell on me.”  Nelly made a horsy blowing noise, showing that she was already asleep.  Sir Herman curled up in his blanket near the fire to share its meager warmth.  He had never felt so alone and confused before.  Maybe morning would bring some answers.

 

Morning Quest:

 

It had been a busy morning.  Nelly would have to be left behind for there was no way he could take her into the mist.  Even if the spell Nog was going to give him would work for the horse, he could not put her through that.  For one thing, if the dragon was hungry and injured there was no way he was going to tempt her with such a delicious meal.  He took Nelly to an open glade semi sheltered by cliffs and well away from the valley.  Next, he told her to “Spot it.”  In warhorse language, this meant she was to return here when he sent her away.  She looked around a little sadly but set the place in her mind and she would pay attention to the route they took from here now, so as to be able to find her way back.  He allowed her to eat a little and mark it with her spoor, which would make it even easier for her to find the exact spot.  Horses also remembered the taste of the grass in a place.  That was how they knew how to find the best horse munchies and return there.

 

  That taken care of it was time to hunt.  He had to find something big enough to satisfy a dragon but small enough to carry in on his back.  Sir Herman suffered an unpleasant vision of when he was a kid and the other kids had caught him, tied pieces of meat to him, and then hit him with sticks to make him run.  It had been terrible.  Not even twenty paces and a couple of the town dogs were already on his heels.  By the end of town there was an entire pack chasing him.  He kept tearing pieces off and throwing them at the pack but that did not slow them but for a moment.  It was hard work because they were tied tightly with leather thongs.  Finally, he had torn off the last piece and tossed it but it had made no difference because he was covered with the scent.  Despite a bad pain in his side he had managed to run the several miles to home and out of desperation jumped into the moat.  The servants of which there were many then, drove off the dogs with sticks. 

 

  He had thought his dad would be mad, however his dad was more impressed with the fact that he had run so far and so well.  His dad tousled his hair and said “Herman I think it is time for you to become a squire so you can defend yourself against ruffians like that.”  He had also told him that it was no shame to run when the odds were against you and not to feel bad about it.  By the time two years had passed, he had fought and won fights against each one of those kids, however they were fair fights and he had not started a one of them.  Even at that age, he was already developing a sense of honor and revenge was not a part of the knight’s code.

 

 

 

  PG 10:                      Created by Anthony Hotopp 

PLEEP THE DRAGON              Book Two: Chapter Two

 

  That was before the dragon incident and his dad’s shame, and before his dad lost honor and became a drunk.  However, Herman did not want to think of that right now.  He decided that whatever meat he brought for the dragon he had best tie it with a slip knot so he could drop it quick, if he needed to dodge or fight.  That was always a possibility.

He was pretty sure that an older dragon would understand his words however there was still a little doubt and besides she might not be in a mood to listen.  On the other hand, she could be so hungry she would not care and chase him just to get the meat.  Of course, that would depend of her injuries, Nog had said she was pretty badly injured and would need bones splinted and stuff.

 

  So now, he needed to go hunting.  He had gut and rosin in his pack and it was a simple matter to find the right kind of wood to fashion a bow.  He picked a nice springy piece of yew for the bow, and fashioned arrows from the straightest sticks of harder wood he could find.  He fire-hardened the tips so they would penetrate.  He might not use a bow in battle considering it a coward’s weapon, but he was quite good with one when it came to hunting.  He had even competed with one in the tourneys and made a good showing coming in third with some really tough competition.  He stripped and stacked his armor in camp and donned only tunic and hose for easy and quiet movement.  Nelly was of course left in camp.  He had not yet sent her away because he might need her to drag back whatever he caught.  He was hoping for a good size buck or perhaps a doe.  He added his sword belt with sword and knife as an afterthought because he did not know these woods or what he might run into.  He would soon be very glad of that fact.

 

  Where the bear came from, he had no idea, perhaps wizardry. Since he had arrived at this place, local wildlife or insects had no longer plagued him or Nelly, but this attack was much more direct. He had been stalking just such a buck as he had imagined would feed a dragon when it attacked him.  You would think something as big as the bear was would be noisy, yet he had not even a clue when it struck.  Luckily, he had just knelt to one knee to take his shot when the bear’s claw swiped the air above where his head had just been.  Dropping the useless bow, Sir Herman rolled forward drawing his sword and spinning to face it.  It was huge easily twelve feet if it was an inch.  It roared so loud he thought he could feel his shoulder length hair blowing back, and boy did it have bad breath.

