Chapter 15: Chapter 15: A Dragon’s Wrath

“Lady Black!” the voice roared again outside the guild home.

Olivia’s eyes trembled as the realization began to sink in of what was happening. Symon, Cedric, Nyana, and Qin were close by, next to Olivia and Serafina. The mood darkened as the shout from outside carried a rage-filled edge.

Serafina snapped her fingers in front of Olivia’s face and the young woman turned her fearful eyes to the woman in black.

“We don’t have much time if you want to survive. I know that voice out there and he will not allow a stray to escape. You’re only hope of making out of this alive to become one of us,” Serafina explained.

Olivia shook her head. “No, there must be another way. Buy me time and I will escape out the back. I’ll leave and never come back,” she said with a near hysterical edge.

Serafina kept her hard gaze, “Do you believe you can escape them forever? They have eyes and ears in towns and cities across Norr. If they found you earlier tonight, they will find you again.”

Symon stepped closer with concern in his eyes. “Olivia, this is the only way to save your life.”

“Lady Black! Send out Olivia Kuppe or we will come in and drag her out!” the voice outside shouted loudly.

“They know my name,” Olivia said with wide eyes.

Cedric picked up his book from the couch and stood at the ready. “We must prepare our defense.”

Serafina glanced around to everyone in the room. “Listen to me, if we make one move against them, they will have every right to kill us.”

The woman in black turned her gaze to Olivia, “But if you are one of us, they will have to take payment instead of resorting to violence. To help us make it through this, I need to know what you did to anger their wrath?”

Olivia looked at the woman in black with wide eyes, but remained silent.

“Olivia,” Symon began. “Tell us and we can help you.”

The young woman glanced at everyone nearby, her lip beginning to tremble.

Serafina scowled before turning her attention to Symon. “Convince her to tell us what happened. I’ll get the vial.”

She then turned her attention to Cedric, “You, use that wit for something useful and stall them outside.”

Cedric blinked before he stuck out his chest and nodded.

Serafina bolted away to the corridor and vanished from sight. Cedric took in a deep breath and stepped to the front door, his large book in hand. The kobolds rushed to a window and peeked outside. Symon placed his hands on Olivia’s shoulders.

“We are going to get through this, but we have to trust each other,” he said with an edge of kindness.

Olivia stared for a breath before she looked away. “That night, one of the kobolds chased me. He didn’t stop and I defended myself. He died, by my blade,” she said with sad resignation.

Symon squeezed her shoulders. “Yeah, it’s bad, but we will work through this.”

Cedric stepped out and closed the door behind him. The tall man walked to the edge of the porch and looked out a large group of people from different races, standing around a kobold in the center. All of them wore dark green cloaks with gold trim along the edges. Some of them had armbands, while others did not.

Cedric focused on the kobold in the center of the half-circle. Despite his height, he stood like he was taller than everyone else around him. Horns stabbed out from the back of his head and curved slightly upwards. Scales covered his arms and legs. Two-toed clawed feet stabbed into the grassy dirt leading up to the house. His eyes were a molten red, seething with rage as he glared at the man on the porch.

“I’m must apologize, the event is for next week,” Cedric said with aristocratic flair.

“Where is Lady Black? There is no use helping the stray escape, the guild house is surrounded,” the kobold said with a menacing edge.

Cedric glanced to the right and left, seeing a few cloaked people in the shadows surrounding the area.

“She has bed down for the evening. If you like, I can take a message?” Cedric said with an accommodating smile.

The kobold’s eyes narrowed. “You are one of them, aren’t you? She didn’t waste any time recruiting new members to her failed guild.”

Cedric bowed. “We are simply the pre-performance before we become the main event!”

The kobold sneered. “She has lost her mind if she is recruiting actors.”

Cedric stood up with a mild look of disgust in his eyes. “I will have you know, I’m an author and not,” he let out a shiver before he continued, “an actor.”

