Dragons on the Tower

Daniel Addady

There weren’t always dragons in the valley.

Drevlyn and his cadre currently stood high above it, their vantage affording them a good look at almost the whole of the area. It was a mountain valley, nestled in the center of an unnamed mountain range. While the surrounding area was almost perpetually chilly, a given, as it was located at the northernmost part of the continent, the valley at its heart was warm. Not uncomfortably so, but very noticeable to the beleaguered party.

Winter had set in a month ago, and the trip through the range had been trying. However, that might have been due to all the work the group had gone through, forging a road as they passed. Hard work, made all the more difficult by winter’s biting chill. Nothing quite like digging into nigh frozen soil. It's good they thought to pack tools laced with the warming runes of their homeland. Drevlyn had been thanking Icah for his foresight since the trip began.

Once the group entered the valley, the chill of the surrounding mountains seemed to all but disappear. Known as the Heart of The Continent, the valley used to be populated. Long ago, before the dragons came, it was the home of the greatest city on the continent: Vale. Not the most creative name, but it fit thought Drevlyn with a wry smile. The desiccated remains of the city were clearly visible now.

As a boy, Drevlyn had heard tales. Vale had been built around the mysterious tower; No one knew what lay atop it, but it has been reported that it's far larger on the inside than it appeared without. Supposedly, the tower was older than the mountain range, older than the valley, and older than the wyrms that now made it their home. Unfortunately, if the tower ever had a name it was now unknown.

Vale had clearly once been large and prosperous. It's buildings still gleamed, but the light that bounced off them somehow seemed lackluster. The tower drew the eye, and possibly everything else to it. There, clinging to its edifice, were the dragons. Two massive beasts, their scales gleamed. They remained still, the only movements they made seemed to come from their breath. The serpents intertwined around the tower, and themselves. The colors of their hides shone all the more brilliantly against the pitch black stone.

From his vantage, Drevlyn could see the whole of the valley, and the tower. In fact, he and his cadre had spotted the damn thing the second they’d entered the range. “Odd” he thought. The tower already seemed impossibly large… it’s at least a league tall. He mused to himself, “if the tales rang true, how large could it be within?” The group had traveled many leagues, for many weeks, and the tower seemed ever present on the horizon… Hopefully, the legends do ring true, he thought, as his party and their supply line headed down into the valley.

Legends abound of the valley. Some tell tales of a lush and prosperous place, full of a myriad of flora and fauna. None of the legends mentioned Dragons. Most legends focused on the center edifice, the black tower in its heart. Scouts had returned to Drevlyn’s cadre a week ago, and they had reported no great beasts. Though they did mention that the valley itself was oddly warm for winter.

The river that once cut through the city divided the valley itself in half. The banks of that river bristled with willow trees, though they were eerily still now. And yet, he and his cadre were intent on entering the city and setting up camp. Behind them, was the road they’d carved through the Sycothean. Ahead, was the ruined city of vale, and the two great serpents. Some of the men in the group were nervous, but they pressed on. The group had no choice, really.

Their first goal, was to bring this new road into the heart of the valley. There was still fresh water in the mountain range. Plenty. There was a host of wild game, and the predatory creatures of the range had already learned to fear the men. Scouts would be able to keep Drevlyn and company well fed for at least a few months.

The second goal was for the group to set up in the ruins of the city. They had come to revive Vale, and they weren’t going to let some freakish beasts stop them. They’d already carved a road through the range, an army could and likely would be gathered if the beasts turned out to be hostile.

As Drevelyn looked around, he noticed that the group had come to a stop. Ah, the sun’s setting. It’s time to set up camp. He got off of his horse, and went to the saddle bags for his tent. Likely they’d find out if the dragons were dangerous once night fell... He checked the bow at his back, and the axe at his side. Just about everyone in the group were prepared for almost anything. Unfortunately, they hadn't really been prepared for dragons.

He'd sent a messenger dove homewards, with news of the beasts. Likley, the news would be ignored he frowned. Better safe than sorry . If his group were to be wiped out then the next would come better prepared.