 

  Sir Herman did the last thing the bear expected by bringing the fight to the bear and attacking.  He slashed for the head trying to open the big vein in the neck but only managed to cut the bears shoulder and make it madder.  The bear kept swiping at him and trying to grab him in a hug but he was too quick for it.  He pricked it and slashed it in a dozen or so places, but nothing seemed to slow it and Sir Herman was tiring. 

 

 

PG 11:            Created by Anthony Hotopp 

PLEEP THE DRAGON              Book Two: Chapter Two

 

  They had come full circle. The bear and him has now returned to the spot where the fight had started.  He knew it would all be over if did not do something desperate.  He threw the sword point first at the bear lodging it in its shoulder and rolled, coming up with his discarded bow and a single arrow.  He shot the bear through the heart as it barreled down on him sure it had chased its prey to ground.  The dead bear fell on top of him pinning him to the ground.

 

  It took him a while to get out from underneath the bear however he did finally manage it.  He was covered with blood but none of it was his; it was all the bears.  Sir Herman was bruised and battered, however he was not cut or scratched too badly.    All and all he had come out of the fight pretty lucky.  After he got his breath back, he put his fingers to his lips and let out an ear splitting whistle.  Again, he had gotten lucky for Nelly was still within earshot and soon was thundering up to him.  She shied a little at the blood and bear smell, but was well trained and soon let him hook a drag to the bear and pulled it back to a stream near his camp.  Sir Herman dressed the body and quartered it setting aside the best parts for the dragon and roasting a little for himself as the morning activities had made him ravenous.   He reluctantly threw the rest into the stream to be carried off by the current, and thus not attract predators to this spot.  Then he stripped and cleaned himself off and all his clothes.  The mountain cold water was a shock but felt wonderful on the bruises he had acquired in the fight.  He hung his clothes to dry on branches and lay down full length in the shallow part so as enjoy the sensation. He had lain there but a minute when he heard a muted woman’s chuckle through the water.

 

  Of course, it was the sorceress Nog. He had mistakenly thought he was out of range of her abilities to project herself.  She chucked again as he leapt and covered himself grabbing the first item of clothes to come to hand.  “At least give me some dignity woman and look away as I dress!” he yelled at her.  She covered her mouth with both hands to smother her laughter as she turned away, her eyes twinkling with green/gold mischief.  Soon the knight was descent.  As he turned back to her she exclaimed with a gasp, “Oh my Lord, you have been injured.”  Now it was Sir Herman’s turn to chuckle.

“Nay my Lady just bruised battered and scratched, the latest creature your wizard sent after me will make a good meal for a dragon.”  She seemed genuinely concerned though and it made him feel a little better for all his embarrassment. 

 

  She came up to him and laying a hand upon each of his shoulders stared deep into his eyes.  He felt himself falling into their gold/green depths and then suddenly they were brown again and he felt a hundred percent better.  She had healed him of his injuries down to the smallest minor scratch.  “A very commendable ability Sorceress Nog,”

He gave her a cursory bow, and continued.  “I assume you had great need to seek me out so far from the lair, tell me, is it harder then being close?”  Nog looked confused and embarrassed for a moment.  Perhaps she had not expected such a perceptive question.  In addition, she was a little put out by the knight’s attitude, which was so formal and stiff. 

PG 12:            Created by Anthony Hotopp 

PLEEP THE DRAGON              Book Two: Chapter Two

“A very observant question Sir Herman. Yes, it is uncomfortable however I have been able to get further each time and you are about at my present limits.”  Sir Herman sat and gestured her to do the same upon the scattered rocks by the stream.  “You seem different Sir Herman is there injury to you I did not sense?”  Her concern touched him, yet he did not feel free to explain how a warrior changed before a known battle.  How his mind was crisp, clean, and focused.  Neither did he wish to tell her how little her beauty affected him now.  She could sense that from the forthright way he looked into her eyes, with no embarrassment or uncertainty at all.  She was not vain, being unused to male attention to her present form, yet she found herself a little disappointed. She realized that she had been flattered by the knight’s attentions and the cute way he kept looking at his feet.  Yet, she had no right thinking of the brave knight like this. 

 

He would certainly cringe and look upon her with disgust if he knew what she really was. It was best if he thought only of her the way she was now.  She also realized that Sir Herman was every bit the man she had thought he would be. She was glad now that she had assisted him.  He was much like his father and she thought with regret that it was too bad that she could not tell him that.  She decided however to tell him as much as she could.  It was a shame she would never see him again and the others so close to her heart.

Yet being what she was, she could think of no other way.  

