As the deadline to spill Daniel's secrets to the guild looms closer, Cory must determine what is best for the town, himself and the dragon. Still, other forces are at play, whose actions may yet force the issue


TMAU Part 8 The beginning of the end
Evening was approaching, but the sun was still high, lighting the streets, banishing the shadows in which hungry beasts lurked. Outside the small window Cory sat by the people came and went. The urgent dash to get inside wasn’t present in them yet. He was glad his new schedule allowed him at least a glimpse of the town at peace. He was just about able to trick his body into accepting living by night. He woke to the sun, and slept before it had risen high. Adjoining, he could hear the breathing of his sleeping apprentice. Daniel, in his human form.
The people outside wouldn’t be so calm if they knew how close a dragon lurked. Or if they knew a mass of slime probably heavier than the whole guildhall lurked under their feet. Artur hadn’t taken that fact well either. But the fate of the slime wasn’t his concern. He only had a day till the ultimatum put on Daniel’s secret expired.
As the deadline came in, the path became… not simple, but clear. He had to tell the guild the full truth. Who the dragon was, where he lurked. Had to hope Daniel could be accepted. The alternative would surely involve burning every bridge with his guild. He’d been with them most of his life, that wasn’t an option. And it wouldn’t help Daniel either. He’d not be left alone, as Cory’s apprentice. And the guild would be hunting the dragon side of him.
Honesty and hope were the only recourse. Still, it filled him with dread. What if Artur decided Daniel needed to be driven from town? Would the dragon resist? That was the worst outcome. Should he be trying to convince the young but still immense monster to leave? It wouldn’t be fair, or just, in his eyes… but it would cause the least death.
Cory’s dull thoughts pulled back as he heard movement, glancing over to his apprentice, stumbling into view.
“Sleep well, Daniel?” Cory eyed the lad over. As often as they could, if only for appearances and comfort, he preferred the dragon sleep in the guild. Not so simple if Daniel had fed recently. He knew the dragon had been trying to feed the night past.
“Yes” Daniel yawned, arching like a cat, if on two legs “I’m hungry though”
“Are you?” Cory managed only a weak smile “your appetite is growing, I think”
“I’ve been eating more regularly” Daniel observed. Cory chose not to reflect on the details that brought to mind.
“It’s not too late yet” Cory mused “how about we head out this morning. Remember that place we ate your first day? Haven’t been back since, you’ve only eaten in the guildhall or… on the streets”
“I remember” Daniel seemed to perk up. There was a focussing of the eyes Cory was becoming familiar with “there was someone big moving boxes in the street”
Cory’s already strained smile faltered. Yes, back when he’d thought the boy’s interest had been unusual but innocent “The food was nice there, wasn’t it? Quiet your stomach till you catch something substantial?”
“It did taste nice” Daniel confirmed “and… yes, filling this stomach does quell the urges for a bit…”
Cory rose from the window, patting Daniel on the shoulder as he moved for the door “Let’s head out then, if we’re quick we can get an order in before they shut for the night and we’re on duty”. He hoped something nice to eat would placate Daniel a bit, for… the conversation he needed to have. For Daniel’s safety and theirs… maybe, it was best he leave town.

It had been a while since Cory had seen the street in the light. It was strange to him now, the natural shadows, static and stable, not flickering and dancing with the fire of a lantern. The last time was, he realised, when he’d taken Daniel this way, that first day. The layering sense of similarity wasn’t helping his mood or resolve.
Bright flashes of clothing hung from windows, up in heights of the valley the narrow road made, catching the last rays. People wandered by, giving him curt nods of recognition. Rather than the cold, damp and salty aroma that filled the town by night, the air still smelled of bread and spices, fortunately clouding the less savoury scents of ongoing life. He’d missed being active during social hours more than he’d known. Behind him Daniel trotted along quietly, head likely full of the food to come, if Cory had to guess.
His resolve wavered, but it didn’t break. It was for the young dragon’s own good… he was, fairly sure. Either way he couldn’t just bury his head till it was time to confront the issue. Idly his hand slid to his hip, testing the weight of coins in his pocket. He could treat Daniel a little bit.
A shriek snapped him to alert. Movement in the periphery of his vision, someone turning and looking past him. Reflex more than decision brought his arm up. He saw it then, something large, heavy. It scraped the skin of his palm, a sharp pain flaring in his wrist as he caught it on its downward swing. Not enough momentum built to injure him… lucky.
