Scourge of the Dragons Read Free

go on the mission. She knew exactly what
she was doing. My army is far stronger than yours. You did her a
favor when you sought out our enemies in order to cure the
dragons,” Erlkan said.
    “She knows us both far too well. Even if we
were to escape, she would know our every move.”
    “Then the two of you must rely on me. I know
it is a lot to ask, but I can do this,” Hadrin said.
    They all stopped talking when they heard
footsteps. Corin and two of his soldiers stopped in front of the
cell door. He eyed the prisoners before opening the door. Hadrin
had to hold himself back as the Captain backhanded his father.
Erlkan hung his head in shame, a look that the Prince had seen from
his father almost every time somebody brought up the scourge. It
amazed him how similar the two really were. Corin punched Erlkan in
the gut. He turned to the Prince. Hadrin desperately wanted to wipe
the arrogant grin off his face. The Captain motioned for his men to
lock the two Kings to the shackles on the wall. He looked at the
Prince for a moment before talking.
    “Perhaps we should see what you are made
of,” he said.
    “Leave my son alone!” Obrin yelled.
    “I can handle this fool,” Hadrin said.
    Corin smiled as he took one of his soldier’s
swords and then waved them both back to the door. He handed the
sword to the Prince before taking several steps back and drawing
his own sword. Hadrin’s heart began to beat faster as he held the
sword. His hand shook as he attacked the Captain. The other elves
laughed as their commander danced circles around the Prince. Obrin
continued his pleading as Corin proceeded to toy with the Prince.
He stabbed Hadrin several times, but never deep enough to seriously
damage the Prince. This continued until they were both distracted
by the sound of footsteps. The walking increased to what sounded
like a sprint. Hadrin looked toward the sound and saw a man come
running out of the shadows. He slid as he closed in on the two
elves at the door. His right hand shot out and he knocked the first
guard off his feet. The man dug his knife into the other elf’s knee
and used it to pull the elf down. He grabbed his opponent’s
shoulder on the way down and sprang back to his feet.
    “Who are you?” Corin asked as he turned
toward the man.
    “I am Wrotan, you must be Corin,” the man
replied.
    “How did you know that?”
    “You look nearly identical to the corpse I
took this blade from.” Wrotan held Torin’s blade out for the others
to see.
    The Captain shook with rage as he rushed
toward the newcomer. Wrotan knocked his attack aside and elbowed
him in the chest. The two continued to exchange blows, the hunter
quickly gaining the upper hand. Hadrin waited until he saw an
opening and drove his sword into Corin’s calf. The elf cried out in
pain as he stumbled to the side. Wrotan took advantage of the lapse
in his opponent’s defenses and drove his sword through the elf’s
chest. He let his sword drop to the floor with the Captain. Hadrin
dropped his sword to the floor and rushed over to his father’s
side. The hunter searched Corin and found the keys to the shackled.
He threw them to the elf.
    “I am Wrotan, I’ve come to repay the King of
the evening realms,” the hunter said.
    “You’ve done just that,” Erlkan said.
    “Wrotan? I’ve heard that name before,” Obrin
said as he stepped toward the man.
    “You knew my father, Isaack.” Wrotan
said.
    “Of course, your father is a good man.”
    “Was a good man, yes. He passed on three
months ago. He told me to come here and repay you the debt he owed
you.”
    “As my cousin said, you’ve already done
that.”
    “Then perhaps I can make a request of
you?”
    “I will hear it, but that does not mean I
will grant it.”
    “My father told me to come here in search of
family. I know not what he meant.”
    “Yes, I am sure he did. However, I must ask
that you wait on the answer. We need to get to safety first.”
    “Where can we go that is