 

  She continued, “The wizard is back in his lair, he is occupied and should not know of your entry into the mist. However, the second you succeed in leaving the mist you shall come to his notice.  It is better that you not face him and flee immediately.  If you can heal the mother she will set the mist free: Then you must convince her to bear you aloft for not only will you face my lord but also many hidden terrible things held and collected within the mist.  When the mist lifts it will free all the denizens contained within it. That will give you a moment to escape for my lord will have to recapture them quickly lest they also escape him.  That would be a terrible loss for he has been long in their capture.  Therefore, must you flee at that moment leaving me and mine behind.  I beg you do not hesitate or give it thought.  It is the only way.

 

” Suddenly she gave a gasp and seemed to look back over her shoulder.  “He comes I must away… take this and remember time in the mist is different so time here is less.  You will come out only hours after you enter even if you seem to spend days.  Take your time see she is well healed.  Farewell.”   As quick as that, she was gone, leaving a smooth white stone in his upturned hand and the lingering feeling of the sweetest tenderest lips that had ever touched his.  It was time to get to work.  There was a lot of work to do in a very short time. 

 

A Decision Made: 

  There was no way he was going to leave that beautiful unselfish woman in the hands of the wizard, nor her child.  The selflessness of her being willing to stay behind while he made his escape was against every code of knighthood he had ever heard of.  She may be a sorceress but she was still a lady in distress.

PG 13:                                                 Created by Anthony Hotopp 

PLEEP THE DRAGON              Book Two: Chapter Two

 

 

  He was not sure exactly what he would do, perhaps get the dragons to safety, and have the mother spell him back, or something like that.  All he knew was he now had two quests, the original quest too free his friend Pleep and his mother; then to rescue the lady and her child. Sir Herman felt about as big as the bear he had fought.  He had fashioned a pack out of branches using strips of rawhide from his saddlebags.  Two hundred pounds of bear meat, the saddle bags themselves, fifty-six pounds or seven gallons of water tied at the top in a bearskin holder, tender and flint and anything else he thought would be useful in a place which had no amenities.  He had discarded his heavy armor keeping only chain metal, hose, tunic, helm, and gauntlets.  Soft leather boots, shield, sword, and hunting knife completed his costume.  He had cut long strips of the bears hide to attach to the frame of the pack and ‘bear’ it upon his shoulders.  (Pun intended) There were straight strips from top to bottom on each side to allow him to quickly shimmy out and drop it at need.

 

  Nelly had been hard to say goodbye to.  He hoped that if he did not come back that she would find a herd or a good person take care of her.  She seemed to know this might be the last time she saw him for she had paused and looked back at him several times as if she hoped he was kidding.  He had told her “scout” which in warhorse meant go back to the last place and wait.  He had to shout it at her the last time, as she seemed reluctant to do it. She had borne him and his pack to this spot at the bottom of the valley just outside of the mist. With a sigh and a last look back, clutching the stone to his heart, Sir Herman entered the mist.

 

Next: Into the mist:

 

End of Chapter Two:  Book Two

Created by Anthony Creighton Hotopp

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ACH Unpublished Works 2003

 

Scroll Down for Chapter three

PG 14:            Created by Anthony Hotopp 

PLEEP THE DRAGON              Book Two: Chapter Three

INTO THE MIST / HEALING / UNEXPECTED FRIENDS / A PLAN /SIR HERMAN DREAMS:

 

Yep it was a dragon all right.  It was huge, bigger then Sir Herman ever imagined that it could be.  Momma was definitely of the older dragons having reached such a tremendous size.  His dad had told him once that dragons continued to grow until the day they died, yet he had never really appreciated that fact until now.  When he had first entered, the mist there had been nothing there at all; besides mist that is.  Even the ground seemed to be mist although it felt solid enough to the feet.  He was wondering ‘where on earth’ that the dragon could be when the stone in his hand had glowed a bright white. There was a wrenching feeling and he was dizzy a moment, and the next thing he knew he was standing in front of the dragon, which seemed to be sleeping.

 

 She did not look as if she was in very good shape at all.  He did not know a lot about dragons but her color seemed wrong.  Her left wing was cocked at an unnatural angle and he thought that he could see bone protruding at one of the points. She was spattered with dried gore but it was hard to tell how badly she was slashed because the mist swirled and flowed, also there was a bit of apparent distance between them.  He slipped out of his pack depositing it on the ground as quietly as possible, not wishing to wake her up yet; for he still did not have a complete plan on how he was going to approach her.  For one thing, there was no place to duck or hide if she was to become violent.  There was only the mist of which they seemed to be inside of a bubble of.  Yet, at the same time it seemed to be endless. As an experiment, he walked in a straight line away from both momma dragon and his pack.  Yet it seemed no matter how far he walked he could only get so far and no further then about twenty yards from the pack.  It seemed to be about the same distance as between the pack and the dragon.