A low growl fell from gritted teeth. “Tell Lady Black, if she doesn’t come out with the stray this instant, there won’t be enough platinum kings across Norr that will save her, or the fools that have joined her guild.”

Cedric tapped his chin, “Do you have an exact number of kings that won’t be enough? It’s important to get the details right when giving a proper message.”

The kobold’s gaze seethed with contempt. “Tell Lady Black to come out with the stray or your blood will paint the front of the home.”

Cedric eyed the kobold. “I’ll see what I can do,” he said, knowing full well that the kobold was not willing to play the game any longer.

The thin man with the book walked backwards to the door, while keeping his eyes on the group of rogues. They all had aura of violence around them and Cedric was not ready to test his luck any further. He reached the door, turned the knob, and slipped in.

Cedric turned to see Olivia’s hand out with a finger pointed. Serafina was before her, knife in one hand and a crystal vial in the other. The blade cut across the finger and Olivia pressed her bleeding finger to the top of the vile. Crimson red dripped into it as Symon stood close by. The kobolds watched as a new member to their guild was inducted in.

Serafina pulled the vial away after a few drops and put the crystal stopper on the vial. She placed it on a table and swept up a small, leatherbound ledger. She took hold of Olivia’s bloody finger and pressed it to the back.

“Welcome to the guild,” Serafina said with small comfort.

Olivia nodded as she took the book into her possession.

“I think we’re out of time,” Cedric said to everyone in the room.

Serafina nodded. “Symon, you’re with me. Everyone else, stay in here. No matter what happens, do not leave this place, or aid us in any way. They are looking for an excuse and we will not give it to them.”

Nyana and Qin gave a small nod. Olivia blinked. Cedric shook his head.

“And if they find their excuse?” Cedric asked.

“Escape out the back, make for the outer wall. There is a crack big enough to slip through. Leave Gray Gate and don’t return,” Serafina said sternly as she walked toward the front door.

Symon was at her side. The pair reached the door and Serafina put her hand on the knob, but didn’t open it.

“Whatever happens, do not show your true nature. If you do, they will have the excuse they need to kill me, and take you away to a vivisector. Vrar is cruel and power hungry. He will do anything to advance himself and his guild. Do not show your true skill or power. Do you understand?”

“I do,” Symon said confidently.

Serafina nodded and opened the door.

The pair stepped out onto the porch as the door closed shut behind them. The area was surrounded with hooded figures in long cloaks. Vrar stood with his scaled arms crossed and a look of superiority in his reptilian features.

“Where is she?” Vrar asked with a contemptuous tone.

“She is inside, our newest member to the guild,” Serafina said with her own, wicked smirk.

Vrar’s reptilian eyes flashed with heat. He took a step forward as his guild around him tensed. Some pulled out daggers and others stared, ready for their leader’s command.

“You deliberately snatched her from judgement. She is a stray and took a life from my guild. She must be punished in kind, no matter if she is part of a guild or not!”

Serafina eyed the short kobold like a serpent in the dark, but it was Symon who spoke up.

“She claimed it was in self-defense. Your rogue was going to kill her!”

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Vrar kept his gaze on Serafina as he spoke, “Why is your little raven talking?”

“He’s a little head strong and protective. Can you blame him, with so many of you and only two of us?”

Vrar’s eyes narrowed. “I care not if she is a member of your guild now, she was a stray when she made the killing blow. She robbed homes that were under, not only the Dragon Guild, but the Storm and Wolf guilds. She must be judged and punished with her life, to restore order and balance to the city and the guilds.”

Serafina let out a tired sigh. “Vrar, we know how these situations play out. You act like you’re the only guild to suffer a loss due to violence. I remember many times over the years, of different guild members dying over cheating games, bad deals, and jealousy. This isn’t the first time and it won’t be the last.

“Let’s cut to the chase, how much to ease your suffering and move on from this unfortunate and ugly business?”

