Boldheart: Betrayal by meratocat |  |
Dreamoth looked down upon the young, yet strong Krantalo,
who had named his ancient blade Dralting. "In you, I sense one with the heart
of a warrior, yet you know to use your powers for that of good. Why don't you
just turn me into Lancoth for being a dragon, I am sure that he would reward
you fancifully."
"All he can give me is the destruction of my
kingdom. I already presumed that he schemed to do something to my father, and
the thrown of Lazcorz. Besides, he would then become suspicious of how I figured
out your identity, and if he or Droak managed to discern my true identity, I
would be as good as dead." Then Krantalo looked downwards. "And with my father
in the condition that he is in at the moment, I don't think that his heart could
take the loss of me. So soon after mother was stolen from us." Tears threatened
to sting the prince's eyes, but he blinked them away. "No, I should not let
you see me in this state, a prince cannot allow emotions to get in the way of
his ruling of his kingdom. I am the future king, I must be stout hearted in
order to keep our city free of evil like that of Lancoth."
Dreamoth smiled down at the young prince. "Most
kings, and princes too, wouldn't risk their lives in order to save anything.
They usually send someone else to do their work for them."
"But in a time of evil, anyone could be your
enemy, and I have already risked too much to let someone else be the spy for
me."
"Surely there is someone you could trust to
take your place?" Dreamoth said softly.
"There is one... Samudeli, the Halloween Kougra;
he has my friend since I was a young Kougra He is the only one that I can trust
with everything other then my father. I left him in charge while I went out
on this mission." Krantalo smiled. "He would have loved to come out with me,
but he knew that father needs protection."
Dreamoth let out a chuckle in the direction
of Krantalo, who demanded to know what was so funny. "Nothing is funny." The
dragon said with a smile. "It is just that in my years of living out in the
desert, I have never met any creature more qualified to leadership then you."
The dragon laid a hand upon Krantalo's golden back. "Someday, young Krantalo,
you will make a great leader."
Krantalo opened his mouth to respond, but right
then, Dreamoth heard the sound of large Lupe paws walking up, and from the corner
of his eye, he saw a shadow start to descend upon him and the prince Krantalo,
so Dreamoth covered up Krantalo's mouth, and then let out a yell. "What are
you doing this far out of the way of your tent Eaorth! You better respond back
to your quarters immediately, or else a rations cut for you!"
Krantalo starred at Dreamoth in amazement, but
then realised why he had yelled out, when the stern voice of Droak sounded out.
"Heheheh. Yuciau, you have really evolved into a strong warrior, not that you
needed much change. Come with me, my loyal follower. I have need of you." And
then the black Lupe started to walk off with Dreamoth, but then with a second
thought, turned to where the desert Kougra was slinking off. "You come to Eaorth.
You are young, and not yet loyal to Lancoth, a useful thing." And then he led
Krantalo and Dreamoth off towards his private quarters.
"I have summoned you two to me for different
reasons," he said as he closed the curtains, and lit a candle to put some
light into the private tent of the Lupe "You." He pointed to Krantalo. "I summoned
you because you are a young inspiring warrior, and have not yet learned whom
to owe your alliance to, and I swear that if you take to me, that the reward
will be more then enough to counter all your needs."
Krantalo nodded in agreement not getting what
Droak was headed at, but Dreamoth did. "You speak of betrayal," he said
to Droak, and then carefully choosing his words added, "I am at your disposal
Droak. You are much more fitted to leadership then that dull Lancoth. It is
time that someone who knows how to take action leads us."
"You are even smarter then I could have guessed,"
Droak said, showing off all of his razor teeth. "Having brains, and skill with
the sword is a great combo, one generally found in leaders. If, or should I
say when, my plan works, I will make you captain, second only under me." He
turned to face Krantalo and said, "And you, Eaorth, you can either go with me,
and get riches beyond your wildest dreams, and powers fit for a king, ('Which
I already have!' Thought Krantalo) or you can choose to stay with Lancoth, who
probably doesn't even know what your name is, and I will have to kill you before
you spread word of my plans."