 

  That was interesting.  Even more interesting was when he walked to the side and looked back the pack and dragon still seemed to be in front of him.  The view seemed not to change at all, so perhaps not a bubble but an aisle.  This mist had some very strange properties. He fixed the pack in his mind as north, and the dragon as south.  He had tried to the right so that would be east.  He reversed his direction and headed west.  He received the same results as before.  The pack and dragon were still in front of him.  ‘Most curious,’ thought the knight.  Yet, this was getting him nowhere literally.  It was time to beard the dragon in her own lair, so to say.  However, this was no lair and she had no beard.

 

  He adjusted his shield to a more comfortable position yet he did not draw his sword for he did not want to appear to be aggressive if he could help it.  Now his pack was behind him and the dragon in front but curiously they seemed to be about equal distance and it seemed he was taking many more steps then necessary to reach her.  Then suddenly he was approaching her rapidly and he noticed with a start that her eyes were now open.  Perhaps it had taken her awareness for him to approach because before he had seemed to walk towards her but get no closer. 

PG 15:            Created by Anthony Hotopp 

PLEEP THE DRAGON              Book Two: Chapter Three

 

  Sir Herman strode straight up to her without a falter in his step and stopped about six feet in front of her.  She did not even try to raise her head.  She just let out a wispy sigh as if she had been expecting something like this.  Perhaps she wished to be put out of her misery.  The knight noticed the resemblance between her and Pleep.  Yet there was something else, her eyes were liquid gold with the hints of blue green seas and somehow he felt that he knew those eyes, from dreams or an experience.  ‘Yet again they were not unlike the little dragon’s eyes’ thought Sir Herman shaking his head.  It took him a moment to shake off the spell they had put him under. He thought about Pleep as he prepared to speak to his mom.  Suddenly there was a wrenching.  The same kind of wrenching as he had felt when he thought of finding the mother and she had suddenly appeared.  Now it was Pleep who appeared. 

 

  Everything happened at once and all chaos broke out.  Mother and Knight both stared at the baby dragon startled.  The aisle had now become a triangle with Pleep as the third point.  Pleep spotted mom and Sir Herman and let out a loud extremely happy “pleep” and whomped towards the two of them.  Momma let out a bellow in Sir Herman’s face that literally knocked him to the ground and deafened him.  She started to raise broken wing and all.  She had risen onto three legs one dangling uselessly and then up on her haunches.  She sucked in a mighty breath prepared to fry knight into a pile of ash as Pleep had the trolls in the forest.  Sir Herman barely had time to duck behind his shield as the blast hit him.  There was no time to negotiate or bespeak her.  She thought she was protecting her child.  That the knight would kill Pleep, once he’d disposed of her, or that he had lured him there to find her. 

 

  The shield wasn’t enough. It was starting to melt and the edges were glowing and growing hot.  Sir Herman could feel his skin beginning to blister and smell his hair smoldering.  She was going to kill him and he would never have a chance to explain.  She and Pleep could be doomed to remain here forever here with his death, separated again in the mist and lonely once more.  He wondered for a moment if the pack of meat would also disappear with his death and the destruction of the stone.  Perhaps it would remain and her and his friend would still win free.  Then suddenly there was a thump followed by a screech and the flames stopped.  The knight threw the smoldering shield as far away from him as he could and struggled to rise.  His outfit and the hair sticking out from his helm still smoldered. 

 

Momma dragon tried to swing her head back for another fire strike and Pleep blocked her once again.  She tried to go around the little dragon and he let out a blast of flame himself right across her snoot.  She reared up and looked at him fully for the first time with a complete look of startlement on her face.  Pleep’s lips were moving now.  “ FFFF FFF Friend Momma,” he bellowed.  She looked from the little dragon to the knight with a look of disbelief and the nobleness of Sir Herman came to the fore.  He drew his sword and kneeled before the great dragon.  Then laying the sword hilt first at her feet, he bowed his head. 

 

PG 16:            Created by Anthony Hotopp 

PLEEP THE DRAGON              Book Two: Chapter Three

 

  It was a sign as old as the dragon itself and one his father had told him dragons understand.  It was the age old sign of the way a knight does meet royalty, a custom as old as the hills and considered sacred.  It was a sign of peace and humility and the total dedication of a knight to his liege, or his lord.  “Noble dragon,” said Sir Herman daring to look up, “I assure you I mean neither you nor young ‘Pleep,” he nodded to the young dragon, “any harm and indeed we have sought you as brothers on quest and shared blood together.” Momma looked at him carefully and fleetingly the knight remembered that dragons were rumored to skrie truth.  She saw the truth in him and believed.  She settled to the ground with a dragonish sigh.  Sir Herman let loose a sigh of his own.  ‘I must have been insane,’ he thought, ‘to have been seeking out a beast like this to slay.’

