A good day to die (Day 3-4) -- WRETCHED STATE

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Date Posted: 09:49:24 06/02/00 Fri
Author: Sir D
Subject: A good day to die (Day 3-4)

**I bet you all thought I vanished? ;) Anyway, here's a little update I managed to whip up so far, I am not completely sure if my chronology is correct, if I made a mistake this is day 4-5? Not quite certain.**

Mirabelle jumped off the dragon's neck as they landed in the Cannaday war camp. Janora was standing there, holding the third Tri-arcanoth's head, but next thing, a guard took it from her hands and signaled the dragon to follow.
At the command post, Belamore, now king Belamane again was just being lowered in his tote to the ground by two peasant men who were wearing royal crest signs over their filthy working clothes.
Belamore was seated at a table and the guard dropped off the head in front.

Tri-arcanoth dragged his vast bulk close and lowered both of his remaining heads, eyeing what was once a part of his body.
"I will not waste many words dragon", Belamore spoke.
"We have been informed of the unjustice done to you by the previous Cannaday lord, and great efforts were spent into reclaiming your lost head, as a token of our apology. I would personally like to..."

A noise which by dragon terms was probably considered a gentle grumble, yet for humans it sounded dangerously close to a roar, interrupted the king.
"Spare me the human diplomacy talks, king Belamane." the dragon spoke, slight tone of annoyance in his voice.
"You clearly wish to present me with my head in exchange for a favour... perhaps even my service in your little war that is being readied just outside these walls. Am I not right?"
One of the heads stretched further down and faced eye to eye with the king now.
Belamore's stern look remained calm.
"Alright, I'll level with you, oh mighty Tri-arcanoth." he cut off an answer, just as Mirabelle joined her father at the negotiation table.
"We do require your help in the upcoming battle... But regardless of what you decide... I will not keep this head my posession. I have ordered it retrieved so it would be returned to you. And that is what I intend to do now. The head is yours again, no conditions."
Dragon's two eyes eyed the human king carefully...
"You speak wisely, fitting one to be a king, Belamane."
The dragon replied, breathing heavily.
Mirabelle stepped forward after few moments of silence, facing the king herself now.
"Your majesty," she nodded. "What my father is trying to say is that we came here with the intention to help you in the first place."

Belamore gave a look that hinted surprise to the charming young lady standing in front of him, who presented herself as the daughter to the elder arcanoth dragon.

"Furthermore," Mirabelle continued before either the dragon or the King could say anything. "We have scouted the Tankan forces prepairing the siege of Cannaday, and I believe we have some vital tactical information to offer already." she paused, taking a breath.
"I would be glad to discuss this with you, after I've made

preparations to restore what is left of this head's power to my father."

Belamore recovered from the surprise fully. "We will be honored to have you help defenses of the Cannaday castle, mylady. I am also looking forward to hearing what your scouting has unveiled. Whatever you might require for the procedure you mention", he pointed at the dragon head on the table, "my men are at your disposal to help in any way they can."
"Thank you, your majesty." Mirabelle responded, picking up the head from the table.

---

Much later at night that day, after finishing the restoration procedure, Mirabelle met up with Belamore to talk about the oncoming Tankan attack.
Tri-arcanoth was resting, healing the wound received from the sorcerer attack, and regaining new strentgh with every passing minute... though no magic could save the head itself, much of its power could still be restored. The two headed dragon was looking into the upcoming battle with reneved vigor...

Celebrations were slowly quieting down as the young sorceress and the old king sat down in the command tent, with a weak light from an oil lantern illuminating the tent.
"So you are saying there is over 90000 men outside the Cannaday walls alone?" Belamore said. "According to othe rest of reports, this would make the total force well over 100000... Tankan must have enlisted some new allies." King's face darkened with worry.
"I am afraid that is not all the allies he enlisted, your majesty."
Mirabelle continued, her facial features wavering in the lantern light.
"There is a powerfull sorcerer with them as well. One who's presence I know very well..."

"How powerfull exactly is that?" Belamore asked. "Can he actively participate in the battle?"

Mirabelle sighed. "He could probably bring down the wall of Cannaday by himself if he chose to do so... But most likely he will first be on the lookout for any inhuman allies of your own..."

"Which means Jax and your father will have that much more trouble rendering assistance..." Belamore finished the thought dragonwitch began, shaking his head.

"All is not dark your majesty." Mirabelle said. "I can render some protection of my own, and as powerfull as he is, El-Bayodi is still only one man."
"I appreciate the positive thoughts," Belamore replied with a slight smile...
The two continued talking long into the night, while Cannaday mostly fell silent.

---

Magan's eyes stared into the horizon, completely motionless, as if they were made of crystal. Celebrations have long ceased, but he took no notice of it. Casting out the inner look his sword provided him with, he could see through the dark almost like daylight.
Most beings utterly insignificant, but something just far off the horizont, where enemy forces preparing the siege were perhaps... some force radiated invintingly...

He looked down at his right hand, where he held the remnants of Alexandra's emerald necklace. A shadow passed over his face, and the next moment his hand clutched the remnants of the trinket, squeezing hard.
His eyes flared constant inhumanly green now.

---

Next morning, a dark figure descended from the tower.
Belamore was just carried out of his tent, as Sir Dragzfuth made his way dow. The old king looked hopefully as he saw the knight finally break his solitude.
Nearby a scout party was readied to depart.
"Good morning, sire" Magan spoke, in an indiferent tone.
"Morning indeed... but good... that remains to be seen." Belamore replied how jokingly.
"A good day to die perhaps," the knight noted, then turned to the scouting party.
"They are to scout the tankan main force?", he said, eyeing the soldiers. Two of them were but his age, yet Magan's look appeared to carry an ancience to it, that made him appear more like a battle veteran compared to them.

"Yes, one of the few patrols we can afford to spare sending out at the moment." The king said.
Magan looked at Belamore again. "I will take command of the patrol", his tone was determined mixing with order like manner that demanded no opposing his statement.

Yet Belamore 'dared' to do just that. "I would prefer to keep you here right now Magan. Sir Fyale has already ridden out yesterday in pursue of a Tankan scouting force that attacked Arelle's home... I don't want to risk more men than needed..."

"Sire, if with anyone, these men will be safe under my command...", Magan replied. "You also know my skills are best used out there."

The old king sighed, yet he understood the knight's sentiments. Slightly reluctantly, he gave the order to the scouting party to follow Magan's command.

---

Magan jumped on his horse, leading the party of 10 men outside the walls of Cannaday. Galloping, they passed Mirabelle whom was just coming from tending to her father...
For a short moment, the looks of the two met... and in the same time, Mirabelle's eyes went wide with terror as they met cold green glow in Magan's. Then, the riders were gone.

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Replies:

Re: A good day to die (Day 3-4) -- (Mel), 23:25:04 08/13/00 Sun
Much story and intrigue here... -- Fred Ezella, 09:06:36 08/22/00 Tue
- Do note that... -- Sir D, 17:24:36 08/29/00 Tue