Chapter 16: The Kobold Escape

Chapter 16: The Kobold EscapeAnother half month passed, and snowflakes began to drift down Storm High Cliffs. The Rock Fortress now stood tall at the entrance of the “Ember Nest,” blocking all intruders. The goblins, sensitive to the cold, huddled together in makeshift camps within the valley for warmth, while the ogres had slightly better accommodations, occupying large caves where they snored loudly in their slumber. Cassius lay in a half-slumber in the Giant’s Maw Cave, yawning out sulfurous breaths that filled the cave with smoke. Red dragons are naturally drawn to warmth, and the geothermal heat within the cave made it hard for him to leave. Several wyverns lingered near the cave entrance, supposedly to guard their master, but really to bask in the warmth seeping from within. Cassius allowed this lazy display of loyalty without comment. Langpu had found a cozy and hidden cavern to serve as his library, where he spent his days studying his collection of books, constantly lamenting to Cassius about the goblin army’s weakness and their inability to rob any human caravans for new books. “Aroo—” The wyverns circling above let out a howl. That sound meant—someone was approaching. Cassius perked up, pushing himself up with his limbs, shaking out his wings before leaving the cave and soaring into the sky. Over the past few weeks, he had done little besides sleep or study spells within the cave. On the food front, the hobgoblins led a well-trained hunting squad, trapping several mammoths and delivering one specifically to the Giant’s Maw Cave. Life for the red dragon was a matter of stretching out his claws and having everything he needed delivered. Just when he was feeling the pangs of boredom, a diversion presented itself. The wyverns clustered near the entrance quickly scrambled out of his way, bowing their heads respectfully and creating a clear path for him, following closely behind. As Cassius flew to the valley entrance and looked down upon the visitors in front of Rock Fortress, his interest waned. At the gate, there was a group of scrawny, small humanoids, about a hundred of them. Covered in scales ranging from dark brown to black, with heads resembling a blend of dragon and dog, and small pale horns on their foreheads—these were kobolds, cave-dwelling reptilian humanoids that often revered evil dragons as demigods. This group of kobolds was clearly in poor condition; many bore wounds and bloodstains, huddling together in fear beneath the gate, chattering noisily. Cassius could discern the Draconic language in their yelping, though it sounded more like chaotic barking. “It’s the mighty dragon!” “It really is a dragon!” A kobold struggled to raise its head, catching sight of the red dragon above, and let out a cry of awe. “We are saved!” At once, all the kobolds collapsed to their knees, muttering muddled Draconic like reverent worshippers witnessing a miracle. “Boom—” The red dragon descended with a thundering crash, sending snow scattering around the gate. “Why have you come?” (in Draconic) Under the bloodline’s ancient pressure, the kobolds remained prostrate, unable to look up. After a moment, a slightly sturdier kobold pushed through the group and stumbled forward. It threw itself at the red dragon’s feet, barking out Draconic with a tone that verged on sobbing: “Great Dragon, we’ve come to seek refuge with you—” The red dragon coldly looked down at the tiny creature, as if a mere flick of his body could turn it into a smear on the ground. These kobolds supposedly shared a sliver of dragon blood in their lineage and had a natural inclination to serve evil dragons. However, their strength was negligible, and with goblins available as substitutes, they held little value to him. Seeing no reaction from the dragon, the kobold dared to raise its head slightly, its expression deeply sorrowful: “Our kin were all devoured by that monster, leaving only a few of us. We felt your powerful presence and came to pledge ourselves to you.” The mention of a “monster” piqued Cassius’s interest. “If I take you in, what can you kobolds offer me?” The kobold’s eyes gleamed at this sign of hope, and it quickly answered, “Gold! We can bring you lots of gold!” “Our entire tribe once lived in a mine, enslaved by human smugglers to dig for gold. We know the mine’s layout, the veins’ paths, and the richest deposits.” The kobolds behind it nodded fervently. “Yes, yes.” “That’s right, I used to dig up gold the size of my head every day.” “Great Dragon, you must accept us.” Cassius’s interest deepened. Gold was valuable everywhere. With enough gold, he could obtain all manner of contraband from humans, including weapons and magical texts, accelerating his influence. If he couldn’t buy what he wanted, it would simply mean he needed more gold. Additionally, the kobolds’ tale involved this so-called “monster.” Cassius pressed further: “Tell me more about this monster. What kind of creature is it?” At this, the kobold leader’s face betrayed unmistakable fear, and the rest of the kobolds erupted into anxious chatter, with some of the more frightened ones even bursting into tears. The kobold leader calmed itself before speaking slowly: “Master, please believe what I am about to tell you.” The red dragon did not object to the term and gave a slight nod. The kobold seemed lost in terrifying memories, its voice trembling: “It was a truly terrifying beast. Its body was as big as a hill, and its mouth was... bigger than a cave. It could swallow ten kobolds in one gulp.” Its voice quivered as it spoke. “In the mine, it was everywhere like a shadow. No matter where we hid, that monster would find us. Our tribe once had over seven hundred kobolds, but they were all... eaten. Not even bones were left.” The kobold was visibly shaken. “I had to devise a complex plan to lead over a hundred of my kin out through a secret tunnel.” It exhaled deeply, seeming to relive the terror. As it finished its story, the kobolds behind it huddled closer, too afraid to make a sound. “So, this monster… is larger than me?” The red dragon asked, intrigued. Sёarch* The NôᴠelFirё.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The kobold leader broke into a cold sweat, struggling to respond. In its mind, dragons were the most proud and ruthless of creatures; a single misstep in words could spell certain death. “Speak the truth,” Cassius commanded impatiently. “Y-yes,” the kobold stammered, trembling, even closing its eyes. “What is your name?” “Gold-Fang.” When no fatal strike came, the kobold leader exhaled in relief, flashing a servile smile that revealed a prominent gold tooth in its mouth.