A Song of Askaldenfirsts and Dragons. Book one: The outlanders (Part I-IV)
Chapter 12: Dragons

On the Larmar Islands, two dragons conferred.

“How many died?” Farumbirznaaks asked, his golden scales shimmering.

“Twenty-three!” Ulli answered.

“Twenty-three dragons, are you sure, Ulzardaldalor?!”

“Yes,” Ulli replied.

“Disgusting yadonagrishes with their acid!”

“Some were killed by ballistae, a few were badly wounded by argiphones. Of course, first of all, if you want, we will fly to Eileenelia to burn the nests of argiphones along with their feathered parents, and then...

“I will want it,” the black dragon interrupted, “but we still need to figure out how many renegades in our kin.”

“Four flew away, Erbalartalanjir, Delmirbirznaaks, Frestavisdalor, Beniktomonis.”

“Delmirbirznaaks?!” the golden dragon burst out, “how dare he betray me and our kind?”

“I don’t think he’s the last one, ” Ulli replied calmly, “I suppose we’ll have to burn Ermir again as an example.”

“Definitely we’ll have to!” agreed the golden dragon, “and the traitors will feel the power of our fire!” with these words Farumbirznaaks took off.

***

Frestavisdalor, a red-brown dragon with yellow streaks, was flying over Grandavalnall, the capital of the forest elves. The arqilunians had already prepared the ballistae and began firing. Children, very old men and old women hid in their houses, while grown men and women either prepared ballistae, using a bow or cast spells mostly fireballs, and launched them at the dragon.

“Dah Kras Fur Atun,” the dragon shouted. “I came in peace, I do not wish you harm!”

He dodged another arrow, but he was hit by a powerful fireball, which left only a small spot on his skin.

“I want negotiations,” the dragon persisted, and then flew outside the city and landed not far away from the city wall, knocking down several trees. The elves who instantly climbed the walls were talking, staring at the dragon. Aelarnal, the king of Eileenelia, also climbed the city wall.

“Is he not attacking?” The king asked.

“No, your majesty,” answered the arqilunian young fighter woman. The other elves looked alternately at the king and the dragon.

“Vas Har Dan Tasun,” the dragon said loudly. “I want to talk to the king.”

“I’m here,” Aelarnal suddenly shouted back, using the elven power of his voice.

“But Your Majesty...” Several elves were afraid for the king at once.

“It’s all right,” the king interrupted, “I want to talk to him.”

The king, despite the protests of soldiers, officers and nobles, calmly descended from the wall, demanded to open the gate, stepped out and headed for the dragon.

The dragon didn’t move, he knocked down a lot of big trees, shullebachs. The king had to jump over the trunks, picking up his mantle. His ears were slightly shimmering in different colors, indicating anxiety. Finally, Aelarnal got close enough to the dragon. The swift forest elves had surrounded the rendezvous by this time, preparing to attack.

“I am Aelarnal Ilfelkeer DelRaddik, king of Eileenelia. I hope I did not jump over the trees in vain, and we will talk about your complete surrender!”

“Surrender?” the dragon smiled, “I’m not your enemy! My name is Frestavisdalor and I don’t want to kill anymore!”

“Not an enemy, but you have killed,” the king remarked, “how many ermirians have you killed?”

“I didn’t count, but I regret it... When you follow orders or prophecies when you are told what needs to be done for the survival of your kin...” the dragon paused, “you just do what you are told.”

“Even if you, mighty Frestavisdalor, surrender now, I must honestly admit that, according to the laws of Eileenelia, for the genocide of several races, animals and creatures, as well as for the burning and damage of property and land on such an incredibly large scale, you’ll be sentenced to death.

“I’m not going to die, I want to help you! You will not win the fight against my brothers!”

“With the brothers?” the king remarked again. “Probably with the sisters too?”

“We are dragons, we are all brothers.”

“Forgive my tactlessness, but do you have females?”

“Lost young arqilunians, you have completely forgotten history, however, old books and oldenmessers lied to you. In your union understandable language, I say, dragons are all males, and we all descended from the daughters of the first gods. The askaldenfirsts are the daughters of the First, they are our mothers. Each dragon bloodline, to avoid incest, is descended from one of the First daughters. The askaldenfirsts look more like snunorfs women. When the time for love comes, Tid For Sam Lag, the askaldenfirst transforms the dragon into a similar one to herself and they intertwine in love for the future birth of a son. Just a son!”

“And what if the askaldenfirsts die, what will happen to the race of dragons?” the king of the forest elves suddenly asked.

“Half-goddesses hard to kill! Only dragon fire can harm them. But we love our mothers, and if a child loves his mother, he will not harm her, at least in a conscious state... Although I was taught to feel and think this way, I was also taught to prepare for the prophecy and burn the rebellious Ermir. How many millions of years have we dragons been fed lies, just like you? I do not know where to look for the truth, but I believe it is time to stop fighting, and it is time to learn to live in peace. And I can help!” the dragon spread his wings, the elves around tensed, someone shot an arrow from a bow, it hit the scales, like a stone wall, and fell, the dragon did not even notice it. “I can bring a few more brothers to my side, and you, young creatures of Ermir, will have a chance to win in this war!”

Aelarnal’s eyes sparkled.

“But I have a condition,” the dragon continued, “we will need an amnesty, and, if you keep a record of unintelligent creatures and animals that are allowed to hunt, then we need to replace a balance in nutrition since I would not want to destroy species that are on the verge of extinction You see, it’s not just out of noble motives, there are several hundreds of dragons left in the whole world, and I want to protect my relatives, so I support those who want to protect other endangered species.”

“Let’s say,” the king began cautiously, “I and the royal council will consider your proposal, and, suppose we agree, does that mean the dragons on your side will follow the orders of the arqilunians, including the destruction of external threats from your kin, as well as obeying the laws of Eileenelia?

“Yes,” the dragon agreed, “I suppose so.”

“Then I’ll leave for a meeting; tomorrow at dawn you’ll have our answer,” the king said.

“All right, I’ll wait here,” the dragon replied.

Aelarnal grabbed his robes and headed for the city gates.