Lunetaches

Luntaches

King's Wrath

Smoke billowed from the King’s nostrils as he made his way down the shadowed hallway. His talons clacked sharply against the cobblestones on the stairs, and fire was practically leaking from his mouth by the time he threw open an iron door and stepped into the garden beyond.

“Crisenth!” he roared. “Where are you?” Why is he always so bloody hard to find?

Overhead, a full moon drifted behind heavy clouds. Tendrils of mist crept across the foliage-carpeted ground, coating the path ahead, but not daring to come within three feet of the King. It lurked disquietingly in the shadows of plants that looked a touch too gray to be healthy.

Before the King could grow so impatient as to venture into the garden, a black imperial came into view from behind a large shrub. His red eyes shone in the night air, as did the purple and gold patches of opal that encased portions of his body.

“Apologies, my Liege. I did not intend to keep you waiting.” He continued forward, the mist dissipating under his feet wherever he stepped.

“Don’t worry about it,” the king huffed. “It’s not as if I come with important news.” He glowered pointedly. Imbecile.

“What news,” Crisenth asked, his tone velvet.

“My traitorous wife, the queen, has gone missing,” the King spat. “She took that child of hers, and her parents. They’ve all disappeared without a trace.” The hatred in his eyes glowed as brightly as the sparks flickering in his mouth. How dare she leave me. Ungrateful wretch!

The floating fabric tendrils hovering near Crisenth, which had only wafted gently until this point, suddenly began to flick violently, brandishing the blades fastened to their ends. A pondering look crossed the imperial’s dark face. “Disappeared, you say...” Without warning, one of the blades cut a thin line along Crisenth’s neck. He closed his eyes and drew a long breath as crimson blood trickled from the wound. A single drop fell, bubbling caustically when it hit the ground. Leaves wilted beneath the small droplet.

“A strong magical ritual was performed nearby. Recently,” Crisenth added, his eyes rolling beneath their lids. He ran his tongue over the bloodied blade. “I can perform a similar ritual that will allow a dragon to follow them.”

The disgusted curl of the King’s mouth slowly morphed into a wicked smile. “I have the perfect dragon for the job.”