"Why would I want to stay loyal to Lancoth,
that fat lubbard!" Krantalo said with a sneer. "I, of course, choose you, for
I have seen you fight, and you fight like no other. You could easily smack Lancoth
into the dust in single combat."
Droak grinned, "So it is settled then, you will
work for me, and we can rise up to power. You choose well young captains,"
the Lupe said, making the two want to stay with him even more. "So this is the
plan..." he said, and then he laid out his plan of treachery to Krantalo and
Dreamoth.
After he was done explaining, and then saw the
evil grins of Dreamoth and Krantalo, Droak chuckled. "Lancoth plans to leave
tomorrow morning for the red dragon's den. Report to me as the sun first rises,
and it is then that we can carry out my plan. Soon you two will no longer be
low in this order, you will be at the top with me!"
As Krantalo and Dreamoth exited the tent, they
took the long way back to their quarters in a tacit manner, and once far enough
from prying ears, Krantalo spoke out, "He's mad! Honestly, Droak does not know
with whom he is dealing with. I only agreed to his plan, because you did so."
"So if I had not been there you would have chosen
death?" The white dragon asked the Kougra
"I-I don't know," Krantalo admitted.
"There is always a chance for life if you know
how to take it," Dreamoth said. "We can just pretend to be on his side
until we see a chance to break free. To try so now would ensure that both of
us would fail the ones we care for. You, your father, and me, my mistress."
Krantalo smiled at Dreamoth's wise words, and then the dragon whispered into
his ear. "I will not fail my mistress, and you will not fail your kingdom."
"I know..." Krantalo said looking up into the
darkening sky, and as the last rays of red and yellow from the sun stretched
out the shadows of the two accomplices, they turned, and walked back towards
their tent, for they would have to be ready for Droak upon the morn, or else
lose all hope of saving the ones they loved.
***
Krantalo awoke an hour before the fiery sun shone its face over the ridge
of the dunes, and walking out of the tent, he saw Dreamoth sitting atop a dune,
looking to where the light of the coming sun was brightening up the horizon.
The dragon looked up into the sky at the wisps of clouds that shone golden-orange
overhead, and then slowly flapped his wings a couple of times, before looking
back down onto the ground. "Dreamoth," he said walking up, but the dragon
hushed him with a raised paw.
"Shhh, listen. It's the wind."
"What about it?"
Dreamoth's blue eyes looked into Krantalo's
golden, "One thing I was taught by Mythouny is that if you listen hard enough,
that you can hear the wind, and the water." The dragon smiled into the sky.
"If you listen to it right now, it talks about hope to come."
"Is it possible for a Neopet to hear too?" Krantalo
asked.
"It must be. I am a Draik right now, am I."
Dreamoth laid his hand upon Krantalo's shoulder. "Close your eyes, and exert
all thoughts, while opening your senses to the forces of nature."
Krantalo nodded, and then he did as Dreamoth
had said. He stuck his nose up, catching some wind under his fur, ruffling it,
but he ignored that, and concentrated on having all thoughts depart from his
mind. Dreamoth watched as the young princes fur blew back as if a fan had been
pointed directly in his face, and then as he broke from the grasp of the wind.
"Hope comes in upon the black wind... That is
what I heard," Krantalo said, looking over the horizon at the tip of the
sun. "What does that mean?"
"Even a dragon cannot tell you," Dreamoth
said, and then looking at the sun pulled out the golden headband, and tied it
around his head. "Equip yourself Krantalo, Droak will be ready for us at any
time, and we should heed him about not being late."
"Yes, let's go." And then Krantalo quickly tied
on his headband, and checked Dragonsbane within its sheath.
As soon as Krantalo was ready, Dreamoth started
his march towards Droak's tent. He went at a quick pace, and Krantalo practically
had to trot behind him to keep up.
"Good, you came as you said you would,"
Droak said as Dreamoth and Krantalo came up. "Hopefully you are ready to carry
out my plan?"
"Yes Master Droak. We will be ready anytime
you call upon us," Dreamoth said, and Krantalo bowed in response.
"Very good Yuciau. Now you and Eaorth come here.
It is time we showed Lancoth who really is the better." And then he laughed
a deep evil laugh while Dreamoth and Krantalo hoped with all their hearts that
things would end up okay.
The End |
