Day Nine

I can't begin to explain what I have been through over the past two days.  I'm not even sure if it was real or some sort of black magic at work.  Who ever reads this, you must understand that everything you are about to read is true... there was a dragon at my execution. 

I guess in a way I should be thankful to him, or her, that my head is not rotting in some wicker basket, covered in flies and mud.  Before I was able to get up and move around, the dragon had already taken out several Imperial guards.  I don't suggest wearing full plate-mail when fighting a fire-breathing dragon.  A nearby family didn't even have time to scream.  The four of them and their log home, were engulfed in flames within a matter of seconds.  I quickly snapped my head to avoid seeing the carnage. When I finally looked back the smallest of the two children was still holding a teddy bear in her charred, dead, hands.  That sight was not something I will soon forget.

One of my fellow prisoners unbound my hands and helped me up off my knees. I could barely stand with the heat from all the fires scorching my eyes and skin. We were completely surrounded by flame. I could see my life flashing before me. My home town on Summerset Isle, my daughter Lucy and my wife Vana'de, all so calm and beautiful. For a split second I forgot where I was as I let emotion take over me. I was ready to die. I was ready to be burned alive.

Someone with a big hand grabbed the back of my neck and pushed me towards a nearby tower. I gave in and started to run.   There were six people inside including myself.  Three men were on the floor wimpering and crying while saying prayers to their God.  I couldn't make out the language but their hands were raised and their faces screamed forgiveness.  I could barely hear them a moment later, the dragon let out a deafening scream. It sounded angry not hurt.   I could hear guards barking orders at each other outside.  Black smoke was starting flow in through the window.  I tried to focus on the figures running past but I couldnt make anything out.  I decided I couldn't stay here any longer and ran to the top of the tower gasping for fresh air along the way.

I didn't have time to react. Suddenly the dragon's black leathered head smashed through the right side of the wall knocking me down a few steps and hard against the wall. For a brief moment I could see straight into the dragon's left eye. The golden glass eye was lit with fire and fury. It wasted no time in snatching up the guy in front of me and flying off. As quickly as it had appeared it was now gone.

The rest of the way up was blocked but I could see clearly out the newly formed window. There was a house near by, no more than eight feet. For any other Elf this would have been a cake walk but I was still weak from not eating while in prison and the smoke was weighing heavily on my lungs. I waited a few moments to see if the sky was clear. I jumped. I made it, obviously, but I was still in no better position than I was before. There was still a dragon somewhere out there flying around the town, picking people off like an eagle feasting on small rodants. And the fact that I was still a convicted criminal surrounded by at least fifty Imperial guards was not reassuring. I can either lay low and take my chances with the Imperials, if there were any left standing or I could try to escape this burning hell-hole and take my chances with that dragon.