The assailant’s face spoke of surprise, what little Cory could make out. Keen, intent eyes surrounded by obscuring dark cloth. He recognised the symbol on the arm quick enough. A Biter? Here, in broad daylight? He threw his attacker back with a charge of his shoulder, dominant hand finding the hilt of his sword even as he surveyed his situation. One… no, there was a second, and a third of them. Rushing from an alley he’d barely noticed to finish the job… the why could wait.
He heard the slow, scratching slide of metal against leather. Not his own scabbard. A sound he could only call a growl escaping a very human throat.
“Daniel” he snapped, sparing his apprentice only a glance. Dagger in hand, crouched a little as if he meant to pounce. Inwardly Cory cursed at not having kept up training Daniel to fight. It hadn’t seemed important when he learnt the truth. Daniel fought as a dragon normally, he had no need to master a ‘metal claw’. “Run, and hide” Cory commanded in a moment. He couldn’t risk Daniel’s inexperience in human to human combat… and he couldn’t have the dragon make a showing. Still the cries of civilians, panicked, rose all around.
To some relief, as he drew his sword, he caught a glimpse of Daniel obeying. A frantic, heavy swing of his blade halting the movement of one, who seemed determined to pursue “My apprentice is not your concern” his voice barked out. Cory’s mind calmed, honed. He didn’t need to worry about Daniel, he could focus on the fight… these fools lacked training, that meant he had a chance.
They didn’t have swords, he noted as they moved to surround him. Clumsy wooden clubs… stranger still. He knew the Biters had weapons better than that.
Wordlessly one rushed him but feinted back as he turned his blade their way. Another took their chance, and though Cory reacted quickly still he felt the sharp pain of a blow to his arm and shoulder. A dull, deep ache followed the blow, but before he could consider the best route, he was under attack again. Sporadically they’d leap into his range and swing at him. Where he had the fortune to be watching the attacker as they moved he could drive them back. His blade cut the flapping fabric and bit into flesh, but they kept too far to hit meaningfully.
What was the move? The question repeated in his mind, more aches spread across his body from each successful blow. Mostly across his arms and shoulders, he noted. They were aiming high. One blocked an easy escape either way up or down the street. The last, the alley they’d come from.
If he could hold out, the commotion would draw other guildmembers, he concluded. Some had to be on duty not too far away. For a moment the thought distracted him. His eyes drifted past his opponents to the distance of streets, hopeful for sight of salvation. The next attack got in too close, too quickly. He saw it in his periphery, but too late to block it. Vision blinked as it slammed into the side of his head. For a moment he knew nothing… in the next he was aware he was falling. Legs crumpled as he hit the cobbled street. A boot was quickly pressed onto his chest, but beyond that his awareness swam and spun in dizzying confusion.
A shadow fell over his face, and he registered his assailants gathering around him. Gradually vision cleared, and he was staring up at the three cloaked figures. One nursing his arm where the blade had struck, all panting from the effort of taking him down. Above them, higher still, and blocking the sun was a gaping chasm of pink, lined with savage spikes of white.
“No…” Cory managed, barely a whisper. The only ones close enough to hear, likely misunderstood its meaning, till too late. Immense jaws launched downwards, and in an instant two of the thugs were only visible from the hip down. The last falling back from the sudden appearance of the scaled snout with an undignified scream. Plucked from the ground, the legs of the two rose before in a single long jab of the muzzle they slid in deeper. The dragon’s underjaw sagging with the mass of them. Cries, muffled and desperate crept past the sealed fangs, breached the thick scales. Rising an octave as the muzzle flicked up, jaws parted just enough to let their voices reach the surroundings before they were muffled in a sharp swallow that shunted their combined mass to form a faint distortion in the dark scales of the behemoth’s neck. The scales visibly flexed inward, and the distortion sank. Perched on the building, stonework crumbling under him, head high, dimming sunlight gleaming off his scales and the crown of horns. He looked like a king… or he would, the swell of living, fighting prey sliding into his chest, gave the air of a tyrant.
Other screams, of terror, pure and unrestrained echoed all around but the dragon disregarded them. The third assailant had found the instinct to crawl away but didn’t make it far. A single taloned paw thumped by Cory’s side as the dragon extended his neck out, and plucked the morsel from the ground. Flicked back with dispassion, and a dextrous movement of the muzzle. Soon as the first swell had vanished beneath the dense plates of the beast’s body did the second, smaller sink, twitching, into the long, elegant tunnel to a caustic cauldron. Daniel had plumped from when Cory first saw him, no longer did bones show beneath the predatory curve of the dragon. Still though, three people left a notable distortion, two of the thick belly plates bulged out on one side… the side the stomach rested on predominantly.
