Darius saw the fright in Ridley's eyes as he read the last passage of Might of Fire's sixth chapter. He stopped reading and sighed as he looked out at the cool night. Shutting the book, he turned to his five year old son and said, "Perhaps it's time for bed then? We can find out what happens to Sir Beorn and his dragon foe tomorrow night."
"No, daddy! Please one more chapter?"
Darius laughed and set the book on the nightstand. "Oh, Ridley! You're terrified, if I read one more word you won't sleep a wink. Don't worry, the book isn't going anywhere." Darius stood from Ridley's bed and kissed him on his brow, ruffling his hair. He started for the door, but Ridley called out after him, pale and shaking, "Daddy?"
"Yes, son?"
"Dragons... they aren't real, are they? Like in the stories?"
"Well, Ridley, they are called stories for a reason, no? Get some sleep, son, I love you"
"Love you, dad!"
Ridley pulled the blankets tight around himself and shivered. Dragons were awful sounding things. Fire-breathing lizards the size of castles, with skin of diamond scales and claws of scimitars, taking flight into the sky on vast wings. Dad was right, dragons were just legends! The stuff of fairy tales... and nightmares.
"Rid-lee! Pa-chi home, mas adelante," cried the boy named Pa-chi. Ridley responded with aggravation, "Pa-chi, speak common or don't speak at all!"
Pa-chi had been leading the wounded Ridley for almost an hour when he spotted the village up ahead. Little had occurred during their long walk, but from their current position Ridley could now see the immense mountain at the center of what he assumed was an island. What was more interesting was the smoke billowing from the mountaintop, was it a dormant volcano? Ridley pushed the thought aside as he saw Pa-chi's home, and his shoulders slumped. A fishing village was an overstatement for the tribal backwater home. A few dozen hide huts surrounding a single large wooden temple sit before Pa-chi and Ridley, nestled in a small bay. No ships or docks could be seen, the largest boats were minor fishing rafts. If there was a way off this island, it was not in this village. Ridley grabbed Pa-chi by his shoulders and shook him, shouting "Pa-chi! I need to get OFF this island! I need a SHIP. Where can I find a SHIP?"
Pa-chi let out a whimper as he squirmed frightfully. Ridley didn't care, and tightened his grip on the boy's shoulders until he was certain something was breaking. He heard footsteps from the jungle thicket and released Pa-chi, who fell to the ground crying, and raised his fists for a fight. Several warriors brandishing flimsy spears and hide shields pounced out at the bone knight. Just when Ridley thought they would attack, an old man stepped out from the trees and got between Ridley and the tribesman. The man had a long white beard that fell down in two separate braids. Many bones were woven into his mane, and his robes were dark with skeletal artwork embroidered in. He held a large spined staff so old and worn it looked to be made of questionable materials, but Ridley guessed it was the spine of a dangerous creature. When the old man spoke with his low raspy voice, Ridley was elevated to hear that he spoke common. "Hold my brothers, do not attack this man."
Two of the tribesman questioned their elder in their native language, but the old man raised his hand slowly and they wisely held their tongues. The man continued speaking, "Look at this man. Look at his armor and tell me, does he not bear a resemblance to the one from the old scripture? The beast from the sea... the lord of bones."
The warriors looked back and forth to each other, and back to Ridley. They backed away cautiously, with fear now beginning to show in their eyes. Ridley had no idea what the elder was talking about, but he found enjoyment in the reaction it had on his soldiers. Now the old man approached Ridley, and placed a hand on his ribbed breastplate. "Come now, young man, tell me your name."
Ridley gave a quick glance at Pa-chi, wiping tears from his eyes, before answering. "My name is Ridley."
"Ridley? Hm," the old man closed his eyes, and oddly appeared to question the taste of the name. "Ridley... would you join me in our Temple of Daghaz? You there, take Pa-chi back to his hut. The rest of you, back to the village."
Without waiting for Ridley's answer, the old man turned towards the village and started walking. Ridley caught up with the man, and neither of them spoke until all the warriors had cleared. Continuing to walk slowly towards the temple, the old man started first, "Ridley, where have you come from?"
"As far as you're concerned? The sea. Before that is my business."