A low grow filled Vrar’s throat. “You think this is about coin? This is about honor and the bonds of business. Your newest raven has committed an act that cannot be forgiven, nor denied. You ask my price? It remains the same, march her out here and know our daggers of justice. Her blood can wipe away her transgression and restore balance to the guilds.”

“Balance?” Serafina said with a hint of contempt. “Was it balance when you hired a killer to take down your former guild leader and take their place?”

Shock filled eyes of every dragon guild member present.

Vrar stared with a growing hatred in his eyes. “Vok was my friend. How can you say such lies?”

Serafina kept her stern gaze. “Your guild may be afraid of you, but I am not. We all know the rumors, no matter how many of your people pretend to be shocked by this.”

“If you didn’t have a contract with a mage, I would cut out your lying tongue!” Vrar said, each word getting louder.

Serafina let out a small laugh. “Coin is more valuable than words. What’s your price to make this go away and we move on with our lives?”

 Symon watched as the mood shifted. The rage in the kobold’s eyes turned into a firestorm.

“No one make a move,” the kobold said in a low, deadly tone.

Symon wasn’t sure what he meant, until the kobold leapt up at Serafina in a blink. Serafina’s boots shifted into a stance and her arms came up. The kobold reached her, a scaled fist aiming for her neck and was instantly blocked by her forearm.

“This isn’t the guild way,” Serafina said as time stood still.

A clawed foot shot up and Serafina pulled her head back. She spun away as the kobold landed and launched himself up again. The two guild leaders moved in blurs, arms and legs striking out and parrying each other.

Symon tensed, seeing the pair move like miniature storms. He had seen Serafina move fast when she fought the umbra crab, but this was beyond that. He could hardly keep up as she kicked out and the kobold landed on her out-stretched ankle. He took two steps along her leg with a pulled back claw. She withdrew her kick and he jumped. Claws slashed at air as Serafina moved to the side. Her arms went up, blocking blurry swings as the kobold pressed his attack.

Symon’s hand formed a tight fist at this side, and a blink later, a dagger curled around, the edge hovering over his throat.

“Make one move and you’re dead,” a voice whispered into his ear.

Vrar snarled as he bounced and moved in a red blur. Serafina’s limbs moved with alacrity and dexterity, keeping the kobold from landing a strike. The pair fell into an even exchange, neither one landing a blow.

The kobold landed and bounded up. Serafina’s hands and arms moved, ready to block and return a strike. A crossbow bolt shot from the dark, it’s whistle alerting everyone.

Serafina shifted her stance and duck low, the bolt missing her head by inches. Vrar grinned as he floated in the air, his leg pulled back. Time slowed as Serafina glanced to the side, unable to change her path as a knee struck her cheek.

Symon watched as Serafina stumbled. Vrar pressed his attack by leaping at her once again. The woman in black shifted on her feet and her palm shot out, striking the kobold in mid-flight.

Symon smirked, seeing that the floating kobold had no leverage and was an easy target. Serafina pulled back her fist, her gaze on the kobold’s neck. The air shifted as she threw a punch. Vrar’s entire body moved like he was swimming in water. The fist missed his neck by half an inch. He smirked before his claws flashed.

Symon’s eyes widened. Acting on instinct, his hand blurred to the wrist of the dagger at his throat and twisted. He was rewarded with the sound of a grunt behind him and the dagger flying out of his hand. The young man bent his legs and pushed himself into a leap.

Serafina glanced at the incoming claws and threw her arm at the kobold to knock him from the air. A flash of heat pulsed before an aura of flames surrounded the kobold. Serafina’s arm slammed into the flaming aura. Flames burst as Vrar somersaulted from the impact. Serafina’s arm was alit, her sleeve instantly catching on fire. She stumbled back and slammed her other hand on the flames, before claws slashed across her face.

Symon was already moving as Serafina stumbled back with a smoking sleeve and her hands clutching at her face. The kobold smirked as he landed and bent his legs to carry through his next attack.