“Daniel…” Cory murmured the name, quickly confronted with the broad snout of his apprentice. Concern… or, he felt it was concern, lingered in the gaze of the maneater. This close… he swore he could hear the men’s screams on the dragon’s breath. “You shouldn’t have done that…”
The head rolled to his chest, perhaps in something of a nod. The eyes averted from his own “it is done, you are safe… now what?”
“Run, and hide… I’ll come find you, you know where…”
Daniel’s muzzle bobbed again, the looming reptile retreating up onto the roof he was perched on, turning, and leaping with a flash of wings that blocked the sky and tinted the world in red as light fell through his leathery membranes.
Flat on his back, Cory panted. He felt his hair was damp on the side he was struck… probably blood. He’d need to get that seen to. A slow breath, heavy with looming dread whistled out between his teeth. Hopefully before Artur tore into him.

Eventually Cory managed to stand. His footing was unsteady, his head ached. Fatigue sank its teeth into him, draining the life from every movement. The willpower to control his thoughts cracked, no energy to keep his concerns at bay as they overcame him. Stresses and worries of the long days past swamping out all else.
Around him people were talking, gesturing in the direction the dragon had went. The assault in the middle of the street was a minor event now. A dragon, in full, terrible majesty had landed on a roof and eaten people alive right in front of them. The marks from his claws were on full display, proof of his perching there, dug into the softer stone. He’d left marks in the street before, certainly, but many beasts did that… what but a dragon left them on top of buildings.
He’d grown to used to Daniel, he’d forgotten what the normal reaction to seeing one was. Of course they were terrified. They’d be talking about nothing else all day, the fate of the town itself would be the centre of the frantic chatter. It shouldn’t be… he, was fairly sure the dragon was too peaceful for that, but still…
It took a frustrating amount of time for the guild to arrive. A pair of his fellows on patrol rushing to the scene. Though they came to him quickly, he felt strong hands supporting him up, mutters about getting him to the guild. He noticed the absence of questions. How much did they know, about the dragon… about his link, about just how screwed it all was.
He could scarcely imagine Daniel giving a worse first impression.

How long it took, Cory wasn’t sure. He flickered between awareness as he was dragged back to the guildhall, flinching each time one of the locals rushed in to desperately ask about the dragon. They craved reassurance, but there was none offered. Even if he felt able, he’d not be sure what to say. That Daniel had eaten people in defence? That the guild was aware of the dragon? He wasn’t well versed in framing such things. He’d only make it worse if he spoke.
Handed over to the doctor of their group he endured their attentions, took the medicine offered. His pain did abate mostly over the session before someone came to fetch him. To bring him to Artur. The uncertain, almost cold tone in the mouth of one of his fellows hurt more than he expected. He wasn’t restrained, but he felt very aware how many people were escorting him through the halls. Folk were running around in his periphery. The main hall was swarming with locals. Although many were abandoning their questions to rush home as night drew in. Much as he expected, when he was brought to Artur’s office and pressed through the door, the guildmaster was not the least pleased.
Artur was a controlled man. His anger expressed in still silence. Not a sound passed between them as after the door shut. Only the clink and rattle of a teacup as Artur drew in a long drink. The scent was rare but familiar, dangerous like the scent of a coming storm. The blend from Artur’s homeland was hard to acquire, saved for those moments when their guildmaster sought comfort in his quiet way.
Without a word, Cory took the seat opposite, and waited. A clock ticked somewhere in the room, behind a stack of books. Candlelight standing firm against the darkness creeping in around the edges of the room as Artur finally met Cory’s eyes.
“Where is the dragon, Cory?”
“I don’t know. He flew off, I was a little busy bleeding to follow. I was attacked, by biters, in broad daylight”
“Concerning, but I have bigger problems, non-metaphorically for that matter” Artur carefully put the teacup back in its dish and pushed it a distance away before his hand slammed to the table “the town is in chaos…”
“The dragon only went after the biters, to protect me. Nobody else”
“I know” Artur’s tone was cold “but that, Cory, is not easy to convey to the people who entrust us to keep such things out of their town. The beast for all purposes, landed himself right in the middle of town and ate whoever was closest, that’s what people saw. Now I have the leadership breathing down my neck for answers”
Cory exhaled heavily, rubbing a hand to his temples “give me time, give them time to calm down. We can introduce him, surely. He’s been nothing but helpful, that can be conveyed”
“I gave you time” Artur cut in “I’m done waiting, Cory” a long, heavy sigh escaped the guildmaster, hand briefly covering his eyes “I want you to bring me your apprentice, Daniel, here. Immediately. Wherever he’s hiding”
There was a long moment of returning silence. Cory’s mind flashing from confusion, to shock, to twisting understanding “you knew?”
