Wulf the Eternal Warrior
Chapter 13: The Dragon Enters

Into the cavern lumbered the dragon! To say it was large, is not saying enough- it was HUGE- and it was winged, and it was horrific in the extreme. This was an ELDER GOD, and it was ANGRY!

Ancient gods did not meddle overmuch in the affairs of men. Why would they? Would a man interfere with ants?

But things had reached quite a state, with upstart gods interfering with elemental gods; even the Dragon was angry. SHE recognized the blue dye of her worshippers, which she recognized on the limbs of the Iceni, and so she let them be. But she looked at Wulf with her slitted green eyes, and prepared to breathe fire once again…

Boudica raised her white, blue-dyed arms on high, and spoke to the dragon: “We have need of him, so spare him to allow us to continue worship of you!” The emerald eyes glittered, and then dimmed reluctantly in the reptilian face.

Wulf had never been nearer death!

“Ancient Goddess, many thanks for your protection. To fight the Romans, we need your help- they have no knowledge of the ancient ways, and only wish to destroy our lands and the very nature that supports us all,” Boudica said.

The dragon looked at her, and actually appeared to understand. Retreating back down the corridor, lumbering yet rather lightly for such a behemoth, she returned- with a small chest in her mouth. Laying it down on the stone cobbles of the corridor, she emerged entirely from downwards in the hallway, and into the cavern as a whole- she spread her leathery wings!!

The dragon was beyond huge- gigantic- a fit elder god indeed! She filled the hall, and then spread her wings and FLEW- she burst through the stone roof of the ancient temple, and hovering above the town of Londinium, she began breathing fire!

The Roman barracks erupted in screams, and so did the entire town- flames engulfed the city. The dragon spared none, as she traveled across the whole area of Londinium, spewing forth flames, and knocking down walls of stone with her leathery wings!

Boudica was the first to recover, and to spring into action! She knelt, opening the small chest that the dragon had left on the cobblestones of the corridor.

The jewels that glowed therein were heart-stopping! Giant rubies- sapphires brighter than the dawn, emeralds that rivaled the very name of green- all were there. Starlight and Rainbow incarnate lived in that small chest, and they were indeed the gift of an elder god!

Taking them out one by one, Boudica placed them within a small leathern bag she had hanging on her girdle. She knew this would fund her resistance against the Romans!! These gems were priceless!

Meanwhile, Wulf had returned to the main hall. He began gathering weapons- swords mostly, but also gold coins to fund his ongoing efforts against the Romans. He had quite a bundle secured, and was ready to leave.

“Can your men help me to carry these weapons and gold away from here?” he asked Boudica. “I need to fund my anti-Roman war efforts, as do you.”

Boudica, the lamplight glinting off of her golden bronze armor, her red hair gleaming, regarded the barbarian with shining eyes.

“You are a king, as I am a queen. We are… a borne alliance.”