 

  Some friends he had; goading him to seek out such a confrontation, yet he too had joyfully sought it.  He had thought to restore his honor, the honor of the knights, and the honor of his family name by besting one such as this.  He realized now that his honor would have died with him.  There would have been no way he could have defeated such a creature and he had been insane to think he could.  She was not even the beast he had imagined, for her intelligence shone in her eyes, in the way she had understood him and in the way she trusted the word of her cub.    He picked up his sword and re-sheathed it with one smooth motion then taking a seat before the dragon he began to explain.

 

Healing:

 

 Sir Herman had one sick dragon on his hands but she seemed to be healing rapidly, much faster than a human with similar wounds would have.  What would have taken human months of healing she had accomplished in weeks.  He had packed with intelligence and not a little foresight.  The sticks, which comprised his pack, had become splints for momma dragon’s wing and leg.  The food he had packed in was more then sufficient to heal momma dragon, she had assured him.   Yes, she could talk.  She just did not like to talk to morons, she told him, and most humans just were not worth the time to talk too.  Sir Herman always felt a little deaf after a conversation with her, and usually heard a ringing in his ears for a while afterwards.  However, she was a very worthy creature to talk to, and he was rapidly learning many truths. 

 

One truth was that everything the Sorceress Nog had told him before entering the mist was correct.  For one: time was stretched in such a way that momma dragon’s injuries would have never have healed or would have taken hundreds of years.  It was all a little confusing but the bottom line was that without food and essentially not having a real need for food in this realm, healing was prolonged and painful.  By introducing food into the environment, the healing process was greatly multiplied by factors, even the brilliant dragon could not figure.  Enorehtona as she liked to be called was as old as the hills and as wise as the sages were of old.  She was a sorceress in her own right, although in the dragon way, and it was very, very old magic.

PG 17:            Created by Anthony Hotopp 

PLEEP THE DRAGON              Book Two: Chapter Three

 

  Not as old of magic as that which held them now, she explained to both the knight and Pleep. For this was the magic of creation and she thought perhaps an ancient was holding them.  This especially excited Pleep who had already figured this out for himself, and was very proud of that fact.  Pleep still had a very limited vocabulary but was coming along very well with Sir Herman and mom both, giving him daily lessons.   

 

  There was no real way to keep track of time, however the knight kept track of his periods of sleep and figured he had been there about a week or thereabouts.  Of course, Nog had said this would be so, and that they would emerge merely hours after he had entered however there was a problem.  Enorehtona (E’ nor eh Tone ah) explained that she did not think even when she had regained full strength that she would be able to break the spell that held them.  She was powerful, but after all if this was the magic of creation it was older and more powerful then hers.  In order to break this kind of magic she explained you would have to know the language of creation or at least the word that had created this place.  She would use all the powers at her command, however she felt it unlikely she could skrie the word; for although dragons had been attempting to learn the words of creation for centuries, none yet had ever succeeded. 

 

  In his turn, Sir Herman imparted most of his life story to her and how he had come about to being on this quest to find her.  He even with no little bit of embarrassment, admitted to the facts of why he had been seeking her out, to fight her in order to win back his family honor, and the honor of the forgotten and reviled knights.  As a knight of the old order he could not lie and felt he had to tell all, though he did so with not a little fear.

  “My father was a knight of great honor and well known.  The King had our castle built and gave the lands to my father in perpetuity, for his great deeds for the kingdom’s behalf. Yet the king fell out of favor and was killed one night in his bed.  The king’s brother is an evil man but at the time was the beloved uncle of the king’s son, and was made the guardian of the child until Roderick was old enough to take the kingship.  The uncle, Jimenez secretly hated his brother and many suspect arranged his demise.  However, the Kings will, declared him the guardian, and no one could put it aside or gainsay it.” 

 

  “His true nature soon became apparent as he kidnapped and held captive the kingdoms prettiest maidens for his own uses, and parents begin to send their girl children of a certain age away.  The king’s son also was privy to these acts as well, and became active in an adult manner at a very young age.  He became mean and spiteful and was encouraged in these feelings by the evil uncle.  When he took the reins of kingship at the age of fifteen, he had become quite the opposite of his benevolent father.  The first thing he did as King was to raise taxes and disband The Knights OF The Order.  These were replaced by soldiers and bullies who strong armed the peasants into paying their taxes or took their land from them in retaliation, sometimes the retaliation was worse then the taking.  Women were beat and taken advantage of, children taken from their homes and sold off into slavery, and men, beaten or killed in savage unnaturally cruel ways.”