“Damn it Cory, of course I knew” Artur slammed his fist to the table again, the teacup tinkling “The man who spent all night chasing the naga who ate his last apprentice, and not once when you were assigned to night duty of all things did you ask me to assign your fresh blood apprentice to some other work. Notably absent from your every report. Not once have you mentioned him in any of our meetings, trying too hard to avoid using his name every time you talk about the real him, I imagine” he paused for breath, gesturing off to the door “and you’ve been leading the beast all over our hall, to my door no less. And he has a convincing act, I’ll grant you. But this experiment is over. You will bring him, here”
“For what purpose?” Cory rose from his chair, Artur matching the movement “You’re not going to try to kill him? Worst he’s done is put down some biters, we’ve done the same. He says he wants to live here and be useful. And I believe him”
“That may all be true” Artur rolled a shoulder “but that is not your call, Cory. Nor mine. We, are under contract. We’re mercenaries, in case you forgot. Our employers pay us, we do what we’re told. And we’re being told, to get rid of the dragon”
“Was all this some loyalty game? You’re at my throat for keeping information close, were you lying through your teeth to me, Artur? Or were you never going to accept him, no matter how he fit in?”
“You know what, Cory. Probably not” Artur’s tone was an icy blade, arms folding across his breastplate “There’s a good chance I wouldn’t have ever accepted a giant, man-eating monster living in the city we’re paid to keep giant man-eating monsters out of. Why you are so convinced this beast is something other than that is beyond me. He’ll only get bigger, more powerful, impossible to control. Having a dragon wanting to set up roost on top of a settlement, is a bad thing, remember? We’ve seen where that leads”
“Not a fair comparison” Cory snapped. He knew the example, a city they’d briefly edged around. Gloried pasture for a tyrant lizard’s livestock “even then, place was safe, but for the beast itself. You’re assuming the worst of him, without reason I might add”
“That’s where you’re wrong” Artur regarded him levelly across the table “the reason is simple. Safety. He hasn’t acted against us, I’ll grant you that. Unfortunately irrelevant, Cory. He could, and if he did, we’d be powerless to stop him. Keep the dragon here, suddenly the law, order and leadership of this place is at his whim and mercy. How long does a dragon live? You’re certain he’ll never decide he knows better, in all that time? One choice it all it takes, with no check to his power, and this town is in his service, or stomach. You’d ask the people here to bet their home, their lives, and the lives of their descendants on this dragon playing nice, when for all you know, that’s exactly what he’s doing… just playing the long game. Time isn’t the same to a dragon. He could wait a lifetime for us before springing a plan and barely feel the time had passed. You don’t get to decide the fate of this town for them”
Cory sighed, resting his palm to his forehead. No rebuttal came, he disagreed, but the point was made. It wasn’t his place to force the issue his way “I don’t want him hurt, Artur”
“And I don’t want half our guild eaten alive” Artur grunted “bring him. He’ll be offered the chance to leave peacefully. Yes he could return, that much of a risk I’ll take to keep our number being destroyed in a fight with such a monster”
“And I can trust that’s true? Not like you’ve been entirely honest on this”
“Neither have you” Artur added icily “we’ll discuss your choice to keep him hidden despite orders to the contrary later, Cory. For now, your decision has forced my hand. The once emaciated beast, all report, is in good health. A young but healthy dragon, familiar with our ways and the layout of the hall and town… you’ve made him too dangerous to fight directly”
Cory opened his mouth to speak further, but stopped as Artur lifted a hand “no more. Go downstairs, James will be escorting you, go and find your dragon”
“An escort?”
“For your protection. And ours” Artur beckoned to the door “you’re on thin ice. Don’t turn on the guild now. We’ve been through a lot, I don’t want to lose another veteran”

It was disheartening. All of it. But fate had fallen as it willed. Cory endured the looks of his guild. Confusion, some flashes of darker emotions. He wondered how much they knew. Enough to know he was in trouble, he gathered. Probably had been told to keep an eye on him, with enough vagueness for rumours to spread and guesswork to take root.
In the hall below, James waited for him and greeted him with a curt nod and a low breath “what have you gotten yourself into, Cory?”
“How much do you know?” Cory muttered the question as they set out for the door into the dark. A familiar trip for him, his old friend was a little warier of the darkness
“I know Artur is pissed” James shrugged “I know it’s to do with that dragon” his voice lowered a little “the dragon… was your apprentice, little Daniel? He… I’d never have guessed”
Of course, Artur had spread that detail… whole guild must be looking out for the boy, in case he returned in his disguise “He’s a good egg” Cory grunted “Not that a detail like that seems to matter”
“Hard to imagine you sympathising with a big scaly maneater like that” James mused as they lit their torches against the night. Admittedly, Cory felt a flash of nerves grip him as he remembered… Daniel wasn’t with him this time. “Don’t know how you’ve handled going out in this… I suppose having a dragon bodyguard, has its perks, huh?”
