Dragonlust

Chapter XV: Reassignment

       Lord Void was just turning away from the cupboard when he heard a shout. He returned to the entrance hall to find it crowed with Dragon Master Knights, who were crowded around a lone figure wrapped in chains.
       “My lord,” a figure stepped out from the crowed and bent a knee, “Please accept my most humble apologies, for I am afraid I might have inconvenienced you.”
       Lord Void descended the staircase to the uneven floor of the hall, still shifting and crumbling from Reno’s explosion.
       “As you can see,” murmured Lord Void slowly, his eyes burning into Targon, “If you had not been off chasing common thieves, my most prized prisoner most likely would not have managed to single-handedly destroy my fortress, kill Majisto, and escape in the process.”
       Targon rose. “My lord, if this prisoner was able to do all that you say he did right under your most-powerful nose, what could a band of lowly Knights do against him?”
       The knights around him shifted and Caimlin murmured in shock. Lord Void did not react. He simply diverted is gaze to the person on the floor.
       “Who is this?” asked Lord Void lazily.
       “He is my filthy bro-” began Targon.
       “I was not talking to you,” snapped Lord Void, “Sergeant Caimlin, who is this man?”
       “He is called Bargon, sir.”
       “And he is related to Targon?”
       “Yes sir, he is his brother.”
       “I see…” mused Lord Void, “Yes...I see…”
       He turned sharply to Targon. “So you ‘borrowed’ a-” Lord Void scanned the Knights milling about “-score of my finest men to catch a brother of yours?”
       Targon shifted slightly. “My brother and another man, yes sir.”
       “I see that even with twenty knights mounted on dragons were only able to capture one.” smirked Lord Void.phone logo
       Targon said nothing.
       Lord Void turned to where Del Grakken was approaching. “Del Grakken, there has been a change in plans. Sergeant Targon has been disloyal, so it will be him, and not Sergeant Caimlin who will go serve the Sorcerer-King. Also, make sure Caimlin supervises the expedition into Royals land to retrieve my ship and slaves.”
       “Very well, my Lord.” replied Del Grakken, bowing.
       Lord Void turned back to the scowling Targon. “I hope you serve the Sorcerer-King better than you have me. It is said the Sorcerer-King punishes disloyalty with death. Consider yourself lucky I do not have that same policy.”
       Lord Void returned to his quarters, poured himself more wine and began pacing. He was pleased with his trade with the Sorcerer-King, a ship and two hundred slaves were nothing to scoff about. He also had been able to get rid of the insolent Targon, which was a bonus. However good he felt about his deal, though, he was still seething over his loss of prisoner Reno Regga. He had been this close to unleashing the Eroth Gamus upon the world and his chance had slipped though his fingers!
       At least I still have the Eroth Gamus itself and the Twin Pendants... he consoled himself as he opened the cupboard to look upon his prizes.
       He froze. The cage that had held the little lizard that was supposed to be the Eroth Gamus was gone, as were the Pendants. Someone had stolen them.
       Lord Void was just exiting his room when Caimlin approached him.
       Caimlin stepped back and bowed. “Milord the slaves and ship components have returned, the mission was successful.”
       “Very good Caimlin, very good. Keep this up, and you'll be a high-ranking officer soon,” Lord Void nodded in approval, “Set up temporary holding pens for the slaves with the wood from the ship and store the rest of the wood in my storage barns. When you are done contact me via teleharm, I will give you further orders then,”
       “You won't be nearby, Lord?” asked Caimlin, puzzled.
       “No…” was the non-explanatory reply.

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