Chapter Fourteen

 Eridanus Réalta

Claws dug into Eridanus’ wrists and she jerked her wrists away with a hiss. “I’m GOING!” she snapped, shaking her head. The loosely tied blindfold came untied and fluttered to the floor, although it made practically no difference. It was still pitch-black in the caves.

They turned a corner and Eridanus was bathed in light. Bright emerald and violet flames danced in torch sconces, illuminating the warm cave in coruscating light. Dragons were everywhere in this chamber, sharpening swords, eating vultures on a stick, and chatting lazily.

And on the far wall, a black marble throne protruded from the sandstone. 

And on the throne, a huge black dragon sat. He wore a crude crown carved from a smoky gray stone and wore no other adornments, but Eridanus knew in her heart that this was Shadowwalker. He was quite handsome, not the twisted monster most legends painted him as, with a long neck and defined muscles. He had no scars, which meant he didn’t fight much or was far too dangerous for Eridanus’s taste. To his left, a young amber dragonet sat happily on a silver perch, playing with the talons of a tall purple dragoness. To his right, a vicious-looking EclipseWing was curled around a sort of stalagmite, her eyes gleaming. She also wore almost no jewelry, though she looked quite pretty despite her cold eyes.

The purple dragon looked utterly at ease among these notorious villains, and now and then she’d reach out and pluck a muskrat pita off a long table.

Because every villain needs a side table piled with snacks, Eridanus thought hysterically.

She spotted her favorite snack, giant sugared violets, and wondered if she’d get in trouble for eating one. She decided against it – after all, Shdowwalker was supposed to have a nasty disposition and she would prefer to keep her snout intact at least till she turned 40,000.

The dragons tugging her (an EarthWing and two EclipseWings) led her right up to Shadowwalker’s throne. She winced as he glared at her 

“Eridanus,” Shadowwalker said. Just said. He didn’t hiss or snarl or spit. Any implications of anger, glee, victory, or a question were buried fifteen layers down in his tone. His voice was smooth and rough and calm all at the same time.

“I’m glad you came to your senses,” he added. “You were being quite rude there for a while, ignoring my messages.”

“What messages?” Eridanus asked, genuinely curious. Shadowwalker frowned. 

“I sent you hundreds of letters. My messengers returned to me saying you wouldn’t see me, and you never responded when I cast communication spells. It was obvious you were resisting.”

 Eridanus furrowed her brow. “I never got anything like that – and if I had, I would never let your messengers return. You’re faking everything, aren’t you?”

 Shadowwalker hissed. Now his smooth voice gained a menacing tone. “You… hsssssss. You never got my messages? Sundancer told my messengers… HA!”

Eridanus leaped backward. Shadowwalker’s ‘ha’ had been accompanied by a flare of inky flame twisting from his jaws.

“I bet Sundancer never did even tell you about the letters. She probably burned them.” He hissed, lashing his tail.

“Well, even if your black-cursed–” Shadowwalker’s neck frill flared in irritation “– messengers DID make it to me, I’d have burnt their SNOUTS OFF!” Eridanus spat, her tail straight out and her wings flared.

Shadowwalker snorted dismissively. “You wouldn’t have the guts,” he said, waving one huge talon.

That was what set her off. Eridanus wouldn’t have done anything if he’d said that she wouldn’t be able to catch them, or even ignored her.

But that… was not something Eridanus was going to let slide. A growl grew in her throat. “I’ll show you guts!” she snapped and launched herself at Shadowwalker. Her hottest flame shredded out of her throat and exploded at Shadowwalker’s face.

“Pitiful,” Shadowwalker hissed derisively, batting the flames away. “Just like your mother. She gave up after a year in the caves. You act like your father though. He had guts.”

Eridanus saw her reflection in Shadowwalker’s eyes. The dragon sitting in her place looked small, insignificant, and unnecessary. But the deeper she stared at him, the longer she sat there… the more detached she felt. 

“Now, here’s what you are going to do for me,” Shadowwalker said with a twisted smile. His sentence seemed to echo for an eternity. Fear gnawed on her soul.

And her eyes sheened over, for just a moment. Eridanus felt something worm through her chest. Her limbs shook and collapsed.

Shadowwalker had won again.