Cory spared James a glance, grunting a faint acknowledgement. Soon, the dark swallowed them up as they walked away from the guild, Cory taking the lead. He’d check the dock warehouse, Daniel should have gone there by now. “Level with me, what are your orders?”
“Watch you” James admitted easily “make sure you don’t run off, make sure you bring the dragon back and report the exchange in full detail. Full suspicion treatment”
“Not worried I’ll turn on you in the dark?”
“You’re no traitor, even if you seem to be a bit astray. I’m here for your sake. Just do what Artur says, we can get back to normal”
“Can we?” Cory muttered “my normal, has had a dragon in it for a while. Odd as it may sound, I was getting used to it”
“Think you’re safer with than without? In general, I mean”
“I don’t know” Cory conceded “He’s kept me safe a few times. This, feels like the betrayal, James. He’s been honest with me and good for the town”
There was an uncomfortable moment of quiet “you don’t think he’ll try to eat us, do you? If he realises he’s about to be chased out… grab what he can and go?”
A denial sprang to Cory’s tongue but… no, he couldn’t quite utter it. Was he sure? No… He’d prefer to think Daniel wasn’t that way but, wasn’t the dragon doing all this for selfish reasons under it all? He’d have no reason to withhold his appetite anymore.
“Not giving me confidence”
“I’m not sure” Cory muttered “he wanted to live here, which meant we were off menu. I, honestly don’t know if dragons get attached that way, to see us as friends even when it doesn’t serve him. If you’re nervous just stay alert”
“Great, real comforting. I’m sure I’ll outrun however many tonnes of flying reptile”
He had no real rebuttal to that. If Daniel decided they would be his dinner tonight, did they have any chance to avoid it? It was the crux of the problem. That much he had to accept, bitter pill it was. Keeping Daniel around, meant the town being at his mercy. Still… was the dragon so self-serving really? Intervening earlier had been at the cost of his, admittedly strained, anonymity. Making a big show of his true self for all to see. Or, was he giving the dragon too much credit? It could have been calculated. At least he knew Daniel had eaten very well recently. Even if, there was no bond protecting him, the dragon wouldn’t have an appetite, right?
Cory couldn’t keep himself focussed, thoughts fragmented over all that was happening, and his companion this night lacked his limited familiarity with the dark. The ambush was unnoticed till too late.
Snapped back to the present by James’s hiss of alarm, turning around to survey he found, into their torchlight moving more biters… a lot more. He drew his sword on the closest before a blow struck the back of his head. A moment of, falling, and blank light, and confusion before he came to, with his cheek on the stone and pain all up his front.
In the corner of his view, James had fared better. Weaving between strikes, his blade cut down one of the assailants, then another before his cry burst into the night. A blade sprouted out of his belly as, yet another attacked from behind. James falling to the stone as the remainder descended on him. All but one, who pressed a foot hard on Cory and pulled his arms back to be bound.
“We only need this one” a voice above him shouted “toss that one closer to the dock, beasties will find the body, it’ll be gone by morning”
Cory opened his mouth to curse a moment before a cloth was shoved in it. A taste of brine and much assailing his senses. Steel grief etched in his chest. He’d lost companions before, he’d learnt to keep going till time permitted. What though, he couldn’t control was renewed fear for those still alive, Daniel in particular.
He thrashed against the attempts to bind him till another blow to the head bounced his jaw off the stone, and his night slipped into deeper darkness.

The night was cold, the warehouse was leaking water down over his back, and his lunch was giving him indigestion. Daniel huffed a billowing, deep breath out, jaw settled on his forepaws as he wallowed in the dejection of self-pity. Cory should have come for him by now… he was sure of it. Maybe they were in bigger trouble than he thought. He’d only been helping. A weak growl, stirred the silence, as he thought bitter things to the mush of flesh, bone and clothing churning in his gut. Well digested they were too… they who’d attacked Cory and ruined his day. His stomach had eked out vengeance, but… it didn’t satisfy. Not all was well, not yet.
The dragon let his eyes close for a long moment. He had to be patient, he had to lay low… at least until he could comfortably resume human form and return on his own.
A long, wet gurgle echoed beneath the plates of his belly, and he rolled to his side to give his gut room… too many humans, all in gear and indigestables at once… he buried his muzzle under his paws, tail lashing to the stone behind. Passing them was going to be no fun…