 

PG 18:            Created by Anthony Hotopp 

PLEEP THE DRAGON              Book Two: Chapter Three

 

Sir Herman sighed before going on: “My father seeing the evil in the land and being unable to do nothing, became a drunk.  He died penniless and with no honor leaving the burden of the castle and its lands to me.  My mother died soon after of a broken heart and spoke not a word from dad’s death to her own.  I refused to become a soldier so labored in fields, and tried my hand at grapes for wine, which kept the taxes paid.  Yet, with the king and the growing atrocities I had a vision of bringing back the knighthood.  Now the knight faltered.  He had told everything thus far, he thought, it was time to fess up and tell the whole truth. “So I was seeking you out to slay you and bring back the honor of the knights, the honor of my house, and to show the kingdom that there could still be heroes and perhaps take heart.” 

 

However, he expected her to react he was both mortified and startled by her reaction to as he ended his story.  She reared up in fury almost undoing all his doctoring and for a startled instant; he thought she meant to attack him despite the friendship they had formed.    Yet it was not anger at him that made her rise and he indeed was not the object of her anger.  It was righteous indignation that made her rise and regale the knight with the longest speech she had yet made.

 

 “Sir Herman,” she rumbled, “You are the most honorable man I have ever met.  Of all your kind, you are the first man I have chosen to speak to as an equal.  I have fought against and killed hundreds of your kind who have sought me out over my long life.  Of all those whom came against me I have only spoken to two.  One was a wizard whom came against me out of a misunderstanding, and one a knight not unlike yourself.  Both I found to be worthy of my words of acknowledgement, as well as sparing their lives, however none have I ever met that I found worthy of calling friend. Yet, it was you whom made friendship possible by befriending my child.  Despite the fact that my child put you under duress with your kind, and in your own home, you undertook quest and were bonded with blood by dragon law of combat to Pleep.”

 

  She smiled a dragonish smile and wisps of smoke curled up from her nostrils.  She continued, “I have decided that the name ‘Pleep’ is appropriate, he agrees, so that shall be his man-ling name.”  Sir Herman bowed with pleasure at the honor of having been allowed to name his little friend. Rehtona (for short) continued, pulling her wings back which had been extended with her agitation. He had yet to learn the source of that anger.  “You have done great deeds on this day Sir Herman, and I foresee that you are not yet done, that your honor will force you to go on to save the sorceress and her child?  I do not recommend this course of action; however, I can see that you are determined to do this thing.  Were you to free us and go alone to face the wizard you would be facing your death for this is no normal wizard.  I also see that no words of mine can sway you, even though the maiden did not ask this help of you, and neither did she expect it of you.  I know this because I know well this sorceress and her motivations.

PG 19:            Created by Anthony Hotopp 

PLEEP THE DRAGON              Book Two: Chapter Three

 

 She continued with out letting him answer “No, do not bother to answer, I know the caliber of man you are and I know you would free my child and I and go on to try to save the sorceress and hers.  It shall not be so; I will not let you go into that den by your own. You are now bonded to us.  You have asked nothing of me or mine and offered your help without a thought of your own interest.  Pleep has told me all and filled in the gaps that you have left and you have acted in every moment with the honor of your ancestors.  I am glad I let your father live to sire such a man.  It would have been a great loss to this world had it worked out any other way.

 

Now Sir Herman was startled into speechlessness and momma dragon continued.  “You resemble your father you know.  He was a great man and a great warrior and knight.  You in deed as well as manner are the son of Terrendel he who they called the dragon slayer.  Had he then told you of his fight with me?”  The knight found himself staring at his feet in confusion.  This was the dragon.  This was the dragon, which his father had lost too.  The one that helped to end his love of life, his spirit and pride.  So strange had been the true story about the fight, that nobody had believed him.  Now here was the confirmation of the truth of his father’s words from the dragon itself.  

 

 “Yes Enorethona, my father told that story.  He told it often and loud especially when he was drunk.  He said that he slipped on the creature’s blood.  That the sword went bouncing out of his reach.  He said the Dragon pinned him to the ground with one claw and had him dead to rights.  Then the dragon hissed his name and took to the air leaving him free and unharmed, though bloodied and battered.”   He repeated that story a thousand times in my hearing, because I was the only one who believed him, or listened anymore.  That is all I know and all I was told though of course the rumors and retelling of it was silly.  That he had fought twenty dragons, that he had slain a whole brood of dragons, and even that he had sold his soul for the dragon’s power and hence the lie of it letting him live.  People treated him like a pleasant moron after that, all believed his brain was rattled by too many fights.  Nevertheless, what ever happened it was the end of him, as I knew him.  When a knight loses honor and trustworthiness, it is the end of him.  He died long before the knights were disbanded and the kingdom fell to ruin, he died the day the first person called him a liar.  He then was telling the truth after all?”  Sir Herman asked the last part with a little catch in his voice.  He had always believed his dads story. 

