Chapter 49 - Truth Of Dragons

"A party?" Obsi asked. "I thought you had a quest. Is this really the best time to be talking about a party?"

"An adventuring party." Kaitlyn said.

"She knows lass." Kilgon said. "She is only messing with us."

"Can you try to be serious?" Zell asked.

"An honest mistake." Obsi said. "It's not like I have studied the words of mortals. In the world of dragons, a group united under a single banner is called a clan. The word party is only used as a term of celebration."

"I apologize then." Zell said. "I should not have jumped to conclusions."

"You can make it up to me with sexy times later." Obsi said. "I would love to see how a man of your power uses his most trusted weapon."

"I am going to have to pass on that." Zell said.

"Playing hard to get?" Obsi asked. "That is fine. I will have my sexy times; you will crack one day. If there is one thing, we dragons have plenty of, it is time."

"You know I am quite known for my use of my enchanted longsword of unearthly might." Kilgon said. "Why I was just regaling the others with my tale of when I slayed a group of humans using only that and my trusty ax."

"No one cares dwarf." Obsi shut him down quickly.

"Stop being gross Kilgon." Kaitlyn chimed in.

"Enough talking." Zell said. "We need to get out of this cave. Obsi, can you get us out?"

"With pleasure." Obsi said. "Please enjoy the view as you follow behind me." She said as she walked in front putting her hands on her hips and extenuating her curves. Her form outlined by the faint glow of Kilgon's torch.

The group followed her until the light could be seen breaking through the darkness. The intense light of day was harsh on their sight, having been in such a pitch-black darkness. After their vision adjusted to the light once more, they could look out and see their surroundings. Lush green fields dotted with sparse yellow flowerbeds. The smell of the sea filled the air, and the ocean could be seen far off into the distance.

"The ocean?" Zell asked. "I had no idea it was so close to where we were going."

"What did they not teach about the human kingdoms in school?" Kilgon asked. "The ocean is a vast untamed mistress that leads to the edge of the world. Dare to sail it and you'll fall off never to return."

"Planets are not flat." Zell said.

"Says the kid who didn't even learn about his own kind." Kilgon said. "Our wise king has warned us of the dangers of seafaring and how we would fall off the world if we attempted it."

[Is he just trying to keep all the dwarves under him in the mountain?] Zell thought to himself.

"There are unclaimed lands beyond the sea." Obsi said. "That is where the majority of my kind dwells, where we have built our empire. The few that inhabit this land are nothing compared to the glory of our empire. We have buildings that stretch to the sky, magic that illuminates the night. Our land is a never-ending hub of treasures acquired from around the world."

"So why are you on this continent?" Zell asked.

"Remember how I told you we tried to steer human and nonhuman kind?" Obsi explained. "Well, all of the dragons that are here on this continent are part of that group. We could not return home after our failure."

"So that's why you lived in a cave." Zell said.

"No!" Obsi said. "It's not like I was hiding from any search parties from my homeland that would ship me back and punish me for my failures."

"Wow." Kaitlyn said. "Just lay it all out there."

"Don't worry lass, I will protect you." Kilgon said, while grabbing his ax with one hand and putting his thumb on his chest with the other. "Any mean dragon search parties will fall before my might."

"Somehow I am not at all relieved." Obsi said. "Now if there was an incredibly strong human willing to protect me, I may feel safe."

Zell sighed. "So that's the real reason you wanted to join us." He said. "I knew it wasn't something as simple as your curiosity. If you truly are ever in danger, I will help you."

"I knew you liked me!" Obsi said.

"No, I just protect my companions and the moment you joined our party you became one." Zell explained. "So, you have been hiding for a thousand years from an inquisition that may not exist?"

"No, they definitely exist." Obsi said. "My brother the azure drake was taken by them. He held them off long enough for me to escape, I was in the cave ever since."

"There was a red dragon though." Zell said. "He attacked my sister in the open. He was not afraid of any draconic inquisition."

"And before he attacked your sister, had your people ever seen him?" Obsi asked. "Did he attack in the open area, or someplace private, late at night. He was hiding as well. He must have just viewed your sister as too much a threat to ignore."

"Still, if such a place existed." Zell said. "Wouldn't god have told me about it?"

"Dragons are divine in origin." Obsi explained. "We cannot be tracked or seen by the watchful eyes of heaven. As long as we stay out of mortal affairs we are hidden from their sight. So, it is quite possible this god you met did not even know we were here."

"She said she was the origin of all things." Zell said. "The god of creation."

"I know of two gods with that title." Obsi said. "Lore about the gods have been passed down through dragon kind since the beginning. The fact you said it is a woman.. I know of this god you speak; she is not to be trusted."