The man laughed, "Amusing, and why are you here? In this village?"
"I need a ship."
"A ship? Or simply a means to leave? I can provide one... but not the other." Ridley glared at the old man, who raised an eyebrow in return. He knew more than he was letting on, and Ridley wasn't in the mood for games. "Okay, old man, what's the story? Are you a wizard? Necromancer- forget all that, I don't care. Can you get me out of here or not?"
"Firstly, my name is Sindos, not old man. I am... a mage of sorts, I prefer shaman. I can get you out of here, but not for free."
Ridley stopped walking just outside the temple gate, placed a fist on his hip, and sighed. Gritting his teeth, he said sternly, "All right, how about this: you get me out of here, and I won't break you."
Sindos found this very amusing, and laughed rather loudly. "Do you stand at the gates of heaven and threaten the one who holds the key?" Sindos moved close to Ridley and whispered, to ensure no villager would hear. "Your threats mean nothing here, bone knight, for we have suffered too long to fear pain or death." Sindos pushed open the door to the temple, and allowed Ridley to enter first.
This temple to Daghaz was dark, having only a few small windows. The floor creaked eerily, there were no benches to sit upon, and no altar to preach from. Overall, the temple was outright disturbing in it's desolation. The only two things occupying it's space were a small immaculate sculpture of a dragon, and a golden scepter that glimmered despite the lack of light. Three women were kneeling in front of the artifacts sobbing, praying in different languages. Ridley's eyebrows furrowed and he looked to Sindos. "What is this place, Sindos, where am I?"
Before the priest replied, he hollered to the women "leave us" and they quickly exited the temple. Sindos then attended to Ridley's questions. "You are in the Temple of Daghaz. Here we pray to the hell god Daghaz so we may keep his servant at bay."
"His servant?"
Sindos seemed deeply bothered at the conversation. He swallowed slowly, and turned away from Ridley. "Yes, a terrible creature. When our sacrifices are not enough to quell his hunger... he comes."
"A children's tale, of course. A story to keep the peasants working and the priests lazing about."
"This is no fairy tale, Ridley. The servant of Daghaz is a nightmarish reality for the people of my village."
Ridley was hardly listening, the golden scepter on the floor caught his eye again. It shimmered with such bizarre elegance, Ridley took a step towards it and looked to Sindos. "What is that peculiar rod?"
"That is the Scepter of Adelos, for generations it has kept the creature of Daghaz at bay. Without it, the monster would come and destroy our village."
"Truly? Where does it get such power?"
"You don't know? Forgive me, Ridley, but are you not a paladin? You carry holy symbols, and the way you stand, I assumed- ah, it matters not. It's power, my boy, comes from the god of light."
Ridley's ears perked up at the name. "The god of light? You mean... Pelor? Your people worship Pelor?"
"Not quite, my people give prayer to Daghaz. I am sure that long ago we prayed to Pelor, but when his light could no longer protect us we converted. The Scepter is an artifact from a forgotten age, but it does help."
Ridley smiled wickedly, "Surprise surprise, the gods have failed to protect you. Your words fall upon deaf ears, Sindos. The gods were mortal once, but on their high thrones they have forgotten your pain."
"That is why I am not praying to a god, Ridley, I am asking a man."
Ridley knew what Sindos was implying. "You old bastard, if you think I'm going to slay this creature you-"
Sindos spoke over Ridley with surprising force, "Then you will never leave!" Ridley held his tongue. Sindos had nothing to lose, and thus had the upper hand. "There are writings, Ridley. Old stories and myths of a bone knight coming to usurp the throne of Daghaz's servant. A paladin... a fallen worshiper of Pelor."
Ridley stifled a laugh, "And you think this hero is... me? How quaint. I'm not your bitch to be sent on errands, Sindos. I'll find another way off this island." Ridley turned and walked towards the temple door, but before he left, his eyes went back to the Scepter of Adelos. Looks like Pelor left a dirty secret here on this island. That rod is tied to him. What better way to kill a god than with his own toys? I may not have found a way off this island, but I have found something far more interesting.
Ridley pushed open the door and walked into the shrinking light of dusk.
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