 

“Yes, he was telling the truth.”  She said it softly for a dragon that is, and then she continued with a little more fire in her eye.  “Your father fought with honor and fought well. I bear scars from that fight.  Yet, he did not tell you the whole story, or perhaps not all of the truth.  You see he had me at his mercy first.”  Sir Herman’s jaw fell open and he clinked it shut feeling a little foolish.  “I caught my front leg in a crevice the claw buried in rock.  He stepped back and said ‘Nay noble beast, I shall not take your life thusly for it is against my code.  Do you free yourself and we shall have at it again.’”

PG 20:            Created by Anthony Hotopp 

PLEEP THE DRAGON              Book Two: Chapter Three

 

 “So did I free myself and have at it again, and had not your father slipped on mine own blood, this story might have had a very different end.  Therefore, did I acknowledge him by letting him also live and speaking his name. That is the whole of it.” 

  Sir Herman had dropped to one knee and tears were streaming from his eyes.  They were tears of happiness.  He had known he was right to believe his father even when no body else did.  He was so proud of his dad at that moment and at the same time so sad that he had died such an unjust and useless death.  He hoped his dad died knowing that he loved and believed him.

 

Unexpected Friends:

 

  He stripped a gauntlet from his right hand wiped his face with grubby hands.  After all, he had not bathed in a while but there was nothing he could do about it now.  ‘What a silly thing to think of now, but he sure did stink, and it seemed to be getting worse. Suddenly the air around them was putrid; there was an overwhelming stench of decay and the sweet sour smell of death.  Something that looked at first like a beautifully intricate snowflake about a foot in diameter, appeared between the Dragons and the knight.  It brought with it the chill of the grave.  As it grew larger, the chill as well as the feeling of corruption grew with it.  As it grew and the stench intensified it began losing its beauty and crisp web like contours.  The white grew gray and dim shot through with patches and glimpses of corruption like things rotting and dying.  When it was about eight feet tall and half that wide there was a vibration through the air as well as through the mist, a deep seeded hum through the land like a million angry bees. 

 

  “I KNOW YOU.” Hissed Enorehtona as all stepped back from the nimbus that had grown between them.  They could still see each other through it but looking at it hurt the eyes and Sir Herman was barely able to hold on to the contents of his stomach for the stench.  The greasy seeming unnerving colors of it swirled in unpleasant patterns, sometimes seeming like trapped beings, trying to escape the translucent skin of that which held them.  It was even worse when it spoke.  It came from everywhere and nowhere.  It slithered through his mind like a sibilant hiss yet at the same time buffeted his ears like a close lightning strike and thunder.

  Most of it was incomprehensible to him but the meaning was clear.  What ever this thing was, it was offering to help.  Yet, it was so horrible and the knight had come closer to soiling himself at its appearance then at any time in his life.  It was repulsive and he could not even bear to look at it for more then a few seconds.  Now it and the dragon were talking and he could not understand the words.  Suddenly Momma flinched and almost fell face first with a swoon, and the horrible thing was gone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

PG 21:            Created by Anthony Hotopp 

PLEEP THE DRAGON              Book Two: Chapter Three

 

 Pleep was gibbering and making no sense; Momma was trying to comfort him.  Sir Herman found himself trying to rise from his knees and felt as if every inch of his body had been beaten.  “What the hades was that?”  Momma turned her attention from Pleep and answered.  “A very horrible thing as old as the Gods and just as dangerous, that my friend was the Htaednu.  It like us is caught in the mist and it has given us both the means too free ourselves and all others caught in the mist but there is a price.  The price is that we have to free it too, and loose the undead once again upon the world for that is the master of Zombies and King of the dead upon earth.  We are deep into it my friend for the undead have not walked the earth in my lifetime and that is at least how long that thing has resided here.  To lose it upon the earth will have many consequences and even I with all my knowledge cannot foresee the outcome of such a thing.” 

The knight sat heavily upon his bedroll with his head in his hands, one gauntlet on and one still off; the unused one slipping to the ground beside him, if you could call it ground. 

It was a lot to take in and he was feeling weary, “Tell me the rest.” He whispered knowing that there was more she was not telling him and wanting to get it all over with now.   She told him the rest.