A thin chain around Symon’s heart and mind snapped. His eyes flashed with a dim light before he slammed his shoulder into the kobold with the fiery aura. Vrar was knocked away and landed on his feet. He turned his deadly gaze to the young raven and leapt at him.

Smoke rose up from the shoulder of Symon’s jacket, but he didn’t notice as knowledge slammed into his senses and muscles. Time slowed down as Vrar barely moved, turning in his direction. Yet, Symon knew the kobold was going to leap, through a right punch and follow it up with a left kick. It whispered in exaggerated, transparent copies of the kobold, moving like it was a dream and Symon could feel it as if he could read the kobold’s thoughts.

Vrar leapt with his right hand pulled back and his flaming aura winking out. Symon leaned in with his right arm blurring up and parrying away the strike. Vrar’s eyes dripped poison as he brought up his left leg to slam it into Symon’s ribs. The young man moved, his left-hand slamming down on the leg and pushing it away before it could strike.

Vrar landed and jumped back. He landed in a stance with wary eyes.

Symon didn’t slow down. The young man burst forward with hard determination.

I don’t know how, but I can match his fighting skill and predict it!

The kobold leapt at the incoming raven and the two moved in quick, mirror-like blurs.

Symon could hardly understand it himself. His own fighting style bled away as he was able to move like the experienced kobold. The two clashed, as if they knew each other’s moves. Vrar’s eyes widened a hair, the feeling like he was fighting himself clouding his mind. Every punch, kick, and leap were countered by the young raven, as if, they trained in the same exact way.

The pair fought on with attacks and parries. They clashed and arms locked on each other. Symon felt the kobold’s strength, despite his small stature. Vrar lifted a foot to slam it on Symon’s knee, but the young man raised his foot to do the same. Their feet struck each other and they pushed off.

Symon landed two feet away as Vrar landed four feet away.

The young raven tensed to ready another attack, when several daggers came around from behind him. Arms and a leg went up, blocking the daggers at the wielder’s wrists. A whistle caused everyone to freeze.

Vrar stood, his body no longer in a fighting stance. Symon glanced around, seeing six dragon guild members beside and behind him, daggers inches from his skin.

“Where did you learn how to fight like that?” Vrar commanded.

“At the monasteries of Baldos,” Symon lied.

The kobold shook his head, but never took his gaze off the young raven. “Do not play games with me! No one from the Dream Sea would know that training. Tell me or my people will gut you like a fish!”

A moan rose up from the side and everyone looked over. Serafina was half sitting up. One hand was on the floor as she leaned on it. Her other hand clutched her face as blood dripped through her fingers.

The kobold looked down on her with disgust in his eyes. “Let him go,” he ordered.

The rogues pulled back instantly, sliding their daggers into belt sheaths or hidden sheaths.

Vrar walked over to Serafina and looked down on her with hard eyes. “Your contract is the only thing keeping you alive, but you are running out of time. We know the stipulations of your contract. When you fail to complete the conditions, I will be back to slay your newest raven and burn down your guild house, just like they should have done thirty years ago.

Serafina pulled her hand away and looked up. Three claw marks slashed across her face and nose. Blood dripped from the cuts as she looked up at the kobold with a maddening smile.

“I’ll be waiting with a platinum king, winner takes all,” she grinned as blood dripped down and colored some of her teeth in crimson.

Vrar snarled in disgust. He turned away and walked back to his people.

Symon knelt down to Serafina’s side with concern in his eyes. She grabbed his arm and he helped her up. The pair watched as the Dragon Guild walked away, none of them bothering to look back.

“Serafina,” Symon said with concerned eyes.

She shook her head. “Help me inside,” she said with a slight grimace.

Symon helped Serafina walk toward the black house. Cedric, Nyana, Qin, and Olivia were standing on the porch.

“Everyone, inside. Time is running out for all of us and I have a plan to change our fate,” Serafina said with conviction.  

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