Golgath and Ilsvan
Submission for IronAge Media's prompt, "The Basilisk," and a sequel to 'The Council's Request.'
Golgath perched on top of a boulder, overlooking the capital of a soon-to-be-invaded foreign nation. The council was greedy and would find any reason to expand their territory. Golgath and his partner Ilsven were sent to sow the seeds of dissent and distrust, their specialty. But that was not what Golgath was worried about.
He shook his slim shoulders, and looked around to find Ilsven. Golgath was a green dragon, with scales the color of grass, and an surviving attitude. Ilsven was one of the few elves who dwelt outside their otherworldly forests. Ilsvan never said much about his home, and Golgath wondered if it was even on this world. He found the elf standing next to him. The two were one of six living pairs of the bound.
“My friend,” Ilsvan said in his song-like voice, “what ails thee?”
“Ilsvan, we are in danger.” Golgath shifted into another position since his leg has fallen asleep. Ilsvan had been surprised to learn that dragons’ limbs could fall asleep when Golgath had first mentioned it many decades ago. He sniffed the air and listed to birds singing before saying anything else. Golgath could only speak in Ilvan’s head, and Ilsvan had told him his voice was deeper than one might expect.
“This isn’t the first time we have done this,” Ilsvan said, then, “it isn’t the mission you speak of is it?”
“Nay,” Golgath shook his narrow head. “It is the executioner, Thlin, I fear.”
“Thlin?” laughed the elf. “Why are you afraid of her?” A few months ago a new duo had appeared from nowhere, a young urchin named Thlin, and her dragon counterpart, Silvath. Thlin had seemed at the time like a nervous girl, desperate to stay alive and independent, nobody who could ever be a threat. Silvath was bloodthirsty, ready to draw blood at a moments notice just for the sake of it.
“Things are changing, Ilsvan,” Golgath said. He stood up. “Three of the Council have been sent to Thlin’s axe already, alongside countless nobles. Do not forget that Gror and his rider were slain attempting to capture that unassailable fortress.”
“Granted it was captured,” Ilsvan replied. “But I don’t think I follow.”
“It wasn’t captured till after Gror and that fool of a human, Vin, were slain,” Golgath growled. “Then they surrendered without a fight. What I am getting at is: I think Thlin is behind this. It all started when she was given the title of executioner.”
“It was the council that sent the king to be executed, and that is when this started. Things have been changing since his majesty was murdered. Since they gained power.”
“I cannot shake this feeling that it was Thlin,” Golgath sighed. “Or at least, that she has had some part to play. Pieces are being moved by many hands, and not all of them are the council’s. Gror and his rider were the strongest of us, that is what makes me think someone is trying to get rid of all threats. The council wants us on their side for power, not eliminated.”
“If it is Thlin and Silvath, then their tongues are more poisonous then ours,” Ilsvan said, more subdued now than he had been before. “But I don’t see how all of this was that simple urchin.”
“Perhaps, but someone is planning something. If it is her, we cannot win. She will already be well in their eyes, although her hands have the blood of many, and we cannot hope to win in a fight. She might just be an executioner, but you have no prowess in battle and could not defeat her. Neither could I kill Silvath; she is too much of a hunter and a killer.”
“Suppose it is nothing but you connecting dots that aren’t there,” Ilsvan said, putting a hand on Golgath’s shoulder, “and we worry ourselves about nothing.” He paused a minute before continuing. “But I do agree, our lives are not safe. We might not be skilled with blade or claw, but are words are more deadly than any poison, so it would be impossible to try to remain outside the thoughts of those in power.”
“I am sure it is her. It doesn’t make sense for it to be the council, and it started not long after she joined. We have two viable options that I can think of.”
“Which are they, and why do I get the feeling I wont like either.” Ilsvan gave a wry smile, then climbed up to sit at the base of Golgath’s neck.
“You wont, my friend,” Golgath said with a forced laugh. “The first is to run and hide in some country until we die or are found.”
“And the other?” Ilsvan looked at him hopefully.
“We pledge allegiance to Thlin.” That sentence seemed to linger like a bell, and both waited a moment before saying anything.
“What do we do, Golgath?” The elf’s face had fallen, and Golgath always hated to be the reason Ilsvan was unhappy, but he had to. If they did not consider it from all options, then certain doom would befall them.”
“If we decide to throw our lot with her, it might not go so well for us,” Golgath shifted once more, and looked directly into the elf’s eyes. “If she is not behind any of this, nothing may happen. Or she may think we believe this and will try something against her, so she will decide she has nothing to do but kill us on the spot, and we could not take them both on. If she is,” Golgath continued before Ilsvan could ask about the other if, “then she may welcome the help we can give. But it is likely that she will kill us, seeing us as a threat because we know too much.”
“Which do we do? Is there no other option?” Ilsvan was getting restless, something that always indicated that he was worried.
“None that seem like they might work. I think we should take the initiative and turn to her,” Golgath said, speaking his mind. He and Ilsvan were close, but he always allowed Ilsvan to think his own thoughts and never dared to control or influence him in anyway. Thlin’s dragon, Silvath was different. She had almost no self control, and never, to his knowledge, kept her own emotions out of Thlin’s mind. And Thlin allowed it . . . Golgath wondered whether perhaps they were the ones who didn’t have as close of a bond as they might. Personally, he felt that Silvath crossed lines that shouldn’t be crossed.
“You wondered off there, friend. What were you thinking of?”
“That perhaps it might be nice if we knew what the other was thinking, like Silvath and Thlin do. I know I do not approve, but maybe I am wrong. But that doesn’t matter right now. What we need to focus on right now is what will we do?”
The End, God bless