 

A Plan:

 

“I do not think I like this plan.  Not only does it put both you and my friend Pleep in danger, we will be releasing an ancient evil upon this earth and my code will not permit me to do such a thing.”  Enorehtona gave a dragonish sigh of exasperation.  They had been arguing just this point for hours and she felt like she was beating a dead horse, as the saying goes.  “Sir Herman how can I make you understand? The Htaednu is not evil; it is just different, then you or I.  Evil is the definition of our own perspective.  Some might view you as evil for having killed.  Yet, by your code of knighthood it was not evil but necessary.  I do not like the thought of unleashing the undead upon the world either.  Yet in your own mortal history did not Varizel the Good make a deal with the Htaednu when the kingdom was overrun by barbarians and civilization itself was at risk.  And did not the Htaednu withdraw with its minions as agreed upon afterwards to never grace this world again?”

“Yes, you have said that several times now, and I say again how do we know that the Htaednu withdrew, or was it because it was caught in the mist here soon after, how do we know what evil it may have reaped had it not been caught here?  No the risk is too great and I think I would rather remain forever in the mist rather than take that chance.”

  Momma dragon threw up her arms in defeat, which looked pretty funny on a dragon, but there was nothing funny about this situation.  If Sir Herman stuck to his code, then there was no way out of the mist.  No way but death and even that was uncertain.  “I am tired Sir Herman, tired of the mist, tired of arguing but most of all, tired of this conversation.  I suggest we sleep on it and when we awaken, we can see if we can find another way.  I give up, you win, I have called you dragon friend so will not go against you but I think you doom us all.”  With these words momma curled up and made herself comfortable.  

 

 

PG 22:            Created by Anthony Hotopp 

PLEEP THE DRAGON              Book Two: Chapter Three

 

Time had no meaning in this place.  There was no day or night; no sense of time passing, in the endless mist, however you did eventually tire, and sleep did eventually overcome you.  Such a time was it now and Pleep had already curled up and was snoring softly.  Sir Herman was so tired he almost staggered as he made his place once more in the comfort of Pleep’s sleeping form.  He missed the moment of momma’s eyes opening and the gentle way she gazed upon their sleeping forms. She was glad Pleep had found a friend and amused by their closeness.  He really was a good and honorable man, despite his stubbornness.   Perhaps sleep would bring a different perspective. 

 

Sir Herman Dreams Once Again:

 

What ever it was, it was getting closer.  It stank of evil and for the first time Sir Herman found he was terrified.  He did not know what was hunting him he only knew that if it caught him he would lose his life and perhaps his soul.  He ran through a nightmare landscape of twisted trees and tangled roots.  The moon was huge, and it was dripping blood.  It bathed the scene with a sickly light that made his eyes water.  He could no longer see where he was going.  He could hear the thing hunting him crashing through the brush behind him, getting closer by the second.  He could feel its fetid breath upon his neck now.  He could feel the moistness of its corruption.  He screamed and thrust further into the twisted roots of trees until he heard a crack of bone shattering and knew he was lost.  His body was broken, there was nowhere left to run, and it was upon him:

  He gazed up to look into the twisting soul wrenching light of the Htaednu.  He could once more smell the corruption and knew that he was lost.  It would eat his soul and leave him one of the undead, forever lost and denied either heaven or hell.  Then it spoke and in its voice were the screams of a thousand lost souls:

 

 You fear me!?&#^@@^%Why do you fear me so!?

 

“You are evil, you will eat my soul and leave me only a mockery of life, soul less and forlorn.”

 

$$**%$And you fear this more then death!? You would throw away then your only chance to stay in this world!?

 

“Yes, I reject you. Even non existence would be preferable to a life lived like that.”

 

Then,(&**^@@^&# you are a fool, let me show you what you would be giving up?!!

 

And it consumed him, flowing over him like a slug over a blade of grass, then did he find himself in another place, a place of such beauty as to make his soul weep.  It was filled with people of all kinds and types, and they shone with health and happiness.  Children played in wooded glades filled with pure light, a rainbow dance of color.

 

 

PG 23:            Created by Anthony Hotopp 

PLEEP THE DRAGON              Book Two: Chapter Three

 

 Animals of every kind and description frolicked with him, some of whom had not graced the earth in a million years, and all were content.  None were the hunter or the hunted, for within the confides of the Hteadnu all were at peace and all needs were met.  Sir Herman woke up crying for the beauty of it, with a feeling of something lost: never to be regained again.  Once awake he remembered momma dragon’s words, ‘It is not evil, it is just different then us,’ he knew now that it was true.

 

Created by Anthony Creighton Hotopp

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[email protected]

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ACH Incorporated

ACH Unpublished Works 2004

 

End of Chapter Three:  Book Two:

I have not yet decided 

Wolf   (“)  ^@@^ (“)