Terrance

Terrance was a knight once. Serving the great Windsinger’s goal of maintaining peace in the skies and lands of the Windswept Plateau, defending against the Beastclans and rogue dragons who tormented the clans he swore to protect. That was until he met her. Shrouded in mystery and magic, the exiled dragon was his enemy, a fool to dare tread in a place where she didn’t belong. And yet, he was drawn to her, like a moth to a flame, as she led him through a dizzying game of cat and mouse. He was to capture her, to extinguish her fire, and yet, he hesitated. Was this really where he would fall short?

She was there, floating in the night, the winds of his homeland drifting by her, allowing the energy radiating off of her to coil around her like smoke. She made to leave his sight, to dive into the dense shrubbery and low trees. “Wait! Stop!” Terrance called, “You can’t be here!” “And who are you to stop me?” Her melodic voice responded, completely and annoyingly calm. Terrance growled. “I am a knight, a defender of this land that you dare intrude upon. You have no allowance to be here, criminal!” She giggled softly. “I’m afraid you’d have to make me leave. And in order to do that, you’ll have to catch me first.” Without another word, she disappeared into the bushes. How infuriating. No wonder everyone’s struggled to catch her, she’s faster than a lightning strike. Terrance sighed, heading towards the bamboo forest. After several hours of pursuing her through the winding branches of the low trees and high bushes, a clearing appeared. It was dark, covered by the dense canopy of taller trees that grew in height towards the middle of the woods.

A small inn was carved into two conjoined trees, the already large trunks twisted together to make a space large enough to hold several colonies of fae dragons at once. The front was formed from clusters of woven bamboo, making a crude reception desk and entrance. Terrance had heard of this inn from his fellow knights, who avoided the place like the Scarred Wasteland. Not that he blamed them.

What was it they referred to this place as? A hovel, that was it. Apparently infested with yellow sparrowmice and ridden with dust. Absolutely ridiculous, and to call themselves a business. Muttering curses under his breath, he landed at the entrance to the inn.

“Excuse me?” Terrence asked, stepping forward. Directly into spiderwebs.

He let out a hiss, shaking his foot vigorously. He did not appreciate spiders in the slightest.

“Yes?” A gravelly voice loomed from somewhere behind the desk, lost in the darkness. The only thing he could see was a pair of large red eyes.

“I don’t suppose you’ve seen a fae dragon come by here?” Terrance questioned, inching slightly closer to the desk.

“Besides yourself, I’m guessing.”

Obviously. He sighed, “That’d be correct. She’s got lavender-colored wings if that helps to jog your memory.” “And why should I give up information on the whereabouts of one of my best clients?” “She’s a thief! And a trespasser, and a felon, and she’s been accused of multiple cases of assault! And you know where she is!” Terrance bit out angrily. “Again, why should I give up information on one of my sources. She brings in money, I don’t care where it’s from.” The voice said, sounding very unimpressed with Terrance’s reasoning. “Do you have a contract or something with her? You’re aware that she’s been exiled, her signature means nothing legally!” A growl came from the darkness. “You know nothing of my establishment do you, knight,” the voice spat out. “You have no claims here. She is under my protection. You and the rest of the fools who try and act as though you’re better than the rest because of a shiny title and a sense of duty.

It grows tiring as an excuse to shove your way around and demand what you want. You’re no hero, knight. You’ve been deluded. You will not have her.” Terrance stood still a moment in shock. Deluded? The others weren’t- sure, they could be pushy and throw titles around some, but they never meant to harm anyone. “I must return with her, they will send me away if I don’t. It is what they have done to all who came before me.” “So let them do to you what you have done to her. You will not have her.” “I didn’t exile her, I had no hand in that! That was before I became a knight, I can do nothing but serve the orders of those higher than me! I will not abandon everything I have worked for in favor of some petty thief who refuses to apply any real effort to make their way in life!” Terrance was nearly shouting and had reached the desk in a rage. “Leave, knight. And do not return. I will not be made a fool of by someone who chooses to blindly follow the commands of others. She was exiled for her spirit, for making her own path. Isn’t that what you wind dragons try to preach all the time? To find your own winds and follow those?” “I-” “Ah, a hypocrite as well as a fool. Begone. You have wasted enough of our time.”

“Our?” Terrance paused, looking around the room. He couldn’t see anyone else.

“Well, of course, you did follow me here. Don’t tell me you’ve lost me already?” A light giggle followed the question.

Terrance’s eyes narrowed. “Mel.”

“So you’ve found me,” she laughed, sliding across the desk. “Don’t mind my friend here, he gets a little defensive is all.”

“Right.”

“So, knight, whatever shall we do? I’m afraid I will not go back to your command, and I will not leave my friends here. But it’d be such a shame if someone of your standing failed, again.” Mel said, lazily spinning around Terrance as she began flexing her magic, pooling it around her as she paced.

Terrance swallowed nervously. Wait, nervously? Why was he nervous? “I-”

“Shh,” she cooed, another giggle ringing in his ears. Why was she so close to him? He was getting kind of- dizzy? “Such a looker too, what a shame. I don’t suppose I could- tempt you?”

His eyes closed slowly, her magic was alluring, her voice was soft and slow, steadily dragging him to a sleep-like state.

“Such a wonderful job,” she whispered, “Sleep.”

And everything went dark.



Written by InspiredPoet